Tales of the Underground: Velocity - 23. Chapter 23

That night I had a nightmare. I was in the underground racing just like every other night but when I passed the finish line I watched as three big men dragged Eli off, shoved him in a van and pulled off. I tried to race after them but I couldn’t seem to catch up, for the first time in my life I wasn’t fast enough.

I woke up in a cold sweat, I’m gonna freakin kill Jacob. I went about my morning routine but didn’t say much. I was just too busy racking my brain to try and think of ways to keep Eli safe. My sisters tried to provoke me on the ride to school but I was in my own world today. When we got there I wandered in and went to my locker.

Eli walked up to me and started to tell me stories of what happened at practice, but I could barely listen to him.

“Jamie” Eli said poking me “Jamie, are you even listening to me?”

“Yeah, yeah” I said packing my bag

“What did I just say?”

“I don’t know” I groaned “I’m sorry babe. It was just a long night last night.”

“Did you go to a race without me?!”

“Yo quiet, you can’t just scream that out loud, my next race isn’t until tomorrow night. I just had trouble sleeping is all”

“Whys that?” he asked giving me a concerned look

“No reason” I sighed

“Jamie, we spoke about this. You can tell me anything remember? No more secrets.” Eli said grabbing my hand and slowly letting it go.

I started to feel a strong blush run to my face “Fine, I had a nightmare you got hurt at a race and I was too slow to stop it.” I mumbled

“Aww, you worry about me”

“Eli look, I get it, this is all really exciting to you, but the black market isn’t a joke. To those guys I’m not a human I’m their paycheck. The guys I race against will do anything to make me lose, and my boss will do anything to make me win.” I sighed “and if you get hurt, I don’t know what I’ll do”

“It’s okay, I won’t get hurt. I promise I’ll be extra careful and stay with Matty and Jacob.” He said trying to cheer me up. Finally the bell rang and I walked off the class still in a daze from my dream.

I spent my classes staring off and thinking about what I can do to protect him. There’s gotta be something. When the lunch bell rang I barely even touched my food.

Matty bucked me on the shoulder “What’s your problem?”

“Why don’t you ask the snitch?” I spit not even looking up

Matty shrugged his shoulders “and who’s that?”

“I might’ve told Eli that Jamie is The Reaper” Jacob finally said stepping into the conversation

“You did what?!” Matty demanded “why the fuck would you do that?”

“Because Jamie’s been out of control lately and Eli’s the only person he listens too. I had to do something.”

Matty rolled his eyes “Well fuck man you don’t go and tell a dude’s boyfriend, shits a life sentence. It’s a miracle they’re even still a couple.” Matty thought it over for a second” No it’s a miracle Eli didn’t go and tell his dad. We all could be in juvy because of you numb nuts.”

“Elis not like that” said Jacob

“Yeah because you know Eli so well” I said rolling my eyes

“Fuck you Jamie, I thought we resolved this.” Jacob said starting getting pissed at me

“Yeah well until I can sleep at night without worrying about him getting hurt I don’t think it will be.” I finally looked up “and I doubt that’ll be anytime soon.”

Matty put his hand on my shoulder “Don’t worry I’ll keep him safe. I backed you up when you went to fight that football kid, didn’t I?”

“Great, so first one of my best friends will get killed then my boyfriend. This has really been our best team meeting yet.”

Matty started to squeeze my shoulder “Oh take out the tampon Free. If you’re so worried about your boyfriend at the races either put your foot down and tell him he can’t come or take the proper means to protect him.”

I felt a devious grin cross my face “You’re right Matty, thanks.”

“What are you planning?” Jacob asked trying to crack the case.

“Don’t you worry about that, you’ll just go run and tell Eli on me anyway.”

“You’re such a fuckin cocksucker. You can’t let anything go.” Jacob said angrily staring at me

I shrugged “Guilty as charged.”

