Chapter 2

The next day, Max woke up with a smile. He didn't leave any scratches or bumps on his car. His win was flawless and smooth. He was welcomed by his father's friends. Max wished that his Mom also met them. He immediately sat down on his bed and grabbed his winnings from last night. It was a big bulk of money and he smiled as he counted them. He left a few bucks for his new parts and replacements.

He went out of the room to see his mother making breakfast.

"So, how was work last night?" Said his mother, clearly implying a specific message towards the room.

"Well.. here I am, being the man of the family, Ma." He said jokingly as he put the big chunk of bills on the table. His mom looked over quickly and glanced at it. If there was any flinch of surprise or happiness on her face, she was quick to dismiss it and she went back to her angry poker face.

"Son, you know you don't have to do that. I got you. I'm working two shifts now, and with the tips, we have more than enough. You don't have to work in a restaurant. You just need to focus on school. " Her voice was dismissive, kind of sad, almost. She took out the eggs and bacon from the pan and slid them into a plate. She pushed his plate towards him. Like clockwork, his mom threw over a fork and he grabbed it and started eating.

"I know, Mom. But I love it. Plus, I ask my friends to eat there ALL the time, so it just feels like we're hanging out. Really. It doesn't even feel like work!" Max looked over at his mother, now glancing over her with sad eyes. Max bet she's thinking of his father.

"I'm sorry Max," she said, turning around so he won't see her face when her voice cracked. Max only wanted to help out. Max wanted to provide for them, even if it meant lying to his mom about where he gets his money from. His schooling, their bills, their food, everything was too much for his mom alone. And with his racing wins, he was able to cover it almost always. And he was happy while doing it, so there's no harm done. No regrets.

"I know Mom. I'm okay. Okay?" Max finished his food and put his plates in the sink. He then leaned over his mom and kissed her forehead. His mom hugged him and patted him on the back.

"He'll be proud of you, for sure. You grew up great." She said. Max smiled and nodded. I hope you are, Dad. I hope you are.

Max drove his car to school. He was feeling sleepy because of last night but his excitement is motivation enough to go to school. He promised himself that he wouldn't waste his education and that he will only bet and race to help out his mom.

Shayla quickly came into view and she quickly gave him a peck. "Good morning. You swept the streets last night!" she whispered. Street racers are not really accepted in their school. There are only a few specific students that he sees sometimes, very rarely, but aside from them, no one else would ever want to be associated with the street races.

There has been an increase in death counts for bystanders, crashes, and even mind-bending amputations and surgeries that are being shown on television. Max knew about these risks. He knew he was no one special. But he took it as a good thing to know that with their bets and races, no accidents have ever occurred yet. All of his games were safe. At least he thought it was.

Max put his arms over Shayla's shoulder. Another whole morning to be a normal, healthy student. Max gave Shayla his gift. He got it after his race last night after dropping Shayla off. It was a silver bracelet with their initials hanging as pendants. Shayla opened it and immediately squealed. Max laughed and they enjoyed the day with their friends. He had no matches today and he didn't even try to contact his people. He just wanted a day with his girl and to hang with his friends.

Max's day went by as expected. He listened and did not listen to his lessons. He joked with Alec and the others. It was as normal as any normal senior student's day was. Not until he got a call at his last class.

It was his mother's number. He wasn't sure why she was calling as they were usually not allowed to be using gadgets using work hours. He immediately excused himself and answered the phone.

"Mom? What's wrong, what happened?" he swiftly said. His voice was concerned.

"Hello, Max. Are you the son of Belinda Smith? We need you over here at the hospital. Can you come as soon as possible? Your mom is looking for you." The other person in the line said. And just like that, his day became one of the worst days of his life. It started out so okay, it started as if he would be able to live a normal life. Max went inside and grabbed his bag. He excused himself from his professor and quickly drove to the hospital. He has never driven this fast before. He didn't drive safely. He didn't drive as he should. But he needed to know what happened, and he needed to know his only family is safe.

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"Hey, Max. You're here again?" His friend Lucas said. Lucas was a regular better during the games. It was still 9:30 PM, but he was already there. Max didn't have the time to wait. He had to make money, he had to make sure that he can get it as soon as possible for his mother. He winced at the thought of his mother in the hospital bed. It pained him how helpless he was. She needs surgery that would cost almost 20 games. But he needs it fast. He needs it now.

"Yeah." Max said. It has been a week and he has been hoarding all of the games. They had to change locations almost every day because of the cops raiding the places. It was getting more and more dangerous each day, but he just couldn't stop.

"Where's Shayla?" Lucas said while sitting down next to him. He suddenly remembered Shayla. He forgot to reply to her again. He didn't have the energy to get his phone. He just wants to proceed with the game already.

"Probably home. School night." Max said as he chuckled. He remembered that it was supposed to be finals week. He didn't even have the energy to go to school. His friends wanted to help out and reach out to him, but he just couldn't accept from a charity. And even if they combined it all together, it still wouldn't be enough. He needed more. He had to get the best neurosurgeon, he needed to be sure. The doctor said that only a few percent survives the surgery. He didn't want to risk it with just any doctor.

"You should rest. Your last games are getting sloppy. You are not as careful as you were before." Lucas said. Max looked up at him. He noticed his play also. There are times he wasn't even sure if he could turn or move more, but surprisingly, his car surprises him. He is pushing the limits of everything he knew.

"I know. Must be the new parts I got. Don't worry." Max said, trying to ease the mood. He knew that other people are noticing it as well. Even his enemies should have known by now that he is not in his best state and that this is the time when he wasn't even sure if he would win.

More and more people arrived. He could see the people placing bets. Some even looked at him and he saw the way they bet against him. He smirked to himself. Did they know that he wasn't to be trusted? Did they know that he was just no help to anyone?

Max hated himself for being poor. He hated himself for not being able to live a simple life without responsibilities. He hated how his father died because of a car and in turn, made his mother work double shifts to make ends meet. He hated how everything was just moving on without him. He hated how everything is much better with enough money. He hated the world. He hated not being in control.

It was finally time.

He grabbed his helmet and prepared his gear. He checked his car and reassessed its condition. He double-checked what he could and then he finally went in. People helped him prepare. More and more people are filling up the streets. He wondered how these people had the money to spend on him.

Well, here goes nothing.

The organizers brought fire into the road. It was his third time seeing this. The route was long. It was late at night, so there are mostly no people left on the streets already, so he thinks it is safe enough. He saw money flying around. Many people are pointing over him, many are also pointing over his competition. He looked over at his competition. There are 4 cars in total. He held his breath and prayed. He prayed for his safety. He prayed for his friends. He prayed for the people around him. He prayed for his mom. He prayed a lot. He closed his eyes just as the people we screaming the countdown.

Five.

Four.

Three.

Two.

One.

He opened his eyes. And then just speed. Blinding smoke and the familiar sound of the engines of each car. He scrunched his nose as he saw the blue Roush Mustang pass him up. Phew. That car is a breakout, he thought to himself. He bumped the yellow GTR and now he is in third place. He breathed heavily and looked at an opening. He saw the chance and he took it. He looked at his speed and saw that he was going over what he was used to but he didn't notice it. He was still pushing his limit and was so close to getting second place when a small kid suddenly crossed the street.

Shit!

There were no people supposedly! And a kid!! He immediately tried to hit the brakes but his speed was off the charts. He tried to look at his surroundings and he found a big tree just nearby. In a swift motion, he touched his car, as if saying farewell, then steered his car over to the tree. The impact was something that he never expected. He always imagined how hurt he would be in situations like this, but this one hurt really bad. Really bad that he almost felt pain in every place that he could imagine. He looked through his rearview mirror and saw the kid being dragged by the volunteers.

At least, the kid was safe. He thought to himself before he felt so tired and weak. Suddenly, he couldn't even control his blinking and his eyes. He then realized he had no choice but to follow his brain and close his eyes. He cried a tear for his car. I'm sorry buddy. He thought before he was swallowed by just the dark.

