alice-honeysuckle

[alice-honeysuckle]

4. Sidelines

Chaos was the easiest way to explain Nascar race days. It was only 4 o'clock in the afternoon in the middle of August and over 4,000 people were milling around in the stands. Veronica and Cozette stood in line to a small restaurant that sat in the overhangs. Veronica nervously bounced from foot to foot as Cozette ordered them smoothies.

     "Stop pacing, it's making me nervous." Cozette mumbled.

     "There's something going on with my brother and his friends. Owen has never acted so...watchful." Veronica looked at Cozette as she sighed and shook her head.

     "Maybe it's just the move, Veronica. Let's just try and enjoy ourselves. Will you grab some straws?"

Veronica nodded and headed towards the small counter across the room that held silverware and condiments along with a small box of straws. She caught a guy with startling blue eyes watching her as she scooped up the straws and started back towards Cozette. Her attention was on the guy and before she knew it she ran face first into something. She steadied herself as her vision wavered, realizing she'd ran into a young man wearing a fire suit just like Chase's, his brown hair was short on the sides, designs of horses on either side while it was longer on top. His eyes were a brilliant shade of sable brown. They bore into Veronica's soul with shear radiant power.

     "Miss? Are you alright?" His voice had a Hispanic tone to it. It was sweet and rich like caramel, it thundered softly with definition.

Cozette was staring at them with terror on her face, he looked harmless enough and must have been a driver, considering the fire suit.

     "I'm fine. Thank you." She smiled sweetly at him and he smirked in response.

     "You look like you knocked the breath out of yourself." He stated, obviously trying to hold back a laugh.

     "Are you making fun of me? Who are you anyway?" She scrunched her nose up at him, making him bite his bottom lip to stop a laugh from escaping. She raised an eyebrow, signaling she wanted an answer.

     He smirked, "The name's Santiago. Santiago Reyes-Sanchez. I drive for the state of Texas, and you are?"

Veronica's heart skipped a beat. So this was Santiago? This was the man who sent men to beat up Sully because of a stupid little family feud. He hurt her family, of course Cozette was looking in fear at them. She was worried her best friend just walked straight into a trap. Slowly she took a deep breath and puffed her chest, trying to make herself look bigger and braver than she felt.

"Veronica Walsh. My brother Chase drives for Tennessee. Sullivan Davis ring any bells? I'd watch who you run into, Mr.Sanchez."

She had the satisfaction of seeing his eyes flare with surprise and annoyance. She threw him a smirk and his mouth clenched into a sneer, but before he could get a word out Cozette hurriedly walked to her side and holding out a smoothie.

"Hey Roni, here's your smoothie. Did you get the straws?"

Veronica nodded and handed her one of the straws before turning from Santiago. They tried to speed walk away without being suspicious. Once they were down the hall and around the corner heading down to the garages did Cozette stop and turn to Veronica. She gave her a look and then sighed very loudly.

"Sometimes, you really are a bad luck charm. First day of season and you already ran into Santiago Sanchez and achieved to piss him off. Chase is not going to like that."

"Oh to hell with Chase and what he likes." Veronica grumbled, "That's all I've ever heard. I want to be included God damn it."

"Veronica you don't know what you're asking. It's a family business and it's not something they want you involved in."

"What do you mean? We aren't blood family with Sully or Sammy. Just honorary so how does that count?" Veronica raised an eyebrow at the blonde who rolled her eyes in frustration.

"Veronica I really can't discuss your brother's business with you. It's not mine to tell."

"There you two are." A deep voice rumbled.

     The girls turned to see an outraged Owen stalking towards them with purpose. Cozette sighed through her nose, obviously annoyed at the approaching man.

"You two can't be running off like that here." Owen stopped in front of them before turning to Cozette, "Cozy, you know this is equal turf. They have some control here. Chase doesn't want Veronica running ramped."

"Excuse me? I'm also eighteen. I can do as I wish." She heard the own whine in her voice and she winced.

"Veronica we don't have time to fight this. Your brother is about to pull out on that track in front of 10,000 people in a 1,000 pound beast of a car and try to beat every single one of these other drivers asses'. So if you'd just please listen to your brother for once ." Owen grumbled, his voice strained with annoyance.

