Chapter 11:

Screams and cheers introduced me when it was over, the breeze chilled the skin on my arms as I exited the car and slammed the door behind me. Pat came from the back of the crowd, he nodded in congratulations while holding two girls in his arms. The fire in my veins felt like it was gonna burst whenever I raced. My muscles and hands were tight, It was a good feeling though, my head was lighter.

"You're amazing!" A girl with blonde streaked braids complimented and held onto my bicep.

"Thanks, sweetheart," I brushed my thumb over her cold cheek softly. She giggled and squealed along with her friends.

"That's bullshit, Beckett!" Ray claimed furiously, pushing through the crowd meeting me eye level.

"It's not my fault you can't handle losing. Maybe next time, kiddo." I grinned, patting his shoulder. He swatted my hand away angry, I chuckled at his childish ways. His crew was wearing the same outfits, just with different colored tank tops, and followed behind him to their cars. I'm almost tipped forward from someone jumping on my back. 

"My man, DB!" Pat's voice rang in my ear congratulating me. He squeezed my shoulder, I wordlessly agreed and then he let go, before leaving we fist-bumped. The girl grabbed his arm and he disappeared into the crowd. I headed to a cooler and swiped a Heineken, twisting the top open. I took a swig quenching my thirst. More girls came over to compliment, tease, and praise my driving skills. My eyes switched to the end where I saw Olivia with a red-haired girl, making sure she was standing up straight. The redhead wrapped her arms around her neck, obviously, she was wasted. She held onto her arms, looking uncomfortable until a guy came and took her along. Olivia dropped her shoulders, moving her head from side to side. One streetlight hit right on her skin, she had a worried and tense expression on her face as she stared off into a distance. I didn't notice her body before. Her hips were one of her best assets. She tried to hide her chest by folding her arms over it. I liked the fact that she was outspoken and spunky. I moved from my spot, feeling buzzed off a win.

"Awesome race, Damien." A girl came right in front of me, interrupting my stride. She traced her finger from my chest to my bicep. Meeting face to face, her jet black hair was down to her shoulders, and honey eyes gleamed from the streetlight. She bit her bottom lip sensually as her pupils scanned my body.

"I know." I did the similar thing. Her thick thighs and perky tits stuck out. Her thin lips curved into a smile while holding a solo red cup of beverage.

"I don't live far, I could give you a better prize," she teased and licked her lips.

"I like that." She's offering, so what the hell. Police sirens sounded through the air from a distance.

"Cops!" Someone yelled over the speaker. It caused a panic. We all scattered. I dropped my beer bottle on the pavement. It shattered to pieces. I ran the opposite way to find my car. I collided with someone and we both fell to the floor, I fell right on my ass.

"Damn!" The person exclaimed in pain. Before I got up, I recognized it was Olivia I bumped into. She stood and then began moving her head, searching around. What the hell? She needs to move. My instinct and patience were running thin. I pulled her arm behind me as we ran to my car. "I gotta find Penny!" She yelled with concern while keeping up my pace.

"She'll be fine, get in!" Without hesitation, she climbed in the passenger side, I climbed in as well starting the engine, and peeled away from the spot. If the cops find me here, I'm screwed. Pulse and adrenaline were through my veins, I sped evasively on the road. I peeked quickly at Olivia. She held onto her fingers on the dashboard, muttering to herself. The cops sounded close in behind me. I found an empty alley and swerved. I turned inside, killed the engine and lights. Neither of us said anything, our shallow breathing was the only sound in the car as we waited it out until they left. Peeking at her again, her shoulders down as she breathed. Two cop cars passed right behind us and down the street when I glanced in the rear-view mirror. They didn't notice us. I breathed out a sigh of relief, laying back in my seat. That was close.

"You should wear your seatbelt," was the first thing Olivia said after minutes of silence. I turned the light over my head, I faced her in disbelief.

"That's what you're worried about?" I asked in sarcasm.

"It's the state law," she answered factually. "Does that mean anything to you? The race is over."

"I just saved our asses." Why did I bring her?

"And I'm saving you from a lifetime of not getting arrested or injured." She had no idea. I snorted at her uncomfortable behavior as she fiddled with her seatbelt. To put her mind at ease, I wore my seatbelt.

"Happy?"

