(Before Fashion killa.)

This place was the definition of what my mother wanted me to stay away from when I was shipped to Miami, it was heaven and hell clashing together. It isn't just that it's crowded, or that the air smells distinctly of weather, it's just that the amount of illegal cars racing down the block and the dark liquor in a red solo cup that passes my lips is her personal hell, and my mother doesn't handle chaos well at all. It was easy to hide what I did when I came down here and my Aunt loved to come and see me race; so of course I always asked my mom to send me down to Miami to 'better' myself. It was painful leaving Ellie, but this year she got to come. Which leaves the two of us walking behind OJ to find his group.

"Come on, Drue." OJ shouted over the cheering, screams and loud bass of the music. "Tej will kill me if you get hurt or late to this damn race."

"Forget about Tej." Adonis chimed in behind the three of us. "I'll kill you if you get her hurt." He reaches around the front of my body to move ahead of Ellie and I, hands gripping both of our hands as we move at a faster pace to get over to his crowd. I look over at Ellie, covering my lips behind my iced out hand as we both giggle.

Everything about this scene was different, pulsing neon lights reflecting brightly in our eyes with the bass of rap music pounding loudly; more specifically 'redrum' by 21 savage. There were a lot more people than usual, Adonis mentioned tonight a well known underground driver was coming to race against everyone, so the atmosphere was a lot more loud. From ambiguous girls with fat asses and two-tight clothes leaning out the car windows as they did doughnuts at the front of where the starting line would be. To the left of us was a lineup of vintage cars bouncing to the music and even neon motorcycles parked to the right of the lineup, some couples fucking on them or swapping saliva between the two of them.

Being a newbie in OJ's club granted us the privilege to have room made for us when we walked past and since Ellie was the definition of a black girl goddess, she didn't need to be part of the club to have all eyes on her. Everything about this was something you'd see in a movie, more alcohol was passed over top of us with bottle girls walking around, the closer we got to the venue where they reside before a race was packed with brighter LED lights to the loud, rowdy patrons. In the corner of the venue, there was a sign for only "Street Killers." Could head back there and converse with that group.

Back in Washington, if you would've told me that two years later I would be a street racer, moving to Miami when I graduate, attending multiple races that not even my Mom knows about, a day before I start a new job, I would've told you that you were crazy while also looking up how much cars were to start saving for one. I'm also the definition of impulsive: yes, I'll go to Miami with my Aunt and Uncle if you think smashing the chief of police's car was a sign of rebellion. Yes, I'll force my best friend to come with me across the country on a Saturday night when we could be finishing unpacking our things, and attend a race that I was put into on short notice. Because I don't think, I just do.

"Tej, you remember Ellie." Adonis spoke the moment we walked into the room. I know he remembered her, he couldn't keep his eyes off of her and she couldn't either; which is why I refuse to let her go alone with him in a room...again.

"Of course, who could forget." He spread his hands out and walked over to place a chaste kiss on her lips, his hands dancing on her waist before I stepped in with a thin line smile.

"You sure know how to flatter a girl, Tej." She purred next to me, reaching out to meet him halfway with a hug.

"Only when they are as beautiful as you."

I stepped in, my face showing nothing but a thin line smile before clasping him on the shoulder. "Miss me?"

Tej shuddered back, pretending to be frightened before turning on his heel and walking away. I rolled my eyes, interlocking her arm with mine before we walked out of the graffiti-illustrated warehouse and out the back entrance to where the race really happened.

Two dirt bikes draw inky rings into the pavement as they have a tornado-like doughnut competition. I recognize them as the Ash twins; both brothers who were orphaned and found a family in the community of racing. They only got their nickname because they leave a trail of ash from their excessive use of smoking, at their young age of twenty you would think they would calm down. Red and blue smoke emits from each to form a purple mist that washed over the ring of people cheering around them.

"I think this year tops every other year." Ellie yells over the cheering.

Just then, I spotted Adonis and Oj by the lineup of vintage cars with one occupied driver in the car and a free one, for me. OJ and I make eye contact and his smile spreads across his lips.

