Tales of the Underground: Velocity - 31. Chapter 31

Under Ground Aliases

The Reaper- Jamie Free

Velocity- Elijah Warren

Gears- Jacob Palmer

Gizmo- Matty Sanders

*The boys use these to guarantee no one outside the underground finds their real identities*

When I woke up in the morning my head was pounding. I looked over onto my floor to find the old license plates I had removed the night before. I guess last night’s adventure wasn’t just a nightmare. There was no doubt I would face a barrage of questions from my dad and sisters as to why the mustang has new plates but I’m sure I can think of some bullshit to feed them.

I forced myself out of bed and got ready for the day ahead. I have no idea how I’m gonna make it through training today, I can tell by the way he acted last night, Jax is gonna work me to the bone. I hopped on my bike and took the normal route to school, another day where I was going to be late but just couldn’t find the motivation to pedal any faster, I couldn’t get the image of Viper getting dragged out of her car out of my head. The more I think about it the more confused I get over the whole situation. I’ve killed a man for fucks sake, so why am I suddenly growing so soft? Why did a racer who caused herself to crash bother me so much? I shook my head and finally pulled up to the building. I was able to sneak in without anyone noticing me and slept through the day as usual.

When it was time for lunch I found Eli already sitting at my table joking around with Jacob and Matty. I paused for a second and watched as they goofed around.

“Fighting back tears Free?” Stephanie teased appearing out of nowhere

“Fuck off” I mumbled still taken back by how well they were all getting along “Do you think Eli’s better off now than when we weren’t friends?”

Stephanie gave me a confused look “What do you mean?”

“Is he happier now?” I explained

“It’s Eli, he’s always happy.” She answered sidestepping the question

“Steph, I’m being serious.” I insisted

She shook her head a bit “I don’t know. You know him as well as I do, maybe even better. Eli doesn’t like to show his sad side. As far as I can tell, he wouldn’t be able to live without you.” I could tell she hated every word of that sentence. “Come on lets go join them.” She made her way to my usual spot and I joined her. Eli and Jacob perked up the second they saw us.

“Hey babe” Eli said smiling ear to ear “I’ve got big news.”

“You’re leaving me?” I teased

“You wish” he replied sticking out his tongue “They’re moving me up to varsity”

Eli’s smile became contagious and I couldn’t help but nearly jump over the table and hug him “Congratulations, I knew it would happen!” I shouted

Stephanie rolled her eyes “We’ll never get like that right?” she said staring at Jacob

“Fuck no” Jacob said agreeing with his girl “If we ever do you can throw me in front of a train” they both giggled at the idea

“You guys are weird as shit” I said looking up at them

“You’re all weird as shit” Matty interrupted “It’s like Valentine ’s Day threw up all over you”

Eli gave me a quick peck on the lips “What’s wrong with that?”

Matty shook his head “It’s just weird, you guys are all so lovey dovey. It’s gross.”

“Don’t mind him, he’s just cranky” I responded knowing the real reason behind his words “You’ll find yourself a lady soon enough” Matty rolled his eyes and went back to his food.

I saw Eli squirm in his chair a bit “So Steph, have you guys been on any other dates recently?”

“Who needs to know” she quickly responded trying to avoid the question

Eli made the most innocent face he could manage “Me”

“Well that’s none of your business” she answered to his disappoint.

Eli shifted his gaze to Jacob “Don’t drag me into this” he said trying to avoid the conversation at all costs.

“I think they’re trying to avoid another double date” I said egging on Eli

I watched as surprise crossed his face “They are!” he shouted “I helped set you guys up too! I coughed a little “Okay, we helped set you guys up!”

Jacob shrugged his shoulders and went to answer “We just want some alone time as a couple first is all” Stephanie said jumping in before he had a chance to speak.

“Ohhh I bet you do” I teased

“Jamie!” Eli screeched “This is why they won’t go places with us”

“It is what it is” I responded while giving him a light thump on the forehead

Stephanie let out a deep sigh “I’ll never understand how you could date such a pig Eli.” She said staring me down.

Our eyes locked in a heated stare down “He’s not as innocent as you claim he is” I said mocking her tone.

Jacob leaned in and whispered something to her. Stephanie’s face turned as white as a ghost. “You didn’t” she let out staring at Eli.

“Jamieeeeee!” Eli complained “See what you did now.”

“What do you mean what I did?” I said turning my attention towards his diamond eyes “Jacobs the one who’s whispering stuff, besides we don’t even know what he said.”

“Oh we all know” Matty answered reminding us he was still there.

Eli let out a frustrated grown “Why are you judging me so hard for this? It strengthens a healthy relationship” he stated in an attempt to justify his actions “If anything it’s made us closer”

It figures, Elijah could even find a way to make something like sex sound meaningful and innocent. However I have to hand it to him, ever since it happened I feel like I understand him on a whole different level. I felt his eyes peering at me to help support him “Yeah it’s like we can speak without speaking” I quickly stated to make it seem like I was paying attention.

“Yeah, you guys are totally on the same page” Stephanie sarcastically said “You just had to go fall in love with the bad boy. You need a good smack upside the head Elijah. ”

I stared into her eyes and saw nothing but venom begin to show “We get it, you don’t like me” I began “but lay off Eli” I looked deep into his eyes and hoped he was making the right decision being with me. Last night could have been the end of his clean record and innocent image. “he can make his own decisions” I finished justifying our love life more to me then her.

