The Race For A New Life

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Rae and Darren, along with a couple other drivers, were taking the lead as they crossed the state line into California. Graham and William weren’t too far behind as Grace and Lacy were catching up to them. Rae was driving, while Darren was talking to their dad through the radio. She was hoping that they wouldn’t have to deal with any detours. Hell, she didn’t want to deal with Matt. But Rae knew that she would have to deal with everything one day at a time.

Suddenly Rae felt the car vibrate. She looked over at Darren, who had a confused look on his face. Checking all the things that could cause the car to vibrate was all good and shouldn’t have been vibrating. Darren just shrugged not knowing what could cause it. Looking back from Darren, the car vibrated again with a greater force. “Hey dad, can you stop talking for a sec? We need a moment of silence to check something”, said Darren to Russell on the radio. Rae quickly became aware that the landscape was changing. She looked in the rearview mirror and saw Graham slow to a stop. Turning to look left, she sat in time. Within an instant, she sped up and maneuvered over the changing road. “Dad! Dad! We’re in the middle of a landslide!”, Darren shouted over the radio. Through sharp thinking and fast movements, Rae was almost through the dangerous situation. Until out of nowhere, a boulder hits the driver side door. Rae screams in agony and fought to regain control of the vehicle. Luckily Rae made it through the landslide and quickly went to a safe place on the side of the road. “We need medical help now!”, that was the last thing that Rae hears Darren say.

Rae had somehow found herself back in Maine. The breeze blowing off of the coast came across her face. Inhaling the scent of the sea and beach flowers, Rae felt free. She looked up and down the beach, only seeing a familiar figure walking towards her. “Graham, what are we doing here? Shouldn’t we be in the race?”, she asked. He wrapped his arms around her and embraced her. “I don’t know, but what I do know is that I’m happy to be here with you. As for the race, you just need a break”, he commented. She looked up at him, seeing that loving glance from the photos. “Is this a dream?”, she asked. His hand grazed her cheek, “If it is, I don’t want to wake up.” Graham leaned down to her, as Rae lifted her head to him. They were about to kiss when Rae actually woke up.

Seeing nothing but white, Rae could hear a constant beeping sound. Becoming aware of her surroundings, she knew that she was in a hospital room. Rae heard her parents talking to the Locke’s. “Well, let’s post-pone the race a couple of days. That should help everyone recover from this”, said Russell. “Yeah, let’s do that. I know that everyone would want that”, said Steven. The Locke’s left as Russell and Susan turned back to Rae. She smiled at her parents which caused them to look over her in concern. “What happened?”, Rae asked. Susan took a hold of her hand, “Well sweetheart, you were involved in an accident.” Rae immediately went wide-eyed “No, really, I thought that I was involved in taking over the world”, she said with sarcasm. Her mother gave her a grim look in return. “A boulder hit your side of the car, causing a piece of metal from the window roller to go into your knee.”, said Russell. “So, what does that mean? That I can’t continue with the race? Is there going to be lasting damage?”, Rae then inquired. There was that word again, Rae tried to put it in the back of her head. Susan patted her hand to try and comfort her. “You can still drive, but you will need crutches for a few days. And then you will be wearing a brace. Also, there will be no lasting damage”, she answered. Rae put her head back onto her pillow, “Okay, okay.” Russell and Susan then left her after a few minutes to get some rest. Thinking to herself, she was a little relieved that she won’t be damaged, or at least not completely.

Rae felt herself slipping into a dream of a memory. She was still with Graham in the garden, enjoying his embrace. He slowly pulled back and caressed her cheek. She leaned into the affection and looked into his eyes. There was a look that she never noticed before in his eyes. Graham then moved towards her and brush his lips against hers. Rae then slipped a hand behind his head, encouraging the kiss to deepen. Finally breaking for air, Graham’s look quickly faded. Did she misread his look? He dipped his head down, “Rae, I do care about you. But I don’t think that we should be doing this. Especially with your recent break up with Matt.” Rae tried not to look or seem disappointed by his words. “I will always be your friend no matter what. But I don’t think that I can do this. I’m sorry”, he said. Graham then immediately stood up and walked off, leaving Rae wondering what had just happened.

Looking into the window of the door that went into Rae’s room, Graham was processing his thoughts, memories and emotions. He cared so much about Rae, but he didn’t want to burden her with an immediate relationship after her break up. For three years, he sat on the sidelines, listening and watching Rae. “If only I had manned up that night instead of rejecting her, she wouldn’t have gone through this”, he mumbled to himself. Still looking at Rae’s sleeping state, his promised to Rae, and to himself, to make things right.

