"The moment this flare hits the ground you hit the gas!" The girl yelled to both of them as the red fluorescent light of the flare lit up and everything became silent as anticipation filled the area. The flare seemed to fall in slow motion when she let it go and the second it hit the ground both cars blew past her. Eric's heart pounded in excitement as the two stay side by side and everyone felt on the edge of their seats as they watched neither of them would fully pass the other.
"Either Eric is holding back or that Camaro's top speed is higher than usual." Cooper said as as the two continued to stay head to head and Anna gave him a confused look, "The base top speed of a SS Camaro is one hundred and sixty-five while his Shelby sits at one hundred and eighty."
"His nerves might be getting to him." Isabella told him as they remembered that Eric was still new to street racing until his Shelby suddenly roared past the Camaro and Eric began to build distance between them quickly, "Looks like he's over it."
"That's not it." James said as watched the Camaro closely before blue flames came from its exhaust pipe and he grinned as it quickly caught back up to Eric, "Eric baited him into using his nitrous."
"Looks like I win." Eric told himself with a smirk as he flipped the switch on his dash and the man cursed as the distance between him and the Shelby grew drastically. Anna and the others cheered as Eric crossed the finish line well before the Camaro did and both vehicles slowed down to turn around. The man was upset that he lost but a deal was a deal and he followed behind Eric as he made his way through the other racers. Eric pulled back into his spot between Isabella and Cooper's cars and the man handed him the pink slip and keys to the Camaro before walking away with his head low.
"That's one less racer we have to deal with." Sierra said as they examined the Camaro and Eric gave her a confused look, "In this city if you win a pink slip then you win their reputation as well and they're no longer considered a real racer. That's why I had to do a little convincing."
"It's a do or die situation. We didn't tell you because we weren't sure how you'd take it and I'm sorry for that." Anna explained with an apologetic look and Eric sighed as he rubbed the back of his neck, "I want to ask you something Eric. Are you willing to join our crew?"
"Join your crew?" Eric asked as he looked at each of them with a serious look before giving her a grin and climbing into his Shelby, "Why not?"
"Awesome!" James yelled as they got into their cars with big smiles and their tires squealed as they followed Eric back to Anna's house. They drove down the back roads to avoid any police and it was midnight by the time they got there.
"How's it drive?" Eric asked Anna as he closed his car door and she examined it with a smile but she and the others walked inside without giving him answer. He was about to follow them in until his phone began to ring and he saw that it was Max.
"Heard you took Sam's pink slip tonight and got yourself some rep." Max said in a serious tone and Eric couldn't tell if he was happy for him or not, "Most of the racers here don't know about it but there's a special list in this city and you just took his spot on it."
"What kind of list?" Eric asked in a confused tone and Max stayed quiet as he tried to figure out how to explain it to him, "Max."
"It's a list of racers both the cops and the top dogs of the underground keep an eye on. Even though Sam was at the bottom of that list once everyone learns that you took him down then your name is going to spread around like wild fire." Max told him with a sigh and Eric couldn't see what was so bad about that, "You earned the rep you wanted but now every racers is gunning for your head. The good thing about that is you'll be able to get into the bigger races without anyone getting in your way and you'll have access to some of the best parts around."
"I'm guessing the worst part is that the cops are going to be on the lookout for me now right?" Eric asked as his words finally sunk in and yet again Max remained silent, "You don't have to worry about anything Max. I'll be fine."
"Well I'm sure you'll be having some fun tonight to celebrate your win so I'm going to let you go." Max said with his usual happy mood coming back and Eric heard the phone click as he hung up. He out his phone back in his pocket and walked to the door to join the others. When he opened the door he saw them setting up playing cards on the kitchen table and they gave him a smile.
"What took you so long Eric?" Anna asked him as he sat down and he gave them a brief explanation of what Max had just told him, "It sounds like you managed to get a lot more than Sam's car and rep. I can't really see this being a bad thing unless you get caught so don't think to hard on it."
"I guess you're right." Eric told her with a chuckle before James dealt the cards and they spent the remainder of the night joking around.