Stephanie stared at me unamused “Trying to take the high road for once? Let me know how it feels when you fall off of it.”

I stared at Jacob to try and get her to calm down but he quietly threw his hands up. Figures she wears the pants in their relationship. “I guess I’ll see you at the bottom, don’t try to pretend you’re a golden child.”

Stephanie’s face grew more intense “Don’t get it twisted. I may not be perfect but I’m nowhere near your level of bad. You’re basically just a lowlife who sleeps through class all day. What are you even planning on doing with your life?” She said tearing into me “Everyone knows you’re a failure, we’re all just counting down the days until Elijah finally realizes it. It figures you work at a junkyard, I guess that’s your future calling.”

I began to grind my teeth as anger began to boil in me but Eli reached out and placed his hand on top of mine to help calm me down. “I learned from an early age that you can’t always expect to have a future” I spit “I sleep during class because I usually work all night, and I work all night because I have a family to try and support. Unlike some people at this table I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth.” I saw guilt slowly begin to pour into her face “Go ahead, try and walk a mile in my shoes and see if you can stay on your so called highroad.”

The guilt in her face spread and she grew silent. I hated to cry victim like that but I can’t stand the fact that she thinks I’m some sort of failure. I don’t want to always be the villain, but most of the time I don’t have a choice. Sometimes the necessary choice isn’t the popular one.

Stephanie looked towards Eli. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to…”

“Don’t apologize to me” he interrupted, she turned her head towards me but quickly looked away. “So then I guess you aren’t really sorry” he said with some bite. For the first time in my life I saw Elijah take a stand for something. Usually he’s a huge pushover who keeps to himself, but right now he’s taking his decisions into his own hands. Stephanie opened her mouth “I think you’ve said enough Steph” he said shutting her down again “You claim to always want what’s best for me but when I finally fall in love you fight me every step of the way. I’m proud of who Jamie is. I’ve found someone who doesn’t claim to be something they aren’t. Jamie may not be perfect but he very rarely disappoints me. I have so many people in my life lately telling me who I should be or what I should do. Well fuck all of you. I can make my own damn decisions.” he finished keeping eye contact with her for the whole speech.

We were all blown away by what he had to say. He even cursed for once! I felt pride begin to glow off of me. Seeing Eli so animated and confident filled me with a happiness I didn’t know existed. I now knew I had his full support on my choices, and if I didn’t he was gonna let me know. Eli’s finally become his own man and I couldn’t be more proud of him for it.

Jacob put his hand around Stephanie but she shrugged it off “Well you don’t have to be so hard on her” he said trying to find the right words

Eli tilted his head a bit “Either you’re clueless or you don’t know her at all” he said knowing the only way to get through to Stephanie was with a barrage “She had this coming” he finished looking away.

“Whatever” Stephanie said filling the empty space before anyone else could “I’m still not going to start liking him just because you do.”

I could see frustration begin to mount in Eli’s eyes “No one’s asking you to. Just stop treating him like shit.”

“I don’t treat him like shit” I couldn’t help but snicker at her response “Don’t laugh” she continued “ I could treat you a lot worse.”

“You could also treat him a lot better” Eli mumbled finished with the conversation.

They locked eyes in what seemed like a subliminal conversation. “So when’s you’re first varsity game?” Jacob asked trying to change the subject.

“Tomorrow night” Eli answered happy to go along with the change.

He looked over and our eyes met “I’ll be there” he nodded his head and fell silent again.

Finally the bell rang and we headed towards the door. I latched onto Eli’s arm and pulled him away from the group. “Everything okay babe?” I asked quietly so people passing by wouldn’t be tempted to eavesdrop.

“I’m fine. Everyone just needs to get off my back” he said holding onto my hand “First my dad, now Stephanie. Why does everyone have to make this so hard?”

“If it’s too difficult…”

“It’s not.” He said cutting me off “Don’t talk like it is. For the last time, you’re not inconveniencing me by being my boyfriend. You’re annoying but you’re mine.”

I felt warmth begin to fill me “You’re damn straight I am”

“Oh I forgot” he said slinging his bag from his back to his front “I have something for you” he continued, digging into the small black and red bag.

“Like a gift?” I asked confused by his sudden enthusiasm.

“Kinda” he said with his head still in his bag. “Here” he said pulling out a small black radio

“Are you crazy?!” I nervously asked trying to keep my voice down “You stole your dad’s radio?”

“Yup” he replied proud of himself “he’s being a dick and it’ll help keep you safe. I figured after your run in last night it would be good to be able to hear what they have to say.” I gave him a blank stare “now all you have to do is memorize cop codes”

I quickly took it out of his hand and shoved it into my bag “Wont he notice?”

“Nope, he’ll just think he lost it.” Eli answered satisfied with his actions.

“What is this new bad side?” I teased putting my arm around his shoulders

“I’ve always been bad” he said breaking away and heading towards class “Now go before you’re late”

“I forgot, bad boys are always early to class” I teased laughing

He turned and stuck out his tongue “Fine maybe I’m still good”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way” I replied heading towards my own class room.

I watched as Eli took a seat in the front row and got ready. I see why Stephanie hates us being together so much, he’s a goody-goody and I’m a bum yet we go together like peanut butter and jelly. We keep each other honest and true. Every Jekyll needs their Hyde…right?