《Drive to survive》


 Beat up

    It was already late when mister Badge, let her go to her dorm room. The words of those bullies, not willing to give them another title, were still plaguing her mind. How could they say that, even after everybody knew that her father was set up. She sighed, while walking through the dark hallways. The lights inside those were bad for months, and nobody but her and the concierge used them after hours. So that was the reason why they haven''t being fixed. The light of the moon came through some windows, giving it a spooky feeling. Still she needed to keep on walking to get to her room. Where she could let go and do some homework before going to bed.


    "Hey 21." That was one of the bullies, and of course he wasn''t alone. His group of friends was with him.


    "Oh come on. It has been a long day and I need to finish my history paper." She moaned. The guys didn''t show any sign of letting her go, of course they didn''t. She was right now such an easy target, another reason why she hated the lack of lights in the hallways. But there was nothing she could do about it now, or was there. She could take a run for it. She was fast, only would she be fast enough. There was only one way to find out. With a little jump she started running, but one of the boys had guessed her attention and grabbed her by the arm. Flinging her against the concrete wall, she was able to catch herself before her head made contact with it. Still it was hurting like hell, the boys started to gang around her. This was going not as planned, and she didn''t know what they were planning to do with her. Normally they would insult her, but something told her that this was not the case this time. She turned around to face them, something she regretted directly. One of the guy''s fist was on its way to hit her back on the head. But instead it landed directly in her face, her noise started to bleed and briefly she wondered if it was broken. She didn''t have the time to check this, because the next fist landed. Forcing her head to smash the wall, she was starting to taste the blood in her mouth. Were they trying to kill her? If that was the case she needed to make sure she was not forced towards the ground, otherwise they were able to kick her. Another fist landed in her stomach, forcing the air out of her lungs. Followed by two others, she needed to find a way out of this. Another fist landed on her temple, dark spots started to appear in her vision. This is not going to end well.


    "What in hell''s name are you guys doing?" A voice echoed through the hallway. She only couldn''t pinpoint from where it came from. The blows to her head and stomach stopped directly. Still she wasn''t willing to hope that it was over, the other could join them.


    "Kezef, you are back." One of the bullies said. Fear was clearly audible in his voice, and she didn''t blame him. Kezef maybe a student he was also a racer. Footsteps were getting closer, she wasn''t able to turn her head towards the sound.


    "I am going to school here. So were else would I go?" Kezef replied, he was closer by then before. Of course, he was. Where else would those footsteps come from? The group of boys hadn''t moved since he had asked them what they were doing. "But none of you answered my question. What ate you guys doing?"


    "Taking out the trash, she has no business to be in this school." One of them replied. "She is the daughter of a murderer, and that isn''t all. She was actively taking notes of the race."


    "The fact of her being here at school, that is the job for the dean. And as for her taking notes..." He looked at her and sighed. "She lives in a world where racing can change lives, so I do not find it strange for her to take notes." The others were clearly taken it back by his comments, and so was she. He then turned towards her. "Are you alright?" Again she was surprised by his question, nobody in this school had asked her this before. She wanted to tell him the truth, that he could see it for himself. She was not fine. But instead she started to nod, which was a huge mistake.


    "I am... Fine." Dina said with a shaky voice. Great, now the others have heard it as well. She simply should have nod and should have left it there. But no, she needed to speak. Her body started to betray her as well, it was now heavily shaking from the pain and her vision was beginning to blur. She pushed herself harder against the wall, just to be able to stand straight. "There is nothing they can do to me, that I am not able to handle." Now her voice was a bit more steady. Kezef nodded, but he then looked at the boys.


    "They are indeed weak, if they needed four of them to attack you. Thinking of it, is four against one not a crime?" Kezef said, the boys looked at each other before running off. Kezef shook his head. "I will report them to the dean in the morning."


    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    "Don''t bother, the dean will do nothing about it." She said.


    "He will if the report came from me." He replied. That might be true, but she was not holding her breath. Well currently she was holding her breath, because breathing was too painful.


    "Thank you for saving my ass. But now I need to go." She said, pushing herself off the wall. Which again was a great mistake. Her legs gave out, and she started to fall forward. Her vision became completely blank, the last thing she felt was his arms around her. But after that nothing.


    ********


    Kezef sighed, just his luck. He just got back from a crappy race, but that was not this girl''s fault. It was from the moment he entered the hallway that she was a victim. Four against one, he was almost sure that it was a crime. Even if it wasn''t a crime four men against one woman, it was unthinkable in his mind. But what did he need to do about her now, she was out of it that much was clear. Blood was pouring out of her nose and there were even some streaks of blood leaving her mouth. He could carry her to her room, but he wasn''t allowed to step inside. Only what other option did he have. He couldn''t take her to his room, she was not allowed to set foot in his room either. And besides that his roommate hated Dina just as much as any other person here at school.


    "Mister ...," The concierge came towards him. "You do not need to explain yourself. I saw everything." He did, why didn''t he help her? "On camera, from my office." He pointed towards something in the shades. "I came as soon as possible, with a med kit." This was when Kezef saw the white bag. "Let''s bring her to her own room. And do not worry about the rules, I think the dean wouldn''t mind it this time." Kezef nodded. Glad that he was able to do more then only saving her, now he could take care of her as well. Without worrying about how to explain himself to the dean. He lowered himself slightly so that he was able to pick her up completely. "Follow me." The concierge didn''t need to point the way, everybody knew in which dorm room Dina lived. But he wasn''t going to point that out to the man. He just walked behind him, while carrying Dina in his arms. They finally reached her door, which was of course locked up. Dina probably had the key to her room on her person, but Kezef was not willing to go source for it. And luckily he didn''t have to. The concierge had a key to her room as well. Her room was dark, until the light was switched on. He was surprised, why he couldn''t explain, that the walls of her room were covered with 21 posters and signs. He knew that the posters were outlawed and most of them were destroyed. But Dina was the man''s daughter, so why shouldn''t she have some posters of him in her room. He rushed her towards the empty bed, now that he was able to see her clearly was he able to see her wounds. Her noise was heavily damaged, probably broken. Her lips were bleeding, one of her eyes was staring to swell up. He clearly could see blood slipping on her pillow, so she had a wound there as well. He turned around and opened her closet, which was filled with her clothing and a toolbox. Which to his knowledge was forbidden inside the dorm rooms, but he didn''t care. At least for now, he grabbed a towel and rushed back to her side. Lifting her head in source for the wound, and pressing the towel against it. The concierge lifted her shirt, until under her breasts. Her slightly pale skin was turning black and blue. The man was holding a screen in his hand, and slowly went over her bare skin. "She got lucky, no broken ribs." Well that was something, but Kezef didn''t want to call her lucky. Not if he needed to take her other wounds into a count. The man moved the screen to her face and sighed. "Nose is broken." Kezef looked at the man, what was wrong. The technology was so advance that they could fix all her wounds with one button on that screen. But then again the school would most likely not have the money to use that button, and from what he understood of her financial status, neither did she.


    "How much?" He asked. The concierge shock his head, his face covered in wrinkles and pigment spots. "How much." He repeats his question.


    "It is not I am not willing to tell you, but I doubt she would want you to bear the costs." The man said, Kezef sighed. He knew that the man was right, she could have told him that she wasn''t fine. But then they were surrounded by those bullies, so maybe that wasn''t the right time to come clean. But she still wanted to walk away from him after they had left.


    "How much for the bare minimum." He said. This will only heal the open wounds, not her broken noise, swollen eye or her black and blues.


    "1000 credits, give or take." The man replied. "But I think she will not be happy if you cover that either."


    "Do it." Kezef said. The man opened his mouth, but Kezef only looked at him with narrowed eyes. He would deal with her when she wakes up, maybe he will not tell her that he had paid for her medical bill. Better yet those bullies can pay him back, they caused this damage. But he highly doubted that he would see one credit from them coming his way. "Do it, and make a report to the dean in the morning." The man sighed, changed some settings on the screen and held it above Dina. Kezef could see that her lips started to heal, which meant that the wound on the back of her head was closed of as well.


    "Here are you happy?" The man asked. Kezef wanted to reply, but the door of Dina''s room opened and the dean entered.

 Taking Care

    Kezef stood up from the bed ready to explain the situation, but the dean didn''t look at him. His eyes were fixed on the towel in Kezef''s hand, there was still blood on it.


    "Did you catch those who did it on tape, mister Cause?" The dean asked, mister Cause, the concierge, nodded.


    "Yes mister Arch, and mister Coarse here has seen their faces." Mister Cause said. The gaze from the dean now landed on him. Those stern gray eyes, giving off the feeling that they didn''t miss anything. Which was both a good and a creepy thing. "We really should fix the lighting in those hallways, it is simply not safe for the students at night." Mister Cause said students, so not only revering to Dina, but to others who wonder the halls at night. The dean nodded slowly.


    "I want the tape on my desk in the morning. Mister Coarse, I will allow you to stay in this room until she." The dean pointed towards Dina. "Wakes up and is ready to make a statement against those who attacked her." Kezef wanted to reply, but the dean already turned around and left. Mister Cause stood up, pleased the screen in the medical bag, and left the room as well. Leaving him alone with an unconscious girl, which was in many ways strange. What was he supposed to do here, there was no room for him to sleep. The other bed in the room, which was empty because nobody wanted to share a room with her, was filled with stacks upon stacks of books. From a distance he could read some of the titles, there was no surprise that they were all car and car racing related. He himself had some of them in his collection, but there were even books about electric cars and some about very specific parts of the car. Even four books about tires and how many kinds there were. He was impressed, but not surprised by this. The boys who attacked her told him that she was taking notes of the race. Maybe she wanted to race for herself, it was not strange for a child of a racer to dream off a carrier like their father. But most of them were men, and didn''t have 21 as their surname. The closet doors were still open, and the red toolbox was still visible. He went over to look at it, it was a pretty standard box with a hand scanner and voice recognition protection. Which was pretty standard for a toolbox. He closed the door, the more he saw in her room how more he recognized himself in her. The same drive, the same passion. Or maybe not. He looked at her on the bed, she was wearing shorts with a checkered flag motive on it. Her top was black without sleeves. Her rose gold hair was spread out over her blood stained pillow. He could see a small braid with a ribbon in it, the same type of ribbons that were on the race trophies. Slowly he went back to her bed, maybe it was better that he removed the blood stained pillow. Only with what? He hadn''t seen any other pillow or other covers inside the closet. Not that he looked hard for one, and he didn''t want to source her closet for one. Instead, he sat down on the ground, which was covered with a boring gray carpet just like in his own dorm room. On her nightstand lay a notebook, open. He glanced over it, not being sure if it was her journal or something similar. And he was somewhat glad that this wasn''t the case. Luckily those were the notes those bullies talked about. Against his better judgement he picked it up and started to read it.


    ''Kezef''s car is slower than normal, I wonder if it has something to do with (notes). It also can be the selection of tires.'' He nodded, she was smart. But everybody on the track had used the same type of tires, or something very similar. So it could be that it could be the (notes), but why didn''t his mechanics notice it. They were trained to spot problems like this. ''Jerk won again today, and after looking up the spec''s of his car this is not at all surprising. But not all racers could afford this, maybe I need to look in alternatives.'' He frowned, jerk? Did she mean Abamil Grave? Well if that was the case she was right about him. That man always acts all high and mighty. But everybody on the track knows that he is nothing without his over expensive car. He was surprised however about the fact that she knew the car''s specific''s, usually nobody outside the team had access to it. Maybe she found something similar inside one of her many books and figured the rest out on her own. She was overall a smart girl, he lay down the notebook. Maybe he should bring her to the tracks, he then looked at the many posters on her wall. Or maybe not, she was the daughter of Joaol 21. He stood up and grabbed one of her books, why not read while he was waiting? He opened it while sitting back down. But lost track of the words, pretty quickly. He had no idea that he was this tired, it was an eventful day. Maybe he should rest his eyes for a minute or two.


    ******


    Dina slowly opened her eyes, the light of the main lamp was stinging in her eyes. But that was not the only thing hurting right now. Her head was buzzing like crazy, every other muscle in her body was tense and screaming to her when she tried to move.


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    "What the hell are you doing?" Someone in her room asked. Wait, why was there someone in her room? And it was a male voice. Didn''t he know that he was not allowed inside a girls'' dorm room? She wanted to turn her head to the owner of the voice. But again her muscles started to scream at her. "Keep lying still. Your body is still healing from the beating." The owner came into her line of sight, it was Kezef Coarse. The most popular guy inside the school, what was he doing in her dorm room. Didn''t he know who she was, the daughter of the Joaol 21? The racer that had lost all his status after the great incident. Of course, Kezef knew that if he was in her room, which was covered with posters of her dad. "How are you feeling?"


    "Like I have being in a major accident and that I am lucky to be able to tell the tale." She said, her voice was cracked. He smirked, as a racer he might know the feeling.


    "Well it came pretty close." He said. "The dean is already aware what has happened. He came by last night, when mister Cause and I debated about healing your wounds." They did what, didn''t they know that she was not able to afford any treatment like that? "I covered the costs. You really needed it." Her eyes grew, he covered the costs. He didn''t even know her and still he covered her medical bill. She didn''t question him about the fact that she might needed it, her body still hurt like hell. So they had done the bare minimum, but still it cost him credits.


    "Why?" She asked and he shrugged.


    "You needed it." He repeated himself, this was not an answer in her opinion. But she was willing to take it, for now. But now all she wanted to do was sleep, and hoping that the pain will disappear after she woke up. "Go back to sleep, again, your body needs to heal." She moaned. "I am staying right here." Why was he staying with her? Did something else happen when she was out? She hoped not, but she didn''t have time to question him.


