Everything Has Changed //Ryan Blaney//

0.1 - Roval

Sienna

"Do y'all have your hats and shirts all packed?" I asked my best friend Sophia as she and her husband, Mason gathered things. They were packing for the race we were going to in a couple of hours. We didn't live too far outside of Mooresville, North Carolina so we had about an hour's drive if the traffic had died down. It was always a madhouse whenever the NASCAR tour came through and since it was the playoffs, and the inaugural Charlotte Roval, everything was just a bit wilder than normal. Cars lined up everywhere. Even getting our ticket packages was a bit more than Mason and Sophia had thought but that didn't stop them from purchasing all four sets.

Much to my dismay, since they weren't letting me help them pay for anything. 

"Yeah, we even got Eleanor a Ryan Blaney shirt for the race but we're not going to show you it just yet." She spoke with an edge of mischief in her voice. I knew they were trying to buy her a shirt for the guy because I hadn't yet but I wanted to take her to a race first and let her pick who she wanted to cheer for. She may only be four but she has a brilliant mind, much smarter than I imagined she would be at her age. So it only seemed right to let her pick who she liked.

Ashton, my deceased husband, was a huge Penske fan and it was understandable as they had some great and talented guys racing for them. Being with him for so long, I learned quite a bit as he loved Brad Keselowski but loved it when they added Joey Logano to the team. He had rooted for either one to win, and bought shirts and hats galore of them both.

Since his passing, I hadn't kept up with racing much only catching bits and pieces of things from Mason but I decided that Eleanor was getting to an age where she could understand a little bit of what was going on (and that Ashton was the same age when his dad took him to his first race.) I wanted to at least keep that tradition alive for Ash.

"Y'all are just too much." I mock-glared at them as I closed up another bag to put into the camper. I picked up the few bags we already had packed, deciding to take them out to the truck.

 "I'm going to put this inside the camper and check on Eleanor. We probably should head out here soon that way we make it to our spot at the campgrounds before they close the gates." I told them, earning a wave of the hands and a murmur of acknowledgment. 

With the bags in hand, I trotted down the stairs of their house, stopping at the couch to cover Eleanor back up with her Puppy Dog Pals blanket. Sophia and Mason didn't have kids yet, not by choice either, but they were content with it just being them for right now. On days when I needed to do something, Sophia always offered to babysit. She and Mason loved doing it for me. Both of them had become family to her.

Dark brown curls fell all over her face and her breathing came out in soft snores. I checked that she was away from the edge before taking the stuff in my hands to the camper. I knew it wasn't the best to let her sleep so early, but with everything happening so early tomorrow, it would be okay.

By the time we made it to the campground, the sun was already setting behind the horizon, causing lights around us to shine brightly. Eleanor sat beside me in her car seat, her snores still rolling out of her slightly open mouth. Clutched in one hand was the stuffed kitty she touted around everywhere and the blue and orange sippy cup she had to have after seeing it on the Wal-Mart shelf.  We found our spot and got settled in for the night quickly.

The next morning I woke up pretty early since Eleanor had started to cry when she was waking up. I picked her up out of her tiny bed we had in the RV and held her to me to soothe her cries. She immediately settled until her cries were nothing more than small hiccups before telling me she wanted some juice in her cup. She relaxed her head against my shoulder long enough for me to grab her cup out of the cabinet before she talked again.

"Mommy, I'm hungry." She poked at the strap of my shirt while telling me she wanted a banana. I smiled at her before setting her on the couch. Sophia and Mason were still asleep so I made sure to be quiet while I got some apple juice and a banana for Eleanor. Once she had both and a cartoon channel to watch in the morning, she was happy.

Today we had a semi-busy day. Eleanor and I were tagging along with Sophia and Mason to the garages for practice. When I said that the packages weren't cheap it was because they had splurged and bought all the passes for the garage and special events. Mason owned his own insurance company and he made quite a bit of money with the different agencies he owned across the state.  

While Eleanor was busy with her Paw Patrol show, I decided to myself looking somewhat decent for the day. I took out a pair of dark denim shorts and a gray Brad Keselowski shirt that had been Ashton's and put them on along with a new pair of underwear and a bra. My long dark brown hair fell along my shoulders in a weird wavy pattern from being in a bun all night. I ran a brush through it, deciding that I didn't want to do anything else to it since I'd most likely put it up midday anyway. I did however want to do some makeup, so I grabbed my makeup bag and headed out to sit with Eleanor. I usually try to include her while I do my makeup, mainly because she loves watching me and playing with my brushes. We usually play in the makeup at least once a week, if not every other week.

I sat up my stuff and ran through how I was going to look today. Eleanor brought her cup over and sat on my lap as I started doing my routine. Primer, concealer and foundation, powder, and mascara. That was usually how it always goes because as a mom, I didn't have the time to do much more. Today, however, I decided to add just a bit of shimmer with some highlights. Another of Eleanor's favorites to play with.

"Can I sparkle too, mommy?" I smiled at her, blue eyes shining brightly. She was just a little sweetheart. "Of course, sweetie." I grabbed my fan brush and took a little bit of highlight and rubbed it on her cheeks. With a couple of dabs of setting spray on mine and El's face, I was done.

Now, to get Eleanor ready for today.

I grabbed a couple of pink hair bands before brushing out her curly brown hair. She happily went back to watching Paw Patrol some more while I parted her hair in half and braided the top part so the curls were out of her face. I loved playing with her hair because she is so easy with it, never throwing a fuss about it or anything.

From the end of the camper, I heard the other bedroom door open and Sophia and Mason strolled out in their clothes for today. "Good morning, are you ready for today, cutie?" Sophia asked Eleanor. Mason went back into the room before coming back and handing me a tiny gray shirt. "I know we told you about the Blaney shirt but we also got her this one as well." 

I took a look at the shirt, noticing that it was the same color as mine with a different number. "I didn't plan it." Mason's hands raised, giving me a shrug of his shoulders.

"Y'all are too much sometimes. you didn't have to do this but thank you." I got up off the couch and gave them both a hug. 

"El, come give Mason and Sophia hugs." She went running off the couch and attached their legs; that being the only thing she could reach. I loved seeing her being happy with these people who have become a big part of the family. When we let go, Mason spoke up

"We're going to get ready and then we'll head out. We have a crazy day ahead of us."

If only he knew how right that last sentence would be for today. 

Word count - 1548

Oh my, here we go again. New fan fiction and it's a Blaney one. Hopefully, it'll be good. Hopefully you all like this too. let me know in the comments. Have an Idea? let me know! Want a part? Let me know! lol Anyway, Happy Early Easter to the ones who celebrate, if you don't well Happy almost the weekend. :D Also it has been edited so there shouldn't be any mistakes. 

-Stay Beautiful

Courtney S