Zero to Eighty

She won. Again. Without being able to predict it, or even prepare for the clusterfuck grenade that Kenzie was, she shot me when I had my guard down. She knew exactly what she was doing, and it fucking blew my mind. Kenzie was two steps ahead of me-- always pulling the rug right from underneath my feet and I couldn't do anything about it. If I wanted to at least be in the same league as Kenzie, I clearly had to step my game up by several notches.

"Harry, what the hell happened? I come to tell you that your tires are ready and Regan's kid sister is stripping for you?" Louis still couldn't believe he caught glimpse of Kenzie's act.

"She spilled her drink," I answered, slumping onto the bench.

"It's fucking weird," Louis started, sitting down next to Harry.

"What is? Kenzie flashing me her bra? Because no lie, it was a little hot," I reluctantly admitted.

"It wasn't too long ago that I was scolding her for not completing her homework," Louis remembered with a chuckle. He shook his head and patted me on the back.

"Yea, I remember. She used to be so fucking annoying and happy and ugh… I don't even know," I grumbled.

"If I remember correctly," Louis started with a smirk, "you used to be annoying too."

"Wait, what?" I gestured to myself with wide eyes and a dropped jaw, "me? Annoying?"

"You were such a little chicken shit. Always getting in the way and trying to tag along anywhere Regan went," Louis laughed.

"Okay, I remember asking for advice about racing from Regan, but I highly doubt that I was a, quote unquote, chicken shit," I defended.

"Yes you were," Louis insisted, "but it's okay now. You had untapped potential and now look at you. Taking after our previous king-- thee Regan Suarez."

I looked at my best friend and shrugged. He wasn't totally inaccurate. When I was a newly-licensed 16-year-old, maybe I was a little pushy with my questions, and maybe I was a little too eager to learn all I can to be as amazing of a racer as Regan. The Warehouse was and still is my home. My dad had walked out on us, my sister was about to leave for college and my mom is a drunk. My house was no longer a home and I craved for something to compensate for the lack of care.

The truth is, I always resented Kenzie because she had it all. She had Regan as an older brother, and parents who loved her and were always home waiting for her to come back. And yet, this little girl wanted nothing but to be part of The Warehouse. She was so easily accepted in the racing world, while I had to work harder than anyone to earn the respect I so desperately needed.

When Kenzie left Marlow Point, I was legitimately happy and relieved. It's a horrible thought, I know, but with her several hundred miles away from this beach front city, I was able to truly shine without any competition. But now she's back, and I wished she wasn't.

"You okay buddy? What you thinking about?" Louis patted my back.

I shook my head with a sigh, standing up from the bench, "nothing Lou… I'm going to head out now. I have work in an hour. Thanks for changing my tires."

"Of course… you little chicken shit,"

"Fuck you," I flipped Louis the bird as he keeled over in laughter. He threw me my keys and I caught them with one hand, walking out of the auto shop and into the blazing sun.

My car gleamed in the sunshine with a fresh pair of tires that I was itching to break in. I walked around my baby and inspected Louis' work-- it was flawless, as always. I slipped into the driver's seat and stuck the key into the ignition. Turning on the car, I immediately rolled down the windows, and back out. I sped around the corner, hearing the loud rumble and I couldn't help but smile. Kenzie was home again and has invited herself back into The Warehouse. It didn't seem like she was going to leave on her own, and I made it a mission to give her that extra push she needed to disappear.

"Okay, so I just ordered a tray of calamari and a tray of avocado rolls from The Mantra Grill. I have the bottles of alcohol and juice chilling in the fridge. All that's left is to clean the bonfire pit out back and we are good to go for tonight's kickback!" Ella rambled excitedly, before plopping down onto my bed.

"Sounds good," I said, "thanks."

"No problem," Ella smiled, "I just want you to feel at home again. It's been so long… I've missed you Kenzie."

I groaned and grinned back, "I missed you too."

I pulled Ella and wrapped my arms around her neck, the girly citrus scent of her perfume filling my nose. She may have lost her anal retentiveness, but the one thing that remained the same, was her signature smell.

"So," Ella pulled away, "your friends are absolutely sure they're able to make it?"

"Yea," I nodded. Truth was, I hadn't asked the girls yet, but it seemed like Ella had everything planned and there was no making excuses now. "Does mom know about tonight?"

"No, but it's alright," she reasoned, "mom won't mind. She used to always let me have little get togethers. This time is no different."

Contrary to what Ella believed, this time was slightly different. Ella's sleepovers and kickbacks were always with other girls who were just as prim and proper as her. My new friends on the other hand, were as raw as you can get. Tattoos, piercings, obnoxious language and everything my mother wasn't too fond of. But I didn't care at that point, it was as if everyone around me was trying to make me feel at ease because they genuinely cared.

My mom was doing it out of fear.

At around 6:30 that evening, the sun was barely setting into the Marlow Point Peninsula. The skies were a gorgeous gradient of oranges, pinks, and light blues. Ella, the girls and I sat on cushioned benches around the bonfire we made using our own personal pit. As we watched the sun set, and observed my dad bring in his boat onto the dock, we toasted to a good summer.

"Thanks for inviting us over," Eleanor sipped on her mixed drink with a smile on her glossy lips.

"I had so much fun hanging out with you last night, I had hoped you would hit us up again," Danielle exclaimed.

