Chapter 9

It was a warm summer night in Hawaii. Where the next race would be held in two days. Ales was in his car with Pandora, parked at the beach, and they were holding each other as close as they could.

"Why did you tell me so… soon, Alex?" She asked.

Alex kissed her neck and smiled. "You got me out of a really bad spot," he said softly. "One I'd been in for years. Literally two decades. I was five when my mother left. When a special girl like you gets a guy like me out of a nightmare like that, and that constant spiral of self-loathing… it's really hard not to love her. Despite what you might think, you're incredibly special, and… and pretty and… I can't believe I almost missed out on feeling like this. You're this… this bright star in my otherwise… pretty dark life."

Pandora sighed softly. "When you're talking into those microphones, you're this smiling, cocky, damn-the-torpedoes kind of guy. You just seem so carefree and confident. But when I actually met you, especially when you walked off like that, I had never seen anyone so… so defeated… so done with it all. Your situation was just this… driving force that made me realize that helping others feels good. You made me realize that… that I actually love my sister. Alex… you saved me too."

He stroked her hair and smiled as Pandora laid a hand on his chest, cuddling into him as best as she could.

Later, they headed back to the hotel and Alex headed to the hotel bar to have a few drinks. Dick Dastardly was there along with Penny. Alex smiled as he drank, thinking of Pandora.

"Something on your mind?" Dick asked.

"Yeah," said Alex. "That Pandora's something else. I tell you, she saved my life."

Dick felt a twinge of jealousy. He knew Alex and Pandora were talking, but… well, he had to admit, Alex was right. She was something else. "What could Alex have that I don't?" He wondered. "What doesn't she see in me?"

Penny smiled. "You do seem a lot happier," she said. "And Pandora seems nicer."

"She does," said Dick. "I just wish I could somehow… I don't know… get her to see some merit in me."

"Everyone wants a date with Pandora," said Alex. "Take a number."

Everyone laughed. "Yes, and get in line behind you I suppose. Come tomorrow, though, your fancy Italian scrap heap will be eating my exhaust fumes!"

Alex scoffed. "You're a dick, Dastardly," he muttered.

Peter chuckled and let out a low "Nice!"

"Alex? Alex Drake?"

Alex turned to the source of the voice… a woman. "That's me."

"Do you remember me? Honey… it's been years."

Alex's mouth fell open as he started to tear up. That voice was… familiar. He could've sworn he'd heard it somewhere before.

"It's me… Kelly?"

"You can't be…" Alex almost whispered.

"Alex," she said gently… "I'm your mother."