~Magnolia/ MJ~

"Is that the best car you have ?" I ask with curious eyes the person who looked like to be shitting himself. Tumbler nods quickly and I shrug my shoulders and open the door of the race car.

"Ma-MJ... are you really going to race now ?" Will corrects himself quickly to question my actions. "I don't think it's a good idea, there are a lot of dangerous people..." he continues and I sight, but manage to smile when I think that he is maybe worried that something will happen.

" I got this Will, no need to worry. Trust me on this one."

"Trust you ?! I was the one supposed to race tonight and now you are the one in an unknown car, ready to race. I am worried yes. What the hell happened with miss. Perfect ?" He growls, but angrily whispers the last sentence so only I could hear him. I watch him carefully, his features showing stress, fear and anger. Without adding an other word I close the door of the car and start the engine, I don't want Will to worry even more and talking to him is not helping.

I quickly roll the window down for a second to yell something to my car supplier.

"I'll bring your car back with the money big man ! Will see if it will still be useful after that." I grin wildly as I feel adrenaline pump up in my veins and close the window again once Tumbler heard exactly what I said. He got pale, I wonder why.

Tumbler quickly took me through the race lines, so I would know at least where I am supposed to go, let's hope he didn't mess up. I can't wait to feel the speed and the danger when I race against other guys, it will definitely bring me back to my happy place. The place I used to go to with Jace.

I aligne my car with all the others on a white line sprayed with paint. The wild crowd surrounds us and I manage to spot Will in there even though I am wearing my helmet which reduces my peripheral vision. I still have my mask on, because I don't want them to know my real identity, I am juts a sixteen, nearly seventeen year old girl and knowing that I won most of my races earning a ton of money wouldn't really make them appreciate me. So instead I just stay hidden, like Jace told me to.

I check my mirrors, the tank, and of course the other drivers next to me. Only boys. It doesn't wonder me, I was always the only girl in these sort of things. But who cares, the result counts, not the background or the sex pf the person driving. Let's just get the eight thousand dollars, I was promised to get if I win. I don't plan on losing this race, but I can't guarantee anything.

Three red lights shine in the air, doing the count down for us. Once every light is off, we get to drive.

You got this Mags

Three...

For Jace.

Two...

For my brothers.

One...

For myself.

GO

I step on the gas pedal, which makes my machine shoot forwards to the empty street that is open for us. I check my mirrors to keep eyes on my dozen of enemies. The first corner already appears on the left and I manage to go a bit on the outside of the track so I could then turn easier into the corner to gain speed. On my left, an orange car speeds passed me and I internally smirk once I notice that he goes way too fast to then be able to get a good grip to turn. The stupid driver even waists a second to stick up his middle finger to me, which I completely ignore.

"Dumbass." I mumble in my helmet and focus back on my path.

Four cars are currently still infront of me, but that will not be a problem, especially if guys like the driver of the orange car drive like that. It's freaking embarrassing.

My borrowed engine roars when I press harder on the pedal to gain more speed in the turn, which makes me drift off to the side. This car surely doesn't ride as good and cleanly as my Rage, but for now I don't complain, knowing that I will be able to compete with her in one week, if everything goes smoothly on Gab's side.

I have now done three quarter of the race and I still need to pass one more car to be in the lead. The lead car doesn't look like a beginner from my point of view now, so let's see if I can manage a little challenge with this car.

I am now trailing right behind him and I could try to pass him on the inside of the next corner, but it is quite risky especially if he drives aggressively. I don't think he would give me the prize away that easily. I grip the steering wheel harder in my sweaty hands, careful to not loose the grip on it, because if I loose control of the vehicle I would definitely crash into one of the stone walls on the side of the track, which would not leave me unhurt.

"You can do it shortcake" I repeat these words out loud to give me enough confidence to try and pass my last enemy who is currently winning this race. The words that Jace always said to me when he knew that I was scared to try something like this.

I take a deep breath when the narrow corner approaches and I prepare myself to already turn the sterling wheel to gain some speed and control. I curse when the wheel slips a bit away from my grip, making the car go a bit more to the left side of the corner than I expected. Shit.

"It's too narrow..." I think to myself when I try to pass in between the brick wall and the dark blue car. "If he turns now I am dead." I want to brake so badly to get out of this killer situation, but I don't do it. I push even further, but my rival doesn't let go either. We are now wheel to wheel for the last straight line of the race, which means that if I don't give everything right now, I will be fucked.

"Show me what you can do baby." I whisper to this still unknown vehicle, which I hope has some good skills.

I shift gears one last time and push on the pedal going now full speed for the last couple of seconds. I watch as my car gains speed on my rival and a small smile appears on my face when I am just a few meters away from the finish line.

"Come on, come on, come on !" I growl when the other vehicle starts to gain just a little more speed on me, but not enough to pass me.

