After the autograph signing, Stephanie and Paul were making their way back to the orange Mustang when Shane called out for his sister, "Stephanie, wow, I found you. You're hanging out with Paul Levesque. Holy fuck. How'd you two meet?"
Paul turned the key in the ignition, chuckling, "how did we meet Steph? Let's see, I almost hit her with my car when I was taking it in, and then, she wanted some water, and we went in my hauler," he paused, "and what we did in there is confidential." He nodded, "who are you?"
"Paul, this is Shane, he's my brother. We came here together and we kinda got separated, and I was looking for him when I met you." Stephanie turned around in the passenger seat of the convertible car, "can Shane hang out with us?"
"Oh yeah. Sure, that's not a problem. Shane-O, get in the backseat." He waited as Shane ran around to Stephanie's side and jumped in the back, "I have an idea. Who wants to go have a little fun?" He slowly started to drive around people as he picked up his walkie-talkie, "hey Ricky, what's up? Hey, is the track cleared? I want to open up the Mustang out there."
It was quiet for about five minutes as Paul circled around, "oh, okay Paul. The track's cleared of people, yeah. But Zippy said Tony's out there with his Corvette. Can you guys be out there together?" Rick came back on the radio, "he says that he'll get off if you want him to."
"No, tell him it's fine. I just was to show some friends a little something. He can be out there. We'll be careful out there together. Where's he at right now?" Paul drove up to the gate to the opening of the track, "tell me when he's passing pit row." He stopped before he turned onto the track, "hey guys, um, if I were you, I'd buckle your seatbelts. I have that small tendency to get a little crazy." He smiled at Stephanie, "don't worry honey, it's not like anything bad will happen. I promise." He turned to Shane, "okay, we all have our belts on, good. Now where's Tony at?" He looked around as the sound of a car came closer and got louder.
A yellow Corvette sped towards them and slowed beside them, "hey Paul, so, Zippy was telling me that you were gonna be out here." Tony Stewart nodded towards Stephanie and Shane, "oh, you're taking some friends out here, be careful." He smiled, "Paul's psycho."
"Yeah. Babe, that's Tony, don't listen to him. I'm not psycho." He slightly let off the brake, let me go a couple laps and then I'll race ya." Paul quickly pushed the gas down to the floor. Wind flew through Stephanie's long brown hair as well as through his blonde ponytail. They went a few laps before meeting with Tony again for their duel, "alright. We won't get overly crazy this time."
"Mr. Paul, sir, I think I'm gonna be sick." Shane tapped on Stephanie's shoulder and motioned to Paul behind his back, shaking his head, "I can't do this."
"Baby, baby, Paul, stop the car, Shane's gonna throw up." She tugged on his arm, "honey, pull off the track!" She yelled, Paul slammed on the brakes to a stop, "Shane get out and puke, get!"
Tony turned around and parked beside the Mustang, he got out and stood with Stephanie and Paul, "poor guy, just couldn't handle it." He crossed his arms and began to shake his head. Shane was standing at the edge of the track puking his guts out, "oh, hi Miss, I'm Tony, Tony Stewart, Paul's teammate, how rude of me not to introduce myself." He shook Stephanie's hand, "so how do you know Paul?"
"She's my girlfriend." Paul interrupted, "yeah, and that's Shane, he's her brother." They continued to watch, until Tony grabbed Paul's wrist and revealed the ring that had somehow made it's way back to Paul's ring finger.
"You're married Paul." He let go of his hand and sighed, "does Candace know anything?" He recrossed his arms, "why are you guys even married anyway? You guys never see each other. You never call her, she never calls you. Basically, she lives in your house, that's it." He looked over at Stephanie, "excuse us Miss." He pushed Paul a few feet out of Steph's earshot.
"Tony, Candace cheats too. I know it, she knows it, everyone knows it. Stephanie's nice and doesn't pick little random stupid arguments with me over how I raced today, like Candace does. And doesn't she have a great entire body? Everything's perfect on her, Candace is just all boobs."
Tony shrugged, "does she know you're married? She's real quiet though. Why don't you you come with Rosie and I for dinner, and I guess Shane too? If he doesn't go home sick or anything."
"She saw the ring. Candace is good for cleaning the house though." He smiled, "if that's okay with her. I think I'm gonna let her be in charge of this little fling, maybe that's better." They walked back to their cars, with Shane doubtfully following, "so, I would say that has to cut it for us. How are you feeling Shane?"
"Not so great sir." Shane cleared his throat, "I feel horrible." He put his hand to his forehead and sighed, "it was fun until then." He blew out another sigh before sitting up and staring at Stephanie, "wait a second, I thought you didn't like Paul Levesque? I thought your favorite driver was John?"
