Race With a Heart
Chapter 188: You Have Grown Up

Chapter 188: You Have Grown Up

Martin had a real problem. In fact, he had so many problems that he could no longer deal with them on his own. But since they were all about the Fergus Stables and Steve, he couldn’t have sought help there. He loved these people, idolized them (especially Steve Paxton) and was very close to them (especially Steve) and therefore couldn’t tell them that they were part of his problem.

Martin had promised to do real races on the track and was very scared of it. He was so afraid that stress began to take him away from sleep.

"If you don’t want to do it, then don’t do it," Dave declared as he tightened the screw on the disc brake rotor he had just replaced.

"I think you should do it," said Sid, who was on the other side of the car doing exactly the same with the other wheel.

Both teenagers were his friends whom he had met through working in this small car repair shop, and although they had seen each other less for some time, he still liked them very much and asked them to give their opinion on his participation in the race. Now Martin crouched down and listened to what they had to say on the subject.

"But if he doesn’t want to ..."

"And are you doing everything you want in life? I thought you wanted to become a prosecutor and what?"

Martin decided he hadn’t come to this little auto repair shop in a long time and had missed something. The boys were a little different than usual. They were in the fighting phase. Hmm, he wondered what happened between them?

"This is different," said Dave firmly. "I have no choice, Martin has one."

"No more than you! Fergus’ stable is a place that Martin feels particularly attached to and has friends there. His friends asked for help that Martin can give ... "

Sid gave the impression that he had suddenly grown up, had gotten bolder in speech, and was even starting to think not like a 17-year-old but like a grown man.

"Do you really believe that? Martin is a total amateur! How much do you think he will be able to help them? Do you think a miracle will happen and Martin will be on the podium?"

"It wouldn’t be such a miracle at all! I believe Martin can handle it!"

"A total amateur among professionals? You’re kidding! They will eat him and he will be ashamed!"

"We won’t know this until he tries it! You think shame is the worst that can happen to a man?"

Martin felt utterly useless in this conversation. His younger colleagues from the workshop took care of themselves so much that they forgot even about his existence.

Meanwhile, Teddy, the owner of the auto repair shop, motioned for Martin to come with him. Martin, who had been crouching so far, got up and followed the old man to his small office.

"Have they been like this for a long time?" the boy asked Teddy. At this point, the behavior of his younger colleagues absorbed him more than his own problem.

"For several days. Since I announced that we are looking for a mechanic."

"Are you looking for ..."

The old man smiled warmly, not like a man who informs someone that he has been fired should smile.

"Martin, I know you like this place and it will never be closed to you, but your career, your future, are somewhere else. You are already part of the Fergus Stables, whether you are their backup driver or mechanic. The stable is your world. Your second home. You can’t hang between this place and that, it’s impossible."

"But..."

Martin really loved both places. He loved working with Sid and the Dave, he loved old Teddy, and he relaxed when he could repair a car with them, but the truth was that lately he was spending less time and attention on the garage and more and more on the stables.

"I understand," he admitted, "and you’re right."

"You were born with a rare talent for understanding machines, and it would be a sin not to take advantage of it."

"Like Anakin Skywalker," Martin muttered under his breath.

"Who? Oh! He!" Teddy laughed. "I didn’t know kids of your generation knew who it was. You can think of yourself like that, but you won’t go to the dark side."

Martin was clearly interested in this statement.

"Why? Because I’m a good boy? Anakin was like that too."

"No, that’s not why. Because you trust people and he doesn’t. When you have a problem, you go with it to your friends and look for a solution together. You are not carrying anything alone."

At that moment, Martin thought of Steve and sighed. Martin was under the impression that Steve was one of those people who couldn’t open up to people. Some time ago, when Martin started fighting for his love, he started opening him up too, but lately the boy has started to get the feeling that Paxton is closing in on him again. Not only in front of him, in front of everyone. So is he endangered, following Teddy’s analogy, of going to the dark side?

No! Martin won’t be his Padme, he won’t be his Obi-Wan, because they failed. Martin will be Martin and whatever’s in Steve, Martin will get it out of him and keep his beloved man from plunging into darkness again. But to do this, Martin will need time, among other things.

The boy smiled at the owner of the auto repair shop.

"You’re right to fire me," he declared. "If someone wants to have everything in life, he will not achieve anything because he will spread his strength among too many places. Man has to choose the main path for himself."

"And for you, the main road is the Fergus Stable," said Teddy.

"No," said Martin confidently. "Steve is my main path. Fergus’ Stables is a place I love, but my love for it started with Steve and it blossomed thanks to him. I love working there, I love the people working there, but I love this place too, and I love the guys and you too, Mr. Teddy. I can give up on you, I can give up Fergus’s stable, but never on Steve."

The old man looked at him with surprise, but also with growing admiration. After Martin’s speech, Teddy shook his head.

"You remind me so much of someone I knew," he announced. "For him, a loved one was more important than a career. It did not end badly for him. As far as I know, he was happy for the rest of his life with his beloved wife and children. But you don’t have to choose, do you?"

"I don’t have to," Martin admitted, for some reason happy to hear Teddy’s words. "Steve and the Fergus Stable are almost one thing now, so yeah, I don’t have to choose. But if the day comes when I have to, I’ll choose Steve."

Teddy nodded in satisfaction.

"It’s good to see young people who can stand up so firmly for what they believe and love. So, have you made up your mind about your race? "

"Yes," said Martin, and he felt a twinge of fear in his heart. "I am afraid of this race, but everyone is afraid of something and if everyone runs away from their fears, how will they be able to function? I was afraid the teacher would call me to answer, but I had to overcome this fear. I will also overcome the fear of starting, especially since this race is not about winning the competition, because it is really impossible, but about overcoming myself. Steve believes I can do it, so I’m going to do it."

"For Steve?"

"Yes, for Steve, because he likes to watch me on the track and he believes in me, but also for myself, because I want to test my strength and besides, how many men get the chance to fulfill their boyhood dreams?"

Teddy laughed, clearly pleased.

"You have grown up," he announced. "I guess your hard work at the Fergus Stables and the greater responsibility helped you grow up, didn’t they?"

There were several other events along the way, such as the initiation into male-male love, the emotional struggles to pull Steve out into the dark abyss where his heart was tormented by guilt, Don Alston’s harassment twice, and these cruel acts Don towards Steve ... There was a lot of suffering, there were tears, but there was also great happiness and joy from every, even the smallest, success.

"I grew up," admitted Martin with a smile. Teddy didn’t need to know about all the experiences the boy had behind him. The process was important, sometimes difficult and what counted, there was no doubt here, but the most important thing was the effect. "Working in this workshop also helped me a lot."

"I’m glad to hear. That’s why I want you to remember that this place is always open to you. You don’t even have to make excuses. Come to us as if you were a family, because you are really part of our family. You know that, don’t you?"

"Yes, I know," said Martin with a warm smile.

"You’ve grown up," Teddy repeated, "but your eyes are just as warm and bright. You are the same good boy as always. Just a little more confident, right? "

"I have to be like that," admitted Martin. "After all, I’m supposed to compete on a professional track in a real race!"