Chapter 20: Tackling the Track

Kira glanced in the mirror at the scant hair that was finally trying to grow back now that she was no longer taking any cancer treatments. It had taken longer than the doctors had told her that it would; possibly because her body had been exposed to more radiation this time. Twice now she had lost her hair to cancer and despite the fact that she'd never considered herself vain, she prayed that once it grew back this time that she'd never have to face losing it again.

Reaching over to her vanity where her wig's stand was resting, Kira started getting ready for her first day back on the track. She knew that she didn't have a prayer at placing in the race but she couldn't just not show up after promising Jebb that she'd be there. She was grateful that he hadn't told anyone else about her illness. Even during the rare times that they'd come across any of the other racers while the two of them were out when Jebb was trying to lift her spirits during her time of partial isolation. If any of them had noticed that she seemed off, no one mentioned it; though more than once, comments had been thrown at both of them about spending so much time together.

Once she was ready to head out, Kira went down to the garage where her motorcycle was kept. She'd only taken it out a few times in recent weeks while trying to gauge just how much of her strength had returned in the months since her remission. At first, she'd barely been able to keep the thing steady while riding; now she was able to handle her bike much better in the turns and she felt confident that so long as she didn't push herself that she'd be able to complete the race tonight. Fortunately, by staying towards the back of the pack, she'll be able to avoid the more aggressive racers. She wasn't going out onto the track to beat any of them. Instead she'll be racing herself. To prove that she was on her way back to where she had been before she'd been knocked down by her illness. She would not be slowed down for long. She would once more make her way back up the leader board. Until then, she would continue to best herself.

Once Kira was at the track it didn't take long for Jebb to find her. He broke away from the rest of his friends and joined her as she filled out her racing form.

"I wasn't sure if you were ready to race or not."

Kira shrugged while doing her best to not show that she wasn't really sure, either. "I'm just out for a nice Sunday ride. I'll let you worry about keeping folks off your tail out there today."

Jebb nodded since he knew that just coming out at all had been a big step into returning back to her life from before her cancer had returned. It likely wouldn't be easy to get back fully too soon. At least he could look forward to her joining him and the others after the race. She'd promised that she would and he'd already learned that Kira never breaks a promise. In a way he'd wished that he'd asked her to join him for a more private evening out since he knew she was much more guarded when it wasn't just the two of them. Alone, she was more likely to allow herself to have more fun.

When the officials signaled for each of the racers to take their places Jebb wished Kira luck and headed back to his own bike. It didn't take long for Jebb and the other leaders to zip out from the rest of the pack. Meanwhile there were a few of the newer racers who must have started racing while Kira was sick battling for some of the more modest places in the race. Kira, instead, fought her own competitive spirit and focused on just finishing the race, regardless of where she placed. This time a year ago she wasn't even able to be out on the track at all. The fact that she was here was already a victory; one that only one other racer was really privy to.

Kira took the turns a bit more carefully than she would have just two short seasons ago but she knew that being reckless would only earn her more time on the sidelines. One minor thing of pride had been that she hadn't placed dead last. That honor went to a rookie that she'd never met before. Once at the finished line, while the other racers began to celebrate their own placings, Kira carefully removed her helmet while being mindful of her hair piece. She then went about getting ready to put her bike on the back of her truck; dreading having anyone see just how much trouble she was going to have with the fact that she was still weaker than she'd like. Fortunately, Jebb had joined her and took it upon himself to lift the motorcycle up onto the bed of the truck as if he sensed what she was thinking.

"Thanks."

Jebb gave an easy smile as he nodded. "So, how did it feel to be back out there?"

Kira glanced around to see just who, if anyone, was paying attention to their conversation before confessing, "Frustrating." After a moment she also added, "But good at the same time. I've missed riding out on the track."

"It won't be long before you'll be back nipping my heels in a race for first. You'll see. Anyway, Blake had bet me that he'd win the race. Now he has to pay up. Ready for a bit of fun at his expense?"

Seeing the devious spark in Jebb's eyes and the mischievous look on his face, Kira knew that she was about to have more fun that she'd had in a long time. "Like what?"

"I figured that I'd let you help me figure out what he has to do. The last time I had him walk down Main Street in his underwear wearing snorkel and fins. I think he had too much fun though and it wasn't embarrassing enough."

"Humm..." Kira glanced around the track for inspiration before a sign caught her eye for a beauty salon. "How about saying that he has to go get his legs waxed. I'm willing to bet that he wouldn't find that fun."

"Do what?" Jebb turned and saw the the ad that Kira was looking at before looking back at his friend who was doing his best to smooth-talk a girl who had gone over to talk to him after the race. "That is just cruel."

"It was just a thought."

"And a good one. The only thing that would make it better is he has to have an audience. I think instead of a bar we should just go back to his place and order in. I'll go tell him about the change of plans."

"You sure that he'll want everyone at his place? Especially if he lives like most single men do. Will we even be able to get in through the door?"

Jebb shrugged as if he hadn't thought of the mess that his friend's apartment usually was left in before suggesting going there with all of their friends, as well as the newest girl of convenience. "Does it matter? It all falls in with the bet."

