Future Memories

Chapter 7

The next morning, I woke up around 5 AM. I made myself a quick breakfast and took a quick shower. After I got dressed, I went outside. I had to think, take in the scenery. I had to get one last look around before I left. I had been lying a bit. There was a possibiity I'd be directly deployed right out of boot camp. I stood there for about ten minutes before I went down to the garage. I opened it up and stood looking at my Supra. This would be my last ride in this car before I go away for at least four months. I got in and started up the car and just listened to the motor. The sweet, sweet sound of the engine running. I pulled out of the drive way and started to drive towards one of my favorite places in Rockford Falls. It was an old dirt road that was perfect for driving. Brayden and I went there to race all the time. The entire way there I thought about the amazing times we had racing. We'd drag on the long one and a half mile strip towards the middle of the road or we'd race the entire road so see who was the better driver. I had become a pretty good driver and would usually win these races, but once in a while he'd best me. I'd been driving since I was 13. I used to go over to my uncle's house and drive his old car down old back roads near his house. After 5 years of driving a stick, I've become a pretty good driver. I pulled onto the dirt road and began to race down it. I came up to the first turn that had caused me so much trouble in the past. It was such an akward turn to drift around and took me a couple years to be able to get it right. I drifted around it like a pro because of the amount of practice I had. I drifted the second turn and came up to the first half mile straight away. I slammed the gas pedal and felt the adrenaline rush I craved so much. I came into the third turn hot and barely made the drift. I came to the fourth and fifth turn (they were very close together) and barely drifted through the turns without losing control. Then I hit the mile and a half strip. Nostalgia hit me in the face like a heavyweight boxer. I remembered Brayden and I's first race down this drag. He'd won that first race because I was still getting used to the Supra. He had a feel for his car a bit more than I did and was able to shift a lot smoother than I was. I pulled up to the old tree that was on the side of the road where we'd always start our races. I pulled out my phone and called Brayden. He thankfully answered my call. "Hey, come meet me at the drag strip." "Alright be there in a bit." I was so excited to race one last time. He had arrived 20 minutes later. He got out of his car and I got out of mine. Now this was what I was up against; a 1998 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo. 6. It had over 400 horsepower and a 0-60 time a bit faster than my car, but had a lower max speed of about 160 mph. "Do you want to race one last time, for old time's sake?" I asked, hoping he'd say yes. "Your on, but when I destroy you this time, dont go crying to your momma," he said with a big smirk on his face. "We'll see who's crying and smirking when I leave you in the dust," I shot back at him. We got out the old stoplight we got from a hobby store in the mall. We set it up to turn green in one minute. We got back in our cars and got ready to go. I revved my engine and he revved back. I was counting in my head. 10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... Here we go. 2... I'm going to miss this. 1... One last race to settle it all before we go. The light turned green and I shifted into first and launched off of the line. He launched faster than me because of the way his car was tuned. He had a lead on me up past the quarter mile. I shifted in to second and got into 3rd at the half. I was catching him slowly. I shifted into fourth 50 yeards before the last quarter. We were almost neck and neck now. I punched it into fifth and barely pulled ahead of him to win. We slowed down and got out of our cars. "What was that about completely destroying me," I said mockingly. "I had you the entire race until the last 100 yards." He said in return. "That's the way it always is because of the way our cars are tuned," I said laughing. "Whatever," he said trying to sound annoyed, but he was actualy happy. I could tell from his voice. I went over to him and gave him a hug. "That was a lot of fun. I'm going to miss all of this. The scenery, the racing, and the people." "I know what you mean. This may be the last time in over four years we get to see this place." We started walking towards our cars. "I think we need to head back. It's almost time to depart." We got back in our cars and drove home. When I got home, I grabbed my belongings and went to talk to my mother. We talked for a bit about how much Iv'e grwon and she got emotional, so I comforted her. I set the keys to my car on the table. "Tell Aubrey the keys..." I was cutoff. Someone walked through the door. Aubrey. I ran over to her and hugge her. "What are you doing here?," I asked confused. "I had to see you one last time before you leave." I gave her a kiss and we drove to the train station together with my mother. We arrived at the station and we said our final goodbyes. "I'm going to miss you so much," I said staring into her eyes deeply. "I'm going to miss you too" "Remember our promise. Stay strong and keep in contact. The car keys are on the table. Make sure to take good care of it while I'm gone." She stared into my eyes with tears running down her face. "I promise I will. I'll be waiting for you to return. I kissed her one last time, said goodbye to my mother, and boarded the train...

I would return before deploying for three days. I made sure to make the best of that time while I had it. The oncoming horrors of war would soon approach and they'd slap me in the face...