Serenity: Transition
Chapter 37
A/N: Ahhhh sorry about the late update, Life is getting in the way once again lol. But don't worry, I think about this story a lot... and I ain't finished with it yet :P
Arkytior's Song: I love Barry too :) He was one of the best things from JL in my opinion. Awesome, I am happy that you finally saw the movie, and that I won't be giving anything away for you now, which is good. ANd who knows... Maybe they will... Maybe they won't :P
kmhappybunny240: Oh it most definitely a bad coping mechanism on Grace's part, but hey, everyone gets through traumatic experiences in their own way... plus it makes for great story telling :P
barrenmoons: Thank you for the support! I really do appreciate it, and I am glad to hear that I am not the only one in the process of studying and thinking about attending grad school... It's a weird place where like the people around me aren't so I feel alone, even know I know a lot of people are going through the same thing, so thank you for bring me back down to reality and supporting me :) Anyway, I am glad that you liked the last chapter and oh don't worry, the reunion is definitely going to be a good one.
Love. Fiction. 2019: Love the change in the updated username, FYI and also, I'm glad to hear that you liked the last chapter!
monkeybaby: I am always glad to hear that you liked it! Thanks!
CJ/Oddball: Hehehe :P I'll try to remember to put it in here in the future, it is a good idea after all. I'll make sure to give you a shout out if I do end up using the insult you suggested :)
Guest: Haha, don't worry I won't! Real life has been a real pain in my backside so I haven't been able to update in two weeks but this story is very much still on my mind. I like writing it too much to stop until it is finished! (Which is probably going to be a while from now, mind you).
BlueBloodsSVUOrder: Haha I am happy to know that you liked the dolphin scene, and yes I know you left a comment on chapt. five but maybe you have caught up by the time this update comes out, with all the binge reading you are doing :)
nightfall252524: Don't worry, there is plenty more to come... trust me. I just haven't been able to update in two weeks because of work and life in general. However, I do try to update once a week, most likely by Sunday night, so you can always try to go off of that :) And I can't say yes or no to that... that would spoil just a few things :P
Grace revved the engine on her bike as she pulled up to the starting line. There were plenty of people there, alongside a few racers that she had seen before. The racers that knew her turned away, anger igniting on their faces while the others just gave Grace a look of curiosity only to then write her off. She had an unusual bike, and even though her hair was pulled back into her helmet, with black jeans and a black leather jacket on, she still had a smaller frame then the other racers. Even though they didn't know who she was, it was clear to see that she was a woman. However, that didn't stop both men and women alike trying to hit on her.
Sitting back on her bike, she kept her feet on the ground, but all the while she kept the engine running, knowing that the race was going to start soon and as per usual, she would have to place catch up since she knew that her starting position was going to be towards the back. She wasn't known for doing high level races and on top of that, she would be a last contender, a write-in. Most of the time those who wanted to race, could. But races like these, ones that were of a higher profile, you needed justification for being there. That's why she kept Mateo's piece of paper close, in case anyone asked why she was there.
Races never are linked by actual names, they are given in coordinates, and the coordinates are written backwards. Just in case the information fell into the wrong hands. If someone gave her the information and she was able to figure out where the race started and when, she was good enough to participate it. She was happy she had the mindset to bring the piece of paper, because it looked like this race was of a bigger deal than what she originally thought. A guy came around and collected the location pieces from everyone, and when he got to Grace, he paused. She presented him with the paper and he took it, but he scratched his bald head.
"You know it isn't too late to back down…"
Grace didn't reply and so the bald guy sighed and told her that her starting position was seven. Grace gave him a nod and he went on to collect from the others that pulled up behind her, making them eight and nine. Stretching, the blonde noticed that people were starting to get into their staggered position, and she figured it was time to make her own move. She reached down to the neck of her bike and flipped on her underbody lights. They were bright blue, where the colors rippled from a darker shade from the front of her bike, down to a light neon blue towards her back tire, creating a streamline affect. The lights on the bike mimicked the same affect her hair had, the same affect as if the blue was like the waves of the ocean coming ashore.
