Guilty

Chapter 11

Way wakes up with a pounding head and an awful taste in his mouth. He sits up and shrugs off his blanket, putting his hand over his eyes to block out the glaring sunlight coming through the window. He tries to remember what happened last night. He remembers going to the bar with Pete, but not a lot after that.

It takes him a few minutes to realize he is on the sofa, still fully clothed except for his shoes. He examines the "blanket" and realizes it's the suit jacket Pete had been wearing last night. He looks around but his house feels empty, more importantly, except for the jacket, there is no scent of another person being there.

He considered calling Alan to say he won't be at the garage today, but he is supposed to be working with Charlie in the simulator showing him how to block the other cars. Babe may be the best racer, but no one beats Way when it comes to blocking.

Thinking of Charlie reminds Way why he is in this state in the first place. Why had the alpha come along to ruin everything? Things hadn't been perfect between him and Babe before, but he still felt like Babe was his and no one else's. Now everything is all about Charlie. Way groans and stumbles into the bathroom to take a shower.

Alan gives Babe and Charlie a stern look, "We need a lot of practice before the next race, the two of you should take this more seriously."

Charlie has the grace to look slightly contrite but Babe only grins. "I was just showing Charlie how to focus before a race, very important."

"You two are hopeless." He says walking off, shaking his head. He passes Way on his way out and doesn't notice the stricken look on his face. Way reaches up and unclasps the necklace that he has worn everyday since he and Babe first became friends. It's the one that Babe wore when they first met and Way had asked for it, claiming he wanted it as a token of their friendship. Friendship, what a joke. He takes the necklace off and drops it on a nearby table before leaving the garage.

Babe watches him leave with a bemused expression on his face. Then goes over to the table to pick up the necklace with a frown.

"I thought Way was going to work with me in the simulator today." Charlie says in confusion.

Babe shrugs and puts an arm around Charlie's shoulder, "Come I will work with you."

"In the simulator!" Alan says grumpily as he comes back in time to hear their conversation.

After their classes are over, Rain and Sky decide to stop by a coffee shop near campus. They have a lot of work to do tonight and need a pick-me-up.

Sky can't help but be amused as Rain orders the most ungodly sugar laden drink on the menu. Following suit Sky orders a caramel mocha frappuccino with extra whip cream. Maybe if the caffeine doesn't help the sugar rush will.

"Rain, will you wait for our drinks, I need to use the restroom," Sky says.

"Aye, aye captain." Rain says giving a silly salute that causes Sky to laugh.

Sky is just washing his hands when the door opens, he doesn't look up thinking it's just another customer. When there is the familiar click of a lighter being struck through Sky freezes. He has heard that sound a hundred times in his past life and it's unmistakable to him. Gun playing with that damn lighter always made Sky want to scream.

Sky refuses to look up, hoping that he's wrong but the sickly-sweet voice of his former boyfriend says, "Hello, Sky, long time no see."

"Not long enough," Sky mutters.

"Oh, someone has gotten brave," Gun says. "Have you forgotten everything I taught you?" He grabs Sky's arm and pain radiates from the point of contact, only enough to make Sky wince but he knows Gun is capable of so much more.