    *****


    Kezef sighed when she fell back a sleep. He had seen the pain on her face, and there was nothing he could do about it. He didn''t even wonder why he wanted to do something about it. She was another human being, who didn''t deserve this. There was a knock on the door, he walked over and opened it. It was his roommate, what was he doing here?


    "So the rumors about her are true?" That was the first thing he said. Not a great start. Kezef knew that his roommate hated the fact that Dina shared a school building with him, he knew that almost the whole student body felt this way. And why, all because of who her father is? But didn''t he felt the same way when he first heard about her? He was ashamed to admit that he did hate her, but that was before he met her. And from what he had seen last night, he can say that she was a very strong woman.


    "What are you doing here Virgil?" He asked, his roommate looked as he had gone crazy.


    "That is a question I wanted to ask you, man. What are you doing in that woman''s room." Virgil replied.


    "That woman was attacked by four men." Kezef said, a bit annoyed. Why was he explaining himself.


    "I was told that she gave one of them the first punch." Vigil said. Was he serious?


    "Even if that was the case, which is not. There is a recording of the whole ordeal, so there is proof. But still if that was the case it was still four against one." Kezef said, and this time Vigil nodded in agreement. "And the dean has asked me to keep an eye on her." Vigil looked shocked.


    "Why in the hell would he ask you?" Vigil asked.


    "Because, I was the one who saved her and brought her to her room." He said, still explaining himself. "With the concierge." He quickly added. Vigil shook his head and sighed.


    "Man you are too nice at times. She is the daughter of a murderer." Vigil said. "Look at the many posters of him in her room, she even idolizes him." Kezef rolled his eyes.


    "You know Vigil, I have been in the racing world over a year. And do you know how many times I have being in the same position as Joaol 21?" Kezef asked, Vigil shook his head. "Too many times to even count. But luckily for me, my brakes were not tempered with." Vigil''s mouth fell open. "So please cut the crap about her being a murderer''s daughter. There was indeed foul play going on that day, but her father was a victim in all of this too."


    "But he is still banned..." Vigil started.


    "Because they didn''t find the real cooperate, and they needed someone to blame for the three deaths." Kezef said, he quickly looked over his shoulder she was still fast asleep. Good she didn''t need to hear all of this. "Vigil can you grab me mine homework?" Vigil nodded, and tried to peek over his shoulder. "Vigil."


    "Yeah, yeah." He replied, like a punished child. "I am going. Be right back." And he left. Kezef quickly closed the door, so that no other curious students could peek inside. Not that there were any other students in the hallway at this hour, they should be all inside their classrooms. It was a monday after all, he also should be in class right now. But then again who was going to watch Dina? Nobody, nobody would watch her. Nobody had watched over her before she was being attacked, and if he was not going to watch over her after this, maybe something similiar would happen again. Or it might even be worse. But what could he do?

 Working towards the race

    It had taken her two full days, to get out of bed. And he had left her side only to get some food for the both of them and to go to the bathroom. Back then she found it sweet of him, after the incident, her father''s fall in fame and her mother''s abandonment, nobody had care of her in that way. Her father was disabled and she needed to take care of him. Both physical and financially, although he could walk again, she still needed to work to keep him fed. But now a month after the attack, he still took care of her. Making sure that he was at her side at all times, even walked her back to her dorm after her night shift in the cafeteria. And of course she had heard the rumors of him being in love with her. But that were just rumors, how could the most popular guy in school fall in love with the most unpopular girl. This only happened in those ancient romance novels, her mother used to read. This kind of stuff didn''t happen in real life. She stretched herself out, she was so done with all those dirty trays. After the attack and the start of the rumors they came back dirtier than normal, and she still needed to figure out how that was even possible.


    "Are you almost done?" Somebody behind her asked. She almost screamed out of fear, before the attack she never had being this jumpy. But after... Well let say that the normal insult she got thrown at her didn''t hurt as much as those punches. She turned around and looked straight in those hazel eyes.


    "Kezef, you scared me." She said. He smiled, of course he had noticed that already. She didn''t need to tell him that. He looked at the tray in her hands and frowned.


    "I knew we had lasagna on the menu." He said grabbing the dirty tray, which was filled with molten cheese and tomato sauce. "What I didn''t know is that there were small children inside the cafeteria." She sighed.


    "You would be surprised how often this kind of thing happens." She said and placed the tray in the hot water. "Only this month it has gotten worse." She admitted, turning back to face him. Hoping that he didn''t take it the wrong way, she enjoyed his company even if it made things harder for her.


    "I am sorry for that, I only tried to..." He started.


    "It is not your fault, those people are just immature." She quickly said. He didn''t need to apologize for the behavior of others. He smiled and pushed her slightly to the side.


    "Alright then, but at least let me help you. It is getting late and I have a race tomorrow." He said, she gasped. How in hell''s name could she forget that there was a race? Luckily he reminded her, but then again. The thought of watching it on the screen in the common area made her uncomfortable. "Have you ever being to a race?" He asked and she looked at him if he was crazy. Her hand went to the ribbon in her hair. The clip of her father putting it in her hair after his victory was repeated on the news several times. He looked at her and slapped himself on the head, with his soap covered hand. "Of course, your father called you his lucky charm." She nodded slowly, he still called her that. She was indeed not there when the incident happened, her mother hadn''t allowed her father to take her with him that day. "Do you know if your father is willing to share his lucky charm with me?"


    "Wait what?" She asked. He started to grin, and rolled with his eyes.


    "I know you love racing, and have watched every race in the common room since you got here. But I don''t think that is such a good idea right now." He said, she nodded. She was thinking the same thing, when he told her about the race. "So I am asking you if you are willing to come to the tracks with me tomorrow?" Was he serious? She, going to the tracks with him? "Only if you want of course."


    "Are you sure? You know that the rumors about use are going to flare up." She said.


    "Which rumors?" He said, she pushed his arm slightly. He knew about the rumors, he was not stupid, and even some girls had asked him about his feelings for her. "Dina, I do not care what those people think. What I want is to spend time with my girl..." He stopped, was he about to say girlfriend? Was he really calling her his girlfriend? His ears started to get red and she started to giggle.


    "Well, after that how can I say no." She said. This time he pushed her softly. Giving her the now clean tray.


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ******


    The smile on Dina''s face couldn''t be wiped off her face. It has being so long that she had being on the track. But it has not changed on bit, there was still the same old smell of sweat and oil. The raised voices between the team bosses and the mechanics. The rush of adrenaline in the air, Kezef walked towards his own box at a steady pass. He was clearly nervous, for the race. And she couldn''t blame him. The last few races he had finished last, if he finished at all. She wanted to comfort him, but there was not much she could do or say that would help him.


    "What are you doing here?" Said a woman''s voice, she turned around and came face to face with her own mother.


    "I am here to see the race." She said, trying to keep on following Kezef. She was his guest after all. But her mother grabbed her by the arm, she tried to pull it loose. But the mother''s grip was not so easily broken. "Let me go."


    "Why would I, you are just another grid bunny. And those are not allowed back here." Her mother replied, with a great smirk on her face.


    "What is going on here?" A male voice joined them. Dina looked at him. He was still a tall man, with brown eyes and brown hair without any spot of gray. He probably dyed it.


    "Hello Abamil, can you please tell your wife to keep her hands off me." She replied. He looked at her a bit confused, of course he was. She had grown up a lot since the last time he had seen her. But she was basically a younger version of her mother.


    "Dina?" He said after a short period of time. "My, my what have you grown. But I do not need to tell you, that I am not going to tell your mother anything." He had a point there, but was he not the one who told her mother that she was not allowed to bring her brat. "But then again what are you doing here?" She rolled with her eyes.


    "I was invited to watch the race." She replied. Abamil and her mother started to giggle.


    "That was almost funny." Her mother said. "Everybody in his right mind knows who your father is."


    "Was he not at one point your husband?" Dina snapped back. "Or do I come out of thin air?"


    Dina looked at Abamil. "I am sure as hell that I am not his daughter."


    "Are you really fighting again?" Kezef appeared from behind her. She wanted to sigh in relief, now she had at least someone in her corner. Or at least she hoped that he would be in her corner.


    "I am trying not to fight." She replied. "But those two do not have better things to do." She motioned with her head towards her mother and Abamil. "Like focussing on the upcoming race." Kezef nodded and folded his arms. "Also let me introduce you to my mother and step-father." Kezef''s eyes rose up, into his thick blond hair.


    "Your mother and step-father?" He asked and she nodded. This time her mother let go of her arm. "Well then I better introduce myself. I am Kezef Coarse, this woman''s boyfriend. So now we have that out of the way, we are going to mine box." Kezef took her hand into his, and slowly pulled her with him.


    "Wait a sec." Abamil said. "Dina is your girlfriend? Well at least you can''t sink any lower." But Kezef didn''t stop with walking, something she was grateful off.


    "Nice family." Kezef said when they were out of earshot. "With them, you do not need any more enemies." They entered a building, and were immediately greeted by a group of mechanics. "Hello everybody. This here is my girlfriend, Dina. Dina this is everybody."


    She got a half-hearted greeting, but she already had suspected that. She was not the little girl that visited her father''s box, briefly she wondered what happened to the mechanics. But she pushed those thoughts out of her head, there was no point in thinking about them. "Alright did you guys already figured out what is going on with it?" Kezef walked over to them, all the mechanics were starring to a screen. And some of them shock their heads. So she was right about that there was something wrong with the car, but why were they looking on a screen? Wouldn''t be better to look at the car? She also walked over and saw some kind of program that scanned the car, that was something her father''s mechanics didn''t have. But if they couldn''t find the problem what was the point in having this program. She gave Kezef a quick glance and pointed at the car.


    "May I have a look?" She asked. The mechanics all at once looked at her in horror.


    "Those she mean under the hood?" Asked one.


    "I do not think that is such a good idea missy." Another said. But Kezef nodded towards her, so she went over and popped the hood. She looked at the motor and frowned, everything seemed normal. (Ask father for information about Alpha romeo GTV, maybe something that only can be heard).  She turned towards the mechanics and asked them for (ask father about tools).


    "Well that is why she was called a Lucky charm." Someone said. She looked at the older mechanic that wasn''t there before. She didn''t suspect to see him in here. "Welcome back Dina." The other mechanics looked at each other stunned. The older mechanic saw this and sighed. "This missy here has grown up between cars, she also is known as Dina 21. Yes, she is his daughter and no, I do not see any need to check the car. I have taught her almost everything she needs to know about cars." Dina wiggled her head.


    "You and my father, Prentum Brash." She said. He nodded, and pointed to her. "But enough chatter, it is time to race mister Coarse." She slapped Kezef on the shoulder. Kezef nodded and stepped in the car.


    "I really hope that the Lucky charm rubs off on me." He said, before closing the door and driving off.

 Lights off

    Dina took her notebook out of her bag, and wanted to run towards the tribune.


    "Where are you going Lucky Charm?" Prentum Brash said. She didn''t say anything, and just pointed towards the tribune. He started to chuckle and shook his head. "I know your father always sent you there to watch the race. But that was because of the colorful language. Now you are old enough to watch the race from here." He walked over and grabbed her by the pols.


    "But, but..." She said, he shook his head while guiding her to an empty chair. "Do you not mind, me taking notes?" He again shook his head.


    "I am the one who taught you doing that, and I will do the same. Maybe you see something we can use in our strategy." He said and placed a large headphone on her head. "So now you also can communicate with your boyfriend. But do not distract him too much." She nodded, intending to not speak to him at all. He needed to focus on the race, and she needed to do the same. She didn''t only face a screen with the race, but there were also some screens with data about the car, and race time which was blank at the time. But the race hadn''t started yet, she looked at the one with data. Opened up her notebook and started to write it down.


    "Alright time for the last check." Kezef''s voice said over the radio.


    "Everything seems fine from our side, Kezef." Prentum said. "Dina, what do you think?" Dina looked at him and he nodded.


    "Yes, according the data everything is fine. But the changes at your car are pretty new, so be careful." She said, Prentum nodded in agreement.


    "I will, and thank you." Kezef said. The lights above the track started to light-up it was showtime. The engines started to roar, ready take off as the lights went out. Kezef had twelve other cars in front of him, so he needed to surpass two of them to fall into points. She hoped that he was able to do that, her heart was racing in her chest. The lights went out, and the cars were off, only not all of them. The car right in front of Kezef stopped after a millisecond, but he was able to avoid it.


    "The engine is purring like a newborn kitten." Kezef said. "It never purred like that before." Dina glanced over to the screen with data, it was still appearing like normal. Then she looked at her notes, and she started to compare them. It was not only that the engine was purring like a kitten, but it was preforming better.


    "Kezef, you are faster than the man for you. I suggest you take him over in the next corner." Prentum said, Dina looked at the race time screen and saw that Samael Frost was right in front of him. It was a slightly older racer, just like Abamil, and he was willing to push his opponents into the wall. She quickly looked at the map of the track. The next corner was pretty tight, a place Samael made the most of his victims.


    "No don''t." She said, Prentum looked at her in shock. But she pointed at the screen. "Take him in the chicane. Maybe you are then even able to overtake the next one."


    "Roger." Kezef said, she again looked on the screen. He didn''t overtake Samael in the corner, not that he could do it. Samael didn''t leave him much room to do that. But the chicane was not that far. Dina moved towards the edge of her seat. Samael was closing in on the car in front of him. "I see an opening." She nodded, the opening was wide enough for him to take it. Dina didn''t dare to breath when he overtook the two cars.