The blonde pulled up to her space, and she could feel that all eyes were on her. Everyone seemed entranced with the black hooded rider, on the black bike, with blue details. Grace was the first one to showcase how edgy her bike could be, making a statement. She took that chance away from the other contenders, as they too, unleashed their theatrics of lights on their bikes. Nevertheless, being flashy can have its own downsides. One would think that if she showed people the abilities of her bike, they would vote for her to win. Bid money that she would be the one to come out on top. For backstreet races like this, it was the opposite. People loved to see the best contender lose. Gotham was a place filled with the downtrodden and ugly. There were no happy endings here unless you were a part of the Wayne family. Even then, they paid a heavy price to this city already.
Grace didn't care one way or the other, but she did care about the money. That's why she installed the lights. The lights themselves were illegal but on top of it, the blue made her stand out even more. It was a cop color after all. When she first raced with the lights she would think that the others would fear that she really was a cop but that is one thing the city of Gotham doesn't fear, is cops. Not only that but she knew how to handle her bike, inside and out, making it obvious she had done this a few times. Making it obvious that she was one of the furthest things from a cop.
However, if people bet against her, if they thought she couldn't win, and if Grace did, she would be taking home more money than just the pot for winning. Typically, if an underdog wins, one that can turn the tables of the gamblers, the accountants at the race would slide the winner a few extra franklins for their trouble. But, the sound of revving engines being turned over made Grace return her thoughts to the race at hand. This was why she was here after all. A girl no more than nineteen with a short skirt that hit right above the ass and a midriff shirt came to the center of the starting line. She took the bandanna that was in her hair and fluffed it out a bit.
Engines came alive, everyone revving theirs to make sure there was enough juice to start, but Grace knew better. She wasn't going to waste gas on something that wouldn't even help. A lot of people thought that the whole giant show of saying you were ready to go was good for the engine, that it warm it up. But that was complete bullshit. A good engine warmed up on the way you got here. As long as one didn't turn off the bike, it wasn't at risk for it to ever cool down. Grace watched as the girl, with a little too much makeup on, raised her bandanna up into the air, and then the crowd started to count down from three. As one was reached, the girl lowered the bandanna and Grace throttled her engine.
She shifted her weight forward and up, her bike popping a wheely like some of the others, but Grace instantly put her bike back on two wheels and she was off. She quickly passed from seventh up to fifth in a matter of seconds after leaving the grouping, breaking away to chase the number one position. Everyone up here with her had bikes that looked fancy, and only the number one and two position had bikes that were also fast. Granted a fast bike meant nothing if the person controlling it didn't know how to drive correctly.
Grace heard shouting from behind her, but she didn't dare look back. She knew it had to be something if she could hear someone scream over the roar of all these motorcycles. That's when she heard the screech of tires, and then a crash, the unmistakable sound of a bike being grounded. The blonde threw her head backwards to see that two of the bikes had collided, but there was till one more behind her, that was gunning for her spot. No one wanted to finish last, and if you did during a street race through Gotham, it was probably going to be your last one.
Everyone knew that if you wanted to play in the big leagues you had to be prepared to face the same types of consequences. With two people down, they were automatically disqualified, and would most likely be able to race again. However, those who finished the race, those were the ones who were determined the winners and losers who had the right to go onto higher races or not. The ones that were disqualified would never be considered their days of racing were done, but if you wanted the chance to make more money, have more notoriety, you had to place, and place high. Grace had been invited to a few of them before, but never took anyone up on the offer. Bigger races meant bigger payouts, but that also meant more heat from catching the attention of the cops. That was something that Grace couldn't afford to have happen to her.
Grace turned her attention back to the people in front of her, and she could see the fourth-place yellow bike come back into view. He was on her radar just as she was with the guy behind her. The first turn was coming up, and that was where Grace gunned it. As the guy on the yellow bike braked slightly, Grace didn't. She went faster into the turn and then hit her brakes hard, drifting her way into forth place. Sparks lit up the ground as she knew that her bike was so low on the side, that she was probably going to have to touch the paint up on her bike after this. Pulling up just as the turn came to an end, Grace noticed that third, second and first were all trying to battle with one another, but there was an added level of danger to this race.