Veronica huffed, puffing out her bottom lip in a pout. She wanted to know what the hell was going on, and she was going to find out if it killed her. Cozette was looking like a wounded kitten as they made their way down to where Chase stood with everyone else, getting ready to get in his car. It was loud as Cozette split off towards where her brother and father stood. Veronica stayed with Owen as they made their way to Chase. Lights lit the huge oval shape track and thousands upon thousands of people were cheering, they began chanting slowly.

"Rocky top! Rocky top!"

     Chase beamed with a smile. Waving and chuckling under his breath. Veronica caught Santiago staring from a distance, his maroon and gold fire suit framed him perfectly. He was not trying to hide the sneer he threw her brother's way. Heat filled her belly as she sighed heavily through her nose. She felt a hand on her shoulder and she gasped softly, looking up to find Owen looking down at her.

      "Don't. Chase has it covered. Let him do it the way he wants. On the racetrack."

     "Doing what he does best." She threw Santiago a smirk and he furrowed his eyebrows, a little siked out she hoped. She looked back to her brother. Owen was helping him put on his earpiece so Sully could talk to him during the race. He glanced at his sister and smiled. It wasn't just any smile, it was his 'I'm in heaven' smile. He was purely and absolutely in bliss. He couldn't wait to get in that car.

     "Good luck," she yelled over the noise, walking over to stand in front of him as he slid on his orange helmet. He grinned through the black see through plastic and reached out to pull her forehead to touch the cool surface of where his forehead would be through the material.

     "Roni, I love you. If anything happens to me on this track tonight please don't do anything stupid."

     "Oh hush!" She hissed over the growing noise as most drivers had been strapped in their cars, reeving the engines. "You're a Walsh! You'll always come out on top!"

     He gave her another grin and his shoulders rocked with a silent chuckle as he patted her on the shoulder. He jogged over to his car and jumped in the drivers seat. She silently said a prayer as Owen strapped her brother in and the intercom boomed with the commentary's voice. Chase started the car and reeved the engine. Tonight was known as "First Day of Season" which means six laps, and fifty cars. Veronica headed to where Sully stood with a headset on one ear and off the other. He gave her a smile and a small hug.

    "Good to have you here, dear. Your father would have been so proud of both of you." He ruffled her hair and chuckled. She gave him a smile back and turned her attention to the racetrack. The flaggers were at the front line, getting ready. Veronica took a deep breath in. She didn't break eye contact with the orange car sitting maybe 5 cars behind the starting line.

***

(Chase's Point of View)

"On my mark!" The commentary shouted shouted

"Get set!"

The commentary didn't wait but five small seconds before shouted "Go!" And tires squealed as the boys took off. Chase was quick to pass the few cars that had been in front of him, but Santiago was right behind him along with the others coming back for revenge. They were coming up on the first curve as Chase shifted gears and drifted, the other cars right behind him. He hit the straight and picked up speed, his car jerking under his finger tips from the sudden change. If he timed it right he could use his cans of Nitro on the last 3 laps. If he wasn't smart he could lose or worse, crash. He shot down the straight with demon like speed but the others were continually pushing and gaining on his ass.

     "Sully how's it looking from over there?" He shouted, his hands wobbling around the wheel as he was coming up on the second curve and fast.

     Sully stared through his binoculars as he hissed under his teeth. Santiago was grill to bumper with Chase and didn't seem to be backing off anytime soon.

    "Chase it's not looking good, son. Looks like your cowboy from Texas wants to play bumper cars. If he takes that drift that close, and we assume he knows what he's doing, he could pass you and you'll play hell catching up."

     Chase cursed under his breath and decided to make a hard decision. He waited until they came up and jerked his wheel to the left smashing his finger into the Nitro button. He car shot forward with such speed the wheel jerked from his grasp.

"Sully!"

***

(Veronica's Point of View)

Sully gripped Veronica's hand as she watched his lips move fast as he talked to Chase. He looked worried. She watched her brother on the track and that damned Santiago wasn't doing him any favors riding his ass. She definitely planned on giving him a piece of her mind after the fact. At least that's what she did plan on until she watched her brother make one of the worst mistakes a driver could ever do. He hit his Nitro button too soon around the second curve, causing his wheels to wobble and jerk the steering wheel from his hands. A scream tore from her lips as she watched her brother's car jerk violently to the left at high speed and flip.

