One Hundred and Fifty Two One Shot
Pit Crew
Jace POV:
I've been a professional racer since the day I was signed at 18. Nothing else in the world felt as natural as being behind the wheel. It's who I am, and it's what I love to do.
Until the day I was released from my sponsor.
Something about how I was too hot headed and not focused enough for them to sponsor anymore. I didn't get it. Lots of guys get into crashes on the track, and they aren't dropped. I think it's because my pit crew was jealous. They wanted my job, and they couldn't have it.
It's been a couple months since I was dropped, and I was the laughing stock of the racing community. Every time I turned on the TV, there was something about me on it. About how I was finished, and would never be signed ever again. To say I was depressed would be an understatement. I wanted to race, I needed to race, and I wasn't done yet. They couldn't keep Jace Herondale off the track, I would get another sponsorship, that was a promise.
Time Jump – One Week Later
Jace POV:
I've emailed everyone single person I can think of, and haven't heard a single thing back. I was feeling very low. Nobody wanted me, and that was a feeling I wasn't used too. Normally I'm the guy everyone is fighting over, I've never been the outcast. It sucks.
I didn't know what else to do really. I emailed everyone in the industry, and I guess it was time to play the waiting game. Someone had to reply back to me, and I was going to wait until I heard. My career wasn't over until I beat the horse into oblivion. This was my life, and I wasn't giving up so easily on it.
Clary POV:
Being a female in a male dominated sport sucked. I had the last name that came with a fierce reputation, but once they heard my first name, it was like they didn't respect my last name anymore. It was the worst feeling in the world, but I wasn't going to let the negative comments, and the sexist attitudes get in my way. I would show the racing world that I was a force to be reckoned with, and they would all be covering their asses when I beat them.
I know I had to bid my time, but when opportunity comes, it was my job to take it. And when I heard that Jace Herondale was in need of a new crew chief, hell a whole new pit crew in general, I knew this was my chance. He has absolutely nobody, and if I'm his only choice, I know he'll take it. So I sent him an email, and I hope he realizes that I'm his last resort, and takes me up on it.
Time Jump – A Few Days Later
Jace POV:
I let my email sit untouched for a couple days hoping that I would get a reply. Not being able to take it any longer, I opened my computer and signed in. there were a bunch of unread messages, but none from the people I emailed. I was about to close it when I saw an email from an address I didn't recognize. Curiously I decided to open it.
Dear Jace,
I know you don't know me, but I've heard quite a bit about you. Mainly that you've ruined your reputation in the industry, and no self respecting pit chief will take a chance on you. Lucky for you, no driver will take a chance on me. I think we're the perfect pair. I have my own team, my own garage, my own private track. I help with unprofessional racers in my everyday life, but you need a pit crew, and we need a racer. If you're interested come to 651 Pitt Crew Lane. I look forward to seeing you.
C. Morgenstern.
When I was finished reading, I was shocked. I knew the name Morgenstern. Jonathan and Valentine were an unstoppable team. I was new to professional racing, but I saw him race, he was incredible. Until his accident. It was a tragic loss for the racing community. I knew nothing about this person, but they were offering me a chance, and I was going to take it. I wrote down the address, and closed my computer. Tomorrow I would meet my new crew team, and I hoped to God they were ready for it.
Time Jump – Next Day
Clary POV:
I haven't heard back from Jace yet. I was still anticipating he might show, but I didn't know what he was thinking. I didn't specify that I was a woman, so part of me thought the last name would be enough to get his attention.
I was currently in the garage working on an engine trying to focus on something other than the fact that I may or may not have an actual racer to be on my team. I worked with armature racers all year, but I was ready to move onto the big leagues. I needed it, and I was looking forward to seeing if I even got the chance to take the opportunity.
Jace POV:
I got to the address that was in the email and I was pretty shocked. The place was huge, and gated off. I rolled my window down and pressed the button to get myself inside.
"Name?" The voice on the other side asked.