"And you have the good alcohol," Perrie declared, pulling a bottle of peach Ciroc from the ice chest. She gave it a kiss, as Eleanor snapped a photo. "Hey send that photo to me!"

"Calm down I will," Eleanor stated, looking down at her phone.

"Careful Perrie, a relationship with a bottle of alcohol may not make Zayn very happy," Danielle joked.

"No he'll be fine… I can't really give a glass bottle a blow job," Perrie rubbed the neck of the bottle up and down to imitate the sexual gesture. She immediately stopped though, when she caught glimpse of another figure approaching our get together, causing all of us to giggle in her expense.

Dad walked up the dock and through the sand to the short metal gate. He had on a ridiculous fisherman's hat and was holding a white bucket in one hand. He unlocked the gate and smiled greatly upon seeing us girls.

"What's going on here?" he asked, observing the cooler of alcohol, trays of food, and the melting marshmallows at the end of our sticks above the fire.

"Just a little get together with some of Kenzie's friends dad," Ella responded.

"T-F-T-I," Dad sassed, causing us to breaking into laughter.

"Did your dad just say--"

"I think so,"

"You're more than welcome to join us Mister Suarez," Danielle invited.

"Thank you," Dad was obviously flattered, flashing a million-dollar-smile, "but are you girls going to be staying? I just caught a couple of beautiful fish and I want to throw it onto the grill for dinner."

"That sounds fabulous Mister Suarez," Perrie mused.

"Then it's settled. I'll go ahead and clean these bad boys up," Dad lifted the white bucket, looking down at his catch of the day.

Eleanor turned towards Ella and I, "it's official, you've got the coolest family."

And at that moment, my regrets of coming home suddenly washed away. Granted, I did miss NorCal but in that period of time, I could honestly say that I forgot about the three years of pain I had to endure everyday; the three years of clinical depression I had to live with, and the breaths I took that reminded me of Regan, because he no longer could.

My thoughts were quickly jarred and I was brought back down to reality when I noticed Ella stand up from the bench and walk away. I guess I was so into the moment that I didn't hear our mom apparently call her inside until Danielle gave me a look.

"Your sister isn't like, in trouble is she?" Danielle asked. I turned my head to see Ella and our mom in a serious conversation inside the house.

"I don't know," I answered truthfully. I sat the cup I had in my hand down at the edge of the fire pit and walked away from the girls.

I sauntered up the pathway and towards the glass doors, my eyes fixated on Ella who was throwing her arms around, yelling about something at our mom. The door was cracked open slightly, and as I got closer, I could hear exactly what the fuss was about.

"She hasn't been home in three years. She's here with us now and I won't let her go back to Northern Cali," Ella yelled.

"But having her little friends from The Warehouse aren't doing Antoinette any good. That lifestyle is what killed Regan and almost killed my baby girl. Don't tell me you forgot what happened the night of the funeral," Mom argued.

"Oh I remember clearly," Ella declared, "and that's precisely why I'm doing all I can to make Kenzie happy."

I opened the sliding glass door and all eyes were on me. My mom's face drained, suddenly feeling guilty of the words she could never take back. Ella looked at me with empathy, and I could tell she felt sorry for me. It was weird to witness Ella get into a heated argument with our mother like she just had. Growing up, Ella and mom were best friends and agreed on almost everything. Fast forward and it was as if they couldn't be any more different.

"Is everything okay in here?" I questioned with a raised brow, looking back and forth between the two women.

"Everything's fine," Ella answered with quickness. She pulled my arm and proceeded to drag me back to the girls. She didn't speak anymore of the situation and I didn't plan on asking. As we approached the gathering again, we both noticed a few new faces with the girls.

"Kenzie!" Niall exclaimed with arms wide open. Next to him were Louis, Liam and Zayn.

"I hope you don't mind," Eleanor began, "I sent them the photo of our view and Louis wanted to come. And since Louis wanted to be here, Liam and Zayn… well I think you know."

"We get it," I said, "and it's okay. My dad's actually about to grill up some fish that he caught so you came at the right time."

"Excellent," Louis whooped, taking a seat on the empty space next to Eleanor.

"Please, sit down. Make yourselves comfortable. There's drinks in the coolers, food on the table back there and s'mores stuff right over there," Ella explained, pointing to the respective supplies. As the boys all sat down and got comfortable-- Niall joined my dad at the grill to help with the fish, another voice unexpectedly filled my ears,

"Sorry about that lads."

I turned around and was very surprised to see a curly-headed cockface standing in my backyard. He flashed me a smile, dimples on each side. He walked over to us and squeezed in between Liam and I on the bench. I continued to glare at him, confused as to why he was here.

"Hey Kenzie," Harry threw his arms around both Liam and I's shoulders, leaning back and taking us with him, "you have a really nice bathroom."

Notes

'Ello my loves!

Happy Saturday! I hope everyone is doing well and is enjoying their weekend. I'm doing pretty peachy myself. Well here is chapter 13 and I really hope you all like it. It looks like Harry can't keep up with miss badass Kenzie, now can he? And what the hell happened the night of Regan's funeral?? Hmmm.... you will all find out in the chapters to come. Anyway, thank you all for reading my story and if you like it, please vote up. Subscribe and leave any feedback you may have. Thanks again!

--Erica Jaine <33