[chapter two]
Disclaimer: If you've heard of
them, I don't own them. Everything else is mine, so no stealing, pretty please.
;-)
**
"What's the problem, bud?" Chad asked with concern, walking over
to where Jimmie sat forlornly on a tool box, watching the final preparations
on his car before the final practice prior to qualifying.
"Nothin." Jimmie said sullenly.
Chad crossed his arms and assumed his 'don't fuck with me' face. "It's something."
"Lisa's here." Jimmie muttered. "With him."
"Oh."
"Yeah."
Chad raised his eyes to the heavens, trying to think of a tactful way to tell Jimmie that he was better off without that bubblebrained blonde who, after having dated Jimmie for two years, decided to cheat on him.
With Junior.
"Listen, bud…" Chad began before Jimmie stood and cut him off with a glare.
"Don't bother." He said quietly and Chad nodded in silent understanding. Jimmie didn't want to talk about it any more than Chad did. After a moment, he tried another topic of conversation.
"So, I'm pretty excited about Kick being here. I think you guys would like each other. She's cool." Chad said evenly, smiling at the thought of his friend finally being in the garage area on the weekends.
"What do you mean, we would like either other?" Jimmie asked defensively.
"Just that…you'd like her. She's cool." Chad repeated, confused.
"Don't even think about setting me up with some Cup official with a smile the size of a billboard and pretty blue eyes. I'm not interested." Jimmie spat.
"Good, because that thought didn't occur to me. Come to think of it, in your present state of mind, I'm not sure I want you near anyone I care about." Chad answered. "Got me?" He said, his voice harder.
Jimmie sighed and absently rubbed his hands together. "Listen, man, I'm sorry. I'm just…my head's not in the game. I'm sorry about what I said about Kick and about my attitude today. I am." He said with genuine remorse.
Chad relented and patted Jimmie on the shoulder. "Don't worry about it. And don't let Lisa get to you. She's not worth it."
"Yeah. I know. Just that…ugh. It's him." Jimmie said angrily.
"I know." Chad said quietly, moving to walk back to where Ron was gesturing wildly from the rear spoiler of the car.
"Hey Chad?" Jimmie said suddenly.
"Yeah, bud?"
"Why is she called Kick?" Jimmie asked curiously.
"Ask her sometime." Chad said with a grin.
Jimmie ground his teeth together as he caught sight of Lisa laughing at something Junior had said in the garage facing his own. Two years, and she dumped him for…for that…
Jimmie's eyes slid away from the 8 garage and down the rows of colourful cars facing him, watching crew members and press photographers bustle around. He straightened suddenly as he watched Kick emerge from the 5 garage, a clipboard in her hand and a set of headphones around her neck. She grinned as she shook hands with Jim Long before hurrying away.
She did have a nice smile.
Not that he cared.
Not in the least.