The University of the South

The Pawn (2 of 9)

It had been exactly three days since I first talked to Ava and I still got nothing.

This challenge was nothing rowdy compared to what Dennis usually gave me, but it still wasn't easy.

I had tried talking to her again several times, but every time I went up to her, I'd fumble and didn't know what to say.

I didn't know anything about her that I could talk about. She was just so intimidating all the time.

I had to think of a better plan soon, time was running out.

"I mean there is another thing you could do to end this all..." Lewis starts to say with a laugh as I glare at him.

I already knew what he was going to say.

"I'm not paying Dennis. Besides, I don't have the money to do that. It's either I go bankrupt or I sleep with Ava and the latter is kind of easier unfortunately." I say as Lewis sighs.

Lewis had been a closer friend to me than Dennis has.

There were times I barely knew what Dennis was up to. Sometimes it was if he mostly stuck around just to give me challenges and pay me.

Which I found really odd at times.

"Whatever man. You still have that race coming later, or did you forget about that?" Lewis asks as I shake my head.

The race tonight, how could I forget?

It was the start of racing season again, I had to show everybody how I improved over the summer.

The new me.

"I haven't forgotten. I'll wreck whoever they throw at me. You'll see. Meet you at 9 tonight, okay?" I ask as Lewis nods, as we part ways.

. . .

I was pumped.

I was going to win this time. It was my debut and I had to show these guys that I wasn't someone to mess with.

Dennis had been training me the whole summer, I had to make him proud.

"Hey Robinson, you gonna win tonight?" A random guy asks as he smirks.

I recognized him from attending past games. He was definitely on the other team and was trying to rile me up.

"I might." I say, playing it simple, not wanting to show that I cared too much.

He chuckles as he shakes his head.

"You might? Well it's a good thing you aren't too confident, because our newbie is going to kick your ass." He says as his smile dropping, as he sees someone behind me.

"Raymond Harvey..I'm-" He says, stuttering as he backs away.

I turn to see him as I smile back.

Raymond Harvey was a legend in these kind of things.

He had won the illegal racing tournament for years, but retired three years ago. He still attended the games from time to time and was known to have a not so good background of beating people up from time to time as well.

"Get lost kid." Raymond says as the guy runs away.

He stares back at me and gives me a smile.

"Amateurs. That guy sucks by the way. Did my brother train you well?" Raymond asks me as I nod.

He was also Dennis' older brother.

"He sure did. I won't let you down sir." I say, determined as Raymond nods.