"Scarlet Stone!" Lily shouted my name. "You have a race in another two hours. What the heck are you still doing here?"

I was startled with her high pitched voice screaming my name. Like a good girl that I was, I had gone to school to finish my duties before I made it to the tracks. It was at noon, at three o' clock to be precise. Since I had classes till two, I didn't want to miss more of school than I was already missing.

I had attended a trig test, done my chemistry assignment, and was planning to write the essay that was due in half hour before I left school.

Lily was more jittery than me considering it was her first race to witness in which I was a participant. She was like an army general on duty, making sure that I was getting all the food and necessary goods to make me ready for the race.

"It's only the last paragraph." I said, not looking at her. I was sure she was giving me the death glare to make sure that I was doing exactly what she wanted. "After that, we are heading home."

"Do you know how long it's going to take me to wear that dress?" She asked, I was sure she had folded her hands and was looking out the window.

As soon as I had told her that I was participating, she was acting like she had been crowned as the Queen of England, maintaining poise and posture, which was funny at first, but then it really lost it's touch in the end.

"Three hours." I said, happy that I had completed all my work within the given time. "I know. Let's go then, you are already one hour late."

"Good, let's get going then." She said with a fake accent, for which I snorted, earning a glare from her. "You will be solely responsible if I'm not looking good this evening."

"Yes, your highness." I bowed, respectfully, holding my grin back.

She had not got her car today, telling that she wanted to be with me through the whole process, not wanting to miss anything. I had agreed of course. I guess she wanted to be supportive, but it had stared to annoy me as the minutes ticked by.

I drove her to my place, eating the cucumber sandwich she had got for me, telling me that I had to stay healthy to drive well. I had taken and chewed on it without another word, not wanting to disrupt her wrath.

"Oh, my God!" Lily hyperventilated next to me. "They are already here! I don't have much time to get ready now!"

"You have enough time, Lil." I said, killing the engine. "It's a half hour drive from here to the tracks."

"Still!" Lily didn't wait for me to lock the car. She was running inside the house and I laughed behind her.

I still didn't understand how James was so in love with her and I wondered if there would be a change of heart if he saw her now.

"Hey!" All of them cheered as I went it. I had still not competed in the race, but I already felt like a winner. "Welcome home!"

The small hall of ours were packed with five of them present there. Dad had become the host serving cool drinks as the television ran with an old baseball match keeping the small crowd entertained. The house looked festive and I didn't remember the last time it was so well lit. The positive vibes floated around and I never wanted to get out of the house.

"Honey, you need to freshen up." Dad said, wheeling himself to the kitchen to get a refill of drinks. "Get a bath and put on clean cloths that make you comfortable, even if it's a night gown, it is fine."

"Dad," I laughed. "you know that this is not the first time I'm racing, right?"

"Yes, but this is the first time, I'm cheering for my girl." He took my hand and squeezed it. "I want to make sure that everything is covered."

"Thank you." I said, squeezing his hand back in comfort.

Ideally I had to be there at the track an hour before the said time, making sure that I had not eloped with the whole idea. But this time, they had given me a freeway and I was more than happy for it. I think it was mostly because I was a student and they had considered my education in their calculations.

My favorite earpiece was still missing and I was not able to call him since I thought he would be on the flight back home. I had already stared to miss him and I wondered if it were possible.

I took a quick shower and dried myself. Ignoring the fact that I was running late, I started to dress in the bathroom giving all privacy to Lily. As I put on the fire resistant jacket, which was tight and skin kissing, I called Dan to check if my earpiece had made back.

"Hey, Star!" He cheered, without a formal hello. "Yeah, I'm on my way. Be there in like, ten."

"Hey, is Robert back?" I asked, ignoring his answers.

"No sweetie," Dan said, his voice regretful that he didn't have what I was looking for. "His flight got delayed by an hour or so."

"Oh, okay." I said, feeling low. In all my races, he was there guiding me what to do next, but this time he was absent and that seemed to make a difference. "See you soon."

"I'm sorry, honey." Dan said and I knew why he was apologizing for. We had not spoken to one another after the race and I knew he was feeling bad for my sake. "I'll let you know as soon as I catch him."

"Thanks." I murmured, switching the phone off.