Once she was let go from the hospital and got to the hotel, Rae took a bath. You would think that she would feel clean in a hospital, but she felt even filthier. After changing into night clothes, she heard a knock on her door. Grabbing her crutches, Rae made her way to the door. She saw that it was Mr. Travers and Graham through the peep-hole. Once opening the door, they came in. Rae then sat on the bed with Graham. John pulled a chair to sit across from her. “I got those papers that you wanted, Rae”, said John. “Thank you so much, Mr. John”, she said. “If you need anything else, just let us know”, John said. He then proceeded to leave them in the room. It was then that Rae realized that Graham was still sitting next to her.

“Can I get you anything, Graham? Soda? Water?”, she asked. He turned to her, “No, no I’m good. Thanks!” Rae started to get up from the bed, but Graham motioned her to stay seated. “I can get whatever you need, Rae. Just ask”, he said. Rae let out a heavy sigh, “I can do normal things. I’m just a little slower for now.” He nodded and she proceeded to get up. His eyes followed her as she went and got a bottle of water. When she turned around, Graham was getting up from the bed. “Are you leaving already?”, she asked. He started walking towards her, “No beautiful, I’m not going anywhere.” Rae couldn’t find her breath as Graham came up to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He looked into her hazel tear-laden eyes. “I’m not going to leave you, Rae! I’m done running from my feelings about you, about us”, Graham confessed. Rae felt a tear go down her cheek which Graham moved his hand to her cheek and wiped the tear away. “I should’ve manned up a long time ago. I’m so sorry that I put you through that, Rae. You are too beautiful to be treated in such a way”, he continued to say. She quickly looked down at her feet. “It’s not all your fault. I was also confused about that night. And I brought Matt into the mix”, she murmured. Graham lifted her head to look into her eyes again. “That is not your fault! He would’ve done anything to get you back. And soon he will be out of the picture”, Graham replied. Rae nodded and let out a shaky breath.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door causing them to both turned their heads towards the sound. “Rae?!?”, Matt said through the door. “It’s me! Open up baby!”, he continued to say. Graham set his jaw and growled. Rae looked at him wide-eyed, but pulled away from him and went to the door. She cracked it open, “Hey Matt, now’s not a really good time.” Matt’s relaxed look turned to anger, “Baby, let me in! I’m worried about you! They wouldn’t even let me see you at the hospital.” Rae shook her head, “No! I’m fine, Matt! And I’m not your baby! We’re over, been over.” Matt suddenly shoved open the door, causing Rae to stumble backwards, and saw Graham go help Rae from falling. “Baby…”, Matt said to Rae. “You might want to leave. This is going to get really messy”, he continued to say as he glared at Graham. However, Rae moved in between Matt and Graham. “No! You are the one that needs to leave! This is my room and I get to choose who stays and who goes!”, she said, feeling confident to stand up against him. Matt eyed her and then looked back to Graham. “You should go while you still have a choice, Matt”, said Graham. Matt turned to go out the door and started to walk away.

Rae then turned back to Graham, only to see his eyes grow wide. She immediately felt herself being pushed to the ground. Seeing Matt go after Graham, but Graham defended himself. Quickly Graham had the upper hand and was about to knock-out Matt, but Matt moved out of the way. Taking out a knife from his pocket, he lunged at Graham. But suddenly he was hit from behind and fell to the ground. Graham looked up to see Rae holding a crutch. He looked back down at Matt and quickly restrained his wrists with his belt. Graham then quickly took Matt to his parents before returning to Rae.

Rae was leaning against the wall, trying to figure out what had happened. When Graham wrapped her up in his embrace before taking a step back to look her over. “Are you, okay?”, he asked. Rae nodded, “Yeah, yeah, I’m okay. Thank you.” He cupped her face with his hands and looked into her eyes. She didn’t want to look at him and had her eyes gaze at another wall. “Rae, look at me”, he gently said. She still refused to acknowledge him. “Beautiful! I need you to look at me, okay?”, Graham said with a little more conviction. Rae turned her gaze to his stormy blue eyes. They were filled with love and concern. “Why do you keep doing that?”, she asked. “Keep doing what, beautiful?”, Graham asked. “Calling me that and looking at me like that”, she mumbled. “I call you that because you are beautiful, and I look at you like this because I love and care about you”, he confessed. His eyes were determined to get his point across. Rae’s eyes grew wider, “Y-You love me?” His face turned soft, “Yes, beautiful! I love you, always have!” He leaned down and pressed his lips against hers. The kiss was soft and yet passionate, everything that Rae had wished for. Graham then moved his arms around her waist, and Rae put her arms around his neck. When he pulled away, Graham rested his forehead on hers and smiled. “That was worth the wait”, he said. Which of course, made Rae giggle.