Hi guys. Sorry it's been so long since my last upload! Anyways here is another chapter in my Need for Speed story. Unfortunately my PC broke and I lost all my old stuff, including the chapters I have already written :( Hoping to get it fixed at some point so I can recover them. I remember where I left off with my story, so once again allow me to (very briefly, cos I've actually written shit loads) fill you in on what happened in those chapters between my last upload and this one. After losing to Carl, Adam is approached by Luke (who he met at the race meet if you remember) who was nonetheless impressed with Adam's skill and attitude, and asks him to join his crew and help them to take down the blacklist. He fills Adam in on what the blacklist is, and also who Razor is, and Adam turns him down saying that he doesn't want to get involved in something like that. Rumours spread that Adam is going to work with Luke to take down Razor, and this of course gets back to the man himself. Razor, not liking what he hears, pays Adam a visit and has him badly beaten up. Adam then reconsiders Luke's offer, and decides he wants in on it. He teams up with Luke's crew, which consists of Luke, another racer named Nick, a middle aged mechanic named Jim who runs Luke's garage and a female racer with a lot of contacts named Brooke. Together they come up with a plan to take down the blacklist, starting with building up Adam's rep with a few races. This extract is the beginning of that preparation.

Sorry that it's a bit short, I was desperate to upload something, so it might be a bit rushed. There will be more soon :) Also, forgive me if my locations are strange or unrealistic - I've based this in L.A., which is a place I have never been to. Im from the UK and have never actually been to America lol. This is all done using Google maps :s So yeah it might not be accurate bet hey, its just fun :)

Enjoy

Adam arrived at the garage to find the others there waiting for him. The three of them were stood on the forecourt conversing by Nick's Charger. Adam parked alongside it, and glanced at the time before shutting off the ignition. Twenty-three minutes past twelve. Although the meet was scheduled for midnight, Luke had told everyone to meet at the garage for quarter-past, as they wanted the crowds to be there first. They were going to need to make an entrance. Adam stepped out of his car, and said hello to everyone. They engaged in small talk for a few minutes, before Luke glanced at his watch.

"Okay, I think that's fashionably late enough" he said. "Don't want people to think you're bitchin' out. Let's go" he said. The others nodded. Brooke hopped into the Charger with Nick and Luke and Adam climbed into his Skyline. Nick led them out of the garage. It was only a short drive to the meet, which was taking place in a car park on an industrial estate in Commerce. There was still plenty of time to think however. Adam had a lot riding on this race. It was the first one since that night he lost to Carl, and the first step in mounting his challenge against the blacklist. After his last outing, he had no credibility left – if he lost tonight, no-one was going to take him seriously. This win was vital for his reputation. "How are you feeling about this?"

He was started by Luke's voice. They'd both been quiet for a while, and Adam had been so lost in thought that he had not even been paying attention to his driving. He had no idea how they had got to where they were now from the garage, he'd just been following Nick. He cleared his throat.

"I'm feeling good. I got this" Adam replied. He didn't doubt that he could win, but he wasn't telling the truth when he said he was feeling good. Although he hated to admit it to himself, he was a little nervous.

They came to the end of Fidelia Avenue and made a left onto Sheila Street. They followed the road right until its end, upon where they came across the car park. It was situated between a train yard and a field that contained nothing but pylons. At this time of night, there was no-one around, except of course for all of the street racers. The car park was adorned with many of the familiar sights that a race meet had to offer. There were cars lined up along either side, leaving a space down the middle which at that moment was filled with people. They turned and started as Nick and Adam pulled in, moved slowly out of the way as the two cars pushed through the crowd. Nick peeled off into an empty spot but Luke told Adam to keep on going. The crowd up ahead parted to reveal two cars parked side by side – one was Leo's Acura RSX and the other was Dave's Infiniti GSX. Adam took his place alongside his competitors, and shut of the engine.

"Okay then, here we go" said Luke. "Don't let these guys get to you. I know you're gonna smoke them" he smiled, and Adam nodded. They both got out of the car. Immediately there was jeering and hollering. Leo and Dave, who were with their cars, were smirking.

"Thought you weren't gonna show dog" said Dave as Leo shook his head, and the crowd jeered some more. "Started to think you'd pussied out". There was laughter and echoes of agreement.

"Well we're here now, what do you say we get this over with so you two can give us your money and we can all go home, huh?" Luke retorted. There were some 'ooh's from the crowd as they carried on stirring up the atmosphere. Dave pulled a face and Leo stood up from the hood of his car.

"Well what are we waiting for?" he asked, pulling out a wad of cash and throwing it down onto the hood of Dave's. "2 G's, as agreed" he said. Dave pulled out a similar wad and placed it next to Leo's. Everyone looked at Adam, who reached into his jacket pocket, pulled out his money, and tossed it onto the hood of the GSX.

"Alright, alright fellas" said a man stepping forwards and picking up the three wads of cash. He thumbed through it and passed it to a friend, who confirmed that it was all there. "Okay. This will be a one lap race. You race across the train yard to East 26th Street, follow that until you get to South Garfield Avenue – make a left and then another one onto Telegraph Road, follow Telegraph until East Washington Boulevard, take East Washington back to Fidelia Avenue and then take Sheila Street back to here. Got that?"

Leo and Dave nodded, and so did Adam. He was saying the route over and over in his head, but wasn't sure he was going to remember it in a few moments time when the race started and the adrenaline kicked in.

"Alright then, let's get this started" said the guy who was holding the money. The crowd cheered and started to clear the way. Leo and Dave each spent a few moments listening to words of good luck from their friends before getting into their cars.

"Good luck buddy" said Luke, patting Adam on the shoulder. Brooke and Nick appeared from behind and also wished him luck, and then took their place at the side line. Adam climbed into the Skyline once more. He turned on the ignition, drew a deep breath, and then pressed on the gas pedal. The Skyline rumbled. The other guys were revving their engines too. As the race starter took his place, Leo began to spin his rear wheels to the applause of the crowd. Adam stayed cool. The starter threw his hands in the air; everything else that happened in the next few seconds felt like it took a lifetime. The noise from all three cars as the drivers revved their engines was deafening and the crowd were cheering louder than before. Adam quickly moved one hand from the wheel to the handbrake as his rear wheels began to spin. His tyres were squealing, his engine was roaring. The Skyline was as eager to get off of the line as he was. The starter dropped his hands, and the three of them were off…