Switching Lanes
by Amastre

PART 3

"Can I lend a hand?"  a low voice behind Katie asked.

Katie spun around and her eyes widened in shock as she saw Jessie standing there, smiling shyly, obviously very nervous. Nervous? Why should she be nervous?  Did she just say... say... that? Katie couldn't believe her own ears and to her disappointment she couldn't even keep herself from thinking that she definitely would need a hand... but not with her car.  Stop it! You're not going to do this! No! Not again!

"I... I... d-d-don't need your... hand... I mean, help, thanks," she stuttered, while trying unsuccessfully to open the hood. Her hands were shaking.

Jessie didn't really understand what was happening, not because her mind was completely occupied with savoring the sight - Katie bending over the engine, her endless long legs - but because she couldn't remember Katie being this unfriendly, this indifferent.  Now that she had finally gotten herself to accept that sex was the only option she had, Katie seemed to have no interest in her. It made her angry somehow, it had taken a lot of time and trouble to be strong enough to come here and talk to Katie, so she wasn't going to let her get away with this.

Jessie took a deep breath and tried hard to collect her thoughts. It was impossible, that Katie had changed her mind, so now it was up to Jessie to... well, to let Katie know she wants her tonight. Tonight?   Great! The thought made her nervous again. Not that she wasn't prepared, she definitely was, but she didn't want to be prepared.   Jessie forced herself to stop thinking about it, this wouldn't get her anywhere. There was no choice, no other option. Just do it, Jess!   So at least part of you will be satisfied.

"Nice dress,"  Jessie complimented, trying to start a conversation again and regretting her opening line immediately.

Just imagine the scene. Katie, next to her car, bending over the engine in a rather tiny dress and Jessie standing next to her, watching her... carefully, paying a little extra attention to Katie's more...'interesting' parts. Doesn't the line "Nice dress!" sound a little bit... desperate? Obvious?

Katie turned to Jessie and eyed her. Had her plan really worked? She hid a grin: Yes, it had. It didn't help her nervousness, but it was good to see that Jessie definitely didn't mind her dress. So, I can go on to step two: Overcome the pure physical attraction! But how?

And while Katie was trying to overcome it, Jessie started to lose herself in that attraction.

Katie cleared her throat.  "Thanks." 

What was that? Maybe she just said it by accident, but what if she said it deliberately? It didn't scare her, she had done this often enough to know where it would lead to. But that wasn't how she wanted it to be... so she wouldn't respond to it. She would regret it... and Jessie would... so she thought, that couldn't be what she wanted.

**********

An engine roared loudly. Katie turned around and saw Tad's car turn into the airport. The masses parted, while some guy turned his sound system on. The hero was coming with waving banners. Katie couldn't fight the thought, that Tad has planned the scene... she smiled weakly: Well, he wasn't the only one!

He stepped out of his car.

Tad stared at Katie. She wasn't trying to distract him, was she? Well... she's the enemy... yeah, right... the enemy... don't forget: The enemy! But an enemy with wonderful hips and such... damn... so such gorgeous legs... oh, my god! I have to concentrate. Concentrate!

Katie smiled to herself, she almost felt Tad's insecurity. He hadn't expected her... she grinned... to look like this and she hadn't expected that it would be so easy to get his mind off the race. Even though this wasn't really the purpose of this dress, it was a nice side effect. She had to concentrate on the race and forget about Jessie for a few minutes. She's standing right behind me... she suppressed a slight shaking of her hands... and she's watching me.

I'm on the edge of fainting... where the heck did all these feelings come from? Jessie tried desperately to stay calm. Long-term relationship? Oh, god! Forget about it, Jess! Even though it's just one single night, it'll be worth it... With every step Katie took, with every swing of her hips, with every flex of her calf muscles, with every breeze that moved her blonde hair, Jessie forgot her upbringing, her morals, everything she had ever believed in and everything she never wanted to be. 'I'm old enough to decide to listen to my primal instincts for one night... just one night and just because I won't get anything else.'

Katie walked up to Tad, who was leaning at his car, smiling broadly, while eying her.

"Short of money, Katie? Do you already have to prostitute yourself?"

The question hit her hard. Katie took a deep breath... she couldn't let him get away with this. If her voice was low enough, Jessie wouldn't hear her boasting... she didn't want her to hear... she didn't want anyone to hear, except for Tad.

She stepped close to him and whispered, with an evil grin on her lips, "Your girlfriend seems to like it."

An angry Tad was even better than a distracted Tad. She looked at him, while she flipped into her role.

"She isn't my girlfriend anymore," Katie's heart skipped a beat, "but I won't let you get your hands on her. She's a good girl. She doesn't deserve a boasting bitch like you."

This was work... this wasn't her... it was her job to be the arrogant, mean one... that's how she wins, that's how she makes her money... that... her next words hurt her...

