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2.25M YESSURRR!
As always, thank you endlessly for your support and patience! We're so close to the end yet it's like there's still so much I wanna share. Hopefully this update doesn't face the technical issues of the last lol. Welp! I don't have much to say today so please leave a vote, spam if you'd like and enjoy!
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The setting sky acts as a backdrop when I stand before my mirror and delicately spritz my neck. I then take a slicking brush and run its bristles along my hair to create a quick neat bun.

JK invited me to watch him race at Gatti like old times. It's been a while since I've stuck around for a race there, let alone seen any other club members. Weirdly enough, he said Big Joe wanted to see me too. Neither of us know why...

Before I can fully turn away from the mirror, my attention gets captured by the fallen glance of my stomach region. I purse my lips and hum in thought before rolling up my shirt enough to protrude my belly with a pout.

"Hmm... I'd look good pregnant."

I'll admit, I'd never actually thought about kids until what JK said. I think his words made me realize that I do eventually want to be a mom, which is probably why I got so offended when he wasn't fond of the idea... I suppose I wouldn't want us to have children if he wasn't ready. We're both super young after all.

One thing's for sure though. If I got pregnant, I'd wear the coolest outfits and show off my bump 24/7...

"...Alright, that's enough of that. You'll get carried away." My reflection mimics my chuckle. After collecting my purse and slipping on some sneakers, I dim the hallway lights before exiting my apartment.

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— GATTI —

Congratulatory praises shower JK's Aston Martin when he drifts across the checkered line and engulfs Gatti's spectators with green smoke. Unlike his glory days though, JK's expression appears more unphased than thrilled. Like the repetitive route and routine of cheers had been played one too many times...

Rather than embrace the crowd of cheers, JK gets out and approaches Quavo who casually leans against his Porsche to smoke.

"Q, you seen Big Joe? I gotta talk to him about this circuit racing shit."

"Yeah, he was in his office earlier."

With a nod, JK confidently opens the steel door amongst the brick wall of Gatti's backstreet. He then makes his way down the dimly lit staircase leading to Big Joe's basement office.

Out of protection for his cash and valuables, Big Joe's office remains a rare sight to all except the one person daring enough to waltz in. JK casually enters the space and browses each framed racing plaque that embellishes the wall, all earned by members of Gatti but mostly, himself.

"Yo Big Joe? You around?"

JK stands in silence for a moment with twisted lips and a disappointed hum. He almost turns back towards the door but stops when something else catches his eye...

A trash can. Full of crumpled paper balls. One lies on the floor beside it while another sits upon his desk, slightly unraveled. The random messy section conflicts the otherwise neat office, making JK approach the desk before curiously opening the crinkled paper.

'Dear Mr. Joe,
This letter has been provided to you by the Los Angeles McLaren Formula 1 Motorsports. Following the Auto race of August 2006, your partaking racer is eligible to enroll in a Formula 1 training course with us. Should this be successful, they will be enrolled as a full-time member of the crew.'

JK's eyebrows crease when reading the date at the top, dating back to just mere weeks ago. He slowly picks up the crinkled ball beside the trash can and opens it as well.

"To whom it may concern,
This letter is intended for the management and/ or agent of "JK", as we write to inform you of an available position in our Esports team - Penske Racing. If your client is interested, please contact the telephone number below for more information.'
— Feb 1st, 2007

JK's body now starts to brew with both confusion and anger. The dates keep getting older... With no hesitation this time, he pulls out a paper ball from the trash and quickly opens it.

'Dear Mr. B.Joe,
On the behalf of Sim Raceway, we are sorry to hear that your client was not interested in our position. We wish them the best in their journey and appreciate their decision.'
— Jan 15th, 2007

'To Mr. "Big" Joe,
Prado Racing is understanding of your client's decision to not enroll with us. Should they change their mind, the spot has now been filled and will no longer be available. We hope this news was informative.'
— Dec 21st, 2006

'Dear Management,
We appreciate your recommendation of another racer, as you have stated your client "JK" would not be available for our upcoming Summer/Fall race. Regarding your alternative, "Shego" sounds like she would be a great fit for our position. If she is willing to partake, please let us know and we will be in touch.'
— August 16th, 2006

"What the fuck?!" JK's vision rattles around the messy corner. With the heat in his veins now piping, he hurriedly picks up the trash can and aggressively shakes it empty before tossing the bin across the room, smashing and knocking down Big Joe's clock in the process.

"Boy what's wrong with you?! Coming up in my office and breaking shit! Tch, told yo ass to get that temper shit checked." Big Joe enters with a cigar between his lips, one hand on his cane and the other around the waist of an escort less than half his age.

