The noise had been deafening, but at least things had calmed down for a bit. Car after car went tearing down the track, and it seemed unending. Heather could barely understand the announcer booming over the speakers. The earplugs that she had bought were top notch.
The crowds were beyond anything she had experienced so far, and Heather thanked the twisted series of events that got her moved from the parking lot. She couldn’t imagine what a nightmare that must be. She liked working inside the track. The people-watching was excellent, and everyone was in good spirits, unlike the early morning people trying to park in the near darkness.
She kept her attention focused away from pit lane, checking people’s tickets to make sure they were allowed into that exclusive area. Every once and a while, though, she would turn and see if Chance was around.
It was silly, and she knew it. The last thing Heather needed was to get involved with another macho jerk. Heather needed to put her head down, finish the summer’s work, then get started on her master’s. That was what she needed to do, but definitely not what she wanted.
Heather had tried to focus on school. The semester was three months away, but she had a lengthy reading list. Between the hours at the track and time with Josie, the list wasn’t getting any shorter. Be smart. Heather repeated the phrase, but her eyes were still searching for him. Her heart was still searching for him.
In her mind, he stepped out of some fog like a superhero, ready to sweep her off of her feet. He was tall, dark, and handsome. He was rich, powerful, and unstoppable.
In reality, Chance was an average height, just a few inches taller than Heather. He was handsome, but boyish. His eyes weren’t all that alluring, but there was something in them that kept Heather interested.
Chance wasn’t rich. According to him, he was flat broke. He was no Prince Charming, but Heather knew that was a bullshit notion. Chance had something, though.
He was unstoppable. She got that impression hearing Josie read off all the series he had raced in. The man wouldn’t let anything keep him from getting behind the wheel of some speed machine. Heather liked that ambition, even if the danger was so, so present. The only reason he had a drive was because there was a driver in the hospital.
What it came down to was one thing. Chance was powerful. He may not have been high up on the ladder, but Heather saw the power that he had. When Rob took that stupid swing at Chance, she saw that power. He probably could have knocked Rob out cold, but he resisted. Chance held himself back because he was smart, and he had control over his power.
She watched him coming. He didn’t walk in slow motion, but Heather imagined that he did. She wanted to imagine all kinds of things with Chance. His smile made her forget about all those serious things that Heather had resigned herself to. Instead, his contagious smile.
“Hi you.” She noticed the sweat on his brow, and the dark stain on the tight white Nomex that drivers wore beneath their suits. It was manly, to say the least.
Chance’s smile grew wider. “How are you?”
Heather shrugged. “I don’t know how you can stand being in those cars for hours on end. I’ve got one hell of a headache brewing.”
“You get used to it, I guess.” Chance looked around him, turning all the way around. “I’d say it’s worth it.”
“When you’re sixty-five and completely deaf, we’ll see if you feel the same way.”
Chance spoke, his words rapid. “Are you hungry? When do you get off work? Sorry. I’m still riding high on the adrenaline. I can’t stop thinking about asking you out.”
She felt it coming, but it was still a lovely little shock to her heart. She had wanted Chance to ask her out. There was more to him than he let on, and Heather wanted to find out more.
As Heather brushed her wind-swept hair back behind an ear, she stumbled through her answer. “Actually. Yeah. I mean, I don’t know what time you get off work…I guess your job is a bit different. Um, yeah. My shift is over at four.”
His smile widened. “I don’t think I’ll be free until five. We made our run, but I’m heading back out. We’ve got a shot at the top nine.”
“That’s great!” Heather didn’t really know what it meant, but she was excited by Chance’s excitement. She hated being ignorant about racing, but it wasn’t a world she was used to; it was unknown after unknown to her. “What exactly does that mean?”
“I could fight for the pole. I could start first on race day.”
“Oh my god. That’s big. Even I know that’s big.”
Chance nodded. “It’s very big. The pole winner wins one hundred grand before the race even starts.”
Heather’s eyes went wide. “Well, hell yes you should go for it!” Her voice squeaked, and her face flushed with embarrassment. Heather threw her hands up over her face, but Chance’s fingers pulled them away.
She burst into a fit of giggles, half from her over-excitement, and half from his touch. She pulled herself together, not wanting to seem like a girly-girl. “If you get the pole, you are most definitely paying.” She punctuated her point by jabbing her finger against Chance’s chest.
“You got it.”
Heather gave Chance her number and watched him head back to the pits, her heart rattling out of control in her chest.
Heather had to swipe her card twice to clock out, because she was too eager and rammed it through. On the second try, the computer beeped out its approval, and she sped to the stands where Josie was waiting.
