♛Cameron Dawson ♛
The engine purrs beneath my feet and I watch the rapidly approaching curve.
"You can do this Harley." I say and as soon as we reach the curve, she lifts her foot off the accelerator. She twists the steering wheel and the car moves along with the road before she presses her foot back on the gas, changing the gears and making sure that the car picks up speed again. She's a little rusty when she picks up speed, on the verge of stalling, but she regains control before she loses it.
My lips stretch into smile before I look at her to see her grinning excitedly. "Oh my gosh! Did you see that? I actually did it!" She exclaims and I chuckle at her reaction.
"Wasn't that hard, was it?" I tease and she smiles at me before slowing the car down to a halt.
"I can't believe I actually got it right." She shakes her head to herself, her excitement radiating.
"How did it feel?" I ask curiously and she smiles softly.
"Like I didn't have a care in the world."
I nod with a small, crooked smile.
"That's when you know you're doing it right."
We stare at each other for a moment before I look at my watch. "We need to head back. The race at the track starts at eight."
She unbuckles her seatbelt. "You racing tonight?"
"I race nearly every night."
She nods and plays with the end of her shirt. "Is Audrey and Caleb going?" She asks and I narrow my eyes before shrugging in response.
"As far as I know."
She nods and kisses her teeth.
"Are you coming?" I ask curiously and she shrugs, retying her hair into a ponytail.
"I don't know. Why? Are you inviting me?" She asks with a sly smirk, her eyes that are covered with thick lashes, swimming in amusement. My lips twitch up into a smile.
"Don't get ahead of yourself Harley." I quip teasingly. She lets out a small chuckle and I follow suit.
"C'mon." I say, climbing out of the car so we can switch seats again. When I'm back behind the wheel and we're on our way back home, I wonder how Harley manages to get under my skin when nobody else can. It's frustrating. I don't like the fact that she has the power to do that to me.
My whole life I've being taught that showing emotion is a weakness and it was something I mastered; controlling them and acting like I didn't have any.
But Harley makes it a little difficult for me. And as much as it is annoying, perhaps it is a good thing.
Because at least this way I know I'm human.
Even if I'm only half.
****
The track is bustling with activity when I return and I park my Mustang inside where people gawk at it with wide eyes. I climb out and lock my car before slipping it into my pockets.
"Bro!" Mason calls out as I walk inside the bar that is so full I can barely breathe.
"Hey man." I greet and he nods his head in the direction of the betting room. That is where you could bet for the races and handed in the cash you were putting on the line or the documents for your car. A lot of people also bet on racers, determining who they thought would win. Most of the time I was their go to racer which meant I brought a lot of money in for numerous people since I hadn't lost a race in the last two years. Betting on racers was a quick and easy way to get money however, it could also cause a lot of issues because if someone bets that you'll win and lays twenty grand on the table only for you to lose, they get pretty pissed off and often look to start fights with you.
It's a dangerous game to play which is why I don't take part in it; if someone does bet on me- which I know there are people who do- it's on their own accord.
"Heard sleazy guy over there wants to take you on." He refers to a guy with long blonde greasy hair and sleeves of tattoos. I look back at Mason in amusement.
"What car does he drive?" I ask.
Mason shrugs, running a hand through his golden locks. "Dodge Charger."
I smirk, looking back to the man. "Well then, let him race me."
I'm saying I'm unbeatable- because I'm not. But I know my capabilities and my potential which means I know that I don't let failure come easy. I push myself to the extreme when it comes to racing and very few people actually do that. Besides, I've being involved in this line of business my whole life so I know everything that I need to.
I know it like the back of my hand.
I walk inside the dark room and over to the mahogany desk, greeting a few people here and there, before stopping behind the man.
"Clark." I greet the man behind the table who takes the papers from my to-be opponent. The sleazy man turns around and when he notices me, his lips quirk into a smile to showcase his crooked teeth.
"Ah. Is this the unbeaten Cameron?"
I give a one shoulder shrug.
"I was expecting more of a man and less of a boy." He retorts and I chuckle, handing my documents to Clark who does what's necessary to them.
"We'll see who the man really is once we're behind the wheel." I smirk at the man and he narrows his eyes at me. I know the trick of trying to knock your opponent's confidence by talking smack to them.
It's a futile attempt when it comes to me.
"Don't be disappointed when you lose, boy."