    "Yeah, that is how you do it!" Prentum said, jumping from his chair.


    "Do not celebrate just yet. The race is still long." Kezef said, now that she heard his voice she was able to breathe out.


    "I was not cheering for you, boy. I was cheering for your girlfriend, she was able to give you better advice then me." Prentum replied.


    "That is true, old man." Kezef said, she could hear the grin. "Hopefully she has more helpful advice." She nodded, now knowing that he was counting on her. She started to take even more notes, and kept a watch on both screens. In the meanwhile giving him advice and kept him posted on the condition of his car. The number of rounds started to shrink down, and the tension started to rise. Kezef was currently part of first three racers, he closed in on the number two. Who in turn was driving closely to Abamil. "Dina, what do you think?"


    "Take them in the last round, Abamil will think that he has won and becomes careless." She said. Prentum again nodded in agreement.


    "She has done her homework." He said. Dina didn''t hear back from Kezef, but that didn''t worry her one bit. He was focussing on the cars right in front of him. And she did the same thing, the last round came and they were now on the last part of the track. Going into the last corner.


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    "Now." She said and he shot forward overtaking the two cars. They surpassed the checkered finish line. Prentum started screaming next to her, jumping from his chair with his fist in the air. She jumped up as well, but didn''t scream. Although she might not have heard her own scream over that of the rest of the team.


    "Thank you guys, this is our first win." Kezef said over the radio. "And thank you, Dina, you are really a Lucky Charm."


    "I am just happy that I was able to help where I could." She said. Prentum''s hand landed on her shoulder.


    "Not so modest, you helped use a lot. Your father should be proud of you." Prentum said, his eyes started to tear up. "Follow me Dina, we will meet your boyfriend on the podium." She took the headphones off and followed Prentum to the podium. Kezef was just parking the car when they arrived. He pointed at her, and she pointed back at him. While he opened his arms and rushed towards her, wrapping his arms around her. This was the first time he had done that, and funny enough it didn''t feel strange at all.


    "Thank you so much, I do not know what you have done to the car." He whispered in her ear. "But I am so glad you did, what you did."


    "I did nothing special." She said.


    *******


    "Kezef Coarse, congratulations with your first victory." A male voice said. Dina looked at the man, it was Anak Hollow a small man with soft spice brown hair and dark brown eyes, which all matched his band colored skin. He pushed a microphone between them.


    "Thank you, mister Hollow." Kezef replied, letting go off her. "But it was not only mine victory..."


    "Of course you have a great team behind you." Anak interrupted him.


    "Yes I have, but I also got great help from mine girlfriend." Kezef said, motioning towards her. Anak looked at her, Prentum placed his hand on her shoulder.


    "That is not so surprising, her father and I taught her everything she knows." He said. Kezef smiled and gave her a kiss on the forehead. Before he ran towards the podium collecting his trophy. Dina smiled with pride as he held it up. The victory rain pouring down on him, then he motioned her to come. She frowned slightly, what was he going to do. But he placed the cup in front of his feet, but hold on to the ribbon. She smiled knowing what he was thinking. The clip of her father putting the ribbon in her hair. She stepped forward, but before she was able to reach him she got pushed back.


    "Those grid bunnies really need to learn where their place is." That was her mother, again. Some laughter started, Prentum pushed forward, and his hands landed on her shoulders.


    "Are you out of your mind woman!" He said loudly. But Dina laid a hand on his.


    "It is alright Prentum, she is right. Grid bunnies need to learn their place. With that said was she not also a grid bunny before she married?" Dina said and everyone around her stopped with laughing. Her mother''s face turned slowly red. Dina looked around, as if she wanted to see if anyone wanted to reply to her comment. But she knew all too well that nobody woulds. "But I am not willing to start any drama, what you?" She really wanted to place the word mother at the end, but it left her a foul taste in her mouth. Kezef was now standing next to her, with the ribbon still in his hand.


    "Are you alright?" He whispered, she nodded. She could handle her own egg donor. But that didn''t mean she could use his precense, so she started to lean against him. Taking the ribbon out of his hands.


    "I am so sorry that you were not able to recreate the moment, but thank you for the ribbon." She said, with a smile. He nodded and placed another kiss on her forehead. She gave a fake smile to her mother and turned towards him. "Well now I need to go back to my place, the box. Don''t let me wait for too long." With the ribbon in hand she moved towards the crowed and made her way to the box. Luckily the rest of the team was still there, it was not allowed for the whole team to be at the podium. Just a maximum of two people, and Prentum took her. But this time the team greeted her with open arms.


    "Never knew that a woman would be our key to victory." One said with a big grin, another slapped him on the back


    "Didn''t you hear, she is called Lucky Charm. Her father was a great driver, before the incident." He said. "It is no wonder that she knows a lot about racing." All of them nodded. She smiled, looking down at the ground. This was one of the first times someone spoke about her father with admiring in their voice. Maybe it was not so strange idea to pay him a visit after all this was done. Would he have seen the race? Maybe in a caf¨¦ or something. Knowing full well that they couldn''t afford a screen. No matter the type or size. She looked at the door, hoping that Kezef would be back soon. He brought her to the tracks, and it would be rude of her to leave without saying anything. Besides that he publicly announced that she was his girlfriend. So what will those bullies at school say when she got back alone? She didn''t want to think about them, at least not for all too long. "Hey, missy you should come back often. We will even teach you how to drive." That brought her back out of her own little world, they wanted to teach her how to drive? Well that wouldn''t be so bad an idea.


    "Of course she will come back, she is our Lucky Charm after all." Kezef said, while entering the box. Everyone started to cheer, which made her smile. She took Kezef by the hand.


    "Thank you for what you tried to do, but I can handle her and Abamil." She said and he nodded. "Also now that you have won a race, I would advise you to put on camera''s. You know what happened to my father when he became a thread." He frowned for a brief second, but then nodded.


    "You are right, like so many times before today." He said. "Is there anything else?"


    "Well, I really want to visit my father. He has probably seen and heard what you said about me." She said and he grinned.


    "Alright let''s go then." He said. She looked at him surprised, was he serious? Did he really want to come to her house? "I have introduced myself to your mother..."


    "Eggdonor, that woman is not my mother." She cut him off. "Please do not call her that." He nodded.


    "None the less I introduced myself to her, so it would be only fair that I would do the same thing with your father." He said, his explanation was sound. She took his hand and pulled him with her.

 Slums

    It was quiet on the streets, which was strange especially after a race. Normally they were packed with fans, who wanted to see a glimpse from their hero''s. But for some reason he didn''t know not today. Maybe because some nobody, A.K.A. him, had won the race. Or there was something else going on, all what he knew was that he was going to meet Dina''s father. He was not at all surprised that she wanted to visit him after the race, but that she was alright with taking him along. And specially after he had called her his girlfriend, he didn''t know why he had called her that. Especially in front of that jerk Abamil and his wife, who was Dina''s own mother. But then again, it felt good calling her that. And when he heard her voice over the radio, it calmed in some kind of way. It also did help that she got some solid advice, which when he looked back at it was even better than the advice Prentum had given him. She even went against Prentum, what was fun to hear. But he could hear that she knew what she was saying, and even Prentum confirmed this. When they walked back from the podium, he hadn''t seen that Samael Frost was the driver in front of him. A driver who is famous for pushing drivers into the wall, so if he had tried to overtake him he would have ended his race in there. But there was no need to think about it now. The only question he had now is how do they get to her father. He didn''t know where she lived before she started living at the school. A reddish car stopped in front of them as they passed the gate of the track.


    "Do you need a ride?" Prentum asked, when he lowered the window. "It is otherwise a long walk towards the Slums." Dina gasped.


    "How do you know..." She started.


    "From your old man, of course. He told me where you two have ended up, the last time we saw each other." Prentum said. "I asked his permission to work for Kezef." Kezef''s eyebrows rose up, he had asked Joael 21 for permission? So he already knew about him, maybe this was a good thing or maybe not.


    "I think a ride will be a good idea, Dina. And maybe it will be good for your father to see an old friend." Kezef said, and Dina nodded. Only Prentum shook his head.


    "Oh no, I will only drive you there. I am not going to leave my car near that place." Prentum replied. "Besides that, you are not going to use me as your shield, young man." He laughed. Kezef looked at him confused, and Prentum started to chuckle. "Come on, I have known you for two years now. And never once I have heard you talk about Dina, not even the last time that I saw you, and that was yesterday. Today, you not only take her to the tracks, you also declare publicly that she is your girlfriend. I know you did at first to protect her, and for some reason you stuck with it. She even went along with it, I even have to admit that I saw sparks of affection between the two of you. But do not think that I am stupid." Kezef nodded, he should have known that Prentum would have noticed it. Maybe others of the team did as well, but now he didn''t want to call Dina anything else than his girlfriend. Kezef opened the door of the passenger''s seat, for Dina so that she could step in the car. Which she did, he closed the door and took place behind her.


    "Thank you, Prentum." She said. "Not only for driving use, but also for playing along." Prentum sighed. As he drove off, he looked at her for a brief moment. Before focussed at the road.


    "Dina, I have known you since you were a little girl. Before today, when I spoke about you, I always envisioned the little girl on the hand of my best friend. I never want to see you get hurt, but you know better than anybody else how hard this world is. So I really do not understand why you still want to be part of it, not even after I saw your passion for it. But I do not need to understand it, you do. But I got off-topic here, and I do not even remember where I was going with it. Know this, I will do my best to protect you, like you are my own daughter." Prentum replied, she nodded. "I only hope he is worth your heart." What was this, did Prentum forget that he was even here. Or was he fishing for a reaction, well he was fishing with good beat.


    "You know I can hear you, right?" Kezef said. He moved slightly.


    "Really?" Prentum replied, while he winked at Dina. Alright, he was looking for his reaction. Good to know that.


    "I will protect her as well, if she is willing to let me." He said, she nodded with a smile. "I will even support her if she wants to race." Prentum pushed on the brakes, hard. Kezef slammed against Dina''s chair and also she was launched forward.


    "What, did you say?" Prentum said.


    "I mean it, Prentum. It is not uncommon for children of racers to enter this world, why would she be any different? She is already keeping notes, understands cars and knows the tracks. So if she wants to race, I will support her." Kezef said, looking straight into Prentum''s amber eyes. Dina looked also at him, confused.


    "Are you serious?" She asked, he nodded. Prentum still looked at him with a death glare.


    "Then I will pray to which ever God is willing to listen, that she will not find a car. Do not get me wrong, Dina, I am not saying this because you are a girl. But..." Someone''s horn interrupted him. "Yeah, yeah. I am going." And he started to drive again.


    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    *******


    Prentum stopped in front of a gate, well it was a gate at some point in time. But Kezef already saw why he didn''t want to leave his car out here. The road beyond the gate was chipped and in some places not even there, the buildings were packed at each other. He hadn''t even set foot outside the car but he already could smell the scent of illnesses and decay. Was this the place Dina and her father had ended up, he couldn''t phantom that this was the case. Joael 21 was a racer that could reach the top, this couldn''t be the place he was currently living after he was blamed for the incident. Dina thanked Prentum one more time before getting out of the car, but he didn''t move. Still shocked about the conditions.


    "Yes this those not look pretty, but not enough people do care about what happens to this place." Prentum said. "A lot of them even think that this is what those people deserve. Which is bull in my opinion. Nobody deserves to live inside such circumstances." Kezef nodded he agreed with Prentum, this was in so many ways wrong and inhuman. "O, the race organization announced that they are going to change the track, this will most likely take a week. Because it becomes a routine." He nodded again, the organization already stated that they would change the track regularly, to change things up. So this was indeed nothing surprising. Kezef sighed, he really needed to get out of this car.


    "Thank you Prentum, I will see you when the track is done." Kezef said and he left the car. Dina was already through the gate, and on the road, if you can call that a road. "Dina, wait a sec." He rushed to her side, not because he was afraid that something would happen to her. She has grown up in here, but he was not sure about himself. She gave him a smile and took his hand.


    "Do not worry, I will protect you." She said, he knew that it was meant as a joke. But in so many cases it might be the truth. As they walked through the Slums, he walked into one surprise after another. Never in his life he thought that people were able to live like this, and this was proving him wrong. There were children running between the close packed buildings, making engine sounds with their mouths. But once they saw them they stopped, looking at him in shock. "Smile at them, they have never seen a racer up close before." He did and waved at them.


    "Next time I should bring some toys with me." He said, softly. It was a mental note, to himself and if there was a next time. The children rushed over to them, and formed a circle around them.


    "Mister are you really, Kezef Coarse?" One of them asked and he nodded. They all started to talk, and he lowered himself. So that he wasn''t towering over them.


    "It is very nice to meet you all." He said, which silenced the children. One even run away, he was worried he had said something wrong. And if so what? But the child came back with his mother.


    "Mommy, mommy look. It is Kezef Coarse." The child pointed to him and the woman smiled at him.


    "I see, but sweetheart I need the marker for other stuff." She said and that is when he saw the black marker in her hand. So they wanted his signature, he smiled at the children.


    "You know what, I will be back here next week." He said.


    "Please do not make promises, mister Coarse." The woman said hastily. He nodded, understanding where she was coming from. She was of course worried about the hearts of those children.


    "Madam, my mother raised me well. She taught me that I shouldn''t make promises with a light heart. So when I make a promise, I intend to keep it. I will be back next week." He said. The woman still looked at him wary. "I am here to visit my girlfriend''s father." He pointed at Dina. The woman looked at Dina, and gasped.