Grace didn't notice until she turned the corner, but each of them were headed into oncoming traffic. Cursing, Grace started to weave in and out, trying to make sure she didn't hit any innocent bystanders, all the while, keeping her eyes on the three in front of her. But just as the three went through the intersection ahead, the light turned inevitably yellow. Grace gritted her teeth, and watched as the light flickered red, and the other side of traffic started to move. She couldn't stop, if she did it would ruin any chance of her getting a payout.
Revving her engine, Grace didn't break and went faster, hoping that her plan wouldn't end up getting her killed. She saw the stilled car in front of her waiting for the light to turn green and knew that she was only going to get one shot at this. She pulled all of her weight backwards onto her bike, and at the very last moment she pulled up, causing her care to be on just its back wheel. It was timed perfectly where the angle caught onto the trunk of the car, and the bike was pulled up, over the top and down the hood landing Grace into the middle of a busy intersection.
She swerved to avoid the cars that were about to crash into her, turning to the point where she almost lost control and grounded herself, but she recovered as if she was someone in the car having an adrenaline spike from hydroplaning on black ice, correcting their car from crashing into the side railing. Furthermore, the pile up of cars worked in her advantage. The two bikes that were left behind her, really would be the last ones to finish the race if they ever got through, or if they wanted to rage quit, just ground their bikes or get off of them.
In these races, if your bike hits the ground, or you get into a crash, or if you simply get off of it, you are immediately disqualified. Granted the Grace always thought that there should be something about trying to make your opponent crash or threatening them with a weapon in the rules, but what did she know. Those three rules in the case of disqualifying, were the only ones she knew of. A street race she participated in about a month ago, a guy had pulled a gun on her and tried to shoot her in anger when she passed him. When that happened, all she could do was laugh with the adrenaline pumping through her system and chalking it up to Gotham being Gotham.
Zigging and zagging her way through traffic, Grace was finally close enough to be a threat to the other three. She figured that when they saw the pile up, it meant that they had caught a break, that there was no one left but them. That was the first thing about street racing, never think you are alone, or that you have won until you cross the finish line. Another turn was coming up, and this time it was for the on-ramp to the expressway. Grace didn't try to think much of it, but knew that it was yet again, against traffic, only this time at even greater speeds.
Not only that, but the expressway marked the last part of the race before the straightaway. Her bike excelled in turns and there, and that was when she was going to try and pull out ahead. However, she could only make a move on the straight away if it was her and one person. If it was more than one, there would be a real battle for the champion title. The four remaining drivers crossed onto the expressway, and for it being the middle of the night, it was quite busy. Granted, it was a city with a large population and a built up downtown, so roads never were completely silent.
But as four started to weave in and out of traffic, it was causing a greater problem for all drivers to the point where they each were focusing more on making sure no one hit them than racing. However, Grace saw that it wasn't everyone paying great attention, or maybe it was because he wasn't as experienced as a driver. But she watched ahead of her as the rider in second place came to a stop as he got into a head on collision with a car coming at him. She heard tires squealing but wondered if the guy was going to make it out alive.
Grace was going about 150 mile per hour on her bike and she assumed that the others were right around that too, as she was starting to gain on them. So if the car and the rider both slammed on their brakes, the car probably slowed from 80 to 60 and the bike probably down to 100 on the impact. She pushed the thoughts from her mind, but she knew that the guy would be on the morning news. Hell, with all these lights and her blacked out bike and apparel, Grace was probably going to be on it too. There was a reason why she liked street racing, it was generally down dark corridors, where she could blend in with the surrounding dark features of the city, even with her under body lights.
So, that left the three of them left. With Grace's attention on the guy who had the head on collision, she didn't notice the flash of lights on the other side, until it was too late. The last three had been clocked and were officially on the police radar. Grace growled knowing that it was now or never, she couldn't be the one that was in last, because that is who the police tried to catch first, they presumed that the person in third was the slowest rider. However, in this case, Grace was just happy that she had the mindset to put a large black magnet over her license plate before she got to the race.