Her best friend must have read it on Heather’s face. “Oh, tell me, tell me, tell me!”
“He asked me out. He walked right up to me after he qualified his car.”
Josie’s eyes went wide. “Really? That sounds amazing. Was it amazing?”
Heather couldn’t hide the smile on her face. She sat down in the grandstands. “No. It wasn’t amazing. I found it terribly dull. A real bore.”
“Okay, okay, Jane Austen. Calm down. When are you going out?”
“Tonight.” Heather put a hand over her eyes and looked down the pit lane. She couldn’t see him, but it was a mass of people. “He’s going to call me once he’s done.”
“I thought you said he already qualified.”
“He did. I guess they get a second chance to try to get into the top nine. If they’re in the top nine, they get another shot at the pole.”
Josie looked from one end of the front straight to the other. “I’ve been here soaking up the sun all day, and I haven’t learned a single thing about this. There are a few hot drivers, though.” Pointing at the screen, Josie said, “They interview them after they qualify.”
Heather perked up. “Did they interview Chance? What did he say?”
With a shrug, Josie said, “Probably. I’m not gonna lie. I fell asleep for a little bit this afternoon.”
“How can you sleep with this kind of noise?”
“It’s actually really soothing in a way. Lap after lap of that noise is hypnotic in some way. Never mind that. You’ve got a date with a racing driver!”
“Yeah, I guess I do.” Heather’s voice trailed off, dazed with happiness.
Their attention turned to the giant screen across the track from them.
Open Qualifying Begins
On cue, a car’s engine fired up, and Josie and Heather watched it pull onto the track. Though the two women barely understood what was happening, Heather had a big stake in the game, and therefore Josie did, too. They were excited, cheering when each car would shoot past them toward turn one.
Not long after the open qualifying session began, Heather pointed up at the screen. A camera swirled around the black and yellow machine that Chance drove. “That’s him. That’s his car.”
Her heart raced as fast as his car as the two friends watched Chance take another shot at the top nine. For a sport that she never cared about before, Heather’s heart was in her throat as the green flag flew for Chance.
She knew how quickly the cars circled the track, but it felt like time stretched before her as she waited for Chance to complete his first lap.
Her fists were clenched as he passed her. When was the last time she had been so nervous? Heather couldn’t remember.
226.599 miles per hour. The screen flashed his time, and Heather waited to see if that was fast enough. A few seconds later, Provisional 8th popped up. She squealed, grabbing Josie’s hand.
“Yes! Yes, it’s fast enough.”
Josie just laughed. She was probably embarrassed by how excited Heather was, but so what? There were lots of people cheering him on, and Heather’s heart soared when she heard them. From her post near the garages, she couldn’t tell who was applauding whom. Now, she saw that he was something of an underdog to the fans, ready to take on the big boys.
The yellow and black hornet zoomed by a second time, and 226.437 appeared before her. Still fast enough to stay in 8th.
“Come on, come on.” Every muscle in her body was tense as Heather waited for Chance to finish his run.
“He’s gonna do it.” Even Josie sounded excited, which surprised Heather. Josie was the only one she knew who hated sports more than she did. Josie was taking a real step from her comfort zone even being at the race track.
For the third time, Chance shot past them. Heather’s eyes were glued to the screen in front of them. 225.988. Slower, but he was still fast enough for ninth place. Heather didn’t think she could make it one more lap.
“Oh my god, it’s like you’re in labor.” Josie tried to pull her hand away.
Heather hadn’t even realized what she was doing. “Sorry, sorry.”
Her eyes were glued to the far end of the front straight. She couldn’t see his car, and probably wouldn’t until it was halfway down. She prayed, wished, bargained to anyone who was listening for Chance to get into the top nine. It wasn’t about him paying for dinner. It wasn’t even about bragging rights. For the first time, Heather had someone to believe in besides herself. Josie was her best friend, but Heather hated watching her tread water. Chance was different. He was a go-getter, eager for the fight.
The squeal of the tires made her heart stop. Straining her eyes, Heather tried to spot his car, knowing instinctively that something was wrong. The smoke was the first thing that she saw, and it focused her attention just in time to hear the sickening thump that followed. Sparks flew upwards and a scraping sound replaced the squeal of rubber. His car came into view, twisted and spinning like a top.
Parts shot off of his car and floated down from the air, one wheel bouncing along the outside wall. Heather stood up, a hand covering her mouth. “No…”
Just short of the start/finish line, Chance’s car came to a rest, the front end of the car completely sheered off.