"Believe me, Tad! First I'll win the race, then I'll get the girl... Tonight I will make her plead for more, scream my name and make her pass out from... well... let's say... happiness in the end."

Her smile was rewarded with an frustrated grunt. Tad didn't know what to answer. Somehow he knew, that it was out of his hands... Jessie didn't want him, so why should he care? But... but he was the better choice for her! She was his girl...

**********

Without another word, Katie turned around and walked back to her car, feeling disgusted with herself. If Jessie ever found out how she had talked about her, she would leave immediately without giving Katie a chance to show her, that it could be different with her.

Jessie was still standing next to the Mazda, when Katie opened the door to step in. Thoughts rambled through her tortured mind: What did they talk about? Why was Tad so angry? And why was Katie laughing... so... lewdly? It was probably all about the race, but then why did Tad look at her. Maybe it was about her! Maybe Katie already showed off with her... with me... I'm one of a million other girls... I'm just the trophy... But that's what you wanted, Jess!

"I'm sorry..."  She heard Katie whisper, before she got into the car.

What? What? Wait! Stop!

**********

Katie started the engine, stepped on the gas and drove the Madza next to Tad's.

She opened a window: "Get ready! I want to end this... quickly!"

He shot an angry glare at her.

"You won't win and you won't get her... she's mine!"

"Of course..." Katie rolled with her eyes and closed the window.

This guy was about to get on her nerves and something told her, that this wasn't the last time she would have to deal with him.

**********

The race was in full swing.

They started on the same pace, no one could over take the other one... the first turn was cramped and Katie was the first who saw it.  She gently slowed the car down, while Tad raced towards the bend.  Katie shifted gears quickly and turned... Tad drove next to her... he changed into a lower gear, his engine roared and he overtook her. Katie smiled... you don't get it boy, do you? I'll catch you... now... or after the next turn.

Tad laughed: "Coward!"

Then the bend took a sharper turn... he lost control for a second and had to brake hard.  At this, Katie pushed the pedal desperately to the floor ...

"Come on, baby... faster now!"

She forced the revolutions high, waited... waited... passed Tad and finally shifted gears.

"Wow, that was..."  A second longer and the engine would have been gone.

Jessie's palms were wet from nervousness. It didn't matter to her if Katie won or not... but... well, she didn't want Tad to win. And then... after the race... it was her time!

With every turn the race got closer... no one could force a decision.  They were tearing out of the last turn... neck and neck.

At the finishing line the people came together, screaming and cheering.

"I won't win this way." Tad whispered to himself.

He didn't think much, he just acted. He had to, he couldn't let this girl hurt his reputation like she did before... he already lost his girl because of her, that had to be enough. He won't let himself be humiliated again.

Then he pulled the steering wheel around, his last resort. This was worth a new paint... even a new side skirt... His car rammed into Katie's Mazda. He was prepared and didn't have much trouble staying in control of his car, but Katie wasn't.

The car started to swerve. Katie desperately steered against the car's drive towards the meadow next to the street.

"Brake... shift... softly... wait... wait... stay with me... oh god..."

Damn! Katie finally got her car back into line, but she had to break... and shift twice... there was no way to win anymore.

Tad was far away... fast... and over the finishing line. Katie slowed down... this was against the rules and there were rules. Hopefully there wasn't too much damage to the paint.

**********

Raging, Katie jumped out of the car, storming towards Tad who was already celebrating.

She hit him.

"Who do you think you are? You can't win fair, can you?"

He just laughed.

"Oh, my god! Does your baby have a scratch? Japanese rice bowl... no quality... get off!"

"No! I won't get off, Tad!"

Suddenly it became very quiet. Everyone eyed them. Even Jessie.

"What? Sweet... you wanna have a fight? With me?"

And with this... Katie remembered... her dress... her shoes... and all of a sudden she had to fight embarrassment and rage at the same time. Her eyes searched for Jamie... not that she couldn't fight for herself... but Tad was about one and a half heads taller than her... stronger... and...

He pulled a small bundle out of his pocket.

"I won... but... here, take the money... I don't need it," he grins mischievously, "I have her."

Tad grabbed Jessie, who was standing next to him, and pulled her close.

"Leave me alone!"  A small glimpse of panic showed in her eyes.

"Let her go, Tad! This isn't about her, it's about you and me."

"Yes, it is about her. You know that."  His grip around Jessie's arm tightened.

Katie didn't know what to do. She really wanted to be Jessie's knight in shining armor, but in fact: She was just a girl... in high-heels.   Jessie looked scared and she looked at her, at Katie... what does she expect?

Suddenly a voice from with the crowd shouted.

"Get you hands of this girl, Tad! Your image already has a scratch."

