Start Small, End Big.

First Contact

Liam fidgeted nervously in his car as he drove toward the location Barrett had told him about. Sneaking out this late to watch a street race was entirely out of character for him. He'd always been the "good kid," the one who hated getting in trouble. But tonight was different. This drive, with his engine humming steadily, filled him with equal parts excitement and dread. The dark country road glistened under his headlights as he contemplated the risks of street racing. Was it really the right path to achieving his dream? As Liam approached the meetup near Mount Royal, the faint glow of headlights and the hum of engines grew louder. Groups of cars were parked haphazardly around an empty stretch of road, creating an electrifying atmosphere. When Liam drove into the crowd, murmurs erupted around him. He could feel eyes on his Veloster N, and he caught snippets of admiration from onlookers.

Unknown Voice: "Nice Veloster!"

Liam glanced around, trying to spot the source of the compliment, but the voices blended into the crowd.

Liam: "Uh, thanks! Whoever you are."

He chuckled nervously. Suddenly, Barrett appeared out of nowhere, giving Liam a slight scare.

Barrett: "Already making an impression, huh? Good. This group's full of good people. Most of us are from the U.S., though. You ready to get started?"

Liam smiled, though his nerves were still on edge. He couldn't help but think about how illegal-and dangerous-street racing was, especially in Montreal. But at least for tonight, he was just a spectator.

Liam: "Oui (yes). Let's do it."

Barrett: "Alright! Let's head to the first turn. It's always the best spot. The apex is unique-if a driver nails it, they can slingshot across the road in the blink of an eye."

Liam: "A unique apex? Aren't they all the same?"

Barrett: "On tracks, yeah. But public roads are different. They're built for traffic flow, not speed. That changes how you have to approach them."

The two made their way to the first turn, where they could just barely see the starting straight. The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation. Two heavily modified cars, a Civic Type R and a Ford Mustang, lined up side by side. Their engines roared, echoing through the night as a flag girl walked between them. She raised the flag high before swinging it down, signaling the start of the race. Both cars launched forward, their tires screeching and spinning as smoke billowed around them. Liam watched in awe as the cars tore through first and second gear, their engines screaming louder with every shift. The noise grew closer, the sound of revving engines and rapid gear changes filling the air. The Civic and Mustang were neck and neck as they approached the turn, each driver pushing their car to the limit.

Barrett: "Here they come!"

Liam was too mesmerized to respond. The Type R surged ahead, trying to secure the inside line for the turn. But the Mustang driver wasn't having it. He floored the accelerator, overtaking the Civic and forcing it to back off. The Mustang roared past, hitting the turn at the perfect angle, mere inches from the barrier. The car seemed to glide effortlessly through the corner, creating an instant gap between itself and the Civic. The crowd erupted in cheers as the cars disappeared around the second turn, their engines fading into the distance.

Barrett: "Whew! Yeah! That's what I'm talking about!"

The crowd clapped and whooped in excitement. Liam stood frozen, his heart pounding as he replayed the scene in his head.

Liam: "Oh mon Dieu (oh my god)! That was génial (awesome)!"

Barrett: "Damn right! Come on, let's head back to the parking lot. The real fun happens there while the racers are out."

Back at the lot, the energy was electric. Hype music blared from speakers, and rows of sporty cars gleamed under the moonlight. Liam wandered through the gathering, admiring the lineup of vehicles. As he took it all in, a familiar voice called out to him.

Hope: "Liam? I didn't peg you for a street scene guy."

Liam turned to see Hope walking toward him, her smile lighting up the night. His nerves kicked in immediately.

Liam: "Eh... moi non plus (me neither)."

Hope: "Hehe, well, I guess I should've expected it. Mr. Motorsports Lover at a street race? Makes sense. The scène de rue is a great place to start, you know."

Liam: "What about you? I didn't think you were into street racing either."

Hope: "There's a lot you don't know about me. Hehe. Why don't you walk with me for a bit? Ça sonne bien? (does it sound good)"

Liam felt his cheeks flush. Hope-this amazing girl he was starting to like-wanted to walk with him? It felt like a dream.

Liam: "Oui (yes). Hehe. I'm down."

Hope: "Great. Let's go."

As Liam and Hope strolled through the lot, Barrett watched from a distance, smiling as he inspected a sleek Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX.