"Those look awesome." Kezef looked at her designs, that were now decorating her side of the dorm room. Of course, she hadn't everything out in the open. She was still working on a design for the motor, something has being done in the past. But is not being used in the current state of racing. The idea is to use an electric motor that will charge itself with a dynamo system, she was still busy with working out the rest of the details. And she also had a back-up plan if this one didn't work. Kezef pointed at one of the paint designs, one of many. "I think this one is the best, there is only one thing missing in all of these." His hand motioned to all of them. She wondered what that was, of course the paint designs was something she didn't worry about too much. The car needed to look fast, and overall black was the safest option for that. Kezef looked at her and shook his head. "You really do not see what it is, do you?" He smiled. Originally he came to her side of the room to borrow one of her books, again. But of course he got distracted.

"What is it?" She asked. Now she really wanted to know what she was missing. It had been a week since Sorath had 'given' her the car, and she had worked on those designs none stop. Alright she needed to work, go to her classes and as promised they visited her father over the course of the weekend. And as promised Kezef had brought toy cars and posters with his and her autograph on it. He was currently their hero, and who could blame them. But now it was time to take her mind back to the topic at hand. She still couldn't find something missing in her design. It was simple, and nothing special. Which was deliberate.

"21." Kezef said. She frowned, was he being cryptic? But then her mouth fall open, was he really saying that she should add that number to her design? She knew for sure that it would not go well with the others of the sport if she did that. But then again, she would be targeted no matter if she did it or not. All because of who she was, her father's daughter.

"You are right about that. It would bring back honor to the name." She said. While plucking the design he had pointed out as his favorite from the wall. She made a circle on the door and added 21 in gold. "So what do you think?" She asked, and he gave her his thumbs up. She smiled and started to collect the rest of her finished designs. "So now that I have a list with brand specific parts and designs, it is time to set those Jersey Boys to work." She walked towards the door but stopped before opening it. "Kezef, it would be better if you carried them." Although nothing had happened in the last week, she didn't want to risk it. He nodded and placed all the designs in his backpack. But again nothing happened when they walked through the hallways, still that didn't change the fact that she wanted to be careful.

"Miss 21." The dean came towards them when they were about to leave the school. "I have heard what is going down, your toolbox is currently at the tracks." He said. "You will find it in mister Coarse's box." He didn't wait for her reaction, he just walked away.

"Well that man get weirder, with the day." Kezef said. "First he those literally nothing, not even the bare minimum to keep you safe. And now he has transported something of yours out of the school." She could only nod, it was indeed strange. But what could she do, nothing, that was the point. He took her by the hand, and pulled her softly with him. "Let's go." She didn't need more words to follow him. She loved the walk towards the track, and the weather was nice. The track was like always busy, a lot of teams were working on the cars. Some drivers were training on the 'new' track, and nobody paid much attention to Kezef or her. Maybe a lot of them do not care that she was here, well that will change. The question is when will it change, when they learn about her new status in Kezef's team. Or when she reveals her car. All she could do now was enjoy this moment of peace and quiet.

"Well it is about time. Sorath and the rest of that group, has being here all week. I need to say that they are quick studies. I hope it has being worth the wait, that good for nothing dean of yours stopped by earlier to drop off your toolbox. Not sure why, but who cares. It stands currently inside your own box, with the rest of your crew." Prentum said, she had nodded while he spoke. Because she knew that she was not able to get one word in.

"Well I hope I live up to your expectation." She said, he hummed. The entered her box, and indeed the Jersey boys were all there. Together with her toolbox. "Kezef." He gave her the bag.

"I am going to my own box. See you when it is time for you to train." He said. Giving her a kiss on the cheek. Her hand went to the spot, and felt it slightly burn. The Jersey boys were typical boys, of course they were.

"Alright, it seems to me that I have your full attention." She started, while grabbing her designs out of the bag. Giving them first to Prentum. "This is what I got so far, I am still working on the engine." She pulled out her notebook and gave it also to Prentum. He looked at the designs, and passed them through one by one. But his eyes grew when he saw her engine design.

"An electric one?" He whispered. "Well it has been some time when the last car with an electrical engine raced, and this looks to me like a solid design." She wanted to glow with pride, but there was still a lot of work to be done. "Alright, boys. I am going to decorate this wall over here." He placed his hand on the wall, which directly changed. "It has like the toolboxes hand print protection. I will add only Dina's and Sorath's prints, so you can only work on the car if one of use is present. This is to protect the designs." Everybody nodded in agreement. They were part of a gang, they are used to this type of rules. "Now on to the bad news." Prentum said. "After it becomes known that Dina would be a racer there will be rumors and deep dives in her, and your history. This means the truth of you all being in a gang, will come out. So when I will give you all these." He raised something, it were camera's. "This is not to control you, but to protect you." Some murmurs rose up, but Sorath raised his hand.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

