32

Ah! Alan, Alan is all I'm going to say (Shakes head).

The cars whipped round the track, rocking the tyre barrier as they passed. Alan turned in tight to the chicane, just maintaining his lead as his rival tried to cut up the inside. "Oh no you don't!" he frowned as he stepped his foot down out of the bend. He was driving the latest Dodge Demon in the GTE amateur league. Penny (One of his high school friends) father was the manager of the motorsports FX team and had noticed Alan's potential when he had joined her on a track day. Ever since then he had been coaching him alongside her. Alan was already rated as a Bronze standard driver which was outstanding considering he only had eight months experience on the track. Jim knew this kid was going to be good. He monitored the track times in the pit closely. Alan had been in the lead for the last thirty minutes; he had another five laps to go and was currently in the lead by a whole 1.5 of a second.

Alan flashed over the lap line – 1.5 second lead! If he could just maintain it, he would be laughing! Thankfully he knew as long as he didn't push her too hard, he wouldn't need to visit the pit for a change of tyres having done that earlier, he just had to keep her steady. He loved his baby! she was the best! Racing red with stripes and his lucky number 97 she was a stunner on the outside and a minx under the hood. He knew exactly when to shift gear, when to gun her and when he needed to take it easy lifting off the throttle. She was an extension of him making his racing incredibly graceful to watch and the race a thrilling experience for him. He checked his mirrors and could see Anderson trying to work up the inside again occasionally feinting to try and intimidate him but Alan wouldn't bite that easy. Instead he took a harder line at the next corner and pulled off with a greater lead, Anderson now even further back then before as he got overtaken by Romanoff who saw the opportunity to get past him. Alan pushed on. He adored racing but his father didn't really approve. He thought it detracted from his education although Alan pointed out that racing wasn't about speed it was about strategy and skill so in a way it was its own form of education. His dad didn't buy the argument. His brothers were more receptive to his hobby.

Scott watched from the side lines as his little brother sped around the circuit. Scott had a free day so he'd asked his friend Mavi if she fancied watching his little brother as it was only an hour from base. So here he was leather jacket and aviators watching his brother rip up the track. They knew Alan had always been an avid racing fan, Virgil used to take him to the local derby where he had caught the racing bug from an early age. After that Alan was hooked, he'd watch rallying, F1, GT even the UK touring car championship. Scott knew his father didn't approve but he really couldn't see what the problem was as long as Alan kept up with his studies. Their mother had been worried sick at first but once she realised what a natural Alan was and that Jim Matthewson was going to mentor him, she gave in. Scott also felt Alan racing on a professional track was a was a good thing at least Alan was now channelling his skill appropriately. Scott turned to Mavi "He's good, isn't he?"

"He sure is! He's not afraid to push it that's for sure. Something tells me he'd make a good pilot too; he's certainly got the reflexes." She smiled at Scott before returning her gaze to the track.

"Yeah, he would, you know the little asshole stole my car when he was fifteen and took it for a joyride around the farm?"

"Not your old mustang!" He nodded. "Wow! Little shit must be a daredevil." Scott laughed. "Oh, I was so pissed I hauled him out of that car faster than his little legs could propel him. Dad had to drag me off but he was just as angry at Alan. I could smell the ruined handbrake from the driveway and my tyres had almost been stripped on the outside. Dad made Alan relinquish half his year's allowance to pay the repair fees - I made him clean it inside and out."

Scott broke off the conversation as he hollered and yelled jumping up and down as his brother's car soared over the lap line in the lead. Mavi grinned and clapped along with him.

"All's forgiven now then?" looking at how excited Scott was to be supporting his brother.

"If I had a dollar off him for every dumb thing, he's done my brother would be a pauper." Scott shrugged. "Forgiving him seems like the charitable thing to do." Mavi shook her head supressing a chuckle.

