Need For Speed Tri City Stories

Chapter 15 - Practice runs

11:30 p.m. Eternity Pass. Parking Area. "Is it cool if we start practice runs?" Gillian asked. Dominic nodded. She nodded and gives a thumbs up to Letty to confirm her that we can practice and she signals me and Ellie to come to her: "Branden, and Ellie. I need to speak with you for a moment." Letty commanded as Ellie and I walked up to her. "I want you two to do 5 runs at 85%, now go." Letty commanded again. I got in my FD and Ellie got in the Cayman S. I drove to the exit of the parking area. I was in front while Ellie was behind and we started off fast after the first corner and floored it to full throttle. "This course is like narrow and plus these corners are like a bitch to this car. It can floor fast on the straights but on the corners it's not good enough to hit the apex." I said in my mind as I shifted the transmission to 4th after the last hairpin and the car started to create sparks after it slammed to the ground. "It's really bad, I can still hit the apex but I'm worried that my opponent may pull away from me there. The only way I can win is if I can keep up my own rhythm and keep up with his speed." Ellie said in her mind. After a few minutes, I returned to the parking area and parked my car behind the vans. Michael tuned the transmission and gave it a little top speed, swapped the tires to high performance sport tires, and changed the brake bias to a little to the front and more on the rear. "She's ready to go. Just remember, I changed the brakes a little. It may cost you a little lock up to the front and rear. However the tires could be your friend and a little top speed should help you edge out your opponent." Michael said as he tuned my FD. "Thanks Michael. Time to see what this course has to offer. Plus the 5 hairpins are wavy like a swift river." I replied. "Check our Ellie's car. She must be having the same problem as you do. Bring her back after 2 or 3 runs and when I check those brake pads just make sure they don't get sticky on ya." Michael said as he looked at Ellie consulting Cordelia about the car setup and she goes back to the track to continue her run. Before I got in the car. The guys that were talking to Gillian and Letty walked up to me. "Your name's Branden, the guy who raced on the Dover Street Circuit Race? That's you right?" Dominic asked. I nodded. "Well I suppose we'll be racing against each other, this is gonna be a fun race. So how about this, you and I will run our race first." Dominic replied. "You want to do our race before the Cayman S races?" I asked. "Just to amp up the excitement, nowadays I am starting to be impatient." Dominic answered. "I know that feeling dude, I get impatient too sometimes but not that much." I said. "I'll see ya around." Dominic replied as he walked away. "Hope you don't mind me making the call Ms.Disantos." I said as I walked up to Letty and Gillian. "Nah, I think we'll be fine. This should be interesting, but there's one thing." Letty replied. "Huh? What do you mean?" I asked. "I don't know but those guys. They may think they can try to make us look like a bunch of jerks. On our heads though, we haven't faced them yet." Letty replied as I showed a gape and I was back in the car continuing my practice run. "I feel charged up this battle. But that guy though, he just seems like a threat from my point of view. Hope I can clinch the win." I said in my mind. Parking area base. Ellie parked her car behind the support van. "How's the car handling?" Cordelia asked. "The car is not bad but it's handling is responsive but I can't seem to squeeze a little power out of the turns." Ellie answered as she got out of the car. "Do you want me to tune the engine a little and the turbo?" Cordelia asked as she grabbed her tools to tune the car. "That'll help the car a little." Ellie replied. Pass. "White Car. FD3S." The guy called. "Green Car. Cayman S." The guy called. "I wonder what those guys are here for? Maybe they're stop watch guys I suppose?" I wondered in my mind as I kept driving. Parking Area. "There are guys with stopwatches?" Gillian asked. "Yep, not kidding at all. But if I was right, those guys are trying to take our times just so he can send it to Josh is what I'm presuming that what they're trying to do." I answered. "So those guys are trying to get our times right? That's why we couldn't do any time trials." Gillian replied. "Because we are not gonna show any of our techniques to anyone and we only do practice instead of time trials. We do not want our opponents to analyze on how we drive and we don't want them to spook us out. So if we only do practice, they won't be able to edge out on us." Letty commanded. The next day. 2:30 p.m. "I feel worn, sleepy and tired." I said as I yawned. "Yeah same here, practice burned me out like heat." Ellie answered as she grabbed a water bottle and drank a few sips as she wanted to sleep on a comfortable bed. "Hey Branden and Ellie. I booked a lodge for you two to sleep in." Adena replied. "Really mom? Why us?" I asked. "Because you two are the drivers. You guys are gonna win it for us. It's basically cool for you guys to sleep in a cozy room." Adena replied. "Nah, mom. I'll just sleep in my car like my usual. Ms.Disantos why don't you take my place." I said. "I wouldn't have to say this. But you can consider it as a direct order from your team leader. Sleeping in a car can affect your driving and it can literally make you sleepy. So that's why we suggest that you guys go to the lodge." Letty commanded. "If you have anything you need, pack up your things and hop in support van 2." Adena replied. Ellie and I glared at each other, nodded and got in the car. Lodge. "Mom said she'll pick us up around 7:00 p.m." I said. "That gives us plenty of time to sleep than usual." Ellie replied. "I gotta say I feel really bad for the other members but we'll let them do what they want. Besides it's just here rig—." I stuttered as I saw Ellie asleep. "She's already asleep?! Man, can she really be feeling the tension and anxiety about this battle. My point of view, I'm the delicate one." I said in my mind as I looked up to the roof, and cuddled with Ellie. She smiled while sleeping and I fell asleep. Parking area. "What in the hell is Joseph doing?" Gillian asked as she looked at the glass roof and saw Joseph sleeping shirtless and laying in the sun on top of it. "He splattered oil all over himself to get a tan." Michael answered. "What a friggin idiot. He looks fine with the way he looks. Anyway it was lucky for Branden and Ellie to sleep in a luxurious cozy cool room to get their beauty rest. And we get to sleep in a Luxury RV. Jordan and Cordelia get to sleep in their car because they're not racing, Adena and Letty get to also sleep in a bedroom but seperately, then Kaylyn gets to sleep on the couch and we get to sleep in a different bedroom." Gillian replied. "I know, it was lucky for them to get their racing mind before the race started." Michael said as he gave a sigh. Hours later. 7:00 p.m. Eternity Pass. Ellie got on her sport bike and rode down the pass to scout the course. She takes off her helmet and stops the bike. Ellie walked to the last hairpin and gave a soft touch to the inside. "That's where I'll have to make my move or I can escape there." Ellie said in her mind as she puts her helmet back on and rode back to the base of the mountain. "What in the world is taking Ellie so long?" Gillian wondered. "She was gone for I'd say about half an hour." Adena replied. "Anyway Branden was back here and she may come a little late." Gillian said. "So are you planning to pull this off with your own style?" Jordan asked and Michael chuckled. "Okay, dude I got my own style. I am not gonna lose this one. I had a great good night sleep, an excellent beauty rest and now I feel like a million bucks." I answered. "Well that's what I'd like to hear, I want to wish you good luck on this race." Kaylyn replied.