Fall of kNight (26 page)

Raphael‟s hands moved so fast I could barely see them as he placed the part on.

“Hey, get her suited up and we‟ll take her down to pit row with us.” Lance said smacking Adrianna on the hip with the shop towel. She laughed as she grabbed it and threw it back in his face.

“Great idea! I think we have another uniform that will fit her,” she said as she grabbed my hand.

“Wait. What…I don‟t know anything about cars!” I trailed off as I was lead outside the garage.

“Nonsense. Don‟t worry, Julie, it‟ll be fun. You‟ll see. There is nothing like being on the pit crew.”

We walked back to the trailer, and she found a uniform that looked as though it would fit. Pushing me into the changing area, she closed the door as I changed. I stepped out and everything was in a rush from there.

Nathaniel pulled a new black Dodge truck alongside us. Adrianna climbed into the back and held her hand for me as I climbed in. We held onto the cab as Nathaniel drove us down to the pit crew area. I looked around and saw about ten other cars lined around the track.

“Okay, are you going to explain?” I asked Casey as she walked up to me.

“Twice a year a group of, well, their friends,” she motioned toward Lance and Raphael, “join together and meet here to race their cars. It‟s kind of a tradition. There are fifteen cars total racing tonight.”

“Are all of them…?” I asked looking around. Vampires? I couldn‟t believe it.

Casey nodded and smiled.

“How?”

“They put together their own organization. It‟s just for fun. They rent the speedway out for the night. Come on,” she said looking up as they placed the number sixteen car in line.

“This is our pit crew, Raphael, Lance and Nathaniel. Leona is our crew chief on the radio up there.” She pointed to a tower. “Adrianna stays here relaying messages to the crew. We‟re going to hang out here and have some fun.”

Just then, Nathaniel pulled the black truck in front of us. The door opened and Richard stepped out. The fog began to lift a little. His smile broadened when he saw me.

“So you came to join my pit crew?” he asked as he strolled toward me. “Well, you are going to need…” His hand slowly moved to his head as he removed his hat. Richard took a step closer and placed it on my head. “A hat to make it official.”

“Well, I wasn‟t sure I volunteered.” I muttered as he arranged the hat on my head.

“Julie, it is very good to have you here. Maybe you will bring me some luck.” He smiled as he stepped back.

My luck wasn‟t so good right now. How in the world did he expect I would bring anything but bad luck? I forced out a smile as Casey reached for my arm and pulled me back as the announcements began.

“There is a monitor over here where Adrianna watches the race. We can watch with her.” She pulled me to the inside.

After a few announcements and the National Anthem, I heard the words that every racing fan loves to hear, “GENTLEMEN START YOUR ENGINES!”

I looked at Casey as I heard the words, “Let's go racing boys!”

“Is that?” I said as my eyes widened.

“You mean DW?” She smiled.

Surely, it couldn‟t be. No, I shook my head, no way.

The racecars roared to life and the sound was louder than thunder. I turned to watch as I saw Richard pull out onto the track. For some reason, my curiosity was perked as I watched the other cars follow behind him.

Casey and I returned to Adrianna‟s side as we watched the starting pole positioning line up. Richard‟s number sixteen was in third position. A bright red corvette, the pace car, lead the pack around the track. After almost a complete lap around the track, the corvette veered off into the pit lane as the green flag waved. The sound of the engines roared, and the cars sped out.

“Richard is in third position. His partner Mickey is in eleventh.” Adrianna pointed at the screen.

“I don‟t understand.” I said.

“Well, this is a tough track. Richard is going to need Mickey closer to help him during the last laps. They are running two hundred laps tonight.”

I watched as Richard closely followed the car in the lead.

“Back off, Richard!” Leona warned over the radio. “Save it for the last few laps. You don‟t want to burn too many tires up in the first laps.”

“I want him this time.” Richard voice replied over the radio.

I looked to Adrianna trying to figure out what he was talking about.

“Jeremy Winters. He‟s won the last two races. Richard almost had the win at the last race when Jeremy‟s partner rubbed Richard‟s car too hard, and they both wrecked. It left the win for the last lap open for Jeremy.”

“So they don‟t play fair.”