I needed an earpiece after that shitty race I had been through. I wanted someone, and more importantly him to tell me that I still had that winning spirit in me.

I dried my hair and pulled it into a tight up bun and put some mascara on my eyes. If I did win, I didn't want the papers to have my picture that looked like I was the evil twin of Satan. I pinched my cheeks to get some color on them and headed outside.

Lily was still doing her hair when I got out. Her eyes popped out when she saw me from the reflection of the mirror. Her mouth hung open and she eyed me from tip to toe.

"Who is this hot mess?" She said, still gawking at me. "Are you really wearing this and racing?"

I chuckled at her. "Yeah. I mean, it's like the God given dress for racers. It accentuates our features." I winked at her, checking my reflection in the mirror.

"Who the heck are you and where is my innocent friend?" She asked, in all seriousness that made me laugh even more. "No wonder guys were fighting for you."

"No one is fighting for me." I said, tucking the loose strands back in its place. "If you are ready then we must be going."

"No, wait!" She almost screamed. "I need to get this braid done right."

"You only have three minutes." I sweetly smiled at her. I went to my table and retrieved the talisman that Dan had given me. I stuck the keychain to the buckle of the pants I was wearing. If Rob didn't turn up today, then I would want to have my lucky charm on me to push me further. "I'll be downstairs."

I took my phone, wallet and a pair of change cloths as I headed outside, giving Lily the space and privacy before she got ready. The boys were still there and when they saw me, Nick let out a low whistle while James looked as if he had swallowed a bitter guard. Dad was the only one who's face was shining with pride. If he stared a little longer, then I knew he would cry before my eyes.

Dad looked away and went into the kitchen, trying to save himself from embarrassment. I followed him to get myself a glass of water before I left home.

"Did you make these?" I asked, taking a toast from the dining table. I picked one out and crunched on it. I could taste the roasted ghee as I savored it closing my eyes. "These are great."

"You had forgotten to keep the toaster back in its place yesterday and I used it." Dad said with a smile on his face. "They've come out good, right?"

"Yummy." I agreed. I went in search of the containers in which I wanted to keep the unused ones. "I'm taking them with me."

"I didn't know that they were that good." Dad mused. "Scar, remember, you don't race to win. You race not to lose."

"Aren't they both the same thing?" I asked, stifling my laughter.

"No. They are not." Dad said, his voice unsteady as if he was caught red handed. "These younger generation have got it all wrong in their head." He muttered, wheeling away from me into the living room. "What are you waiting for? Get going."

"Yeah, I'm coming right behind you." I said, doing my best not to laugh.

"I'm ready!" Lily said, coming down the stairs like she was in a super model show, walking slowly, making sure that all of us noticed her.

"Hurry up, Lil." I said, getting all their attention scrambled. "If you are not in the car when I start, then you are staying here."

"Why do you have to snatch away all the fun?" Lily bickered. She huffed, but made her way faster, scared that I might actually mean what I meant. She got in the front seat with me while, the boys rode in another car with James as the driver.

There was still another half hour left to spare when we reached the tracks where I was racing for the evening. I nodded my head to James, telling him to take care of my herd as I went ahead to race. I met Monica and Mira on the way to the pit crew station. Though I was not sure if I should be inviting them, Monica readily agreed to it.

"Wow, Scar!" Monica shouted on top of her lungs to make sure that I heard her in spite of the loud crowd. "You look great in that suit."

I smiled back, not wanting to waste my energy shouting over a thank you to her. I nodded at my friend group to her to make sure that they sat in their own seat. I was sure how the events would turn out if the seats were misplaced. As I saw all of them sitting together smiling and laughing, I knew I had everything in my life.

Except for my ear piece, of course.

"Did you get hold of him?" I asked, once I reached the pit crew. They were the usual one that Calvin hired whenever we went to the games. The same ones who had served Dad during his time. "Was there like a text?"

"Sorry, honey." Dan patted my shoulder, trying to ease away my nervousness. "But you don't have to worry about the race, you'll be just fine. It's the most basic one. You can drive with your eyes closed."

I sighed, thinking that probably it was true. Since I was already ready with the attire, I discarded the jacket and walked around the tent to lose my nerves.

