Racing for Freedom (3 page)

I nod, pulling my helmet down. They shut the door and I start the car. It rumbles beneath me and I sigh, feeling my body relax. It’s the only thing that ever makes me feel ok. The three other drivers, including Slade, are all lined up and ready to go. I focus on the three lights in front of me, not bothering to look anywhere else but where I have to go. My fingers are curled around the steering wheel and I’m ready to prove that I can do this.

John gives the go ahead and we each begin the warm up laps. John and Slade’s manager Leo, take all the times to find out where we are set up on the starting grid. I release the clutch and my car surges forward, purring, wanting to be let go. Ah, I love the big girl. I change the gears quickly, picking up speed. I don’t focus on any of the other cars around me unless they come too close, I focus on driving. I pull around a corner, remembering my father’s words. Always focus on where you’re going, look at the end of the corner, not at the start and the car will go with you.

I pick up speed and I feel that surge of adrenaline run through me. I take her for six good laps, and then we begin our preparation lap where we warm up the tires on the car, to give them better traction for the final race. We surge forward and backwards, the cars hopping like little frogs as we heat the tires. When they’re heated and the race is ready to go, we get lined up on the grid. I’m behind Slade, he’s first as always. I swallow and stare at the back of his blue and white car. Number ‘57’ and well known in the racing world.

I hold down the clutch and rev the engine, readying myself for take-off. Everyone clears off the track and my eyes focus solely on the road in front of me. I grip the steering wheel at three and nine, which I find gives me better control, and I prepare myself for the lights to change. I watch one light come on the set, then two and then three. I release the clutch and the car surges forward, the back tires
skidding just a touch.

I’m off and am second on the inside, Slade holds the inside lane and my car soon moves up next to his. I watch the corners ahead, changing gears and picking up speed. Slade is good with corners, and it’s definitely his advantage. He knows how to take them at high speeds, where as I haven’t got that down yet. When we come to the first bend, I lay off the accelerator and begin turning the corner. Then I focus on the end of the corner and put my foot back on the gas and the car slides out of the corner with ease. Slade is just up ahead, so I kick the car down a gear and bring it up next to his. We remain side by side until the third corner and the one I can’t seem to get right.

Slade slides around it with ease, his car clearly taking the bend. Not wanting to lose the race, and letting my pride get the better of me, I don’t slow down. The first part I manage, but then I realize I have gone too far out. I begin losing traction and make the fatal mistake of slamming the breaks on, when I nearly take out the car beside me. My car spins out of control, doing a full three sixty and skidding to a stop on the grass beside the race track. I slam my hands on the wheel and curse, idiot! I’m an idiot!

John rushes over and soon my door is being flung open. I get out and pull my helmet off, tossing it on the ground beside me with a curse. The paramedics check me over, but I’m so dammed ashamed, I shove them away. After a lot of arguing, they get me to sit down while they check me over. How could I be so dammed stupid? I was trying to be
better than him and I flunked out. If I don’t get my act together, I won’t even make it into the championships.

“Are you hurt?” John asks.

“No, I’m fine.”

“Come on, the boys will get your car. Come and sit down.”

John leads me across the track to where everyone is standing. Lucas rushes over and grips my face, turning it from side to side as he inspects my skin for damage. Then he sighs and pulls me into his arms.

“Are you ok, Dash?”

I nod into his shoulder. “I’m ok, just a little shaken up.”

I notice Slade staring at me when I look over Lucas’ shoulder. Our eyes meet and he doesn’t look cocky, even though I was sure he would. He looks worried.

“Are you hurt, Dash?” he asks.

I hold Slade’s gaze, but before I can answer anything, I hear another voice that has me shuddering. I let go of Lucas and take a deep breath.

“Ah, Dasha, I see nothing has changed. Still hot headed?”