    "Dina, I am sorry didn''t see you there. It is good that you are here to visit your old man." The woman said.


    "Mom, I heard the Jersey boys say something about teaching him a lesson." The little boy said.


    "What?" Both the woman and Dina said. But the child didn''t have time to repeat his question, as Dina already ran away. Kezef jumped up, and ran after her. It didn''t take long before he caught up to her.


    "What is going on?" He asked.


    "The Jersey boys, is the name of a gang." She said, looking at him. "Teaching him a lesson means that they are going to beat him up." Kezef nodded, be the sound of it, this had happened before. Both of them rushed through, he didn''t know where. But she knew the way. "Dad?" She screamed at one point, she was already at the corner of the street. As he had fallen behind, he should train more often. But that was a concern for later, they had found her father. Who was laying on the ground with a whole group of five men surrounding him. One of them was about to kick him, but Dina pulled him back. "Leave him alone!" She was either brave or stupid. She herself had being beaten up not that long ago, and compaired with those boys at school. These men were bigger, and stronger. All of the men looked at her and started laughing.


    "Look who has crawled back. Are you tired from pretending you are better then the rest of use?" The men that was about to kick her father said. Kezef was now standing next to her, but none of them paid attention to him.


    "I never pretended." She snapped. "I just moved away for my education, and why am I even defending myself to you. You promised me that you would leave him alone, Sorath." The man named Sorath, with clearly bleached hair, amber eyes and golden brown skin started to smirk.


    "Did I?" He asked. Dina folled her arms, and looked at Sorath. And he nodded.


    "Alright, alright. I indeed promised that, sorry. It will not happen again." Sorath said.


    "How can we believe that you are keeping your word this time." Kezef said. He didn''t know their history, but that didn''t matter. All the men now looked at him, and one of them whispered his name. "You have broken it before." Sorath chuckled.


    "Well, you just have to wait and see. Racer boy." Sorath said. So he had reconized him. "We are leaving." The men started to move away. Dina rushed to her father''s side, and he did the same thing. Together they pulled him up.


    "Our house is not far from here." She said, nodding her head in the direction they needed to go. Kezef nodded and they started moving.

 Meeting your Hero

    Kezef needed to duck a little before he could enter the house. Which was nothing more than four pieces of rotting wood and a rusty metal roof. It was also not that big, he needed to keep his head down so that he didn''t touch the roof. Dina pointed to something in the corner of the room. Which was a beaten down mattress, was this a joke? Did she at one point in time live here? He wanted to ask her this and so much more. But maybe this was not the time nor place for them.


    "My father moved into this one-room house, when I left for school." She started to explain on her own. "One of the families with children are now living in our old one. Which is pretty common here, we do not take up more space then we need. The family in return has promised me that they keep an eye on him. Which they did." Kezef lay a hand on her shoulder.


    "You do not need to explain..." He started, but she shook her head.


    "No I should. Now that have you see where I had to grow up and in which kind of crowed. After my father got punished, we ended up here. Nobody in here wanted use, but we didn''t have anywhere else to go. I myself was eight years old at the time, and my father was partly paralyzed." She said, and he gasped. He had known that Joael hadn''t walked out of the incident unharmed, but he didn''t know that it was that severe. "So I started to odd jobs, in and around the Slums to get some food on the table and to take care of him. That is how I got to know the Jersey Boys, I did some jobs for them, before going to school. Some even said that I was part of the gang myself, but this isn''t true. Even they say that this is not the case. But when I told Sorath about my father''s agreement with the Dean of our high school, well, it is easier to say that he wasn''t happy about it. But I believed that he understood that this was a way for me to make something off myself." She stood up from the mattress and sighed. "I should have known that he would never keep his word. "How could I be so stupid?" She slammed her hand against the wall, dust started to come down. "But I do not know what else I can do. I do not earn enough money to get him out of here."


    "You shouldn''t spend that money on me at all." Kezef wanted to jump up, he had forgotten that her father was still in the same room. "It is supposed to be my job to take care of you, not the other way around." Dina turned towards him.


    "But you do not even earn enough, to support yourself." She snapped at him. "What was I supposed to do, let you starve?" Tears started to appear in her eyes, Kezef stood up and took her in his arms. He didn''t care that he hadn''t introduced himself to her father yet, right now she needed him. He wished that he could help her, but knew that she wouldn''t except it. She was the one who stepped away, after a brief moment. "Dad, I wanted to introduce you to someone." Kezef turned himself back to the man on the mattress.


    "Hello sir, I am sorry for not doing this right away..." Kezef started.


    "I already know who you are, so there is no need to introduce yourself. Prentum didn''t know how to shut up about you, when he asked my permission to work for you. Not that he needed that in the first place. But then again, that man had always an odd sense of honor." Joael said. "I heard you called my daughter your girlfriend at the track today." Kezef nodded.


    "I tried to protect her against some nasty people." Kezef replied. Her father smiled slightly.


    "And calling her your girlfriend, did the trick." He said. "I know that one all too well, but now you two are stuck in that lie."


    "I wouldn''t call it stuck." Kezef said with a smile. "It is true, that I do not know your daughter that long. But we have become great friends, over the short period of time."


    "You mean after she got beaten up, and you saved her butt. Not only that, you paid her medical fees. For which I am more than grateful." Her father said, Dina''s mouth fall open.


    "How..." She started.


    "Your dean told me, how else. But it those not matter, do you agree with him?" Her father pointed at him, and to his relief she nodded. She wrapped her arms around his waist.


    "And I do not mind him calling me his girlfriend. You should have seen the look on Abamil, and mom''s faces."  She said with a big smile. Her father looked a bit shocked. "What those are nasty people."


    "You are talking about your mother, young lady." Father said, he tried to sound stern, but even Kezef could tell that he failed in this.


    ******


    Kezef stepped out of the house, giving Dina and her father some privacy. Not that the door was holding much sound.But he tried hard not to listen to their words. He looked up towards the sky, which was starting to get dark orange. It would be evening soon, and they still needed to find their way towards school. Well it wouldn''t be a bad idea for them getting their back late, maybe they avoid others. Which of course will only last a night and after that she would become the prime target for bullies, again. And this time it was his fault, he sighed. He was glad that she trusted him enough to tell him about her past, which definitely would come back to hunt her. But could somebody who know the whole story blame her, she needed to find ways to survive. There was nowhere else she could turn, no one who helped her. This would be his response if somebody digs it up and throws it at her feet.


    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "Did she tell you?" Someone out of nowhere asked. He looked down and to his surprise it was Sorath.


    "You mean that she worked for you, yes she has." Kezef replied, Sorath nodded and sighed.


    "Good that means that she trust you, and with that you have earned my trust." Sorath said, why did he need to earn this gang member''s trust?  Maybe there was something more going on then that Dina had told him.


    "I do not know what she did in detail, but she told me the basics." Kezef said, it was better to be honest with this man. Who was willing to break his promise.


    "That is enough, you really do not need to know more. Dina is like a little sister to use, and yes I was mad that she went away to study. Actually I was more jealous than mad, she got out most wouldn''t get the change. Do not tell her that." Sorath pointed at him. If they saw Dina as their little sister than why did they hurt her father. "You need to understand that there are more dangerous gangs inside the Slums than the Jersey boys. But for some reason those gangs are leaving the people we pick on alone. Joael 21 knows this, and that is what he is telling Dina right now. And I am also telling you because you are Dina''s friend, I am not going as far by calling you her boyfriend." Kezef frowned, he didn''t understand the reason behind it.


    "So you hurt Joael an old man that barely can walk, to keep him safe?" Kezef asked and Sorath nodded.


    "I know it sounds strange, but we of the gang all love that old man. He is always willing to tell use a story about his racing days. We also love to watch the races with him, he always points things out. Or tells a funny fact. Today however we saw him in tears, when he heard Dina''s voice over your radio." Sorath chuckled. "She always has been a force of nature, so smart. I really hope to see her behind the wheel someday."


    "You and me both." Kezef said. "But for that she needs a car, a fast one." Sorath nodded.


    "I think I have seen a body of a Volkswagen Atreon at the junkyard the other day." Sorath said softly. "I have also some credits to rent a garage, so that she can work on it." Kezef sighed.


    "Good then I will teach her how to drive a car like that." Kezef said while smiling. If someone had told him that something like this would happen, he wouldn''t have believed it. But right now he was planning to get Dina in a racing car with a gang member.


    "I better go and put this idea of our in action. Otherwise, it will never happen." Sorath said, and he walked away. The door behind Kezef opened, he quickly stepped aside so that Dina could leave the house.


    "Did I hear Sorath''s voice just now?" She asked and he nodded.


    "He was here to explain himself to me." Kezef said, Joael appeared also in the doorway and nodded.


    "They aren''t bad kids, they have so much potential in them. Only they will never get the change to show it. I swear Dina, what you saw today happens not that often and they only do it when one of them sees a member of those other gangs near my house." Joael said.


    "It is still wrong, dad." Dina replied. And her father shrugged.


    "It is all what they can do for me, without pulling me into their gang." Her father said. "If they are going to do that, how would that reflect on you?" Kezef needed to say that the man had a good point. She already had enough on her plate.


    "Your father knows what he is doing, and we will be back next week to check up on him." Kezef said. Dina nodded, and her father gave him a soft smile.


    "Really, I am already looking forward to it." He said, and looked up to the sky. "It is getting late, you can better go before it gets too dark." Kezef reached out his hand so that Dina could take it.


    "I will protect her, sir. Do not worry about her." Kezef said, her father started to chuckle softly. Dina looked at his hand, and narrowed her eyes.


    "But if you are protecting me, who is protecting you?" She said, and Kezef started to chuckle as well. He knew that she was joking, and that she didn''t want a real reply, but the two of them can play this game.


    "I thought you were?" He replied. "I thought we protected each other." Her father''s chuckle became even louder. Her laughter joined in, but she took his hand. It felt so good, her skin touching his. Was she also feeling the sparks, or was he the only one feeling them?


    "Alright, then now that we have cleared that up. Let''s go home." She sighed. He could hear the reluctance in her voice. They didn''t know what would wait for them once they got back. Hopefully the rest of the student body would be in their rooms, but then they would face them tomorrow. But she needed to work in the cafeteria, and he wasn''t allowed to go behind the counter during service hours. But then again so was nobody else, so he didn''t need to protect her. But what would he do when they have class, they are not in the same group. They left the gate that marked the entrence of the Slums behind them. The street latarns were burning brightly. He needed to push his worries aside for now and enjoy this extra time of peace that they had left. He looked around and his eyes fall on the buildings oposite of the Slums. Factories, and the large junkyard. But it didn''t take long for them to leave those behind them as well. It was so strange that this almost forgotten corner of the world excited. And what was even stranger it was at walking distance of their school. They entered the working class subdivision, which contained out of mostly appartement complex buildings. This was the place that he grow up in, which was so strange. Their neighboorhoods were so close by, but it almost seems like a worlds apart from each other. He shook his head, this type of thinking brought him in even a more sour mood. And he didn''t know if that was even posible. He had won his first race earlier, but what he had heard and seen after that. Well lets say that it brings everyones mood down.


    "Are you alright?" Dina asked, while softly squeezing his hand. He sighed and shock his head, there was no piont in hiding this all from her. She was after all his girlfriend.


    "I was just thinking about how unfair the world is." He replied. He pointed to a building with his free hand. "Do you see that building, I lived their with my grandparents. My parents passed away when I was three years old. But that is not the story I wanted to tell. I grew up here, my grandfather used to work in one of those factories we just passed by. In other words we lived not so far apart, but it almost seems like a world away." Dina nodded and sighed.


    "You are right about that. But then again, I lived there because of my father''s down fall. Otherwise I would have lived in one of those big ass mansions." She said. He nodded. "Do they still live there, your grandparents?" He shook his head.


    "They past away, right after my first race." He said, softly.


    "I am sorry, I didn''t know." She started to apologize, he lifted her hand and kissed softly the back of it.


    "Thank you." He whispered.

 Changing Rooms

    Dina and Kezef looked at each other, and then back at the school building. They were not sure if they wanted to go in. But there was not much else they could do, staying outside all night wouldn''t help them either.


    "Are you ready?" She asked.


    "No" Kezef sighed and took the first step, pulling her with him. "But we haven''t much choice." She nodded, he was right about that. They indeed didn''t have much choice, they needed to get some rest. They both had class in the morning, and she had her work on top of that. Carefully


    "I am so sorry Dina. I was about to clean it up before you got back." He said, but she shook her head. Somewhere glad that she had seen it. This only indicated how far those people were willing to go. She stepped closer, but almost threw up from the smell. "They have emptied the waste bins behind the cafeteria, so that means there is a week''s worth of rotten food against that door."


    "Thank you for the warning." Dina said, stepping back. Tears jumped in her eyes, Kezef wrapped his arm around her.


    "I am so sorry Dina." Kezef whispered. She turned towards him, glad that he was there to face this with her. But she wouldn''t be able to enter her room, not with that smell.


    "Ah miss 21, and mister Coarse. You two are finally back. I would ask where the two of you have being, but after seeing the damage to miss 21''s door. Well let say that, I understand you two staying away from this place." The dean entered the hallway. "I know this all seems grim, but we luckily could prevent the angry mod getting in. I do not want to think what they would have done."


    "They would have destroyed everything they can." Kezef said, if it was a matter of fact. Maybe it was, but she was indeed glad that this wasn''t the case. She had worked hard for everything she had in that room. And the posters of her dad, were unreplaceable. They were the only once left in the world.