From the tent I could see my Dad and my friends, sitting with a smile on their faces and suddenly I regretted the whole idea of getting them together here. I had just failed the last race and how confident was I here to make sure that I was winning with a few known eyes on me?

I was shit scared. The hoots and shouts which once gave me the thrill now gave me jitters and all I wanted was some peace. I shook my head with much needed vigor and jerked my limbs up and down to warm my body up.

I missed him, now more than ever.

Though he would be tired even if he had made his way here, I just wanted his presence, his jovial talks to get me in the game. He was a smooth talker and I wanted his words to be there as a support when I would tumble in the tracks.

I was angry at him. How could he ignore and abandon me, his only pupil who just had a few bad days? Wasn't he supposed to make sure that I would earn back all the confidence to face the next race? He had vanished like a magician, promising nothing but false hopes.

On the second thought, I had understood. He was already in deep shit and he was just hired to teach me a few tricks to survive on the tracks on my own. 

Once that was done, which he had completed faithfully, there was no need for him to stick around to make sure that I was following everything he had once taught me. 

He had his own expenses and had to run his life on his own. The only thing that I had to get into my thick skull was that he had to earn by races too.

I cursed under my breath, not able to place my feelings towards him properly. One moment I wanted to kill him for making me go through all this alone, while the next, I wanted to encourage him to do what he was doing without having to bother about me.

"Ready?" Dan poked his head slightly into the tent with a big smile on his face. It was as if he was back in the game, not with the father but with the daughter. I could tell that he was excited. "Come on, it's time."

I nodded my head and took a deep breath to get myself in the moment. This was it and I was going to race, without an earpiece.

I put on my helmet and stuck my goggles on before heading out.

As I walked slowly outside the tent, there were loud claps and cheers being thrown my way. The crowd chanted my name like a mantra and I didn't know if I had gained so much of popularity.

Wild.

It suited me in a way. I was a wildly driven kid, both on and off the tracks. My first race itself was wild with me stopping midway just to spite my earpiece. I shook my head at the memory. It seemed distant now.

"Enjoy it while it lasts." Calvin said with a wink.

My face fell with his words. This field was unsteady and if I wanted to remain in top, I had to be wildly driven towards it too.

"He means no harm, Scar." Dan said coming to my rescue. "You need not read too much into the words that are passed around here." I nodded my head. "It's a Toro-Rosso race and these are compulsory." He tapped my helmet twice, before smiling. He asked me to take it off. "This is your micro-phone. You know the rules, right? Just stick your head to winning and you'll be fine."

"Fancy race?" I asked, fixing the newer gadgets onto me.

"It's like our normal Go-Karting cars." Dan waved his hand in the air, telling me that it was no big a deal. "No special effects or extraordinary buttons for you to remember. It's a simple race with a simple car. You will be fine."

I nodded my head. "Why's the mic on me? No earpiece, right?"

"I know you wanted one." Dan smiled sadly. "But since he's not here, I was thinking I could fill that place for you?"

"No, Dan." I sighed. "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine."

"Okay." He said, doubtfully. "But you need to keep it on, for emergencies."

I thanked the Lords as Dan didn't specify what his emergencies were. I was already shitting my pants about the race and I didn't want him badmouthing it.

"Okay." I nodded my head and fixed the mic on my ear. "I've got your lucky charm here." I showed him the buckle on which I had stuck his key chain. "It'll bring me luck."

"It sure will." Dan pulled me into a bear hug, lifting me up and twirling me around.

I laughed as I put on the helmet and closed the windshield on it.

It was showtime.

---

It was a seventy lapped race with five total boost ups, making sure that only one racer raced throughout. It was to make sure that the racer was capable of handling the pressure and faith the crowd had on them.

Toro-Rosso cars that were given here were simpler ones with a sturdy steering wheel and a few buttons to help during boost ups. Apart from that it was the usual convertible cars with a congested seating arrangement. Dan and Luke had to help me get in the car when I was ushered inside it. With the helmet placed on my head, I looked like an astronaut ready to be launched.

I remember Dad having to go through these stuffs, but he had always made it seem so easy and comfortable. But then again, he was good at pretending. I let out a deep breath as one of the men with Dolce suit came in front of us, giving each a small head nod as a token of respect. He was the show starter with a big black and white flag on his hand.

