Page 10 of Rivals

I hear a little static on the other end of the speakers. “Okay, whenever you’re ready.”

I ease away from the start line. I take the first couple of laps at a normal speed, nothing too crazy just in case the car has some kinks that need to be worked out still but on the third lap I really start to accelerate. The car moves with ease, it takes the curves smoothly and from what I can tell it’s in the best shape it’s ever been. I continue to accelerate my speed until the second curve on the sixth lap. Suddenly, it all hits me. The soul crushing anxiety. Memories flood my reality out. I see nothing but smoke, smell nothing but gasoline and burned rubber from the tires desperately seeking traction. I see Chris’ car slam into the wall before flipping over just as something from the side of my eye comes racing towards me. I slow the car to a school zone speed. I know this isn’t real, but it feels real. Sweat soaks my skin, running into my eyes, burning them as if the smoke really is here. My lungs constrict begging for fresh oxygen that I can’t seem to find.

“Rathe!” I can hear Maxton’s voice, but it sounds so far away, so muffled. The only thing I hear is the pounding of my blood rushing through my ears. I try every exercise that has been taught to me since the wreck, but nothing is working. The car starts to pull to the right, towards the wall, or maybe it’s me causing that. “Rathe! Damn it, man!”

“There’s something wrong with that car,” I whisper. My voice is weak just like I feel.

“No, there isn’t. You’re letting up on the gas. You’re panicking Rathe,” Maxton’s voice is calm and collected.

I shake my head. “No, it’s not right, something is wrong.” I come to a stop and hang my head. This isn’t happening. I yank the helmet off my head and let the wind hit my face. The first deep breath feels like heaven. I look around the track and see Maxton coming towards me. “There’s something wrong with the car.”

He gives me a sad look. “It’s not the car Rathe.”

I pace away from him as anger boils in my blood. He’s right. I know it, he knows it, this whole damn track knows it. I’m supposed to be on top of the world right now. I should have owned the track last season. I should be the name the other drivers are in awe and fear of. Instead, I’m the pathetic loser who suffers from crippling anxiety and panic attacks now after being involved in one wreck. The worst part is Max was right. I knew the minute I signed the line on the contract that wrecks were a likely consequence. They didn’t scare me then, but they do now. None of it makes sense. I just want to get in the car and drive like I’m meant to. I turn towards the wall of the track and hurl my helmet towards it. I watch as it arches in the air before slamming into the wall, and scattering into pieces just like the day of the wreck, just like my career now.

Ten

Sutton

As I leave the office, I take a deep breath. I feel this need to pinch myself because there is no way that this is my life. I did not just sign a contract to become an Indy race car driver for Revv-It Racing Team. That’s just not possible. This feels like one of those Cinderella stories that I’ve never believed in. Those types of things only happened in the movies or books, not in real life and definitely not to me. When I get onto the elevator and head down to the main level to get my security badge created, I’m on cloud nine. My phone alerts me of a text and as soon as I step out of the elevator, I dial Evanna. “You’re a sneaky bitch. You better have your ass at that track, signing some major contract to race professionally. If you aren’t doing exactly that I’m disowning, you as of this moment.”

I laugh. “Always so dramatic. I’m telling you that you should really consider acting.”

“Stop deflecting! Stop changing the subject and fess the hell up!”

“Easy killer. I just signed my three-year contract. If my first season goes well then, I might get a raise the next season. It all depends on stats but even without a raise it’s more money than either of us as ever seen combined. We’re definitely getting a better place, one in a better part of town,” I explain to her.

Evanna sighs on the other end of the line. I know she’s going to protest. “Look, I love you for always looking after me, but you seriously don’t have to. You should get yourself a really awesome place. I can stay here and get a new roommate. I’ll be fine.”

Evanna has always been this super kind and very sensitive person. From the moment we met, I knew she might have grown up in a rough home and neighborhood, but she still had this optimistic outlook on life. She had this light in her eyes that hadn’t been killed out yet, so I made it my point to protect her. She’s like my little sister. I laugh into the phone. “You’re funny. You’re my best friend and I don’t intend on sharing you. Sorry, I’m an only child, well at least as far as I know, but the point is that only children don’t share well, so you can either help me find us an awesome new place, one that accepts pets so we can get that damn dog you’ve always wanted, or we can continue to live in the ghetto. Your choice?”

“Wow, you officially become a big shot Indy race car driver and all of a sudden you’re bossy,” she teases.

I scoff. “I’m always bossy.”

“This is true.”

“Hey!” I exclaim, while laughing. The line goes quiet. “Look, in case I haven’t said it, thank you for believing in me and pushing me to give this a real shot.”

“That’s what friends are for,” she tells me quietly. “So, do you want an apartment, house or condo?”

“Nothing too big or crazy, just something in a decent part of town.”

“I’ll start looking,” she admits.

“Good, now I’m going to finish up all the stuff I have to do here but tonight we are going to celebrate, Evanna and Sutton style!”

“So...pizza, wings, soda and probably watch In the Dark so we can swoon over Casey Deidrick, right?” she asks.

I laugh with her. “Of course.”

“See you later and good luck at work!” Evanna disconnects the call and her parting words hit me in the gut. Work? Is it truly possible that this is now my job? I mean this is seriously a dream come true. It’s not a dream I ever truly considered for myself but it’s still a dream come true. I’m not sure what to make of this now that the idea has hit me. Then it reminds me that I’ll have to quit my job at the shop. It makes me sad to think that I won’t be under the hood of a car anymore. I mean, I love driving and racing, but that shop gave me something when I had nothing. It’s going to be hard to say goodbye. I send a quick text to Rob, my boss, letting him know I won’t be in today and tell him I have big news. I know he’ll be happy for me because that’s the type of person he is, but it still sucks to leave him behind. Rob took me under his wing when I was just sixteen years old. I was running with a questionable crowd and doing even more questionable things. Instead of doing what most people would have, he saved me. Leaving him is going to be a hard one.

I go to the door marked security and Patrick opens it up wide with a bright smile. “It’s nice to see you again Miss Sutton.”

“Thanks Patrick. It looks like you’ll be seeing a lot of me. I’m officially the new Revv-It Racing driver.” I smile at him. There’s something about Patrick that reminds me of Rob.

He slaps his thigh. “Well, I’ll be. That’s the best news all day. Congratulations.”

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