Alan was elated, he only gone and won! His team mates stormed the track and lifted him from the car on their shoulders. Penny waved from the pit with her dad waiting to greet him. He raised both fists in the air grinning with jubilation. His blue eyes sparkling in the winter sunlight his hair still looking perfectly buoyant even after being trapped under a helmet for the last three hours. As they set him down on the floor, he noticed a familiar face at the front of the crowd entrance to the pit. "Scott!" Alan jogged over and waved security to let him and Mavi through ripping open the collar of his ruby red racing suit. Scott slung an arm over his shoulder. "Hey! Congratulations Alan that was quite the run!" they walked across to the pit section.

"Thanks, it was a tough race but I knew I could do it! I had no idea you would be here!" It was the first race he'd completed without his grandfather being there to watch. He had never missed a single one of Alan's races, Scott couldn't not show if he was free. He wanted to show Alan he still had support.

"Well I knew it was a big race and I had the time so I thought I would drop by, Mavi here likes a good race too." Scott brought her forward.

Alan took more notice of the girl for the first time. Looking at the jacket, her posture and her immaculate presentation she was forces too. He broke away from Scott and extended his hand. "Nice to meet you."

She looked across to Scott. "Your brother didn't tell me what lovely manners you have. Its good to meet you too."

"I would advise what ever my brother tells you about me that you take it with a pinch of salt" He grinned cockily.

"Well I heard you like to live dangerously."

"Oh yeah?" said Alan trying to lean casually on the wall.

"He said you took his mustang for a joyride; you must have not valued your life much."

A sheepish expression flittered over Alan's face. "Ok I admit that one, I did but only because no one would take me out on the road. I was totally ready to learn to drive."

"There's driving then there's joyriding little brother." Scott ruffled his hair affectionately causing Alan to frown and huff in embarrassment. The tannoy announced it was time for the presentation of the trophies. "Oh shit! I better go! Wait here and I'll be back in a bit!"

"Okay" Scott called after him.

Alan stepped up on the podium as he heard his name called. He graciously took the trophy and suspended it in the air triumphally as he posed for photos. The two other winners sprayed him with champagne which he tried to dodge unsuccessfully. Just two hundred and twenty points to go and he would win the championship outright. He left to locate his brother and Jim.

Jim was chatting Scott about his hopes for his brother. Penny was meant to be listening but she was somewhat distracted by Scott being so close. Mavi rolled her eyes and looked behind her to see Alan approach. "Here comes the boy wonder." Scott turned around and threw Alan a wave.

"Well done Alan, class driving as always. You carry on like this I reckon you could be classed as silver by early next year." Jim praised.

"That would be quite something Jim! I won't let you down."

"I know you won't kid." He smiled.

"Scott do you have to get back straight away or do you fancy grabbing a bite to eat? You are welcome of course Mavi and Penny." Alan added extending the invitation.

"Actually, I'm meeting up with a friend in town for the eve so I will you leave you to it. thanks for the day out Scott it was fun." Mavi replied.

"Your welcome, sure you don't need a lift back?" Scott didn't want to leave her if she was going to be stranded.

"Nah its ok, she will drop me back." She gave him a hug before waving over her shoulder.

"Alright see you back at base oh six hundred hours sharp!"

She mock saluted him "Don't sweat it captain, I'll be there!"

He grinned as he watched her fade into the crowd.

"What about you Penny?"

"I'd love to but dad says we have to get back, he has a meeting tomorrow." She looked positively gutted. Alan felt her disappointment.

"Aww that's a shame well we'll have to go out after the next race!" he suggested.

"Yeah that would be great!" she gave him a quick hug before shyly waving goodbye to Scott as she left. Scott waved back causing her to nearly walk into someone.

"Right then where are we going?" asked Scott.

"There's this diner just off of the freeway, we could grab something there."

"Alright then, you driving as well?"

"Nah, we can leave mine here I'll pick it up on the way back through." Alan replied.