I turn to see Slade’s father Michael grinning at me. I hate him. I’ve always hated him. He never liked Slade and
I getting along when we were younger, even though he never knew the extent of our friendship. A few glances and giggles on the track, was enough for him to build a hate against me and make sure I struggled to ever have a win. He’s evil, in its purest form.

“Where’s Colby? What? Doesn’t he even come to watch his own daughter race anymore? Is that how important you are to him? You could die out here but he’s too busy drinking himself into a stupor.”

I flinch and turn my eyes to the ground, don’t let him get to you Dash. Don’t let him in.

“Dad!”
Slade snaps.

I hear Michael curse silently at him, and then turn back to me. I still haven’t looked up.

“Nothing to say Dasha? That’s ok, a loser knows when it’s all over. Best you walk away now.”

I snap my head up and my words seethe from my lips. “I will never give up, he might have given up and I might be on my own, but it will take more than a few cruel words to get me off this track, Mr. Devaroe. Good day.”

I take Lucas’ hand and I walk off, not looking back. God, this is going to be a long…long few months.

“You should wear red Dash, it’s cute on you.” My best friend Payton says, later that night, as we prepare for her boyfriend’s party.

“Red? I don’t know.”

“Come on, you rock red with that blonde hair.”

I smile at her and she holds up a little red number, wiggling it around and giving me a grin. Payton is quite stunning herself, with dark red hair, light blue eyes and skin like satin. She presses the dress to her body and wiggles seductively and I can’t help but laugh.

“Come on, it’ll cheer you up.”

I shake my head and snatch the dress from her hands, sliding it over my head and onto my body. I’m only in my bra and panties. I adjust it and then stare down at the material clinging to my skin. Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve worn anything but jeans and tank tops or racing tops.  Payton whistles and I do a twirl. The dress doesn’t move as I spin, it’s that tight. It’s a low v cut and has little tiny diamonds in a diagonal line across my stomach, making the dress shine.

Payton squeals and pulls out a red pair of shoes. Some fancy title, I wouldn’t know, I don’t own fancy shoes. She shoves me down onto the bed and slips them on my feet. “Ah, the perfect fit, for the perfect Cinderella.”

I smile and shake my head. “You’re far too romantic.”

She grins. “I can’t help it, I’m in love!”

I sigh and roll my eyes. “Uh oh!”

She’s been with her boyfriend Dean now for six months and she’s head over heels. I’m happy for her, because he really is a nice person. One of those men that adores his lady, and is proud of everything she does. He can never say enough nice things about her. She sits beside me and takes my hand smiling at me.

“I’m so happy Dash.”

I beam at her. “I’m happy for you, Pay.”

“Alright, it’s time for us to kick this party. Do I look ok?”

I nod my head
enthusiastically, she would look good in a garbage bag. “You look amazing, Dean will melt and snatch you away for a quickie as soon as he sees you.”

She giggles and flushes as though that’s a possibility. Good images for my mind. We stand and both stare at ourselves in the mirror. Payton looks gorgeous in her tight black dress, her hair swept over her shoulder. I take her hand, clutch my purse and we head out the door, shouting goodbye to her dad and mum as we do.

“Have fun girls, don’t be home too late Payton.”

“Yes mum, bye!”

We head out the front door and the air is warm, but slowly beginning to cool down. I love this time of year in Brisbane, it’s always warm.

“Ready?” Payton asks as we get into her car.

“Hell yeah, I need a break.”

“I hear Slade is back in town.”

I sigh, Payton knows Slade and I don’t like one another, but she doesn’t know why. “Yeah, he’s back and causing problems, but he won’t be there tonight, so I’m just going to enjoy a night without his taunting.”

“What about Lucas?”

“Lucas isn’t my boyfriend, Pay.”

She frowns. “I know, but I wish he was.”

I sigh. “You know why he’s not. I don’t want to hurt him. After that night we had together, I cut all ties romantically. I don’t want to break his heart Pay, he’s such a beautiful person…and I’m not.”

“You are honey, you just don’t believe it. Don’t you have any feelings for him at all?”

