by Daya Daniels
I go faster, and faster, and faster.
So fast that an old man leans out the window of the beat-up truck he’s driving and yells for me to… “Slow the fuck down!”
I twist the throttle and pick up speed as the road takes me into a tunnel.
ZOOM. ZOOM. ZOOM. ZOOM. ZOOM.
Car horns blare.
I change gears and slow my speed just when I get to the end.
This bike is a dangerous beauty.
Like me.
With a breath, I reduce to cruising speed.
I let go of the handlebars and throw my arms up in the air.
This is where I feel the most free.
And that will never change.
Vashti
“WHY IS THIS SO difficult?” Ruby almost falls over on her ass when she steps on the jack on the ground with her expensive left shoe.
“It isn’t difficult, Ruby.” I snort. “Maybe it’s because you’re wearing five-inch platform heels while you’re trying to do it.” I stretch my legs out where I’m sitting in Ruby’s driveway, trying to focus on anything and everything except for Nevada…because Nevada told me not to worry about her.
And it’s only made me worry more.
With a huff, I eye over Ruby’s ridiculous outfit and the carnations in her hair.
The car—her red 2015 Hyundai Accent—is tilted up on one side, but not all the way where it should be.
Son Lux’s “Easy” echoes through the warm air from the house across the street.
It’s late in the evening.
The sky is full of stars and the crickets sing their song. The neighborhood is lively. Ruby’s family are having a cookout. Her nieces are huddled together and are applying makeup to each other’s faces and her nephews are kicking a soccer ball around the yard. Banks had even joined in the game at one point.
Ruby kicks the jack. “I’ll just do this my way.” She huffs. “Come over here, Banks.” She gestures with her hand in a come-hither sort of way.
Banks rushes over to Ruby, rolling his eyes. He stomps on the jack with his boot and with the help of Ruby’s weight, soon the car is where it needs to be.
Ruby uses the lug wrench to remove the bolts, dropping each one on the ground.
She’s still in her heels.
Sigh.
She removes the old tire. She rolls the new tire to the wheel well with a grunt, hoists it up and gets it on the hub. She places the bolts back and tightens them with the lug wrench. By the time she’s done, her hair is everywhere and she’s sweating like mad. Her hands are also stained with grease massively ruining her French manicure. Ruby wipes them on her pretty dress then plops down on the pavement. “Geesh.”
Banks and I give her a huge round of applause.
Proudly, I place a hand on Ruby’s shoulder.
She points at the car. “I hope I never have to do that crap again.”
I giggle. “I hope you never do either, but, if you ever do…” I smile. “Now, you know how.”
Ruby does a weak fist pump to the night sky. “Girl power.”
Yessireee.
~
After watching endless reruns of Good Luck Charlie together next door with Banks and the two new friends he’d made, he asked me if he could stay over at Ruby’s just until the morning.
Stunned, I reluctantly agreed and made my way back home to crawl into bed, only, I can’t sleep. Believe me I tried.
The Broods’ “Eyes A Mess” plays on the iPod dock when I click it on.
Honestly, I haven’t been able to sleep for the last week or so, since I hadn’t been back to spy on Vijay and his new family. I can’t stop thinking about them.
I’m not sure why.
It’s after twelve at night.
I twisted and turned, turned and twisted and nothing I did could make my eyes stay shut. Facing the fridge, I knock back a cool glass of water and lean against the kitchen counter. I pluck a photograph off the fridge. As sleepy as I am, I beam at the photograph of Banks, Nevada and me. The white sand and the blue water of Laguna Beach decorates the background of it. We’re smiling and smashed tightly together in a group hug. I press the photograph to my chest then stick it on the back of the fridge.
A warm breeze floats into the living room.
The neighborhood is quiet.
I pour myself a bit more water and stroll over to the front door. When I yank open the screen, a tiny gasp leaves me.
Nevada is sitting on the steps.
She eyes me over her shoulder. “Hey.”
My brows crash together. “Heyyyyy.” Easing out the door, I shut it behind me. “I didn’t think I would see you tonight.” Joining her on the step, I press a kiss to her cheek. I scan the road in front of the house and after finding no machine whatsoever, I glance at Nevada. “How did you get here?”
She makes her hair messy. “I had to drop off the Kawasaki I’ve been working on to a friend, so I got a ride. Asked them to drop me off kind of far away from here, then I walked the rest of the way. Needed some air.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah.” Reaching out, she squeezes my hand, smiles, then looks away.
“I hate what they did to you today.”
She leans on my shoulder. “Honestly, I really just don’t want to talk about that or hear about it anymore.”
Gotcha.
“It’s done. It’s over. I’m no newbie to disappointment, V.”
I peer down at her face finding pain there and sadness, but still defiance.
A fiery determination…
Big gray eyes peer into the depths of me where I welcome them to stay. “You get this hair from your mother,” I whisper. “It’s the first thing I noticed in the photographs on the wall of the garage.”
