Hot Lap!

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

The present

Emma's POV:

Over time, I've found that everyone in life is looking for a specific rush, street racing is where I get mine.

"More speed, Emma!" 

That spark inside of me lights, an adrenaline rush coursing through my veins as I pick up in speed.

I soon pass by Jay again, my window down so that I can hear what he has to say:

"You've got to stop slowing down so much on your turns. You gotta keep up with your own pace. You can't afford to brake so much at every turn. Balance the speed out with control."

"Alright!" I salute him and keep on driving.

The wind rushes in through the window. The feeling that's currently running through my bones is indescribable. Racing truly is life. I grin to myself as I press all the way down on the accelerator and speed through my first sharp turn. I get control of my steering and manage the turn swiftly. I can't stop the enormous smile spreading across my lips as I cross the finish line for the final time.

Jay stops his timer. "You knocked off a good couple of seconds that round," he informs me. "Nice going."

I park beside him. "So, did I improve?" 

He grins and taps the hood of my car in pride. "Sure did."

I take my hands off of the steering wheel and blow at my knuckles. "It's all about improvising."

"The way you just took those sharp turns, that's how you do it when you compete," he tells me. "And just remember, when in doubt, throttle it out."

I roll my eyes, a small smile playing on my lips. Everyone who knows JT knows that 'when in doubt, throttle it out' is his racing catchphrase. 

"You sure in doubt a lot then, huh, JT?" Landon asks, having already finished his practice session with Jay.

Grey chuckles as he lights up a cigarette. "It would seem so. Highly probable."

"It's likely," JT scoffs, a grin on his face as he angles his head to the side.

Championships are around the corner. However, we can't compete in championships unless we make top three in the upcoming race, so, as per tradition for the last two years, Grey, Lan, and I have asked JT to train us and help us get prepared.

Xavier, as always, is too stubborn to come along and seek guidance from JT. He'd rather lose than subject himself to the help of Jay Taylor. Their rivalry in racing is ongoing.

"You gotta stop smoking, my man," JT lectures Grey. "It's no good."

Grey shrugs carelessly as he breathes out a puff of smoke. "Who said I was any good?" He smirks devilishly.

JT merely shakes his head at Grey, a lopsided grin playing on his lips. "Shut up, man."

"He's bad to the bone," Landon adds mockingly.

"I can work with that," Grey answers nonchalantly, twirling the cigarette around beneath his fingertips.

I start a new conversation. "So, how was your date with Mia then, JT?"

Grey grins upon hearing my question. "Go ahead then, JT, tell her."  

I heard that JT fought Grey tooth and nail on the whole date scenario. Eventually, Grey convinced JT to give Mia a shot.

Jay sighs before averting his gaze from us, staring down at the floor in apprehension. "I guess it was alright," he admits, scratching the back of his neck as if out of place. "Could have been worse seeing as I was so unwilling." He confesses, "Mia's a nice girl." 

He likes her.

"You should feel like trash for ignoring Mia for Lawson all throughout high school. She used to be in your maths class. Whenever she tried talking to you, you'd be staring at Lawson," Grey accuses JT of being a downright jerk to Mia in the past.

"I knew she had a thing for me, man, I just wasn't interested at the time," Jay replies.

The keywords being 'at the time'. I exchange a look with Grey. He got it too. Landon, on the other hand, is clueless. To be honest, he's not even really paying attention. He's on his cell, probably texting Sarah again.

"Look, JT, we just want you to find someone who makes you happy," I voice my opinion. JT's never going to make a move unless he's pushed in the right direction. Hell, he needed to be pushed with Aqueela too. 

"The answer is money," Xavier answers, stepping forth from the shadows. "Money makes everyone happy," he states in a 'matter of fact' way with his megawatt smirk on full display.

Of course, he'd say that. He's stinking rich but the truth is evident, even with all his riches and wealth, he's not happy. He told me that himself once.

"Money can't buy happiness," I disagree with the shallow i***t.

Xavier doesn't even bother to look at me. He's still ignoring me -- so childish of him; we're not teens anymore. He needs to grow the hell up!

"Yeah but money can buy cars," he argues. "That's basically the same thing, right?" He glances my way, actually choosing to acknowledge me.

Caught off guard, I stay silent, processing the fact that he's choosing to be mature and put the past behind us. He's walking it off.

"What? Cat got your tongue?" Xavier flashes me a wolfish grin.

I grin at him, glad that we're finally back on track. "Right," I finally answer his first question, agreeing with his statement.

"Nah, my man," JT disagrees with Xavier, "the racing life is all about spending money you don't really have on parts you don't really need to outrun people you don't really know." 

I've never met someone so all about racing in the way JT is. His entire life is dedicated to racing. He's commitment is in another league. Racing truly is his life force. Without it, I don't know who he'd be. Racing defines him. It's the essence of who he is. He makes it look easy because he knows just how it's done.

