Chapter 6: Entering Illinois

Later

Ezra's P.O.V

We were nearing the border between Iowa and Illinois, and we were in the 10's now, or a little bit behind if any of us were driving in the back. There weren't going to be any more racers until tomorrow when we get to Chicago, in the final five racers. There were going be three racers who are brothers, the leader of the race, and then one of us was going in to win it for us. As we kept on driving, we were debating who would go in to take the win.

"I honestly think that Alex should go for it." Sabine suggested on our conference call. "I could, but I don't handle that much pressure well at times." Alex replied. And after more people denied going for it, I cut in, and said, "I volunteer to go for it." Everybody went silent, just hearing the sounds of our motors as we drove. "Ezra, are you sure about this? You're just a new blood, and this isn't just one of those races that you've done with us back home. It's going to be a situation where the stakes are high, and the pressure is all on you. Are you sure you could handle it?" Kanan asked concerned.

"Kanan, somebody's gotta win this thing after all." I answered. "Besides, if you all denied going for it earlier, then one of us has to be willing to do what nobody else is willing to do." "A wise quote." Alex responded. "Alright then, Ezra. You are going in for us tomorrow. You are our man, and we all are putting a lot of faith in you." Kanan told me. "What about you guys? Where are you going to be?" I asked.

"By the time we get to the final five, the rest of us have to get out of the race. We will be watching you, cheering you on, don't worry." Kanan replied. Just as he finished, we just entered Illinois.

"Crew, welcome to Illinois. The last couple of racers before the final five are bound to be on this road. Keep an eye out, and make sure that we pass them so that Ezra could go for it." Kanan told to all of us as we drove.

Sometime flew by, and that was when we heard what could have been the last couple of racers, around three here as of now if there were more, before the last five. "Alright, gang, here they are. Let's pass them, and get to Chicago." Kanan said, all of us increasing the speed of our cars to pass the racers.

These cars that we were passing were sports cars, but weren't cars that were on the same level as ours, giving us an advantage. The cars were all battling it out for position, in which we overtook them by taking a nearby side road, getting a clean pass on those three. We got back on the highway, speeding away from the cars that we passed earlier.

We continued driving down the road, being on the look out for racers and law enforcement. Eventually, we came up on two more cars, both of them going neck and neck. The cars were both sports cars, in which we passed them with ease again. And surprisingly, normally cops would be on us a few minutes or so into this whenever we would be passing drivers, but so far, no cops, or FBI, as of yet. After we passed those two earlier, we continued driving on the road, coming up on two more cars eventually.

Once we passed those last two cars, it was down to the final five now, but the crew was still rolling with me. I was really nervous after we passed those guys, considering that though we weren't in Chicago yet, I practically felt the pressure on me right now. And that feeling stuck with me as we continued driving on the highway to Chicago, driving until we got the signal from Fulcrum to pull over for the night.

Later that night

We were at a motel right now, approximately 25 miles outside Chicago, in which I was talking with Sabine in my room about tomorrow.

"Look, I'm honestly really nervous about tomorrow. I have never felt this much pressure in my life honestly." I told her. "Ezra, I can understand the feeling, especially since I've been there before." Sabine said from experience. "What's your advice for this one?"

"For starters, I would say that imagine it like one of those street races that we did back in L.A. your first couple of days with us. Just you in the car against other racers, thinking about nothing but the finish line ahead. And you have done it just like that from what I can infer, Ezra." "So imagine it like a street race against others back in L.A. pretty much?" "Yup. That's what I'm saying." "Thank you for the advice, Sabine." "I'm always here for you, and so are the others."

After that talk with her, I felt slightly more relaxed, thanks to her advice, and now we were watching South Park just the two of us in the room in the meantime. We were watching the episode about Kanye West and the fish sticks joke, which was one of our favorite episodes in the show, and we laughed a lot throughout it.

While in the middle, both of us sitting up in the bed, I put my arm around Sabine, thinking about what happened last night before we went off to Omaha. She turned her head away from the TV, looking into my eyes, a smile on both of our faces. I had a good feeling that she was thinking about that moment too, and she really was by the looks of things when she slid a finger on my chest.

"Do it, Ezra. I'm ready for it." she whispered, closing her eyes, waiting for it. I closed my eyes as well, moving my head towards her, kissing her on the lips. The kiss was loving and passionate, and it continued being that way for a while during our romantic moment.

Time flew by pretty quick after that moment, in which we watched more South Park, and then it was time for bed for the both of us. I came out of the bathroom in my boxers, and crawled under the covers next to her in the bed. "Goodnight, Sabine." I said to her. "Goodnight, Ezra. I love you." she said, kissing me on the lips, then breaking the kiss after a good minute or so. "I love you too, Sabine. Goodnight." I said, kissing her one last time on the lips, and then the two of us drifted off to sleep.

However, as we slept, I still had that feeling of pressure in my mind still.