    "You are probably right about that." The dean said with a sigh. "But now we need to come up with a solution for this, she can no longer stay in this room. It is simply not safe, and I do not have any other rooms left. No one of the girls wants to bunk with you, and that is also the case for the boys."


    "But I thought that boys and girls were not allowed in each other''s rooms." Dina said, and the dean nodded.


    "This is true, but this is a special circumstance." The dean replied. "So mister Ink is currently packing his belongings, and is going to move to this room. And you miss 21, you are going to move in with the only one on campus that is from your age and likes you." The dean points to Kezef. "And I cross my fingers in the hope that I didn''t make a mistake." Kezef frowned slightly, and Dina''s mouth fall open. She was going to move into Kezef''s room? What was going on here?


    "But, but..." She started, great now even words failed her.


    "Why Virgil?" Kezef asked.


    "Because he was the ring leader, and I think that spending one night, or maybe more nights inside the stench is a nice punishment." The dean said with a large grin on his face. "Mister Cause, and I have taken the librarty of getting all your stuff out of that room. Your toolbox and the posters of your dad are stored away.  The rest of your stuff and clothing are already inside your new room, no worries there is a teacher with mister Ink right now. So there is no way that he is able to damage your stuff." Dina still didn''t know how to react. They went through her stuff, two men went through her stuff. Her underwear drawer... She blinked and looked in horror at the dean. "What, you had nothing inside that room, that I haven''t seen before."


    "That is not the point. It is about my privacy." She snapped, Kezef looked at her, confused. "I think your wife wouldn''t it if I went through hers without her knowing." The dean shook his head.


    "No you are right about that, but we didn''t have any other option at the time. You weren''t here and otherwise all of your stuff would have smelled." The dean said. "But enough chit-chat, it is already late. You two have class in the morning, and you, young lady have a shift in the cafeteria. Also, you have changed classrooms, you will have the same schedule as mister


    "You two can better follow me." The concierge popped up behind them. "I think it is for the better that you two not face the large crowed that is currently surrounding Virgil." Dina nodded, that was the same crowed that had damaged her door. The same crowed that would have destroyed her stuff if they got into her room. Kezef took slightly pulled her with him, her mind was currently spinning. And her body didn''t respond directly as a result. Before she realized where they were heading, they had entered a part of the building that was unknown to her. "This is the old part of the school, teachers are using these corridors to avoid students." The concierge was lighting the way with a torch. "Normally I wouldn''t show students these passage ways, but the dean is right. These are special circumstances." Dina nodded, although the man couldn''t see it. "Here you two are. Home sweet home." He opened a door, stepped aside and they passed through. They were standing in a bedroom, at least a part of it. A large bookcase, which was filled with books was placed in the middle of the room. The behind of the case was closed, so nobody could look through it. At the end there was a curtain which formed a passage way to the other side of the room. The bed wasn''t made and there were boxes against the wall. This was apparently her part of the dorm room, she currently shared with Kezef. She looked at him, but he didn''t say anything. He just let go of her hand and walked through the curtain to his part of the room.


    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    "Thank which ever God is out there." He said with a sigh. She wanted to rush towards him. But there was something that stopped her. She just had thrown a fit against the dean about privacy, now she was almost intended to go into his part of the room uninvited. The door behind her closed, and was not even visible. It was just a wall, but she would swear that there was a door when they entered the room. She sighed and opened the first box. It was luckily her bedding and clothing. The books inside the bookcase, were all her books about cars and her schoolbooks. She started to unpack the rest. "Please tell me when you are done unpacking your underwear." Kezef said from his side of the curtain.


    "I am already done with that." She replied. It was even the first thing she had done. Under the bed there were drawers where she could place such items. The rest of her clothing needed to go in the closet with his clothes. Would he have his boxer or what ever he was wearing underneath his clothes... "Uhm Kezef, are yours inside the closet?" She felt her face burning up. What was she thinking, well he was her boyfriend. She could hear him stumbling and mumbling, that was probably a yes. She wanted to giggle, but somehow she wasn''t able to do so.


    "Alright, that was the last one. Sorry, I didn''t think about mine." He said, and he stepped through the curtain and opened another box. She sighed, looking at all her stuff that needed to find a spot in this new setting. "Is there something wrong?" She shook her head.


    "I am just a bit tired." She said. "It has been an eventful day." He nodded slowly.


    "Well, this all can wait, let''s make your bed." He replied and he picked up her sheets. It didn''t take long for him to make her bed, she just watched him doing it as in a daze. What was happening to her? She normally didn''t stand back and watch, normally she would pull the bedding out of his hands. Told him off and that she was able to do it herself. But not this time. "Here you go, ready to be slept in." He turned towards her, and a worried look appeared in his eyes. "Are you really alright?" This time she didn''t pretended, there was no use.


    "No I am not alright, but I will be." She said. "I am going to take a shower. Can I borrow one off your towels, mine are still in a box." He nodded and she stumbled towards the bathroom. The space wasn''t that much different than the one in her old room. But it smelled nice, not what she had expected. The slight scent of sandalwood and something else. Liqourish? The door opened slightly and Kezef''s arm appeared with a towel. "Thank you." She said, while taking it.


    "You are allowed to use of my toiletries, I will try to dig out your toothbrush." Kezef said, and he closed the door. He was so nice to her, it slightly comforts her. The water was warm, and the soap was the source of the nice wooden smell. But the point that she started to feel safe to let everything out. Was when she wrapped the towel around her body. "Dina?" She was as quiet as posible, but he still heard her. She pulled herself together and then noticed that she didn''t had a change of clothing.


    "Uhm, can you go into your part of the room? I do not have my nightwear." She said, the door opened slightly and his arm pops in again. This time with her nightwear and toothbrush.


    "Here you go."


    ******


    Something didn''t feel right. Was it the bed, or was it the change of room? Dina didn''t know, but she was so tired. But still sleep didn''t come to her. She kept tossing and turning, groaning and cursing under her breath. Hoping that she wouldn''t wake Kezef or if he was still awake that it didn''t prevent him from sleeping.


    "What in hell''s name is going on over there?" His voice wasn''t that loud, but loud enough for her to hear him. She wanted to apologize right away, but she heard his footsteps. How was she able to hear his footsteps, there lay a carpet on the ground. Still she could hear him walk. She could see the curtain move and then him approaching her bed. "Is there something wrong with the bed?"


    "I do not know." She replied. "It is the same type of bed as in my old room." At least it felt the same. There were no bobbles, or something else that made the bed feel uncomfortable. Maybe it was the room, or the fact that she was now sharing it with someone. Which she has never done before, not even in the small house she lived in with her father. He had given her the only bedroom so that she had her own place. But now she was sharing it with a roommate, and not only that. She was sharing it with Kezef. "I think it is the fact that I am in a strange room." He hummed slightly, and lay his hand on her shoulder.


    "Well I can stay here, until you have fallen asleep." He said, her heart skipped a beat. It had done that earlier when he had handed her clothing and toothbrush. But also came with a slight sense of guilt. If he stayed with her, that meant that he didn''t get any sleep himself.


    "Please go to bed. I will be fine." She said, trying to push his hand away. "You are not going to lose sleep over me." He sighed.


    "Forget it. I am staying by your side." He said. She sighed and switched on the light on the nightstand. Wanting to look him straight in the eye. The light was sharp to both their eyes, and they needed to blink multiple times. "Was that really necessary?" She nodded, yes it was.


    "Kezef, I wanted to say that I love the way you want to take care of me. But I am not made out of glass. I will not break so easily." Dina said. He raised his hand, stopping her from speaking.


    "You just said you loved me." He said, she wanted to slap him on the head. Was that all he had heard. She indeed said that she loved how he took care of her. "And I love to take care of you." He smiled, and moving a bit closer to her. "I also know that you are not made out of glass. You are one of the strongest women I have ever known. Not counting my grandmother, still I want to take care of you." He slightly pushes her to the side. "I will stay above the covers." What was he saying? But instead of explaining it to her. He kept pushing her until she was against the wall, then laid down next to her. His head was on her pillow, and his eyes were closed. She didn''t know how to feel about this? But instead of feeling panicked she felt that her eyes grew heavy. Was sleep finally catching up to her? But before she knew the answer she had fallen asleep.

 New Rules

    It was strange waking up, with her head on his chest. Hearing his slow, but steady heartbeat. This was the first night that Dina hadn''t dreamed about her big victory. Like she did every night, but instead her sleep was uneventful. She softly smiled when her head slowly went up and down. An indication that it was still early, her alarm hadn''t screamed like a banshee. Then why did she wake up? She didn''t know but she didn''t care. This was the first time that she could experience something like this and it didn''t disappoint. She took a deep breath while wrapping her arm around his waist. Enjoying the feeling of her hand slightly touching his skin, apparently the T that he was wearing wasn''t covering everything. He moaned softly, but he didn''t wake up. But his heartbeat picked up a slight faster pass, so he was not far in dreamland. The smile on her face became even broader, wishing that they could stay like this for a very long time. Only for her alarm to spoil this moment, with his loud screaming.


    "He, he, what?" He rose up slightly, which forced her to lift her head.


    "It is time for me to get ready for work." She replied, placing her hand on his chest. He moaned again and wrapped her in a tight hug. "I know, I do not like it either. I rather stay here, with you like this. But bills need to be paid." He pulled her down on his chest.


    "But why do you need to get up so early. My own alarm has not gone off, which means that you still have time." He said. He indeed picked her up from her room every morning. But by then she had already showered and had packed her bag for the day. Today she had another schedule so she needed to check her bag, just in case.


    "I need to take a shower." She replied, and pushed herself up again. He sighed and let go of her.


    "Fine." He said, with another large sigh. She pouted, before she got up. The warm water woke her further up, something she regretted. But there was nothing she could do about it, she needed to work to support her father. And if she wanted to buy more books... Well that all costed credits. She left the bathroom still rubbing her wet hair dry. "That didn''t take that long." He said, coming from his side of the room. She wanted to reply with a snarky comment, but his alarm interrupted her. "You see, if you had waited five more minutes." She sighed he was right about that, but she wouldn''t admit it out loud. At least not now. Her hairbrush, which she couldn''t find last night, lay on bed. Together with his sport jacket, her eyebrows shot up. Was he for real, did he want her to wear his jacket? Normally she would wear a similar jacket, but smaller and he knows that. He has seen her wear it. "I have heard that in ancient times, guys who were members of a school sports team shared their jackets with their girlfriends. I think it was some sort of marking, this is not what I am doing. But I liked the idea." She rolled with her eyes, she also had heard of this marking the girlfriends. But those times were long gone, only some things never stayed away completely.


    "I will wear it." She said, with a large smile on her face.


    *******


    Dina had prepared herself for the worst of the worst during the breakfast service. But nothing happened, students quietly picked up their plates with food and sat down at the tables. She replaced the empty (look for name later) with once that are full, like normal the scrambled egg (name) was quickly emptied. And she could understand why Mister Badge was like a wizard when it came to his egg creations. She stood behind the counter cleaning one of the empty (name) when she heard it.


    "Food fight!"


    Her heart sank, during her time at the school this only happened once and that was more then enough. After the students were done waisting perfectly made food, she needed to clean the whole cafeteria. She was not allowed to leave the place, until it was done. Which had nothing to do with mister Badge, or the dean, but that were the rules. She ended up missing all her classes as a result, and instead of being understanding, the teachers punished her for that as well. The following days she was buried in so much homework. Quickly she grabbed the bucket and filled it with hot water and soap. Preparing for the upcoming cleaning task. Mister Badge appeared next to her and cursed loudly. It was his hard work that was thrown around, he had spent hours upon hours preparing it.


    "Those brats should go on a trip to the slums." He said, filling a third bucket with water. "That will teach them." She agreed with him there, she knew like no other how it is to go to bed hungry. He looked at her and sighed. "I am so sorry, Dina. But it seems that you are going to miss class." She nodded, already knowing that. "And those stock up teachers will undoubtedly punish you for it. Here is the deal, if they give you as much work as the last time, tell me. You do not have to work here until you are done with that, I still pay you of course." Dina looked at him shocked, what was he saying? But there was no time to ask him if he was sure. The screams of the students became louder and louder. Which meant that they came closer, she quickly pulled off her apron and Kezef''s jacket. Hiding it inside a cabinet that could be locked, and only mister Badge had the key. No matter what they did to her, Kezef''s jacket would be safe.


    "There she is, hiding like the coward she is." A girl screamed. Dina turned around to face her and the others, but got hit by something. She didn''t know, and didn''t want to know what it was. Something else followed soon after that, this was a bit harder and she could hear the cracking. Eggs, they were throwing eggs at her. Cooked, scrambled, baked and still in the shell. It came her way. The first bell screamed and they left her.


    "Have fun cleaning." Another of the students said. Others were laughing when they left the kitchen. Mister Badge came back to get the buckets they had prepared, but he stopped in his tracks when he saw her.


    "What in hell''s name?" He screamed. "Now they have done it." He turned around. "All of you stay were you are, nobody leaves this cafeteria, until it is cleaned!" The sound of protest arose. "I do not care that you all have class. I do not want to hear you all say that it is not your job. I am started at stupid o''clock to cook for you all. And again do not tell me that it is my job, because I know it is. But if I had known that all my work would be wasted, I would have taken all of this to the slums." Dina slowly walked over to were he was standing, with two buckets in her hands. One of the male students pointed at her.


    Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    "It is her job to keep this place clean. She is going to be paid to do so." He said, he was the same one who made the happy cleaning remark. What was mister Badge up to, this wouldn''t help her at all.


