I look myself over and raise a brow, “What’s wrong with it?” Since when was a band t-shirt, sweats, and Vans frowned upon for a race where we’ll all leave smelling of exhaust and burned rubber?
Her lips twitched, flashing a frown, “Nothing.”
My eyes narrow, “What are you wearing, then?” Knowing Jessie, it’ll likely be something over-the-topslutty. She lives for attention and will undoubtedly bring a random dude home with her.
Jessie storms into her closet, tossing garments onto the floor like a tiny tornado ransacking the intricately packed layers of clothes. My closet is bare compared to hers.
“I’m thinking this with this and maybe some lacey heels,” She proceeds to hold up a jean mini skirt and a deep V backless camisole covered in silver sequins. She is dressing for a nightclub, not a race.
“Uhh, yeah sure,” I say, sucking air through my teeth and collapsing flat on my back on her bed.
“We should grab food on the way. What’re you wanting?”
Hell, food was the last thing on my mind. Between worrying about fixing shit between Hayden and Ryder and figuring out what Lilith wants with me, but being too chicken shit to ask my parents about her, I haven’t had much time to consider anything else.
“Whatever you wanna get is fine with me.”
“I didn’t realize this many people came to these types of races,” My eyes bounce around the buzzing crowd, nervously.
“Oh, it gets much busier. The show hasn’t even started yet.
I look around at all the unfamiliar faces. Everyone seems so happy and full of life. Life, I was robbed of a week ago. I take a steadying breath and stick right behind Jessie, who’s almost broken out into a sprint to get across the track to the starting line. She starts to get ahead of me,weaving through a group of spectators who were in a heated discussion about who would win tonight, so I fist the back of her skirt waistband and hold on for dear life. I’ll be damned if I get separated and kidnapped again. God only knows who’s here and watching us.
By the time we made it to the starting line, I had a steady drip of sweat along my forehead and temples. I wipe it away with the back of my hand. As the minutes tick by, more and more people line the bleachers around the oval track, snacks and drinks in hand, while they laugh and carry on with their friends. What I’d do to go back to a simpler time.
Too much silence leaves my mind wandering, and my thoughts become invaded by Rocky and his bullshit scare tactics.
You. You. You.
Over and over. His final word before my departure haunts me on end. I have constant flashbacks from over fourteen years ago, of Lilith sitting in our living room in my father’s favorite chair. I remember how she curtly sipped the mug of hot coffee my mother made for her, and her prudish demeanor—sitting on the edge of the cushion, regarding us as she would the dirt on the bottom of her shoe.
“Lucius, Lucius.” Lilith tuts. “You know I can’t let you do that.”
“J-j-just one more month, please,” my father begs, stuttering over his words.
“I’ll give you twenty-four hours or else I’m revoking your title.”
The memory swept through me, leaving a chill in its wake. Title of what? Is that why my parents were so devastated after she left? I do remember shortly after her visit, life became slim for a while. Groceries were minimal, and I remember making a few trips to our local church’s food bank just to survive. My father was home a lot for a while, until he got a new job as a mechanic. It was usually just me and my mom at home, and my father would pop in for a couple of nights in a row before heading back out again. However, I don’t remember ever hearing about his previous job.
“Kelsey! Come on!” Jessie hollers from the center of the track. I rush over to join her, but a darkness catches my attention from the corner of my eye. Dressed in all black, per usual. Black distressed jeans, a black leather jacket, and a black undershirt. His helmet is black with a skull on it. The skull’s eye sockets are painted around his visor, creating one large skeleton head effect.
“Staring’s rude, you know,” Jess sasses from beside me, cocking a knowing smirk.
“And if y’all make me roll my eyes any more today, they’re going to roll right out of my head.” That earns me a nudge to the shoulder.
“So what’s the deal with you two, anyway?”
Damn, Jess. Way to get right to it. I don’t know the answer to that question myself, so how could I answer her? Things have been peaceful between Ryder and me, but I’vealso tried distancing myself since the motel incident. Not that I didn’t enjoy it, but I feel like if I choose Ryder, I’m betraying Hayden and vice versa. Not that Ryder’s given me a choice. In fact, he’s claimed me like livestock without any regard to how I feel.
“I don’t know,”
“You don’t know?” She gives me a look of disbelief as if she already knows the answer, and maybe she does, but I don’t care to hear it.
“Nope. So, when’s the race actually start?” That was my poor attempt at deflecting the current track of conversation.
No sooner than I asked did the Starter fire the pistol, and the bleachers roared with fans. Tires screech for traction as they speed off down the track. I train my focus on the two cars taking the lead as they easily dodge the other six, weaving in and out to get in first.
“Shadow, Shadow, Shadow,” Chants the crowd.