JT is a passive-aggressive driver but he isn't without his quirks. When he takes to the streets, he's a complete wild card. He'll race circles around any competitor, even the best of the best. No one can match his love for racing. It's simply impossible. When he's behind the wheel, he's a different person. When he races, he becomes larger than life.

"You said it, bud." Landon lifts his eyes from his phone screen to look at Jay. "It doesn't get any more real than that."

"Hey, do you guys remember the championships, two years ago, when Xavier tried to kill Grey and JT?" I bring up the subject just to irritate Xavier. I've missed our playful banter. I've missed just talking to him in general.

"Never happened," Xavier lies, trying to forget about it altogether.

"How can one forget an attempt on their life?" Grey catches on quickly before he adds fuel to the fire, choosing to side with me.

When Xavier's not looking, I fist bump Grey for taking part. 

"I don't know, Grey, I sure as hell can't forget," JT pitches in too, messing around.

"Oh, shut it!" Xavier snaps. "I gave you both your cars back and saved you all from the cops," he takes the liberty to remind us.

"Can't really make up for murder though," JT points out teasingly. "You probably just saved your own tail from the cops because you knew they'd arrest you on charges for attempted murder."

"Well, you're in quite the chipper mood for someone whose girl left him," Xavier remarks rudely in order to get back at JT, except, he's crossed the line.

It's a knee-jerk reaction; I slap Xavier upside his head -- hard.

"It's the 'Mia effect'," Landon pipes up, winking at JT.

Landon would know. He's currently suffering from the 'Sarah effect'.

Jay frowns. "Practice is over," he concludes in determination before walking away.

Grey throws Xavier the middle finger over his shoulder before following after Jay in hopes of consoling his fury.

I glare at Xavier. "Nice going!"

"Meh, you don't need him anyway," Xavier replies, unfazed. 

"You're so insensitive," I glare up at him, folding my arms across my chest.

"Boo-hoo!" he feigns sympathy, mocking me, before getting serious again. "Cry me a whole damn ocean, Kitler."

*~*~**~*~*

"Can't wait to kick your a*s, Em," Joe, my own racing rival, grins tauntingly up at me. "We'll see how well you do without your brother."

She's so short, it's difficult to take her seriously.

"Please, before you know it, I'll have lapped you," I speak big, secretly hoping my racing will carry me through on what I've just said. It would be pretty embarrassing if I lost to her now.

Joe and I don't particularly hate each other but I wouldn't say that we're best friends either. Our banter is more to sport each other on than anything else. It's all sportsmanship strategies. I push her to do better and vice versa. In a way, we help each other out. We unintentionally motivate each other.

However, for once, I'm nervous about this specific race. It's a major one seeing as it will determine whether I qualify for championships or not.

"Why bother anyway?" Geezer, an old perverted racer covered in tattoos and facial hair, intervenes. As usual, his breath reeks of alcohol. "We all know girls can't race," he drops casually as if there's nothing wrong with what he just said. He still values old, idealistic ways. It just shows how uncultured he is.

"That is incredibly sexist and offensive," Xavier answers for me before I can even get anything out. "You should apologize to the ladies," he suggests, reacting extremely quickly as he comes to my defense.

Feeling more confident with Xavier by my side, I nod furiously at the old man.

Joe looks like she's about to rip Geezer's head right off of his pudgy shoulders. I don't blame her. I might just help her.

If I can give Xavier credit where it is due, he's always a gentleman when it counts. He supports the feminine movement and he gets that we females are capable of doing the same stuff as males, especially in street racing. He respects that we're equals and refuses to see women as below him. 

"I'm just saying..." Geezer holds his hands up in defense, "you little girlies and your high boots, thick makeup paste, crop tops..." he glances at me, "and your seemingly infinite supply of leather jackets are not enough to make you professional street racers."

I glance down at my attire to see that he's right. I'm currently wearing high-heeled boots, thick makeup, and, of course, a leather jacket. I love my jackets, almost as much as JT loves them. As for the crop tops, that's all on Joe.

"Neither does cheap beer, repulsive tattoos, and excessive facial hair," I insult him back. "And how would you know anyway?" 

Joe's about ready to tear him a new one. Just as she steps forward to attack, Xavier's quick to pull her back before she can do any real damage, or receive any, for that matter. Geezer is no stranger to acts of violence and assault.

"Get outta here, Geezer," JT steps in, making his hatred for Geezer public. He has always been wary of Geezer because of his criminal track record. He's never trusted Geezer and deems him as dangerous. 

Geezer, obediently, leaves.

"What a pig," Xavier comments aloud as he stares after Geezer in disgust. "Guy has no respect for women." He shakes his head, his strong arms crossed over his broad chest as he narrows his eyes at Geezer's retreating frame.

JT pats Xavier's shoulder as he passes on by, "Something you two have in common then." 

Xavier's face falls as he curses after Jay. 

I laugh aloud at this, mostly because JT's right.