JK quickly clenches one of the letters in his fist and shakes it. "Wanna tell me what the fuck this is?!?"

Big Joe's relaxed demeanor immediately tenses up at the sight of the letter. Without breaking eye contact, he lowers his cigar and motions the escort to sit by his desk.

"Well?!"

"It's a piece of paper boy, quit talking buffoonery."

"It ain't just this paper though, is it?! It's this one. And this one. And this one! And THIS one?!"

"Alright now calm yo ass—"

"You're full of shit!! All this time you had me waiting for opportunities cause you said nobody wanted to hire me after the big race. Now I'm hearing' you been telling all these track crews I ain't interested for the past year?! What the fuck Joe?!"

"Well what was I supposed to do?! Hand over my star racer to some random racing crew and quit making money?? I'm the one who got you into that circuit race to begin with so you could live your stupid little dream! But what I AIN'T is a damn fool who gone build up a racer just to hand him over to some country crackers!"

"You supposed to be my Dad!!" JK's eyes widen with fire while his lengthy bangs sway furiously. "You supposed to put me onto shit knowing I'd never just abandon my family here, including you! But nah, you'd rather keep me doing midnight backstreet races in Compton my whole life if it means you get to keep winning your stupid bets!"

"Now you better watch that mouth before calling my money stupid!" He removes his shades.

Big Joe's escort watches the argument with her head turning side to side and her hand deep in a pack of chips.

"And you know what's more fucked up?! You done asked them to take Shego instead of me right after the race without telling me! I bet you was even gonna ask her again tonight like I ain't been working my ass off to keep us afloat since I was a kid! Since before the money!! When we was living in a bum ass motel night-to-night! Huh? Remember that?!"

"Yeahh and you know why I asked Shego?! Because I! OWN! YO! PASTY! ASS! If I say you ain't leaving Gatti, you ain't leaving and DAMN right imma send someone else to do the job! Your crazy ass gone work for me until I say so!"

JK's nostrils flare and fists tighten as the two stare each other down. Abruptly, the racer snatches his manager's cane and faces the wall before wielding it over his shoulder with gritted teeth.

"Wait wait wait what is you—?!"

*SMASH! SMASH! SMASH!*

One by one, JK launches the cane's heel into every one of Big Joe's glossy-framed plaque's with tucked lips and intensified muscles. Glass shards practically burst from the walls, causing the girl to scream and shield herself while Big Joe desperately tries to pull JK's arms.

"BOY STOP! WHAT IS YOU DOING?!

"I'M MOTHERFUCKING CRAZY RIGHT?!" *SMASH!*

"STOP IT STOP IT RIGHT NOW!"

JK's chest and shoulders heave with rage once he stops to catch his breath before tossing the cane. He ignores the little red cuts along his shoulders and stares at Big Joe with a deadly glare.

"I work for you, huh? Fuck you Big Joe... Imma get on that track on my own."

And with that, JK makes his heated exit from the office. Big Joe only looks around the messy room with a shameful frown while his escort awkwardly sucks in her cheeks.

Just seconds later, I stroll into Gatti to be met with its usual neon lights and chatty backstreet crowd. I instantly smile at the sight of JK walking in my direction... Though that smile falls the closer he gets.

"JK?"

"I'm out." He walks right past me with tense footsteps. I stop and rotate towards him before throwing my thumb over my shoulder.

"...But you said we'd—"

"I SAID I'M FUCKING GOING!"

The words practically roar off his tongue before he proceeds to his car with firm footsteps. I can't help but freeze on the spot with angled brows. He seems mad... Like really mad.

I quickly catch up to him and place two hands on his chest before he can open his car door.

"Okay, I don't know what happened but you're too angry to drive. Let me—"

"I can drive my own car. I'm only going home."

"Still, I don't think it's safe to—"

"Look, I ain't coming back here for it in the morning so either get in the motherfucking car or back the fuck up!"

"Well at least let me be the one to drive before you kill somebody! Okay? I'll come back for your car in the morning, just let me drive."

JK stands still for a minute before ultimately detaching his hand from the car handle. His irritated glare doesn't fade as I lead him to my Chevrolet that's parked in the space behind.

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The moment I park in front of JK's home, he reaches for the door handle without sparing a glance.

"JK what happened? Did I do something?"

"Drop it Shego."

"Not until you tell me what's wrong."

JK only glimpses at my serious face before rolling his eyes and emitting a sigh.

"Big Joe's been lying the whole time, okay? He's been telling all these racing clubs' I wasn't interested in them so he could keep me at Gatti for his damn self. There, you happy?"

"JK..." I meet his bluntness with a soft gaze that allows his raging build-up to weaken. He continues to stare back at me before shaking his head and opening the car door.