Tad looked around. Some people were nodding in agreement with the voice, others were talking to each other. He couldn't let Katie get Jessie... and that's how it'll be. But he wasn't the bad guy here... he just wanted to win and he just wanted to protect... then he sensed his grip. I'm hurting her!

He let go of her and Katie sighed in relief, just like Jessie did.

"Well... Katie, obviously your wish was granted! Have fun! Take what's yours!"

His voice was filled with disappointment, there was barely any anger.  And Katie wondered why: She stole his girl and ruined what was left of his reputation. There must be at least some... emotional... ill feeling.

Jessie looked at Tad, her eyes showing sheer disgust. So, this race had been about her? Even though she suspected it, she couldn't accept the thought as she accepted that Katie was just a girl for one night.

But before she could do or say anything, Katie laughed at Tad.

"Don't be ridiculous, Tad! Except for the money there's nothing here that's mine."

Then she turned to Jessie, seeing her hurt face for the first time.  She immediately regretted the whole night. She couldn't foresee that it would be Jessie who was to bear all the consequences. All she wanted was a happy Jessie... even though the barely talked until know... a happy Jessie in her arms, but not for this price, not if Jessie believed she had just used her.

"I'll give you a ride home. I'm sorry this is happening." She whispered.

They looked at each other, sinking into the depth of each others eyes without noticing. Something sparked between them... everyone stared at them... waiting...

Trust her! A voice within Jessie's said... Trust her! And don't worry about being a trophy... you wanted to be hers tonight... that was what you decided to be. Because there would always just be tonight.

"Thanks," she smiled weakly, duelling with her own doubts.

**********

It was quiet. They didn't speak while they drove.

Katie suppressed the shaking of her hands. She couldn't explain where it came from... maybe because she was remembering where situations like this normally end. And this was something she had tried to avoid... not that she didn't want it... She glanced at the girl next to her. Damn, she had to use all her self-control! She suspected that one hug would make her lose it... her body was already reacting to the sight of Jessie... her slim shadow in the darkness of the car... her hands... Katie! Katie! Watch the road! Oh...my... god...

"What's up? Something wrong?" Jessie sensed that something was different.

How could she tell her? Her embarrassment was indescribable. With every other girl, she would have popped into her role, played her part, been what the girl thought she was... got the girl laid and sneaked out in the morning. Entirely content... without a trophy... but satisfied. Yeah right.. that was how she always did it... but was it her style?

"I'm not like that." She blurted out.

That made Jessie curious. It fuelled her hopes, maybe there was a chance, that...

"Like what?"

She had to tell her.

"I don't bet on girls. I don't degrade girls like you probably think I do... I'm sorry for what Tad did and said tonight and I'm sorry for encouraging him."

Jessie wanted to tell her what she heard about her... and that she was sure that there was always something true about rumors. But she just looked at Katie, admiring her and wishing she could forget about it all.

**********

She stopped the car in front of Jessie's place.

This couldn't be how it ends... that's not what I want, Jessie thought and realized that she thought the words "what I want" for the first time. She had fought hard to get herself to this point and now she wouldn't throw this away, but go all the way... definitely!

"Would you like to... come inside with me?"

Katie glanced at Jessie as she heard the question. A small part of her longed to her that... and another part wanted it to be different.

She couldn't think quick enough... she just answered: "Yeah, I'd love to." And smiled a shy smile.

**********

The air was suddenly thick with desire when Jessie closed the door.  They were standing in the middle of the room, staring at each other, clearly not knowing what to do, hoping for the other one to act. But even Jessie, inexperienced when it came to one-night-stands, sensed that something would happen, whether they liked it or not...

For a brief second she thought about her friends, about her family... what they would say and think if they knew, that she was about to sleep with a girl... and her therapist... damn, he would hate her for this! She smiled a bit... yes, he would... but who cares?

There was no need, no urge to talk. The one and only urge Katie had was to run away. For the first time in her life, she thought she couldn't handle a situation like this.

It was Jessie who started closing the distance between them. She didn't want to hold back anymore. She couldn't wait anymore.

Her hands were grabbing Katie's, gently caressing her palms before wrapping her arms around Katie.

Katie shivered when she sensed Jessie's breath on her neck. It made her weak... her touch... her warmth... oh, god... Katie stay conscious! It even made her think about forgetting about her intentions. She was shocked by Jessie's eagerness, it caught her off guard, but she also couldn't evade her touch. She didn't want to.

Jessie struggled, with her excitement and her fear. She didn't know she could do something like this and somehow it felt wrong: She had expected Katie to try to seduce her, not the other way round. She sensed Katie's heartbeat and her quickened breathing, the shivering of her hands, which desperately sought hold of Jessie's hips.

Their bodies so close to each other, brought Katie close to losing her mind. Jessie's lips gently brushed over the soft skin on Katie's neck, barely touching her, but making clear she wanted to... desperately... and that was it... when Katie backed off.