Time slowed. Veronica watched, her gut churning as she counted subconsciously in her head. One, two, three, four, five...

Before she realized what she was doing her feet were moving. She slipped and cried out as her knees hit the pavement. She could hear Owen shouting as his arms came around her and she thrashed.

"Princessa please," Owen urgently hissed "You can't kill your self too!"

"He's my brother!" She screeched, her hand cracking across his face, nails raking into the soft flesh. He cried out before his arms tightened their grip around her. She sobbed heavily and fought against him. Cozette's soft voice tried to break through the surface but it all felt so far away as she saw the cars behind Chase came to a halt. Veronica had collapsed into Owen's arms and was now sliding to the ground. Her heart was pounding, the sobs racking her chest painfully as he said something to Cozette and she faintly felt Owen's arms be replaced by Cozette's. Owen went running to her brother. Santiago had went running towards the wreckage and as Owen came close he slowed, obviously not wanting to fuck with the 6'4 tattooed man.

Cozette whispered something in Veronica's ear but she didn't say anything back. She needed to be with her brother. He had to be in so much pain, and it was her fault. If she hadn't antagonized Santiago before the race maybe he would have left Chase alone. He was going to hate her, if he even survived this. Her mom would never let her come home. She would always blame her.

Sirens pierced the night sky as Cozette slowly led Veronica to sit so she could assess her wounds.

"Baby girl, we'll meet him at the hospital. I'm sorry to say this but there's nothing you can do to help him right now."

Veronica ignored her. She was beginning to stop crying and a fire was replacing the sadness. That son of a bitch from Texas had done this. And it had something to do with Sully's family fortune and she'd be damned if she didn't figure it out now.

No more sitting on the damn sidelines.

[alice-honeysuckle]

3. The Need for Speed

     School was where Veronica had always fit in. She was pretty and kind and always had friends. The only thing? This was a Tennessee Public School.

As Veronica and Cozette walked in she could hear the boys catcalling. She giggled to herself and gave a sideways glance to Cozette. She was holding a hand over her face and hiding in her hair.

"Not much for attention, cowgirl? When did you become shy?" Veronica commented, her tone confused.

"These are teenagers. It's different when we're on the track." She replied.

     "You mean when you're focused on my brother?" She raised an eyebrow, causing Cozette to blush and hide her face.

Veronica giggled and parted ways with her. She had English first hour and Cozette had Math with Chase and the boys. She looked at the map of the school in her hands, but by the time she found the English III classroom she was ten minutes late.

She slowly opened the door, her heart racing as every face in the room turned to look at her. Her stomach turned with anxiety as a deep voice from the front of the room caught her attention.

"You must be Ms.Walsh. I'm Mr.Winston, the only awesome English III teacher in the universe." He grinned at her and her anxiety melted. Dimples shown on the corners of his cheeks, and muscles shown through the black button down he wore.

Veronica's breath caught at his eyes, they were a shade of green you'd only find in a beautiful lush forest where wolves ran rampant and birds cawed in the trees.

     "Veronica Walsh, I'm here with the NASCAR scholarship." She handed him her slip and he studied it. His eyes were so captivating, he soaked in the page with such intense emotion it was hard to understand. He glanced back up at her with a smirk. She realized she was biting her bottom lip.

"Well Ms.Walsh, welcome to St.Iverson."

***

"Chase come on! We're going to be late." Cozette huffed, her silver mini skirt shimmered as she slipped on orange cowgirl boots, and of course the matching cowboy hat.

"Do you really have to wear that much orange to a race?" Veronica raised an eyebrow, causing Cozette to look at her with a serious look.

"Fashion is important. You have to look your best. Now try on these shorts!"

She threw a pair of daisy dukes to Veronica with force and she huffed. She went into her small adjacent bathroom and slipped her sweatpants off and putting the shorts on. She'd chosen a orange bikini top that tied around her neck and then behind her back. The shorts showed off her ass beautifully, they had small little jean tassels. She slowly opened the door and faced Cozette, her cheeks burning with heat.

"What do you think?" She asked Cozette sheepishly.

"Girl," her mouth fell open "You are hot!"