When Max woke, he saw Shayla holding his hand looking at him. He could already tell that she was mad. Extremely mad. When Shayla saw his eyes open, she immediately squeezed his hand and then smiled. Max felt immediate relief. The sun was directly hitting her hair, and she just seemed like an angel from his point of view.

"Well, hello my angel," Max said weakly. Shayla dropped his hand and immediately tapped his shoulder. He winced in pain. Shayla noticed and did a thing on her lips that told him she was sorry she forgot. She did again lighter this time and Max let out a small chuckle. "You sadist," said Max.

"I told you to be careful, Max. I told you this would happen." Shayla shouted over at his head. She was pressing a button, maybe to alert the nurses. Oh shit. He realized he was in a private room. Guess he will have to take this out from his savings again. He winced and bit his lip because of his irritation. He should have not risked it. He should have just stayed low.

"I'm sorry. I know." Shayla analyzed his face a little bit and when she felt that Max really felt sorry, she sighed.

"What happened?" Shayla said. He looked around and noticed some flowers and letters from a table nearby. He smiled over to that side. His friends really are something. He wished that he could have been a better friend these past months. He realized how he took them for granted. He winced and closed his eyes. He tried to reimage what happened on his race.

"I don't know. I just felt this weird rush of adrenaline. And of course, the need. I felt like I was losing." Max truthfully said. His competition was the best of the best. Their cars were just really faster than what he can ever do, so he tried to make it up by pushing his car to the limit. He suddenly remembered the impact on his car. He thought of asking but he imagined that Shayla won't appreciate the question.

As if reading his mind, Shayla said "Don't worry. It's not terrible as you imagine. You can still fix him up." Max nodded. A lot of money would be needed for that type of fix. Money that he couldn't get anymore because he has no other cars. Betting would just seem pointless as it would be a gamble. There are no secure wins. There is no way to know for sure, he would just be wasting his money.

"How's Mom?" Max asked. Shayla looked at her and held his hand again. She put it over her cheeks. She felt so warm against his hand. He cherished that warmth.

"Your mom is okay. They're doing the best that they can. Max, I told you we can do this. Just let us help and we can do whatever we can. You don't have to do it all alone. Your friends are supportive. I am here. Just let us be of help."

Upon hearing this, Max didn't have the chance to stop his tears from falling. Shayla stood up and grabbed one big letter from the table. It was from all of his batchmates. They wrote different scribbly lines and silly notes. It made him smile.

"Okay. I'm sorry guys. I would like the help." Max admitted through a smile. Shayla hugged him and nodded on his shoulder.

"Well finally! I thought you were trying to be a superhero, my love." Shayla felt like a big chunk of bone was removed from her chest. She kept trying to help and be supportive, but she knew that what he was doing was, first of all, illegal, wrong, and just dangerous for him or other people around him.

The next day, he visited his mother. His mother hasn't woken up yet. He felt the panic rising up in his throat and he tried to talk to her but he just couldn't. He imagined it would be better to tell her when she's finally awake so she can see how far he's grown. Max promised to tell her about his race and how he was not a good son these past few months. He wanted to tell her that his father was his inspiration and will always be part of him.

It took him 3 days before he was finally released. Shayla and his friends went to his house and ordered a lot of food. Alec and the rest of the guys brainstormed what they could do to raise money quickly. The rest of the class opened him an online account and even did all the infographics and social media posts that could help him. They sent it out through the entire school. He never felt so included ever since his father. He felt an intense sense of belongingness and trust with his friends.

By the end of the day, a lot of people have already seen the posts and have sent what amounts they could send. He never imagined humans could be this selfless and giving. He took a mental note to do better and to be a good human in society. These people never asked for anything in return, so he thought of just giving it back for the rest of his life.

