"I welcome you all." The man stood at a podium, a huge smile on his face. "I am Milo Gotcher and I am very excited to bring this proposition to you all." Delilah Reed sat in the crowd, examining some of the faces. A few looked familiar, a few she had raced against in her career. And the rest she did not know at all. Just in her row, there were at least fifty people, with at least twenty-five rows.
"This is the Gotcher Championship." With Milo's words the curtain behind him opened. Behind the curtain, there was a giant trophy inside a clear case. Delilah leaned back in her chair as she examined the trophy. It was unlike all the prior awards. The trophy was at least three feet tall, with crystal glass wings, between the wings was a steering wheel made of diamond. Real or not, Delilah squinted her eyes at it. "Looks a little cliche, don't you think?" She whispered to her coach, seated next to her. He shook his head with a chuckle. Delilah looked back up when Milo started to speak again. "What I want to gift to you, isn't this trophy." He looked down. "I want to travel. I want to bring your entertainment everywhere, not just in this country. I want all of you all over the world."
"This will be the race of the world," he furrowed his brows looking through the crowd. "It's the same for you guys," he locked eyes with Delilah. "Isn't it?" He brought his hands up and continued, "You want something more. Something," he paused, his fingertips tapping each other. "Nerve breaking." He finally broke his eye contact with Delilah and moved on to his next victim. "I want to give that to you. But I can only take sixty-four of you." Grumbling and complaints came from within the crowd. "I know, I know. But I am not going to waste my time with the ones of you that cannot keep up."
"Damn," Delilah mumbled. "Let me explain." He held his hands up, asking for forgiveness. "You will all try out. I will allow the top sixty-four of you to compete. But, here's the catch," he looked around for suspense. "You will be grouped up into teams of four." Grumbling again came from the crowd, "Give me a chance, just one more!" He pleaded. "Two teams will face off at once. The winner will move on, the loser will be eliminated." Someone towards the front row raised their hand. "Yes sir," Milo pointed at him. The man was handed a microphone, "If we're in teams, how can we win?" Milo clapped his hands together before answering. "Great- great question, sir. Now make sure you listen to me on this. In the top four, okay?" He looked around and waited till someone nodded their head at him. "The top four placements of the race have to have three," He held up three fingers. "It has to have three have the same team members in the top four to win the race." He nodded his head, "Does that make sense?" Even though a majority nodded their heads he continued to explain. "If team three is racing against team four, and team three has three members place in the top four, they will win that race, okay?" He looked around again.
The same man raised his hand, but Milo held his hands up at the man. " I bet I know what you're going to ask." He clasped his hands together, "What if two members from team three place in the top four, and two members from team four also place in the top four? Then the tie-breaker will be the member that placed fifth. So, if a member from team three placed fifth, team three would win the race." He looked around again, looking for approval. A couple of people nodded their heads, but someone was against his project. "This is a lot more complicated than it needs to be. It would be easier if we raced alone." Milo nodded his head before answering, "Do you know everyone in this room?" The man looked around for a second, then he turned back to Milo and shook his head. "Exactly," Milo clapped his hands together. "I'm not going to bore you like I said in the beginning. You, all of you deserve more." He, again, locked eyes with Delilah. "You are going to learn so much from this one experience." He didn't remove his gaze, "I am begging you." Finally, he broke eye contact, "All of you give this a chance. To give yourself a chance." He cleared his throat and shook his head, "This team- It doesn't just have to be a team. If you give it a chance, it can be so much more." Milo shook his head again, "Thank you all, all of you. Thank you so much, for coming here and hearing me out. It means a lot. I really hope I can see all of you at tryouts on January 1st, this next Monday."
Many people stood up and Delilah took that as the chance to leave. Calvin got up with her, "Well, what are you thinking kid?" He asked her as they weaved through the crowd. "It's definitely different, I don't know though. I've never been on a team and, ugh" She struggled to collect her thoughts. "I know, kid. We can talk about it once we leave this place." Delilah sighed and nodded her head. She felt someone grab her shoulder. "Hey, baby." Apollo, her boyfriend since his first year of racing. "I thought you couldn't make it?" She said to the man now walking on her other side. "I slipped in a little late, I heard a majority though." Apollo looked on the other side of Delilah and saw Calvin. "How are you doing, Cal?" He asked as the group of three headed to the door. "I'm doing alright, Miller. How are you doing, sir?" Before Apollo could answer someone yelled, silencing the room. "Miss Delilah!" The group turned, and Milo was pushing through the crowd to get to her.
"Oh my," She took a deep breath before he reached her. "Mr. Gotcher, how are you doing, sir?" She held her hand out and he took it tight, clasping both his hands around it. His hair looked as if it hadn't been washed in weeks, strands of it covering parts of his face. "I am so good." He said, without a smile. "How are you doing?" He hadn't let go of her hand, Apollo came behind her placing his hand on her shoulder. "Ah! Mr.Miller! How are you doing, sir? I am so glad you could make it!" Milo let go of Delilah's hand to shake Apollo's. "I'm doing alright." He said, shaking his hand firmly. "Well!" He said, but paused. Delilah and Apollo waited for him to speak but he didn't, he just kept looking at both of them. "I'm a fan of your project," Delilah said, breaking the silence. "Ah!" Milo began. "Are you? I've worked hard on it." He looked back to Apollo and then back to Delilah. "I am assuming you guys will be at tryouts, no?" They thought for a moment, "What the hell.." Delilah mumbled under her breath. "Sure thing, I'll be there." She said to him, shrugging her shoulders. "Wow! I am very glad to hear that!" Milo announced, and then he looked at Apollo. "I'm not so sure yet. I got a couple of brand deals coming up that week, but maybe." Milo looked a little unpleased with his answer but nodded his head. "I understand! That happens! I hope to see you, but either way. Have a good one!" He smiled, tiredly and waved. "Is that the one and only, Elliott Gray?! Come here, man. Let's chat," He said as he walked away.
"You're actually going to do it? It's not really your thing, baby." Apollo questioned as they stepped out. " I know, but I'm so bored, no offense." She looked at him with a guilty grin as they usually raced together. "I just want to try something new." She thought for a moment, "Are you going to do it?" She stopped in the parking lot, "I don't know, it seems cool and all, but it's not my thing." Delilah nodded her head, "Yeah, I know."
"Kid," Calvin said, looking down at his phone. "Sir," She asked, turning from Apollo to him. "Go ahead and get your bag packed. Our tryouts are in the UK." He looked from his phone, and Delilah furrowed her brows. "You're joking?" Calvin shook his head, "No. If we're going to make it we have to leave this Friday." Delilah sighed, "You better make up your mind quick." She looked at Apollo who was already shaking his head. "I'm not doing that." Apollo said, "But I'll make it to your races, I promise." She looked at him with a sad face, "Oh, come on, baby." He tilted his head and grabbed her hands. "Please!" She begged him, "We could be on the same team." Apollo shook his head and sighed. "I will go to tryouts for you, but I will not promise anything."
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