Veronica smiled and grabbed her white converse and was putting them on when Chase and Sebastian came down the stairs. Her brother was wearing a brand new NASCAR fire suit. The sleeves were orange and white checkered while the Tennessee "T" and hound dog sat on his chest. His helmet was a bright orange with two white racing strips. Sebastian dawned a completely white fire suit except the orange designs up his arms. His eyes had fallen on Veronica the moment he'd turned the corner coming down the stairs. She blushed deeply as her brother looked at Cozy.

"Not bad, cowgirl." He gave her a playful smile, causing her best friend to blush bright as a tomato.

"Not bad yourself." Cozy squeaked.

"What the hell are you wearing?" Chase looked at his sister and his nose flared. She swallowed softly.

"It's a bathing suit top. Cozy let me borrow it for the night."

"You can not show that much skin, Veronica. These men aren't like the ones at the drag strip at home. They won't behave themselves."

"That's hillbillies for you." Sebastian coughed.

"Hey, my brother and father will be there!" Cozette yipped

"The point is Veronica, you're just a piece of ass to these guys. Don't go trying to find Prince Charming. Most of them are Santiago's friends."

"Chase," Sebastian hissed but Veronica had had enough.

"I don't need you to tell me what to do, Chase." She scoffed.

Cozette was giving Chase a death glare at this point. She seemed surprisingly upset at her brother. Chase backed down a bit from Cozy.

"Fine. Wear what you'd like." He snapped, pushing past Cozette and out the front door, it banged shut behind him and in the distance she could hear his car door slam.

"Don't worry about your brother, Roni." Sebastian huffed, "I'll talk to him."

Veronica nodded as Cozy smiled and took her hand, slipping something into her hand. She raised a confused eyebrow and looked at the objects laying in her palm. Car keys. Brand new cars keys.

"What's this?" She looked at Cozy with a startled expression.

"Happy late birthday!" Cozy squealed loudly

Veronica laughed out loud and rushed out the front door, hitting the button on the small remote and as she heard the chirp! She gasped.

"That is NOT a Ford GT." She gaped at the silky pink exterior of the car that has the design of a hellcat on the side in lime green with matching rims. She slid her fingers down the side of the car as it came to rest on the door handle, and she opened the drivers side.

"Oh my god, Cozy. You are an angel." Veronica choked up a little. It may have not been her dream car, but it was definitely faster and better. She turned and gave Cozette a hug hard enough to pop her back.

"Ow ow ow! You're..ow..very welcome!" She gasped for air and Veronica stepped away looking embarrassed.

"I'm sorry it's just..I've always wanted my own car. Thank you so much Cozy, really."

"Don't thank me, city girl. Sully was the one who mentioned it to Chase and I. Your brother wasn't so keen on it but you know I'll always have your back." She gave Veronica a wink and she giggled. It was nice knowing she had someone to always be on her side in the worst of times. Especially someone as amazing and kind as Cozette.

"Well, why don't we take her for a spin?"

Veronica flashed her brown eyes at Cozette as they gleamed with mischief and adrenaline. Cozy smirked and headed for the passenger side as she flung open the drivers door. She fixed the seat in a blink of an eye and their seatbelts fastened.

The car purred under Veronica's fingers as she turned the key. She pressed the gas a couple of times as the engine roared. She could hear the boys laughing as she let off. She watched as Sebastian hopped through Chase's passenger window and Owen slipped in the back seat. Her brother reeved his engine back at her, spinning gravel as he shot down the driveway. He was baiting her to a race. And she was not gonna lose. Just because her father didn't believe in girls racing didn't mean she hadn't learned by watching her brother's movements all these years. She didn't lose time as she popped the car into first gear and shot like a bullet after her brother's Challenger. She caught up easily and pressed her gas before shifting gears and made a quick left turn and spewing gravel across the paved road as she weaved around her brother and took off down the main road towards the highway. Cozette leaned over and quickly pressed the Bluetooth on the radio as she laughed hysterically. "What Was I Thinkin?" by Dierks Bentley filled the open air she glanced over at Cozette with curiosity.

"Let's beat these bastards!" She whooped and Veronica laughed, pressing on the gas as the car reared forward. She could hear her brothers challenger roaring behind them and she braved a look in the rear-view mirror. She could see Chase laugh as they hit a curve and he passed her in one swift shift of a gear and she glanced him flip a switch causing the Challenger to lurch forward and pick up speed as they hit the straightaway.

