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CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

ROCCO AND NICO

Race Engineer: We go as planned, Rocco. Three more laps.

Rocco: I haven’t gained anything on him.

Silence.

Rocco: Did you hear me?

Race Engineer: I heard you. You haven’t lost anything either. You’re holding steady; you both set the same pace on that last lap.

Anker had started on pole and had shot out fast from the start.

He’d held on to first from the beginning.

Clarke had started in second, Rocco in third, and Nico in sixth.

But a few laps back, Rocco had managed to slip past Clarke into second, and Nico had gone up two positions to fourth when the two cars up ahead of her made contact and spun out, hitting the embankment with enough force to bring them to a complete stop.

Nico: Am I on pace to catch Clarke?

Race Engineer: About a second behind on that last lap. Sets him a couple seconds ahead of you.

Nico: Do we have more power?

Race Engineer: Hold steady on this turn up ahead and then push on the straightaway.

Nico: Copy.

Rocco: It looks like Clarke’s making a move.

Race Engineer: He’s gained another second on you. But you can hold him off if you stay out of DRS range.

Rocco: Copy. How close am I to Anker?

Race Engineer: Almost within a second. It’s close. But not yet.

Rocco: Copy.

Two laps to go, and he was in the same position. But Clarke was getting closer. If Clarke got within a second behind him, he could employ the DRS, and that would increase his speed enough to catch and pass Rocco.

Rocco: What’s Clarke’s position?

Race Engineer: Just a fraction over a second. Can you pick up the pace?

Just before Rocco took a turn, he spied Clarke lose control, slide to the outside of the track, and crash into the embankment.

He was beyond the turn now and couldn’t see what happened behind him. Now he only needed to gain on Anker and he had this.

Shit , thought Nico as she and Clarke made contact. She skidded but was able to regain control and avoided going off the track completely.

Race Engineer: Good job, Nico. You’re okay.

But she wasn’t. Something was wrong.

Nico: I’m losing grip.

Race Engineer: Nico?

Nico: Shit!

Race Engineer: Push, Rocco. Push. You’re within a second. Employ the DRS.

Rocco shot out ahead of Anker.

Rocco: Yes!

Race Engineer: Excellent, Rocco! You’re setting a blistering pace. Checkered flag is just up ahead. Push! You’ve got this.

Rocco wasn’t sure which was racing faster, the car or his heart. That flag and that trophy were just up ahead. And they were his.

Race Engineer: Shit.

Rocco: What?

Silence.

Rocco: What’s going on?

Race Engineer: Nothing. Keep your pace, Rocco. Anker’s just behind, but he won’t catch you if you can just manage to keep this pace. Half a lap to go before you see that checkered flag.

Why wouldn’t they tell him? Everything felt good. Nothing wrong with the car. So, what … ?

Nico. Was it Nico?

Rocco: Is it Nico?

Silence.

Rocco: So help me if you don’t tell me, I’m going to ram this car so hard into the embankment, you’ll have to scrap the whole fucking thing!

Silence.

Race Engineer: Nico’s crashed.

Rocco: What?

Race Engineer: When she made contact with Clarke. Looks like there’s an oil leak, and she lost control of the car.

After the race, Rocco would think how people had got it wrong when they said at moments of high stress that everything slowed down.

Not true.

Time stood still.

Suddenly becoming stationary … That’s what gets you .

Race Engineer: Rocco what are you doing? Why are you slowing down? Fuck, Anker’s right on your tail. Push! Damn it! Push!

The checkered flag was just up ahead. And suddenly it didn’t matter. How could it if she wasn’t there to be happy for him? It meant nothing if she wasn’t there. Without that stranger, without that girl, the little prince would go nowhere because there would be nowhere to go.

Because of all the things he wanted … of all those things …

Race Engineer: Fuck! He’s gaining. Anker’s coming up from behind, Rocco!

Casey: Tell him she’s okay! Nico’s okay!

Race Engineer: Did you hear that, Rocco? She’s okay!

Rocco: What? What’s that?

Race Engineer: Nico’s okay.

Rocco: You’re not just telling me this.

Race Engineer: Get her on the radio, damn it! Can you get her on the radio? Can somebody please?!

Rocco saw a flash of color inch up on his right.

Nico: Rocco? Can you hear me?

Rocco: Nico? Are you okay?

Nico: Anker! He’s right there! He’s going to pass you! Put your fucking foot on that fucking accelerator, you annoying, arrogant, asshole, prick!

Rocco felt his heart leap as the car surged ahead. Anker was out in front now. Not by much. But it looked like Rocco would finish second.

A small voice that was almost too small and too far away was telling him second wasn’t so bad.

But then he heard another voice. This voice was not small. And it wasn’t far away. It was here. In the car with him. No , he thought. Not in the car. In him. It was under his skin and it was screaming at him.

Put your fucking foot on that fucking accelerator, you annoying, arrogant, asshole, prick!

So that’s what he did.

Could he catch Anker? He didn’t know. He just kept listening to that voice.

The checkered flag was just up ahead. He could see it. And before he realized it, as though it were someone else crossing the finish line, it suddenly hit him.

The race was over.