Andrea sat on the couch reading a book. She worried that tomorrow she wouldn't be prepared for what would happen. Her dad though told her after the race and everything she was grounded for what happened the other night with those guys. A whole three weeks plus helping her father with paper work and she couldn't go see Richie at his place. She really wouldn't care if tomorrow never came. Richie happen to be out practicing and since she hadn't been scheduled to run til four she'd miss him run and he'd be gone. The worst thing was her father had been screening her calls all morning so she couldn't talk to Richie if she tried. He managed to take her cell phone too. He wouldn't let her go downstairs even. Andrea though knew that she'd given him reason to doubt her. What she didn't want was for Richie to be hovering over her too, but knowing how her father and him conspiring against her she knew more likely then not he'd be barking orders soon enough.
"Hey you hungry?" said Mac from the kitchen.
"Yeah I'm starving." said Andrea getting up and going to help him
"How's the book?" he asked
"Not real interesting right now. I can't concentrate because it's all I have to concentrate on." she complained
"Hey you did this to yourself Andrea Marie." said Duncan grabbing the phone off the counter.
"So how long before you trust me again?" asked Andrea softly
"Well that depends on what happens between now and the next three weeks." said Duncan cutting a tomato
"How many phone calls have you successfully screened." said Andrea hoping to get some idea of who had called
"Enough and not one of those guys called yet and I only hope you weren't drunk and told them your number." said Duncan
"No."
"Good and I hope not to find out otherwise. Are you nervous?" said Duncan making her a sandwich and pouring her milk
"Dad you are coming tomorrow right?" said Andrea unsure since she'd found the note from Claudia
"Yeah I wouldn't miss it for the world." he said smiling
"Then what was that message from Claudia?" she said rather hurt that she wasn't told of his plans to ditch her
"You saw the message?" he sighed and slightly annoyed that she had been snooping
"Yeah I didn't want to say anything because I figured you would tell me. The closer the day came though I thought that you would leave and not say anything."
"Hey when have I ever left and not told you about where I would be? I'd never at least intentionally leave you without telling you something."
"Dad I understand that you have the immortal thing and I like Claudia too when she isn't all high and mighty about herself. I just got scared when you never mentioned anything." she pointed out
"Claudia understands that I can't get away right now. She knows that you will always be my number one." he said tapping her on the nose
"Thanks." she smiled eating her sandwich
"When is your time run and practice?" he said putting away the milk and talking a seat across the counter
"Around four and I think that Richie said something about going over the turns after I'm done." said Andrea
"Well just make sure you're here for dinner tonight." said Duncan
"What are you doing?" she asked knowing that he really wanted to be there to make sure that she was telling him the truth
"I'm thinking of going to see Joe." he said
"Immortal?" she asked knowing that most like not yet
"Well I've had my suspicions that something has been going on. I'm not out to go hunting for him but I have things I need to make sure are safe." he smiled
"Would you let me go to see Richie?"
"I will drop you off on my way to see Joe." said Duncan handing her a card
"What's this?" she said seeing her name on the front.
"Little something to help you." he said as she opened it
"To my little racer I will always be the number one fan lose your win. I love you dad." she read as a piece fell from the card into her lap it was a charm from her mother and it contained a sword which represented her father. Now no matter what happened she had the support of them both. Andrea got up and hugged her father with tears in her eyes. He handed her one more package that contained another charm which was a motorcycle. Andrea just smiled at her father and knew that she had nothing to worry about.
Andrea got dropped off just before Richie ran. He was surprised to see her there let alone for Mac to have left her alone there. He was glad though to see her.
"Richie hi." said Andrea hugging him
"Hey there Andrea what did Mac break already?'
"Well I'm officially grounded til after tomorrow." she smiled
"Hang on one sec. Nice charms." he said giving her a kiss
"Thanks. So when do you run?" she said
"Hang on one second." he said walking over to the timers and staff table. Andrea laughed at him as Richie pointed to her and talked to the coaches . She knew that he was up to no good and that he could sweet talk his way into anything for her. He came back to her with smiles all round
"Let me guess we ride?" she smiled with raised eyebrows
"You guessed it and they are going to time you against Me." said Richie
"Really then I guess holding back is a no." she smirked kissing him
"Let's go." he said taking her hand
They got ready and Andrea met Richie at the start line. She turned to him and he smiled as she kissed his helmet and he tapped hers. They did their ritual start with the hand shake and special sword move. Andrea place the charm on her keys and next to the charm sat Richie's lucky rabbit's foot. Richie had Andrea's ring and also her scarf around his neck. They were all set and they knew that the people on the sidelines would only be able to imagine what they were doing. They go on their bikes waited for the go and took off. They were neck and neck the whole way almost and Richie made a few challenging passes, but nothing too hard. Andrea managed to take the lead by a half foot to win it. When they crossed the finish line they stopped to check the time and Andrea's came up after Richie's beating him by half a sec. Richie just smiled at her and hugged her.
"That is fantastic." said the line checker
"Thanks." she said walking along side Richie back to the trailers to put their bikes away
Richie stopped just short though feeling an immortal Andrea saw the look on his face and knew. She just waited for his reaction
"Come on." he said taking his sword out
"Richie no not here." said Andrea stopping him
"Stay here." he said going off
Richie was gone for a few minutes returning with nothing. He took Andrea home and he walked her inside and upstairs. When they opened the gate though Andrea saw the man standing in front of her and she nearly fell over. Richie had felt him before they reached the landing and had his sword drawn
"Hello Andrea." he said dresses in dark blue slacks and a white dress shirt
"Eric what are you doing here?" she said stepping off the elevator with Richie behind her
"You know why I'm here." he said with his sword in hand also and an evil look on his face.