"Oh I don't intend to." I quip and he takes a threatening step forward, trying to intimidate me. However, the fact that I tower over him puts him at a huge disadvantage.
"Don't start." Clark warns from behind the desk, his voice one of warning, and I avert my gaze from the sleazebag.
"Catcha later Clark." I nod at the man, walking out of the room that more and more people enter as the seconds tick by. Mason walks beside me as I exit the building and back into the darkening sky.
"So?" Mason asks intriguingly and I roll my eyes.
"Typical douchebag who thinks he has the capability of winning the tracks."
Mason laughs to himself. "What a fucktard."
I shake my head to himself. "Oh well. At least I'll be scoring a car tonight."
Mason nods. "At least."
We head back to my car where I lean against it and Mason stands in front of me. "Where's Ryan?" I ask and Mason shrugs.
"Beats me."
"Speaking about me?" A gravely voice suddenly asks and Mason and I both look to the boy beside us. His grey eyes twinkle in amusement before he looks down at the girl on his arm.
"Speak of the devil and he shall appear." Mason mutters.
"I'll catch you later sweet cheeks." Ryan purrs to the girl in a mini dress and she winks at him before sashaying away. He watches her go before turning back to Mason and I.
"Let me tell you both something; car sex is not nearly as easy as they make it out to be in the movies."
Mason lets out a chuckle and I roll my eyes at him. Ryan is, in all words, a womaniser. He has a new girl every night but never has different plans besides the usual- hump and dump. He has no interest in commitment and settles more with the 'fuck buddies' method. I would be lying if I said it doesn't bother me because it does. If you're going to be with a girl, at least treat her right. However, that is not Ryan's logic. And girls know what they are getting themselves into when he picks them up. But it also makes sense why girls are so willing to get involved with him, too. He's a good looking guy with naturally blonde, basically white, hair and penetrating grey eyes. But that still doesn't change the fact that Ryan has no moral compass when it comes to girls. But who am I to judge him though? It not like I haven't done things worse than him.
"Remind me never to sit in your car again." Mason mutters and Ryan rolls his eyes, his lip piercing glinting when it catches the light.
"Don't act like you and Samantha haven't done it." Ryan counters and Mason shakes his head to himself. Samantha was his long term girlfriend who he has dated for the last three years. They're good together but they don't have the healthiest of relationships; they're always on and off, with different reasons validating that. However, they never manage to firmly break up and move on.
It's frustrating to say the least because here I am, single and having never being in a relationship my whole life and yet still having better navigation when it came to the dating world.
"Actually, we haven't." Mason counters "We prefer to be comfortable."
"Where's the thrill in that?"
"As much as I love hearing about your guys' sex lives," I cut the bickering pair off after checking my watch, "could we move onto more important topics like why the race hasn't started yet?"
Ryan is about to respond when I catch sight of a familiar ginger bouncing towards me with a wide smile on her face. "Cameron!" Audrey exclaims and I give her a smile as she pushes through the crowd to reach me.
"Hey Audrey." I then look to see Caleb appearing out of the crowd. He gives me a boyish grin and a pat on the back when he reaches me.
"How are you man?" He asks and I shrug.
"All good."
Audrey turns to Mason and Ryan. "Hello Mason." She smiles before scowling at Ryan "Ryan." He winks at her in response and Caleb pulls her towards him in a protective manner.
Ryan and Audrey butt heads a lot; they're both extremely hotheaded and Audrey has told me that she thinks he's a dick more times than once.
I frown once I return my attention back to Caleb. "Harley didn't come with tonight?" I ask and he nods his head, gesturing to behind him.
"She's just on a call."
I look up to see her with her phone pressed to her ear and a smile on her face.
"Who's the pretty lady?" Ryan inquires when he catches me staring.
I narrow my eyes at him, already knowing his train of thought, as he basically undresses her with his eyes.
"Back off, Ryan. She's not going to be another one of your conquests." I warn.
He holds his hands up in surrender. "Only for you, man."
I roll my eyes at him before Harley appears by Audrey's side with a soft smile plastered to her angelic face.
"This is Harley." Audrey introduces her to the guys and they smile at her to which she responds with a wave.
"What's a girl like you doing around here?" Ryan asks, eyeing Harley up and down. I wouldn't be surprised if he wants to take her home; she looks damn good in her jeans and combat boots. She narrows her eyes at him.
"I'm here to watch a race."
"Mmh. That so?" He winks and I put my hand in front of his chest to stop him from stepping towards her.
