A RACING START
Chapter One: Racr Boi
"AND THE WINNER OF THE RACE IS NUMBER 5!"
A young man skidded his zoomer labeled Numah 5 to a halt and slid his dirty goggles on his head with a smile. He slid off gently onto the dusty ground. He was tall and thin, with a way of smiling that warmed even bad hearts. He wore a simple gray shirt with ripped off sleeves, faded blue/black pants and a black jacket. He wore simple boots with no toes or heels, and black fingerless gloves. A gust blew at his hair, black and flat in the back but spiky and white in the front. The harsh mid-day sun glared at his sea blue eyes as he turned and left the deserted track to watch the next race.
She crossed her arms, watching as several people cheered for the winning contestant. Her dark blue eyes skimmed over the track, watching as they prepared the next race. A delicate smile curved onto her lips as she watched the winning man for a brief moment. Her attire consisted of a pure white tang top formed shirt with a thin red line at the collar, light blue pants, and brown boots adorned her feet. A strand of pure ebony hair brushed against her pale cheek, eyes setting back towards the track.
The boys name was Jakson Gull; more commonly called Jak and referred to as JG on the track. He walked over to the woman and flopped down beside her.
"I was almost Metalhead Meat out there." He said, wiping his forehead with his sleeve.
A sigh passed her lips, a content smile washed over her features as she spotted the young man she knew well. She brushed back a strand of hair as he walked over towards her. Once hearing his statement, relief overcame her to know he was alright.
"Well thankfully you aren't." Trista smiled.
Jak sighed, running a hand through his hair, scattering dust everywhere. He was still pretty shaken up by his near visit to The Pearly Gates. He stood next to Trista, slyly slipping an arm around her waist with one arm and running his other hand through his hair again.
Trista tensed slightly, a thin layer of scarlet appeared across her cheeks as she tilted her head away. Of course, she liked his action but couldn't find the ways to tell of her enjoyment. She watched him out of the corner of her eye before speaking, "Just don't get to comfortable." She informed, inwardly smiling.
Jak sighed as the racers sped past, one coming inches from hitting his nose. "I'm...gonna go for a swim. I'll meet you back here in an hour." He said, turning to walk out of the stadium.
Trista nodded slightly, mentally cursing herself once he left. She exited the stadium, strolling down the streets of Haven in attempt to clear her thoughts out. 'How could I tell him?' she thought. A frown formed on her lips, crossing her arms in turn. 'I'm hopeless.' She scolded inwardly.
Jak ran to his favorite lake and slipped off his jacket, which now had a permanent hole in the back big enough for Jak to step into. Jak grimaced at how close that was before slipping off his shirt and pants. Then he jumped in, forgetting about taking off his shoes, goggles, or gloves. He swam for a bit, calming his nerves. He never swam to get clean. It would be fruitless. Jak finally came back and slipped on his cloths, thinking about putting a large red 5 on his shirt where the hole was. He sighed, walking back to the stadium.
Trista sauntered a bit before heading towards the stadium, well knowing that an hour had passed. Though not paying much attention to the world around her, a zoomer headed towards her. Her eyes narrowed just as the driver wasn't paying much attention either. She quickly stepped out of the way, the small wing in the back of the hovercraft cutting her forearm, though it was only a small gash. Trista ignored the frantic shouts of the driver as it died away. "Jerk," she muttered, tightening her grasp on the wound as bits of blood smeared onto her hand.
Jak entered the stadium quietly, not expecting to race for a while. To his astonishment he was pulled off to prepare his zoomer for another race. Jak gulped. This was weirder than NORMAL Haven racing.
She placed a bandage wrap around her arm just as she entered the stadium. Trista arched a brow to see Jak preparing for another race. She silently sat down, intently gazing at those he was racing against.
BANG. The race began. Jak got in first easy. A little too easy. He could see the others fighting and pushing and shoving to get in second. As they reached the finish, Jak heard gunshots, and fell off his zoomer. The last thing he heard was the announcer, which was swallowed up by crimson before everything went black.
"Number 5 has won again!"
Trista's heart thumped against her ribcage as she immediately stood up. She sprinted towards the fallen figure of Jak, fear gripping in her throat as she knelt beside him.
"Jak?" Trista said aloud, her arm supporting his back as she brought him up slightly so he could have his head against her shoulder.
Jak moaned slightly, digging his head into Trista's shoulder. Sharp waves of pain came from his back, like a hot knife digging into his spine. His hand twitched slightly. Jak wasn't gonna give up his life so easily. Not while Trista still lived.