"He's using Nitro now?" Veronica cursed under breath and hit the gas, Nitro would only help her brother for a short few moments but they were coming up on the last curve before the Racetrack. Her brother's challenger weaves around traffic and disappeared for a second. Before Veronica could shift her gear to catch up Cozette gasped.

"Take Rattlesnake!"

"What?" Veronica shouted over the rushing wind and music.

"That road right there! Take that one!" She pointed to a small bypass cutoff. Veronica flipped on her turn single, changed gears and swung the wheel to turn on the road. She hit 80 at the curve and shot down a smaller highway and reached the pull in to the racetrack in less than two minutes. She slowed and pulled behind the traffic and parked the car behind Sully's box.

Veronica turned the key and the purring died to silence. Cozette giggled and looked to her friend. Her hair was wispy from the wind and cheeks flushed from adrenaline. She could hear Chase's car purr around the corner and shut off. Within seconds there was a tap on Veronica's window and her brother stood furious as she rolled it down.

"How in the fuck did you manage to get here before us?"

Veronica noticed Sebastian and Owen standing a bit behind her brother, looking dumbfounded. She busted out laughing as Cozette lost her composure, a snort escaping from her nose. Her brother fumed at her, but she didn't miss the small smile that tugged at his lips as he tried to hold his pissed off composure.

"Chase, my boy!" Sully's voice called as he approached.

"Hey Sully," Veronica waved from her window, he smiled softly in her direction before beckoning Chase over to talk to him. The girls got out of Veronica's car and went to stand with Owen. Sebastian sauntered over to join her brother and Sully's conversation. Owen watched them with intensity but stood his ground next to the girls. She watched how Owen moved, like he was positioning himself the best way to watch around them but keep an eyes on the girls and the others.

"Did my brother ask you to watch us?" Veronica blurted, causing Owen to startle. His almost black eyes landed on her with distaste.

"Why do you ask that?" He ventured, raising his eyebrows. He was challenging her too. Why?

"Hey Bear, C'mere for a sec!" Sebastian called out. He gave one last look over of the girls and then jogged to her brothers side.

The girls gave each other a look. First a new car, a race from her brother and now Owen as a bodyguard?

"Why don't we go get some drinks?" Cozette offered.

"Sure." Veronica replied, casting one last glance at her brother and the boys before following the blonde towards the stadium.

[alice-honeysuckle]

Book One of the Bristol Temptations Series.

|Chapter Two|

2. Tennessee Orange

They arrived at Chase's coach's shop an hour later. The drive was supposed to take two hours and thirty minutes. Chase had cut their time by more than half in the Dodge.

The gravel crunched and groaned under the weight of the car as they pulled into the lot. The huge garage held a sign the size of Chase himself that read 'Sully's Scraps N' Stuff'. The building was the size of a mini house, it could have fit several cars inside easily. Considering her brother was working with one of the richest men in the racing industry this was shocking. It kind of reminded her of home and their father's little garage.

     Chase brought the car to a stop in the middle of the garage and cut it off. They had barely gotten their doors open when she heard gravel being turned up from tiny running footsteps.

   "Roni! Chay!" Sully's seven-year-old grandson, Sammy, came bounding down the hill from the magnificent old farmhouse. His blonde hair was a mess and mud and oil splattered the front of his blue jean overalls. That didn't stop the little menace from running straight into Veronica's arms. She picked up the little boy and giggled as he landed kisses on her cheeks.

   "Sammy! You're gonna get me dirty!" Veronica laughed, ruffling his hair. He beamed a huge smile and pointed to a hole where his front tooth was missing.

    "Look, Roni, I finally lost my first tooth!" The word 'tooth' came out "toof" as he tried to open his mouth to show his gaping hole more.       

  "That's awesome, Sammy." Veronica smiled as the bundle of energy took off towards his grandpa, with Chase standing next to him and not looking too happy. Veronica watched as Sully sent the little boy inside, and Chase's face told her he was pretty ticked off about something that Sully was saying. She decided that if moving away from home was what she agreed to she would do things her way from now on.

So she started walking towards her brother and Sully. Her father had always told her 'Women do not belong in dangerous environments. Men are built for strength.' By God, she'd show her father he was wrong.

