Racing for Freedom

chapter Ten





“Are you sure about this?” Payton asks, as I get into my car later that afternoon.

The beach tracks are quiet, beautiful and perfect for racing. Slade and I know these tracks, we’ve been racing on them for years. We used to come down and practice turns on our go-karts, or our old dirt bikes. It was only when we got old enough to get our own cars that the real fun began.

“Yes, I’m sure,” I finally say, answering Payton.

I glance over at Slade in his car beside me. He’s grinning at me and actually blows a kiss, the jack ass, before starting his engine. I sigh and start my car. Come on baby, it’s me and you today. Kandee, wearing next to nothing, stands in the middle waving her arms.

“I’ll see you at the finish line.” Payton whispers, closing my door.

I stare ahead, not focusing on anything else. When Kandee drops her arms, I slide my foot off the clutch and my car lurches forward. These old tracks are flattened often, so even though they’re dirt, they’re firm and hard. My car speeds ahead of Slade’s and I’m surprised. What game is he playing? He usually always starts off quickly. I change gears and zoom quicker around the bends, loving how well my baby holds.

These tracks used to be where the races were held, until they made some nicer tracks in the city. I speed around a corner and dirt skitters off my tires as I come out the other side. I look in my rearview mirror and Slade is close behind me. Why is he holding back? I turn and look back at the road just in time to see a massive water puddle ahead. That bastard! He knew. I slam my breaks on and my car spins, fishtailing out the side and smoking as I come to a stop. Slade zooms past me, slides around the puddle and keeps going.

I scream into the wheel. That a*shole. I plant my foot onto the accelerator and keep going, not willing to sit back here and lose tragically. I catch Slade just as the end of the track and I kick my car down a gear or two, urging it forward. Come on, come on! He touches the finish line a second before me and my heart drops. It just drops. Oh no. Oh no. When I come to a stop, I slam my hand on the wheel. The bastard cheated.

I watch him get out of his car and walk over to mine with a smirk so big, I want to slap it right off his face. He opens my door and leans down, grinning at me. “Hello, housemate.”

“You cheated, you bastard!”

“I didn’t cheat, I can’t help what Mother Nature leaves behind.”

“You knew that was there, it’s why you laid off going ahead of me”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about Dashy, I won, fair and square. I’ll bring my things over soon.”

“I hate you Slade!” I spit at him as he walks away.

He waves over his shoulder and all his mates laugh and pat him on the back. A*shole. Mega a*shole. Payton comes rushing over when I get out of the car.

“What happened?”

“He set me up!”

“Pull out Dash, you can’t let him move in with you.”

“Payton, you don’t know Slade. It won’t matter what I say,” I mumble, staring at him. “He’s now my new housemate.”

“Dash, this isn’t a good idea. Your families hate each other, if your dad finds out.”

I cup my head in my hands. “I know, but I can’t pull out of this.”

“Just lock the doors.”

“Payton, I live with enough taunting from Slade as it is, I don’t need anymore.”

“This is a very bad idea Dash, you do know that right?”

I stare at her, then over at Slade who is grinning at me from a distance. “I know, but it’s how it is.”

She sighs and turns to look at Slade too. “I hope you know what you’re doing, Dash.”

So did I.