A few weeks later:
The roads had been vacant ever since we passed the last intersection. The sky had darkened significantly ever since the sun was swallowed by the trees. We drove quickly along the desolate road, and I started to regret on my decision of agreeing to spectate the annual Courtley University Circuit competition.
"Eva, you look so tense. Loosen up girl!" A fair blonde girl said looking at me from the driver's rearview mirror.
"Be quiet Brittney, remember she's never been to one of these things before. You have nothing to worry about Eva, I think you will have a blast."
"Yeah," I chuckled nervously.
Brittney and Morgan were my dormmates and ever since they found out that I did not know what the Circuit was, they had been begging me to go with them from dawn till dusk. Today I finally agreed...by accident. In my defense, I was in a rush to leave...
"Eva, you'll love it at the Circuit!" Brittney had said
"Almost the whole school will be attending!" Morgan continued
"There will be so many cute boys there,"
"I bet we can seize this chance and find our prom partners!"
"Eva, pretty please. I assure you; you will not regret it."
"Evaaaaa! Are you even paying attention?"
"Yes, I am." I said exasperated.
"Today is a great day since its a more advanced race, we don't have to stay for long. We just want to bring you over so you can be...well...involved in college life," pleaded Morgan
"Come on, please. I'll drive,"
"Yeah, whatever, I have to run sorry." I said and hurried out the door and as it closed, I remember hearing Brittney squeal.
"She said yess!!!"
I breathed heavily through my nose and stared at the stars that were starting to speckle the night sky. It had been a while since I saw these many stars. In the city, the light pollution takes away from the beauty hidden on the dark blue canvas.
"We're heeerrre!" Morgan sang as we turned onto the side of the road behind several other cars.
Crowds of people lined the sides of the road, and 4 cars were parked on the road with two in each lane. Then it clicked.
"Wait Morgan, don't tell me the Circuit is street racing."
"K, I won't" she smiled at me cheekily
"Isn't it illegal? Why didn't you guys tell me?"
"If we told you, then you would never come miss goody two shoes," Brittney said and waved to a group of kids.
I scanned the spectators and realized that majority of them were all from our college except for a few who I assumed were specially invited. As I looked over the faces one more time, I realized that I didn't know anyone else except for Morgan and Brittney. My hands went numb, and the wind felt colder as I realized faces were slowly turning towards me and my friends.
"Brittney!" a girl came over and hugged her then multiple other encircled her greeting her like she was a celebrity, which she might as well be. Brittney was a major in theatre and she always was in the lead roles so nearly the entire school knew who she was. Morgan on the other hand was a fashion major and like me, was lesser known.
"Who are your friends?" a girl said, and I could immediately tell she was faking her interest.
"Oh yes. Meet my dormmates: Evangelina and Morgan,"
"Just call me Eva," I said with a wave,
"You new here? I don't think I ever saw you before," a tall lanky boy said,
"Yeah, I um-"
"What is your major?" another girl interrupted,
"I am in Law," I said sheepishly,
Several students started to laugh, "A law student here? You have got to be pulling my leg," the girl said,
"Where are your thick rimmed glasses girl?" another girl said haughtily,
"Are you going to tell the headmaster to send us all to jail?" another boy teased,
"Hey guys, cut it out. Remember we need to finish the races before morning classes,"
The crowd gradually dispersed, distracted by this evening's supposed main event. Brittney was dragged away by the crowd and as she left, she mouthed the words, "sorry,"
"Hey," Morgan said, "don't let them get to you. Political Science and Law students earned a bad rep in the Circuit which is why they were kind of rude,"
"Kind of?" I said with disbelief
"Okay, a very bad rep."
"What happened?"
"You see the Circuit used to be in a different location closer to the school, then it had to be moved because a law student found out about it and reported it to the administration."
"So, this is an illegal club?!"
"Psh, no. Circuit used to be called Speed. Speed was disbanded due to the administration threatening to expel the members."
"Then don't the administration know that this club is Speed?"
"Oh no..." Morgan smiled, "you see. The founder of Circuit put random science junk in the club purpose statement so that was how it got approved."
"Why bother with all that trouble," I muttered
"Haha, that is what they thought until they met the king of racing."
"The king of racing?"
"Yes, he-"
The whistle blew for silence and a tall lanky boy with a deep voice said, "Ready, set, GO!!" and the cars were off zooming into the distance. I could hear the chattering voices around me betting on who would win.
"Who do you think will win?" a boy said
"Cassio probably," another boy said
"Nah, Davies got a new car, so I doubt it."
"There is going to be a fight for the prince of racing,"
"Ooh look! Here they come,"
Headlights appeared like glowing eyes in the night sky.
"Who is it?" the crowd murmured.
There were two cars, and they were head-to-head. In the lead was Cassio, a veteran of the sport. Cassio had been a part of the club for several years and was popular within the school to the point that even Eva knew about him but for a different reason other than racing. Close behind was Davies with a car that cast a glowing blue hue onto the road. Davies was relatively new to the club and was steadily gaining a notorious reputation.
"I hope Cassio can win," Morgan whispered
"I agree, I have Davies in my minor and if I have to hear his self-confident attitude for another week," I sighed
"Your minor? What's your minor?"
"Psychology,"
"Davies in psych?" Morgan said in disbelief
"You never know, maybe he takes the course as therapy for his psychopathic behavior," I said and both of us started laughing.
Then a gust of petroleum flew into my face as the two cars zoomed by. I was pushed by the crowd as we followed the lead cars down to the finish line where another group waited. There was loud cheering and when we got there, the people from our group joined in on the excited chatter.
"Who won?"
"Davies,"
"Aww man, poor Cassio"
"It's no wonder. That new car of Davies has the most powerful engine,"
I looked around and it was obvious which one was Davies. Davies had been whooping the loudest to the point his whole face turned red, but it was clear who the people favored. Davies was surrounded by a few of his friends while Cassio was surrounded by all his sympathetic fans. Cassio looked nonchalant about his defeat as if he already guessed that Davies would win. I watched the people surround Cassio giving him cards and hugs as if won. Then he took his phone out his pocket to pick up a call and the crowd slowly became smaller as people left to go back to the dorms. That was when Davies yelled.
"Who's the new Prince! Huh?! The new champion of racing, King of the tracks!"
"We already have a king," An irritated boy said
"Oh really, Peter? You mean the one that hasn't been in this club for 3 years?"
"Technically it has only been 6 months."
"Who is the king?" I whispered to Morgan, but she didn't respond and continued to watch the conversation unfold.
"Yeah, he might as well be gone. I am the new king,"
"Not until you beat him."
"So how good is his car?"
"It's not about the car," Cassio says putting his phone back into his pocket, "it's his technique,"
"Who is this king anyways?"
Only silence follows Davies's question as Cassio whispered something in Peter's ear.
"Now?" Peter whispered
"Yeah," Cassio said
"Helloooo? Who is this king?" Davies said getting frustrated
Then the sound of tires on cement and the revving of an engine became louder as a motorcycle pulled up to where they were.
"There he is," Cassio said,
"Come on let's go," Morgan said and started to drag me away
"Wait but," I said reluctant to leave.
"You do not want to see this; besides we have morning classes."