"In general," she shrugged one shoulder and looked away to the window. I ran a hand through my hair, exhaled and turned the ignition back on.

"I'm hungry. You?"

"I could eat," she nodded at my request. "Are you willing to keep the speed limit?"

"I'll do my best." I switched the gear to reverse and backed up from the wide space, driving at a moderate speed.

***

We arrived at the 24 hour McDonald's, the smell of fries, onions, and chicken wafting my nose as we approached the cashier. "Welcome to McDonald's. What can I get you?" The cashier asked with a small smile, his eyelids were a bit low. His nametag read Dwight.

"Let me get a Big Mac and large fries and a sprite," I ordered, leaning my forearms on the counter.

"Hi, I'll get a mcchicken, fries, cookies and water," Olivia requested. He typed in our orders and handed me the receipt. We're number 302. I pulled out my wallet, giving him a ten dollar bill of the seven dollar meal. We both stood quietly until our number was called. We took our trays and sat at the booth table by the window. Unwrapping the burger paper, I bit into the bun, some of the lettuce and tomato fell onto the tray.

"I'll be right back," said Olivia as she got up the seat, watching her as she headed back to the cashier. She came back seconds later, throwing some items on the table, I enjoyed the salty potatoes, shoving them in my mouth. Looking up with my mouth full, I saw her dip hers into honey mustard. 

"You do that?" I asked in an amused tone. My younger sister did the same.

"It tastes better," she replied, mouth full of food. We ate in silence. My eyes went anywhere else from time to time. I glanced up to her between bites. She was either eating eyes down or staring at the window. She's quiet tonight. Most of the time, she had something to say. She breathed out a shaky sigh. Our eyes met for a second. She looked away quickly and cleared her throat. Olivia grasped her cup and took a sip, sounding a loud gulp.

"Do you usually do this?" She asked.

"What?" I asked, licking the crumbs off my lips.

"The racing."

"Sometimes." I took a napkin from the dispenser, wiping away the smudge from my mouth.

"For money?" She frowned.

"How else can I pay for food and rent?" I shrugged.

"Oh, I thought it was for drugs." She stared me down, catching her sarcasm. Oh, so she wanted to play this game.

"It's a perk," I joked.

"You collect a lot? The money, not drugs."

"You're gonna tell me it's dangerous and illegal, or tell Pam?" I wrinkled one of my eyebrows.

"It is dangerous, but I'm not gonna tell Ms. Donavan. I can keep my mouth shut." She smiled tightly. She wiped her hands with her balled-up napkin, placed it on the tray.

"That's good to hear," I said sarcastically. She didn't know shit about me. "I don't need or do drugs. It was a joke."

"I'm aware. What time is it?" I spotted the digital clock above the entrance door, the 2 on the minute side changed to 3.

"1:53 a.m.," I answered, taking the last bite of food before I downed the rest of my Sprite.

"I should get going." She began wrapping up her trash.

"It's not that late," I told her.

"For me it is. I'm ordering an Uber." She pulled out her phone and tapped on her screen, "fuck. Forty-minute wait," she muttered under her breath. She frowned, patting her hands on her hips.

"I'll take you." I stood up with my trash and threw it in the bin.

"You don't have to," she said, tossing hers in the bin.

"I don't but I'm the best you got for tonight."

"Okay." We both exited the restaurant, heading to my car.

***

Fifteen minutes later, the radio was playing a trending song. When she directed me to her dorm building, that was the only time she spoke. I was right about her being spunky, she spoke her mind but she seemed judgemental. We came to a stop in front of the dorm building. "Thank you," Olivia said, removing the seat belt across her body. I turned off the radio and simply nodded in response. I thought my eyes would pop out of my head as I stared out of my windshield. She pulled out her bag, rummaging through it. She frowned and slumped her shoulders. "Shit." She took out her phone again.

"Everything good?" I wondered.

"No, I left my keys in the room. I assumed me and Penny, my roommate, would come back together." She was tapping furiously on the screen, it seemed that no one answered. She hit the back of her head on the headrest. I shook my head, putting it in drive again. "Wait, what are you doing?" She sat up in concern.

"I don't live far," I simply said.

"Oh no, it's-" she began to shake her head.