    "Chase, what's wrong?" Veronica looked to her now anxious-looking brother to Sully.

Her voice cut through Sully's aggravated whisper. His blue eyes went from Chase to her in a matter of seconds and she bit back a gasp. She'd grown up around Sully and he was never the one who instigated a fight. The man was loving and kind. Had raised his daughter's son because his parents had been killed in a car accident when he was less than a year old. So when he looked at her, the bright purple and green bruise with the swollen flesh around his eye made anger burn through her veins. Someone had messed with our family, and they were going to pay.

***

Sebastian arrived two hours later, right before dinner had been served. He'd brought his brother Owen along. They all had planned this since they were sixteen. The boys were a well-oiled machine, she was invited because she was Chase's younger sister (by five minutes). Chase would drive, Sebastian would do the maintenance, and Sully would coach. Sully made this all possible considering he co-owned Bristol Motor Speedway.

Veronica was there to be a spectator, but she was going to change that.

They all sat at the long dining table, a wall that was made entirely of a glass window looking out into the Tennessee countryside. In one corner of the property, horses roamed in an open field near a red and white barn. The table was made of a dark rich oak that was glossy from a waxing not long ago.

       "So you're telling me that Santiago did this to Sully?" Sebastian's deep voice reverberated down Veronica's spine and down into her core. He had been having this effect on her since the beginning of Junior year. He had been a senior. Chase nodded slowly, glancing towards Veronica with a little bit of anxiety. She had refused to be dismissed after Sully had taken Sammy upstairs for his bath.

"Sully said he saw him himself, right before he knocked him a good one." Owen commented, a lit cigarette dangling loosely from his lips and long slicked-back brunette hair that came to his shoulder and eyes the color of amber gold. He too was giving Veronica glances, but his was more of curiosity than malice. He was pacing her, wondering why she was here but not voicing that she shouldn't.

"Who is Santiago? And why did he 'knock Sully a good one'?" Veronica asked, quoting what Owen had said. His gaze darkened when the sentence came from her lips. They really didn't want her to know anything, did they?

"Santiago drives for Texas in the Bristol Series Cup. His family doesn't quite get along with the Davis's. When Santiago started racing, he wasn't quite pleasant to your brother." This had come from Sebastian, who had moved to sit at the far end of the table. His creamy ice blue eyes were full of quiet hate. Veronica had never seen such a look on her friend's face, he had always been gentle with them. Maybe she didn't know the boys sitting in front of her as good as she had initially thought.

"Then we should do something about it, teach them a lesson-" Veronica started.

     "Roni, why don't you head on to bed? We've got to wear Tennessee Orange with a bright face tomorrow." Chase said gently but not without authority.

She set her jaw and stood. She could feel Owen's eyes on her as she rose from her chair and headed towards the door.

***

Early the next morning the garage was abuzz. Dozens of men were working on several different cars and the sounds of air guns filled the air outside Veronica's window. She had chosen to wear a tight orange tank top with her daisy dukes. She was trying to decide between her knee high orange Converse or a pair of orange diamond incrusted sandals.

     "Definitely the Converse!" A sweet little southern voice filled the air. Veronica squealed and embraced the short blonde that had entered the room.

     "Cozette, oh my god girl it's been forever!"

Cozette giggled and looked around the room. Her green eyes matched her blonde hair so beautifully. They had met when they were ten at one of Chase's competitions in Tennessee. They'd been best friends since.

     "I was wondering when you city folk would bring their asses back down the road aways! How have you been, baby girl?"

     "I still haven't told Sebastian." Veronica confessed.

     "I knew it! Girl you have got to tell him. It's only going to keep eating at you inside. You are an amazing human being, there's absolutely no way he wouldn't want you." Cozette smiled, raising her eyebrow cheekily, making Veronica crack a giggle.

     "Fine. I'll tell him I need to talk to him after the football game on Friday. Only if you tell Chase how you feel about him."

     "No way." Cozette groaned.

     "Nope! You're totally doing it!" Veronica laughed and jokingly pushed Cozette.

     "Roni?" Sebastian tapped on the door, dipping his head inside. "Oh, hey Cozy."

     "Hey Bash." Cozy gave a little wave, and then winked at Veronica making her turn beet red.

