This takes place after F&F6. It was definitely my favorite! There will be a few spoilers though if you haven't seen it. I do not own Fast & Furious in anyway. Enjoy!
Chapter One: The New Crew
San Diego, California, the place with the second largest population in California, a place for dreams, a wondrous place of beauty, and a place of adventure. The whole miracle vacation. What are not mentioned are the fast cars, fast life, and street races. The entire racing scene was unseen to many unless, of course, they wanted to find it. Han Lue was one of those people. This scene was what his life consisted of. Racers and skimpily dressed racer chasers dancing around provocatively for attention in the middle of San Diego.
"Hey, man, you must be new to these races! Man, did you choose a great night to come!"
A slightly drunken man came and placed his hand on Han's shoulder. Han was wearing a dark red button up and jeans tonight that really brought out his features. His expression was hard and his dark eyes almost expressionless. Han just wanted to enjoy the night, without being aggravated or bothered by his thoughts, unfortunately this drunkard found a way to try and ruin it and the races hadn't started yet.
"You're right."
His answer was short and to the point, but of course this other man had to continue. He removed his hand and took another swig of the bottle of beer in his hand. The man was dressed rather simply, in jeans, a t-shirt, and flip-flops. Not your usual race attire that was for sure.
"Z's crew is back tonight! They haven't raced here in ages, plus heard Z's actually getting behind the wheel! My name's Gray, by the way."
That actually caught Han's attention. Z's crew?
"Who's Z?"
Gray became excited.
"Z's the best racer around San Diego! He doesn't show his face around here, though. Races, gives a good show doing so, then his crew leaves without Z getting out the car."
Han nodded as he leaned against his Mazda RX-7 as Gray continued to chatter about this "Z" fellow. Han's eyes grazed the crowd of people for nothing in particular. He was just ready for the race to start already. Since, Gisele's passing, he hadn't really cared for anything. It had been a few months since her death, but it was still so hard to bear.
"You looking at her?"
Gray inquired causing Han to look at him with much confusion.
"Zoey, the woman with the white shirt on standing next to the mustang."
Han looked in the direction Gray was talking about. The woman, Zoey, was a pretty young lady. She wasn't dressed in the same attire as all of the racer chasers. Her attire was… dared say classier? She had on a white, lacy tube top with pearls around her neck, black skinny jeans, and heels. She had a tattoos on her shoulders, but it was too hard to read from this distance. She had short brown hair that came down to her chin in the front and was shorter in the back, kind of a pixie hair cut. She was laughing with some scantily dressed blond, looking as if she had no worry in the world. Her beauty was different, nothing like Gisele's model-like beauty, no one could top her, but hers was natural.
"She's a pretty thing isn't she?"
Han just nodded.
"Different than the others around here."
Gray took another sip of his beer then went off in pursuit of this woman. He finally reached her and said something to her. Zoey's gaze made her way to where Han was. Gray grabbed her wrist and dragged her over to where Han was. Zoey waved at the girl she was speaking with, that girl didn't seem older than sixteen.
"Zoey, this is… the new guy."
Zoey smiled a toothy grin at Han, who couldn't help but half smile back.
"Name's Han."
Zoey held out her hand for Han to shake.
"It's wonderful to meet you.'
Han took her hand, rather awkwardly and shook it. He was used to girls throwing themselves all over him, not shaking his hand in greeting. She had a foreign accent.
"Nice to meet you."
Zoey's honey brown eyes scanned over Han's car. Gray had his attention captured by a racer chaser.
"Nice ride. You race?"
Han raised his eyebrow in curiosity. Zoey apparently knew what he was thinking.
"It looks like you put a lot of love into your car, which usually racers do."
Han nodded as she continued to admire his car.
"Would you like to see the engine?"
Gray finally joined the conversation again.
"She wouldn't understand that, she's a girl. Girls and cars don't mix."
Zoey clenched her mouth close, causing the muscle in her jaw to tighten.
"Excuse me, Gray?"
Gray just shrugged, pissing Zoey off even more. Zoey looked down at her watch and then shook her head.
"The race is about to start and I have to be somewhere. Maybe after, Han?"
Han nodded as the young woman left in a hurried off. Han looked her over as she left. She had a tattoo on each shoulder, one on her right was in a beautiful script stating, "I never feared death or dying, I only fear never trying," and the other was in the same script stating, "I am whatever I am. Only God can judge me now." Before Han knew it, she disappeared into the crowd.
"Race is about to start!"
Gray's excitement was a little terrifying, if Han ever called anything scary. Han turned towards where the two racers were supposed to be starting. One was already there and sitting out of his sunroof of his blue Ford Mustang.
"Come on Z! Hurry your ass up!"
Speak of the devil and he shall appear. As soon as "Z" came out of his mouth, a black Infiniti G37 Coupe pulled to the starting line. The windows were tinted to where someone couldn't see inside. Z revved up his engine to get the idiot in the mustang to get ready for the race. The man gladly complied. A racer chaser walked in between the two cars with a flag in her hands. She wore an outfit that barely covered what it needed to. Usually, to Han that was a major turn on, but now he didn't really care what sluts adorned on their body. The racer chaser spread her legs a little ways apart and held the flag over her head.