Kira did her best to hold the camera steady through the giggles that she wanted to let loose as Blake let out another round of explicits. Only one leg was partially done and already he was asking if he could stop yet. Needless to say, by the time that the waxing was finished he wasn't in any mood to entertain any racing groupie. Not that she'd stayed that long once she had joined the group of friends at Blake's, anyway. Between the fact that the apartment didn't look as if it had been cleaned at all since he'd moved in after leaving his parents' house earlier in the year as well as the screams that was heard with each pull of the strips, she had made a hasty exit.

Once the last of Blake's leg hair was removed and Kira turned off the camera to document the bet just as every bet and prank was recorded, she asked if Jebb was going to be ready once Blake's turn to get back at him came around.

"Not me," Jebb winked. "This was your idea. I figure that half of whatever I get should go to you."

"Coward." Kira stifled a yawn despite the fact that it was still early.

"Hey, what can I say? I was taught to share everything that I have." Jebb chuckled as he walked over to tell his friends that he was going to go ahead and head out before returning to Kira and suggesting that they leave. He could tell that the day's events had taken a toll on her even if she was trying to hide it. There wasn't any real reason to push herself too soon.

Months later, Kira glanced around the track and smiled. It was the last of the season and she felt ready to finally try to reach the front of the pack before reaching the finished line. With every race she'd felt more and more of her strength and confidence from before her bout with her cancer return. Upon seeing Jebb prepare his own motorcycle for the race, she knew that if she could beat him today then she'd be back up to a hundred percent. Then there was a private race that they needed to take care of.

Climbing on her bike, Kira waited for the starter's pistol before she gunned it and sped ahead of several of the racers on the track before creeping up toward the leaders of the race. Quicker than she would have believed it, the only racer ahead of her was Jebb. As she slid up in position next to him, they both approached the finished line and she was surprised when she passed him with ease just a few lengths away from the end of the race.

Kira pulled off her helmet as those at the finished line congratulated her. When one racer in particularly walked up she felt her blood boil. As he extended his hand to shake Kira's he was surprised when she instead used her hand to give him a solid sucker punch to the gut.

"What was that for?" Jebb wheezed in surprise.

"For throwing the race. You didn't even try to win out there." Kira jutted out her chin in anger as she spoke. She'd been working so hard to win a race on her own and in one quick moment all of her hard work was thrown away. She couldn't be proud of winning since she wasn't even given a fight for it in those last moments. "I don't need you handing me a win, Duke. I'm perfectly capable of making it to the winner's circle on my own."

Or at least she thought she was but now she'd never know if she could have won this race on her own.

"Do me a favor. The next time you decide to help me win a race, don't." With that, Kira walked her bike away from the track and didn't look back to see the sea of shocked faces behind her.

That night, Kira sat up in her room still fuming over her loss of an honest win. She replayed those last moments in her mind over and over. The moment Jebb realized that they were the only two racers within several motorcycle lengths, he'd slowed down and had just let her overtake him with ease. After all of the months of working her ass off to get back to where she was, she had looked forward to her first win and now that victory felt very hollow indeed. Lost in her thoughts, Kira was surprised to hear a knock on her door. Opening it up, she saw Gloria waiting for her.

"I'm sorry to disturb you but you have a visitor waiting downstairs in the solarium."

"Thank you." Kira headed downstairs. Once in the solarium she found Jebb looking a bit repentant as he stood by the French doors that led to the gardens. "Jebb."

The set look on her face as well as the crossed arms told him that Kira was still mad at him. Honestly, he hadn't thought that she would have noticed that he'd not fought her as hard for the lead as much as he would have if she'd been anyone else. And once she had, Jebb hadn't thought that she'd be so upset about it. Obviously, he'd misjudged her.

"I'm sorry." Two words but two of the hardest ones to ever say out loud. "I just wanted you to go out on top for the season. You worked hard for it this year."

"You're right. I did. But the moment you threw that race it made all of that hard work for nothing. It meant that the only way I could win was if you let me. That I needed your help to do it."

"You could have done it on your own," Jebb said with a shrug as he tried to calm Kira down a bit.

"I guess we'll never know, now, will we? Don't you ever throw a race again; especially just to let me win."

Jebb put his hands up as he spoke as if he was surrendering as he replied, "Alright. I promise. It's not a mistake that I'll repeat. I was just tryin' to help, though."

With her anger released, Kira let out a heavy breath before she acknowledged, "I know. Just don't do it again."

When Kira sat on the couch Jebb joined her as he asked if they were alright, again.

"Yes. I just really had myself hyped up for the race today. So, now that the season is over, what do we do?"

"Well, we still have one more race to settle between the two of us." Jebb had done his best to not push Kira for an actual date rather than just hanging out as friends but he was ready to take the next step with the fiery redhead. When he saw that she realized what race he was referring to he smiled widely at the slight blush that crept across her face. What he didn't know was that the blush had come from the fact that she'd planned to do the same thing during that race as Jebb had done today that had made her so mad; she planned to throw the race.

"Alright." Kira nodded as she tried to ignore the heat on her own cheeks. "It's a date."