    "I pay her to do more than that, I pay her to help me cook, to replace the empty (name). I do not pay her to be egg bombed!" Mister Badge said. "By the way, I am also going to speak with the dean, from now on I am not going to cook this much food for you all. You all should do with some sandwiches and juice, the rest of the eggs and other type of food that I currently have in stock will go to the children in the slums." Mister Badge looked at her. "This will also apply for lunch and dinner." Dina looked at the students, not knowing what to do or say. This was the second time someone stood up for her. Maybe mister Badge got mad, because some students egg bombed her inside the kitchen. Or maybe he had enough of their childish behavior. "Dina, put those buckets down and go take a shower. No need to worry about the rules." She nodded and placed the buckets on the ground. As soon as she had done it one of the students stepped forward grabbed a bucket and tossed it over her. She screamed, it was boiling hot water.


    "Quick, get some lukewarm water over her." Mister Badge said, and it didn''t take long before another bucket of water was poured over her. "Now take her out of her." A pair of strong arms wrapped around her and guided her out of the cafeteria. She didn''t need to open her eyes to see who it was. There was only one person who would get her out of there, Kezef.


    "What happened? Why is she soaking wet, and why those she has eggshells in her hair?" The voice of the dean reached them.


    "Go and take a look inside the cafeteria." Kezef said, but he didn''t stop with walking. She had her eyes closed the whole time, afraid of what she might see when she opened them. The sound of keys, opening and closing of the door. The soft touch of a towel that got wrapped around her, his hands trying to rub her dry. "I am so sorry." He whispered over and over. After the numbering time, she could hear that his voice started to crack. That is when she opened her eyes, there were tears in his hazel colored eyes. She quickly shook her head, this all wasn''t his fault.


    "It is not your fault." She said. This time he shook his head. His lips tried to form words, but now sound passed them. Stepped closer to him, placed a hand on his cheek. He also was covered in food, but she didn''t care about that. "It is not your fault." She repeated herself, she needed to stand on her toes to reach his lips. And softly kissed him. It wasn''t a long kiss, but it did the job. "Now the best thing we can do now is to get out of these dirty clothing." He nodded. He stepped away, it was just then that she noticed that they were on her side of the room. She rushed towards the bathroom and looked in the mirror. She luckily didn''t have any burns from the hot water, but there were still eggshells in her hair. The rest was washed away by the two buckets of water. She grabbed her hairbrush and started to brush them out. Loud knocking on the door made her jump.


    "Where is Dina!" It was the voice of the dean again. "Where is she?" The knocking was so loud that she thought that it was on the bathroom door.


    "Inside the bathroom." Kezef replied, his voice deprived of any emotion. "Probably assesing the damage." Now there were knocks on the bathroom door.


    "Dina open this door." The dean said.


    "Sir, she is there in there to get some privacy." Kezef said. "She got egg bombed, and after mister Badge adressed the students she was pusinshed by one of them with a bucket hot water."


    "Mister Badge already told me that, mister..." The dean started.


    "Then why are you here? Damanding the victum to reveale herself. Do you want to know how much damage she has? Well I can tell you that at least she got some minor burns, but that those not compare with the emotinal damage." Kezef''s voice was now filled with rage. "And she didn''t let out a tear. She didn''t break down, not even when we were behind closed doors." He was right, instead she had comfroted him. "So please leave her alone, and focus your time and energy on those..."


    "I do not like your tone, mister..."


    "I do not care if you like it or not." Kezef snapped back. "This kind of behavior is being allowed for to long. Every student taught that they were not going to be pusnished for the food fight, because they were not pusnished for the previous one. The only one who was punshised for it was Dina. That is why they pulled this stunt again..."


    "I get that, but what do you want me to do about it?" The dean asked.


    "Your job." Kezef said. "Your job, sir and now leave this room."


    Dina just listened while the dean''s footsteps left the room. Kezef slammed the door shot. He was right, this was the sole reason why they pulled this stunt again. Her legs started to boggle under her, she hadn''t cried or shown any of her feelings. But then he was right, again, about the fact that they were behind closed doors. They were alone inside this room, he on the other side of the bathroom door. She only needed to open the door, and she was fighting herself for doing just that. She was only wearing her underwear and they were still in their early stages of their relationship. But that didn''t change the fact that what all she wanted was his arms around her, while she cried her heart out. To show him that she trusted him enough to be vulnerable around him. She once again looked at herself in the mirror, her eyes were already starting to turn red. She raced to the door and opened it. He was still standing by the door, his fist against the wood. Still wearing the same dirty clothing as before. He looked at her and swallowed. His eyes were filled with tears, tears of anger.


    "Kezef." She whispered, he turned towards her. Just in time to catch her, she wrapped her arms around him and broke down crying.


    ********


    What in hell''s name was she doing there, half naked. But then he saw the tears in her eyes, of course she had heard him talking to the dean. She had heard him say that she hadn''t shed one tear. He full well knew that she had cried during her shower yesterday, but didn''t say anything about it when she came out of the bathroom. She softly said his name before rushing into his arm, while breaking down. It broke his heart. It was his job as her boyfriend to protect her, knowing full well that the other students hated her. He had tried to reach the kitchen before the food fight started, but Vigil was holding him back. He probably had known what those other students were doing to Dina in the back. His heart broke when he saw her appear in the cafeteria, all covered in various forms of egg. He hated himself for the fact that he wasn''t able to stop the guy that threw that bucket of hot water over her. He hated himself for not knocking that guy against the ground, but he needed to help Dina. However, he was able to give the dean a piece of his mind. And she was now in his arm crying her heart out. This was all he was able to do right now, holding her, comforting her. It was not the time to tell her that she was only wearing her underwear. It was not the time to say anything. She lay her head against his chest, like she had done while she was sleeping. He placed his cheek on her head, softly rubbing her back. All he can do is let her cry.

 Chapter name unknown

    It has been several days since the food fight in the cafeteria, and it has been as many days since they last have set a foot outside the dorm room. Kezef didn''t mind the time he got to spend with Dina, but their room wasn''t that big. The dean or mister Cause brought them their homework for the day. Kezef looked up from the paper he was currently writting about car racing throughout history. It seems so strange to him that there were so much different type of racing, and now there was only one. Granted they are trying to change it up with changing the track once in a while, but it was still at the same spot and with the same set of cars. He wondered what Dina was doing, yesterday she already told him that she was done with the paper, no surprise there. But that could mean that she was busy with the other homework, or something else. He stood up and stretched, should he go to her side of the room to check on her. Something he had being doing for the last couple of days, or should he let her be? If she needed anything she only needed to whisper his name and he would rush over to her. He shook his head and sat down again, he really needed to finish this paper. He grabbed his pen, but he knew nothing to write. Maybe he needed to go over to her side of the room, to borrow one of her books. He knew for sure that she had a book about this topic, he frowned why didn''t he have a book about the history of his sport? That was something he needed to look into, but now was not the time for it. He once again stood up and walked over to the curtain that suppurated their sides.


    "Dina?" He said.


    "Yes what is it?" She replied. He hated that her voice was muffled, normally her voice echoes her confidants. Was this because he had seen her cry, no this couldn''t be it. It was probably the fact that those bullies finally got under her skin. Well they probably were always there, but she was able to pretend that they weren''t.


    "I need some help with my paper." He said, he stepped through the curtain. Dina was sitting at her desk, writting something in her notebook. That was her race notebook, were she kept all the information about the races.


    "No you can''t copy my work." She said, without looking up. He chuckled slightly, that was an idea that never visited him. But that was something to keep in mind.


    "Who said anything about coping? I was just wondering if I could borrow a book?" He replied. Now she looked up and looked at him with narrowed eyes. "And before you are going to ask why I do not own one myself, I honestly do not know." She nodded and shrugged. He stepped closer, trying not to look at her notebook. But he failed, there were some type of drawings. Car designs, and lists with car parts. The parts were all universal, but it still looked amazing. Of course, it looked amazing, there was almost nothing about cars and racing that Dina didn''t know. Maybe driving a car, but that could be solved with a some lessons. Something he would give her as soon as possible. Maybe he should contact Prentum to see if the track changes were already done. She looked at him with a soft smile.


    "Do you like the view?" She asked and he nodded.


    "It looks very good, perfectly detailed. I didn''t know you could draw." He said. He walked over to her and bowed over her designs. By which ever God, if the other inside the school knew about her talent and knowledge. Maybe they wouldn''t bully her this much. No they still would bully her. "Of course, a car works better if you use parts that are designed for it. But you do not have one, so keeping the parts universal is a smart idea. This way you know in which kind of direction you are leaning, and when you have one you can look to the parts that are matching that idea." He looked at her and she smiled, she really smiled. Something he hadn''t seen in the last couple of days. And not only that there was some kind of fire in her eyes. A fire of passion, the same passion that he has when talking about cars and racing. He lay his hand on her shoulder. "Forget that book, and that stupid paper. Tell me more about your plans, maybe I can help."


    "That paper isn''t stupid." She said. While she leaned against him. "It is important to know were all of this is coming from." She was of course right about that. Still he wanted to know more about her ideas. "And besides that, I can''t have you know all my secrets." She closed her notebook. So that was all he got, just some basic designs and a list of universal car parts.


    "But you know everything about my car." He replied, while pouting. She nodded and wiggled with her head.


    "That is true, let me think about it." She said, laying a hand on his chest. It was a small jester, but he knew her well enough to know what it meant. She was looking for his support, and like always he was willing to give it.


    "Let''s sit on the bed for a while." He said, she nodded and she stood up. He already missed the contact, but he knew that it wouldn''t be long before she was back in his arms. They sat down on her bed, and she started leaning against him. He simply wrapped his arms around her, it was something of their thing. There was nothing to be said, while they did this. But sometimes one of them started speaking, like now.


    "Kezef, I know you told Prentum that you would support me when I decided to race." She started, he noted that she said when, not if. "Did you mean that?"


    "Yes I did." He said. "I will do everything I can to support you, except for fitting the race." She nodded and sighed. "I will teach you how to drive, help with gathering a team. Hell I will share Prentum with you." She nodded again.


    "Thank you, I needed to hear that." She said, so she was really thinking about racing. Well he couldn''t say that he didn''t see it coming. She only needed to know that this road would be a hard one. A few women have tried to enter the sport, and none of them stayed after three races. Not because they couldn''t race, but because of the bulling they needed to endure. Dina was no stranger to that, hell that is the whole reason that they stayed in this room. "I know what I will face more bulling then I have faced now. But I am still willing to do my best, and as long I have you to lean on." He nodded, she would always have him. He opened his mouth to say that when the secret door opened. Both of them looked shocked, they had forgotten about it after mister Cause had closed it behind them. In the opening stood Prentum.


    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "I heard that the two of you have being cooped up here. I didn''t expect to find the two of you..." Prentum said, moving his hand up and down.


    "We are just hugging." Kezef said quickly. Dina nodded, but stood up as if she has being stung by a bee. "But what are you doing in the secret hallway?" Kezef quickly changed the topic.


    "Getting the two of you out of this room. Like I said, I have heard about what has happened and well it is time for the two of you to get some fresh air. Besides that, you need to train, mister." Prentum said. "And if she is serious about entering the sport, she needs to learn how to drive."


    *******


    The track was lively, but not as busy as when there is a race. And there were no other racers among the beehive of people. Only their teams, busy with working on the cars. And viewing the new racetrack, there was not much changed except one of the turns was much steeper. And there was another chicane added. It felt good to be out of the room, and most of all out of the school. It also felt good to see his team being so welcoming to Dina.


    "Alright you all, listen up. I have two things I want done today." Prentum said, and all in the box went quiet. "First, I want Kezef to make as many rounds on this track as possible. I want as much data as we can get." The men inside the box nodded. "Second thing, Dina is here to learn how to drive. If she gets the hang of it, she will be our back-up driver until she gets her own car." This time the men started to murmur. They all liked Dina, but of course they had their doubts about her being behind the wheel. "Do not forget, that she was almost born at this track. I would know, I was there." Kezef looked at Dina who smiled. "So now that we know the plan, let''s get to work." The men didn''t say much and just went to their stations.


    "Dina, we are going to start with you." Kezef said. She nodded and they both stepped in the car. It took just two rounds around the track. Just two and Dina was driving like she had never done otherwise.


    "Are you sure that it is her behind the wheel." Prentum asked through the board radio. Kezef nodded, but didn''t answer. Dina started to speed up, and took the steep curve like a pro.


    "Are you sure, that she has never driven before?" Kezef then replied. "She is even better than me, and I am driving for two years." All he heard was Prentum laugh on the other end.


    "Well we have at least a back-up driver." Prentum replied. "Bring her in, and I will go over the details with her." Kezef looked at Dina.


    "You heard the old fart." Kezef said. She started to laugh even louder. Which was like music to his ears, he was not even paying attention on the road. He was looking at her, and the glimmer of joy in her eyes. She was in her element, behind the wheel. She really belonged there, somehow he already knew that. But now he was able to see it, and there was nothing in the world he loved more.


    "I heard that." Prentum said laughing. Dina parked the car inside the pit lane, and all the mechanics rushed out. All completely changed their tune. Dina who smiled from ear to ear, there was nothing more beautiful then that. "Alright, alright. She currently has enough praise to decorate her..." Prentum stopped, for a moment. "Her behind." Everybody started to chuckle. "Now mister boyfriend, it is time for you to get in the car and time for me to have a serious conversation with your girlfriend." Prentum lay a hand onto Dina''s shoulder. Kezef nodded and walked around the car. From the corner of his eye he could see Sorath.


