[chapter five]
Disclaimer: If you've heard of them, I don't own them. Everything else is mine, so no stealing, pretty please. ;-)
A/N: Nothing noteworthy this time. :-)
**
(The following morning)
Casey practically ran down the steps of Junior's motorcoach and began walking quickly towards the garages. She had promised Jade she would type up Kerry's bio so that he could hand it out to the press during the Busch race today. Her laptop had locked up twice, so she was later than expected getting the bio typed, but she'd finally finished.
She hurried through to the Busch series garages, and spotted Jade deep in discussion with several members of the media. She snuck behind his back and handed the stack of papers to him surreptitiously, then snuck away again. She saw Jade glance over his shoulder, so she waved and grinned broadly. He did the same, and Casey turned to walk away.
The Busch race would be starting soon, and most of the Cup drivers were milling around, hanging out in their coaches, or doing appearances. Junior was supposed to be meeting with several Nabisco executives, so she wasn't expecting him back in the coach for at least an hour or two.
She meandered through the garage area and back into the grassy motorcoach area. She looked from left to right, watching kids play and the occasional pit crew member walk by, deep in thought or discussion about the rest or a car setup. Casey saw several drivers walk back "home" in their off-day uniforms of khaki pants and sponsorship-embroidered polo shirts, and said hello to Steve Park before running into Jeff Gordon.
"Hey kiddo." He said easily. "How's it going?"
"Good. Thought I might head back and actually catch a nap before the race started. How's everything with you? You keeping Jimmie in line?" Casey teased.
"Doing my best." Jeff laughed. "I gotta tell you, he's a natural at this. And I think he's finally getting the hang of signing six billion autographs every day."
"I always knew he would be. Is he around today? I've been meaning to catch up with him." Casey asked.
"Should be in his coach." Jeff replied. "Listen, barbeque tonight at my coach. I'd love it if you and Junior were there."
"I'll mark my calendar." Casey grinned as they parted ways. She continued walking towards Junior's coach when she saw a flash of red out of the corner of her eye.
Between two motorcoaches were two people who were clearly trying to avoid being seen. Casey squinted slightly, then gasped. Junior was one of the two people. The other was a girl Casey had never seen before.
Casey took a step back instinctively to size up the situation. The girl was willowy and tall, almost as tall as Junior himself. She was model-thin, with long brown hair, perfectly highlighted. Her makeup, her features, and her body were flawless. She was clothed in a very clingy leopard-print shirt and black leather pants.
Casey looked down at her hoody, faded jeans and very worn Nikes with disgust. This woman was gorgeous. And she was sure that that fact hadn't escaped Junior.
Silently, Casey debated between striding up and introducing herself, or simply walking away and asking Junior about the girl later. She had asked him to trust her but a few days ago, so she should do the same for him.
His hand slid to the girl's waist. Casey's eyes narrowed unconsciously.
The girl's laughter tinkled as she playfully pushed Junior away while artfully flipping her hair over one shoulder. With her other hand, she caressed Junior's chest. Casey ground her teeth slightly.
Junior leaned over and planted a kiss on the girl's lips lightly, and Casey's breath caught. She sighed heavily, then jumped as she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Hey Case. Thanks again for that bio. Great sneak attack - I started handing them out right away." Jade said easily, unknowingly interrupting Casey's spying.
Casey shook her head and cleared her throat. "No problem, Jade." The girl was now walking away from Junior and he turned and slid out of sight behind one of the motorcoaches he had been hiding between. The girl walked into plain view, and Jade waved slightly as the girl smiled at him. "So, um, who's that?" Casey asked.
"Tiffani. She's one of Junior's exes. Nice girl, but not terribly bright." Jade said with a laugh. "They broke up quite a while ago, but she still shows up at races occasionally - she never came to many of the tracks when they were together. I wonder if Junior's seen her?"
"She looks like the sort of girl who can track down whatever she wants." Casey said with a hint of bitterness.
"Yeah, she had him totally whipped and chasing her around for months." Jade laughed, oblivious to the pain and confusion on Casey's face. "But man, for a body like that, I'd put up with a lot too."
Casey laughed feebly, unable to form words or thoughts. So this … pit lizard was an ex? Did she really have to be that good looking? And did Junior really need to be kissing on her? Finally, she found her voice again. "Why did they break up?" She ventured.
"Oh, lots of little reasons, I guess." Jade said distractedly.
"Like … " Casey prompted, hating herself for asking, and half afraid to hear the answer.
She was always bitching about him being gone, she couldn't handle all the attention he got from girls and was always jealous about it, he didn't trust her - was convinced she was two-timing him throughout most of their relationship, and when she did come to a couple of races with him, she spent all her time hitting on other guys just to make him jealous and to get attention from him. Talk about a couple of attention-starved kids." Jade laughed. "But that was a while ago. He's grown up since then. I think." Jade smiled. "I gotta run, catch up with you before practice." Casey merely waved her goodbye.
Casey fumed as Jade walked away and she moved slowly towards Junior's motorcoach.
Abruptly, she changed direction. The last person she really wanted to see right now was Junior - ex-girlfriend or not, she did not need to confront him about hiding between coaches and kissing strange girls. Just because they'd had the trust conversation didn't mean she wasn't a little pissed off and a little hurt. Okay, a lot pissed off and a lot hurt.
There was only one other place where Casey felt she could retreat. Casey strode towards the familiar motorcoach and knocked quietly on the front door, crossing her fingers that he would be home and willing to listen to her bitch for a while - or at least sit through her having a mini-breakdown. Moments later, the door opened to reveal Jimmie, still clad in his khakis and polo shirt, his ever present Lowe's hat missing in action.
"Whoa." Jimmie said, taking one look at Casey's face. "Wanna talk about it?" He asked gently, opening the door wider.
Casey could only nod her head silently as she stepped inside.
**
Junior paced the space between his coach and the garages for what felt like the 50th time. He'd been looking for Casey since his appearance ended early. She was the only one he really wanted to see after his horrible meet and greet, and yet he'd run into everyone but her. Jade, Tony Jr, Tiffani, Dale Jarrett …
Junior scowled as he marched back towards to his coach. Jeff Gordon was walking the opposite direction and called out to the younger driver. "You comin' tonight? I told Casey about it already." Jeff asked.
"Huh?" Junior distractedly. "Comin' where?"
"Barbeque. My place." Jeff said. "Casey said she'd mark her calendar."
"When did you see her? Where was she?" Junior demanded and Jeff stepped back a pace, confused.
"Uh, just a little while ago, right here. I don't know where she was headed though. Listen, do me a favor. I haven't seen Jimmie all day - stop by his place later and drag him over from some food." Jeff asked as a shout came up from his garage area. "Uh-oh. Gotta go. See you tonight!" He called over his shoulder.
Junior glared at the ground then winced as he heard the voice of Mike Helton. There was no escaping now. Junior sighed as a big arm wrapped around his shoulder and steered him towards the NASCAR hauler. No telling what he had done this time.
Mike was talking a mile a minute,
but Junior was only half listening. He was still scanning the grounds for
his girlfriend - he had to talk to her. He didn't know why it was so urgent,
but he had to. Damn Tiffani had thrown him for quite a loop, and he wanted
to talk to Casey before she heard that Tiffani was here, or thought something
was going down. Looked like that discussion would have to wait.