POV Narrator:
The days went by in the month of February, as did the worry around Naomi and all her rescue, as the girls were trying to get a map of Appleton with help from Rosemary's boyfriend who was drawing hall by hall. Getting in a much clearer way how the map of the academy was, in the meantime the girls also went to talk to Paul Hanbridge who was very clear that he would only help if one of the girls lay with him all the time and with that Eleanora did without hesitation just so she could see her best friend back, since he would be a key piece in this rescue, with that every weekend he showed up in Luna Nova to lie with Maria White on the sly, which he even took advantage of a lot, although the blonde wasn't that excited about doing this favor, as she normally would be, she already showed a huge indifference in wanting to have sex with the boy, as much as she found him attractive, she just really wanted to see Naomi back.
The weeks went by in the month of February that was only serving to collect information about Appleton, since it was defined that who would enter for the rescue in Appleton would be Rosemary, Eleanora and Velma that in this time also trained with Laura about the manipulation of magic and the magical presence that would be something essential so that they could go through the building and then rescue their friend. Besides this training there was also the race training that they did at the same time, since they were in Bernadette's team and how they managed to progress a lot in these weeks, performing a perfect wing change in 2 seconds per stop, it was practically with the most perfect synchrony, besides Cavendish's ability to improve a lot, she could already run with a lot of finesse and fly with a lot of delicacy.
Saturday, February 27, 1988
Bernadette was able to sign up to race using a private team she called the Bernadette Stewart Team or simply BST for the entire 1988 British Broom Racing Tour season, being approved by the association that controls the event, and also already starting pre-race practice and qualifying days later. What she had already shown the other teams trying to enter or at least stay in the event that she wasn't messing around, by taking Pole Position with a broom she had been repaired by after so much use in practice before they even started the season, Cavendish surprised everyone just then by getting 1:971 seconds over the second place, it was almost two seconds of difference, this with a broom that had already been through a lot of training and many races, besides being from the previous year, which already showed the girl's superiority in racing with a broom.
The day of the race arrived, that moment was so well awaited by Cavendish that she had not had sex with her girlfriend for quite some time, either because she was on her period, or also to keep herself with all the energy in her body for the race, in the greatest possible concentration she could have. That day dawned, with the two waking up next to each other, since they were in the same bed in the blue team's room.
POV Bernadette:
I was soon the first one to wake up, I got up and I went in direction to the bathroom, soon I saw Laura getting in there too, taking off her clothes, so I was just watching that beautiful body of hers, what let me with a little desire to go upstairs, but I just got in to bathe myself, fastening my hair and helping my freckles to wash those wonderful red hair, after we made our personal hygiene I put on my jumpsuit given as a gift by Laura... It was wonderful, she made me a red jumpsuit all in white with my name printed on it, as well as the flag of Scotland over my name the way I asked for "Bernadette Stewart" and also my blood type, there were some checkered lines also on the clothes that reminded me a lot of the texture of a Kilt, on the hat there was a checkered band around it.
- You look beautiful my love - she said, giving me a thumbs-up while I winked at her, that gorgeous girl.
- No more beautiful than you - I tell her as I finish putting on the gloves.
After I finished getting changed and saw Laura changing into the kilt she had given me to wear on the day of the dance, for someone who doesn't like to wear a dress, she loves to wear a kilt... And it looks kind of cute, and also a black t-shirt and a jeans jacket and the good old black high top all stars that were always on Laura's feet, after she changed we left the room and soon we went to wake up the other girls.
- Hello! Hello! Get up out of bed because the one who makes money in bed is a whore! - Said Laura in a megaphone as the girls were getting up, all a bit tired.
Soon we were waiting for each one to get up and get ready for the big race, from there we took the regular brooms to the track, where we left everything in the boxes, tools, our race broom, everything, I was even going riding a regular broom, and as soon as we arrived, we just started to set up the brooms, Laura just watched from afar, she didn't want to get involved because her contract didn't allow her to work on the broom at least in the pits, but it was very nice to have her there and even Laura's mother appeared holding a microphone ready to interview us.
- Daughter? What are you doing here? It is still the preseason, you start running in a few weeks, did you decide to look at the performance of the other runners you are going to compete against? - said Joanne to Laura, who only shrugged.
- Look mom, it's almost like that, I just want to see if this Bernadette Stewart who is taking a good time from the other runners is really all that, after all it's always good to have a good rival to match, since I learned that she decimated the competition yesterday, with a particular LEAF broom from last year on top of that - she said to her mother who just nodded.
