Swithcing Lanes
PART 2
When Jessie realized that she was far away enough from Katie's garage she stopped running. She gasped for breath and cursed herself for being this... this reckless. It had been a mistake in the first place... what was she thinking when she asked the guy in the shop where Katie lives? That Katie would be expecting her and fall on her knees, declaring her endless love... without even having talked about... anything? Whatever... that's not how this day was supposed to develop and she had to stop this development before it stepped out of line completely. Studying in the library wasn't an option anymore. She had to talk to Tad and explain. This hadn't been an impulsive break up... she had thought about it before and he had to know that. And what about Katie? Katie! Katie! Katie! Why can't I just stop thinking about her? That would make some things a bit easier. Girls like her aren't interested in girls like me, so it's a lost cause in any case.
Katie wasn't able to pay attention anymore. First Jessie... who was almost her every second thought... then this someone who watched her... What sort of day was this? She had to get her car ready. If she didn't, Tad would win and that was definitely not what she wanted. She had a reputation to take care of and she wasn’t going to let a guy like Tad harm it.
Jessie would watch the race. Oh, my god! What will I wear tomorrow night? Something casual? Sexy... sexy? I definitely want to look... and with this her head hit the right side skirt. Damn! Oh, damn... that hurt! That hurts! It hurts. She closed her eyes fiercely and started jumping around in her garage, just to distract herself from the pain. That wasn't fair. Bumps don't make you more attractive. Ice! I need ice. Where's the ice?
With a small bag of ice on her forehead she sat down next to her car. She eyed it. She was going to look spectacular... eye-catching... not desperate... but clearly charming and her car was going to look great too, even if it took her the whole night to wax and polish it, it would sparkle brighter than the sky. Jessie will beg her to ask her out. She grinned... hopefully she will , but what if she doesn’t? Well, talking of harming ones reputation...
A warm body curled up against her own. Jessie had hoped to fall into a dreamless sleep, just to stop herself from thinking too much. But her brain thwarted her plans. She dreamt. She dreamt a lot... overwhelming... overpowering... unbearable... embarrassing. Embarrassing? Yes, definitely embarrassing. Slender fingers searched for her hand and started to caress the soft skin of her palm. If she had been awake, her face would have turned into the deepest red one has ever seen. She had always thought she hadn't been the type of girl who has clearly suggestive dreams of... another girl. Someone's breath tickled the skin behind her ear, while the body, that had laid next to her, slipped onto her and suddenly covered her. And she hadn't expected that her interest in Katie was so... primal to some extent. Damn... she was going to freak out... closer... please, closer... But maybe she just tried to deal with what Tad had told her about Katie and maybe she tried to make herself capable of handling that sex was probably all she was going to get from Katie. Lips gently kissed her earlobe and then down her neck. But if she couldn't handle that, wouldn't that mean that she wanted more? Maybe Tad was wrong... maybe Katie wasn't as he described her. He said Katie has never had a longer relationship, that she had a lot of girls... a few days and nights... just for the fun and just to show the guys that she could steal their girls. Kiss me... now... The body moved away. That couldn't be true. It just couldn't be. A low voice sounded in her head, a voice she had just heard once: "Can I just hold you, Jess?"
And while Katie worked on the shine of her car, Jessie lay in her bed, tossing and turning, both far away from sleep.
Katie had decided to take a walk after breakfast. She needed to breathe for just a few minutes. It had been the longest night she could remember. Not because of the work, not because of the heat, but because of Jessie. She couldn't stop thinking about her and to her it seemed extremely senseless to think about someone who was as much out of reach as a girl like Jessie was. Just meeting someone doesn't really justify wanting someone around all the time. Maybe she's not like I imagine her. How do I imagine her? I can't even answer this simple question... this feeling is just here... I can't deny... it just appeared and now it doesn't want to leave, I can't help it. I want her... it’s that simple. Maybe it's all about instincts... about desire... a very primitive need. I have never been this superficial... she closed her eyes. No, I have been this superficial. I like fast cars and fast... leave it... it's not that way! I'm more than that, even though I’ve had my affairs... everyone has, so it doesn't mean I'm not capable of really loving someone. Love at first sight? Lust at first sight? Does it matter? There's more than that! There has to be... Maybe it's worth a shot, maybe she's what I've been waiting for, maybe I can really fall in... Katie stumbled over her own feet. Damn! Did anyone see that? She looked around, but there was no one there. I'm so... clumsy, when I'm in love. Oh, god! Wait a second! Did I really think that? Am I in love?