Nevada chuckles. “I used to play with madre’s hair when I was little. My hair was light then too. Kids used to think it was weird since I’m Mexican through and through. They never believed it was natural, but it is.” She sighs. “Eventually, as I grew older it became even more blonde until it stayed this color.”
I play with the soft strands. “I like it.”
“Madre used to say her hair had superpowers and she passed them onto me.”
I smile.
“So, I’ve always believed that even though it probably sounds silly.”
“No, I think it’s cute.” I gaze up at the twinkling stars, realizing there’s so much Nevada isn’t telling me about what is floating around in her mind and in her sad heart. Losing that drift race today is a blow, regardless of whether she wants to admit that or not. And she needed that money more than ever. Now, it’s back to the same shit that could end her professional career before it can ever begin if she gets caught. And I know she’s exhausted. “I don’t believe it’s silly at all.” I keep my eyes on the stars, smiling because I see Nevada up there, bright and sparkly like the talented unstoppable woman she is.
“You don’t?”
“No,” I whisper, caressing her cheek. “I see you up there, Racehead.”
Twinkling. Shining. Burning.
“Where?” She shifts against me, smoothing her hand along my neck.
“Up there.” I point to the sky. “You’re the brightest one.”
“Oh yeah.”
“Yessss.”
A tiny chuckle floats from her.
“I see you up there, Nevada, because that’s where you belong. I see you up there because you-are-a-star.” I kiss her lips. “You’ve worked too hard and for too long to stay invisible. One day the world will believe you are too, I promise you.” I kiss her over and over, peppering her soft skin with my love, infecting her with my hope, praying it’s all she’ll ever need.
~
My back hits the door.
Eager fingers dig into my skin and settle around my neck.
The bathroom fills with steam and the soothing scent of vanilla from the water laces the air. Sweat slicks my skin. With quivering lips, I gaze into Nevada’s eyes.
When her hot bo
dy touches mine, I almost moan but it’s stifled by a harsh kiss before it can make its way out of my mouth.
The kiss is endless, hungry.
My hands move over her flesh and my eyes snack on every inch of her.
She’s beautiful even with red edging her eyelids since she’s as desperate for sleep as I am.
We stand completely naked, breathing hard, pressed breasts to breasts.
Nevada’s deft fingers tweak my nipple.
I bite down on my bottom lip and hiss, pulling her closer to me, capturing her mouth once more with my own, hungry to feast on whatever she lets me have.
My back slams into the door again.
The water pours.
Soothing is the rhythm as it fills the bathtub that’s awaiting our flesh bones.
A toned thigh slides between mine.
I dip down and take a pink nipple between my lips and tease and suck it until Nevada is rasping out my name.
She wedges her thigh against my pussy.
Up and down.
Tongues twisting, licking and laving, warring with each other.
I breathe in her air, suck in all of her, claim her as mine.
Riding her thigh, I moan with the motion as my swollen clit makes contact with her beautiful skin. She rocks against me. The door anchors our weight. Our bodies slam against it so hard, I fear it will crack.
I wail. “Oh, god!”
“Fuck,” she cries out and buries her face in my neck and nibbles on my skin.
Lust fills the sweet steamy air.
Red, red lips suck on mine and I’m lost.
So
fucking
lost.
Nevada
I FLOAT IN HER ORBIT….
I don’t want to be any place else tonight but here.
Vashti’s curvy body is pressed against mine.
Her long lashes flutter and her face twists into the most tormented expression.
Give it to me.
Leaning into her, I shake at the knees with the pleasure that rushes through me.
A sigh leaves Vashti.
My heart pounds and pounds and pounds in my chest.
Softly wailing, my pussy slides along her thigh, slicking her with my wetness. My hips rock with hers in one dirty dance.
I pant into her skin as her heart almost beats right through her chest.
Big brown glossy eyes peer into mine.
A trickle of sweat gathers in her philtrum.
I lick it away, reveling in the saltiness of her skin.
A tightness gathers in my belly and makes me scream!
With wild eyes, Vashti sighs.
And I know she’s coming.
Just like me.
The world crashes into pieces. I wail. She moans.
We fall together in a torrent of bliss.
Sated, I clutch the back of her neck and breathe in her strands, steadying her body against mine. With heavy breaths, I slump against her, conscious of how fucking hot it is in this bathroom.
“I love you.” With a breath, I back away from her, stealing her hand in mine and edging closer to the bathtub that begs for us to occupy it.
With shaky legs, I step in.
Vashti follows and eases down into the water.
I twist to stare at her profile.
Worried eyes meet mine as I run the washcloth over her skin. “I love you more.” Vashti bites her lip. “What exactly is it that you plan to do, Nevada?”
My temple touches the cool porcelain when I tip my head in her direction.
It’s quiet for a while, only the trickling of water fills the tiny space.
A shameful exhale leaves me. “I plan to do whatever it takes, V.”
“I was afraid you’d say that.”
You can never say I lied to you…
CHAPTER EIGHT
Vashti
“WELCOME TO THE CHICKEN, Shack. May I take your order please?”
