Kelso

Drumming my fingers on the steering wheel, I wait for the flags to go down and the trial to begin. I switch my radio to CD because I have a string of songs that get me in the mood, the beat syncing with the switch of the gears and the adrenaline surging through my body.

“Hey, Kel,” Ivy’s soft, melancholy voice fills my car. My heart leaps and my pulse quickens. A CD from Ivy; that’s what Becca was doing in my car. 

“When I was a little girl, I watched all the Disney movies and read all the stories. My mom told me I knew all the lines and would recite them with a robot Prince Charming, which I made of used boxes and stockings filled with newspapers for arms and legs.” Ivy giggles, but even through the stereo I know her smile never reached her eyes. “She swears I even fell in love with the robot, because I cried for a whole week when my dad threw it away thinking it was rubbish. He made me a new one, but Mom said I didn’t look at the new robot the same. My smile didn’t reach my cheeks, she would say.” Ivy inhales deeply. “She said my heart was as loud as a lion, but also as guarded as one. 

“Right before she passed away, my mom told me life would be hard and sometimes I’d have to wade through thick and difficult times. She made me promise her I wouldn’t give up, not on myself or on finding happiness. I always thought she’d meant our family, to stick it out through thick and thin, because she wouldn’t be there to keep us together. I don’t believe that anymore, and when I think back, there was no reason for her to worry about my dad and me, back then when we all still had hope. We were unified and strong. 

“Now I realize my mom meant me, love, and my life. I was guarded, and I didn’t realize until I met you, Kelso King. I hadn’t known what fierce love was until you let me in. 

“Maybe by now you’re wondering why I’m telling you this, why I’ve spoken my deepest thoughts onto this CD for you. Well, because I can’t let you go, not without a fight first. 

“I promised you if I saw you I would pretend you weren’t there, but right now in my bedroom, surrounded by the shirts you left behind and your scent on my sheets, all I can do is remember… 

Memories of loving you.

Memories of talking with you.

Memories of laughing with you. 

Memories of speaking about my mom with you. 

“Memories of talking about your family. Your smiles. Learning about you and how you hate it when I don’t put the lid on the toothpaste. And no matter how cold it is, you must have at least one foot out of the blanket.

“Memories of my regrets. The tears that spilled onto you when you comforted me, and the tears that have spilled with nowhere to land because I lost you.

“I should have guarded your secret, your innocence. Instead I tried to guard myself as my mother told me I always did. Instead of letting my father feel the consequences of his actions, I guarded him as well. A daughter trying to save her relationship with her father. I was a fool. I used to ask the sky all the time, why give me a man to look up to if all along they would rip him away from me. 

“Then you entered my life, Kel, and you quickly became the source of my joy. I only ever wanted to be that for you too, but I failed. I wish I could say I was lost, but I won’t ever lie. I never felt that way. I only ever felt at home and safe with you.

“I will always love you. It’s a simple truth. I want you back, and not for my own selfish reasons, but to prove to you secrets can be kept, promises can be buried deep and honored. I swear to you, a pack of wild dogs could never tear your secrets from my lips again. 

“I’m begging for another chance, Kel, one I swear I’ll cherish with everything I am. Sometimes we will fly and sometimes we will fall, but I only ever want to do either with you.”

The silence following was cruel. I press the track button for it to replay. I want to hear her voice again, the truth in her tone and the promises she made. 

Suddenly I hear a roaring outside. The flags are down and the light is green. Pacer is racing straight for me, his green Charger becoming clearer with each passing second. 

“Hey, Kel.”  

My breathing quickens as I wrap my hand around the handbrake and rev the Dodge, shifting gears to first. My body tenses and the vibration of the engine flows through me like an adrenaline rush. 

“I can’t let you go, not without a fight first.”

Flicking my gaze up to the rearview mirror, I brace. Pacer is almost upon me, and I thought at this point I’d close my eyes and pray to God our plan works, but I find I can’t look away. 

I see my brother, his gaze intent on me as well. Suddenly, Pacer’s shoulder jerks and his hands are turning the steering wheel; he’s lifted his handbrake and skidded to the side. He opens his door, quick as lightning, and taps my car. 

It worked! 

Dropping the handbrake, I floor the accelerator. My tires spin as I quickly change up through the gears to third and then I’m off, flicking dirt up at my brother. 

Laughing and hooting aloud, I change gears through fourth and into fifth. 

“I will always love you. It’s a simple truth.”

Not wasting another second, I press the red NOS button on my steering wheel and I’m pushed back into my seat. When the car settles back into fifth gear, I press NOS for the last time and shoot across the finish line.

Throwing my arm out the window, I holler, “Yes! Wahoo! Yes!” 

We did it. We didn’t waste a second, not one single moment. A perfect run, and that’s all we can ask for. 

“Sometimes we will fly and sometimes we will fall, but I only ever want to do either with you.”

