Chapter Two: Tracks
I've got energy, don't get me wrong. I am Energizer Bunny hear me roar! I've got ADD and sometimes jump off bridges. I am absolutely insane. I'd jump off Foreman's Bridge buck naked in the dead of winter if it meant I never had to go back to the Cranston Racetrack. All the redneck sleaze balls from the tri-state area all flocked here, and it was a habit whenever Ariel dragged Rusty and I here that our asses would end up posted on some hick's Facebook page. I love my ass, but I just don't want it on the Internet.
I internally groaned as Ariel and Rusty hopped right out of the car as Rusty parked, I had changed from my cream dress into a tank top, ripped jeans, and some aqua converse shoes that were perfect for running if need be. "Come on, let's go." Ariel took Rusty's arm and dragged her foreword, leaving me to walk through the rednecks, watching Chuck win, as usual. They were riveted.
"And with two laps to go, the leader is car number 44, Chuck Cranston!" Spoke the commentator over the intercom. His daddy owned the track; of course he'd win. "Coming around the last turn on the final lap... We have a winner!" Ooh suspense. " In the number 44 car, it's Chuck Cranston, let's hear it for Chuck!" I felt my stomach sink as Ariel shook her ass hanging on the chain link fence that kept the people and the stadium separate. "Yeah he just won!" Of course he won.
The weasel stuck his head out of his flame-motif racecar and blinked his beady eyes excitedly. "Yeah, baby! Yeah, baby!" He waved his arms like Brutus at the end of Julius Caesar, totally milking the crowd in the most disgusting way. Jesus, the sight of his face made me insane! "Today's late-model division, two-time champion, folks." The commentator kind of faded to the background as I gazed on the massive show that was Chuck Cranston. He was absolutely ridiculous.
Chuck gazed on me, scanning his eyes up and down my short form, and grinned. I gaged slightly as he made me feel extremely exposed before attending to my sister, who was shaking her ass for no reason and looking to Chuck like a Labrador. "Go up there, you get that flag and get that cute ass out here right now!" My jaw dropped as Ariel did what he said, no one talked down to her, what the hell was she doing?
I yelled at Ariel to stop as she grabbed the old man's black and white flag before making out with Chuck for all the patrons of whatever this place was called. "Ariel what are you doing?" My heart nearly stopped as all the yelling faded away and my sister stuck her head out the window, black and white flag ready for a victory lap.
My throat tightened as I gripped the chain link fence to keep from passing out, Rusty stood, terrified, digging her nails into my arm. Ariel was two seconds away from falling out of that damn racecar, breaking her neck, or hitting her head and leaving me because she's an idiot. She hates me
She fucking hates me.
XXX
"Gabrielle!" I stomped away as Rusty brought the car around. "I hope you had a good time." I seethed to myself. "Gabby, I'm talking to you!" She put on her queen Ariel voice that made me want to slap her.
I stopped and turned around, "You know when people die Ariel? One day their here, next they'd be gone. It's clear you just want to disappear! I know that you hate me, I just don't get why you make me watch you do this to yourself, especially after what happened with Bobby, you hate me! Why do you make me watch this?" I screamed, approaching hysteria. The kind of hysteria that I never wanted to feel again, just like after the feuneral.
Ariel clenched her fists, as I wasn't done with my rant. Three years people. This has been holding up for three years. "I knew it was supposed to be me dead, I see it from you, our parents, and the entire town! I am done covering your ass and watching you slum with racecar boy. We just shouldn't talk. "
My sister ran her hands through her long blonde hair as she screeched out, "So your just going to leave me?" What? "Me? Leave you? I don't know what's going on with you anymore. You aren't the only one who lost him." My tight throat threatened to spill tears as I saw Rusty taking in the entire thing from the car. I don't get why her brother loved Ariel. If the best of her is buried in there somewhere, Dusty dosen't deserve to do the digging, It's going to take a lot to get her back.
"I'll get my own ride back."
"I guess you will."