- Ah very well, so I'll talk here with Bernadette Stewart herself, who was extremely fast, what does she have to say about the race? What do you want for the future? - my mother asked Bern, she was so flushed and embarrassed.
- First of all good morning, I just want to have some fun racing, show that I am also skilled, but I don't have high pretensions like racing worldwide for the World Broom Racing Championship, I just want to race to prove how I am a champion, raise an income because I want to show that I am independent, even at my age, about racing, I will just focus a lot to grab this spot for the British Broom Racing Tour, I intend with my team to win many podiums and show that a whole team is much better than just one runner - I tell Joanne that is very surprised with my answer and soon after I leave, Laura looking at everything just sends me a signal with her thumb signaling that I did well in this interview.
POV Laura:
Bern is doing very well, I am surprised at how she is managing to keep her cool and even responded very clearly to my mother... As I was watching all of Bern's team at work I soon get called by Elizabeth Chapman, she was clearly trying to call me to something, I then go to where the boss lady called me to a place in the paddock and she seemed a bit nervous.
- Okay, Laura McLaren, I can play dumb, you can play dumb, but nobody here is an idiot, we know very well that that broom is yours, you gave it to someone, right? This Bernadette Stewart is your girlfriend from what I noticed, what do you want with this? Do you want me to move her up in rank? Are you mad because I didn't hire her for the World Broom Racing Championship? Look, you are not breaking our contract, but you are helping a potential racer who can turn against you and the whole team, I imagine they are your friends. Now explain to me the reason for all this, it could cost you a contract next year, so be very honest - Elizabeth said, really wanting to get some truth out of me.
- Yes Bernadette is my girlfriend, but that doesn't stop me from racing against her, I've already made it clear to her that my intention is to win, I'm not here to let her down or anything, I will race seriously and if I have to I will win 15 races again this season, I will show how dominant I am, but what's wrong with me having helped her to have an opportunity to make some money and to race? She is in a much less numerous team and on top of that they are all teenagers, I have nothing to fear, I can have a wonderful season just with my ability on the broom.
- Right... I have a contract proposal for you, let's renew it for 1989, you move up to WBRC if you win 15 races this season, with 10 wins the contract is guaranteed only for the European Broom Racing Championship, so it's up to you. Do you want to guarantee the broom for 1989 or keep on killing yourself to find some other team that wants to hire you, remembering here that it will be a deal with money that you've never seen before - said Elizabeth handing me the contract.
I quickly read through all the terms, they were always the same, show sponsors on the clothes, 1 million pounds salary... Wait... 1 million? Holy shit! Holy shit! Really? Well, let's read this right, because it is not 1 million that will make me buy this broom, without helping the girls' team and everything else, as I imagined, well, they will manage to do well, from what I taught them, it doesn't seem such a bad contract, 15 wins and I go straight to the World Broom Racing Championship in 1989 and I need 10 wins for the EBRC, it is not even the championship that I will probably win, I need to win 10 races to only go up in the European championship... Well it looks tempting, no it doesn't, it is tempting, but I'll hold on a little bit, it's not time to get too busy, let's see as the season goes on if another team calls me wanting a contract.
- Thank you very much Elizabeth, but I will not accept for now, the contract seems tempting, the value is quite irresistible, but I want to race to win, besides that we are still in pre-season, who knows what offers may appear ... I would even race for free in a top team in the WBRC, I just know I'm not interested right now - I say to Elizabeth who takes that contract and keeps it in her briefcase until we both get up and start walking through the halls and talking.
- It is ok Laura McLaren, but you should know that we are still going to negotiate a lot, I am just going to make it clear here that I am giving you the best offer that no other team can give you, 1 million pounds is a lot of money, nobody of your age would have a money like that in their hands, it is the dream of any teenager, think about the first car that you could have with that kind of money? Leaf can even present you with a car in partnership with Clover, you know well how Clover cars are amazing machines, but I will not stay here trying to change your mind, I just want to start doing business with you Laura McLaren, good luck to your friends' team, They will possibly pass, but you should know that it is good not to give away results just because Bernadette Stewart is your girlfriend - said Elizabeth, taking her broom and leaving, while I went back to the paddock just to observe how the girls were doing.