The rest of my foggy day continued as though I was walking in quicksand. I tried my best to use my night off to catch up on homework and studying but I could hardly focus. Eli texted me for a little while but I could tell he was wiped out from another day of practice. I drove around a little bit to calm my nerves and wound up stopping at Walmart to buy a bandana for Eli to cover part of his face with. It sounds stupid, but I can’t put his future at risk. That night I had the same exact nightmare as the day before. I could see the fear in Elijah’s eyes as they pulled him away, I couldn’t help but wake up and scream. I droned on through the morning same as before but this time I avoided everyone, I just need time alone to figure this shit out. When it came time for lunch Eli sat at our table. I watched as he took the seat right across from me and couldn’t help but smile.

“Excuse me sir, we don’t let queers sit here” I joked staring at him

“Oh yeah? Then I guess we’re both shit outta luck” He said laughing. I can’t tell if spending time with him calmed me down or made me more nervous.

Matty rolled his eyes “Great, are you two gonna flirt all lunch?”

“Probably” Eli said with a grin

“Ugh, I need a girlfriend” Matty groaned

“Speaking of girlfriends, I hear that Stephanie has some interest in you Jacob.” Eli said with a devious stare. I lightly kicked him from under the table.

Jacob laughed a little “Fuck that.” He didn’t even look up

“Come on she’s not that bad, just give her a shot” Eli pestered “It’ll be fun, we can even double date. Think of how great that sounds, it’ll be like that movie with…”

“Jamie” Jacob interrupted to try and get me to make Eli stop.

“Hey, I thought you and Eli were best friends lately. You made your bed now you’re gonna lay in it.” I said smirking. Eli touched my foot with his to get me to back his plan “Besides it does sound fun.”

Jacob let out a big groan “You’re just doing this to get back at me. Well this is so far worse then what I did”

“Nope, this is what it’s like to be best friends with this one” I said pointing toward Eli who let out a proud smile “But Karma is a bitch if you want to interpret it like that” I said patting him on the back “Now go get your Cinderella.”

Jacob stood up and then nervously sat back down “What if she says no?”

Matty and I instantly began laughing “Holy shit you’re such a pussy” I said between laughs

“Awww, so you do have a crush on her. This is so cute” Matty mocked

Eli kicked me and gave Matty a death stare “Jamie, you can’t even talk, it took you how long to build up the courage to kiss me? And Matty I don’t even think I’ve ever heard you talk to any girl besides your mom.”

Matty instantly stopped laughing “Geez you don’t have to be such a dick about it.”

Eli shifted his attention to Jacob “Trust me, she’ll say yes.”

We watched as Jacob got up and nervously walked over to the table Stephanie was sitting at. We saw him say something then gesture to Eli and I, a smile crept across her face and she nodded, they spoke for a little bit more before he wandered back to our table.

“Sooooo” Eli said with a cocky grin “Do we have a double date?”

Jacob nodded “Yeah Friday night at 8, if it’s good for both of you that is.”

I nodded “As long as we don’t have a race” I groaned

“I have practice but I can get home and shower before that” Eli said excitedly, he looked over at me and smiled.

“I hate you” I said reading what was on his mind

He kicked me again “You didn’t think I could do it.”

“I swear to god if you kick me again” before I could finish my threat Eli kicked me once more. I leaned in like I was gonna kiss him then lightly slapped him on the cheek. I couldn’t help but laugh “You honestly thought I was gonna kiss you in the middle of the lunch room?”

“I can dream can’t I?” Eli said laughing.

“For a couple you guys are oddly violent” Matty said staring at us.

“What can we say?” Eli began “We’re not your average couple.”

I lightly touched his hand “Nope and I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Matty fake gagged “If I ever get like that just put me out of my misery.”