Rusty and I didn't say anything the entire ride back to town.
XXX
I jogged up to the main entrance of school, Ariel and I had this not-talking thing going and I was secretly hoping that it would last until the end of the year. I had picked up so much slack when she'd snuck out to see Chuck so many times. She'd come home drunk often. I'd be the excuse of why she'd come home later than curfew. I couldn't deal with that now, I had school to think about.
I breathed in the fresh scent of Bomont roses as I stopped to take off my letterman jacket. Now I know what you're thinking, why's she on the cheer and track team? Hasn't she gotten kicked off yet? Wasn't she the girl that nearly burned out half the football field after homecoming last year?
Well I have to, I'm really close, and that was never proved.
Dusty, Rusty's brother jogged up to me with a smile spread all over his face, he was a handsome guy, dark curly hair, and a smile that makes him an excellent accomplice when I needed help getting some "law-breaking" done.
"Morning sunshine how was your energy-burning?" He wasn't the most athletic, more of the bookish type, and a lot more like Rusty, except with a bigger affinity for jalapeƱo pepper. "Sup senior, it was okay, I was running late though. How was your weekend?" he rolled his dark eyes, "Eh, the usual. Lock self in room until Monday Morning." I let out a giggle, but was cut short as a yellow bug blaring 'Black and Yellow by Wiz Kahlifa.'
Everyone's eyes were on the person who exited the car. Ladies and Gentleman. Ren McCormick. Dusty looked at me, inquisitively, yet also knowingly. Damn I wish I knew what was going on in his head. Ugh. "Isn't that the new kid your Mom introduced you to at church?" He smirked. I hate and I loved him at the same time, he was my only friend after Bobby and the gang's demise, and I sure as hell wasn't going to lose him.
"Why the thinking face?" I stuck out my tongue as I questioned him, leaning against the wall of the illustrious Bomont High. "Rusty told me, you think he's cute." My jaw dropped, "Rusty's a liar, she totally made that up!" He let out a jolly laugh; "Sometimes I wish you were gay so you could give me fashion advice!" I screeched loudly and earned a few stares as Ren was getting his stuff together in his car.
That sobered Dusty up immediately, "Your gonna get it one day Gabrielle, someone's gonna be all 'We need to kill the devil child!' he replied in an exaggerated voice. "Aww Gabby, he's wearing tie!" We started walking into school. "I'm going to tell him you like his tie." Normally a girl would think he's teasing, but this is Dusty of all people, he's been matchmaking teachers since the second grade. It's actually kind of creepy, but then again there are rumors I have black angel wings tattooed on my back. I should really look into that.
But for now, that's a big no by the way. Not a fallen angel. I don't kill live chickens via blender. Its just ADD.
He pushed me behind him playfully as Ren walked into the building with the flow of people. "Hey, Ren right?" Ren nodded silently. "Gabby here likes your tie." I did like his tie. It was nice.
I knocked Dusty into a kneeling position as he groaned loudly. "I said no fighting moves. Not cool Gab!" I rolled me eyes only slightly as I replied to Dusty's comment to Ren, pretending I didn't want to strangle Dusty. " I mean it too. Don't let anyone tell you different."
Ren looked at me, stunned. Like he'd never gotten a compliment before. Huh. I dismissed this quickly as he replied, smiling slightly, "Thanks! Gabrielle right?" "Very good." I smiled in return and I could practically tell Dusty was about to have a hissy fit of excitement that his first student "project" was underway.
"I'll see you in class." I ducked my head, attempting to save the new kids social life while I could. I knew he'd probably never talk to me again. I mean why would he want to?
"Nice to meet you too, umm Dusty right?"
"You too man, see you late-" Dusty was then dragged down to our lockers by a nervous short chick, leaving Ren by himself. He'd be mad at that short person for a class period or too. But then he'd bounce back and she'd apologize profusely. She'd choreograph the cheerleading set for the next football game and it would all go along like it usually does.
That's the way is was in Bomont.
Usual.