Stephanie turned around and shot him a glare, "shut the fuck up Shane. You don't know anything. I think you're daydreaming or hallucinating because you got sick."
Paul pulled his sunglasses down and nodded towards her, "John Cena huh? He's not really a friend of mine at all. We can't stand each other. I don't really think there's one driver that can stand him."
"I don't like him." She quickly spat out, "I never have liked him. I like you." She smiled at her brother, "right Shane, I liked Paul, always, not John Cena."
Shane just nodded silently, his sister had shut him up, "so, where are we off to next? Shane, if you live around here I could give you a ride home." He exited the track and went through to the garages, "I'm gonna get you a bottle of water first." He pulled next to a group of people in orange and green outfits just like Rick's, behind them was Paul's car. The number 73 Go race car. In almost three minutes, Paul returned with some water, "I got one for all of us. Hey Rick, I'll be on the radio, but if it goes out of range, I have my cell." He put the car in gear and drove off.
"I live pretty close to here. I met my wife when I was visiting here years ago. I just live at her house on Muir road." Shane coughed, "would you mind meeting my two sons? They both know who you are. They really like you."
"Sure. No problem." He drove on the highway until Shane instructed him to pull off, "what's the name of the street again?" He asked, glancing around at the smaller town of Forest Park Georgia. Next weekend they were in Tennessee, and hopefully Steph could accompany him there, if she wanted.
They pulled up into a little driveway to a large house where two cars were parked, "yeah, my wife was expecting to have to come pick us up. She'll be totally surprised." Paul shut the car off and they started to walk to the door, where a child about five opened it and stared at them, "hey Declan!" Shane exclaimed, "buddy, look who's here."
Paul smiled, "hey little guy." He leaned towards Stephanie, "what's his name?" He smiled down at the kid, "and what's Shane's wife's name, and his other son's name? Just so I know everyone here."
"That's Declan. He's the oldest. The younger one, Kenyan, he's three. And his wife's name is Marissa. She's a really awesome cook. How long are you staying here? Because this is where I was staying at for a few weeks." She closed the door behind them.
"Are you coming back with me?" He smiled, "I was hoping you would. Unless you wanna stay here." He bit his lip, "but it is up to you."
"Well, I still have my shirt, my bag, and my new iPod in your hauler, so, I thought I might." She stood behind him in the living room, "we don't have to stay here that long. As long as Shane trusts me, and I think he'd trust me."
Marissa almost dropped a glass on the floor at the sight of Paul, "oh my God, hi, Mr. Levesque." She gulped, "my husband brought you home?" She blushed, "Shane, why didn't you call me?" She pointed down to her silk nightgown, then up to the big rollers in her hair.
"It's fine ma'am, technically Steph brought me here." Paul smiled, "it's nice to meet you." He shook her hand, "I'm really sorry I can't stay for very long though." He turned to Steph, "do you have other stuff you're gonna take with you?"
"Oh yeah. I have all my stuff, you want me to bring it all?" She turned around and went down the hallway, leaving Paul being stared at by Shane, Marissa, Declan and Kenyon.
Kenyon stared at him for the longest time before turning to Declan and gasping. He ran down the hallway and came back a few seconds later with a T-shirt with Paul's picture, number, and car on it and a hat with the number 73. He pointed to the items and then at Paul, still completely silent.
"He's autistic." Marissa took the things and handed them to Paul, "but he's saying he wants you too see these." She picked Kenyon up and held him beside his idol race driver.
"You know what? Hold on, give me a minutes or two. I'll be right back." He went out the front door to his car and opened the trunk. He had some merchandise he kept back there just in case. In case of what he never knew until now. He grabbed three hats and four shirts, leaving his box still full. He scrambled through the box and found a visor. As he carried all the stuff up around the car, he opened his glove box and grabbed a Sharpie pen. As he came up the steps to the door, Steph stood on the foyer, "oh, hey, I had some stuff I was gonna give to the kids."
"Aw. That's nice of you. Kenyon would love that." They went back to the living room and Paul handed his stuff around, "they're gonna love you now Paul."
Paul smiled and nodded, "that's okay." He held the pen up, "what's for me to sign?" Declan handed him his and Kenyon's hats, "oh, alright, here." He signed them both and gave them back, "okay, there you go guys." He smiled, "wow, it's actually nice to have some sort of family gathering, except it's not my family." He stared at his feet in a depressed-like manner, "it's one hell of a lot better than sitting around in a trailer."