Glancing to the CD player, I smile. “Me either, Red. I’m coming for you, baby.” 

* * *

Ivy

Pressing my front to the floor, I crawl under Becca’s bed. Damn bitch stole my hair straightener. She knows all my weaknesses, but I know her best hiding spots. Becca’s a terrible drunk, tells everyone all her secrets after a few drinks. Squeezing my eyes closed and sending a shiver over my body, I lift my hand up into the bottom of her mattress. God knows what else is in here. Shifting around, I finally feel the metal handle of my GHD. Yes!

Wriggling my body out from under the bed, I’m almost done when my phone rings. Without hesitation, I pull it from my jeans pocket and answer in a breathless voice, “Becca.” She was taking my CD to Speed Wars today, either placing it in Kelso’s car for him to find, or if that failed, handing it to him. 

“I did it. It’s in his car stereo.” The words tumble out of her mouth quickly. 

I puff out a breath, my eyes closing slowly. “Thank you.” 

“Why are you heaving?” 

Snapping my eyes open, I quickly reply, “No reason.” 

“You sound awfully guilty, Ives.” 

Giggling softly, I keep my lips sealed. 

“Well, if you’re packing or looking for your GHD, by all means keep going, because I know for a fact, someone else will be unpacking for you later. Wink. Wink.” 

My body and heart still. “You spoke to Kel?” 

“Yes, and while I promised myself I wouldn’t do this, I can’t keep you totally in the dark. Let’s say he’s as miserable as you are. I will not be home tonight, I’m too afraid I’ll be scarred by what I’ll hear.” Becca laughs. 

Wriggling the rest of the way out from under the bed, I exhale deeply as if my soul released its grip on my heart. “Oh God. I’m scared to hope.”  

“Don’t be,” Becca declares. “I wouldn’t get your hopes up unless I knew for sure you’d be happy.” 

I close my eyes, a few tears escaping. “I love you, you know. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” 

“Even though I stole your GHD?” Becca asks, and I can hear the smile in her voice. 

I laugh with happy tears streaming down my face. I’m about to reply, but there’s a knock at my front door.  

“I gotta go, someone’s here,” I say, wiping the tears from my cheeks.

“Okay, I’m about to watch your man race and then Benny is taking me to a party.”

“Text me and let me know how Kelso does, please.” 

“Of course,” Becca sings, and then hangs up. 

Quickly slipping my phone into my back pocket, I move toward the front door, pulling down my white V-neck shirt, which had ridden up as I wriggled my way across Becca’s carpet. 

I turn the handle and swing the door open, and find a large man standing before me. His dark hair is pulled back into a ponytail.

“Ivy, is it?” His honeyed voice causes me to tense. 

My eyes lower and I find a black vest with a patch that says Road Captain. My eyes snap back up to his, and when he smiles the stark white of his teeth set against his black beard sends chills down my spine.

Biker. The one Lana told me got away. 

Inhaling sharply, I shove the door closed as hard as I can. It bounces off his body as he rams himself into it. Time slows as I turn and then feel the burn on my scalp as I’m pulled backward by the tips of my hair. I hit the ground hard, painful vibrations rocking up my body from my lower back to my neck. Scrambling to my knees, I attempt to stand, but a strong arm winds around my neck and tightens. 

My breath catches and sticks in my throat, unable to escape. 

The man’s coarse beard scratches against my temple. “Let’s play a game, shall we?”

Suddenly a hunting knife flashes before me, metal blurring before my eyes as it goes up and then down. As my mind catches up with what’s happening, a scream rips from my mouth. The blade tears through the skin on my thigh, and as fast as it went in, he pulls it out. 

I gasp repeatedly while staring down at my thigh; blood pours from my torn flesh. He stabbed me. There’s no pain, not immediately, only an overwhelming sense of dread as the edges of my vision darken.  

Forcing out a bloodcurdling scream, I thrash with all my strength. The man loosens his grip from around my throat, but I still can’t get free. He’s too strong. The biker locks his legs around my calves as he lowers his arm around my biceps and locks my arms down with only one of his, and a desperate cry escapes me as I feel another hard puncture in the same leg. 

No screams come this time, only pleas as I feel the knife slip up and out of my leg. “Please stop. Please, no more.” Tears course unbidden and unwelcome down my cheeks. A metallic scent hits my nose, and warmth spreads down my leg, soaking through my jeans. 

“Settle, you did wonderfully. This will be more than enough blood.” The man’s hot breath sears across my cheek. 

I have no choice but to stop as nausea ripples through my stomach and light-headedness hits me hard. My head bobs forward and I taste the salt from my tears. 

The bastard lays me down on my back, and darkness dances over the edges of my consciousness. His sickening smile is the last thing I see when he whispers, “Don’t fret, girl, you’re only the bait. Sophie will regret ever betraying me. When I have her daughter, that’s when the real fun begins.”