Chapter 16

Who's the Fastest?

The energy that sparked was like nothing Jess had ever felt as she stared into Brian's bright blue eyes. It was like this was what she'd been missing all this time and now everything seemed right. There was nothing else around her, she had no worries, it was just Brian. She knew she needed to be with him. Forgiving him was something she had to do if she wished to maintain her sanity for another month.

Eben opened the door on her side and crashed her back into the matter at hand. She was going to race Brian…. But what were the stakes to be? What was she racing for? Stepping out of the car, she was self-conscious for the first time in a long time. It made her want to cover herself up, like she was naked in front of all these people. Her dress wasn't helping. She could feel Brian's eyes on her as she walked to the driver's side, daring not to look at him for fear of getting lost in his eyes again.

She forced herself to think of other things. The mass of people surrounding the start line talked idly making the small area rumble with noise. Every now and then someone would shout out.

"You go Bullet!" or

"Show him the meaning of street Jess!"

It was all building into one big adrenaline rush that was slowly boiling inside her. This was her chance… she was going to race the supposedly number one street racer in Miami… and the man she was falling in love with. Why did this sound like some cheesy soap opera? Jess shook her head with a sigh. What was wrong with her? She could stand there and debate the subject with herself or she could race. All of it was just like the old times… she was home.

Her eyes couldn't stop themselves as they swept over Brian's form to meet his eyes. She jumped mentally at the realization that he was staring into her. He was trying to psyche her out or maybe it was just her own mind's crazy theories. It was now or never and she might as well give it all she's got. What did she have to lose?

"I trust you two know each other," Eben started at an attempt of humor. Brian's lips curved into a grin but Jess' face remained emotionless. Her heart pounded in her chest like it was fighting to leap out. "The stakes are as follows," Eben boomed. "If Brian should win this race, he gets to take Jess, that's you," Eben nudged her, "out on the town tomorrow night for a romantic dinner and dancing. If Ms. Jess is to win, she gets an all expense paid vacation to Cancun Mexico for two and can choose not to be bothered by Brian ever again."

Up until this point Jess had been unable to speak but the only thing she could force out of her mouth was, "I can't race in a dress."

"That's fine," Eben chuckled. "I have brought you a pair of pants, a beater and your old racing Nikes." Eben handed her the clothes neatly folded on top of one another. Without hesitation she pulled the pants on under her dress and quickly pulled her dress over her head leaving her in her bra for a few seconds before she put the beater on in it's place. After slipping on her shoes, she pulled her hair back in a ponytail and nodded she was ready to Eben.

"Racers' shake hands," Eben instructed. Jess' mind had felt so on track, so ready just a few seconds ago, but as Brian held out his hand first, Jess hesitated. With her own shaking hand she reached out to his and shook his hand as firmly as she could manage. She knew what she had to do and her same look was reflected in Brian's eyes. This wasn't going to be easy.

"You better give it your all," Jess mustered to say without her voice cracking.

"Don't worry about me," his voice was soft. They were still holding hands and after he spoke he leaned down and kissed her briefly on the cheek.

"Racer's to your cars," Eben said. Brian let go of Jess and both walked to their cars. Brian had his Skyline and it made Jess nervous at how close he was to her, but she told herself to suck in up. Sitting in her car, both hands on the wheel, she stared ahead of her, mentally visualizing the course before her. She'd raced this track hundreds of times. She'd won more than half of them. She was going to beat Brian.

Eben walked out before them and raised his hands in the air. Both Jess and Brian revved their engines. Foot on the clutch, hands on the wheel, they were ready to make the perfect start, but only one could have the better. The crowd roared. Eben's hands dropped. Brian pulled out first, but even though Jess was slower she was able to pull up even with him in the split second she lost.

The track was straight for 100 feet, and then turned sharply to a short stretch and then another quick turn. They were even on the straightaway but on the first corner Brain got the inside. Jess cursed out loud, cranking the wheel and drifting the turn. She shifted up a gear catching back up to Brian, but he shifted and pulled further away from her.

"Why the hell is he so fast!" Jess screamed. In an instant she had an opening, Brian was thrown off by the closeness of the second turn and took it wider than the first. Jess had the advantage at knowing the perfect time to turn and come up on the inside of the turn and coming out ahead of Brian for the first time. This time she waited to shift and just as he was about to pass her she shifted into a higher gear and pulled away. The third turn was one big turn that met up with the straightaway with the finish line and victory in view.

Jess knew the turn was tricky and had to be done just right, but her mind came up on a blank to the secret trick she taught herself.

Think, think, think! Jess' mind screamed, but she couldn't remember a thing. The turn was coming up fast and Brian was almost neck and neck with her on her right side. Taking a deep breath Jess decided that she would take the turn wide letting Brian take the inside turn and making him think he would come out ahead. That's it! Jess remembered. Brian would take the inside turn but it was a trick because you couldn't see that the turn was so wide and he'd end up going on the outside making a space open for Jess to squeeze back in on the inside.

Turn…

Brian took the bait and went inside. Jess turned hard praying she ended up in the spot she wanted to be. She was just a little too far outside. It could work. Brian was drifting out side and Jess Cranked her wheel all the way and pulled to the inside. The G's that pushed down on her made her dizzy but she pushed it off. She screamed as she finished the turn and pulled into the final straight shot. The finish line was in view and Brian was behind her. He was waiting for her to use her shot of nos. Jess was waiting for him to use his. Her heart beat wildly and sweat dripped down her face. She couldn't wait a moment longer and she pushed the button boosting her forward, the sudden change making her dizzy yet again this time the finish line blurring. She wanted to panic but victory was seconds away. Brian let his round of nos off…

So close…

A red Eclipse crossed the finish line, followed by a silver Skyline. Jess won. Her car began to skid to a stop, but if turned in a full circle and not once but three times. The forth time the passenger side of Jess' car slammed into another car on the sidelines. It wasn't a huge crash because Jess' car had managed to slow before it hit the other car. Brian's car stopped and he bolted out. The rest of the crowd from the starting line ran to the car and stood around. Brian was the first to reach Jess, followed closely by Eben.

