When You Love

Prologue

Racing; some say it's dangerous and silly, I say it's a risk i'm willing to take. In fact almost everyone at the track would probably say that.

I pushed up into the lanes to wait, and watched my dad disappear to drop the golf cart off up by the other tow vehicles. Since my dad isn't racing today, I am the second car up there, which is usual when he isn't racing, as there is no need for me to wait in the back of the line until he is there. Of course, if he were unable to get up here when he was racing, then someone would help me out. Here at the track, we are all family, though some are closer to each other than others.

I wave to Keanna, the eight year old girl who is up here with me. I see one of the new families come up, and unload their two cars. Since there is still a whole line of super pro cars, and they just called juniors, there won't be many people up here until the third or fourth call, which will probably be in 15 minutes or so. My dad is distracted, talking to Kyle's dad. I put my neck collar behind my back tire, so it doesn't roll back, and I walk up near the track to watch.

I take great care in standing off to the side, and far enough back that I am not in too much danger, but where I can still see. I stand there, mesmerized by the array of cars, and listening to the harmonies of the various engines. For each pass, I watch the tree click down, and pretend to release my break, and hit my gas. While doing this, I estimate what their reaction is, and I am usually pretty good. I twist my head around, and see Jake Mcallister walking this way.

His hair is short, and dark brown, and he has an amazing tan, even darker than mine. His muscles aren't insane like a body builders, but can definitely get a girls attention. He is wearing his signature blue t-shirt, with the sides cut off, and already has his faded black race pants on. I try not to stare, but I think I fail at this task. I pull my iPod from my pocket, and change the song to "Replay", by Zendaya. Checking behind my shoulder again, I see Jake's car sitting next to mine.

On further inspection, I see Ryan standing next to his car at the very back of the 7.90 class, and that Jenny is in the first pair of the 12.90 cars. Jenny, Ryan, and Jake are siblings. Ryan is the oldest, followed by Jake, and then Jenny. Because there are three kids, Jenny goes all the way to the front of her class, but it doesn't really matter were she goes in her class, because there is the 8.90 class next. Jake and Ryan cause more problems, so Jake generally goes up front in the class, and Ryan waits things out in the back. There is usually enough kids in the classes to space them all out, but there mom knows what to do if she has to start a car, and if need be, someone will help her out.

Jake is so close, and I know he is coming to talk to me. 'Breath, Kayla. Just breath. He is just a normal boy, you don't have a giant crush on. Shut up Kayla!' My argument with myself ended abruptly, when Jake came up behind me. He put his chin on my shoulder, which meant he was on his tip toes, as i am a good two inches taller than him.

"You know," He started casually, his breath hot on the side of my face. "Headphones were made so you could listen to your music without disrupting people, but I am sure the world can hear your music." He chuckled, and pulled his chin from my shoulder.

"Ya, I know." We started to walk back to our cars, as the line of super pro cars was starting to trickle down to a few more pairs, and we would need to begin getting ready. "So how was your..." We were at our cars already, and he was distracted by Jessica, the race track flirt. Every guy had fallen for her, but she drove me crazy, and not because Jake liked her, but because she thought she was the best at the track, but she was wrong. The best racer at this track is Jake, followed by his brother Ryan. Jenny, Jakes sister, told me I followed them with a close third, but I don't think I am that good lately. She is also a complete witch, and drives pretty much all of the girls crazy.

Every since I started crushing on Jake, her and him talking drove me crazy, but today it really bugged me. I started liking Jake at the end of last season, and started talking to him at the banquet, about 5 months ago. He came to talk to me, and then just dropped me for her. I hold back my anger, and grab my fire suit jacket. Slipping it on and zipping it up, I stand in my car, and slide down into the cockpit. I buckle up, and sit there breathing calmly, when Jake comes over. "Sorry, Kayla, I shouldn't have ignored you, you know how I am with her, it's my weakness."

"I just don't understand what you find so amazing about her."

"It's hard to explain." He blushed, and looked away. "Did you put your iPod on the golf cart?" He always reminded me, but he really didn't need to, and I told him that all the time, but he didn't listen.

"Yup, while you were in your 'Jessica' love trance."

"Not funny!" He stood up, and started to turn around when he got a thought. He leaned back in to my car. "Don't go easy on me, even though this is just the qualifying rounds."

"Didn't plan on it."

"Good." He turned away for real this time, and my dad grabbed my roll cage. I finished putting all my gear on as my dad moved my car forward with each pair moving forward. When My car was started, and I was in the water box, I looked over at Jake, as was our new custom, and saw his eyes peeking out from his helmet. We gave each other a thumbs up and did our burnouts when told.

Rolling up to the tree, I took a final relaxing breath and moved forward to click on my pre-stage bulb. Jake turned on his, and respectively we clicked on our stage bulbs. The lights flicked on and off, and I slammed on the gas as the third yellow flashed on. I looked up and was rewarded to see I had a .006 reaction time. I looked to my left, so I could watch Jakes car. We got to the mile per hour cone, and I make one quick check to his lane, and that's when it happens.