Alan skipped off to get changed before they both headed back to the car park. Despite the race ending an hour ago the carpark was still pretty rammed. They sat in the queue; Scott flicked on the heaters to warm them up. "So, how's it going as Captain Scott Tracy?"

Scott leaned on the door rest, his hand gripping the top of the doorframe. "Yeah pretty good thanks, I'm really enjoying the role. How did your latest dissertation go?"

"Alright, to be honest I'm just not sure I want to study math."

"Alan! You've barely begun!" he looked horrified.

"I know, I know I just don't know what I want to do, all I want to do is race." Alan looked at Scott, he knew he was going to get lectured.

"Racing is a hobby Alan; you know dad doesn't think it's the best career choice. I'm the first to admit you're a natural but it could take you years to get your break."

"It's not up to dad what I want to do, it's my life. If I want to be a racing driver, I will damn well be a racing driver. You got to do what you wanted." Alan pouted.

Scott sighed. He didn't want to sour his brother's earlier success he had done amazing today. "Well if you don't want to study math have you thought about Dad's little venture?"

"Little! That silo he's had built on the island is massive. These aircraft he's on about must be huge!" Alan's father had taken him out there last weekend, it was shaping up to be a pretty fine set up and the villa was going to be stunning. At the moment the electrics had just been installed and the final plastering complete but you could see the potential. Gordon was going to be in that pool all day when he was home.

"Well one of them is an actual rocket Alan, those things are huge." Scott rolled his eyes. They were almost at the exit now.

"Ha-ha!" replied Alan sarcastically "and yes I have thought about it. If it gets me out of uni then yeah I'm all for it!" he grinned.

"Alan that's not the idea." Face palmed Scott.

"Honestly a career as an Astronaut is the only thing, I think I would like more than driving and I think I would like the more vocational training programme it offers." Alan hated the constant lectures it was boring.

"You know you will still need to study maths, to write essays and classroom studies. Its not all space simulators and gravity chambers." Scott indicated onto the highway.

"Of course, I do! But there will be more practical stuff and I think that just suits me better. I like the idea of space rescues I mean there's not many people who could say they specialise in that field of work."

"You wouldn't be able to either, dad wants to keep it secret remember?" Scott reminded him.

"Yeah but it's still cool! I was kind of hoping you would help me tell dad."

"What that you want to join IR? It will make his day what's the problem?"

"Noooo. I was hoping you'd help me tell dad I've dropped out of uni, seeing as you're here and all." Alan casually dropped the bombshell he'd been waiting to detonate since he clapped eyes on his brother. It came out barely more audible than a murmur.

Luckily, they had just pulled into the diner. Scott cut the engine a bit harsher than he intended before he'd had a chance to engage the handbrake.

"You did WHAT! When, why?" Scott erupted.

"Err last week." Alan slunk into the chair.

"And where have you been living?" Scott turned to look at him. Alan tried not to shrink away. Virgil would have definitely been preferable for this on reflection but he wasn't free until next month and Alan obviously didn't have that long. His brother turning up seemed like fate. Now he wasn't so sure.

"I have until the end of next week in my dorm before I have to be out."

"Why this sudden decision? It can't be that bad surely? You should finish your studies. I can always come back with you and speak to your course manager if your struggling?"

"No!" Alan yelped.

Scott knew there was something more, his brother looked like he did when he'd been caught doing something he really shouldn't. "What did you do?" Scott eyes narrowed.

"Huh? Nothing I'm just not cut out for math. Come on let's go inside its cold and I'm hungry." He went to push the door but not before the locks sounded. Scott had locked them in.

"Tell me what you did or the only place we are going is your uni." Scott crossed his arms.

"Fine. I may have built one of my rockets ok? Tom dared me that I couldn't make it fly over 50ft and I knew I could so we let it off next to the library which I knew was 70ft. Well long story short I miscalculated the trajectory and it smashed through the window of the top floor. I was so sure it would miss! (He shrugged) Anyway; turns out that results in being suspended then expelled because the university head had a fit. They are calling dad on Monday to tell him and ask him to pay for the damage."