“Vampires never do,” Adrianna said smiling. “That‟s okay. I think Richard‟s got a few tricks up his sleeve this race.”

During the next few laps, we watched as the cars continued switching positions until the ultimate happened. Someone had a tire blowout that called for a caution. We watched as the rear side of the car hit the wall and slid down the track.

“GO HIGH - GO HIGH!” I heard Leona shout over the radio.

“I can‟t see! The smoke!” Richard called out.

“GO HIGH!” she shouted again.

I held my breath as I saw Richard‟s car enter the smoking area where the car was sliding down the track. My heart pounded in my chest as his car disappeared in the thick of the smoke.

“FLOOR IT!” Leona shouted.

We all stared at the screen as we saw his car come flying through the smoke undamaged. Everyone, including me,. was jumping up and down screaming for joy.

“Caution flag, Richard. Come on in. Good job!” I heard Leona coach.

We saw the yellow flag as the pace car pulled back onto the track. Nathaniel grabbed the gas and Raphael and Lance grabbed tires and headed out waiting on Richard.

“Two tires - Right side only.” Richard said as he began his approach down pit row.

“She‟s shuddering on the right side.”

“Check the tire pressure guys!” Leona replied.

I was amazed how well she was tuned in to the racecars. “She‟s pretty good.”

“She love‟s stock car racing.” Casey stated. “She‟s probably one of the oldest living fans.”

“She is the oldest living fan, Mon Cheri.” Adrianna said laughing.

I couldn‟t help from laughing as I watched the two of them. This was exactly what I needed to bring me out of my desolate state. Casey, again, was the friend and sister that I truly needed.

She glanced to me and smiled. “Having a good time so far?”

I nodded. “Yes.”

We watched as Richard approached and the car skidded to a stop. Nathaniel ran out with lightning speed and changed the tires as Lance reached down and lifted the car for him. Raphael filled the car with gas. I thought for a moment that NASCAR could only wish they had a vampire to change tires during their pit stops. I had to laugh at my sick sense of humor. Nathaniel checked the air pressure in the right tire then tapped the hood of the car.

Richard pulled the car off and headed back on the track. The pace car veered off again and the green flag was flying. The cars roared once more as the pack separated.

We were finally down to the last five laps. The past caution flags and wrecks had whittled the pack down to only eight cars. Richard had made it to second position after his caution during the previous lap where he had a tire blowout. I had never seen any driver drive the car as hard as he did to catch up to Winters. Winters was now in first position and Richard was closing in tight behind him.

“Careful, Richard,” Leona cautioned.

Winter‟s partner was coming close behind Richard‟s car.

“I‟m seeing red! I‟m seeing red!” Richard began on the radio.

I looked to Adrianna for an explanation. “Winter‟s partner is in Richard‟s sight.

He‟s nervous at what he will do on this last lap.”

“White Flag! Hold it, Richard. Hold it! Help‟s coming!” Leona shouted.

The cars were now on the last lap of the race. Richard‟s partner was on the tail of Winter‟s partner. We watched as Richard‟s partner gave Winter‟s guy a huge bump in the rear causing him to lose control. His car hit the wall and bounced off into a spin.

“GO! GO! GO! GO!” Leona screamed over the radio.

Richard came out of the last turn and floored the car. The two cars were now nose-to-nose. Winter‟s turned his car down to bump Richard.

“HIT AND RUN!” Leona shouted.

“I GOT HIM!” Richard shouted back.

Richard tapped the brakes as Winter‟s car went down to tap his car. Richard hit the gas and bumped the rear of Winter‟s car causing it to spin upward in front of Richard. Richard moved the car down only to tap the front of Winter‟s again as it spun around. We held our breaths as we watched Richard gain control of his car and head for the finish line. The white flag waved as Richard crossed.

“HE WON!” everyone screamed around me.

I watched in amazement, and finally had to ask the most stupid question.

“Is that allowed?”

“Of course. Vampires don‟t play fair remember?” Adrianna said as she continued cheering.

Well, it‟s a good thing vampires don‟t race NASCAR or they would all get expelled!

Worse yet, they might eat the other drivers if they lose.

