From: AusieWanaB@aol.com See prologue for the disclaimer and all. Chapter One Like anyone would be I am flattered by your fascination with me As the sun seeped through the loosly strung curtians, it was strong enough to blind any one in its path, yet dull enough not to wake the deepest of sleeps. A body, strung out in the tangled mess of sheets, tossed and turned about before finialy waking up. She sat up and pulled her knees close to her chest. She rubed her forhead and covered her eyes. She rested her elbow on her knee. She glanced down to her right side and pulled her tee-shirt up and rubed at a small bullet hole that had healed up. It had been almost six months since she was shot in the side by a man who remarkable looked like her father. She layed back and thought back to what had tuged her out of the land of visions. It didnt take long for her to think back to it. It was the same dream she had had for the past six months. She could quote it word for word. It was the day that lead up to her pain. As she layed there, she felt a tear trickle down her cheak. She took the sheet that covered her legs and pulled it up to dry her face. She rolled over and glanced at her alarm clock. 6:10am. She thought back, "today is February 4th and I'm in Daytona Flordia and it was her fourth day of being here," she thought. Her father, Race Bannon and mom Estella had decided to take a trip to Daytona for the Daytona 500, to go see Race's brother race. He was famuse, known as the "Bannon Bull" on the track, but to her he was Uncle Ricky. He drove the 27 car, with the Quest Team logo on it. "Hey Ponchita, breakfast time, better wake up!" cried out her father from behind the door. " Kay," she said. She rolled out of bed and walked over to the small dresser that the condo that they were staying in had. She grabed the top handles and pulled it open. She then pulled out her 27 Quest Team car shirt. This was one of her favorites, on the frount it had this seasons car on it, which was designed to show off the new team, the JQ2000 team. It was done in black with a huge JQ on the hood with the word "team" done in cursive. One the bumper of the car, which was the back of the tee-shirt, had the phrase, "You've Been Forwarned" on it. That wasnt the only reasons she liked the shirt. The other reason was that if you looked closly enogh at the frount on the car you can see Jessica 'The Bullet' Bannon on it. That was the nick-name he gave her after she got shot. This was one of the few nick-names she liked. It was better than the one the team called her, which is Scully, after the maniac cut off most of her long red hair, leaving it a tad shorter than chin leigth. She then sliped on the tee-shirt and pulled on a pair of jean shorts. She then brushed her short hair, and turned on her curling iron. She hated having to curl it, she never had to when she had it long, but now since it was short, she had to or else it would look like Madusa. While she was waiting for it to heat up, she went over and made her bed. By the time she got done doing that, the curling iron was plenty warm, and she curled it under. She then pushed it behind her ears adn pulled on her 27 hat that had her name Jessica the Bullet Bannon on it, and ran downstairs. She there was met by her mother and father who was almost done with their meals. She grabed her some IBprofen and a glass of water and took it. "Jessie, arnt you going to eat?" asked her mom. "Nah, not hungery." she replied back as she left the dinning area and went into the living room and grabed her beach bag. She checked it to make sure it still had her swim suite, sun block and a towel in it. She ziped it back up and walked into the garage and floped it down in the convertable they had rented. She figured that when her mom and dad were getting involve heavily in the race, she would slip away and drive to the beach. When she floped it down, she heard what sounded like her keys falling out. So she climbed in and rumaged around and found the culpret. A set of Mustange keys and some others she couldnt remeber what went to. She picked them up and exaimened the picture that was in the frame. It was one of Bryce and her after she got out of the hospital, getting ready to go to the park. She remebered that day clearly. " To the park" shouted out Travis as he jouced the stick he was holding, into the air as if it was a sword and he was a knight. "Eh Bro settle" said the quiter of the two twin brothers, Bryce. " I would but, we havnt been to the park in ages and besides, its not like we get a good day to come anymore." "Come on Bryce peark up, dont ruin this outing for me. I havnt been out of the house in weeks with the bullet womb." I said. "Okay," said Bryce. That day was one of the funniest she had had with him. Thats when Jonny had taken the swing picture that was in her keychain. It was her and Bryce swinging together on the swings. He had pulled my swing over to his and was trying to keep me from going higher, and wham, Jonny took the picture. It was a classic shot. Both were smiling because of the laughter. Just then a smile rose from her mouth. It was the good ole days she cherished, instide of the living days. Just then her father and mother came out of the garage door. " There you are hun. Ready?" asked her mom. "Yea whenever." The ride to the speedway was short. The had no problem getting in, seeing to how they had been there since the first of the month and knew the owner and one of the star racers. They then walked over to the pit area and was greeted by the 'Bull'. "Hey I was wondering when you three was going to make your grand aperance for the day." he said. " Well this little Bullet was hiding from us, so it took us a while," said Race as his daughter gave an angelic look to her uncle. "Speaking of Bullet, your father told me about your driving record and so I entered you in a contest." "Goody" she said sacasticaly. " So dont keep me waiting what is it?" " Well on Monday the 8th their is going to be a Baby Daytona for all the sons or daughters of the racers. And well since Abby is only five I entered you in it. So If dont mind Rog?" said Richard. " I dont know. You think you can handle it Ponchita?" asked Race. " Yes" she said quickly. The sound of it sounded exsiting. More exsiting then what she had done in the past months. "When do I start?" " First we got to go get you suited up. So lets go to the trailor." It didnt take her long to pick out the suite she wanted. It was emerald green with the JQ2000 logo on the front. On the back it said, Jessica The Bullet Bannon on it. The helmet had the same design on it. He then had them get a decal of her signiture to put on the other side of the car. " Well your all ready Bullet, now we better go get you finalized and you can meet some of your openets that you will be spending so much time with."said Richard. He then took her to the office and signed the rest of the paper work and introduced to a couple of the kids. One of them cought her eye. He was tall, around 6"foot tall, simi short/long blackish brown hair. He resembled a younger version of Mulder, only more cuter. He smiled at her and walked her way. "Hey, you must be the Bullet. Im Chase McDowall." he said as he stared at her. " Yeah. I guess the shirt and the hat is a dead give away?" "Yeah." She couldnt help but notice he was looking her up and down. She could tell their was something about him that stood out from all of the other racers. She could also tell he was fastinated with her, as he carried on a conversation with her about her adventures and stuff for almost 30 minuets, only to quite by the starting of the meeting. When it was over he shook her hand and left a peice of paper in it. When she unrolled it, it said. Must get to know you. If you will meet me behind the pits in 30 minuets we can slip away to talk and go somewhere. Chase- COMMENTS?? Please! Kara ------------------------------------------------------------------------ To unsubscribe from this mailing list, or to change your subscription to digest, go to the ONElist web site, at http://www.onelist.com and select the User Center link from the menu bar on the left.