“It would be a lie if I said I didn’t have feelings for Lucas, but they’re just not enough. Would I be jealous if he moved on? Sure, but I also want his happiness more. I won’t give myself to someone until I know I’m fully there.”

“You’re a good person Dash, you really are.”

I take her hand and smile over at her. “Right back at you, Pay.”

We arrive at Dean’s house and I smile as we get out of the car and the warm salty wind whips my face. Dean lives right on the
beach, his house literally hits the sand. He’s well off, his parents have set him up with everything anyone could ever want and more. Payton takes my hand and leads me up the front steps and into the house. It’s already packed with people. Dean often pulls out some of the best parties.

We walk into the living area, which is large, open and filled with people. There are couples kissing on the couch, people feeling each other up against walls, girls and guys sitting on the kitchen bench, chatting and drinking. I smile and walk in further, when I hear something that makes my skin crawl and my hand tighten so hard around Payton’s that she squeals and yanks it from my grips.

“Dashy, who knew you were coming…”

Slade’s voice curls over me and I shudder, god dammit, where is my luck? I turn slowly, gathering myself enough to make out like him being here doesn’t worry me in the slightest. When I set eyes on him, his gaze has dropped to my dress. Slowly, he drags his eyes up my body and meets my eyes. I’m flushed now and I can feel my lips parting slightly. God, he looks good, why does someone, that’s such an asshole, have to be so god dammed attractive? He’s wearing a V cut racing shirt with short sleeves. His muscles bulge out the side and tense when he moves. He has a dragon tattoo running down one arm, and a racing flag on the other. How original.

I try to stop my eyes from moving down his body to take in his black jeans that do wonderful things to his legs and his heavy black boots. I quickly swing them back up to his face, when a pair of red shoes come into my vision. Ah, it’s Kandee with a K and an EE. I meet Slade’s crystal eyes and glare at him. Why the hell is he here? He doesn’t know Dean…does he? God dammit, can’t I get away from him? Everywhere I go…it’s not like we live in a small place.

“Well, if it isn’t Slade and his candy bar.”

Kandee shifts uncomfortably and flicks her hair to the side, showing off a very pretty neck. Slade grins down at me, his eyes twinkling with humor.

“Trying to hide the fact that you were checking me out with witty sarcasm?”

I cross my arms and lean against the bench. “I like your shoes, so what?”

His grin widens.
“My shoes?”

“Why are you here, Slade?”

He shrugs. “A few mates were coming, I decided to join them.”

“You don’t know Dean, so you should leave.”

He leans in close and I press my back against the counter. “Do you really want me to leave, Dashy?”

I look away. “Move off me, Slade.”

“Come on Dash, can’t we even be friends?” he chuckles into my ear.

I shove his chest and he steps back laughing. I turn and slide around the bench and into the kitchen to take four shots in one hit. Then I walk out into the backyard and lean against the railing. My body begins feeling warm and tingly and I sigh with relief. Payton comes out a moment later, followed by Dean. I turn and smile at them. Dean has his arms wrapped around Payton’s middle and his blue eyes are sparkling with love.

“Hey Dash, sorry about Slade. I didn’t know he’d come,” Dean says, smiling at me.

“It’s ok Dean. I didn’t know you knew him?”

“I know a few of his friends, but no, I don’t know him as such.”

“It’s ok, it doesn’t matter.”

“Are you ok? It looked a little heated in there?” Payton asks.

I stand straight and smile, forcing myself to look ok. “Everything is totally
ok, I’m going to get another drink. Great party Dean.”

I walk inside before they can answer. I slip back into the kitchen and take another drink. I’m feeling beyond light headed now and I’m thankful for that, I couldn’t deal with Slade if I wasn’t at least slightly drunk. I walk over to the table with the chips and reach into the bowl to take one. I didn’t eat dinner before I left, which was stupid on my behalf, because the shots are now turning angrily in my stomach.