Free Will

Pete stood up from his desk as Sam came over to the cubicle, and he nodded. "Oh yeah, sure." He glanced over his shoulder at Ron. "I'll be back in a few minutes. I expect all this paperwork to be done when I get back," he teased. Walking with Sam, he followed her to Aaron's room.

Lying on the bed as usual, Aaron remained fully dressed with his boots on, hoping and daring to expect that Sam really would come. When she arrived along with Pete, it threw him just for a second, but it didn't stop him from getting up. He found it interesting that Sam suddenly didn't want to be alone with him. And it made the darkness in his eyes grow just a little more intense. He didn't say anything as he grabbed one crutch and followed them out. Sam in front. Pete behind. He shouldn't be surprised he was being escorted this way. The whole atmosphere was far from what it had been the other day when they'd gone to the lake. But at least Sam was still willing to take him outside. That's all he wanted.

Getting out into the fresh air, Aaron hobbled a few steps in the parking lot before stopping and taking a deep breath. He leaned on his crutch and just closed his eyes, feeling the sun on his skin.

Pete folded his arms as he stood back and watched. There was definitely something different today. Aaron was... not himself. He wasn't like when he'd first come, but Sam was right - there had been a setback for some reason.

After several minutes of silence, Aaron looked over at Sam. His dim eyes roamed her face. She was beautiful... inside and out. It didn't take a genius to figure that one out. "I'm sorry," he apologized quietly. "But I can't keep pretending." Turning, he started forward, limping with the aid of his crutch.

Pete's​ eyes widened slightly. "Um... Aaron? Where ya headed?" No answer. "Aaron..."
Aaron completely ignored him as he aimed for the street.

Pete glanced at Sam before he started walking after him. "That's far enough," he warned.

Aaron gritted his teeth and continued his slow pace forward.

"Aaron!" Pete barked. No matter Sam's preference, he wasn't going to tolerate going ignored. "Don't try my patience."

Finally Aaron stopped, but only to glance over his shoulder. "I'm not going back inside that building of my own free will." And again, he started walking.

Pete rested his hand on his sidearm and turned to Sam. It was her call what to do at this point. If she wanted him to draw his gun, he would. If she wanted him to use physical force, he would. If she wanted him to do nothing, he'd do that too unless he sensed danger. It was up to her, but Aaron was getting closer and closer to the street.


Dylan nodded at Scarlet and left Hunter to join her, Eli and Destiny. Although he was confident he could probably handle just about anything around here, he wasn't going to risk getting himself - or the others - in trouble. He'd be a follower tonight, and he was alright with that.

Jett climbed up and stood in the bed of his pickup with a pair of binoculars, looking across to where the race was going to be. "Yep. Thunder just arrived, the jerk. He's hanging out in the back of the pack like he's just gonna watch, but we all know he's gonna race."
Eli took a look as well and nodded before looking back to his sister, Zan and Hunter. "You three know what to do. Come in from the right after they start, and merge with the pack. Then Zan, you veer off, Hunter and Ryan, you guys follow Thunder around the bend and flank him in as Zan comes in front of him. Then. Slow. Down. Those other drivers are gonna see what's happening, take advantage, then they can fight it out amongst themselves who's gonna win after that."

Zan nodded as he chewed on his thumbnail. There was a lot at stake here. If they failed, they'd be a joke and Thunder's head would be even bigger. Not to mention, he had a lot at stake personally here too, since Thunder had cost him so much lately.

Hunter slid an arm around Ryan's shoulders as he leaned over and gave her lips a kiss. "More where that came from when we succeed," he teased.

Jett hopped down from his truck. "Well, I'm gonna head down there. Eli?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm coming too." He nodded to the drivers. "Get your headsets on. I'll try to find a good vantage point, but just make sure you talk to each other."

Zan looked to Destiny and gave her a smile. "Stick with the others, and I'll see ya after the race." He took her hand and gave it a squeeze before letting her to get into his own car again. As he started the engine, his eyes drifted to his rear view mirror... where nothing hung. It was the first time he'd driven out here without the locket and... it felt just a little strange. 

Jett took off first, heading over to the race, Eli was next on his bike, and Dylan got into Scarlet's car with her. His eyes were on everything, watching and absorbing. He saw Destiny getting ready to follow too - if anyone seemed out of place here, it was her. But she seemed comfortable too, making him wonder what her story was. Buckling in, he glanced over at Scarlet. She was the the one who was the only one who knew Eli was in the Elite. Which meant there was a good possibility she knew he'd already met Eli earlier that day. "So... you and Eli - you guys race, too?"