She placed his arm around her shoulder before standing up. Trista managed to move him away from the track, placing him down on his side. A slight frown formed on her lips to see him in such pain. She reached into her pocket, pulling out a pocket knife. She gently rubbed his arm in reassurance before rolling up his jacket and shirt, clearly seeing the wound. Trista focused herself on the wound before placing the tip of the knife towards the edges the bullet injected into him.
Jak softly cried out in pain. It hurt so badly that he would have done anything to make it stop. He couldn't move, otherwise it hurt worse. Jak let out a soft whimper of discomfort and pain, trying to tell Trista to make it stop.
"Shh…" she whispered soothingly, already feeling the metal against the knife as she tapped against it. Trista quickly extricated the bullet from within his skin, suppressing a sigh of satisfaction. Trista folded the knife back into her pocket, night soon over taking the sky. She remained seated next to Jak, deciding that they would have to stay here for the night. She soon after shifted into a laying position.
Jak could feel Trista near him. He was freezing, and she was so warm. He rolled over onto his other side and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer.
She felt a slight chill run through her spine, opening an eye to see Jak even closer to her. Though she tried to deny it, she enjoyed feeling him closer to her. Trista sighed, before falling back to sleep.
Jak subconsciously nuzzled Trista's hair with his face, it being so soft and fuzzy to him. He sighed contently before falling to sleep.
The next morning Trista awoke, startled in the position she was in. She sweat-dropped before attempting to move away. She rubbed her knuckles against her eyes to wipe away the sleep.
Jak awoke slightly when Trista awoke. He yawned and rolled over onto his back, only to let out a yelp of pain and roll back over onto his side again.
Trista glanced towards him, "I take it you had enough strength to snuggle onto me huh?" she stated though inwardly smirked.
Jak looked at Trista sheepishly.
"Hey, it was cold and you were warm!" He said, sitting up.
Trista smiled slightly, "Thanks for the compliment," she laughed slightly before standing up. "How does your back feel?" she asked.
"I'd tell ya, if I could feel it..." Jak said, pouting.
Trista frowned, seating herself besides him. "Such sore losers people can be..." she muttered. Trista shifted towards him, "Could you stand?" she interrogated once more.
"Yea, if I wanted to. But what if I don't wanna? What then?" Jak asked slyly.
"Then I guess I could leave, if you're fine," Trista informed, hiding a smirk as she stood up. "I'll see yeah later," she said.
"Trista…" Jak said pleadingly, standing up and almost having his own legs give out on him." Don't go..."
She turned her head towards him, hearing the pleading sound which convinced her to stay. Trista smiled slightly, "Alright, I won't yet then," she stated, seating herself down once more, though her right hand grasped his arm incase of needing support.
Jak smiled, pulling her up from the ground.
"Common!" He pleaded, trying to drag her after him. "Come with me!" He pleaded even more after seeing an available zoomer with no one in it.
She arched a brow as she was at first being dragged though soon after followed. "Um... where are we going Jak?" Trista asked in curiosity.
"You'll see!" Jak chimed hopping in the zoomer and wincing as his back hit the seat harder than he intended. He started the car and waited for Trista.
Trista mounted into the available seat, fastening a seatbelt. "Alright..." she spoke, in a voice that seemed a bit unsure.
Jak beamed, before flooring it and almost running into a lamppost. He drove as fast as the car would let him, finally stopping by the Hip Hog.
Trista closed her eyes half way as gust if wind passed by because of the intense speed. Her nails attempted to dig into the leather chair at the beginning of the ride though relaxed once over. Once the car stopped she shifted her gaze towards their destination, unfastening the seat belt and dismounting off the car.
Jak swung open the door and held it open for Trista. He hoped that Tess had gone on vacation –not likely- or was sick so she wouldn't chew him out for not paying the bill.
She smiled and nodded a polite thank you before walking in. Trista scanned the almost empty bar before taking a nearby seat.
Jak followed her, scanning the bar quietly for any sign of Tess. He felt his innards do a triple sow-cow when he noticed a familiar figure slumped in a drunken sleep in the booth across from theirs. It was Erol, one of the best racers on the track and a KG to boot. Jak sighed as he sat, not daring to look towards the bar at where he KNEW Tess would be.
Trista ignored the slumped image of Erol as she glanced towards Jak. "You order, but nothing to strong for me," she smiled slightly.
Jak nodded and sighed as Tess stomped up to the table.
"You still owe us money..." She snarled through gritted teeth. Jak nodded.
"I'll pay you when I get the money. Just get us a regular. Each." He said, not taking his eyes off the sleeping Erol, since it was the only other thing to stare at while still facing Tess.
Trista glanced towards Erol before averting her gaze away. She bit her lower lip as she tensed slightly once hearing a groan of tiredness emanate from the sleeping man.