    ******Dina didn''t know what Prentum was about to say, but he sounded serious.


    "Dina, I can''t believe that I am about to do this. But I was serious when I told the rest of the team that you would be Kezef''s back-up driver. At least until you have your own car. Still I hope that you are well aware that the men inside this sport are not going to make things easy for you. You will not only be a new driver, you are also a woman. And even not only that, you are your father''s daughter." Prentum said, and she nodded. This was the thing Kezef and she were talking about when Prentum entered the room. She knew that she needed to create a thicker skin, they couldn''t hide in their dorm room forever. And that was not only because she wanted to enter the sport, it was just a fact that she needed to face her bullies sooner then later. "Then there is the fact that you do not have a car."


    "But that is something I can cure." Somebody said, and she knew that voice all too well. Sorath Banks a senior member of the Jersey Boys, one of the gangs inside the slums. The last time she had seen him was a few days ago, he was busy beating up her father. Her father later claimed that the Jersey Boys did that to protect him, against the other gangs. She didn''t agree with this method, but her father was right. They needed to do something, other than pulling him into the gang. "A view days ago I was talking with your handsome boyfriend. He told me that you would need a car rather sooner then later. I do not need to tell you where our main base of operations is, so you know were this is coming from." He said while motioning them to follow. Outside the box they were met with the rest of the gang, and the body of a Volkswagen Atreon. Was this a joke, he had found this piece of art on the junkyard. "She needs some work, but I think she will be a beauty once it is done. However, she is not for free." Dina suppressed the urge to roll with her eyes. She didn''t think that it was, nothing ever was.


    "How much?" She asked. Prentum furrowed his eyebrows, he of course didn''t trust the gang member and she couldn''t blame him.


    "I am not asking for credits. I am asking for a way out of the slums, I ask the old man to train use to be mechanics." Sorath said, he didn''t look at her, but at Prentum.


    "You want what now?" Prentum said, but he raised his hand when Sorath wanted to repeat his question. "No need to repeat, I heard you the first time. But do you really think that this is a way out of the slums?" Dina nodded in Sorath place. It was thanks to her education that she was able to get out of the slums, and she had her job in the cafeteria to fall back on. That would happen when these guys learned a trade. Prentum looked at her. "What do you think?" She wasn''t sure about that, after what she had witnessed them beating up her father. After promising her to protect him, of course they explained to her that this was their way of protecting him. But still how can she trust them after that, how was she able to trust them with her tools. The once that were currently stored inside a vault, the once she worked so hard to get.


    "I think we can agree on a trail, you all need to bring your own toolbox. I am not going to share mine." She said. Sorath nodded and reached out his hand.


    "That is a deal." He said. She reached out her hand and shook his. "Alright gang, bring this baby to the box. Old man, we will see you later."


    "One thing, do not call me old man. Just call me Prentum." Prentum said.


    "But where would be the fun in that." Sorath said. Dina need to do her best not to chuckle, Sorath winked at Prentum and rushed towards the rest of the gang.


    "Well, I have something that resembles a car, something that looks like a crew. Now the only thing I need is a thicker skin. Because hell knows I am going to need it." She whispered. Prentum nodded.


    "I am going to register you as a back-up driver. While you work out some kind of plan for that piece of scrap metal." Prentum said before walking away.

 Car

    "Those look awesome." Kezef looked at her designs, that were now decorating her side of the dorm room. Of course, she hadn''t everything out in the open. She was still working on a design for the motor, something has being done in the past. But is not being used in the current state of racing. The idea is to use an electric motor that will charge itself with a dynamo system, she was still busy with working out the rest of the details. And she also had a back-up plan if this one didn''t work. Kezef pointed at one of the paint designs, one of many. "I think this one is the best, there is only one thing missing in all of these." His hand motioned to all of them. She wondered what that was, of course the paint designs was something she didn''t worry about too much. The car needed to look fast, and overall black was the safest option for that. Kezef looked at her and shook his head. "You really do not see what it is, do you?" He smiled. Originally he came to her side of the room to borrow one of her books, again. But of course he got distracted.


    "What is it?" She asked. Now she really wanted to know what she was missing. It had been a week since Sorath had ''given'' her the car, and she had worked on those designs none stop. Alright she needed to work, go to her classes and as promised they visited her father over the course of the weekend. And as promised Kezef had brought toy cars and posters with his and her autograph on it. He was currently their hero, and who could blame them. But now it was time to take her mind back to the topic at hand. She still couldn''t find something missing in her design. It was simple, and nothing special. Which was deliberate.


    "21." Kezef said. She frowned, was he being cryptic? But then her mouth fall open, was he really saying that she should add that number to her design? She knew for sure that it would not go well with the others of the sport if she did that. But then again, she would be targeted no matter if she did it or not. All because of who she was, her father''s daughter.


    "You are right about that. It would bring back honor to the name." She said. While plucking the design he had pointed out as his favorite from the wall. She made a circle on the door and added 21 in gold. "So what do you think?" She asked, and he gave her his thumbs up. She smiled and started to collect the rest of her finished designs. "So now that I have a list with brand specific parts and designs, it is time to set those Jersey Boys to work." She walked towards the door but stopped before opening it. "Kezef, it would be better if you carried them." Although nothing had happened in the last week, she didn''t want to risk it. He nodded and placed all the designs in his backpack. But again nothing happened when they walked through the hallways, still that didn''t change the fact that she wanted to be careful.


    "Miss 21." The dean came towards them when they were about to leave the school. "I have heard what is going down, your toolbox is currently at the tracks." He said. "You will find it in mister Coarse''s box." He didn''t wait for her reaction, he just walked away.


    "Well that man get weirder, with the day." Kezef said. "First he those literally nothing, not even the bare minimum to keep you safe. And now he has transported something of yours out of the school." She could only nod, it was indeed strange. But what could she do, nothing, that was the point. He took her by the hand, and pulled her softly with him. "Let''s go." She didn''t need more words to follow him. She loved the walk towards the track, and the weather was nice. The track was like always busy, a lot of teams were working on the cars. Some drivers were training on the ''new'' track, and nobody paid much attention to Kezef or her. Maybe a lot of them do not care that she was here, well that will change. The question is when will it change, when they learn about her new status in Kezef''s team. Or when she reveals her car. All she could do now was enjoy this moment of peace and quiet.


    "Well it is about time. Sorath and the rest of that group, has being here all week. I need to say that they are quick studies. I hope it has being worth the wait, that good for nothing dean of yours stopped by earlier to drop off your toolbox. Not sure why, but who cares. It stands currently inside your own box, with the rest of your crew." Prentum said, she had nodded while he spoke. Because she knew that she was not able to get one word in.


    "Well I hope I live up to your expectation." She said, he hummed. The entered her box, and indeed the Jersey boys were all there. Together with her toolbox. "Kezef." He gave her the bag.


    "I am going to my own box. See you when it is time for you to train." He said. Giving her a kiss on the cheek. Her hand went to the spot, and felt it slightly burn. The Jersey boys were typical boys, of course they were.


    "Alright, it seems to me that I have your full attention." She started, while grabbing her designs out of the bag. Giving them first to Prentum. "This is what I got so far, I am still working on the engine." She pulled out her notebook and gave it also to Prentum. He looked at the designs, and passed them through one by one. But his eyes grew when he saw her engine design.


    "An electric one?" He whispered. "Well it has been some time when the last car with an electrical engine raced, and this looks to me like a solid design." She wanted to glow with pride, but there was still a lot of work to be done. "Alright, boys. I am going to decorate this wall over here." He placed his hand on the wall, which directly changed. "It has like the toolboxes hand print protection. I will add only Dina''s and Sorath''s prints, so you can only work on the car if one of use is present. This is to protect the designs." Everybody nodded in agreement. They were part of a gang, they are used to this type of rules. "Now on to the bad news." Prentum said. "After it becomes known that Dina would be a racer there will be rumors and deep dives in her, and your history. This means the truth of you all being in a gang, will come out. So when I will give you all these." He raised something, it were camera''s. "This is not to control you, but to protect you." Some murmurs rose up, but Sorath raised his hand.


    Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    "Listen to him, he has been in this sport, long enough to know how it works. So I do not want to hear any excuses." Sorath said stern. The murmurs died down, and everybody excepted his body camera. "Also stay away from the other boxes, even the one we had our classes in." This time all of them nodded in agreement. "So now that we know our game plan, let''s get to work." Sorath started by appointing assignments on the hand of Dina''s designs. Dina was standing next to Prentum who only nodded, and gave some advice, only when asked. She frowned for a brief moment, wait a second. She had just finished the designs, how were they able to get the parts she wanted? "Those it matter?" Sorath asked, she nodded. It mattered to her. "Your boyfriend, was so helpful to give us a list with the universal parts. But the old guy told use that the car would preform better if we used brand specific parts." Dina nodded and then sighed. She could have known, Kezef had said that he would help her. But then the other aspect that worried her, how did they get those parts without any credits? "Do not worry about it." Sorath said, was he reading her mind? "Go back to the drawing board and work out that engine of yours."


    *******


    Dina sighed, while looking at her design. It would work in theory, but she only would know for sure if they actually used it. She gave it to Sorath who nodded.


    "Got it. Well now it is time for you to train." Sorath said while pushing her out of the box. What the hell was he thinking this was her car. But it was his box, she found out through Kezef that he was paying for it. She wanted to scream at him for pushing her out, she was able to work on her own bloody car. But he was right about one thing, and she would not say it to him. She needed to train every chance she got, otherwise all that work at that car would be for nothing.


    "There she is." Kezef greeted her with open arms. "Are you ready for your next driving lesson?" She wrapped her arms around his waist, and listened to his heart beat for a split second.


    "Did I hear driving lessons?" Someone from behind her growled. "Do you mean that the rumors about her being your back-up driver are true?" She let go of Kezef and turned around to face her step-father.


    "Sorry, but those that scare you? I am a 21 after all." She said, Abamil started to get red in the face. "I know, I know a woman those not belong behind the wheel." She placed a hand on Kezef''s shoulder. "I told you this much." Kezef looked confused, but nodded slowly.


    "You did it indeed, but still my girlfriend should know how to drive a car." Kezef said, while pushing her towards it. "And there is no time like the present." She got in the car, he closed the door and she drove off. She could hear him softly yell at her, but she didn''t need a babysitter. All she needed to prove is that she was more than capable to drive. But she only was able to prove that during a race. Still she would be able to make a good impression. She rushed to the first turn, which was directly the really steep one. But she didn''t hit the brakes, but got her feet off the gas. So she was able to move through the curve. "Alright, uhm. I do see that you do not need my help. Good to know that my girlfriend can fight this battle on her own." Kezef said through the radio. She started to chuckle.


    "I do not want to go that far." She replied.


    "You just took that turn without hitting the brakes, like most others would do. You just drift your way through as if it is nothing. Besides that, this is just your second time behind the wheel." Kezef said, she could hear Abamil yelp in the background. She thanked Kezef in silence. She finished the round and parked the car. She wasn''t able to feel her cheeks, or anything else on her face.


    Kezef pulled open the door, she could see that he was glamming with pride.


    "How those it feel?" He asked. She opened her mouth to answer him. But she couldn''t put it into words. He reached out his hand to help her out of the car. She took it, while the adreline still rushed through her body. "Well we officially need to focus on physical training. So from tomorrow you and I will train in the schools'' gym." She nodded, the feeling in her legs got back. "And do not worry about what the other students might think, the times that I go are the times that no other students are allowed in there." She didn''t even think about that, but he had. She was still riding the high of that drive.


    "She needs to stay away from the wheel at all times." Abamil snapped. "It is very irresponsible to let a woman drive. Especially a woman with her background." This was enough to get her back on the ground. Her background? Was he talking about her father, or the fact that she grew up inside the slums?


    "Sorry, mister Grave, but you are in the wrong box." Prentum said, loudly enough that it started to echo through the building. Abamil turned towards him and pointed at her.


    "She is the daughter of a murderer! Did you know that she was part of a crimale organization, called the Jersey Boys." Abamil snapped back. "She those not belong on the track, let alone behind the wheel." Prentum sighed.


    "She is also your wife''s daughter, if I remember correctly. And from what I understand she only did some odd jobs for them to afford food. What else was she suppose to do with a crippled father, she was also too young to work a normal job. And do not dare to talk about you and your wife. So please tell me again. Why I am not allowed to have this hardworking young woman, that is a natural behind the wheel, inside my box. Let alone inside my team." Prentum''s face was completely red. "So now that I have said my peace, get your ass out of my box." Abamil wanted to say something, but Kezef stepped forward.


    "We are not interested in what else you have to say, so leave my box." Kezef said, while pointing at the door. Abamil looked at him with narrowed eyes and if it was possible the steam would be blowing out of his ears. But he indeed left the box. Dina sighed and looked at Kezef.


    "From now on we need to fight for everything we have." She said, he nodded. The rest of his crew nodded, they didn''t even blink an eye when Abamil told them that she had worked for a gang. Maybe they already knew about it, probably from Kezef or Prentum. She didn''t know and at this point she did not care, it was all in the past. She needed to do what ever she needed to survive, now she needed to use that same drive, the same will to survive this sport.