POV Narrator:
Time went by as the race was about to happen, Laura even went to sit down to watch the race, from the pits of Bernadette's team where she was facing a television, already at the Cavendish mansion the girl's grandmother was watching the race through the crystal ball cheering her on, at the McLaren residence the whole family was watching while Joanne was working at the race site as a journalist. Until the moment arrives when the 26 brooms come out onto the circuit and start the presentation lap accompanying a Safety Broom for one lap, that would be two 30 minute races around the Leaf team circuit in Hethel in England. The weather was open, 21 degrees, there was no chance of rain, just sunshine and blue skies. The pre-season races even had the invitation of a special commentator, Joanne McLaren herself, who was there to comment on every detail of what was happening in that event.
POV Bernadette:
30:00
Let's go, the time for the race is here, I will do well today to ensure that I stay in the lead, I just need to focus, keep my broom in front and win, after the presentation lap the Safety Broom enters the pits and soon the lights start to turn on, the start would be already flying, so as soon as the green light is on I start to accelerate with everything, just focusing on the perfect line to enter the first turn, which I also noticed in the rearview mirror that there were some that wanted to stick on mine, but in the first turn I get out the best one and in the next I manage to keep enough to pass in the straight, although there is a runner that is taking my slipstream. I didn't give up my position at all, and I defended it with all my style.
27:31
It's been 2 laps so far, I was in the third, I'm noticing that the broom behind is keeping a great pace even, she is running very close to me for 3 laps in a row, although I'm not even going with everything, but I've noticed that I lose in straights, which is very strange, the broom was repaired yesterday by Laura, it's in good shape, but it must be something of hers to have been a little slower in the straights, since I swallow it in the curves. This is really fucked up, I can really feel this broom well in my hand... Now I understand why Laura wants so much to be a racer, this adrenaline running through her veins, all this action, I'm loving it, entering each curve delicately, even though I was really going fast, so much that I was leaving the other behind, which was great, I noticed that it was better for me to have an exit in the curves with more speed, which would give me a little more advantage.
24:01
She disappeared from my rear view mirror, so that was it really, my corner exit being faster has taken away my disadvantage on the straights, I'm managing to keep up this pace quietly, which is great, so I won't be so far behind when my stop happens, I will continue like this until I hear a message on the radio from April.
- Bern keep pulling, try to speed up a little more, we will make the stop at 17 minutes much earlier than everyone else, you can put a little more speed, from what I have analyzed here from the other runners the time in the pits is 20 seconds, try to put 20 seconds on 117 your wings can pull a lot - April said over the radio which I just take the opportunity to speed up a little more.
20:15
It's been almost 10 minutes of racing, I started pulling when there were 24 minutes left, the corners on this circuit are actually quite challenging when you pull harder, I remembered this well in qualifying, wow... It feels like the walls want to swallow you, I never noticed how scary it is when you are going at that speed, but at the same time it gives me a little bit of adrenaline, going very close to these walls, well... From the signs I have already opened 20 seconds which is great.
17:22
The time to enter the pits was near and I was in the middle of the lap still running with everything and I felt very well that those wings could hold up much more than the laps I did, but it's always good to change, because you never know, it's been 13 minutes of heavy broomstick riding.
- Bernadette! Box, Box, Box! - said April over the radio.
I soon get into the pits and make the pit stop in no time, wow! The girls are really well trained, so much so that I came out of the track and I only saw the brooms that I had turned around on them a few laps ago, so it was a sign that I didn't lose 20 seconds in this stop, since my advantage was 25 seconds over 117 who was in second position, so I made sure to get out and not pull the broom as much, I just stayed at a pace to conserve more the broom, since they had 17 minutes of racing, this stop must have been quite a surprise I imagine.
POV Laura:
Holy shit girls that was 2.1 seconds, the fastest I have ever seen, wow... That's it girls, you really showed that you are going all out, my training really worked out for the heck of it, I am so proud that I was able to train these girls so well, and even more so of Bern who is running very well, she is following the strategies right, she got out in front and now we just have to run for the hug, keep leading the race.
- But this is spectacular! BST made a stop in 2.1 seconds! But how incredible the synchronicity and speed of the team in changing the wings of the broom! And Bernadette Stewart is still in the lead! Now that is teamwork! That is the wonder of an entire team working to see her into BBRT! If they keep this up they are going to be the big surprise in BBRT, as never before has such a fast break like this been seen! - Said my mother commenting on the race in all animation.