The guys offered to do some house chores for the community for the parents to help Max's mom. They were intensely busy the whole week and they even made jokes and bets about who would finish more lawns than the other. They did an extremely tiring task and added fun and competition to make it more interesting for them. Max wanted to do more for them. Max wanted to say sorry and hug them every day but he felt like they already knew what he felt about them. They came to his house without question every day giving him their funds and their earnings. Most of the houses gave them much more than their actual fees to help him out. It took them about 1 week before he finally got back the money that he lost and more.

Another surprise was when the volunteers from his race gave him a handful of cash as donations and winnings from the competition. Even his co-racers gave their money up for him. He felt immense gratitude and he felt that he was never alone. He just thought of it himself and didn't see all the wonderful people around him. Even if what they were doing were illegal and dangerous, he felt like it was a community where everyone just wants to escape and run free. They wanted to feel the same rush and adrenaline that only street racing could offer. They wanted to feel the joy of tinkering and playing with the parts to create a much faster model. It made him feel young and adult at the same time.

After he got all of the money, he was able to hire the best doctors for his mother. The surgery went well, but his mother still never opened her eyes. They told him that she would need a lot of time to heal and recover and that it is normal for her to stay asleep for a while. They advised him to speak to her because she can hear him even if she has her eyes closed. Max debated it always, but when he was near his mom, he just couldn't open his mouth.

Max continued living day by day. He caught up with his studies and he spent time with his friends. He also took care of his girlfriend and gave her the attention that she deserves.

"Do you think that Mom will wake up?" Max said one afternoon while they were working on his car on the garage. Shayla looked at him and saw how frustrated and sad he was. Shayla has been staying by his side every free time that they have. HE knew Shayla felt the sadness that was just flowing through his body. He wished that he could have been with his mom. He wished he had a last memorable conversation with her.

"Of course, she will. You should talk to her, you know? I think she's getting quite bored of my voice." Shayla said. Max chuckled a little bit and hugged her from the back. He felt blessed to have these women in his life. He felt like having Shayla with him was the one that kept him standing. He couldn't imagine how he could have survived this challenge without Shayla by his side.

Max looked over at his car. He counted in his head how much money he would need. He has been contemplating if she should sell his car. He touched it and felt the cold of the metal from his palm. He just couldn't let go of his father yet. Every time he rode, he just imagined his father was with him by his side. Every time he presses the gas, every time he would turn and drift and win, he imagined his proud smile and his thumbs up in the air. He just couldn't bear the thought that he would not have something to remind him of his father. This is his last gift to him and he felt like he wanted him to continue what he did.

He wanted to at first. He wanted to be like his father. He wanted to be validated. He wanted to be seen by the same peers that saw his father. He wanted his mother to be proud of him. He wanted his mom to see that his father passed on his best trait and skills to his son. He wanted to give his mother a better life. He wanted to make sure that they would be financially secure, and that he could afford anything that would be needed as the man in the family. He wanted to let his mother rest and enjoy life. He bet that that was his father's dream on him, and that's why he kept doing what he was doing.

After a month of bills and prayers from everyone, his mother finally opened her eyes. Max was on the chair beside her when she felt his mom's hand on his head. He immediately got up and smiled. He called the nurses while never removing the look from his mother's eyes. "Mom. Mom. Mom!" He cried. He hugged her and he laid down the hospital bed like a baby. His mother tapped his head.

"Max." his mother's first word. He nodded and hugged her tighter. He doubted himself and everyone around him for a month. He felt like there was no more chance for his mom. He never thought he could still hear his name from his mom.

"You're such a baby." Said his Mom. Max chuckled and nodded. He just was not ready to let go of his hug yet. The nurses went in and had to request Max to get down from the bed. He tried not to blink as they checked her vitals. He looked into her eyes and he saw that she was happy to be back.

"Her vitals are okay. It's a miracle. We are happy to have you back." Said the doctor. Even the staff couldn't believe her.

"Mom, I'm sorry." Max said when it was only them left in the room. The nurses said they will come back later.