The magnet blacked out her license plate and gave her a sense of comfort that no one would be able to track her down via the system. Racers, police, gamblers, she wasn't going to let them have any personal information on her if she had a say in it. Cursing, Grace saw two police cruisers enter the equation, they entered against traffic as well, only going much slower, trying to avoid the fatalities of any civilians. Grace knew that the cops behind her were a distraction to the ones she knew were going to appear in front of them.
Cursing, a stretch of road came into view that was clear, and the other two contenders saw it too. Grace pulled in between the two of them and didn't expect them to come as close to her as they did, but it was a tactic. The two of them were trying to box her in, make her lose her balance on her bike, and then force her to ground herself only for the cops to arrest her instead of the two of them. However, Grace had other plans.
"You shouldn't be in this race!"
"I lost to you once I ain't doing it again!"
The two of them screamed at her, but Grace didn't bother saying anything back. Instead, she dropped her torso lower to the body of her bike, and then braced herself for impact. She turned slightly, causing her bike to brush up against the guy on her right and it spooked him. He jerked his handle bars to the side, and evidently it caused him to lose balance. The other guy sped away from Grace and the other rider, thinking that this was his chance to escape. Grace steered her bike to the other side, trying to make sure she didn't lose sight of the rider that pulled ahead.
But in doing so, she over corrected, and her bike slammed up against the side of a car as it passed by, both Grace and the other rider headed back into heavy traffic again. Grace knew that she was going to have bruises lining the side of her body. Her bike took most of that, but in the quick time that she hit the vehicle, her upper body had a ricochet affect. She hoped nothing was broken, and it didn't feel like it was nor did there feel like much bruising, but Grace knew better than that. It was just her fight or flight kicking into over drive, it was why she felt nothing but a surge of energy lighting up her system as if she was a drug user getting their fix. Both riders were able to pull away at the exit and make another quick turn landing them on the correct side of traffic.
The rider in front of Grace was making it his mission to make sure that the blonde wouldn't have the ability to pull out in front of him, but both knew that this was the last stretch of the race. This was the only part that mattered. As the trash can fires and a crowd of people came into view, Grace knew that this was for all or nothing right now. Without thinking about it, she pulled out widely, making sure the other rider couldn't block her. She knew it was a risky idea, but it was the only one she had at the moment. Especially since she knew it was any minute where the police were going to show up.
The extra distance made Grace pull away from the other rider, and he turned his head, his helmet like hers, but she knew that he was mocking her, thinking that he had one. But it was Grace's turn to laugh. Letting herself sink back down into the body of the bike again, Grace pulled back the throttle of her bike all the way. Causing it to launch forward, taking all of Grace's strength from keeping it popping up, and bucking her off of the machine. One moment, she was behind the other rider and the next thing she knew, she was breaking as she crossed the white line.
Her back wheel kicked up dust as she slowed, and turned to the side, making sure that her vehicle was stopped. That's when she finally looked up and realized that she had finished about fifteen second before the other racer, and he was pissed. He got off his bike and ripped his helmet off marching towards her just as the accountant was making his way towards Grace. She stayed on her bike, trying to debate if it was worth getting off of it to fight this guy, but she was happy that she decided to stay on, and not engage with the other racer.
Cops started to descend on the party in all sides, unwanted lights joining in. Grace looked at the accountant, but it was as if he was a deer in the headlights as police started to storm the area.
"Fuck!" Grace screamed out, smacking her hands down as fists on her bike, before peeling away.
She knew that she was about to have another race on her hands, this time with the cops. The worst part of everything was, was that this was going to be a wasted venture. She took all the risk, and unfortunately, there wasn't going to be pay involved. She needed that money, especially since she had to put gas in her bike and fix up its detailing now. Cursing, Grace spun out her back tires and that's when the cops in the earlier vehicle chase came down from the ramp. She let the throttle go and Grace and her bike shot forward as she went straight for the cops, knowing that the only way out of this was through. The bike's speed grew with each second, getting up to at least 60 miles per hour after the three seconds it took to leave her position.
