Dad and Mum had met in one of the races, as clichéd as it was, it was love at first sight. 

She was the number one racer in the women category while he was in the men's. They had made a wonderful team, aimed to win. And when they declared themselves as a couple, the rivals shook, for they knew what they were against when they were together. They were everything that people envied - happy and content - even if it was only them with no materialistic things with them.

She had quit racing once they had married, telling that she wanted to be a full time home-maker. But when things didn't work out well for Dad, my mother thought of dicing her fate back in the game. Though it was not as often as before, she did race and every time, she won and balanced out private life as well.

It was one of the races that day - a legal one. I had bunked school just because I could scream her name in the air. She used to say that my cheers were the mere reason why she always won. I had clutched on the railings and stood a step higher on it, just to see another millimeter further of where she went. Just when the cars had zoomed past and out of my sight, I heard an 'oh' by the audience.

I was a little too late to see what had happened in the flat screen. And before I knew it, mother's car was tumbling, the oily liquid pouring out in all sides. Suddenly, there was fire. Everywhere. My mom's car was burst into flames and she had turned into ash inside it.

My Dad had forgotten that I was there next to him and had ran, clutching his heart in his sleeve just to see his wife's face once more. That was the first time I was abandoned. I cried and curled myself into a small ball. The crowd went wild and were running frantically everywhere. A few of them had even stamped on me, in their attempt to get away from the scene.

I wept, not only because I had seen the flames eat my mother alive, but I was scared in the tracks with no one to turn for comfort. Dan had found me late in the night and had taken me home.

"Baby, it's all okay now." Robert cooed. "I'm there with you now. You are not alone."

I was still not able to talk about it all. It hurt as much as it did when I learnt about it. I was alone back then and I'm alone right now. Robert led me out of the garage and we walked silently to my room.

"Just cry everything out. You don't have to pretend to be strong, Scarlet." Robert said, making me sit on the bed. As his words were out, all my bottled up emotions were everywhere. Tears didn't seem to stop as I cried like I did when the flames ate her.

"I know, I know." Robert said, pulling my head to his chest as he rocked me silently, kissing my hair every now and then.

When I thought I was okay, I took a deep breath before I pulled apart. It was the first time I was held comfortingly and I didn't want to give that up. With much hesitation, I asked him something I thought I would never will.

"Stay over tonight, please." I said, scared that he might just leave me. "Don't go."

"I'm not going anywhere, baby." He said, kissing my forehead. "I'm right here. Come on, you are tired, let's tuck you to bed."

I was soon tucked inside the blanket and he laid himself next to me. I snuggled closer to him, seeking warmth under his arms and he welcomed me without protest.

He kissed my head and rested his cheek against it. For some unknown reason, it felt right. It felt good. I was mesmerized at how our roles were interchanged in just a matter of twenty four hours. It was only yesterday that I was consoling the guy against the mighty thunder while I was here in the same position, hunting comfort under the same drops of rain.

The thunders were still there and it was louder and much deafening. I was sure Robert was doing his best to not to show his panic as there was no sound about it. His hold on me would tighten as the thunders came and would relax once it was gone.

We were two broken souls with a heavy baggage of our own. Both of us were very obstinate in letting go of what we once had. He had his fear of thunder and I was just scared of the lightning of the past.

In the end we were just two ordinary people trying to find solace in our own chaos.

---

In the next following week, I hadn't seen Rob at all. It was as if he had disappeared completely. No one in the track knew where he was and sometimes I wondered if he was living a double life.

I had taken a day off since I had to go to the football match as promised. I knew I was making a mistake by agreeing to go to the game just because Brian had asked me to. Somewhere down the lane, I thought I was leading him on.

Either way, Lily had made her mind up to bring me there, as always, for company. Though she usually spent her time swooning over her boyfriend, she needed me there - at least that was what she said.

I had taken a quick ride back home to check on Dad and cook dinner before I left. In spite of winning or losing, the party was always on, to cheer or sulk was the only question that needed answer.

"I'm home!" I shouted as I unlocked the doors and welcomed myself in. As I put the keys back in its place, Robert turned to see me. "I didn't expect you here. Where had you been all this while?"

"Had some personal stuff to take care of." He shrugged, as he turned his attention back to the television. I only rolled my eyes at his vague answer and let it go.

"Hey honey." Dad smiled, making me reflect his smile back at him. "Robert gave me a lift home."

"Oh." I said.