YES" I yell loudly once I race passed the finish line as the winner. I did it.

I let out a yell of victory and watch as the crowd surrounding the finish line goes crazy with cheers, but also yells of disappointment. I don't stop the car though. I continue to drive and try and find a safe and secure spot where I could take my helmet off without anyone seeing. Once I found the right spot, I quickly get out the car, take the helmet off and breath in the fresh air of victory.

I am careful to take my hoodie off and stuff it under my arm over the helmet, so people wouldn't suspect anything.

"Fucking hell !" I hear a loud hushed voice behind me and I turn around in horror at the sudden intrusion. Luckily, there stood Will, breathless from probably running to where he saw my car. "You won... holy shit Magnolia !" The look on his face was the definition of being puzzled and it made me smile internally as I kept a straight face.

"We have to go, they can't see us here." I state and start walking out of this secluded corner, which gave me nothing, but good memories. "Come on !" Will doesn't move for a few seconds, he just stays planted in his spot looking at me with wild eyes, but quickly he takes ahold of himself and follow behind me.

"Since when do you race ? Because that was not some beginner's race."

"Just under a year I guess." I mumble as we walk through the wild crowd that looked over hyped by what happened tonight. I carefully listen to some conversations and get to hear some bad ass comments about my racing skills. Other on the other hand are just spitting, because their friend lost. A lot are mentioning MJ in their conversation, which forms a small smirk on my face.

"I don't think you should walk around here Mags. There a lot of dangerous guys and they are clearly not friends with girls." I hear Will complain behind me, but I ignore him as I think of one thing; my prize.

"Just wait and give me five minutes I need to find this dude who will give me my prize. I have to pay Tumbler and that is the only cash I have right now" I search with my eyes for a while, until William points towards the man I am looking for.

"Don't you want to put the helmet back on "MJ" ?" He smirks as he quotes my nickname. I shrug him off and head towards The prize guy. On the way there a guy grips my ass harshly and I stop myself from using my knife to cut his hand off. I would have done that if we were not surrounded by hundred of people, but I know now that that wouldn't have been a smart move here.

"Fuck off." I snarl the older guy who winked at me as soon as I turned around to face him.

In the corner of my eye I see a furious Will diving his hand in his jacket to take something and I quickly grab his hand, before he is able to take anything and pull him towards me, away from the guy.

"Leave it, please it's not worth it. I am okay" I murmur to him and quickly start walking towards my prize again. The after race is always the worst part, especially when I am walking around unprotected. It just makes me think of Nick and his dirty hands.

"I am here to pick up MJ's prize." I state to the man who was now hovering over me with a death glare. He chuckled with a deep voice and I could see in his eyes how he was actually mocking me.

"Hell Nah. Tell him to pick his prize up himself. Next time he could at least ask someone more qualified to do the job."

Without arguing with him I intend to take my phone out of my jeans, and watch as he quickly places his hand on his lower back. He has a gun.

"Chill I am just grabbing my phone." I state taking it out to show him. "I'll just call Gab. You can talk to him and figure your shit out, because I am getting the money now." I spit and start dialling Gab's number. The man's eyes widen at that very well known name and I watch as he gestures to me to hang up the phone. I give him a very fake smile and point my middle finger towards him, still waiting for Gab to answer.

"What's up ?" His voice rings through the phone and I smile.

"Hi Gab, they won't give me MJ's money. I'll pass the phone and you can tell him to hurry the fuck up." Not waiting for an answer I pass the phone to the man and with a firm hand he rips it out of my hand. It takes Gab three seconds to make the man go pale and to give me the money. I wonder what he told him.

"Bye !" I sarcastically say to the guys surrounding us and start leaving the crowd that managed to gather around us to see what was happening.

I check the stack of money and take one third of the money and toss it to Will. He catches it in disbelief, his mouth hanging wide open.

"Thanks for tonight. I really appreciate what you did here." I thank him.

"But that's your money !" He objects and intends to toss me the stack back.

"No keep the money, please. I don't need it and I don't want my brothers asking me how I got it. Plus you deserve it."

He gives me a very grateful smile when I look up to him, but suddenly I remember something when I see the pink sky. The sun is rising. Shit. My brothers will wake up soon.

"Shit" I mumble under my breath. "I have to go home Will, my brothers will kill me if they don't find me sleeping in my bedroom." I quickly head towards the cars and manage to bump into Tumbler. Perfect.

Before he can say a word I throw him the rest of the stacked money.

"From MJ, he wants you to know that he appreciated what you did. Oh and Remember to change the tires, they are completely burned down he said."

I don't waist a second to watch his reaction and already start walking to my car, putting the helmet back in his original place. Neither seen, nor known.

"I'll see you on Monday ?" Will questions.

"I am not dead until then than yes."I half joke and give him a small wave, before disappearing in the Black mustang.