CHAPTER FOUR

A LIVE CAR RACE!

Tulio dropped her off at the door of the music school and when he turned off the car, usually he didn't even turn it off and as soon as he got out he drove away. Having turned off the car this time, he looked at her and Cloe waited, she knew he wanted to tell her something.

" Do you like car races? " He asked a little shy, which was rare, and Cloe smiled at him.

" I love it! I always watch it on TV on Sundays, but I have never been to a race. Is that why you are always with this sports car? ”

" I like very powerful and sporty cars. Will you join me for a race tonight? ”

Cloe was taken by surprise, she didn't imagine that he would invite her to this kind of event, but she remembered that tonight was the night that professor Oscar would give them a class after eighteen o'clock.

Tulio noticed the indecision on her face, thinking that she wouldn't like to accompany him, spoke up:

" It's okay if you don't want to go.”

" Yes I do, Tulio, it's just that today I have a class at night and my teacher hasn't been very excited about me since that day. But I am very curious to see a race up close. You know what, we will, and thank you for inviting me. " The smile she gave him made him soft and warm inside and so she got out of the car excited and when she reached the steps of the stairs, she looked back and he was still looking at her, waving his hand at him, she climbed the steps and went to class. She went up the steps and went to class. She found Hanna in front of the classroom and going to the bathroom together, she told her friend everything. The misfortune she had been through, thinking she would be lynched by Milla, Shay and Jake, and also telling her about the race she was going to.

“ My goodness, Cloe!”  Hanna looked at her from the mirror's reflection in amazement, washing her hands at the sink.  “ Your life has taken a three hundred and eighty degree turn with this gang leader!”

“ Keep your voice down," she ordered. “ Do you want them to listen and remove my purse? Come on, I have to do my best in class now, since I won't be coming tonight.”

Hanna noticed that her friend's eyes were sparkling, and this was from when she had first met Tulio.

When Cannibal picked her up from class this time and not Tulio, she figured he must be busy, and she was saddened, but she would see him later. And it was Gringo who picked her up at nineteen o'clock at his house, Tulio sent him to pick her up and they would meet at the race. Cloe did not allow herself to be saddened to see that it was not him picking her up again, but she greeted Gringo effusively.

“ Wow, you look fabulous! ”  Gringo exclaimed when she opened the door. She had really put on a show; she was wearing a pair of jeans overalls and a white top underneath, low strappy sandals tied halfway up her shins, her black hair was tied up in a ponytail, and her light make"up stood out, with a light pink lipstick, black eyeliner, and blue eyeshadow, and she was pleased with the result.

She wore silver hoop earrings, since she had put her hair up, she opted to exaggerate the size of the earrings and looked beautiful. 

Gringo was very handsome, and in a different way than Tulio, not much taller, his hair was short and so black that it glistened, and his eyes with big lashes were black as night. He was not as strong as Tulio, but thinner, with wide teeth, a square jaw, and a full beard, which gave him a more common beauty. Tulio, on the other hand, had a more rustic beauty, with shoulder"length hair that fell in disheveled curls, a close shave, blue eyes, and slightly crooked teeth. He was a delight, different beauties, but beautiful, no doubt about it.

“ Thank you" she thanked him and picked up her purse from the sideboard near the living room. Turning to him at the door, she noticed that he was still staring at her. " What is it?

“ I understand why the boss is so interested in you.”  Gringo spoke up and left her not knowing what to say. It wasn't the first time she had caught him watching and admiring her, and knowing that his boss was really interested in her made her excited.

“ Shall we go? ”  she asked, waiting for him to leave so she could lock the door.

The race would take place at the SuperStar Racing Stadium, and when Gringo told her, she squealed with joy. Especially when she knew that she would be sitting right in front of the race and would be able to see it very close. She was even more excited to know that Tulio was one of the participants in the race and now she understood why he had not gone to pick her up.

They arrived at the stadium and she saw him in front of the gate, talking to people who were certainly responsible for the race. Even though he was paying attention to the serious conversation he was having, she saw his eyes light up when he saw her. Unlike Gringo who had looked her up and down, Tulio captured her eyes with his own and didn't turn away until she was standing next to him, looking mesmerized.

“ Hi, you look beautiful! ”

“ Hi, are you going to run too? ” She was really surprised. She had been embarrassed by his compliment. Tulio was wearing an almost fluorescent green jumpsuit with sponsors' brand names on the front and back, and he looked splendid in it. The jumpsuit covered him from head to toe, his arms were covered up to the wrist, his hair was loose and unruly, his curls would not allow themselves to be tamed, it gave him such a surreal beauty that Cloe felt a shiver in her lower abdomen. He had the power to excite her even though he was covered from head to toe.

" Yes" he said, and Cloe didn't want to disturb him. Following Gringo, they went up the stairs to enter the stadium and take their seats. Some eager drivers were already speeding their cars, anxious, they couldn't wait to get started. She had been warned by Gringo that it was almost time to start when they arrived, and being already in their privileged seats, they waited and were soon rewarded with the announcement that came out of the many loudspeakers mirrored throughout the stadium. She could see Tulio standing next to the car, already ready, and she met his eyes that were searching for her in the bleacher seats.

She didn't know that his heart, for the first time in a race, was beating frantically only because she was there and would watch him. Turning her nervousness into thoughts about the race, she felt invincible, and when the race started Cloe saw that his car was the first to leave. She was used to watching the races and the narrator there, talking the same as in the programs she watched, his voice came out of the speakers and he said that Tulio had burned the start and that this could hurt him. But he wouldn't stop and made the turns clumsily, like an amateur and not like the guy who had been racing for years! Cloe realized that he was biting his nails.

" He is different," said Gringo in her ear. " He doesn't usually do these maneuvers.”

Cloe shook her head in agreement and kept her eyes fixed on the race track. All she could see was Tulio's car. The narrator kept narrating, talking about each racer, each name, and came back to Tulio, saying the same thing Gringo had said, that he was distracted and different, and when his car went off the track and she saw smoke, she couldn't hold back a scream and stood up.

" What happened? " she shouted to be heard by Gringo over the narrator's voice. Cloe was angered by the trouble with his car and blamed him for going so fast and making insane turns, she planned to curse him, oh, would she! But the narrator himself replied:

" It seems that Tulio is having problems with his car, guys. Let's wait for him to get back on track and try to compensate? ”

The man's voice was lost in Cloe's mind, anxious, she saw technicians and mechanics helping Tulio and the other participants running past him, gaining the lead. She had never vibrated and suffered so much in a race, and when he was back in contention, she breathed a sigh of relief and again became hysterical and tapped her foot on the ground, unconsciously with each runner he passed. In what seemed like hours, the race was coming to an end and Tulio was again coming into first place, with only three runners left for him to overtake and win and without realizing that Gringo was watching her, containing his laughter, not looking at the track, he found it much more interesting to watch her reactions, they were much more entertaining, she wriggled in her seat until she screamed and jumped when Tulio reached the finish line as the winner. Cloe jumped and clung to Gringo, making him jump along too.

The thought of finishing him vanished from her mind when she saw him win and when he got down from the car, removed his helmet, his golden curly hair loosened, and grinning at her, came over to her and Gringo who was waiting for them at the side of the track came over and hugged her. Cleo enjoyed that magical moment, the anger forgotten, the worry gone, she just let herself be embraced by him who lifted her off the floor, his hands on her waist, his scent permeating her, she was happy. Happy like she couldn't remember ever being before.