Chapter 12: Life goes on

After months of fighting conflicting emotions and suffering heartbreaking nightmares, Jenny finally realized she had to confront Nick. There was no other way. Only then would she be able to find peace at last. So, one afternoon right after lunch she stood at Nick's house door both hoping he would be home and he would not.
Nick was home... and was so surprised at seeing Jenny standing there when he opened the door that he almost tripped and fell on his butt. They spent the whole afternoon talking. It was very awkward at first but in the end, Jenny found it in her heart to forgive him. Nick did not mention his feelings for her... not even once... not even hinted at it... and Jenny was grateful for that. By the time Jenny left to go back home, she and Nick were friends again.
Later that day, after dinner, Jenny was lying in bed browsing through channels on her TV when she stumbled upon an image that made her heart skip a beat... It was a sport news program and was at that moment reporting on Formula 1 races in Europe. In the upper right corner of the screen there was an image of Val leaning on a race car dressed in a racing suit and with a helmet under one arm.
"What the heck?" Jenny could not believe her eyes. She turned up the TV volume...
"... and we were lucky enough for our reporter at the site of today's race to be granted an exclusive interview with Max's manager and good friend, Mr. David Lang" the newsman was saying. "Back to you, Cheryl..."
The image changed from the news room to an open space and what seemed like a portion of a race track behind a man Jenny recognized right away.
"Mr. Lang..."
"Please, call me Dave..."
"Ok... Dave, thank you for granting us this interview..."
Jenny's attention kept tuning in and out of the interview showing on TV, as her brain tried to process the shocking news that Val; "her Val"; was in Europe and racing Formula 1 cars...
"... not only is Max one of the six youngest racers but also the newest face on the race tracks. And yet we've seen him rapidly climbing towards being one of the most successful competitors in racing history" the interviewer was saying.
"Well, for one thing I'd have to say that racing is in his blood" Dave commented.
"Is it true that he had no previous experience racing cars?" asked Cheryl.
"That is correct... but he was born a racer. When we were in High School, nobody could beat him at racing video games." Dave said.
"But video games are not real life..." interrupted Cheryl, "what made you believe he'd be as good a racer as he is? Or were you taking a gamble on bringing him over to your team?"
"Not at all, Cheryl... I was confident that he'd live up to my expectations" said Dave vehemently. "He was the first one of us to get his license and the only one I know that passed the driving test with a perfect score, on the first try and got a commendation from the examiner."
"He must have been pretty proud of that accomplishment, David."
"Oh, you should have seen his father's face! I remember it as if it was yesterday." Dave reminisced. "I went with him and his Dad... you know, a friend lending moral support. When the test was finished, the examiner told Max's Dad 'This boy drives as if the car were part of him.' He was so filled with pride of his boy the man looked two sizes larger." Dave smiled at the fond memory, and then continued "and then, when I saw him driving later; as adults; I became convinced he'd make an outstanding racer."
"And it would seem your appraisal was correct, David." Cheryl said. She then tilted her head as if listening to someone speaking in her ear. "Hang on, David" she was silent for a moment. "I've just got word Max is coming out of the garage. Do you mind if we cut this interview short? I was hoping our other camera will be able to catch sight of Max through the swarm of fans waiting out there for him."
"By all means... he's the star, not me" Dave said with a big smile.
By that time, Jenny was utterly glued to the TV screen, her heart racing like a mad horse. The scene on TV changed... the interviewer had not exaggerated when she had said "the swarm" of fans... it was indeed a big crowd that was waiting for Val! The interviewer was not on camera but her voice could still be heard above the noise of all the people out there.
"As we can see, Max is quite popular with the ladies... I'd estimate more than 85% of the fans in this crowd are women." Cheryl said and then added "and I wonder how many of them are really interested in car races."
The comment stung Jenny but she pretended she didn't hear it. Her Val was not like that... he wouldn't care about these cheap bimbos throwing themselves at him.
"We can't see him yet, but by the screaming of some of the girls I'd say he's coming out right now." Cheryl's voice was barely audible over the rapidly increasing din of the crowd of fans. "Manny, " she addressed the camera guy "see if you can elbow your way in. I doubt we'll get a chance to talk to Max, but his fans watching our show deserve at least a glimpse, don't you think?"
The image became shaky and unsteady as the cameraman tried to push his way through the people. And suddenly there he was; Val standing there in his racing suit surrounded by girls and signing autographs.
