October 24^th – Darlington, South Carolina

Martin couldn’t wait to go back to Darlington and he was finally there.  It had been a long five months of waiting.  He had to admit that this track was becoming his favorite.

He had just finished an autograph session and was on his way to go meet with some sponsors and do a ride along on the track with them.  He had been so busy that he had forgotten about her.

That night as he was getting read to head over to Junior’s coach for a night of poker with the guy she appeared.  “Did you miss me?”

“Yes,” he replied.  “I always do.”

“Aww, you really know how to sweet talk a girl don’t you?” she replied.

“I learned from one of the best,” he said slipping on his shoes.

“Where are you headed?” she asked noticing what he was doing.

“I’m gonna go play some poker with the guys,” he replied.

“Oh,” she said, her voice full of disappointment.

“I’ll be back in a few hours,” Martin offered.

“That’s fine,” she replied.  “Do whatever you gotta do.”

“I’ll see you later,” Martin said walking out the door leaving her standing in his coach.

She looked around the coach and noted how nice it looked.  She felt her anger rise as it turned later and later and he didn’t return.  She got up from where she sat on the couch and started to turn his coach upside down.  She opened every drawer, cabinet, and closet emptying it all over the floor and furniture.  She looked over her work and nodded in satisfaction before leaving.  ‘I’ll teach him to leave me alone,’ she thought.

Martin returned to his coach and found it in complete disarray.  He noted that it must’ve been her who did this by the looks of it.  He hadn’t meant to anger her, but she just didn’t understand.  He sighed and started to clean up the mess.

~~~***~~~

Martin was dead on his feet the next morning after getting only a few hours of sleep.  It took him all that time to clean up themes she had left behind. 

“Man you look like shit,” Junior said when he saw martin in the drivers meeting.

“It was a long night,” Martin heard Junior snicker.  “Someone trashed my coach and I had to clean it up.  It took me most of the night.”

“Oh,” Junior replied quietly.

“You haven’ seen Kenny by the way?”  Martin asked.  “Maybe he’d let me bum some Stacker 2 energy drinks off of him.”

“Nope, I haven’t seen him, but if I do I’ll ask him for you,” Junior replied.

“Thanks,” Martin said slouching down in his chair with his sunglasses on.  If he was lucky he’d be able to catch a quick nap during the meeting and go unnoticed.

~~~***~~~

Martin stood on pit road wit his crew during the pre-race ceremonies.  He saw her standing by his car.  He walked past her and climbed in.

“Good luck Martin,” she yelled after him.

He ignored her and slipped his helmet on.  He checked his safety device and told his crew he was ready to go.

“You can’t ignore me Martin,” she said angrily.

“Try me,” he replied with just as much venom in his voice as she had.

“What the hell is up your ass?” his crew chief asked as the race wore on.

Martin knew he had been short with everyone and his temper was out of control.  “Sorry, it’s just been a long race.  Plus the fact that my coach got trashed isn’t helping anything.”

“It’s all right,” his crew chief replied.  “Just try to clear your head.”

“Will do,” Martin radioed back.

Slowly things started to go from bad to worse for Martin. He had kissed the wall a couple times.  Then tires stated to blow for no reason.  Finally his engine let go.  He knew she was behind it all.  Because he hadn’t spent time with her like he had the other times before.

He was throwing his things in his bag when he felt her presence.  “That was uncalled for.”

“What?” she asked innocently.

“The whole revenge thing. The coach, the tires, the wall, the engine,” he replied taking his frustrations out on his clothes.

She shrugged.  “It’s not like you would’ve listened to me anyway.”

“How do you know that?” he threw down his bag.  “I was going to be gone a few hours last night.  Then I come back and my coach is destroyed and you’re gone.  It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what happened.”  He turned his back on her.

“Look, I’m sorry,” she said standing behind him wrapping her arms around him.  “I guess I got jealous because we had spent the night together the last two times you were here.  I just figured it would’ve happened again.”

“It would have,” Martin replied.  “But I never got that chance to.”

“I’m sorry,” she replied.  “There’s always next time.”

“We’ll see,” Martin replied picking up his bag.  “I have to go catch my ride before they leave.”

“Bye Martin,” she called after him as he walked out of the coach.  She saw him through the window give a wave and climb into Junior’s waiting SUV.  She stayed there in his coach until the vehicle was out of sight.

Series 1: First Sight, Second Time Around, Third Times The Charm, Final Destiny