"So, what you thinking?" He extends his hand out for me to observe the car I would be racing in. It's a Nissan R33 Skyline GT-Rs with gold wheels and well tinted windows. I drag the tip of my finger across the exterior, nodding in approval.

"It's nice, I like this." I admit it honestly. When I first made the decision to move down here, a part of me was weary of being a part of this. Miami was supposed to be my clean state, it was supposed to be where I came as a punishment, no one would know who I was or why I was sent here on such a quick time frame. Then I met my cousin, and I wanted to reinvent myself in a different light.

"You're going to be racing against this new guy named Opium, he's new around these streets but got a lick for cheatin'. Try to stay in front of him at a good distance, I know you like to fuck around and mess with your competition, but word around here says he got nails digging into his nails that are easy to pop opponents tires." OJ explains, helping me into the car.

"That's cheating."

"Not in quick street races, you know that."

I wave my hand so he backs up before starting my engine, the blast shooting out blue smoke from behind as the engine revs in power, I rolled my window up and drove at a slow speed to the starting line.

Next to me was a red 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse, his obnoxiously loud engine revving to prove a point next to me.

It didn't take long for my eyes to move back up to see Ellie standing with two checkered flags in her hands, grinning as Tej stood behind her with his hands ghosting on her hips. The crowd surrounded the sidewalks, making a giant line down the street with cash waving in their hands in the distance.

"Let's start those engines!" Ellie's voice yelled out, giggling as Tej rested his chin on her shoulder and praised her for doing the bare minimum. I do nothing but roll my eyes, but do as told.

She looks at the car next to me, then to me with a wink and I chuckle. Her hands fly down screaming 'GO'.

Colored smoke trails behind the both of us, I memorized this course a week ago when Kiki told me I had no choice but to race tonight. In a matter of seconds Opium and I were neck and neck, but I easily overtake him and make it back first and drift with a screeching-loud doughnut that forms a ring of purple smoke around everyone.

"DRUE WINS!" Ellie shouts.

The crowd of watchers and Ellie instantly flock around my car, my hands stretched out for the cash winning prize to come directly into my right palm specifically. I can't even see the front of the street anymore, there's no choice but to take in the winning like I do. Every time.

Ellie comes right into my arms, hugging me with a little hop in her step as she towers over me by two inches. "Every time I see you race I swear I get a little wet!" She squeals, taking the money and counting it for me before she uses a pointer finger to get more of the winnings into her right palm as well.

By the time I make it back to the warehouse and the next race begun, my attention perks up to the new voices inside. My hand rests on my waistband, walking around the corner before dropping it.

"Were you about to shoot me, nigga?" OJ asks, appalled that I would think of doing such a thing.

"You were just out there and suddenly you are here, why else wouldn't I protect th–Who are you?"

Next to OJ was a new face. His tan skin, drops of sweat linger around his hairline with his wolf-cut hairstyle. Tattoos litter up and down his arms and hands, his wrist iced out in a Rolex watch and silver earrings with gray sweatpants, yeezy boost 350's and a black graphic shirt on.

"This JK, he brand new. He also your new mechanic." OJ introduced JK, patting the other on the shoulder. He says nothing, staring at me with a blank look on his face before extending a hand out for me to shake.

"Nah, Drue don't like shaking hands with newbies."

"What's up witchu? Where you from?" I murmur, taking in his appearance with my arms crossed one over the other. He was attractive, an eye piece for the ladies.

"I'm from here, I just travel a lot with my brother for work." His deep voice echoes around the warehouse, his gaze is piercing into me and blindly blinks.

"Well, JK from around here. I hope you know how to keep yourself busy because I don't need a mechanic, if anything." I raise my chin in the direction of my cousin. "His car could use some tweaking, oil up his head, too. Few loose screws fell out of there." I give my best smile and turn away, walking away.

"Don't worry, Snips is always like that. Come by this place tomorrow night and I'll have you meet the rest of the group."

"Why they call her Snips?"

"Because she has the snippiest attitude known to man."