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Chapter Two

Sunday morning I leaned against my car, watching as my crew made last minute alterations. My heart began to pound wildly thinking about the long race ahead of me. It was one of the biggest races of the year, the very first actually: Daytona. Daytona International Speedway is a 2.5 mile track that seats more than 100,000 fans. Looking at the crowd I smiled seeing a section decked out in my car colors.

"God it feels great to have fans." I said outloud.

"You deserve them. It's about time Krista." John said, wrapping his arms around my waist. I turned into him embracing him tightly.

"See you in Winners Circle." I said with a grin as I kissed him lightly. He chuckled, returning my affection.

"See ya babe."

With that I slid in through the window, buckling up. John leaned in, securing the other safety devices almost all drivers wore. Hitting his hand on the top of the car I was signaled to start the car. Glancing in my rearview mirror I couldn't help but groan.

The fucking rookie was starting right behind me. Just perfect.

Starting fourth I was far enough up in the pack to see the pace car start up. Like a funeral procession myself and the other forty two drivers heading out onto the track. We went through the warm up laps, my car feeling terrific. I knew that it was as fine tuned as humanly possible. It would take me exactly where I wanted it to go: Winners Circle.

Twenty minutes later I saw the green flag. The real fun was just beginning. Shifting into high gear I began to accelerate. The day was warm, but luckily not horribly oppressive. Over the past three years I had experienced what intense heat could do to a track. Tires would stick on the asphalt and cars would begin to lose bearings and swerve dangerously. Today would not be that type of day.

The laps began to blur, one into another. Before I knew it I had moved back to twentieth and then in the next instant back up to second. Keeping a close eye on my gas tank and constantly keeping in contact with John through the radio we decided to take a chance on the fuel situation. One more pit stop and I would try to make it last for the rest of the race. It was a gamble but if it paid off the win would be ours.

At the last stop I shared a quick smile with my crew rushing around to give me fresh tires and a full gas tank. John blew a kiss as I peeled away and back onto the track. I was first. It was where I would be the rest of the race.

Or so I thought.

It seemed to happen so fast. With two laps to go I was relaxing, ready to gush out a victory speech. I didn't even notice McLean coming up behind me. He sailed along in my draft for a complete lap. With only two turns to go he slowly began to edge up on the side of me, going just a second faster than I was. All because of the damn draft. FUCK!

Before I knew what happened he had crossed the finish line barely a centimeter before me. I saw the checkered flag wave and McLean driving towards Winners Circle. MY WINNERS CIRCLE! The damn rookie had beat me. How could I have been so stupid?

____________________

"It could have happened to anyone Krista. He was just smart enough to get into your draft. You pulled the same thing on Labonte's car last year when you won Talladega." John said softly.

"John..." I said trailing off. Unable to continue I shook my head, walking off on my own. In the distance I could hear the party continue in Winner's Circle. The alcohol was flowing freely and I couldn't help but think how much more smug that damn McLean was going to be now.

"Not going to join the party?" a voice said. The warm breath tickled my ear. Turning around I stared into the smiling face of none other than the rookie himself.

"Don't you know it's not good etiquette to leave one's own party?" I said cooly, my hands clenching into fists.

"Don't you know it's not good etiquette to be such a bad sport?"

"Fuck off." I spat, turning around and walking quickly away.

"Why don't I not?" he said. I walked for several moments, my head lowered before I bumped into a human being. Raising my head I saw that he had jogged ahead of me only to block my path.

"Don't you have some Budweiser girls to screw or something?"

"You know I don't like your attitude. But being the nice guy I am I wanted to tell you that you did a helluva job out there." he said. His voice was syrupy sweet.

"Well..." I trailed off. I hadn't expected a compliment. Damn him for being nice! "Thank you."

"That is for a girl." he said with a smirk. I watched infuriated as he strutted off, his uniform framing his muscular body.

At that very moment I wanted to strangle him with a belt. As much as I tried I couldn't stop thinking about the asshole, even as I slid next to John. His lips moved along my neck but I shook him off.

"Tomorrow babe." I whispered, turning my back on him. "It was a bad day."

Closing my eyes tightly I tried to drift off. I'd be damned if I let the rookie ruin my beauty sleep.

He'd pay...next race.