Scott leant back in his seat. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "For fucks sake Alan!" Scott hid his face in his hand's elbows on the wheel whilst he tried to process his brother's stupidity then bubbled up in laughter, he couldn't help it. Alan looked nervous. He was expecting angry or disappointed Scott. Not this exasperated mess. "Do you know what's ironic about this?" Scott looked him dead in the eye.

"No? is this a trick question?"

"If you'd just fucking studied math like you were meant to, you wouldn't have miscalculated, would you?" Scott laughed briefly before shaking his head and looking out the window. "Come on I need some food before we make this call." Scott unlocked the doors.

After a quick burger and fries with chocolate milkshake they were back in the car. "Right call him." Scott ordered.

"But I thought you agreed?" Alan whined.

"Nope I agreed you would call and I would be here to pacify things if shit goes down. Your mess your problem buddy."

Alan sighed. He dialled the number and went to hold it to his ear before lobbing it in Scott's lap last minute. It missed and fell down the side of the seat. Scott looked livid as he tried to retrieve it. "Hello, Hello Alan? Are you ok?"

"Hey dad, how's it going?"

"Scott? What are you doing with Alan's phone, is he ok?" his father asked immediately concerned.

"Oh yeah he's just fine, he does have some news he's like to share with you though. Don't you Alan?" Scott gave his most dangerous smile. Alan gulped and took the phone but kept it on speaker. Jeff sighed Scott tone had already set alarm bells ringing.

"Erm dad, don't get mad ok?" Jeff sighed this never ended well.

"Alan just tell me."

"I accidently smashed a window on campus, well several actually. Caused a bit of a mess and they're not very happy with me. Might have to pay for damages." He mumbled so you could barely detect what he had said.

"Scott translate please." Dad wasn't messing this evening then. Scott looked at Alan like a nurse does when she says this is going to sting and then jabs you.

"What he means is he was mucking around with some friends, built a rocket, launched it on campus and got the trajectory wrong and it exploded through said windows on the top floor of the library. The brand new million-pound facility."

Silence.

"And he's been suspended, maybe expelled if the damage isn't sorted."

Alan shot Scott a betrayed expression. Scott was pretty sure he'd just heard the pop of the decanter being uncorked at home. Yep there was the glug of whiskey. Dad was trying his best not to blow his lid. It was a good job Alan was here and not there.

"Dad, I'm sorry I didn't mean to…... well I didn't think."

"Um-hum." Another sip. More silence.

"So, what do I do now?" Alan added in a small voice.

"Well you can stop hiding behind your big brother for one, this is your mess Alan. I think instead of calling him to get you out of another of your messes its time you took a leaf out of his book and learnt some responsibility! Hell, even Gordon's starting to grow up now! Maybe a stint in the forces would do you some good too!" Jeff smacked his glass down on the desk.

"Well actually I'm glad you brought that up because I did think that. I want to train as an astronaut like John." Jeff looked to the ceiling give me strength.

"Dad he is really sorry, I really do think he will give astronaut training his full attention. He seems to have grasped a firm understanding of rocket assembly if none of the other qualities. He also says he wants to be in IR."

"Well maybe. I definitely would like to train to be an astronaut though." Alan supplied brightly.

"If you train to be an astronaut, I want you to promise me you will commit to it and see it through to the end."

"I promise."

"Right, I'll meet you on campus at 10am tomorrow. Try not to get into any more trouble in the meantime. Scott its getting late - text me when your both back so I know your safe."

"Will do night dad." Scott signed off.

"Well I think that went pretty well." Alan relaxed and strapped his seat belt on.

"I'll say; your jammy bastard! if that had been any of us, we would have been frog marched to military school without delay. Count yourself lucky he still sees you as the baby."

Alan sulked deeper into his seat. He was not looking forward to tomorrow already. "Don't call me baby." He fumed. Scott laughed and swung out of the car park.