Jackson (Broken Hill Boys 2)

Us kids from Haven Falls don’t exactly have a high success rate. Most of the guys will end up working dead-end jobs, some will join the ranks of mobsters like Anton Mathers and end up in prison, while others will try and try for years until the exhaustion of keeping up with the bills finally gets to them. That’s just Haven Falls.

Kaylah would disagree with me, but we were lucky mom got a promotion at work and has been able to afford to send Kaylah and I to Broken Hill. It’s our second chance at a good future. I just hope that Kaylah has the motivation to change the beliefs that have been ingrained in us since childhood and is ready to make a change. I want her to believe in herself and have a bright future, just like I know she’s capable of. She just needs to let go of this anger first and then she’ll be able to open herself up to a world of possibilities.

The boys cheer around me for Noah as he dominates the track, representing Haven Falls. Now that kid is going places. He’s got his head firmly on his shoulders and if he can get through junior and senior year without getting himself in trouble, he has a real chance of getting out of here.

Rocko finishes off his drink and throws his glass bottle down on the ground, despite there being trash cans all over the place. He talks shit with the boys and I zone them out, watching as Noah celebrates his win.

I should be down there. I haven’t raced in a while and I feel that familiar need pulsing within me. Maybe tonight is the night for me to get back on the track. I jump up off the hood of my Charger and start making my way down to the track as the next race is set up. I don’t know why I’m holding back from racing. The bullshit that happened with Nate isn’t going to happen again. I should just get back out there and get my car around the track.

I try to find Aaron to get a race set up when I notice a familiar R8 pulling in to race. I come to a stop. Is she fucking lost? What the hell does she think she’s doing?

Tora’s car sits at the starting line and she starts revving her engine as though she was born to be here and I start making my way toward her. She’s out of her mind if she thinks she’s about to race this track. It’s too dangerous.

I watch Tora through her windshield and watch as her eyes scan up the hill before coming to a sudden stop. I follow her gaze and find myself grinning as it all starts to makes sense. She’s doing this to get back at Nate for breaking her heart. Maybe this is some big show to prove that she doesn’t need him anymore. Who the hell cares? All I know is that suddenly I’m not so interested in holding her back. If this girl wants to race, then that’s exactly what she’ll do.

As if reading her mind, Nate comes charging down the hill and I laugh at the scene. Tora is strong-willed, but so is Nate and this is only going to end up a disaster.

Tora prepares for her race, but Nate puts himself right in the way of her car, making it impossible for her to hit the gas, not unless she feels like bowling him right out of the way, and something tells me that she’s not quite down for that. The two throw insults at one another and I realize that Tora doesn’t stand a chance, not unless she has a little help. So, I do what I do best and intervene.

I step out onto the track and Nate spots me immediately, turning on me with fury radiating from deep within. “You put her up to this,” he spits before racing forward.

I stand my ground as he barrels towards me in anger. He turns his back on Tora, confident she’s not about to do anything, but I send her a wink, letting her know that I’m down to help.

She raises a brow before a wicked grin spreads wide across her face and she gets the party started.

I keep Nate focused on me, more than willing to get my hands dirty if that’s what it’s going to take, but there’s no need as Tora gets things under control faster than I could have expected.

The handkerchief is dropped and Tora hits the gas, giving it everything she’s got. My eyes bulge out of my head. If she keeps going, she’s going to take Nate out and while she’s probably pissed off with him now, come tomorrow, she’d probably feel like shit about it.