"Listen to him, he has been in this sport, long enough to know how it works. So I do not want to hear any excuses." Sorath said stern. The murmurs died down, and everybody excepted his body camera. "Also stay away from the other boxes, even the one we had our classes in." This time all of them nodded in agreement. "So now that we know our game plan, let's get to work." Sorath started by appointing assignments on the hand of Dina's designs. Dina was standing next to Prentum who only nodded, and gave some advice, only when asked. She frowned for a brief moment, wait a second. She had just finished the designs, how were they able to get the parts she wanted? "Those it matter?" Sorath asked, she nodded. It mattered to her. "Your boyfriend, was so helpful to give us a list with the universal parts. But the old guy told use that the car would preform better if we used brand specific parts." Dina nodded and then sighed. She could have known, Kezef had said that he would help her. But then the other aspect that worried her, how did they get those parts without any credits? "Do not worry about it." Sorath said, was he reading her mind? "Go back to the drawing board and work out that engine of yours."

*******

Dina sighed, while looking at her design. It would work in theory, but she only would know for sure if they actually used it. She gave it to Sorath who nodded.

"Got it. Well now it is time for you to train." Sorath said while pushing her out of the box. What the hell was he thinking this was her car. But it was his box, she found out through Kezef that he was paying for it. She wanted to scream at him for pushing her out, she was able to work on her own bloody car. But he was right about one thing, and she would not say it to him. She needed to train every chance she got, otherwise all that work at that car would be for nothing.

"There she is." Kezef greeted her with open arms. "Are you ready for your next driving lesson?" She wrapped her arms around his waist, and listened to his heart beat for a split second.

"Did I hear driving lessons?" Someone from behind her growled. "Do you mean that the rumors about her being your back-up driver are true?" She let go of Kezef and turned around to face her step-father.

"Sorry, but those that scare you? I am a 21 after all." She said, Abamil started to get red in the face. "I know, I know a woman those not belong behind the wheel." She placed a hand on Kezef's shoulder. "I told you this much." Kezef looked confused, but nodded slowly.

"You did it indeed, but still my girlfriend should know how to drive a car." Kezef said, while pushing her towards it. "And there is no time like the present." She got in the car, he closed the door and she drove off. She could hear him softly yell at her, but she didn't need a babysitter. All she needed to prove is that she was more than capable to drive. But she only was able to prove that during a race. Still she would be able to make a good impression. She rushed to the first turn, which was directly the really steep one. But she didn't hit the brakes, but got her feet off the gas. So she was able to move through the curve. "Alright, uhm. I do see that you do not need my help. Good to know that my girlfriend can fight this battle on her own." Kezef said through the radio. She started to chuckle.

"I do not want to go that far." She replied.

"You just took that turn without hitting the brakes, like most others would do. You just drift your way through as if it is nothing. Besides that, this is just your second time behind the wheel." Kezef said, she could hear Abamil yelp in the background. She thanked Kezef in silence. She finished the round and parked the car. She wasn't able to feel her cheeks, or anything else on her face.

Kezef pulled open the door, she could see that he was glamming with pride.

"How those it feel?" He asked. She opened her mouth to answer him. But she couldn't put it into words. He reached out his hand to help her out of the car. She took it, while the adreline still rushed through her body. "Well we officially need to focus on physical training. So from tomorrow you and I will train in the schools' gym." She nodded, the feeling in her legs got back. "And do not worry about what the other students might think, the times that I go are the times that no other students are allowed in there." She didn't even think about that, but he had. She was still riding the high of that drive.

"She needs to stay away from the wheel at all times." Abamil snapped. "It is very irresponsible to let a woman drive. Especially a woman with her background." This was enough to get her back on the ground. Her background? Was he talking about her father, or the fact that she grew up inside the slums?

"Sorry, mister Grave, but you are in the wrong box." Prentum said, loudly enough that it started to echo through the building. Abamil turned towards him and pointed at her.

"She is the daughter of a murderer! Did you know that she was part of a crimale organization, called the Jersey Boys." Abamil snapped back. "She those not belong on the track, let alone behind the wheel." Prentum sighed.

"She is also your wife's daughter, if I remember correctly. And from what I understand she only did some odd jobs for them to afford food. What else was she suppose to do with a crippled father, she was also too young to work a normal job. And do not dare to talk about you and your wife. So please tell me again. Why I am not allowed to have this hardworking young woman, that is a natural behind the wheel, inside my box. Let alone inside my team." Prentum's face was completely red. "So now that I have said my peace, get your ass out of my box." Abamil wanted to say something, but Kezef stepped forward.

"We are not interested in what else you have to say, so leave my box." Kezef said, while pointing at the door. Abamil looked at him with narrowed eyes and if it was possible the steam would be blowing out of his ears. But he indeed left the box. Dina sighed and looked at Kezef.

"From now on we need to fight for everything we have." She said, he nodded. The rest of his crew nodded, they didn't even blink an eye when Abamil told them that she had worked for a gang. Maybe they already knew about it, probably from Kezef or Prentum. She didn't know and at this point she did not care, it was all in the past. She needed to do what ever she needed to survive, now she needed to use that same drive, the same will to survive this sport.