POV Bernadette:
14:31
I was already enjoying the lead a lot, until I noticed that they were starting to stop at that moment, including the girl behind me, since I got a message from April telling me to step on the gas for two laps just to open a bigger advantage and that's what I did, I started to pull hard, now it was just a matter of time to win, I entered each corner taking every millisecond that was possible, I accelerated with an extreme delicacy, I didn't hear anything but the orb of the broom asking me to raise or lower the speeds, I did it all in automatic practically, attacking corner by corner beautifully, I even thought I was in a tunnel... But what a sensation it was, so much so that I just kept going.
10:11
With 10 minutes to go I was soon back on my feet when I noticed a broom that was passing by and it was exactly number 117, that's when I noticed that I was turning around on it, wow... I was going so much like that, I think I pulled too hard, I soon pass the runner and keep going each turn without pulling too hard this time, just conserving the broom, so much so that I ended up getting a message from April about my performance.
- Look Bern, I don't know what has got into you now, but excellent! 4 minutes just pulling this broom on the limit was enough to catch up to 117 who had a disastrous stop, she took 36 seconds in the pits, which was enough for me to pass her on this lap, now keep that broom because we have a race to win - April said over the radio, she said pretty much the same thing I had thought, that's great.
00:00
The time was up, it was the last lap, I just needed to cross the finish line, I had already done some good laps and soon I made sure to get there by going from one side to the other in the final stretch and win the first race! Yes! Thank you Laura! We did it! After crossing the finish line I go walking around the track celebrating and soon I also receive a message from April that thanked me for our victory! Our team's victory! We did it! Our spot on the British Broom Racing Tour is ours!
- Excellent Bernadette! Excellent work girl! Get that Bernie! We did it! That's it! The £100,000 is ours! Now go back to the pits and let's check the broom for the second race, maybe we can get even more and complete the 250 thousand pounds, just to start the year like that - April said while I waved to the crowd in the bleachers around and soon arrived in the pits.
As soon as I arrived I was greeted with a jump by Laura who hugged and kissed me with everything... I honestly felt all relieved, then the other brooms were arriving, I couldn't believe that I could have won my first race like that... Wow... I never even thought I would win a real race, I'm really getting better at it and it's actually a lot of fun... Back in the real world I was feeling fulfilled with the big kiss Laura gave me... Hmmmm... That tongue exploring me was wonderful... I felt like the most rewarded person in the world and it wasn't even because of the money, it was that kiss from my little freckle.
- Love was fucked for a fuck! That's a girl! Now show me how to run the second race! Fuck you, girl! Run beautifully! - Said Laura smiling at me.
The time goes by and there was a 15 minute break for the second race which happened with the grid reversed, it was divided in the middle, the last 13 started at the front and the first 13 started at the back and as I won the race I would start from the 14th position and would have to pass 13 brooms to win the race, but I will try my best, until the 15 minutes pass and then the second race starts, we do the same presentation lap and then the start is given.
30:00
It's time to show service again 13 brooms to pass and I win, there are 30 minutes of race, I think I can do it, right at the start I get out in the best and I go out sewing two runners, great I already went up to the twelfth position, in the first turn I pass on the outside the eleventh, in the one that came next completing the S I passed on the inside and was already in tenth position facing the opposite straight where I was in the vacuum of the ninth place getting spark in the face, but I did not care, I gave a beautiful dive and not only had her as other 3 and with this I passed beautifully on the inside of the four in a curve that I never thought I had done so perfectly, feel even my overalls scrape the wall... Wow... I was already in 6th position in less than a lap, but the others already had a good distance to go, while I had snuck past the others.
29:01
The fourth position was already more than a lap behind me, the front runners were really trying to give it their all, but I was catching up, so much that I was already close to the third place, and the public jumped with euphoria when they saw how I was going through all the runners, it was just a matter of time until I would be in the lead again... I passed beautifully in the opposite straight to the third place that was going from one side to the other trying to block my passage, but I managed to find a gap and overtake with all style.
- Wonderful Bern! We are on the podium and that alone already leaves us with a total of 175,000 pounds! Keep it up Bernadette! And we will win this race! Excellent overtaking Laura is freaking out from the Paddock TV - April said over the radio.
