After training and lunch, Jia changed into her favourite black jeans, silver blouse and silver sandals before donning a pair of blue gloves. Making sure that her hair was combed and that her phone was in her pocket, she left to find Fiona waiting for her outside. Fiona had a typical biker girl outfit on. Blood red jacket, leather jeans and combat boots. Her hair was braided so she wouldn`t get helmet hair.
Making their way out, she waved at Rose and Clary who were having a movie marathon inside Clary`s room. Zoey was out on a date with Cole and Kyra gone to visit her parents.
Fiona told her that this year`s Race Wars would take part in Hoover Canyon so they had to leave early. It was an hour`s ride to get there. Fiona rode her bike while Jia flew.
An hour's ride was right. It was a long time before they reached the place. The whole time, she watched Fiona speed past ships and other people waiting patiently at the Ship Stops, it was very fun to watch. By the time they came close to the canyon, her hair had lost its moisturizing look and instead looked windswept.
When Fiona pulled into the Canyon, Jia landed beside her bike and her jaw dropped. There were bikes everywhere with people laughing, smiling, cheering each other on or having mock fights.
Fiona got off her bike and led her through the crowd towards the track. She watched as Jia glanced around with an excited smile.
"This is so cool, I can`t believe you been coming here every year," Jia exclaimed with a jump.
Fiona smiled," Technically, the venue moves every year but yeah, the atmosphere is pretty much the same. It`s different in different kingdoms."
"When did you start racing?"
"Last year but at Utan, I came second," Fiona said proudly.
"That`s close to first," Jia said with a grin.
"Yep, this year I plan to be first."
"You can do it." Jia said as she put a hand on her red headed friend," I know you can."
"Thanks but what about your cousin? Isn`t he racing too?' Fiona asked with a playful smile.
"In fact, I see him now. I`m going to go talk to him, do you mind?"
"No, it`s fine. Just don`t stay on the track too long," Fiona reminded. Jia laughed and gave her a salute before walking away.
"Roy! My dearest cousin!"
Her cousin glanced up from checking his bike`s wheels before he stood and wiped his hands on his shirt," Hey, Jia."
"So this is Race Wars," Jia commented a she glanced around her, seeing them different riders straddling their bikes, checking them and talking with other riders. There were a lot of attractive people there so she wondered if appearance was a requirement for racing or watching.
"It`s cool right?"
Jia nodded," Definitely, I can see why you like it here so much. It doesn`t hurt that there are a lot of people here."
Roy shrugged, "You never know when you`re going to get lucky."
Jia burst out laughing as she shook her head. She then stopped when something caught her eye.
"Who`s that?" Jia asked, she jerked her chin at a raven headed girl talking with Tristan as he straddled his own bike. They were smiling at each other and the girl even ran a manicured hand down his arm. He didn`t seemed bothered because he just smirked at her and said something that made her giggle.
She didn`t understand the function of giggling, even more she didn`t understand giggling girls.
Roy watched them for a moment before turning to scan his cousin`s face, she didn`t look jealous or mad. She just had her mask on. The mask she had on when she was calculating if something was important or unimportant. This was a bit of a relief. He loved his friends and respected them but he didn`t want them to date Jia. She was beyond their league and they were just guys who liked girls for a good time. Except for maybe Mike, he was a good guy. If Mike liked Jia, he would be okay with it but he was head-over heels for that girl he saw at the Mixer. Kyra was her name.
"That`s Juliet, she`s Tristan`s ex-girlfriend. She`s a witch from Pyrus School of Witchcraft. They met last year during the Race Wars. It was more of a physical relationship for them."
Jia frowned at her cousin," Physical? What do you mean by that?"
Roy`s cheeks turned red and he swore," Jia, it`s really not something I can talk to you about."
"Okay, I`ll ask the girls then."
"You do that."
Jia eyed him before shaking her head, "You`re so weird."
"So you`re here with Fiona?"
"Yeah, she`s here to try out the school scene of Race Wars. You know the real Race Wars is in Utan, right?"
Roy nodded," Yeah, uncle Dalton told me about it last year. I wanted to go but grandfather wouldn`t let me."
"That`s right," Jia said with a solemn nod," I heard grandfather needed you that weekend for the Farmers Aid Ball and you put up a real big fight about not going there."
Roy ran a hand through his hand, "The Ball is great and I love helping people but I don`t see the need to bring me to those things, I`m not really needed there. I`m not the Duke yet."
"Yeah, I heard from papa that they`re hoping you`ll notice some nice society girl there," Jia agreed, putting her hands into her jean pockets.
"Like that`ll happen. "Roy said with a snort, "All those girls there a fakes. Society made them copies of their parents."
"Times like this makes me glad papa kept me locked away and grounded."
"Hey, don`t say that. "Roy scolded her.
Jia put up her hands, "You`re right, I`m sorry, I`m putting a damper on things right?"
"Hey, bro, the race is about to start," Chase announced as he sauntered over to them and stopped," Jia? I didn`t know you were going to be here."
"I wanted to see Roy race, it`s my first time at Race Wars."
"Awesome," Chase commented.
Roy put a hand on his cousin`s gloved elbow, "Listen, I want you stay with Chase, he`ll watch you."
