Speed  After Ratchet left on his date I didn’t know what to do with myself. Ratchet has been out before but the difference between then and now is that I knew all the people he would hang out with. I don’t know this Matt guy and it was a date not just hanging out.  I’m nervous for Ratchet and thrilled at the same time. I didn’t realize I was pacing until Brick put his hand on my shoulder. “ Stop little girl. Ratchet will be fine. He has all our numbers if he needs anything. You saw his face. He was excited to go out with Matt.” Yes, I could see it in Ratchet’s face and something I didn’t want to see and that was lust. But I have to let him grow up. Gretchen got me to sit down in the recliner and asked “ Do you want us to call Lilly?”  Why would they call Lilly? I

Brick I just knocked on the door at Merigold’s house. Gretchen and I are here hoping to get some answers that may help us figure Speed out. I can tell she is hiding so much pain behind her eyes. I’m hoping Merigold can help us find a way to release it before it eats away at her any more than it already has. On the outside Speed projects a happy life but if you look closely you can see that on the inside she is miserable. She just hides it really well.  After what feels like hours Axel opens the door and lets us in. “ Merigold is on the back porch. She said to go out there.” I start to walk towards the back door when Axel puts his hand on my shoulder. I look at him and see he has a forlorn look on his face. “ Brother, I know some of what Merigold is going to tell you. She gave me a quick overview a

Brick   Since Speed has a race in four days Viper called a meeting for us to go over a few things at the track and here at the clubhouse. Viper wants to have a party after the race to congratulate Speed no matter how she places and it turns out Casper and a few of his members are going to be in town. Viper invited them to come to the race and even secured tickets for them which I’m surprised and happy to say are almost sold out. At least twenty were taken by our crew and the auto shop. Thor and Merigold are going to close the shop for the day so everyone can be at Speed’s race. The rest is because the manager Jason has been doing some serious advertising about Speed being in this week’s race. He even has one of Speed’s time trials posted on the track's website as well as some pictures of Speed posing by Frankenstein. Since I was there they took the photos I have one on my phone. I couldn’t

Speed   I don’t know how long we sat there curled up with Gretchen after Brick had left. Well, I wouldn’t say curled up. My legs were draped over hers but my ass, which was burning, was on the couch and my head was resting on her shoulder. She rubbed small circles on my back to soothe me and let me shed a few more tears. Silent ones this time. Gretchen kept saying over and over “ It’s ok baby. Let it out. I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.” The more she said it the more I would relax into her. She had to be getting tired of sitting like this with me but she never complained, just held me. I didn’t realize how much I needed this. To be held and comforted like this. But not anyone would do. I needed her, Gretchen until my eyes started to get heavy. I didn’t want to move. When I started to yawn so big I thought I was going to pop my jaw, Gretchen slid my legs off hers. I whimpered at the

Speed The Day Before The Race   I have certain rituals I do the day before I race and the day I race. Ratchet even has a few he does. Not everyone would understand why we do these things but I don’t feel right if I don’t. It starts with me going for a two-mile run the day before a race. That activity I just finished now I’m headed up for a shower. I use my favorite body wash. The same one I have been using since my first race. It is lavender and chamomile. It helps calm my mind breathing in its scent. Now on to the next thing on the list is simple. I dress in a pair of well-worn jeans and a tee-shirt to go have a huge breakfast with Rachet. And I do mean huge. Pancakes, sausage, bacon, and scrambled eggs. I have just set the plates on the table when Ratchet comes in.    While we