27:17
Second position was just a matter of time, I could already see the second placed girl's broom and how aggressive she was, it was remarkable how she passed in each corner practically kissing the wall or skidding on the exit and with some small mistakes I was getting closer, so it was just a matter of time for her to give up the pressure, and the first placed girl wasn't far away, since Molly showed me on the board that it was 5 seconds to the first placed girl. Slowly I was getting to the second place and it was on the S curve before the finish line that I passed her, and she gave in to the pressure and opened up too much and I thought she had given in without a fight, so I made sure to continue my hunt for the first position, the broom was safe to pull with everything, I will show that I am a great runner now, that I also have talent. The board already showed 4 seconds, great, it was 1 second per lap, but this battling with number 98, now it was just a matter of time.
25:51
I could already see the first place's broom, the sparks coming out on the straight, her diving in each corner and soon I was noticing that she was really pulling at the limit, but I was slowly getting closer and closer, I still managed to have pace to follow her, even though she entered the corners with a lot of control I would say, but even so I kept hunting and soon I passed her in the opposite straight, she going from one side to the other until she started to lose speed and then I just heard an explosion coming from behind until I saw that it was her magic orb catching fire and then she had to leave I guess.
- Excellent Bernadette Cavendish! Really grab that first position! Go for it! Way to go Bern! You showed you've got it! She's really got it going on! Now just hold on for 25 minutes! Laura is here jumping for joy! - April said over the radio.
17:09
The race continued as normal as the other was, the difference is that I opened much more advantage this time, I was 37 seconds ahead of the second placed girl and it was only going up every lap, I was giving my all on that broom, soon I stopped in the pits and changed the wings very quickly, the girls in the pit stop are really not sleeping, they trained very well with Laura and that fills me with pride, as everything was so fast I kept myself in front, managing with extreme tranquility to keep myself in front, that's it.
00:00
No other way, I won, kept the broomstick meticulously until the end, even going around the second-placed girl, winning one more race, where I crossed the finish line going from one side to the other and then waved to the whole audience who jumped in euphoria to see how amazing I could be in that race? Yes, another race I won, I have no doubt that April will celebrate a lot and talk about how rich we are... Hehe... They deserve it... Today it looks like we will have a big reason to smile! We did it, let's fuck it! Perfect! Very fucking great!
- Excellent Bernadette! Excellent work girl! Get that Bernie! We did it! Yeah! Fuckin' great! Fuckin' hell! That's it! 250 grand! We're fucking rich! I don't believe it! What a spectacular performance! We managed to win the race thanks to your incredible skill and those girls' ability to change their wings! Now go back to the pits, we did it! - said April.
I was soon back in the pits after waving to the crowd who were raising the Scottish flag for me and also to the English who were clapping, thinking it was amazing how well I had done, until I got there and was almost knocked down by the freckles who jumped up to give me a kiss congratulating me on the amazing race I had done... I just felt those soft lips of Laura's one more time and I felt graced, that was an incredible feeling, so winning was really that... All that wonderful feeling... Wow... I feel wonderful.
- Fucking love! He fucked it up! Who is the most fucked up runner of all time? Bernadette Stewart! That's it, baby! That was beautiful! That was fucked up! That was spectacular! I am extremely proud of my fucking girlfriend! I'm shaking from how fucked up you were! Holy shit! I love you so much - Laura said excitedly until Joanne arrived with the microphone and you could see how excited she was.
- So Bernadette Stewart, what an amazing performance! What a spectacular race you ran today, you won both races in a manner and class that has never been seen before and you didn't even have to win the second race, you showed that you are really fit for the British Broom Racing Tour - Joanne said until I took the microphone.
- Joanne, I just have to say that I owe a lot to the work of my whole team that worked closely with me to show how together we can win a race, they really helped me a lot, I don't know what I would do without all my friends that work to help me, but this is just the beginning of a whole journey that is coming up, I will still surprise you in the British Broom Racing Tour, you will see.
After that there were the two podium ceremonies where I received two wreaths of flowers for my two victories, after I managed to get two victories in this pre-race... Wow... Today I gave it my all to win, and also won the £250,000 in cash, which I had saved to count when I got to Luna Nova... This day was really amazing... I really have a talent for the broom, who would have thought hehe.
POV Narrator:
After Laura's incredible race the girls went home, where the money was divided in a fair way, with 62500 pounds were with the costs of the broom and the other 187500 pounds were divided between each of those who worked on the team, and each one got 15625 pounds for each, which was a huge amount, which even impressed them for not expecting to win all that in the first race. They even made sure to save all that money to spend it someday on the things they like to buy. In the first race alone, they got enough for the maintenance of their broom to buy another Leaf broom because they won so much. Bernadette showed that she will also be a very formidable rival for Laura in the future races between them.
See you, broom racers...
