Mischief

Chapter Twelve

Blaine

"Hi sweetie." My mother stands in front of me with tears in her eyes.

"Why am I here?"

"I need your help."

"With what?"

"I-you have a lot of money."

"How do you know about that?"

"I know about you honey. It was obvious when I last saw you-"

"When you last saw me? When the fuck was that?"

"Look, I came back last year to see you and negotiate some things with your grandfather but I couldn't find him. Now I know why. He's dead and you took his place."

"So you want me to buy you things, is that it?"

"Something like that. Look, Blaine, sweetie I'm in a lot of debt with some people and I need you to help me out. Okay?"

"Why the fuck should I help you?"

"I'm your mother."

"No. You're not. You're a woman that gave birth to me and left. You didn't give a shit about me then and you don't now."

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me. Fuck you." I'm about to leave when she says something that really pisses me off.

"You've changed so much. You used to be a sweet little boy. Now you're just a pathetic excuse of a man. Just like your father." My father was a piece of shit. He left as soon as I was born and then came back when I was 6. He hit me, got drunk and then died of a heart attack. I'm glad.

"You have no idea what I'm like. You're the pathetic excuse of a mother. Don't try to contact me again." I leave and I don't turn back. How could I?

***

"Where the fuck are you Blaine?"

"I had something to do."

"More important than being here for your family?"

"Look, I've got more important things to think about than a fucking race."

"What's gotten into you lately? First it's crushing on this mysterious girl and now it's disappearing for days."

"I'm on my way home now."

"Luella won her first race. She's in the finals. Get here before it starts." She's in the finals? My girl is good.

***

"You're lucky you're here now 'cause the race is literally a minute from starting."

"Is she ready?"

"More than."

"Okay. Good."

"Racers, please start your engines and clip on your helmets! The betting booth is now closed. Start your engines racers. On your marks...Get set...Go!" Luella zooms. She's incredible. Her focus is solely on the road ahead of her and she doesn't even acknowledge the jeering people for the other racer or the cheering people rooting for her. Luella's movements are on point, not making one mistake at all as she flys past her opponent. "One lap left racers!" She's going to win. She's going to win. She's going to win. Luella Floding will be the first ever woman to win this stupid competition since it became a thing.

"Ahhhhh! Luella wins! Luella wins! The first girl to win this ridiculous competition! Head to the betting booth to return your bets. Congrats if you bet on Luella." Down at the finish line Luella removes her helmet and sways her hair left and right and it's like it's in slow-mo the way she's doing it so flawlessly. She meets my eyes and my heart stops for a second. This girl has absolutely no idea what she does to me, how she makes me feel. I don't want her to know yet. I need to know she feels the same way when I tell her.

"Hi guys." She's there and her soft pink lips are moving, but no sound is reaching my ears.

"Congrats LuLu!" JJ encases her in a bear hug and the rest of them do the same.

"Congrats Lu." Johnny hugs her but it looks different to when the others did. He hugs her for longer, his hands reach lower on her waist than the others'. He finally pulls away and I know Luella is thinking the same by her facial expression. Does Johnny like Luella?

"You not gonna hug her Blaine?" There's a hint of humour in JJ's voice because he knows I don't do anything like hugs. I've never actually hugged anyone before. At least not since the age furthest back in the past that I can remember. I've never remembered being hugged by anyone. Maybe that's why I am how I am. Everybody trails off towards the bar and me and Luella are at the back.

"Congrats on the win." I lower my mouth to her ear and when I whisper that I notice goosebumps spread over her skin. Good. I'm effecting her.

"Thank you." It barely comes out but I still hear it.

"Did you have fun riding?" Her breath hitches.

"Mhm."

"Did it feel good?"

"Yes."

"You should show me sometime." She doesn't answer but when I look up it's because I see the group only 5 feet away from us. "Is that a yes or a no?"

"I don't know."

"Sleep on it."

God I hope she says yes. I really really hope she says yes.

I need Luella Floding.