"Whatever, I need my bong. I'll catch you tomorrow."

Without more to say, JK gets out and heads inside. I watch with a frown as he slams his front door shut behind him; fuelling AK to bark.

I desperately want to keep him company. To let him know none of this is his fault or at the very least, give him a hug... But I know what JK's like. It's best to let him cool off on his own. I just hope he doesn't give up on his dream because of this...

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THE NEXT DAY

That following afternoon, I stroll towards the empty garage of Hopeworld in a white vest top and low-rise jeans that flatter the weather. J, Meek, Nicki, and Chyna lounge around a circular table outside to play cards under the sun and smoke weed while hip hop booms from their stereo.

My presence instantly becomes known when Nicki spots me in the distance and spreads her arms. "Well if it isn't baby boo!"

I chuckle and accept her cuddle while Chyna watches, her heel raised comfortably on the table and her blunt between her fingers. I wave to her before reciprocating Meek's fist bump and finally, hugging J.

"Ayyy it's Shego! Watchyu' doing up here?" Meek asks.

"J told me you guys were hanging out and invited me."

"Well that's part of it. Here, sit down." J pulls an empty chair to his side. I sit on it with confusion...

"What's wrong?"

"Listen... I'm sorry if I came across as rude towards your man yesterday. It wasn't my intention to embarrass you or anything. I guess I just got overprotective. I'm sure he was probably offended."

Chyna snorts at J's sappiness, to which Nicki punches her arm.

"Oh don't worry about that, JK's got thick skin. You didn't say anything crazy."

"You sure? He didn't talk shit about me after?" He laughs.

"I'm positive, he didn't have anything bad to say about you. If anything, my Dad gives him more of an earful daily. Water under the bridge."

J's smile expands at that.

"Perfect." He then crouches to reach for something under the table. "Well I brought you a gift to make up for it anyway."

"A gift?"

Nicki places down two cards before sucking her teeth and dramatically looking J up and down. "Hmph. Drink it in Shego, he never gets us gifts."

"Shush. Open it Lil Cuz."

The wrapped item J passes to me appears flat and rectangular. I impatiently tear the rainbow wrapping paper and gasp at what's inside.

"What is it?" Meek asks.

My hand quickly shields my mouth to disguise my laughter before I rotate the gift to show everyone. It's a picture frame of J and I as kids before he moved away. 1995 to be exact. I'm standing outside of our old garage in a baggy striped t-shirt, some embroidered dungarees and my hair messily tied up with a scrunchie. J wraps his arm around my shoulder with a massive smile that displays his braces; wearing a colorful windbreaker jacket, bright shorts and long socks as well as round glasses.

"That is so cute!" Nicki exclaims.

I admire the nostalgic photo with more joy than embarrassment. J hasn't changed a bit, from his colorful fashion to his big bright smile. As for myself, I was so different back then. Light hair, pudgy cheeks, boys' clothes... I really have transformed.

"Aww I remember this! Paps was taking us to the park and snapped this picture. I love it, thank you J."

"No prob, I..."

As I sit down, J's focus peers down to my waist where he witnesses my Gatti tattoo. His brows furrow as he stares at it while our old conversation plays through his mind.

"So you're dating a guy in a GANG? Oh Shego..."

"What??"

"I don't know, just wished you'd mentioned this before I convinced you to get back with him." J his brows with laughter, "Just tell me you're not involved in whatever this gang is."

"It's called Gatti and no, I'm not involved in whatever they get up to."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

"I'm gonna grab a soda." Chyna bluntly heads for the vending machine inside, making Meek follow. "Imma get one too."

J decides to shrug off my hypocrisy by shaking his head at me with a chuckle and raising his arm, "Bring us some too! Shego, you wanna play?"

"Sure." I smile as Nicki shuffles the deck of cards across from us.

"I forgot to say back at the car show but you and JK seriously look good together. It was a pleasure finally meeting him."

"Thanks. I really do like him. I just hope we can finally become boyfriend and girlfriend soon."

"Wait, the guy you were talking about at the pool party? He ain't popped the question yet?" Nicki intervenes.

"Nope. The wait is getting unbearable. I was gonna ask him last night but then this whole big Joe situation happened and the timing didn't feel right anymore."

"Big who?" J asks.

"Oh, Big Joe is like JK's father figure. Long story short, JK wants to get into professional racing so Big Joe had been promising to find him something for the past year, but said nobody wanted him. However it turns out that he was secretly rejecting JK's admission offers so he could keep him all for himself."

"Damnn. That's fucked up." Nicki duffles more cards before J leans in.

"Alright, here's what I think. Honestly? You shouldn't be the one to ask him out. Let him ask you."

"Pah! You don't know JK. Trust me, he won't ask first."