"I said back off, Maxwell." I snap coldly, frowning afterwards to try and understand why I feel the need to protect Harley. It's her decision if she wants to entertain Ryan. However, that makes me feel unusually uncomfortable.
Harley stares at him in confidence and he chuckles. "I'm just poking fun."
"Well cut it out." I snap harshly. Ryan rolls his eyes before pulling out a cigarette.
"I'll catch you later." He grumbles before stalking off.
I notice everyone moving to the tracks and I take it as a sign that the race is about to begin. "That's my queue." I nod at everyone and get up from off my car.
"Good luck!" Harley exclaims after I've opened my car door. I give her a small smile and a nod before climbing in. I pull out of the lot and place my car on one of the lanes of the road, people moving out of my way as soon as they see my car approaching. Soon after, a Dodge Charger pulls up beside me and the sleazy guy from earlier rolls down his window to smile menacingly at me. By now, there's already a crowd hanging around and waiting for the race to begin.
"Prepared to get your ass beat?" He asks and I roll my eyes, looking straight ahead and ignoring his macho-man talk. He chuckles.
Emery steps in front of our cars and I grip the steering wheel with one hand and rest the other on my gearstick, my heart beating in anticipation and excitement. "The race is about to begin! Winner takes the opponent's car and loser walks home!"
The crowd cheers loudly and I rev my engine, ready to take the Dodge beside me down. "Let the race begin!" Emery throws his fist into the air and the crowd lets out a deafening scream which makes me lick my lips in desperation to hit my accelerator.
A girl in a short, golden dress steps forward and lifts a flag up. I tap my fingers on my steering wheel. "See you around, kid." The man boasts beside me just as she drops the flag. I don't hesitate to step on the gas for a second, sending the car lurching forward. I keep my hand steadily on the wheel and make sure I keep ahead of blondie. I check my review mirror to see him only a few inches behind me and I change my gears to fifth, hitting two hundred miles an hour. I sense his frustration and he too steps on the gas before my car is suddenly hit from the back.
I look at him in my mirror once more to notice a sly smile and I shake my head to myself.
So he's a dirty racer.
He's about to overtake me when I cut him off and he picks up his speed. However, I know the track by wrote which is why I slow down. He passes me in a blur and I shake my head at the guy and let out a chuckle when he doesn't notice the bend and tries to turn with it at the last minute. His speed sends him onto the sandy embankment and I turn with the curve, leaving him and his car in the dust before hitting my speed again. He manages to recover, however, and is soon a few meters away from me again.
But I still hit first place after I pass the finish line. I bring my car to a halt and run a hand through my hair with a proud smile before climbing out. The crowd surrounds me with loud cheers and I ignore the pats and slaps on my back as I watch my opponent pull up and climb out of his car with an angry slam of the door.
He pushes through the crowd with raging eyes, angry flames dancing in them. "You fucking twat." He hisses and I tilt my head to the side.
"Don't be a sore loser man." I say and he chuckles just as Mason and Caleb appear by my side. He spits at my shoes and I look down at it in disgust, the man slowly starting to spark my anger as well.
Spitting was one of the most disrespectful things you could do back in Colombia and if he had done this to my father, he would surely have being beaten to a pulp. However, I remind myself that I am not my father and that I'm better than this.
I look up to him with a tense jaw. "Give me your keys."
He chuckles, licking his dry and chapped lips. "In your fucking dreams, bitch."
I shake my head to myself and step forward, towering over the man and looking down at him with a warning glare. I may not be my father, but I still have his blood.
I still had what he taught me installed in my brain.
"Give me your fucking keys." I warn and the man sneers at me.
"Get out of my fuc-"
"Hey!" I hear an authoritative voice call out and I look up to see the crowd parting for Emery. I step back from my opponent as Emery approaches us. "What is going on here?"
The blonde man scoffs to himself before looking at me with hatred burning in his eyes. "Fucktard." He hisses before throwing his keys at me. I crouch down and pick them up as he stalks off, admiring the cleanness of the item despite its owner's filthy appearance.
Emery sighs before turning to the crowd. "Your winner! Cameron!"
The crowd cheers for me again and I slip the keys to my new car into my pockets before catching Harley's eye in the crowd. She smiles brightly at me, her hands clapping together and my lips twitch into amusement, my previous anger melting slowly. I follow Emery back into the betting room to retrieve the documents for the Dodge Charger.
•••
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