I put my thoughts of the recent horrid events aside, and joined in with the laughter and cheers. Yes, this was going to be a day for me to remember. Vampire racing, and I had a great time. We all headed out to meet Richard as he was making his last victory lap with the white flag.

Pulling down to his pit stop, Nathaniel all but pulled him out of the car. They were all cheering loudly. Richard was smiling and dodging the champagne spraying in the air. Adrianna handed him a towel as he began running his hands through his wet sandy brown hair. Looking up, he saw me standing behind a few people.

“My good luck charm!” he shouted as motioned for me to come to him.

Casey gave me a push forward and I stumbled in shock. I moved through the crowd of people making my way to him. Another person walked to him carrying a trophy. She was a beautiful, curvy and exotic blond even with her pale skin. I couldn‟t help from noticing her jacket was unzipped low enough to expose her well-endowed breasts. She seemed to be a little disappointed as she looked to me then Richard when she handed him the trophy.

“KISS!” Someone yelled out among the crowd. My head snapped around to see who began such a craze as the whole crowd followed by chanting the same words.

Richard held the trophy in the air, reached around my waist, and pulled me to him.

He looked down at me and smiled. Leaning closer to me, I heard him whisper. “Do you mind? It‟s kind of a tradition. The winner gets a kiss from his good luck charm.”

I gave him a puzzled look as I mumbled something like it was okay. It wasn‟t exactly clear as to how it came out but he knew what I meant.

“Make it a good one brother!” Someone yelled out. Probably Nathaniel.

“Yeah!” Another male voice roared. That voice was definitely Lance.

Richard turned to smile at the crowd and leaned in to kiss me. He stopped as he came only inches from my face. A wicked grin crossed his lips as he took a step away from me and held the trophy out for someone to take it.

“YEA-AAH,” I heard a deep voice roar.

The sound of the Beastie Boys playing
Fight for Your Right
played over the loud speakers. You have got to be kidding me. My eyes rolled in the back of my head. I was not going to like this one bit.

As soon as I heard the words of the song,
Kick it
, my heart began beating wildly. His hand slipped around my waist and he pulled me closer to him. Richard leaned forward arching my back in his arms; his hand went to my face, gently moving to the back of my neck. My pulse pounded in my ears as I watched his face coming closer to mine. I trembled when his cold lips touched my lips ever so lightly. A ragged breath escaped my mouth as my lips parted to his. Gently, he moved in closer and the kiss became more passionate. I could feel the coolness of his tongue tracing the inside of my mouth. As my knees went limp, he caught me in his strong arms and pulled me deeper into the kiss. I melted in his arms. The taste I remembered soon overtook me. I could faintly hear the screams and cheers of the crowd around us as my hand went to his neck. He pulled back from the kiss and looked at me. I was woozy with intoxication and he knew it. Holding me steady with his arm, he turned back to the cheering crowd.

At this point, I had to hold onto the car just to stand up. My God, I thought this man is unreal. I had lied to myself. His arm still held me tight against him as he knew I wasn‟t ready to stand on my own yet. He looked down at me once again and smiled. Damn him. I shook my head as I saw Casey and Adrianna making their way through the crowd to take me away.

Casey‟s hand covered her mouth, trying to hide her laugher. Adrianna at least had the decency to bite her lip until they got me through the crowd. Once we were through the crowd, Adrianna let it slip. Casey couldn‟t even talk to me, she was laughing so hard.

I stood there in front of them with my hands on my hips. Casey finally gained a little control of herself. She walked over to me, put her arm around my waist and pulled me close to her side.

“Julie, I‟m sorry but it was just the expression on your face,” Casey laughed.

“He is known for being a great kisser.” Adrianna smiled having some consideration for me. “There are probably twenty-five women out there waiting for him to win a race.

You just happened to be his good luck charm tonight.”

“So?” Casey shot out, “Is his reputation ruined?”

I looked at both of them and shook my head. “Damn ya‟ll.” I laughed with them.

For the first time, I actually felt like laughing. Tonight was a surprise in more ways than one. For some odd reason, it reminded me of my fourteenth birthday party when Casey dared Daniel to kiss me. Again, she puts me in the middle of a situation where I have to kiss someone, a definite feeling of déjà vu.