The Crew: A New Beginning

Chapter 9

At last it was the weekend of SummerFest. I woke up that Saturday morning feeling a pit of dread in my stomach. The last couple of days had flown by, with work, surfing and more catch ups with Jake, but now the big event was here. I dragged myself out of bed and made my way to the kitchen to make coffee. Just as I put the kettle on, there came a knock at my apartment's door. I opened it to see Jake, smiling, decked out in jeans and a Vans off the Wall t-shirt. "Hey, I'm all set," he greeted as he came into my apartment. I stifled a groan. Was I really going to do this? "I'm kind of nervous," I say, as I got another mug from the cupboard and poured some coffee for Jake. He smiled sympathetically. "It's okay, I'm sure it'll be fine," he replied. I looked into his eyes then and felt a calm wash over me. Jake was right, everything was just going to be fine. Or so I thought.

Later that day when we got to the track, there were a lot of people milling around. Young families with small children hung about, looking at the classic cars, older guys stood taking photos and filming well known drivers doing donuts and burnouts in the Ford GT mustangs and Chevrolet. A black Hellcat stood not too far away from the row of cars and I shivered even though it was a hot day out. I wore a pink tank top with denim short shorts and my converse kicks, my long brown hair flowing over my shoulders. I gulped my eyes darting everywhere to see if I could see one particular person I know. Tommy and Ash were already trackside by a booth selling t-shirts whilst a drag race was happening. There was no way I would make my way down there. Jake saw the frantic "deer in headlights" look on my face and slipped his hand through mine, squeezing it. "It's going to be ok," he spoke softly, right as I head someone call out, "ELLA?"

Jake and I both turned our heads to see a familiar tall, lanky figure coming towards us with someone with blue hair walking next to him. I blinked. "Josh?" I blurted out, frozen to the spot. He had also stopped a few metres, looking from me to Jake, to me, back to Jake again, then noticed we were holding hands. All of a sudden Jake frowned and pointed at him. "OMG, I know you! We attended high school together," he mused in realisation. Reality kicked in and Josh narrowed his eyes. "Well well well, if it isn't Jake....." he started to say when the blue hair dyed girl who looked like she belonged in an anime, interrupted him. "Who are these people babe?" She asked.

Babe? Babe? Who was this girl that had stolen my boyfriend from me? I was about to say something when someone else appeared through the crowd, arms linked with another familiar face. Annabelle and Ava. I gritted my teeth and stood rigid. Jake must've felt me tense up, because he held my hand even tighter. We all stood in an awkward circle, glares and looks of confusion darted around like high beams from a jacked up Hummer going off. "So glad we could finally get together again!" Annabelle gushed in a perky tone. "It's like finally a reunion!" As she gave CeeCee a hug, memories flooded back to me from back home and I paled. Annabelle turned to give me an icy smile. "You remember CeeCee, Ella? You guys once used to be friends, right?" At that moment I wished that Cass would somehow appear. This felt like deja vu, but not in a good way. Josh raised his eyebrows. "Wait," he turned to CeeCee. "Annie is Annabelle?" And then he turned towards me. "You and CeeCee were friends?" And then he finally look towards Jake. "And what the hell are you doing here?" All of a sudden there was an explosion of words, everyone talking and yelling above the noise that was surrounding them.
It was Ava who at that point yelled out,"SHUT UP!" A few onlookers and people who were milling around looked at her as if she was crazy, but at least she got the group to stop bickering. "I say let's take this somewhere else where people and children of the public are not around, shall we?" She pointed over towards where the old go kart shed was standing near a clearing where it was more quiet.

I shook my head. "No. I'm done," looking straight at Josh, I narrowed my eyes. "You may think you won, whatever this game you're playing at. But think again Hollister. This is not cool." I then directed my steely gaze at Annabelle. "And no thanks to you for splitting us up, AND causing this drama. Cos the next time you'll see me, I'll be coming for you." I then turned my attention to finally CeeCee. "And You. You have no idea who he is, CeeCee or whatever he's capable of. I suggest you watch your back. Because Jake and I, we are creating a new crew, and we'll run you out of town as quick as you can say Vin Diesel." I turned towards Jake and nodded at him. "Let's go and enjoy some of the track. Babe," I said, emphasising on the word 'babe' as we left the group standing there with their mouths gaping wide open. It was only when I looked back halfway did I see the hurt in Josh's eyes. It was the same that mirrored my own as I headed towards the track.
Jake himself was still processing what had happened. Josh, The Josh, was Ella's ex? No wonder the guy in the ripped photo Ella chucked in the bin a few weeks ago looked familiar. It was him! But why was there so much hate and tension now? He only knew from what Ella told him, but he figured there was more to the story. As for the backstory behind him and Josh? It was only schoolyard rivalry that made them enemies. He glanced at Ella and hoped that she would be more ok than what his hand felt right now, the way she was gripping it tightly.

Meanwhile Josh stood, also processing what had just happened. He looked over at Annabelle accusingly. "You planned all this out?" He asked her, in an accusing tone. Annabelle raised her hands and shrugged. "I had to finish off the job Billy couldn't do. With you and Ella, this would be so difficult around here. I had to get rid of what would've been a strong pairing......" she trailed off as Ava jumped in, interrupting her. "Annabelle! This was all for revenge? How stupid can you be? What did Ella do to you anyway?" In the time that Ava had observed, when Annabelle did her time in juvenile and when Josh moved away, she had noticed a humble yet suttle change in Ella. When Ella joined the swim school where Boston was going, it was like dealing with a different person. She was a whole lot friendlier, which made Ava begin to like her. Now Annabelle decided to stick a screw in the works. Again. Annabelle tried to say something but CeeCee did instead. "Annabelle and I knew Ella back in the day when she used to live in the city. She was fun back then, and Cass too. But she has a dark side. One is stealing boyfriends, and the second is winning races. Street races. And dance battles, that too," CeeCee replied with an eye roll. Ava folded her arms and raised an eyebrow. "Omg, that just makes you both sound like jealous losers. Do you seriously hear what you're saying?" Ava suddenly shook her head and turned her gaze onto Josh. "You clearly need to sort your life out Josh. You just lost a good rose, for these bad ones. If I were you, I'd get myself ready for whatever comes next. Because now you've all peeved her off, and you know what they say about a woman who is peeved off, right? She's charmed and dangerous." Ava then turned on her heel and stalked off to go find Ella and Jake, leaving Josh, CeeCee and Annabelle in her wake.

"Well, that was pretty fun, anyone want to get some food from the food trucks?" Annabelle suggested, breaking the awkward silence . Josh shook his head, he felt sick and wanted to go home. Not home as in CeeCee's apartment, but back home where his mum and sister lived. Where him and his dad once lived. "He looked down at CeeCee and pointed at Annabelle. "You hitch a ride home with "Annie" here. I'm going to clear my head," he muttered, walking off. CeeCee tried calling out to him, but he ignored it. All he could think about was the mess he created. Ella hated him. And what was this that Ava was now standing up for Ella? And Jake, how did he fit into all this? Josh's head ached from too much thinking as he got into his Honda Civic. He decided he'd drive away, drive away from everything. He sighed and pulled out of the parking lot, heading straight home to his mum.