"Why are you sorry?" said his Mom. Max took a deep breath and explained everything in detail. He explained how he got in, how he met his father's friends, how he lied about his job and their money, and how he was doing when she got sick. He just rambled on and on and talked about what we did. His mom didn't show any emotions while he was talking. Max was scared of her disappointment.

"You did those for me?" his mother said, with tears in her eyes. Max cried again. He bit his lip and nodded his head. "I thought that by racing, Dad would still be with me. I thought that we could have the best life that we could have. I felt like it was up to me because Dad trusted me with you. I'm sorry Mom." He said truthfully. He couldn't imagine what she was thinking at that moment.

"Don't be sorry. I knew where you were. I knew what you were doing. I just didn't have the heart to stop you." His mother said. Max's mouth opened and raised an eyebrow to her. He then thought of possible explanations but he couldn't think of any so he just sat down and put his arms over his chest, crossed. "And how did you know?!"

"Mostly, Shayla. Also, some of the organizers of your events were worried about you. Some were my friends from your father's time you know. Of course, I knew them. Didn't you know I used to race too?"

Max's mouth dropped lower. What?!

"What?!" Max said, now with a big smile on his face. He always felt the guilt of lying and he felt that he was being a bad son because of the lies and the excuses he had to say.

"I was trying to catch you in the mornings. You just had lots of reasons so I just figured I'll let you tell me when you want to." Said his mother. Max couldn't even stop smiling and moving his head sidewards. His mom is just the best.

"You're the best mom ever." Said Max while grabbing her hand. He kissed the back of it.

"And you're the best son. Your dad would be so proud of you. Thanks for saving us." His mom said meaningfully.

For the next few days, Max applied for college and did everything that he could to save his grades. His professors understood his situation and gave him extra chances of redeeming his grade. Max happily accepted all of the tasks and did them diligently. He also tried to join some of the study groups with his friends.

Max also found a decent job in a car repair shop. The owner was his dad's friend and they sent a letter to him to inform him of the position. The job was a perfect match for him. He didn't even have to be there most of the time. He only comes when he has free time from school. His boss gives him lessons about cars, parts, and models. Some of which are new and he hasn't heard of yet.

"Your dad wanted me to help you learn. I'm sorry I didn't reach out sooner." Said Jimmy. Max just nodded and shook his head. He was already thankful for what happened to him. He was super happy with how things are and how life seemed amazing on some days.

"Thanks, Jimmy. I feel Dad's energy here too. I wish we could have worked together." He said. Jimmy nodded and looked at a picture of Max's dad hanging from the walls.

"I feel him also whenever you're here. It seems like I got myself another clone." Jimmy said jokingly.

His mother was doing well also. She now got one full-time job as a baker in a restaurant in the city. She didn't have to take multiple jobs since they are paying her enough. With their combined savings, they are putting it all aside for their emergency fund, and of course their travel fund. They want to be able to bring Mavis around the country every now and then. They wanted to explore the world with his Dad.

They made a promise to always spend time together and that life is much more bearable when there are breaks and adventures to spend money on. Max also spent his time with his girlfriend and friends. They never made him feel like Max needed to do something for them. They just wanted to be with Max and his normal happy self.

Mavis is now their service to the school. Max withdrew his name from the world of racing and promised his mother that he would only race on a legal and safe route. His mother even wanted him to join professionally and to be trained by the proper people. She said that his father would have wanted it for him.

Max then lived a simple and happy life. There were still some dangers, there were still some challenges, however, now, he was able to conquer them with the help of the people around him. He never felt alone as he knew that there would always be someone, anyone, to count on. Money is not everything in the world and there are things that should be valued more. Love, family, and integrity. Max dreamt of fulfilling his passion and dreams while taking care of the people around him. Max started on his first steps as the man of the family by being responsible, good, and trustworthy. Max has never felt so alive. He felt alive with the thought of another day just full of possibilities. He wouldn't want to waste another day risking his life, or other people's lives just for the slight chance of seeing money. that being alive is what makes his life meaningful. He realized that being alive was his father's dream for him.