Chapter 2
The man with the white beanie walked casually between the two cars at the start line both engines roared, and the drivers had the windows on both sides wound down. They exchanged a brief nod then looked straight ahead again.
‘Get ready!’ the beanie man called while the crowd around them began to cheer.
‘In three… two…one GO!’
His hands dropped to his sides and the two cars leapt forwards. Their engines burned and the tires screeched long and loud. Down the straight road they were neck and neck for most of the way poised for their next move. Denan managed to edge his car just slightly in front of Erin’s, but she didn’t mind. She already had a plan in mind of when she would attack. They still had another 1km to travel and they were still close together although inch-by-inch Denan was able to get his car further ahead of Erin building a slight lead. She still didn’t need to panic she was more than happy to let him get in front. Denan was suspicion of the way she didn’t appear to react to his advances. Something was up. He’d been racing for a while knowing all the tricks racers used in battles. In his previous races so far, his opponents have gone out hard looking to gain the upper hand early, but he had always run them down when they least expected it. This was very different, Erin seemed quite content to allow him in front; like she expected him to make the move.
‘Maybe I’ll try something different.’ he answered he figured if he did something he could force her into changing her plans. Since he had the lead by about 60meters he switched lanes to cut across in front of her that did eat up some of his lead and she was able to get closer.
‘Oh, so that is how you want to play it,’ she remarked.
‘Well, that is fine by me.’
She flicked the orange switch that was connected next to the gearbox and concentrated back on the road. There wasn’t much left to go in the race running down the straight. Delaying for another several second while keeping the car steady, her finger hoovered over the button, edging the front bumper a little closer to his rear she hit the NOS, the car surged forwards, and she was able to catch Denan, running alongside him but he saw this move and activated his NOS; the two cars flew ahead down the last stretch of road, with the finish line within sight. Erin made a final last-ditch effort able to nudge her car’s nose just in front a split two seconds before they crossed the line.
‘Heck, she has got guts,’ Chad remarked.
‘Shut it,’ Eddie scolded, the crowd all around them were stunned in silence, no one expected this outcome. Denan is already a very good racer and rarely got beaten but this was a first being defeated by the newcomer. The two cars were now making their way back towards the crowd and they parted to allow the vehicles through before coming to a stop. Denan and Erin got out and the white beanie guy walked up to Erin he shook his head
‘Damn, girl!’ He remarked she smiled.
‘How are you able to race like that?’ he asked she smiled.
‘Talent I guess.’
‘Ha, yeah right. Not a fat chance.’ Eddie said speaking up she turned towards him.
‘What is your problem?’ she asked.
‘You. You are the problem.’ He said pointing at her.
‘You do not belong here, Now, do as I say and get lost.’ He added, the crowd around them ‘oohed’ and ‘ahhed’. Erin wasn’t put off by his comment.
‘Come on Eddie even you have to admit she can race.’ Denan answered Eddie scoffed.
‘As for you, you don’t even talk to me. What a complete embarrassment you are to this team.’ He answered.
‘Hey.’ Erin interrupted.
‘What?’
‘You call him an embarrassment well at least he had the decency to race me. Unlike you sitting on your backside acting all tough. I shouldn’t be surprised seeing as guys like you can only act and talk tough nothing else.’ She said loudly; this brought another around of ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’. Eddie shook his head angrily stepping closer to her again she didn’t feel intimidated staring back folding her arms.
‘Don’t get smart with me girl. You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into if you keep this up. This is my territory and nobody, absolutely nobody comes around and tells me how to run it. Least of a girl from nowhere,’ Eddie remarked pointing his finger inches away from her face.
‘You are the newcomer, so you best remember your place around here. These races are designated to only those I deem worth to challenge me and you are not part of that list. That race you won is a one-off it won’t be happening again. Now, if I were you take the lessons learnt and get lost,’ he remarked Erin stood her ground.
‘Make me.’ She said refusing to budge; he gripped his fists tightly, Denan held back a laugh seeing the frustration on Eddie’s face he wasn’t used to anyone going against him.
‘The authorities will be notified of your nuisance.’ He answered she just snorted.
‘Like that is going to scare me. But I have a better offer for you,’ she replied.
‘I am not interested,’ he said turning to walk away.
‘Not even if it will help you get rid of me?’ she offered he stopped in his tracks but didn’t turn around. The crowd whispered to each other wondering what choice Eddie would make with the girl she was determined. Eddie slowly turned around at first surveying the crowd seeing their eager faces then to his crew each of them waiting for him to respond and finally to the girl, she had a slight grin on her face knowing he wasn’t going to back down.
‘Talk fast,’ he remarked striding back towards Erin with confident strides.
‘Well, it’s very simple,’ she said.
‘We race. Now. Don’t worry your fancy title will stay intact; besides I’m not interested in racing for it. Yet. So, if you win, fine you get your way and I’ll leave. If I win you stay out of my way and don’t ask questions.’
‘When do we start?’
‘Right now.’
Eddie chewed on his tongue she was keen to do this and there was nothing to stop him from accepting her offer.
‘You got a deal.’ He answered Erin nodded she shot a sly smile at Denan and in return he gave her a thumbs up.
‘All right, all right you heard it here first folks. Eddie is going to race our newest star! The races will get underway in ten minutes,’ the white beanie man remarked he pushed his way through the crowd and stepped up between Eddie and Erin.
‘However, I would also like to suggest we add a bit more to the stakes,’ he said.
‘How much you want to stake then?’ Eddie asked.
‘Name your price.’ Erin remarked.
‘$50k.’
‘Done.’
Everyone in the crowd let out wolf-whistles while the two drivers counted their stacks handing the bills over to the white beanie guy his eyes were bulging out of his head. It amazed him everyone trusted him with money when he could just as easily sneak away and keep it.
‘Don’t go anywhere, Trev I have my eye on you.’ Eddie warned him.
‘Hey, you know you can always count on me.’ He answered Eddie didn’t reply he turned around and had a quick word with the rest of his teammates minus Denan whom stood by his own car this and didn’t go un-noticed by Erin.
‘Not going to join your friends?’ she asked.
‘They’re fine without me. I’m more curious about you and how you will handle taking on the best racer here.’ He said she laughed.
‘I’m not afraid of him. Just you watch history will be made tonight,’ she answered.
Ten minutes later Eddie brought his Nissan Skyline GT-R34 to the start line a thin unreadable look on his face. Erin pulled up alongside she caught him giving her a deadpan emotionless look it brought a smile to her face. Trevor, this time didn’t go to start the race instead Eddie’s girlfriend Melissa did the honors.
‘Are you ready?’ she called out with her arms raised above her head she looked between the two drivers they gave a nod.
‘On your marks…get set…GO!’
Her arms dropped the cars took off under a thick cloud of smoke and disappeared down the road while the crowd went crazy.
‘Eddie is going to smoke that chick and get rid of her for good.’ Dirt replied, beside him the rest of the gang nodded in agreement, Denan remained silent he wasn’t so sure about this, after what happened earlier when he raced Erin, she daf had good strategy and smarts. As for Eddie as good as he is, he had never been challenged over the years. Denan was certain she would push him with the skills to match. If she did happen to beat Eddie there is no doubt, she is going to threaten his chances at keeping his crown. Everyone watched in anticipation as the drag race carried on and much to their surprise Erin had the edge on Eddie by about half a length, but he was slowly chewing up the distance. They didn’t have long to travel until they crossed the finish line, and the two cars were almost neck and neck.
‘Come on Eddie! Trash her!’ half the crowd screamed the finish was just in front of them the two cars flashed across, and the crowd collectively held their breath.