"Jace Herondale." I said hoping it worked. The voice said nothing back, but the gate started to open, so I guess I was on the list. I drove up and parked my car. Looking around I couldn't help but wonder who in the world lives here, and if they have all the things in the email, how come they haven't broken into professional racing yet?
I made my way around the house and followed the noise and the music. I got to the garage and saw someone working on a car. They were clearly in their own head, because they didn't even look up when I walked in.
"Hey!" I called out and the tools stopped. The person looked up and took the helmet off.
"Jace Herondale?" He asked and I nodded. "This way." He said and I followed him. When we got out of the garage, I saw the track. It was massive, and truly blew my mind. I'd love to live here. "Yo boss! He's here." The guy yelled and in that moment, a woman turned around, and I was shocked. The guy left and the woman was making her way over to me.
"Jace Herondale." She said. "I see you took me up on my offer."
"Well, I didn't have any others." I said and she nodded.
"My name is Clary Morgenstern. Welcome to my track." She gestured to place.
"It's impeccable." I said and she smiled.
"My family was pretty big into racing." She said and I laughed.
"I know." I said.
"So it was my name that caught your attention?" She asked and I nodded. "Good. That was the plan. I see you met our head mechanic."
"Not formally. He just showed me to you." I said and she nodded.
"Alec is pretty shy. Or antisocial. I'm not really sure." She said and I nodded. "Follow me to my office." She said and I followed. Once we got in there she sat behind the desk and I sat in front. "So I have a contract. If you sign, you are officially sponsored under me. If you don't, it was a pleasure meeting you." She simply said as she pushed the stack of paper towards me. I picked them up and looked at them. Having a female pit crew chief was unheard of, but I have nobody, and she was my only option. I took the pen and signed. When I pushed it back to her she had a smile on her face. "Welcome to Morgenstern Racing Jace Herondale."
"Do I get a choice on my car number?" I asked.
"That depends." She said. "I know you were number 22, but if you want a clean slate we can get another number."
"22 is kind of my lucky number." I admitted and she nodded.
"Than you can keep 22." She said.
"And who exactly am I being sponsored by?" I asked.
"By the only company that was willing to take a risk on me, and my team." She said. "You will proudly sport the car of Alicante."
"What the hell is Alicante?" I asked and she laughed.
"A manufacturing company." She said vaguely.
"Manufacturing what exactly?" I asked.
"Every day items." She said, again vaguely.
"What aren't you telling me?" I asked and she sighed.
"No big company would sponsor me. I had no driver, and they thought it was a waste, until I met the CEO of Alicante." She explained. "He found my head mechanic cute, so he agreed to sponsor me in exchange for a date with Alec. Needless to say Alec was pissed that I offered him up, but it worked out. They've been together for almost a year now." She rambled.
"Clary." I cut her off. "What do they sell?" I asked.
"Clothes." She said.
"Alicante is a fashion company?" I asked, a little confused.
"Well yes. Magnus, the CEO, is a designer, and his clothes are some of the most trendy in the world. He has his own Wikipedia page." She said and I sighed.
"I'm sponsored by a fashion designer." I said.
"Hey, it's him or no one, and we can't really be sponsored by no one." She reminded me.
"Do I have a car yet?" I asked.
"Alec is in the middle of getting it ready." She said.
"I'm picking the design." I told her firmly.
"Okay." She said easily.
"That seemed too easy. I thought I'd have to fight you for that." I said and she laughed.
"Look, you said yes. I'm happy." She said and I nodded. We both stood up and shook hands. "Glad to have you." I smiled, but I didn't know if I just made the best decision of my life, or quite possibly the worst.
Time Jump –A Few Months Before Racing Season
Clary POV:
Jace has been training with us for a few months now, and he was good. Sure he had a bad reputation, but he was a damn good racer, anyone knew that. Racing season was right around the corner, and I was preparing myself for how crazy it would be, especially since I'm a woman. I knew going to races would be difficult, but I had a point to prove, and I was going to do it. I felt like Jace and I could win, and I wanted to prove everyone wrong. That I am legit, and I was here to win.