As I dropped down into the racing turfs, making sure that this time, I was having my head completely immersed in the competition. No matter the prize that lay ahead, I didn't want to feel like how I felt when I came second last time. This time I wanted to win.

As the cars moved, I knew I was deep in it. The air gushing on my face and the feel of accelerator just beneath my legs, pushing to the max was enough to keep my adrenaline pumping.

The cars moved like snakes, one behind the other, not letting anyone get through them. As I reached another turn, a silver colored Toro came at me, bumping my wheel. Since I was closer to the inner apex, I landed on the infields of the tracks. Somewhere I could hear the MC screaming about how unfortunate it was for me. The back plate sparked, and I wondered if I had got a scratch on my gas tank.

"Babe, I know you miss me. But you don't show it on the race." I heard a familiar voice boom in my ear.

"Rob?" I asked, surprise etched both on my face as well as my voice. "What the heck are you doing here? What about your delayed flight?"

"Concentrate, Scarlet." Robert said and I knew he was all for business now. Though I sensed some exhaustion in his voice, I nodded my head - my conscious jumping up and down at the fact that he was here. I was now back in the mode. "We can talk all that later. Now, get out of that pit and get back on the road."

The thought that he was here was enough for me to be appeased.

"You see that black one?" He asked and I replied with an affirmative. It was the same one which had put me in the grasses while it raced further. "He's going to go to the inner circle, go for the outer one."

"Okay." I agreed. "But I'll be losing some time."

"Then press the gas!" Robert said as a matter of fact. "God, you are so annoying at times."

"Very funny." I said, raising my speed. I was just in line with the black one, and I could almost see his steering wheel turn right towards me. I pressed harder on the accelerator and within seconds I was way ahead of him. "Should I be laughing now?"

"Babe, I'm not in the mood for your talks now." He emphasized. "I've been flying for two days straight, taking a break to race in between, which by the way, I screwed up. I didn't get the window seat and travelled in economy class without good food. And here, my pupil is failing my lessons!"

"Wow, Robert." I said, maintaining my speed, trying not to let the yellow car to go in front of me. I was blocking him as he raced to get in front. "You just had a break down. Are you okay?"

"Why the hell are you wasting your time with the yellow?" He asked dejectedly. "Get past him, he has a green one behind him to take care."

"Don't be so grumpy, my boy." I said, concentrating on the further trail rather than letting the yellow go past me. "Are you near the tent?"

"No, I'm on top of Eiffel tower." He said, and I was sure he had rolled his eyes. "Where else would I be?"

"Go into the tent and find my bag." I instructed. "A black-blue one. You'll find a box. That's for you."

"You got a gift for me?" He asked perplexed. "It's not even my birthday." I smirked at the tarred road ahead of me as I completed my next lap. "Toasts?" The surprise in his voice was worth packing them. "How did you know that I was coming?"

"So that's how you are going to be when you are hungry." I mused. "I think I'm uncovering you layer by layer, Rob."

At this he laughed. "You are something else, Scarlet."

"Next lap is boost up." Robert read my mind after I had completed a few laps. "The tyres seem a bit sore with the constant drag and the engine and gas needs to be refilled."

"I know what a boost up is." I muttered. "My hands are aching."

My complaint was only laughed at. "It's a common around here, babe. Perhaps, after the race, we can do something to ease that pain, you know, like a thank you for the toasts, what do you say?"

"That I'm going to smash your head soon." I replied. It seemed as if food in his stomach gave him his lost ability to flirt. "I'm coming near the pit lane, get the crew ready. I need a change of wheels and the cushion to be removed."

"Aye, aye, Captain." He said and repeated the same things to the people who were working for the pit. "I'm happy that you know what you want."

The inner meaning of his words were lost on me. For a second I wondered what those words meant.

I could only wish that his words were true. That I knew what I exactly wanted. In the tracks. In my career. In my life. In general.

But I didn't. Not in the least. Looking at the tarred road ahead of me, my winning spirits came down with Robert's one sentence.

I could now only hope that my tutor was right all along.

---

A/N: How do you think our racer is doing today? Did you think that Robert will come to her rescue? Moreover, he screwed up his race. My, I didn't think that was possible. Did you?