"Yes he will. You know why? Because you and he are gonna meet up tonight and you're gonna let him know that you're treating him to a day-long date tomorrow, similar to your last. I'm sure it'll cheer him up. And who knows? It'll probably lead to him asking you to be his girlfriend."

"That's... Actually a really good idea. But what do I do? I don't exactly know what a man's ideal date would be."

"Which is why you're lucky to have me." J protrudes his chest proudly. "Okay, here's what you do..."

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MIDNIGHT, COMPTON

My hollow knocks against JK's door surprisingly fail to wake AK despite the nightly hour. Soon enough, JK answers in an oversized graphic black tee and a matching backwards cap before I happily dangle my car keys.

"Wanna go for a drive with me?"

His towering height has him looking down at me with a creased forehead

"Drive to where?"

"Anywhere." I shrug, "It's late. The streets are quiet. The city looks pretty... I figured we could use a late-night drive. Just us."

JK's silent deliberation morphs into a sigh before he reaches his keys whilst nudging his chin at me. "We'll take my car."

I put away my keys as he closes the door behind him and leads me to his Tuatara, though it's nearly impossible to contain my excited smile. That actually worked.

It doesn't take long for JK to blare his headlights and take off into the streets without a destination. I rest my head and extend an elbow to admire the shadowy buildings that whisk by while JK pops a CD into the car's stereo.

[ PLAY AUDIO ]
( Or search 'Break from Toronto'  )

We're not going super fast or anything. In fact, the smooth journey allows my hair to dance in the breeze while our wheels seemingly glide down the empty road like butter. I watch as JK drives single-handedly, letting each surpassing store sign layer his poker face with beautifully lit neon colors. I can tell that regardless of the peaceful cruise, there's still a lot on his mind.

"So... How are you feeling? About the Big Joe thing."

He shrugs. "Dunno. Numb? I've already reached peak anger about it. Anything I feel now is like, I'm past giving a fuck."

"That's understandable... Have you thought about if you still wanna work for Big Joe at Gatti?"

JK's jawline casts a shadow when he angles it to make a turn.

"Big Joe? No. Gatti? I don't know... Gatti ain't just about the racing and bets. I grew up there since that shit was getting built. It's where I met Q and Offset, and how me and Big Joe got out."

"But how will you be a part of Gatti without working under big Joe?" I frown.

He licks his lips and avoids looking back at me to disguise his vulnerable puzzlement.

"I don't know. I really don't..."

"Hm... You never told me that you and Big Joe used to be poor."

"What, you thought we started off ballin' like this?" He scoffs, "Nah, we been through some shit."

"Like what? I'm interested."

"Well after Joe found me, he was staying at a crack house with some other up-and-coming pimps. I used to steal shit for them and help them sell drugs when I was like, 6? I still got memories there... Like when we used to eat ketchup sandwiches every night. Or when Joe swore to God that we'd run the world together. He started getting up there in the pimp business and once we racked up enough cash, he gambled it into some random street race. Luckily for him, he won big and got inspired to keep going til' he could afford to start his own club. Since the night he found me, I was the glowing dollar sign in his eyes so it was finally my time to fill my purpose. He threw me into Gatti and the rest in history."

"Was Big Joe the one who taught you how to drive?"

"Nah, he got me into cars but he wasn't the only one that raised me. There was this thug on the block back then. He took me in like a little brother and taught me the streets, sometimes more than Big Joe. He went by 'Game.' Now that's the toughest dude you'd ever meet."

"How comes I've never met him?"

"Tch, that man been in and outta prison since 97'. We used to run those cells together, but that's another story for another midnight drive." He chuckles.

Without even noticing, JK's toothy grin makes me mirror his smile and place my hand on his lap. I can tell that our talk combined with the blue twinkling scenery of city skyscrapers is calming him down somewhat.

"...Hey, I actually wanted to ask you something tonight."

"Yeah? What?

"Would you like to go on a date tomorrow? We haven't been on one in a while... If you even count the first one as a date."

"Sure. Where you wanna go?"

"Ah, now that's a surprise."

"Well as long as we end the night with high sex, I'm cool." He faces me with a light smirk. "Gonna have you talking to my dick again."

"Talki—? What are you talking about?"

"You don't remember? You was whispering to my dick before sucking it and it was twitching back. Y'all was having your own conversation."

"Okay, there's no way I did that."

"You wanna bet?" JK licks the corner of his lips with excitedly raised brows. "We'll see if you're saying that tomorrow. I'll get Q to get us more brownies. Just don't go horking them all down this time."

"As if." The turn of my head causes the wind to blow my hair forward when I smile and I lean in the reciprocate JK's brief but heartfelt kiss.