"That's one fine bitch."
Gray was practically bouncing in his excitement. Han shook his head as he kept his eyes on the black car. The flag dropped and both cars took off like a bat out of hell. Everyone was eager to see who would return first. The sound of their squealing tires and engines could only be heard for a few seconds till the sound of the city completely drowned it out. Some people were around the streets that the two racers were going to be on to make sure no one cheated and to keep tabs on who were winning so they could send it back to the DJ for announcements.
"Daniel is in the lead with Z right on his tail. Almost half way through!"
Some people cheered while others booed, but Gray didn't seem to be phased.
"Every race Z does that, then passes them and leaves them in the dust half way through the race!"
Han opened his car door and grabbed his munchies snacks. He ripped open the bag and indulged in his food.
"You admire this man a little too highly, don't you?"
Gray nodded.
"Who wouldn't? Z is a role model around these parts."
Han just nodded.
"Z is in the lead by a car length!"
The DJ announced and a lot more of the crowd was cheering than booing. The race continued for another seven minutes before the sound of an engine could be heard zooming around the corner and to the finish line. As Gray predicted, the Infiniti G37 was the winner. The door to the Infiniti opened and most everyone went quiet.
"Z's finally going to show his face!"
Han was intently eyeing the car door waiting for the man to step out, but he didn't believe anyone was ready for what they saw. The young woman from earlier stepped out of the vehicle.
"Zoey?"
Gray asked as if his dreams had been crushed. His role model was a woman. Zoey fist pumped the air with a loud "yeah." Her crew rushed over to her, and a bulky man lifted her onto his shoulders. He made her look like a child in comparison to his size. Zoey threw both of her arms up in victory with a huge grin plastered on her face. In that moment, Han saw the happiest woman alive.
"Guess Z isn't hiding anymore."
Han's gaze stayed on the young woman. She must feel free. The big guy put her down and she quickly rushed over to where Han and Gray were standing.
"Want to say something about women and cars again?"
Gray shook his head in defeat.
"No, you made your point."
The brunette turned towards Han.
"You should come to the garage for the after party, new guy. You may like it!"
Han agreed to show up, why not have a little fun?
::-::
Everything in this scene, somehow managed to remind him of Gisele. Models and racer chasers danced on anyone they could, drinks were being served, and the music was blaring. Han had to get out, so he mad his way to what he thought was his exit. Unfortunately for him, he ended up in the garage, but saw the young brunette sitting on the hood of the car with a beer in her hand with her back turned towards him. Han was about to turn and leave, but her voice stopped him.
"You can come down here, ya know. I don't bite."
Han turned back around and slowly walked over to the car she was on. The only light in the room was the moonlight coming in through the windows.
"Want a beer?"
She asked pointing to a small cooler. He walked over and grabbed one, popping the top of the bottle then leaned against the supporting beam next to the car.
"Why not enjoy the party?"
Han inquired as she sipped on her beer.
"Not really my scene."
"Well, this whole racing thing doesn't seem like it would be your scene."
Zoey laughed.
"You're funny, new guy."
Han smirked. He studied the woman some more. She had light freckles that ran across her nose, high cheekbones, an oval face, and ivory white skin.
"So, how'd a woman like you, become one of the greatest racers in San Diego?"
She shrugged like it was nothing.
"I'm good, but I'm not that good. Racing and cars are just my passion, so I guess that gives me some perks."
She had been staring at her bottle for the longest time, but finally looked up to look at Han.
"What about you?"
Han shrugged as well.
"This and that."
Zoey giggled.
"Oh, we have a mystery man!"
Zoey got off the hood and walked over to Han looking him up and down, almost like sizing him up. The woman wasn't the tallest thing, about 5"5' and was curvy, unlike the models in the other rooms where the party was.
"You're pretty cool, Han."
She said after a few seconds and play punched his shoulder. She was slightly tipsy and it was easy to tell, by the way she was a little off balance. Han chuckled as he placed a hand on her shoulder to steady her.
"I think it's time to quit."
She shook her head as she downed the rest of her beer.
"You know, I used to think I wanted a different life than this."
She went off on a tangent. In his old days, he probably would have taken advantage of her to get a good lay, but things had changed since Gisele.
"Why don't you change it then?"
She shrugged away from his hand.
"I believe you need to hear the same thing I tell my crew. You make choices and you don't look back, my friend. Never look back."
It was the first time Han had heard it worded in that manor, but that phrase would lead to have a huge impact on his life.
"You are more than welcome to stay in one of the spare rooms here upstairs if you don't wish to pay for a hotel."
Han went to object, going to say that he didn't want to go through the hassle of asking the owner of the place, but Zoey raised her hand to stop him.
"It's my place, so there isn't any problem."
She quickly gave him a kiss on the cheek and walked away with her slightly tipsy walk.
"Good night, new guy."
Zoey raised her hand in farewell for the night. Han chuckled. This girl was something else, that was for sure.