"Who are you? And what did you do to Katie?"
Jamie, one of her best friends, who had called earlier to tell her, that he'd come by before the race, stared at Katie, clearly stunned.
"I am Katie."
"I don't believe you. Prove it!"
Katie rolled her eyes.
"How?"
"Try!"
"Adjustable fuel pressure regulator, large cross drilled rotors, high performance throttle body... shocks, springs, cam gear..."
"Stop! What's your favorite brand?"
"Neuspeed."
"If you had enough money, what would you buy?"
"Wide body kit and equipment for wet nitrous oxide, well... forget the last one, I can't afford a second car and I don't want my baby to be abandoned from the streets."
He crossed his arms in front of his chest and shook his head.
"I still don't believe you."
"That's not funny."
"It is indeed funny. You don't intend to drive your car with those... shoes... is it okay to call them shoes?"
"I'll change them before the race." She states.
"If you survive until the race, honey... what the hell are you wearing? A negligee? The boys will eventually try to ravish you, if you step out of your car."
"It's not a negligee, it's a simple dress... and I wore it at my brother’s wedding. It's socially presentable."
"It's a... it's a nothing... and... damn... you’re not even wearing underwear, are you?"
Katie's eyes went wide in shock and she hit Jamie hard on the shoulder.
"I would never leave the house without underwear...," Jamie raises his left eyebrow, "... ok, ok... I’m not wearing a bra... but look at the dress, it's made to wear without a bra! I am wearing underwear! Want to see?"
Jamie shook his head in disbelief, but he couldn't hide a grin.
"No, thanks! I've seen you naked once, I need what's left of my brain... I'm not an expert on this, but there can't be more than a..."
"Enough! Please... do I look desperate? I don't want to look desperate. I really... I just want to look great."
"Desperate? Honey, you really need to get laid, does that answer your question?"
Katie sat down on one of the kitchen chairs, suddenly looking extremely heartbroken. I just want to show the best of me... not the garage girl Jessie saw yesterday morning.
"I'm sorry, Katie. You look gorgeous. And if I could, I would change my y-chromosome into a x-chromosome, leave my girlfriend and fall in love with you head over heels. But... what's this all for? Do you want to distract Tad? I mean as far as I know he has a girlfriend... ok, he's a guy, so... and it's hard to be not attracted to you wearing this... I mean... why?"
Katie sighed. Should she tell him? Shouldn't she? He's a good friend... but, well, it seems as if she has to tell him, because as far as she knows, he will not stop asking until he knows why she's not dressed in something more appropriate for a race.
"I don't need to distract Tad, he'll lose anyway. I want to... well, impress someone."
"Who? There'll be no one there to impress... I don’t think."
"Tad's girlfriend."
Jamie eyed her carefully... waiting for her to burst out in laughter.
"You're serious?"
"Yes... I...," stop stuttering Singer, "I met her yesterday morning and... well, I looked like... like... okay, I was damn ugly dungarees, dirty... no hair do... Well, and she's a bit... you know... very straight and conservative... but there," stop stuttering Singer, there's no need to stutter, everything's fine, "there was something. I don't know. I just had the impression that she tried to flirt with me, but she didn't really because Tad was with her."
Jamie didn't seem to have to think about it a lot, he smiled.
"Katie, that doesn’t make any sense. You say, she tried to flirt with you... but she did while you were looking like... like any normal mechanic would... so why dress up? She already seems to like you, even though you weren't wearing what you're wearing now."
Right! Sometimes he's so right that it hurts. Katie sighed again. Why do such things have to be so difficult?
"So I should change?"
Jamie shook his head and smiled widely.
"No, of course not. If you don't mind fuelling some fantasies."
Katie grinned.
"I can live with that."
"Great. Could you do me a favor, and in return I'll protect you from all the guys?"
"What?"
"I'll drive home and get my camera, so I can make some pictures... of you... the famous Katie Singer...lying on the hood of my Lancer."
Katie stood up and walked out of the room.
"Forget it, Jamie! Let's go, I've got a race to win!"
