42. The Finish Line

FORTY-TWO

THE FINISH LINE

Thunderstruck, AC/DC

One month later

Roe

“I’m rooting for you, Roe,” Allie shouts from the starting grid. I’m not used to having someone on the grid with me holding my bike. Other than Allen when I race near home, it’s usually just me over here. My bike is usually on a stand for me to hop on after the run and take off. But today, Allie and Jake joined our race. Jake’s holding Saint’s bike and Allie’s holding mine. She’s so loud, I can hear her above the noise; until it’s time to start the bikes and the revving sounds drown out all of the noise. It’s nice to have someone in my corner. This is the first time that I don’t look like the loser with nobody on the grid for me. The first time I have eyes to look for on the other end of the starting line and the first time I have someone rooting for me. Other than Allen, that is.

I walk across the fifteen steps between my bike and the starting line. I’m about to start my pre-race mantras when I feel a hand touching my shoulder. Looking to my right, I see Saint standing there, pulling his helmet up so I can see his pretty smile. He brings his hands up to my face, and with his visor touching mine he says, “Good luck, princesa. Show them how badass you are.”

“Don’t go easy on me, Saint,” I reply and he shakes his head. I know he won’t. I know there’s no way Saint will back down and let me win this just to prove a point. He knows I would riot. I want to win this. I know I can do it, but I want to win it fair and square. I want to know that at the end, I gave it my all, and I came out the other end victorious. With Marco and Joey out of the race, first place is really up to Saint and me. We’re talking about what could be a second’s difference on who will make the best time per lap. Between winning it all and losing. Because let’s be honest, second place is not winning at all. It may be good enough to pass to the next round, but I want first place or bust.

“I love you,” he shouts with a smile. Three words that would make me want to crawl out of my skin before but now soothe my soul. I know he does and I know that he’ll keep the promise of staying with me, for as long as he can. Will it be easy dealing with my chaos? No, but I know that he will be there with me, despite it all.

“I love you too,” I shout back. He scoops me in his arms and bumps his helmet with mine. The vibrations from the tap go through my body, reminding me he’s here with me. That for the first time I’m not alone. We take a deep breath together and he steps to my side.

“Give them hell, Saint,” I say.

“You too, amor, you too,” he shouts.

The countdown begins at the same time my breathing deepens. I can feel the pressure against my chest and the world closing in. The noise muffled under the engines roaring. Everyone disappears from my view, with only the bike and the end in sight.

“FIFTEEN SECONDS,” the announcer shouts at the same time that I feel a hand on mine, squeezing, and grounding me. I turn and see Saint, his eyes boring through mine, offering me reassurance that I didn’t know I needed. I nod and turn to face my bike.

The horn goes off and I run fast, mounting my bike and kicking hard. It’s time to race one more time and show all these assholes who rules this track.