“Don’t worry you need a girlfriend first” I teased

The bell rang and we wen’t off to finish the rest of the day. Lunch helped me settle down a little bit more. It was nice to see them treating Eli so nicely. Maybe they will be able to stand up for him if worst comes to worst. After the final bell I caught up with Eli to let him know the normal routine involved with sneaking out. He reassured me that he wouldn’t get caught and would meet me down the street from his house. That evening was the most nervous I had ever felt. I paced around my room for what felt like hours, my mind raced with all the terrible possibilities of what would happen to Eli if someone could figure out how much he meant to me. When it finally came time to leave I thought about how easy it would be to just not pick up Eli, after all I’m sure he would get over it. I’ll just tell him that tonight was a bit too dangerous for him….No, I can’t do that, I promised I wouldn’t lie to him anymore. I let out a big groan of frustration. I finally convinced myself to go pick him up, pulled down a few streets from his house and texted him. Eli hopped in the passenger seat all excited.

I tossed him the black bandana I had bought for him. He looked at it weirdly “What is this?”

“It’s for you to hide your face with” I groaned

He laughed a little “How much is this thing even gonna hide?”

“It’s not funny. A lot of people’s crews wear them. I have no idea why we didn’t when we first started but its too late now” I sighed “Look me, Matty and Jacob are already in too deep, you can still walk away.”

Eli rubbed my arm “You’re not gonna convince me to leave. I’m a part of the team now, for better and for worse. Why are you even so worried? Everyone will just assume I’m a member of your crew.”

I rolled my eyes “Because if you haven’t noticed yet we haven’t done such a stellar job of hiding our secret at school.” It was true, rumors were already starting to circle that Eli and I were a thing, but I honestly didn’t care. No one gave me shit for it yet, and if they do I’ll make sure they regret it.

“Like you keep saying this is different. I’ll act different. I’ll be fine.” he stated but I didn’t respond.

I picked up Matty and Jacob and made my way to the track. The whole ride there they told Eli stories of what he should expect and about the proper etiquette of the underground. I bit my tongue the whole conversation not wanting any of this to be real. As we finally pulled in and I took my normal spot and Eli put the bandana over the lower side of his face.

“Don’t do anything stupid” I instructed him stepping out to the roar of the crowds. I took a deep breathe taking in every second of it. Eli was immediately floored by everything around him.

“Welcome to the city of evil.” Gears said patting him on the back

Jax walked up to us and started staring at Eli “You’ve gotta be kidding me” he said a little ticked off “Reaper, what did I tell you?”

I threw my hands up “Don’t blame me, blame loud mouth over there” I said pointing at Gears “besides don’t act like you weren’t in on any of this.”

“I was in on getting you under control, not dragging innocent people into this life. What the hell Gears?” he said with a stern voice.

“I did what I had to, everyone needs to get off my back about it already” he spit

I pulled Jax aside so that no one could hear what I was saying “Look man…”

“Don’t worry I’ll look after him.” Jax interrupted

“Well yeah, but that’s not what I was gonna ask” Jax gave me a curious look “I need to buy a ghost”

Jax gave me a grave stare. A ghost is one of the most dangerous things on the black market. They’re handguns most commonly M9s imported from around the world without any serial number or way of tracking them back to the user. You can easily kill someone and leave the gun with the body, the only way they would be able to track you is if you left fingerprints. Each of the guards is equipped with one for protecting the crowds. “No way.” he spit

“Jax I have no other choice. You and Gears got me into this mess now you’re gonna get me out of it.” I demanded

“Look I can respect where you’re coming from but…”

“You once said I was your boss more than Pit” I interrupted “Well then think of this as an order” I commanded

Jax sighed “I’ll tell you what, you come to my house every Monday, Wednesday and Friday after school to train, and if you can prove you’re fully in control of your mind and body I’ll get you a piece.” I could tell he wasn’t happy but I definitely wasn’t gonna give him any other choices.

“Deal” I said shaking his hand “and thanks Jax, I don’t know what I would do without you” he gave me a pat on the back and we headed back over to the car. Groups of people were still mobbing it trying to get a look at it. “How you holding up?” I asked bumping shoulders with Eli.

“Good, overwhelmed, but good.” He said shaking a bit

Jax walked up and shook his hand “I’m Jax”

Eli looked up realizing that if he spoke fast enough he could nickname himself.

“This is…” I started

“Velocity” Eli said with a grin