It was late, and I was making myself a cup of tea when I heard voices. I made my way to the window when I saw Jace and Alec laughing. I've noticed that they got pretty close pretty quickly. Alec wasn't the most social, but him and Jace seemed to get along rather well, and it made me happy knowing that he was fitting in here. That's what I wanted. I wanted him to feel at home because I wanted him to win.
As I retreated back into the kitchen, and grabbed my cup of tea, I couldn't get the smile off my face. The first race was close, and I couldn't wait to see how well Jace performed.
Time Jump – First Race
Clary POV:
Getting to the track we got a lot of weird looks. Mainly guys who laughed when they saw us, but I was expecting that. We were nobody, and we weren't a threat. Normally that would piss me off, but I felt good going into this race. We had no expectations, but I knew we could crush any other guy here. Jace was a natural born racer, and his talent exudes from his body. He might be a little hot headed, but who isn't when they're passionate?
"Okay, you ready?" I asked once we got to our car.
"I was born ready." He smirked and I smiled.
"That's what I like to hear." I said happily. "Get ready to kick some ass." He nodded and we got into the zone. Nothing was going to tear us down today. Nothing.
Time Jump – After the Race
Clary POV:
I was so tired of fighting Jace and this industry. I deserved to be with all the other pit crew chiefs, and the fact that they all laughed and mocked me, for something I'm damn good at, pisses me off. And Jace didn't even defend me. He just stood there with his head down. I have all of the credentials. I know what I'm doing. But I don't ever think it's going to be enough for them. I'm a woman, and that's all they'll ever see.
"Hey." I heard from behind me, and I didn't even bother to turn around. I knew that voice.
"I see you finally found your voice." I said back. "Feeling better?"
"Come on Clary – "
"No Jace." I cut him off. "Those guys were so disrespectful towards me, and our crew, and you didn't say a god damn thing." I seethed, but than I realized it was pointless, and I rolled my eyes and looked at him. "We're a team Jace. I know I was your absolute last resort, but lets not forget that none of those guys wanted to sponsor you." I pointed back to the direction of the men. "I did, and I've done a great job, and the fact that you would let them say that shit to me, goes to show how much you don't respect me as a crew chief."
"That's not true at all Clary." He said and I laughed.
"Than why not defend me? Do you know how hard this industry is for me?" I asked and he shook his head. "Exactly. You were born privileged, and I had to earn it."
"Look, I'm at the bottom with you." Jace tried to reason, but I didn't want to hear it.
"When I was a kid, every single time my dad and my brother showed up, everyone talked about it." I said as I remembered. "When Morgenstern was even mentioned at a race, the other drivers got intimated." I smiled as I remembered how intense they both could be. "And when Jonathan died, I knew it killed my dad. And when he died, I saw it kill my mom, and now she's dead, and I'm the only one left. Racing is what my family did, it's who we were, and it's in our blood." I said as I looked at him in the eyes. "And I'm a god damn joke to every single person here. Including you."
"I don't think you're a joke Clary." Jace said, and I could hear the sincerity in his voice, but I didn't want to just hear it, I wanted him to show it too. "I don't know why I didn't say anything to those jerks, but what they were saying was wrong. You have more talent then half those guys put together, and they know it. They're scared."
"I'm tired of being treated like shit. I'm tired of being treated like a little kid. For god sakes Hodge calls me Little Girl, and it infuriates the hell out of me." I said, so fed up with their sexism. "I want to shove it in their faces that I'm not one to mess with, but I need someone on my side."
"I am on your side." Jace said.
"Are you? Because 30 minutes ago, you were mute." I said and he sighed.
"I'm trying okay?" He said. "I've never had to rely on anyone before. Everyone wanted me, and now everybody laughs when they hear my name. I used to be the greatest, and now nobody believes in me."
"I do. Why the hell do you think I sponsored you?" I asked and he just shrugged. "I saw you at the bottom, and I knew it was my chance to get you. I may have been your last resort, but you weren't mine." I admitted and he looked at me with those beautiful gold eyes.
"I really am so sorry Clary." He said again.
"I know you are." I admitted. "Just don't let it happen again." I said and he nodded. I turned back towards the racetrack and he joined me.