"How's that, Cheryl? I think this is the closest I can get" Manny said.
"That's perfect! Will you look at that... they love him, don't they?" Cheryl exclaimed.
One after the other, Val was being handed pictures, post cards, autograph books; anything that could be signed... The security guards flanking him were doing a terrific job at keeping what was clearly a potentially chaotic situation within a quite reasonable semblance of control.
As much as Val would have liked to please everyone, there were too many fans and some would have to be disappointed... it was just not possible. So, eventually one of the guards tapped his right shoulder.
"It's time to leave, Sir..." he said.
"He's leaving!" a fan that was close enough to overhear the guard shouted. And explosion of complains threatened to turn the situation into a disaster, but Val managed to control the crowd...
"Please, my dear friends, calm down" Val shouted using a megaphone he grabbed from an assistant. The yelling subsided and the fans became quiet and expectant. Several men of his team's staff came out of the garage behind him dragging a huge bag that looked to be loaded with... something.
"Please, don't be sad if I haven't been able to give you my autograph today." Val started and seeing that the crowd might become unrestful again he moved his hands in a placating gesture and hurried to go on "I will not allow anyone to leave empty handed..."
"We love you, Max!" someone in the middle of the crowd shouted.
"Thank you, thank you... I know... and so, I'd like you all to accept this humble gift from me and my team to you." Val went on. "These nice gentlemen behind me carry in those bags baseball caps, in the colours of my team with my name and our emblem embroidered on the front" that elicited a loud round of cheers and applause.
Val waited until they quieted down again.
"There's enough for everyone, so please, be nice to your fellow fans." He then waived at his admirers and moved aside to let his crew men start handing out the souvenirs.
As Val started to walk towards the car that would take him away from there, a lovely brunette boldly stepped in his path. One of the security guards moved to intercept her, but Val stopped him.
"It's ok, Armand" he said to the guard, and then to the girl "what can I do for you, Miss...?"
"Nicole" the girl said with a big smile. "I don't have any photos or any piece of paper... but I was hoping you'd agree to sign this..." and she opened up the top portion of her shirt.
Val smiled, took the pen the girl gave him and carefully autographed her bra.
"I cannot believe my eyes!" Cheryl's voice cut into the scene "Manny, make sure nobody gets between your camera and Max."
Cheryl was not the only one surprised by that girl's daring move. Jenny was so astonished at what she had just seen on TV, that at first thought she had fallen asleep and was having a nightmare... but no such luck... what she had just seen was real. And when she thought it couldn't get any worse, it just did... Val pulled what looked like a business card out of his left breast pocket, stuck it in the girl's bra right strap and gently pulled her shirt closed.
Tears started rolling down Jenny's cheeks. She didn't need to see the card up close to know... Val had given the girl his phone number.
"Cheryl, did you see that?"
"I sure did, Manny... now, what I'd like to see is if that girl is going to make it out of there carrying her prize..."
"I'd say her chances are pretty good. Check this out, Cheryl."
Val spoke to one of his security guys and then headed for the car waiting for him, as two of his guards escorted the lucky girl through the crowd and towards the parking lot. The men stayed with her until she was safely in her car.
That was all Jenny could take. She turned off the TV and stayed motionless; tears running now profusely down her cheeks; staring at the blank screen. She remained like that for a few minutes, grief and pain getting the best of her. She felt hurt, betrayed... but those feelings were quickly turning to jealousy and anger. And then she stopped feeling sorry for herself...
"So, you've forgotten me... eh, Mr.?" she said to the TV as is she were still seeing Val on the screen. "Think you can replace me? Well, I can replace you too!"
Jenny grabbed her cell phone and texted Nick...
"Are you awake? I need to see you... now" she wrote.
Nick's reply came right away. "Sure... what's up?"
She ignored the question and just texted back. "I'll meet you in 20 minutes... wait for me in your backyard, by the side gate."
Jenny showed up as she had said she would and the instant she was in Nick's backyard, she took his face in both her hands and kissed him on the lips. Nick was too dazzled to understand what was going on, and too happy about Jenny kissing him to ask why, so he just went along and enjoyed the moment.
He managed to smuggle her into his bedroom without anyone noticing. Jenny spent the night with Nick and left early morning before his family was up, leaving him wondering what all that had been about.