Brian found Jess passed out in her seat safely strapped in but her head was against the window a small cut and a bump starting to form on her forehead. She had bitten her lip and a thin line of blood ran down her chin. Brian reached out to move her but he felt arms stop him.

"Don't touch her," Eben told him. Anger swelled in Brian and he wanted to lash out at Eben. "She could have broken her neck. I called an ambulance it will be here soon," Eben informed and then Brian understood. He kneeled looking at Jess' face and all he wanted to do was kiss her and hold her in his arms and tell her how much he loved her. He did the best he could and held onto her limp hand. She stirred making a grumbling sound and an "oww…."

"Stay still Jess… you were in an accident," Brian told her firmly even though he could feel tears swell in the back of his eyes. Just as soon as Jess came to she passed out again. Brian could here the sirens as he broke down and cried.

A bright light woke her up from what she had mistaken for a pleasant sleep. After the groggy feeling passed, she felt the throbbing in her head and the ache in her neck. Ugh! She thought wondering what happened. She wanted to be stubborn and keep her eyes shut but they opened against her will. She focused past the bright sunshine that poured into her white room. Where am I? She wondered. She couldn't focus on much but a moving form grabbed her attention. As the blurs became shapes she saw it was a man pacing back and forth in front of her bed.

"Please stop moving," she crocked out unaware her voice was so scratchy. The figure instantly stopped and ran to her side. Her eyes squinted and then the form came into vision. It was Brian. He looked tired and his eyes were puffy. There was 5 years of worry etched with in his soul. Had she caused that?

"Jess, Jess, Thank God you're all right. I am so sorry I had no idea! Jess I love you so much!" Brian's words exploded onto her. Jess found herself smiling at him. He reached out and caressed the good side of her face and leaned up and kissed her softly. Her lips were soar but it still felt good.

"What happened?" Jess asked reaching out for Brian's hand. He held it and sat next to her in bed. He squeezed her hand gently before he began.

"You won the race Jess… and then… well… you passed out and spun out of control and slammed into a car."

"I passed out?" Jess asked in disbelief.

"Yes…. Jess there was something you didn't know…" but before Brian could finish Eben and all Jess' brothers and sisters came into her small hospital room.

"Yay! Jess is alive!" Jack shouted with joy. Jess chuckled and was hugged by everyone. Brian had moved away and stood at the back of the room. She held out her hand to him so he came back and held it.

"Come on guys… let Jess rest," Brandon and Eben shuffled the kids out of the room but before Jack left he turned back to his sister and said, "I hope it's a girl."

Jess' eyes narrowed in confusion. She looked up at Brian when they were once again alone. He was just staring down at her and she felt so much love at that instant that she burst out into tears.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she sobbed. "I don't know what's come over me... Please don't leave me." Brian beamed down at her and carefully wrapped his arms around her. "Hey I can feel my toes…I'm not paralyzed." Brian chuckled as he continued to hold onto her.

"You're fine Jess," he sighed happily. "Everyone is fine," he whispered into her ear. Jess pulled back from Brain and looked up at him seriously.

"Is there something I'm not getting?" she asked beyond confused. He reached out and smoothed her furrow.

"Jess… you're… you're… well you are going to have a baby," Brian smiled down at her as her face lit up.

"I'm… pregnant?" she laughed in disbelief.

"Yes," Brian nodded. "The doctors all say the baby is fine. There was no damage from the crash or stress." Brian was smiling from ear to ear. A light bulb went off in Jess' head.

"Brian… this is your baby," Jess stated.

"Yes… I know. Our baby," the two embraced as more tears leaked from Jess.

"I'm not going to leave you Jess… even if you tell me you hate me I will be here to help you." Brian whipped away a stray tear from Jess' face.

"Brian… I could never hate you. I love you so much. How could I have been so stupid and not see the warning signs? I was so hung up and denying I didn't love you that I disregarded what I should have known was happening and I endangered our child…"

"It's ok Jess," Brian held her shoulders firmly but gently. "Don't worry about that now. All you have to worry about is raising this baby, and I'll be by your side every step of the way to help."

The two sat smiling at one another until they looked over to the window to see Eben and Brandon peaking in. They all laughed and Jess could feel herself getting tired. She leaned into Brian and he sat back so she could fall asleep on him as he held her in his arms.

"Guess what?" Jess asked before sleep over took her.

"Hmm?" even Brian getting sleepy.

"I'm the fastest."

The End

Final Author's Note: OMG! I finished! Can you believe it? I'd just like to thank everyone who has stuck with me and put up with my lousy updating schedule and so on and so forth! Wow…. This is great. I was thinking about doing a sequel but I'm not sure…

Also… Please check out my other story "The Way You Breathe." Personally I really like that story. Hehe… and I am planning on updating it more frequently. I've been having problems lately so I haven't been able to update anything. If I ever finish "The Way You Breath," I want to combine the two to make a sequel with all the characters from both that story and, "Who's that fastest?" Just please let me know what you think.

As much as I want to ramble on and never let this end, I must say goodbye! I loved writing this story and I thank every one of you who reviewed and supported me. You all mean so much to me:Wipes away tear: Till next time folks! Keep pushing to be the fastest!