"Don't say it's okay, you can sleep on the couch." I frowned, stepping on the gas. She slumped back down, staring straight ahead. We stayed in silence until we arrived at my apartment building. I got out first, she came out slowly behind. I saw her wrap her arms around her stomach from the wind. This would be one of the few times I'm bringing a girl home without sex. I wasn't gonna be the jackass to leave someone at night stranded. We arrived on the second floor, I took my key out of my pocket, she kept her distance, leaning on the wall near the door.

"It's just for tonight." She nodded. "I'll take you back in the morning." I unlocked the door, we entered inside, I noticed beer bottles on the floor near the TV. Drew, my roommate, must have been home. However, there was some random person lying on the couch, lying spread-eagled and snoring. Probably one of Drew's friends had the same idea as me. I didn't know much about Drew, only that he's home for two days a week, and he drank like a fish. I saw the ad online for a room for rent, it was cheap and we agreed on staying out of each other's way unless it's an emergency. It's better than staying on campus with so many restrictions and shit. The apartment building was near the university, ten minutes, and my mechanic job was closer. It was part-time hours and an ok paycheck for food and essentials. Drag racing made me the extra cash.

I hope she wasn't a snorer, she might have to share a bed with me. She stood at the door, waiting for me with her arms crossed over her chest. I nodded my head inside, she stepped in tentatively and frowned.

"Someone's sleeping on the couch," she whispered and pointed with her index finger.

"I know. I have a big bed." I smirked, locking the front door.

"Look, whatever you're thinking, it's not gonna happen." She shook her head fast. As much as she looked good, she wasn't a hookup type.

"Relax, I'm not in the mood." She grunted, making her lips pout like she ate something sour.

"I don't even have any clothes to sleep in." She gestured to her outfit. The skinny jeans and green blouse looked uncomfortable to wear for tonight.

"Come on." She followed me to the room, I pulled out one of my shirts and black long shorts and tossed it to her. She caught it with ease. "Bathroom's there to change." I pointed to the right of the hallway. "Unless you're cool with giving me a show." I began to unbuckle my pants slowly. "I'm all for exhibitionism." She rolled her eyes, shutting the door behind her. I scoffed and chuckled while taking them off. I removed my shirt. As I headed into my blanket, the door opened. She peeked her head in the crack. We made eye contact before she opened the door all the way. She was changed into my clothes. She pulled down her shorts while closing the door, her legs weren't long but they were shapely. Like she said, her thighs were one of her best assets. She looked good in my clothes. Her arms crossed her chest again, to hide that she wasn't wearing a bra. I noticed the shirt slipped off her bare shoulder. 

"Where can I put my clothes?" She asked, clutching it to her stomach.

"Over there," I answered, pointing to my dresser. She thanked me, folding them together and placing them on top.

She went over to my bed and sat on the edge of the spare side. I laid the back of my head on my arm. Her mouth formed a straight line, opening the covers and tucked her legs in. Tonight's another first, I haven't let a girl sleep on my bed without seeing her naked. This should be interesting. "Thanks for letting me stay over. I won't invade your space." She patted on the comforter with her fingers, threading it through, "this is nice material. Soft."

"No problem." I looked over as she stayed in her position: sitting up and pressed her back against the headboard.

"Did you get this from Target or Marshalls? Or Macy's? JCPenney?"

"I think Target," I answered.

"Oh, was it on sale?"

"Do you really care?"

"I do. I like Target."

"I don't know, my dad paid for it." I tucked in the blanket. Getting closer, I laid on my side.

"Oh. So you usually sleep with no shirt on?" She nodded to me. Her skin was flushed as she looked down at my stomach, she tugged the hem of her sleeve.

"Yeah. Uncomfortable?" I scooted closer, flexing a muscle.

She cleared her throat, fidgeting around and hiding her flushed face. "Yeah right. It's your place."

"If you feel uncomfortable, let me know." It had to be said, she was tense, asking me unnecessary shopping questions and fidgeting.

"Okay. Thank you." She laid her head on the pillow, her legs were straight out and stiff like a mummy. I moved one of my legs to stretch it out. My foot accidentally hit her foot, she moved it and said sorry. It seemed as if she didn't want to touch me. She stared at the ceiling, keeping her entire body to herself. I shut the lamp off, turning the other way. I felt the bed shift twice, looking back she was turned to her side as well.

"Goodnight," I heard her whisper.

"Night," I responded in a low tone and shut my eyes.