"You're the most talented crew chief I've ever had Clary. Don't forget that." Jace said and I smiled.
"I learned everything from my dad." I smiled.
"What was he like?" Jace asked. "I was the bottom of the totem pole when your brother died."
"He was scary as hell, but he knew what he was doing." I said and Jace laughed. "My grandpa was a racer back in the day, but my dad never wanted to race, he just wanted to do everything else. So he started fixing my grandpa's cars while he was at the tail end of his career, and he just worked his way up."
"I guess that's why Jonathan was so good." Jace commented.
"He started at a young age. Willing or not, he grew to love the sport." I said and Jace nodded. "My mother hated it, was so worried he would get hurt. I guess she had the right to worry." I said somberly.
"I can't imagine going through all that." Jace said and I shrugged.
"Losing everyone you love sucks, but the world has a cruel agenda for some of us." I explained. "I was one of the unlucky ones."
"I guess we're in the same boat." Jace said and I looked at him.
"I noticed when I was researching you that you have no history before you started racing. Almost like you were created in a lab and thrown onto the racetrack." I said and he laughed.
"I don't like talking about my childhood." Jace admitted. "It wasn't pleasant."
"I'm ever here if you want to talk." I reminded him and he just kept staring at the track.
"I don't remember my dad at all." He said after a few minutes of silence. "According to my mom he died when I was an infant, and my step father was a nasty son of a bitch who liked to hit me." He said and I gasped. "I ran away when I was 13, and went by a different name, ended up in foster care half way across the country, where I found racing to be my escape." He explained. "I haven't looked back since."
"That's terrible." I said and he looked at me once more.
"What's terrible is how much I let my career get to my head." He said. "I've dedicated the last 12 years of my life to this, and look where it got me."
"We all fall." I told him honestly. "You just have to be better this time around."
"I think I've made a remarkable improvement." He said and I laughed.
"Maybe." I said and he smiled at me. There was something about the way the sun was hitting his hair that made it look like he had a halo around him. Our eyes were locked, and I don't know how it happened, but the next thing I know, he's kissing me. Even if my mind was screaming this is inappropriate, I can't stop. Everything in me wants this to happen.
"Well, well, well." Someone said, and Jace and I broke apart. "If I knew having a female crew chief came with benefits, I would have gotten one a long time ago." He smirked. All the men who were just making fun of me were all standing there, laughing.
"Back off Sebastian." Jace said as he stood up. I never noticed how tall he was, okay I have, but only because I'm short, but the way Jace was standing now made him look taller, and intimidating.
"What? I'm just saying, we get it now." He said and the others laughed. Jace started laughing along with them, and I was about to lose it until he punched Sebastian in the face. "What the fuck man?" Sebastian yelled as he clutched his now bleeding, and potentially broken nose.
"One more disrespectful word about Clary that comes out of your mouth will be the last." Jace threatened. He walked back over to me, put his arm around my shoulder and started walking. "Let's go." He said and I followed. Once we got back to our trailer, I felt like I could finally breath again.
"Thank you." I finally said and he smiled.
"I owed it to you." He said and now it was my turn to smile. I leaned over and pressed my lips to his.
"I appreciate it." I told him.
"Keep kissing me like that and I'll punch anyone in the face." He admitted and I couldn't help but laugh. I knew this was going to be the start of an amazing career for both Jace and I. This world would also be cruel to females in male dominated areas. It's just how it seemed to work, but I would never stop trying to make my name in this world, and I knew Jace was going to help me make my mark, and I couldn't wait to do it with him by my side.
Time Jump – Six Months Later
Jace POV:
"Keep this pace up Jace and you'll win." Clary said into the earpiece.
"Who is right behind me?" I asked as I took one quick look in my rear view.
"Looks like Blackthorn." Clary said. "Hold up, Verlac just passed him. He's gaining on you Jace. Pick it up." Clary said and I slammed my foot on the accelerator. No way in hell was he beating me.