"Stop the vehicle and step away from it! Put your hands up, if not we will assume your resistance to arrest and will not hesitate to use deadly force against you!"
Grace had no intention to do any one that, and instead, decided to test how brave the cops in front of her really were. Since most were on the payroll of the slum lords of Gotham, she knew that they weren't upstanding citizens willing to risk their lives to bring down a no-name street racer. So, Grace played chicken with the cops. Each of the party's vehicles gunning for the other and Grace looked right into the windshield of the cop car that was going to crash into her, but at the last minute the car turned away from her, as if to avoid her.
She knew that this was her moment to put some distance between her and the cops. She flicked off her under body lights and decided to take the Gotham city cops down the streets of downtown. Only to prove one thing to them: she knew their streets better than them.
Grace pulled her bike down a dark alley and stilled any of her movement. She looked behind her before seeing a patrol unit with lights on flash by where she pulled over. Good. They didn't see her come into this way. Grace sat back and killed the engine to her bike. Every cell in her body was on high alert and her hair was standing up. If it was anyone else, it would have been enough for one night, probably their whole life. But, Grace wasn't just some random person. In all actuality, the events of the night started to piss her off, as she took of her helmet.
She shook out her hair and the fact that people lost their lives today, combined with the fact that she didn't get the money she was owed for winning the race, but the blonde in a foul mood. Grace breathed in and then huffed. She ran a hand through her hair and then got off of her bike, knowing that her rage was starting to boil over the surface. Grace started to scream and then she threw her helmet at the brick wall next to her. She marched around the alley way, pulling at her hair, and making disgruntled sounds, until in the midst of anger, threw a fist at the wall.
Instantly she regretted the decision. She pulled her hand away and saw that the wall had already won her little pissing contest she was trying to have with it. Her hand was now bloody, but Grace was forced to pull back into her senses because of it. Taking a few deep breaths, taking the pain for what it was worth. She closed her eyes, letting the world around her relax her. However, it did the opposite effect. Grace was expecting the pollution and loud antics from the city, but instead, she heard the slapping of waves against concrete.
Instantly, Grace opened her eyes and realized that in her attempt to get away from the cops, she had made a few turns to lead her to Gotham's bay. She wasn't worried that this was a big body drop area, no. She was worried about the water. The smell of it was so strong, that she could taste the salt water in her mouth and it made her want to puke. There was a reason why she lived downtown and avoided this area like the plague. She would be damned if she ever stepped foot in sea water again. Just as she would never let any of her spectators find out any information on her, she sure as hell wasn't going to give anything to her ex.
A growl started to erupt from the back of Grace's throat and knew that she couldn't be here any longer, it wasn't good for her mental state to be this angry. Not only that, but even though she may be evading the cops right now, she was sure by morning she was going to be on the news. Everyone on the look out for the rider in all black. But as chance would have it, as Grace took a breath and leaned up against the wall that she took her anger out on, she happened to look across the street.
It was a popular coffee chain, with plenty of locations but the shop itself wasn't what intrigued Grace, it was the fact that a familiar face was there. Her partner from stats was all dressed up in a barista uniform, Grace not knowing if a barista was still the term used for men in the position or not. However, it seemed as if he was having some unwanted attention in the store and Grace smiled, knowing exactly how to burn of some steam.
One of the frat boys from before pushed Barry knocking him onto the tiled floor of the store. Barry tried to crawl backward, but winced as the same guy who pushed him, placed his foot on his chest.
"Hey guys, I don't know what this is about, but this is where I work, can we deal with it later?"
"You have no idea what you did… do you hear that boys?"
The other guys started to laugh fueling the first aggressor even further.
"You know exactly what you fucking did, Barry. Now, tell me, how are you going to make it up to not only me, but us?"
"Guys I'm serious, I have no idea what you are talking about!"
"Stop with the act here Barry, it is unfitting. But for a crybaby like you, I guess it is expected. I know that all you want to do is cry like a widdle baby and run home to daddy… wait that's right, your daddy is locked up for killing your mommy… isn't that right?" The frat guy sneered at Barry, knowing just what to say to get under Barry's skin.
