Josh and Sal lined up at the back of the pack, looking around at the competition. "Alright, so we have racers from TFK, Blackhearts, the Kings, and… What are we?" Sal asked Josh. "Huh. I never gave much thought as to our crew name and stuff." Josh admitted. "We'll worry about that later, but for now, let's focus on the task ahead of us." Josh told Sal as one of the girls that started the races came in front of the pack of cars. "Three!" She shouted. The group of cars began revving and burning out. "Two!" Sal was burning out while Josh was revving, trying to find the Shelby's sweet spot. "One!" Josh took a deep breath while Sal began looking ahead of the pack, scanning for shortcuts or back alleys. "GO!" And the pack of cars was off. Josh flew right in-between two cars and past them, already in first. Sal has to punch it and use some of his NOS just to catch up to Josh. "Alright, I'll lead the way!" Sal told Josh moving ahead of him. "Alright, but if things get too close for comfort, don't worry about me, just keep doing what you're doing." Josh replied. Sal simply nodded, and with that, the competition had caught up. The pack took a left only to make a right turn. Josh let Sal lead, but that didn't mean he wasn't going to put in work. Josh spent this race keeping other racers from getting into second, and moving those who got in his way out. "Alright, hold out for a little while longer…" Sal said while he flew through an alleyway. Josh saw the opportunity and punched it, leaving the competition behind. Sal coming out of the alleyway, he saw Josh was ahead of him. "Hey! I thought I was leading!" Sal joked. "Hahaha hey, I let you lead the majority of the race, but I still plan to finish first!" Josh retorted with a grin. The Shelby passing the line first, with the Camaro SS in second, and a TFK racer in third. Josh and Sal were talking when a man in a grey trench coat and red scarf came up to them. "That was a good race. Nice driving, both of you." He told them. "Thanks." Josh replied simply. The man walked back to his Porsche Cayman S, got in, and drove off. "Who was that?" Sal asked, scratching his head. "No clue." Josh replied, looking on at the driver. "The guy couldn't be too older than I am. Doubt he's younger." Josh thought to himself. Josh was brought out of his thoughts when Sal called him. "Dude, the crew owns Ocean View!" Sal told Josh excitedly. "Huh. Not bad." Josh coolly replied with a grin. "I'm gonna head out already, you gonna come with?" Josh asked Sal as he loaded the bag with his winnings into the Shelby. "Nah man, I'm gonna stay out for a little longer. If that's fine, I mean." Sal quickly replied. "Nah, it's fine. Alright," Josh said as he started up the Shelby. "See you 'round man. I'll send a message if there's a race." "Alright, see ya man." Sal said as Josh drove off.
Josh began the drive home, rolling the windows down and turning up the radio just a little. "Alright, for all y'all broken hearts-" Josh quickly shut off the radio. He didn't care, broken hearted tunes were not something he liked to hear. A group of TFK cars blocked the road ahead of him and Josh had to break. The blockade cleared in the center, and a familiar Aston Martin DB9 rolled out besides Josh. "I think you're mistaken." Wolf began. "This area is for serious drivers. Not thieves and cowards." Josh just rolled his eyes as Wolf and the rest of the grey-clad cars took off. Continuing his journey home, Josh went a little faster. Eventually arriving at the garage, Josh parked the Shelby inside and soon after crashed on his bed. Laying there for a moment before getting up and taking off his shoes and jacket, he laid down again, this time under the sheets before knocking out.
As I closed the door to my car, I found myself back at the observatory. I walked over to the viewing point, where I looked at Palmont in all its lights. "Hey, everything okay?" A feminine voice called out to me. I turned around and saw it was Nikki. She was dressed in a black dress, her brown coat covering a good part of it. "I'm fine." I replied bluntly. "No you're not. You just got up and left after the funeral service. What's going on?" Nikki asked again. "Why do you care?" I responded. "You didn't care about how I felt when I got back, why do I suddenly matter to you now?" "That was before I knew the real story! I know you're upset at me-" "YOU THINK?!" I shouted back. Nikki was taken aback by my outburst, her facial features saddening. "Look, I…" She began. "Don't tell me. I'm sorry for bursting out at you like that, but… I'm in a bad place right now." I replied softly. I felt her arms wrap me as I felt her press herself against my back. "I know. We all are."
Josh was awakened by the sound of knocking at the garage's door. "Coming!" Josh shouted as he quickly threw off the covers. The dream nothing but a distant thought now, Josh looked through the peep hole, and saw it was Nikki. Unlocking the door, Josh greeted her as awake as he could possibly be. "Hey." He said groggily. "Um, hey." Nikki replied, her expression slightly confused with Josh's appearance. Josh was looking at her, then quickly realized why she was looking at him in an awkward way. "Oh, uh, I just woke up, actually." He replied sheepishly. Nikki shrugged. "Can I come inside?" "Yeah, sure." Josh replied, opening the door for her. Nikki walked in and was examining the contents of the garage. "Darius asked me to come by, see how you were doing." She told Josh as she walked around, peeking in the rooms. "Seems like you've cleaned up the place a bit." Nikki stated. "Can I, uh, get you something to drink? Coffee, water, soda?" Josh asked, trying to be polite to his guest. "No I'm fine, thanks though." She turned around to face Josh, who was sitting on the Shelby's hood. "New car?" Nikki asked. "Yep." Josh replied simply. Nikki nodded in approval. "It's nice." She walked around a little more, looking in the makeshift kitchen and bedroom. "Been generating quite a bit of buzz you know." Josh stayed silent, sensing a 'but' coming. "But you're not foolin' me. What I'm trying to figure out is why you haven't skipped town yet." Nikki said as she looked Josh dead in the eyes. Josh scoffed, a small smirk appearing. "Wow, still the same as ever." He said aloud. "Well you got Darius to pay your debt to Cross off. You don't have a reason to stick around." Nikki retorted. Josh got off the hood of his Shelby and walked around a little before leaning against a wall. "I'm sticking around for one reason, and that's to pay off my debt to Darius. Simple. Nothing else." Josh told Nikki. Watching her facial expressions, Josh could've almost seen the hurt he caused Nikki with those words. "Well, glad to see you've at least changed that part of your personality." She responded bluntly. Josh, despite the fact he wasn't one to be angered easily, took the bait Nikki threw at him just now. "And what's that supposed to mean?" He asked Nikki flatly. "Oh nothing, just that you've changed, and it's for the better." She replied with a grin on her face. "Right." Josh said, rolling his eyes. "Well, I believe I'm done here. I'll see you around." Nikki said as she went for the door. Josh just watched as she left. "Stupid!" He quietly shouted to himself. He heard her Ford GT speed off, the engine screaming. "Of all the things…" He muttered. "You've changed." Josh mocked Nikki, throwing his arms up in the air in frustration. Getting his clothing ready, he went in for a shower.
Meanwhile…
Nikki shifted into third, heading back to Silverton and Darius. She laughed at the thought of Josh getting upset at her remark. "Hmph… He's changed, but yet… still the same."
AN
Hello readers, Cross436 here again! Wow, honestly, I didn't think I'd finish ten today! I know it's mostly just drama, but it raises the stakes for the finale, no? Anyways, hopefully I'll be able to upload another two chapters before Sunday is over, but we'll see what happens. Alright, well I'm out, PEACE!