     "Chase wanted me to tell you we'd be heading out. Don't want to be late for our first day of school."

     "Sounds like a plan." Veronica smiled. His black had grown so long the curly tendrils were hanging in his eyes. Her fingers itched to brush it from his face, just to see if it really was soft as it was in her dreams.

"Alright." He nodded and turned to leave.

"Bash, wait."

He turned back to her "Yes?"

"Converse or sandals?"

He chuckled and gave a small smirk

"Converse."

[alice-honeysuckle]

Book One of the Bristol Temptations Series.

|Chapter One|

1. New Beginnings

"C'mon Roni, it's not that bad."

Veronica looked at her twin brother with a tinge of annoyance. Of course, moving halfway across the United States sounded like a great idea to him. He's always had a love of traveling and doing it fast.

"I don't know about you, Chase but I've got a life here. I've got friends."

Chase glanced at her and she wondered if the name Sebastian flashed in his mind. He knew that she had liked Sebastian since they were kids. They had been the three amigos since second grade. Sebastian had never even made a comment that said he had a clue about her feelings about him.

"Kids! Soups on!" A voice like a bell rang from downstairs.

Veronica sighed causing Chase to raise his eyebrows. She hated it when he did that. It made him look like an old man with his forehead wrinkled.

"Sebastian offered to come with us. He offered to be my mechanic on base." Chase said, "If that's what you were worried about." She looked up at him, all feelings of annoyance and anger gone. Had her feelings for Sebastian been showing just now? Was she that obvious?

"I wasn't worried about Sebastian. Maybe I'm worried about you getting hurt." She gritted out.

"Veronica, I've been racing since I was four." He chuckled "It's my destiny."

"Really? Destiny? You're kidding me right?" Veronica raised her eyebrow this time He laughed softly, earning a well-deserved smack to the head.

"Ow! At least your stature goes with your personality." He pointed out, causing her to smack him again. There was a knock on the bedroom door as it opened slightly. The twin's mom stood in the doorway. Her long black hair reached down to her heels and braided with feathers in random places. Her face was riddled with laugh lines, and her startling blue eyes had a light in them that sang mischief.

"Didn't you two hear me? Breakfast is ready. You guys have a long drive ahead of you."

***

"And you remembered your inhaler?"

Their mother worriedly asked. Chase groaned, earning a giggle from Veronica. He gave her an annoyed glance as they continued to pack up the car. Chase had always been a favorite in the Walsh household from the moment they found out one of the twins was a boy. Veronica always felt inferior to her brother when it came to their parents. Especially when her dad had left his cherry red Dodge Challenger SRT Demon to Chase. The car had been her dream since she was small enough to hold a screwdriver properly. She'd grown up right alongside Chase. Changing tires, checking oil, air filters, Nitro, and most of all?

Speed.

Chase was the only one out of the two to continue racing after a certain age. Their father had rules about life, and they followed those rules. So she had been stuck learning how to be a wife and went to school, watching her brother do the thing she most desired. Chase shut the back door to the dodge and turned to look at their mother, his eyes softened like they always did when it came to their parents. Their mom hadn't taken it well when their father died from cancer a few months prior, and now her only children were too.

"Mama, I promise everything will be just fine. Bristol is only a few hours from Blacksburg. All you have to do is call us or we can come visit."

     "Honey you don't have to worry about little old me. I'll be just fine. It's you two I'm worried about, you've both been so sheltered your whole life. To just move to a whole city at eighteen years old just seems over the top."

Chase looked taken aback by their mother's forwardness. Veronica just smiled and suppressed her feelings about the situation and gave her mother a hug.

     "We'll be safe, mama. I'll keep an eye on Chase. Don't worry." She gave her mother a kiss on the cheek and followed Chase to getting in the car. As they pulled out of the driveway he inched slow onto the gas, knowing their mother was watching to see if he was being responsible, even two seconds from the house. Once they were out of sight of her prying eyes he hit the gas and shifted his gear. The car shuddered under his artistic fingers and lurched forward with such speed Veronica thought she would pass out from the rush of adrenaline.

      "WHOO BABY!!" Chase pressed a button on his side panel. All four windows descended and the wind whipped at their hair as they shot down the road, towards the highway.