The words leave my mouth like the recited lines they are.
“Come Out and Play” by The Offspring crackles through the shitty radio in here.
I keep my head low and my eyes focused on the numbers on the register where the buttons glow green reminding me so much of stop lights.
It’s ten o’clock in the morning and people have been floating through here like crazy! Who knew Californians like chicken so much and especially love eating it before lunch time!
I’ve been on my feet since I got here and it isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. Even with the cash Nevada’s been “lending” me, I still work double shifts, like today, in order to pay down my mountain of college debt and to make sure I have the rent so that Banks and I won’t have to live in a tent.
I’d received my final grade back from my thesis on hydraulic fracturing.
I’m doing better.
In fact, I’m doing “wonderful” as my professor had told me yesterday after class.
It’s the one thing I can smile about this morning.
At least I might be closer to serving out my last days here at this horrible job.
I exhale.
Nevada had dropped me off this morning and without fail, we found Sheriff Abs on our tail. She pulled Nevada over just to say “hello.”
I smelled super bullshit then.
And nothing but worry floods through me now…
It’s Friday.
Tonight is the night Nevada has been looking forward to for months.
I hate that all the decisions she makes these days are about money.
This race means serious money.
And some part of me knows what she intends to do with it.
I sigh.
Fifty grand rides on this race.
Who knew illegal racing pays so much!
The Mustang is ready.
The engine is tight. No signs of kinks. It purrs.
And last night she shined as red as a ruby beneath the garage lighting.
The ground shook beneath my feet.
And the gasoline fumes filled my nostrils like a heady scent.
I worry I’m becoming like Nevada and beginning to regard the poisonous fumes as if they’re fucking perfume.
The chatter from the line ahead of me yanks me back to the present.
The woman orders a chicken burger and fries and a vanilla milkshake.
I accept the money and she moves along.
My mind is still stuck on Nevada, the race and everything in between.
Not so much on the chicken orders I’m taking…
“Welcome to the Chicken Shack. May I take your order?” I grin.
It’s all a repetitive process…punch the order in, take the money, smile. And the customers move along, only to be replaced by another desperate chicken eater at this ridiculous hour of the morning.
I must take at least ten more chicken orders before it gets quiet again.
Then, a pair of shoes fill my vision.
Shiny.
Big.
Possibly, custom made?
They look odd in contrast with the maroon tile floor they’re atop.
My head feels heavy on my shoulders. So heavy I’m unable to lift it.
The shoes edge closer.
A shaky breath leaves my mouth. “Welcome to the Chicken Shack. May I take your order?” I suck in more air and keep my head low, almost wanting to bury it deep in the concrete beneath my work-worn sneakers.
“Vashti Dawn Patel.” The deep voice makes me shake even more.
It can’t be!
No-fucking-way.
The bastard.
He’s here…in all his skin.
Standing right in front of me in his shiny fucking shoes.
Finally, I lift my head to look at the man with big eyes. The same one who gave me the massive marbles I’ve been teased about my entire life.
“Vijay.” I adjust my hat.
“Vashti.” His expression is contrite, but still more relaxed than I had expected.
I square my s
houlders just as rage courses through me like never before. “What do you want?” The words that rip from my mouth sound fake, ridiculous even, admittedly rehearsed. Especially since they accompany vicious tears which fill my eyes and make it difficult to see.
“I came here to see you, my daughter, Vashti?”
“For what?”
“To give you exactly what I owe you.” The bastard smiles!
Nevada
ROCKS LINE MY STOMACH tonight and my intestines are tied up in a sheepshank knot for some godforsaken reason.
I push up from where I had been in a squat and brush the dirt from my hands, conscious of how the warmth from the pavement still zings through my palms.
The door of the Mustang where it idles is open. Cypress Hill’s “Superstar” floats out into the night air. I focus on the double yellow line in the road that shows me the way.
My phone buzzes incessantly and had been all fucking day.
I ignore the calls.
I barely read the messages.
I shove the distraction in my back pocket.
My boots hit the pavement ignore all the wildness that’s going on a few feet away.
“Nevada, you’ve got this.” Ash places a hand on my shoulder.
I shrug it off.
If I wanted to whine and complain about how many times I’d heard Ash say that to me, we’d be standing here all day.
At this point predictions don’t matter.
Shit talk doesn’t count either.
It should be clear and evident that the only person ever capable to predicting the future was fucking Nostradamus and he’s dead!
I don’t want to hear fine, faithful words.
Breathing in the cool air, I ignore the noise, even though something doesn’t feel right.
“Guess who’s here, Racehead?” Ash grunts.
“Who?” I walk over to the Mustang where she glows beneath the moon.
“Jeremy Betch.”
You don’t say…
Nevada
“WELCOME TO THE BADLANDS!” The flag girl paces in front of the line of cars, fist high in the air, only holding what I know is a portion of the cash at stake tonight. “The rules are winner takes all. No rules. Just speed!”
The car revs.
The ground shakes.
The Mustang holds her ground.