The old airport was already crowded. It had spread like wildfire that Katie and Tad were going to have a return race Everyone wondered why Katie had let herself be talked into this, normally she wouldn't have done that, every guy knew, because a few of them had tried. Whoever lost, lost, that was what she always said. So everyone suspected that there was something more... well, spectacular. Between the parked, tuned cars the guys were eying the girls and the girls were eying the cars, while running the guys down... too much color, too cheap rims... no manners, sleeping pill in bed... it was all about image, all about boasting. Jessie didn't really feel comfortable. She stood aside from the crowd and hoped that she could wait for Katie before the race and hopefully without meeting Tad.
When the silver Mazda stopped a few feet away from Jessie, her perception flipped into slow-motion. She knew it was Katie who had just arrived and it was the moment she had secretly waited for the whole night. She badly wanted to see her again, just to see, if the magic was still there. There had to be something, she couldn't have been so terribly wrong. Even if she still wasn't sure about what she wanted or felt, she wanted to find out... and there was just one way to find out: See Katie again, talk to her!
Katie put her sneakers under the front passengers seat and
put her high heels on. She wanted to show off, so she would show off...
completely... and: it would look extremely ridiculous, if she wore
sneakers with her dress. She felt a little bit uneasy. Usually she was
self-confident, the moment she got out of the car to meet her opponent, but
this dress probably wasn't a good idea, because it made her vulnerable... and
insecure. Ok, Singer! Get out of your car! Meet Tad, win the race... and steal
his girl! It's as easy as you planned it. Isn’t it? Her hands started to shake
slightly.
The door opened. Because of the black tint of the windows Jessie couldn't see much... much but legs. Long legs that stepped out of the car, the soft skin clearly glistening in the headlights of the cars. Then her body appeared, dressed in a silver dress that moved slightly with the breeze that blew over the airport. High heels... oh, my god... damn... she isn't wearing high heels, is she? Jessie felt her mouth getting dry. I'm not seeing what I see... and I definitely don't feel what I feel... she repeated to herself, without even knowing why, because it definitely felt good. Stop that slow motion thing... I can't believe it... she's turning around... she's... her heart nearly stopped beating. She didn't expect this. She didn't expect Katie being this stunning... this breathtaking.
Katie sighed quietly. Nothing is different! Remember Singer! Act as if it’s totally normal for you to wear this stuff... Katie decided that it would be a good idea to have a last look on the engine of her car. Maybe it would help her to concentrate on the race again. She hadn't spotted Jessie until now, she probably didn't come... no, don't think about it! There's a race! Concentrate! Katie tried to remind herself, even though she was having trouble staying calm.
She walked around the car to the hood to open it, when it suddenly hit her... hard, very hard... this... oh damn... She closed her eyes an leaned onto the hood. Now she knew where the weird feeling was coming from!
I feel like I’m part of a cheap, bad, perverse, heterosexual porn movie.
She opened her eyes and looked at herself... this is ridiculous. I'm wearing almost... nothing... I drive a big, big, big tuned car and... well, if there was a script, I probably would have to start lying down on the hood... basking in the headlights of the cars around me... waiting for...
"Do you need hand, baby?" That might have been her cue.
Katie turned around, obviously already very annoyed. A tall blond guy stood next to her car, watched her and grinned lecherously.
"No, thanks. And hey! I’m up here,” she said, pointing to her eyes.
His grin grew wider and showed a line of bright white teeth.
"Sorry, I'm not interested in your eyes. I didn't know they... I mean you’re so... gorgeous."
Katie sighed. Jamie had been right, she looked desperate and for these guys it was an invitation to make a pass at her. She could have had a little bit more foresight.
"Could you do me a favor and go? Just for your own safety, because I'm afraid I'm going to get really angry, if you keep talking. And you haven't seen me really angry before..."
"Woohoo, I like my girls hot tempered, baby, go on!" He laughed.
"I'm serious. Go!"
She tried to sound as mad as possible to give her words a little bit more emphasis. She just planned on stealing Jessie's heart... and getting raped by some stupid car-crazy asshole wasn't part of the plan. Stupid! Stupid idea!
He shrugged his shoulders, but didn't stop grinning.
"Katie, Katie. You don't know what you’re missing... and, well, I think... you need to get laid, you’ve probably heard that one before, haven’t you... and... hm, if you don't let me help you, you should ask... well, maybe she can help you with that problem..."
Then he turned around and left. She? Who? Katie couldn't think fast enough, but then she heard a voice.