Helmet? Check. Gloves? Check. WWE Superstars and Divas in the crowd? Triple check. Okay, I was really nervous. I glanced over at the group gathered one more time and saw Katie waving at me while everyone else was preoccupied with the first heat. I smiled and waved back before pulling my hair up and putting on my helmet. My race would start in five minutes. The warning buzzer sounded and I walked my bike over to the track, glancing over at the crowd once again. John was looking around calmly, and seemed extremely relaxed. Under my helmet, I watched him carefully as I tugged on my gloves and tried to focus on the race.
"Yo! Reeves!" I heard next to me and looked over to my left.
"Hey Sean-y boy," I said happily, clasping his arm in the Roman style handshake.
"You know anything about that?" he asked, nodding towards the WWE crew.
I glanced, then looked back at him and nodded, "I asked a few of them to come. But only two of them know my number."
He grinned under his helmet, "Nicely done. You wanna take this one?"
"You know I'm gonna," I teased.
"Not if I get there first," he said.
"Honey," I purred, "The only thing you're gonna be getting is out of my way."
Sean laughed and we both turned to pay attention to the race. I needed this, and I refused to let anyone get in my way. The starting pistol went off and the race was on.
With every turn I felt freer from my nerves and my uncertainties. With every jump I got a little more bold. I grinned like a mad woman as I took first in my heat, Sean coming in second. I looked over at him as we walked out bikes off the track, I hadn't taken my helmet off yet. I wouldn't until I was away from the crowds eyes.
"Told ya Sean," I said with a grin.
He grinned back and flipped me off.
"No thanks, you're not my type!"
Sean laughed and sat with me as we waited for the third heat to finish and the final race to be called. At the announcer's voice, he and I walked over to join the first and third heat winners and we grinned. Sean and I always had a deal to look out for each other during the races. I got a little nervous as the announcer began his spiel.
"FOR THE FINAL RACE OF THE DAY; FROM HEAT ONE: NUMBERS 14 AND 2," the pause for applause, "FROM HEAT TWO: NUMBERS 13 AND 8," pause again for applause, "AND FROM HEAT THREE: NUMBERS 7 AND 5. RACERS TO YOUR START."
I clasped Sean's arm again and tugged on my gloves. From the corner of my eye I could see the WWE crew cheering and having a good time. I grinned at the thought of when they would find out exactly who was racing. The starting pistol went off and the final race began.
I let myself fall back slightly, there were ten laps to the final race and I didn't want to pull ahead too early. On the seventh lap, I pulled up to second place and on the ninth lap, I pulled ahead to first. I could feel the crowd's energy growing as the race neared its end. I could see the finish line but something didn't feel right, the person in second place was too close to me. At the final stretch he pulled up to my back tire, and I knew what he was going to do. I felt his front end hit my back tire, and I started to lose control, but I was so close. I wasn't going to let some cheating bastard knock me out in the final hundred yards, so I grit my teeth and bore down. He hit me again and just as I crossed the finish line first, I felt my bike pulling too far to the right. I dropped down and hit the dirt as my bike skidded away from me on its side. My left shoulder was on fire from the gravel that I hit.
Almost immediately, medics were at my side, helping me sit up and making sure I was alright. One went to take my helmet off, but I shook my head.
"I have friends in the crowd, they didn't know I was racing and I want to surprise them at the podium," I said through the pain.
The medic nodded his head and helped me to stand. As I stood, the crowd began to clap and cheer because I was alright. I looked over and could see the worry on Melina's face. I raised my right hand in a peace sign above my head, my signal to her, and some of the worry disappeared. The medic walked me to the podium, where I saw the bastard who hit me in second place, and Sean in third place. We all still wore our helmets, and would take them off as our names were announced.
"In third place today; Sean Taylor," Sean took off his helmet and waved at the crowd, "In second place; Davis Thornton," he took off his helmet as well; I wanted to deck him and was pretty sure I would after the announcer let us go, "And in first place; seven time West Newberry Motocross Champion, and the only female to race; SERENE REEVES!"
I pulled off my helmet, letting my hair fall down my back; and tucked it under my left arm so I could raise my right arm high. I heard the WWE crew cheering the loudest and looked over, waving, to see surprise and pride on John's face. I began to laugh and waved at them.