Ineffable ꕥ Joost Klein ꕥ

9.

With her hands tucked into her armpits, Elke stood with a grimace. The carpark was full and anticipation was high. Everyone was wrapped up in large jackets, their breaths exhaling mist from the cold. The night had a chill from the dwindling spring and much to Elke's dismay, she was at another car meet in a jumper and jeans.

She thought she would survive in her attire but if she was cold now, she dreaded to think what she would be like in the thick of winter.

Roan was being loud and everyone knew why. Instead of being parked amongst the other sports cars, Roan's black WRX was in the street. He stood beside it, his friends boosting his confidence and clapping him on the shoulders. They held cans of beer and Roan took small sips, wary of how much alcohol he was consuming. He needed to be sober if he was going to race.

Next to the black vehicle was the silver Impreza. Unlike the obnoxious group on the other side of the street, Joost and his friends stood quietly. The driver leaned against his car with one hand in his hoodie pocket and his other holding a cigarette. Stuntje, Tantu and Daan mirrored him, the four facing each other as their smoke sat above them in a cloud. Enzo, Apson and Alanis stood to the side with cans of drink. While Joost faced his back to tonight's opponent, Alanis took it upon herself to eye Elke on the opposite side of the street.

She wanted to call her over but a look from her boyfriend stopped her. Apson had been briefed by Joost before arriving and it had been made clear that they needed to keep their distance for the night. The race Joost was mixed up in was planned by mistake, a bargain that ended without a positive.

Now that Joost was set to race and a certain face was being associated with his opponent, his friends gave Elke nothing more than a wave. Joost knew that Roan hadn't told her about their encounter at the corner shop and he wanted to keep it that way. That meant gritting his teeth and letting her stand on her own as her pathetic boyfriend thought he was going to win.

'Alright! We doing this or what?!' Roan called aloud while walking around his car's bonnet. The bystanders that lined the sidewalks and grass quietened. They had been waiting for the race all night and maneuvered from the carpark to the street for the anticipated event.

'Remember the wide corner on Kent Street,' Stuntje mumbled to Joost. The blonde nodded wordlessly and dropped his cigarette, twisting his sneaker into its lit end. His friends all did the same, not needing to give words of encouragement. If anything, they should have been sending their condolences to the other side of the street.

Joost looked up for the first time since parking his car. He met Roan's narrowed eyes and wondered if he was going to be looking the same when he sees him in his rearview mirror. The race that Joost didn't want was still an opportunity to add to his pride and fuel his enjoyment. He couldn't deny the jitter in his gloved fingers and the yearn to speed past the man who was naive, cocky and a fool.

Roan got into his car and Joost opened his own door to do the same. Like a moth to a flame, Joost broke his one rule of the night and looked to where Elke stood. She was already looking at him. Through her contorted features, Elke strained her lips into a close-lipped smile.

When Roan told her that Joost agreed to race, Elke put her face into her hands. Embarrassed by her boyfriend and riddled with worry for both parties, the girl prayed that nothing would go wrong. She was powerless as Roan turned on his engine and felt a dread in her stomach when Joost disappeared into his car to do the same.

The engines rumbled and Joost gripped the steering wheel. Unlike Roan's, Joost's knuckles were flushed underneath his fingerless gloves. His foot rested just enough on the clutch while Roan's slipped on and off to rev the accelerator. Joost hated the noise, glancing to his left to curl his lip in a scowl before looking to the deserted road ahead.