They were obviously starting to bait Barry, and it was working. Those were fighting words, and Barry didn't want to take it.
"I have nothing to offer you, get out of the store. I seriously don't know what you want, or what I did to you. So, get. The. Hell. Out."
The guy pressed his foot down harder onto Barry's chest, causing the brunet to gasp, losing air, all the while the frat guy's boot making it harder and harder for Barry to breath. Barry tried to struggle and get away from the guy, but he wasn't in a position where he could get free and run. Plus, he didn't want to seriously injure the guy, even though he was inflicting pain onto the brunet. Barry glanced around and saw that the store was starting to look like it was in shambles. The rest of the group that was behind the guy with the boot to his chest, were pulling things off the racks, throwing tables and chairs around, and just making a complete mess of things.
"We just wanted to pay you a visit since we don't know how you did it?"
"Did what?"
"Get so chummy with our friend Grace. We have been trying to get her to hang out with us since last semester but all she does is ignore us. And here comes your poor ass, and she actually talks to you? I think it is time to teach you a lesson on how to determine if something is obtainable and within your reach… maybe then you will get it through your thick head that you're not good enough… that you will never be good enough."
"Has it ever occurred to any of you that maybe she didn't go out with you because you all are complete assholes? I mean it's just a thought but I know that if I was a girl you would be the least attractive guy in the room, you douchebag. No wonder why Grace never talked to you—"
"What the fuck did you say!?" The frat guy screamed in Barry's face, and moved his boot, only to land a punch to the side of Barry's face, clearly going to bruise and give him a black eye by morning.
Barry curled up, making sure that his stomach wasn't exposed, not knowing what to expect from these crazy assholes. He gingerly placed a hand over his eye, and it throbbed. It wasn't his first time being punched, he was a victim of bullying as a child, but this was something different. This was a situation as if he and his bullies had grown up, and this time, his bully held one hell of a right hook.
"Now, don't act like a hero here Barry," The frat guy started to speak again, shaking out his hand before gripping Barry's collar forcing the brunet to look at the rich boy in the face.
Barry could already feel his eye start to bruise, and he knew that he had to stop this fight before it got out of hand, but that was the thing, he didn't know how to fight. Barry placed his hands ont op of the other guy's, trying to make him loosen his grip on Barry's collar, but the brunet had no luck.
The frat guy holding Barry's collar finished his sentence, "…We all know that it would be an unfair fight, a weakling such as yourself has no chance against us, let alone even one."
"Well, I am happy to hear that you said weakling, and not woman."
The front door of the coffee shop chimed, and a feminine voice spoke, breaking up the macho atmosphere. The frat guy let go of Barry, and Grace saw that they had already done a number on the hyperactive kid.
"This isn't really the place for you right now, sweetheart."
"No, I think this is exactly the right place for me. Oh, and for the record I'm not your sweetheart."
"But you will be soon," One of the other guys voiced, making his friends laugh as they made kissing noises towards Grace.
"Grace, get out of here… I can handle this…" Barry gasped, trying to make himself stand up.
Grace knew that he did not have this at all, but she wasn't going to call him out on it. Everyone had pride, and she wasn't about to see someone who was trying to defend the place he worked, his livelihood, being taken from him.
"I know you can, but me being here… I may just end up evening the odds."
"Heh, like you could land a single punch onto any of us, you look tough but we all know that you're probably just a terrified little bitch under all those clothes now, aren't you?" the rich boy laughed, and approached Grace.
"Why don't you come and try to find out?" Grace smirked, licking her lips at the taste of a challenge.
"Grace seriously just get out of here while you can—"
"I appreciate it Barry, really. Say, before we all start with this whole my dick is bigger than your dick contest, I have a question."
"What, is it to make sure that you don't break a nail or some shit?"
Grace ignored the misogynistic sentence that one of the guys said to her and looked Barry straight into the eyes, directing her question to him, just before she winked.
"Are you still open, because I wouldn't mind helping to take out the trash."