Dad looked a little better from last week. Considering his last checkup went well, he seemed pretty healthy to me.

"I saw him wheeling from the flower shop and since I was going in the same direction, I asked him if he were up for a ride." Robert explained himself.

"That's good." I said, carrying the groceries into the kitchen. I put the eggs and chicken slices into the freezer. I put out the old milk carton which was empty and replaced it with a new one. I kept the vegetables in its place and retained only the ones which I needed on the counter.

I quickly made steak for dinner. I didn't know how long the game was going to be and if I would go to the party afterwards. When I completed cooking, I went ahead to get myself ready.

My cell phone rang, as I stood in front of the mirror with two dress - one on each hand. I sighed on hearing the second ring. It was Lily and I knew it.

"Yes, Lily." I answered without looking at the called ID. "I'll be there in ten minutes, okay?"

"You need to hurry." She said, almost scared that I was ditching her. "I just wished him luck now." I rolled my eyes. I knew when she said luck it was just another make-out session for them. "They'll start the warm up soon. Where the hell are you?"

"Don't shit your pants." I snorted. It was always this way whenever there was a game in which her boyfriend played. She would hyperventilate until he had started playing. "I'm coming."

"Well, hurry!" She cut the call before I could ensure her that I was not bailing.

I pulled out the first dress that I was debating about. Since there was no much time for me to choose, I settled with the stripped tee shirt that was sleeveless and a dark skirt that landed till my knee. I blow dried my wet hair and combed it. It landed in curls below my shoulders and I stuck a few pins at the corner of my forehead to avoid the hair in my eye. I put on a jean jacket to protect me from the cold and pulled the glasses that Robert had gifted me.

The outfit looked very classy on me and for once I was proud of my effort. I closed the door before heading downstairs. "Dad?" I called, checking if I was missing anything necessary.

"Yes, honey?" Dad asked, his eyes still fixed on the match that was going on in the television.

"There's steak for you. Microwave it before eating it." I said walking towards him. "I've placed the microwave on the counter so it will be easy for you."

All I heard back in return was a small grunt and I rolled my eyes.

"Yes?" I asked, making sure that he was listening to me. At this he turned to face me and a small wave of recognition hit him.

"You are going out?" He asked. This time, Robert turned to look at me.

"Wow." Was all Robert could mutter back. His eyes had grown bigger in size and I was sure it was because he hadn't been blinking at the screen for so long.

"I told you yesterday that I was going to the football game." I said to Dad. "I'm staying over at Lily's. I've cooked dinner for you. Make sure you take your tablets after you have your dinner, okay? And if you need anything, just give me a call."

I walked towards him and kissed his cheeks. "Bye."

"See you at practice." Robert said, his eyes not leaving mine.

"I've taken a day off, Rob." I said, not looking at him.

"Oh." He said. "So, you going for the match?"

"Yeah," I answered back. Didn't he just hear me telling it? "James is the vice captain..." I left the sentence at that, hoping that he doesn't want anymore explanation about it.

I didn't know why, but for some unexplained reason, I didn't want him to know that Brian had invited me and most importantly, I didn't want him to think that I had dressed up only for that.

"What are you doing tonight?" I asked, strangely shocking myself. It was probably because I had missed him all week or the fact that he seemed so lost with me leaving him abruptly... I couldn't tell.

"If you are not coming to practice, then it's a day off for me too." He smiled.

"Cool." I smiled. "Then you can come with me."

"Isn't it a school match?" Dad asked, still perplexed about me inviting him to the game. "Are they allowed?"

"I can get him in." I shrugged. "Besides, he knows Brian." I looked at Robert for some confirmation. "He's the captain."

Dad looked at me with confusion etched in his eyes. "I think you should go." He said. "With what she has dressed, I guess chaperone would be of no harm."

"Dad!" I wined.

Robert only laughed. "I'm letting the chaperone thing pass for now, Ed."

"No need." I said, walking towards the door. "Chaperone or not, I'm going alone. It was a bad idea anyway."

"Hey, I want to come." Robert said, picking up his jacket from the couch and racing me to the door. "I'll see you later, Ed."

Dad only raised his hand up in gesture and sat back to watch the match that was still running on the monitor screen.

I knew it was going to be one hell of a football match and I didn't know why I was going to it when I knew next to nothing about the game.

---

A/N: A small peak into the past. Were you expecting the same thing? And what do you think of the match and it's after party. What are you expecting to happen there?