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Chapter Eight

"Mr. McLean you have a mild concussion." the doctor was saying.

I looked over at AJ, lying in a makeshift cot right next to my own bed and I couldn't help but shake my head.

"I can race Sunday right?" he asked. I saw his head turn...his eyes throwing daggers my way. Smiling sweetly I closed my eyes, pretending to fall asleep.

"Yes but the moment you feel dizzy..."

"Yeah yeah."

"Are you two always this stubborn?" the doctor said in aspiration.

"Damn right. I'm tired. Thanks doc." AJ grumbled.

I heard the door close softly and the room became filled with silence.

"I'm sorry." I finally said.

"I bet you are."

"What the hell's that supposed to mean?"

I opened my eyes once more and turned on my side to face his cot. He did the same, wincing at the simple movement of turning his head.

"You can't just suffer...you have to SHARE your suffering."

"It wouldn't have happened if you hadn't started feeling me up!"'

"Admit it Krista...you enjoyed it!"

I pressed my lips tightly together. I couldn't respond...all I could do was glare.

"You don't know what you're talking about. I'm tired."

"Yeah me too." he spat. "Why they ever let such a bitch in NASCAR is beyond my realm of thinking."

"Why they ever let such an arrogant, pompous man in NASCAR is beyond MY realm of thinking."

"You always have to have the last word dont'cha." he grunted.

"No I don't!" I yelled, tossing my pillow on his head. He didn't remove it and several moments later I heard a garbled snore.

Ugh!

____________________

Darlington Raceway in South Carolina is the most desirable race track for any NASCAR driver. The egg-shaped oval track has appropriately been nicknamed "Too Tough to Tame" by the best of the best in our field. As the pace car drove way leaving everyone to fight for themselves I couldn't help but think about the first time I had ever raced on the track.

It had been a temperamental day and the clouds hung heavy. My tires couldn't keep traction and the banking mixed with the odd track shape was throwing me completely off. I didn't go five laps before I had a wreck that took me out the rest of the race.

But I knew as I rounded turn two that this day would be different...much different. I was going to be added to the list of driver's that had actually conquered. Staring up at the cars in the front of the pack I silently chanted: Divide and conquer, Divide and conquer.

The greatest satisfaction was knowing that AJ was way back in forty-second. The cocky son of a bitch was thirty wonderful car lengths behind me. Adding in the fact that this was the first time he had ever raced on a track and powerful as this one and I knew for certain that I wouldn't even have to see him.

Pit stops had to be carefully picked. One wrong move and your coveted place could be taken, throwing you back as much as ten spots. Jerry kept screaming into the radio as I began to pick up places. With fifty laps to go I was in third.

"You doing okay Krista?" he called through the radio.

"I'm just fine. Where's McLean?" I said, stealing a glance into my rearview mirror.

"Don't worry about him today Kris...just worry about the win." he said so lowly that I could hardly hear him.

"Well where is he?"

"Stewart's coming up on your left. Keep your focus!" he screamed right before the radio cut off.

I managed to finish the race at a respectable fourth. I couldn't help but be disappointed in not finishing first but then again the season was only just beginning. There were at least thirty races left to complete before I got my trophy.

It was the only thing in the world I wanted. Before the season had even began I made a vow that the only thing in my life would be NASCAR.

To eat. To sleep. To breathe.

____________________

"Well Jerry. Where did he finish?" I asked the moment I stepped out of the car.

"Who?" he said, averting his attention to the tires.

"You know who. McLean!"

"He..."

"He's in the emergency bay." John said. I looked up in surprise, watching as John kept walking towards me.

"Oh."

"He began to feel dizzy and complained about his head so NASCAR informed us that it was in our best interest to get him off the track."

"Oh."

John looked at me. I knew he wanted to say something else but before he could I just shook my head.

"Thanks. That's all I wanted to know."

He nodded, doing a complete about face to walk back to his own crew.

I exhaled deeply, folding my arms under my breasts. Leaning my head back I stared at the clear blue sky. I couldn't help but feel guilty.

"I'll be back Jerry." I said without thinking.

"Where you going Kris?"

"I'll be back." I repeated.

"I have something to do."