 Past the breaking point

    Kezef looked at his watch, Dina was running on the trap mile. Facing herself in the mirror, it again has been a week after the Abamil incident. And they have being fighting other members of the sport. Crew members who claimed that Dina''s crew had stolen a tool, piece of jewelry and even a drink. Prentum was indeed a genius for giving them body camera''s, which they never turned off after the first equation. Not even when they were on the restroom, something that the members of the race organization didn''t appreciate when they first saw it. But Sorath quickly explained that maybe the next time they would be framed for stealing toilet paper or something. Which indeed happened. His dream of becoming a driver, and been a part of that world, had turned into a nightmare. All he was doing when he was at the track was housing one dumpster fire after the next. And were some would lay this blame by Dina, all the students at school already did. He knew full well that she was not at all to blame for this. She was just like the other women that tried their hand in this and were bullied until their dream had turned into this nightmare. Dina had found her old self and to the outside world she those not seem to care about it all. She is simply a new name on the racing board, but when they were behind closed doors. Well let''s say that he was sometimes surprised if she had any tears to shed at all. Tomorrow was racing day, her first official day as his back-up driver. That was also the reason why they hadn''t gone to the track. Prentum had advised them to stay away, and that is what they had done. Not that they have sat in their room all day, no they have been training and planning every strategy possible. But nothing will prepare them what would happen when they start racing. This was the first time he would start in the top ten, because of his victory in the last one. But this would also be his first time that he is surrounded by other drivers. His watch started to scream.


    "Alright you are done." He said with a sigh. She looked at him and frowned.


    "Is something the matter?" She asked, she already knew what was going on in his head. It was the same drive she was having that was keeping her going on that trade mile. "Never mind." She said, while whipping away the pearls of sweat from her forehead.


    "This is maybe the first time I am not looking forward towards a race." He said and she nodded.


    "I know, and I am sorry for pulling you under." She said softly. He quickly shook his head, this wasn''t her fault. "But the whole idea of use staying away from the track today, was to keep our minds off it." Yes that was the idea. He sighed again and grabbed his bag from the ground.


    "We better go to our room, take a shower." He said, she nodded grabbing his arm. It was a habit she had developed after the food fight. When ever they were out and in the open she would grab his arm. It was Saturday the end of a long school week and most students would wander around the school, even when it was after dark. He smiled at her as the left the gym, and encountered the first group of female students. Of course, he could hear them gasp and whisper behind their hands. But he ignored them, all they wanted to see was him in his sweaty clothing. They didn''t suspect that Dina would be in the gym with him. Even though the news about her being his back-up driver was spreading like a wildfire on a dry summer''s day. At least that was what the history teacher had told them, because there was not much forest left to have a wildfire. Still he was not sure if they would reach their room in peace, but he had worried about nothing. There were some groups of students screaming unkind things towards them, but he couldn''t remember their words and he hoped with all his heart that she wouldn''t listen to them as well. He closed the door behind them, and she sighed in relief. "I will wait until you are done." He said, she nodded and walked into the bathroom. He looked at the closed door, hating the fact that she wasn''t near him during this brief moment. But if she needed him, he would be there in a heartbeat. No matter if she is dressed or ... He felt his face slowly burn up. That was right, she was currently ... He shook his head that was not something he needed to think about. Or did he, they were in a relationship right now. He has seen her in her underwear, an image that is stuck in his mind and it would be there forever. He sighed and walked over to her side of the room, her walls were decorated with car designs and more information about the track and what not. She was clearly jumping all in, with both feet. The bathroom door opened and Dina stepped out. Her rose golden hair still wet, quickly the image of her in her underwear popped in her mind.


    Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    "What is wrong with you?" She asked, he sighed. "Are you sick?" He shook his head.


    "No, well yes. But not in the way you think." He replied. She looked at him with furrowed eyebrows. "I have a sick mind that is all, I was thinking that I hated the moment you are not close to me. Like when you are in the shower. But then I thought no matter what, if you needed me, I would rush in there..." He stopped, and her eyebrows popped up. Now her face slowly started to get red, so she got it.


    "I would say that you are not sick in the head, because that is a normal track of thoughts." She said and then paused. "We are in a relationship after all, and you have seen me in my..."


    "Do not say it, I got that image already stuck in my mind." He said. But she shook her head laughing.


    "Is that something to be ashamed off?" She asked and he shook his head. No it was something he didn''t want to forget. Although it made him right now slightly uncomfortable, it was also the first time she showed him her venerable side. A moment he would treasure forever, even if she was barely dressed. She walked towards him with a smile. "Good, because I am not ashamed. So why should you?" She wrapped her arms around his waist. By which ever god, he had fallen head over heals for her. He didn''t know when that happened but he didn''t mind that it did. He bowed down and kissed her on the head.


    "That is true. I am sorry if I gave off that it is something to be ashamed off." He said, she looked up at him and this time he kissed her on the mouth. And she started to kiss him back, passionately. Now his mind was racing again, and he had no doubt in his mind that hers was doing the same thing. Were they going into that direction? Maybe, he wasn''t sure about it. But then she started pushing him towards the bed, and he was willing to follow her lead. His legs bumped against the bed, but she kept on pushing. So he sat down, not breaking off the kiss. Slowly his back landed on the soft mattress, and she was laying on top of him.


    ******


    Kezef sighed, Dina lay in his arms. Fast asleep, who thought that this would help to get his mind off things. Well he had heard it from the other man on the track, but now that he has done it himself, he agreed with them whole heartily. He sighed again, she was a blessing. And no matter how hard things may seem, they would face them together. He smiled and looked at her serene face, this was something he would treasure forever too. Not the moment that they had sex, but this moment. Her sleeping in his arms, meaning that she feels safe enough to be in this position. Not that the moment they had sex wouldn''t stick into his mind, but he wouldn''t treasure it. Not because it was something they would do more of in the future, that all depended on the course of their relationship. But it was a simple ... He frowned, was it a simple act of their love for each other. Or was it a tool, to let him forget about everything else. He shook lightly his head, it didn''t matter what it was. It was magical in its one special way, to be one with the person he loved most. No matter how though things will be, he will face it with her.

 Back-up

    "Good morning." Prentum said, when they entered the box. It was indeed morning only Dina didn''t know if it was a good one. It was race day and all the drivers, inclusive their teams were at the track and all of them had thrown things towards her, and not only words. Still she was not willing to show that it affected her, she was here to do a job, the job in question was being a back-up driver for Kezef and nothing in the world would stop her from doing just that. "Well it seems to me that the two of you are well rested, after your day off.""Rested, keep on dreaming. We have trained the whole day, to get in the right mindset." Kezef said, a bit snarky. He had protected her from the non-words that were thrown her way. And it wasn''t a surprise to her, that he was in a bad mood. Which was not idle, but there was nothing she could do about it, or was there? "Training? Kezef I told you guys to relax." Prentum said with a sigh. "I told you take the day off so that the two of you could take a break." He threw his hands in the air. "You know to do normal couple stuff, go out for a walk, watch a movie, kiss each other." Dina and Kezef looked at each other, they at least kissed and so much more, but they were not going to tell Prentum that. The monteurs started to getter around them. "Alright here is the deal, we all know that this race is going to be though. Everybody and I mean everybody is out there to get you Kezef. So you need to watch yourself and the car." Kezef nodded. "I will do my best Prentum." He said, she nodded as well and took her place behind the screens. It did not take long before Prentum took place next to her."I fear the worst." He said under his breath, and she agreed with him there although she was not going to say that out loud. She looked at the screen that showed all the cars. Kezef stood behind Samael Frost''s Opel Astra GSE, they already knew what he could do and what he was going to try. But that did not mean that the others would try a similar tactic a well. She put on the headset and sighed."Alright Kezef, it is time for business." She started. "You know as well as I do how these men are like, drive your own race and keep your head in the game." He did not reply, which was a good thing. "Do you copy?""Copy." He said, she looked at Prentum who nodded at her. "I love when you are talking like that. I love you and I will try to come out of these in one piece." Prentum nodded again, many would say that this was unprofessional. But there were so many risks involved, even during a normal race and she knew that better then anybody else. The lights started to light up, the audience got silent and the roars of the cars started to fill the air. Her heart was pounding in her throat, this was it. The lights went out, and the cars drove off. Her heart kept on pounding, with every turn and with every car he passed by. Nobody made a move that was not that extremely hostile, and she was beginning to hope that it stayed like this the whole race. Prentum started to hiss when Kezef got close to a wall, he was pushed there by another driver. Nothing what is abnormal, but then another driver appeared behind him and dumped into him. Her heart stopped as she watched him bouncing against the wall and back. His tire was damaged, but the car was still able to drive. Which was strange, but she did not complain. "Pit crew ready!" Prentum screamed loudly, which was not necessary they were already standing in the right position. She took off her headset and rushed towards the pitch. The Alpha Romeo slowly entered the pit lane, he stopped right for his crew. But then slowly opened the door."Prentum there is something wrong with my leg." Kezef said, and he got out of the car. But needed to be caught by one of the crew members. Prentum cursed, this was indeed bad. "That is it, retire the car." Prentum said, but she shook her head. If they did that they would lose the points they had gained during the last race. She passed by the crew and jumped in the car. "Prentum, you have hired me for this reason." She said. The new tire was already under the car and she was more them ready to drive this thing. Prentum shook his head, but Kezef signaled the crew to let her go. Which they did, she drove off. She was all the way behind everybody, but the race was far from over. She was ready to let everybody see that a woman could drive. ****Taking over the first set of drivers was easy they were so shocked to see the Alpha that they did not put up a fight. Which was a good thing, the upper ten however were not so kind to her. But that did not matter, she clutched the wheel and maneuvered the car as she had done this all her life. She was now wheel to wheel with Samael Frost, who looked at her for a brief moment and then looked at her again. In disbelieve. Still he tried to push her into the wall, but she stepped on the brakes. He hit the wall right in front of her, but she moved the car away from it."Nicely done." Kezef said over the radio. "Keep this up, sweetheart." "I will, if you shut up." She said, with a playful tone. She was driving second just behind her stepfather, who was going to fight her at every turn and would do everything in and outside the book to keep from crossing the finish line. Again she clutched the wheel, until her knuckles were white. She had studied his every move, his every tactic, it was time to put all that study time to good use. She pushed the silent button on the radio, and signaled that towards Prentum in Morse code. Something her father had done back in the day. So Prentum knew what it meant, he probably did not expect her to repeat the things her father had done. Or did he, it was not a secret that she thought that her father was the greatest driver out there. She shook slightly her head, she was about to loss focus. This was something that she could not afford to happen. She started to get closer to him, but still left some space between the cars. So she was able to avoid him if he was going to try something. But he seemed cold towards the car that was now driving next to him, still she knew that she needed to keep an eye on this man. She saw him glance towards her from the corner of her eyes. Was he planning to do something? She knew that for sure, but what? She was not going to wait until she got an answer, she looked towards the next corner which was so close to the finish line. Dina could take him here, if she was smart. Stamping her foot harder on the gas, placing the car in a higher gear. She was about to shoot past him, he looked at her car again. What was he going to do, how was he going to react. He moved his car towards her, and she again placed the feet on the gas. He missed her by a hair, or maybe even less. But she was now a head, moving through the corner and then over the finish line. Her heart stopped, she had just being in her first ever race. Not only that, she had won. She actually had won the race, never in her wildest dreams was she able to get this result. She parked her car on the victory lane, but she was not able to get out of it. Tears of disbelieve and joy streamed over her cheeks. She was not even able to get the radio off mute. The door opened, maybe it was one of her crew members to see if she was alright. But no, it was her stepfather, he grabbed her arm and dragged her out of the car. Throwing her on the ground, a few members of the race comimete rushed towards the scene. "Name stepfather, what the hell do you think you are doing?" One of them asked. He bowed down and reached out his hand to help her up. But she ignored it and stood up all by herself."She cheated." stepfather replied. "No, you lost fair and square." She replied, for sure, she went over the rule book in her mind and nodded. She looked at the steward. "I was allowed to take over my teammates'' car, when he was unable to continue the race. As long, I drive the same car. The only thing changed was the tire." The steward nodded. "And everybody that is present also knows that I started all the way in the back. Due to the incident, so with that in mind, I even beat the odds." But stepfather stamped his foot as if he was a toddler having a tantrum. "You are a woman, and a daughter of ... 21." He snapped."Things the commity is well aware of, still I am the back-up driver of Kezef''s team. So I was allowed to participate in the race." She said, again the steward nodded. "Name stepfather, just except that you lost this race." Sameal Frost said, he winked at her. "She has beaten use." But Stepfather shook his head."I will never admit that I lost from a woman." Stepfather said loudly. "Nobody should." Dina looked at Sameal how shook his head and sighed. This was supposed to be one of her happiest moments in her life, but as usual, this man was ruining it for her. "You almost got me there, mister Frost." She said, hoping that this directed the conversation. Sameal Frost shook his head. "That is a lie, I can see that you have done your homework. Were you also the one helping Kezef out during the other race?" He asked and she nodded. "Homework, she just sent spies into our boxes. Frost." Stepfather said, now the camera''s off diverse screen programs were at the scene. But none of them would report on her first victory, all of them will report this. "I do not need spies, I know what is under the hood of your Aston Martin. And do you know how I know that. Because I was there when my mother, your wife, entered your box for the first time. You were throwing all the names of the compartments at her and me. So it was not that difficult to keep track of the latest modules of those parts." She said, now one of the camera''s faced her. "But it is really sad, that the man that married my mother, my stepfather, is not happy or proud of me. No, instead, he is throwing false accusations at me and souring the mood." Dina now turned towards the steward. "Let''s do the ceremony." But the man shook his head and just handed over the trophy. "Here you go, you did well." The man said. This all left an empty feeling in her stomach.


    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.