Driving is not something to be taken lightly. It's serious business, the safety and lives of oneself and others are always at stake when a vehicle is being operated. That doesn't mean it can't be fun though and for most people, it can be real fun when they're going fast. Zane is one of those people.

The sound of the engine in the car net to him is what set him off. He glanced over to see a tinted BMW M2, it was from… 2006? Sometime around there, he didn't know for sure in that moment. All he knew was that his homely little Volvo wasn't looking to good compared to the immaculate coupe on his left. Regardless, he felt the urge to rev his engine and glance over, he felt the urge to issue a challenge even if his car didn't have the horsepower to keep up. He didn't mind, he'd been driving long enough and well enough to know that speed wasn't everything. He stepped on the gas pedal, revving his engine loudly, and hearing the other driver rev his own even more. Whatever he had in there sounded like a demon, a demon that had time to accept a challenge. Zane felt his heart start to pick up with anticipation, turning his head forward just in time to see the light turn green.

The two cars were off. Zane kept his right hand on the stick shift, his left foot on the clutch as he listened to his car, switching gears accordingly as he accelerated more and more. Mr. Murphy's old Volvo 424 didn't have much left in it, but it could wasn't a pushover and the life it still had was enough to convince Zane to buy it off his neighbor back when he was seventeen. Now he was twenty-two, racing it through traffic on a rainy night through the streets of Ventura Bay and he was feeling more alive than he'd felt in weeks. The BMW kept pace with ease before starting to overtake him, the driver seemed to have a little experience racing as they weaved through the traffic and showed signs of urgency to really cut loose. Zane wasn't having it; he knew that if he could just time his movements well enough, he could get swerve out to get the right opening and speed off for the win. One problem: red and blue lights started to flash as the familiar sound of a police siren started to blare.

'That was fast,' thought Zane as he cut off and SUV and try to get ahead. The police were starting to pull in as cars moved out of their way cautiously. Zane huffed as eh rolled his eyes, after moving to Ventura Bay he learned quick that the cops were way too eager to catch street racers at night. Granted, Ventura Bay is one of the biggest cities in the country for racing and general underground car stuff. After all, that's why HE oved out there a couple weeks ago. He figured he'd run into them eventually, he just hoped he'd have a better ride by then.

Zane decided he'd have to make do, looking out into the road and taking everything in at once. He trusted his instincts well enough for him to shift into fifth gear and speed up even more as the incoming traffic lights started to turn yellow. He wouldn't have much time for his opening as he kept weaving through and knew that if he could beat the light then he would likely beat the BMW. While the car seemed equipped to completely leave him in the dust, the driver didn't seem to really know how to use it to its full potential. Zane smirked a little as his eyes lit up, he cut off a random sedan and sped forward to reach the light as it turned red and make a sharp right turn as the cops closed in. He would then make a left, then a right, then another right, then a left, pushing his car to leave the police behind him.

Eventually he pulled into an alley and stopped his car to listen for the sirens, checking his rearview mirror for the flashing lights. His heart was pounding, he'd likely get a ticket and pay a few hundred dollars in fines. That would suck as his job at the gas station out West doesn't pay too well. Also, it's California, he'd need every penny he could keep. He could hear the sirens start to quiet down as the cops were driving away, they couldn't find him. Zane let out a sigh of relief as he brought his hand up to his key, he got off easy tonight for his first street race.

"Ayooooo!"

The loud call for his attention nearly made him fly through the roof of his car. He checked his rear view to find the BMW he just raced park on the other side of the street while the driver, a skinny young man roughly his age and wearing clothes that seemed to be the perfect mix of basic and expensive, running towards his passenger side. Normally, one isn't going to roll down their window at night in an alley for just anybody, but Zane could make out the overly thrilled expression on the dude's face and knew just from that glance that the driver was no threat whatsoever. Some people really do look as harmless as they are.

"What's up, Man?" Zane asked as he rolled down his window with a hint of curiosity.

"Bro, you handles are fucking WILD!" the young man spoke with a somewhat forced accent like any typical white guy that wasn't from the streets but wanted to be.

"Uhm… yeah, thanks. Look Man, if you're hoping for a rematch, I can't promise you because this thing…"

"Nah nah don't worry about that, you're good!" He cut in, speaking rather fast as he grinned and fished through the pockets of his hoodie to pull out a colorful promo flier. He would then eagerly offer it to Zane, the latter of which quietly accepting. "You gotta come check this place out, BIG names are gonna be there tonight! I'll introduce you to my boy Travis, he's got a bunch of cars he's tryin' to get rid of Man. No doubt." He made a quick glance around at the Volvo before he continued, "it's high time you got a lil upgrade from this thing." The guy smirked as Zane looked down at the flier before looking back up.

"I'm Spike," he said as he offered a hand to dap Zane up.

"Zane," he said as he accepted the quick handshake.

"Cool, Man! Listen I'll see you there! Introduce you to the crew! Come check out the club it's gonna be crazy!"

"Uh… yeah, sure. I'm not doing shit else."

"Great! Er… lit! I'll see you there, Zane!"

With that, he was off and running back to his own car, probably heading off to the club himself. Meanwhile, Zane was sitting in the alley still, wondering just what he'd really gotten himself into. He would spend the next year figuring that out as his next move was the first that would take him on one wild ride.