One Step Closer

Four years ago: JADE

The wind brisked against my face harshly, it was a chilly november night. I had made the mistake of wearing a tank top to the Arcate, rather than a long sleeve, or a jacket like most girls were tonight. My cheeks were most definitely wind burnt by now, no doubt they were the cherrest of cheeks.

I rub my hands quickly up and down my skinny jeans- which were also not a power move for the weather conditions tonight- my hands felt like ice and the friction was my only savior. My best friend had a jacket in his car but seeing as im watching the 72’ pontiac GTO line up on the track with a 70s GT350 shelby at its side, id say a quick trip to the car was out of the question. Im ripped out of my intensive stare onto the track where jethro's car sits when his girlfriend, Sage, jumps onto the bleachers beside me, placing a hand on each of my bare shoulders, laying her head down on my right.

“There almost ready!” she said excitedly, her voice full of adrenaline and delight.

I chuckle and drop my head between my shoulders.

She shakes me a tad, I could feel her warm breath on the side of my head, trailing around my frostbitten ears.

A shiver runs through me, my head quickly snaps up to meet her gaze. A failed attempt to shake away the chills.

“Your coming down to the track with me, right?” her box dyed red hair was up in a stylish bun, a few strands flared out from the tight roll. I offer her a tight smile. “Of course? You think i want to miss jet kicking some crimson ass?”. Her face lights up with the same excitement I had seen just a few moments prior. Tonight was a rare race at Arcate, it was the crimson V. reaper race. Most would see this illegal race as a normal vigilante activity, but tonight? 10 grand and ownership of the track was at stake. Jethro reaper and Calaster crimson, two of the best racers all season, are facing off for the first time. ever. Usually the end of the season prize would be a stack of cash and party at the losers residence, but after Jethro and Asters battle for ownership of the track all summer? When they found themselves as the only finlest left, they both shook on the terms.

“I wonder how much the track would change if Aster wins. He and his crew aren't the sweetest of people.” i voice. My hand is locked in sages as she drags me from the bleachers. Her ‘reaper’ jacket laid smoothly against her curves, her slick leather pants exaggerating her hips and plump ass, and the black high heel boots add a extra three inches to her already 5’7 frame.

“Don't even worry about that, Jade. Our boy has got this.” she whips her head around in response, still dragging me along.

My own three inch boots clank across the metal flooring while we quickly dodge through the crowd. The Arcate is a large circle track that the community of edge hill have used as a drag strip for going on 5 years. Its got a large burn pile with several barrels sitting in the inside. The outside of the track, on the right side from the entrance, is just woods. Those woods back up to an abandoned church and the closest residential area is around 6 miles out, the biggest reason for the Arcate having been open since my freshman year at Edge hill high. The left side is lined with bleachers, some kids dad donated them thinking we hosted charity events or some s**t, the pit is also on the left side. No one dares to snitch on the operation, my sophomore year a student at EHH snitched to a staff member and apparently a couple kids from Crimsons crew took care of him… I never saw him again. I am now graduated and have yet to see anyone else attempt to rat out the Arcate.

My boots connect with the concrete of the track, the slick black gravel i've laid on many times hand in hand with jethro as we were growing up.

“WHOOOOO! GO BABY!” Sage brutally assaults my ear with no warning, screaming out to her boyfriend as he stands, arms crossed over the top of his car in conversation with a friend, but he looks over at his girlfriend and blows her a kiss. Then taps the roof of his car, opening the driver side and sliding in.

His buddy jogs off the track as Alsters Blonde head bobs onto it, he quickly jogs to his car, taps the roof and then hops in.

“I told him if he won, he would get to use me till i brake tonig-” i clap my hand over Sages mouth before she can finish that bile sentence. “I would to prefer to keep my stomach contents.. In my stomach, this evening if you don't mind.” i forcefully smile at her, tilting my head a tiny bit before releasing her mouth to reval her devious smile. I may love her boyfriend more but hannah definitely ranked in top 5 best friends of mine, for that reason alone. She gave zero f***s.

The speakers surrounding the track began to ring, the intro to ‘drift’ by forty foot echo begins to reach the crowd.

sage grips my hand tightly, her free hand is gripping the metal guard rail so tightly I feel it might crumble beneath her black polished fingers.

My eyes drift to the track, the sound of the cars engines starting rumbles beneath my feet. Chills spread over my whole body, and not just because im severely underdressed for the weather here tonight.

Sarah bradley strides onto the track. Wearing way less clothes than i was. She sported knee high red boots with at least a five inch heel, and a tight black dress that hardly covers her bum.

“I hope jet runs her over.” Sage spits out, gripping my hand tighter.

Sarah was a boyfriend fucker, if your man was in a relationship she wanted him. She had tried jethro last year at the tracks first meet of the summer, Sage slapped the s**t out of her and they got into a fight in the center of the track, it was the talk of the town for a hot minute.

I snicker in response, agreeing holy to her bitter statement.

In sarah's hand was a checkered flag, its wrapped tightly around the pole she holds as she crosses in front of the cars headlights that are illuminating the track ahead. Once she reaches the safety of the gap between cars, she unravels the flag. The crowd starts to rumble, screaming and chanting for their respective drivers.

It feels like a eternity as sarah does her usually post race check, walking over to asters passenger side window, sticking her head in and chatting up a storm. Her ass sticks up into the air and remains eye level with jets driver side window.

“Oh for christ sake.” i mumbled. I drop hannah's hand and grip the metal railing, my boots slide into the rivets in the railing as i stand up on the fencing. I fold my hands together and mold them around my mouth, “get a f*****g move on! We are here to watch a race, not a prostitute!” i scream out and onto the track. Sages laughter brings me back down to solid ground, as well as the look on sarah's face when she rises from inside the cars window, glaring at hannah and i. She glares in jethro’s direction aswell but doesn't approach his window. The crowds still laughing and hollering when sarah finally takes her place at the line.

“Please run her over. Please run her over baby.” i look over at Sage, her fingers are crossed as she closes her eyes and prays.

I giggle at her and she opens her eyes, slinging a arm over my shoulder and joining in.

The sound of the crowd roaring and the screeching of tires signals the start of the race.

Sages arms fall from my shoulder and she goes back to gripping the metal railing, staring intensely at her boyfriends maroon car speeding through the track.

I reach out for the railing but a hand grabs my arm tightly and drags me away from where i had stood.

“Hey!” i snap, hardly even hearing myself over the crowd and roaring engines.

The hand doesn't let up and keeps dragging until we exit the track completely and reenter the bleacher section. I cant catch my balance enough to turn around and identify the person dragging me. My heart begins to race wildly.

Finally the figure stops under the bleachers, swinging me around and gripping my shoulders. It was Kanen. Jethros little brother.

I slap his arm away from me and push his chest back with little force, “what the f**k kane!” i yell at him.

His dark eyes connect with mine, and they aren't happy, they are urgent.

My facial expression grows concerned. And he can tell.