"Why? I can take care of myself Roy, you more than anyone know that," Jia said with an arched eyebrow. Roy knew that Jia hated it whenever someone assumed that she was a fragile girl and needed to be looked after but with the horny guys around here, he needed her safe.
"I do, but just do it for my piece of mind. If someone I trust watches over you then I`ll race with a clear mind."
Jia sighed, "Fine."
"All racers to the starting line!"
Jia waved bye before Chase led her away from the track and onto the side lines. She could see that along with Roy and Tristan, Dylan was also there. There were two other guys and six other girls, including Fiona who would be racing in the first round.
Jia stood next to Chase and craned her neck to watch. There were a lot of people watching and most of them were tall so it was kind of hard for her to see. She seriously wished she could use her powers but there were magic dampeners surrounding the track and side-lines to prevent cheating so she was pretty much useless.
"Here, put this on," Chase said as he took off his black sports jacket and held it out for her.
"Why?"
"It has the Knights logo on it. It`ll let the others know not to mess with you."
Jia let out long suffering sigh before she turned and allowed Chase to slip the jacket on. She was really starting to feel like some kind of doll. She pulled her hair out from under the collar of the jacket before throwing it over her right shoulder. She seriously should consider carrying a hair ribbon around to tie her hair up for situations like this.
"So how come you`re not racing?"
Chase shrugged, "I don`t feel like it this year."
"But you raced last year?"
"Yeah, all the guys did. This year however, Mike and I are backing out."
"May I ask why?"
Chase grinned down at her, making his scar on his lip stretch, "You're oddly polite this afternoon when Cole told me differently this morning."
Jia`s face turned red, "He told you about that."
"No, Mike did. Quiet vividly actually. I like the part where you said 'I will show you why storms are named after people.' Very badass Jia. "
Jia ducked her head, "Sorry, it was something my mama said whenever she was threatening someone."
"Again, very badass," Chase complimented, he then turned to watch the race, "As to why we backed out, I wrecked my bike last weekend and it`s being repaired. Mike on the hand, can`t race because of a Test this weekend. Sniper Rifle certification."
"He`s a sniper?" Jia asked.
"Yeah, one of the best we have, besides your cousin of course. He`s just trying to upgrade his weapon."
"That`s so cool," Jia gushed. Her eyes lit and she looked deeply impressed. Who knew the honourable one was a sniper?
"You like weapons?"
"Yeah, one of uncles builds weapons and I pretty much grew up handling them."
Chase arched a brow," I thought Roy`s dad had only sisters."
"My uncles are from my papa`s side." Jia corrected him.
Before Chase could reply, a loud bang was heard as the racers sped past them.
Once the race started to get intense, Jia couldn`t stop jumping and yelling. Chase watched her with an amused expression as the would-be Duchess turned into a screaming sixteen-year-old girl. Her face hurt from smiling and her voice was hoarse from yelling every time, Roy dodged an obstacle or Fiona gave a sharp turn around a corner. They first raced round on flat soil before going into the danger zones where other people would throw obstacles onto the track to distract the racers. Then they zoomed through the rings of fire at the top of the canyon before going around the complicated slopes.
Finally, they were back on solid ground for the last track to the finish line. Jia covered her face so as to not see who would win. When a loud cheer went off, she glanced up to see everyone running over to Fiona to congratulate her. Roy and his friends parked near her as Jia ran and threw her arms around her friend.
Fiona accepted the many congratulations from the other racers as they drove past their group. Chase clapped his friend's shoulders as Jai suggested that they go to celebrate her win at Cocoa Connection.
"Sure, but only if you`re buying," Fiona joked.
Jia nodded," Of course, anything you want," She then turned to Roy and his friends, "You guys are welcomed to come."
"Thanks but, we`ve made our own plans," Tristan informed her.
The boys all shared a glance as Jia shrugged and turned to Fiona with a frown, "By the way, what does having a physical relationship mean?"
Fiona paused, "Tell me you`re joking."
Jia shook her head. Fiona bit her lip before leaning over to whisper into her friend`s ear. A few seconds later, Jia leaned away with a sneer," Why not just say that? I know what that means!"
Dylan snickered as Chase grinned.
"I think Jia when you say it that way, it`s less crude," Roy answered, he then turned to Fiona," By the way, great racing."
Fiona jerked her chin," Same to you."
"I`m Roy."
"Fiona."
"You`re Jia`s friend," Roy stated.
Fiona glanced at Jia before smiling," Yes, I am. You`re her cousin."
"She talks about me."
"Constantly," Fiona said with a smirk.
"Right here people," Jia held up her hands. Chase chuckled and swung a hand round Jia`s shoulders, "So, Jia, any chance we`ll be seeing you in this year`s Beauty Pageant?"
Fiona groaned and rolled her eyes, "Not that girly show. It`s a charity show that the city throws to raise money for the Orphanages. Personally, I think they should have just thrown a concert."
"Yeah, Jia, you going to try?" Tristan asked.
Jia pursed her lips before she shook her head," Sorry, I`m not allowed to so I can`t."
"Since when?" Roy asked with a frown.
"Since grandfather found out that I`ve been helping you sneak out of your house during the weekends."
Roy grimaced.
Jia then grinned, "But I might know someone who might love to participate."
"Who?" Fiona asked.
"Rose."