Chapter 14

31 1 0
                                    

   "Ready?" Will asked, his black hair bound under his helmet, wrapped around his face. I nod, Liv nods. I take a deep breath, snapping up my screen so I don't steam it up. 

   No pressure. This was the 'dress rehersal' for the race in a couple of weeks- the biggest race of my career so far; perhaps it will be as far as I will ever go. But my future and the future of the company rests on the shoulders of this race. Sponsorship, facilities, everything will be cut if I don't win this race. At the rate Hunter is spending we will be broke within a week!

   Plus, half of the student population will be there 'apparently' thanks to Evan's little slip up; reporters and scouts; it will be a tough audience to please. Fingers crossed people won't mention the event to their parents, seeing as me racing, well, it's not exactly legal - not in the catagory I have eventered anyway. 

   "Three", lean forward, keep the pressure tidy, "Two", more revs, more power; "One", keep it together; wiat for it; "Go". 

   Liv and I burst forwards, I love the feeling of the initial lurch. Liv and I are both familiar with the route, although most of it is off track. Liv is in front of me for the first part, leading by five or so meters down the straights - straights and tarmac, Liv specialises in track racing; wheras off road is more Will's speciality. 

   I get Liv on the turns - she comes off the tarmac too fast; she looses a lot of time taking the first trun wide; I'm in the lead along the straight. We loop left and down a bank, right on the west border of the grounds; here the ground is left unatended:

   There are rabit holes, tree roots, tufts of grass, mole hills; my bike flies over them. I trust her with my life, I've never had a nasty fall off her. Liv catches me up on the next straight as we pass over a patch of tarmac - her bike roars to life; flying over the smooth surface. I can see her crooked smile beneath her shield. 

    I warned Liv about the S turn, it's a really nasty part of the course they have picked out. If you go too fast you won't make the turn, if you go too slow you loose too much time and momentum for the jump that follows. There is no room for mistakes. 

   Liv takes the corner too fast, the bike doesn't make the turn; she ends up going through a small patch of trees to god knows where. But I can't think about Liv right now; all I can think is about the S turn. 

   I accelerate a little, tap my foot to the left, push the back round from the back with my left foot, twist and hold with my core muscels. I think the bike won't make it, that she will lurch away disobediently; but she doesn't, she swings her back end round perfecly; I slam my right foot down, turning the bike a little tighter before slamming onto the accelerator. 

   There is no time to get my breath back before I have to hold it again - the jump. I accelerate a little, then focus on the revs - I can feel my girl labouring a little underneath me. A little more power but not too much, she lurches forward up the last part of the hill. Just a little further. 

   I reach the top of the hill, another breath, muscels tight, lean back, a little more power... I soar. I try to remain motionless in the air, try to keep the bike straight  but all I want to do is scream - it's so exhilirating and terrifying at the same time.  

   I am high too - did I mention my fear of hieghts? The hill you go up is man made, the perfect hieght for dirt biking.  This is where the hangover is too, placed on top of a tower - high enough so that observes get a good view of all the grounds and track. 

   I can feel the pressure through the glass beaming towards me. I have to get the landing right.

    - Lean too far forward and you will be over the handlebars in the blink of an eye, the bike will go over you too - sometimes even other people; nasty. But if you lean too far backwards the bike will slide out from underneath you - freefalling onto a dirt track with other bikes; equally as nasty; possibly worse. 

   To cut a long story short I need to get the landing right. I do; just. My arms jolt as I hit the ground the other side. Letting out a sigh of relief I ease off the accelerator a little as I slide down the hill. I roll in almost lazily before cutting the engine. 

   Jesus christ my life. That was terrifying. 

    Liv has her helmet ripped off, leaning casually against her bike. She remains unscratched. Will is there, re-fixing his hair. I reach for my water. "Well?" Hunter snaps, "What was that? The jump - a pathetic half hearted attempt - your boyfriend could have done better" - he indicates to Evan, who has his eyes glued to the ground, positioned a couple of paces behind his father, who has an unreadable expression painted on his face. 

    Evan begins to argue that he isn't my boyfriend, but Hunter silences him; no one argues with Hunter, even when he is wrong. Evan's father steps forward, he only speaks rarely. "I agree with your brother - for the most part of the jump you looked like you weren't going to make it - I don't know much about bikes; but it doesn't take an idiot to notice when you don't have enough power".

   I nod, never argue with the boss, even if you think he is wrong. Hunter nods in agreement. "You should probably head to the gym, do some weights or sit ups or something to improve your upper body strength". I nod again. "Don't you speak?" Evan's father snaps, a little irritated. 

"Sorry sir" I whisper. 

    There is a series of silent nods between the groups before Evan, his father and Hunter head back into the main building. "You know, you can always come and stay with us" Liv sighs once the group are out of earshot. "You shouldn't let them walk over you."

   "But what can you do? You object or argue? You get hit. You do as your told, you don't. I can't just abandom him Liv - he's my brother". I object. Why am I defending him?

   "That's still not a good enough excuse for the way he treats you" Will argues, "We are more of your family than your only flesh and blood are." Then the words sink in; I know he's right. "I'm sorry" he quickly adds. I dismiss it mumbling about hitting the showers.  

"Seriously though Harp, what else is wrong?" Liv asks,

"Nothing" I lie easily, "I'm just tired, that's all". 

Tired of it all. 

Behind The GlassesWhere stories live. Discover now