There were some moments on a racetrack where everything went quiet for me. There were not fans, there were not engines, there was just me, and this was one of those moments. I have climbed my way back up the ladder from the pits of racing exile. I've made my name better, and I've gotten back to the top a better racer than I've ever been before. And there is only one reason for that. Clary. Maybe I needed to fall. Maybe I needed to be the one person no one wanted. Clary was always meant to be my pit crew chief, and there was nobody else I wanted by my side.
"Jace?" I heard through my earpiece.
"Yes?" I asked and Clary laughed.
"You sound like you're having a moment." She said and I smiled.
"I kinda was." I admitted and I heard her laugh.
"Well, you're about to win." She said and when I focused my attention back on the race there was the finish line. Peddle to the meddle and when I crossed that line with the checkered flag flying. Everything felt whole. I just needed to top it all off.
I spun my car around on the grass before getting out, throwing my helmet in the air and cheering. I deserved this. So much. Reporters and my crew were by my side in a minute. The first thing I did was pick Clary up and spin her around. "You won! You fucking won!" She cheered and I couldn't help but laugh. When I put her down I slammed my lips to hers. I heard the clicking of the cameras but that didn't matter. When I broke the kiss, we were all smiles.
"I love you." I said and her smile got bigger.
"I love you too." She said with a bright smile.
"Marry me." I blurted out, granted it was sudden but I meant every word.
"Jace, we've only been together for 6 months." Clary said and I laughed.
"So? Is there a time limit on love?" I asked and she playfully smacked me.
"No. It's just so soon." She said and I pulled her close.
"But I love you. More than anything and I can't picture my life without you. Why put off the inevitable? I plan to ask you now, in a year, in three years. It doesn't matter when because I want to marry you Clary." I explained and she smiled.
"Mrs. Herondale. It has a nice ring to it." She said and my heart started racing.
"Is that a yes?" I asked and she smiled.
"It's always a yes. Now, in a year, in three years. Forever a yes." She said and I slammed my lips to hers again. She was everything I needed in life, I knew it.
Time Jump – Five Years Later
Jace POV:
"Keep it up Jace and you'll win!" Clary said through the earpiece. Even after all these years, every time I heard her say that I couldn't wipe the smile off my face.
"Who is behind me?" I asked.
"King is right on your ass, and Santiago is right behind him." Clary said.
"You got this daddy!" I heard in my earpiece, and my smile got even bigger. 4 years ago, our little Halle was brought into this world, and I have never loved someone more. Naturally I was shocked, but the moment I saw her, I was a goner. At first, Clary took time off to raise her, and I got a stand in crew chief, he was great, but I missed my girl. So when she came back, with little Halle, I couldn't be happier.
"You got it baby girl." I said back and I heard her giggle.
"Don't get distracted babe." I heard Clary say. "I know she's cute, but you're one lap away from winning." She said, and I smiled. She knew I was putty when it came to that little girl.
I hit the gas so hard that I felt my car jolt, but it didn't matter. I was winning this race, it didn't matter how, but I was. I saw the checkered flag, and I looked in my rearview, and I had knocked King a couple more feet back. There was nobody standing in my way. This was mine.
When I crossed that line and spun my car into the grass just like I did all those years ago, the first person I wanted to see was Clary. I saw her running onto the grass with Halle next her and I picked both my girls up in celebration.
"You did it daddy!" She cheered and I couldn't help but smile.
"I'm so proud of you." Clary said and I pulled her into a kiss.
"Wouldn't want any one else to be my crew chief." I said truthfully and she laughed.
"Let's get milkshakes." Halle cheered, and I couldn't help but laugh.
"Anything for you princess." I said as Clary and I made our way off the grass with Halle in my arms. Everything I ever wanted came true all because I got a new pit crew.
Authors Note:
Hellllllo, long time no see, right? I promise that I'm still writing these but give me time, and a little more positivity and less negativity, and we'll get to 200, I promise.
Let me know what you want to read and I'll try my best. But also take the time to learn what I already wrote, because I won't write duplicates. I'm sorry if they aren't the way you'd like, but if I wrote a werewolf one, I'm not writing another one.
