Adrenaline Racer

Chapter 14

"You're coming thought, right?" I ask, pressing the phone closer to my ear. I glance down at my outfit, the professional racer jumpsuit I was wearing with the number sixteen on it. Excitement and nervousness twist in me.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," Aaron says sweetly back to me through phone, his voice is much more mechanical through the phone, which only makes me want him to be here with me even more.

"I gotta go, babe," I say back to him, glancing back at the sunlit race track, "I love you."
Aaron sighs on the other end of the line. I can tell he doesn't wanna leave, or even stop talking to me.

"I love you, too, Luna," Aaron whispers, "I'll see you at the races."

I smile a little.

"See ya," I am able to get in, just before I hear the time that lets me know that that was the end of the call.

I let my hand slip away from my ear. I glance down at my phone, pressing the end call button, and watching as the screen turns black.

I stuff the phone in my pocket after a few seconds. My eyes break away from my screen, looking around the sunny stadium.

I can already see people getting ready in the stands. Racers were rushing about, cleaning and fixing up cars and doing last minute check ups. I can feel the excitement coursing through the whole place like electricity.

But something like dread fell into my stomach. I felt the urge to throw up, and jump for joy at the same time.

I notice the cameras getting into position, people ready to record and tape the whole thing.

And that's when this suddenly became ten times more real.

I walk all the way back to my garage, to the car that sat inside. I open the hood, knowing full well that I couldn't fix anything in there, but just needing something to do. I glance around the much more complicated engine, before groaning and slamming the hood shut.

That's when I hear the intercom turn on.

"All racers, be ready in less than five minutes. Races begin in five," the intercom blares into my garage.

I swallow my nerves, determined to be brave. I walk around to the driver's side door. My hands shake as I grab the handle, tugging it open. I practically fall into the seat, my hands gripping the steering wheel.

I turn the car on, before heading out to the track. My jaw is tense, my heart racing, as I get to where all the cars are supposed to be for a routine pre-race check up.

I reach into the passenger side, grabbing the helmet. I slip it over my blonde locks. My hands fumble to tighten the straps.

A pit stop mechanic opens my door, looking around inside, while the rest of the mechanics check my engine and tires. I take deep breaths as the mechanic checks my seat belts and air bags, before giving me a thumbs up.

He slams the door shut, making me jump a little. I take another deep inhale.

Shortly after all the racers were given the thumbs up, the flaggers start to motion for us to head to the track in a steady pace. I follow behind some other cars. We all get situated on the the track, in our designated spots.

I hear the other revving their engines, bragging about how good of a racer they are. I glance up at the stands, seeing all the people pouring in.

All those people watching us.

All those people watching me.

My stomach twists itself into knots, my hands messing around with the steering wheel in a hope to take my mind off things.

Soon, everything is all set, and the race is ready to begin. People are screaming and cheering.

The light starts off red, then turns yellow, and then green.

I hit the gas, taking one last glance at the stands, at all the people there.

And I never see Aaron there.