A New Life – Chapter 1
As she drove along the highway, Akisha couldn't help but feel grateful, she was on her way to LA to take some time off from everything that happened to her and Leon in San Francisco. As she looked at the road ahead of her, she thought about what life would be like there and how his friends would react to her. From what Leon had told her, Dome and the rest of the team were just as close as Benny and the gang was there. Suddenly a gruff voice came over the walkie-talkie she had on her dash. "Yo Akisha you copy?"
Akisha picked it up. "Yeah I copy Leon."
"Good just checking up on ya."
"I'm okay, just taking in the great view."
"What view there's nothing but trees out here?"
"I'm looking at a certain yellow Skyline who's contents hold a lovely sexy man who needs to stop worrying so much," she said as Leon laughed out loud.
"Hey I'm just making sure my fiancée is on the ball, by the way we're going to be hitting the city soon, so there may be a chance of us getting separated. If we do just get off at exit 37A and meet me at the gas station beside the ramp exit, I'll meet you there."
"Okay Leon no problem."
"I love you Akisha."
"I love you Leon," she said laughing as she drove on. When they got into the city, Akisha found it not too busy as Leon has anticipated. She was able to follow him okay and get off at the right exit.
Once they got off the highway and onto the main road, Akisha noticed Leon turning into the gas station he'd mention before. She followed and parked beside him. She watched him get out of the car, head to the front door and walk in. She waited in her car for about five minutes before he exited the store carrying two six pack of Corona. He walked to his car and put in the back. He then got back into his car and started it. "What was that all about?"
"Peace offering for the team."
"Let me guess, they'll be just as mad as we were when you came back."
"Yep so I though I'd cover myself."
"Good thinking."
"Well let's be on our way then," he said as he started up his car and Akisha did the same.
It had been about an hour since they had gotten off the highway and into the residential area of Echo Park. Akisha glanced around at the quiet neighbourhood and smiled, it was just as peaceful as home. She was right behind Leon, who every so often would glance back to see if she was still behind. "Hey babe get ready, we're coming up to the house now."
"Okay Leon thanks for the heads up." She followed him to a two story white house. There were small bushes in the front and white steps leading up to the house. She saw a guy sitting out front wearing an orange mesh tank. He had short spiky hair and stubble on his face. The one thing she really noticed was the thin spiral scar that ran the entire length of his right arm. She watched Leon park his car in front of the house, she did the same. Leon got out and walked up the steps to the guy and said hello; the guy punched him square in the jaw. Akisha rushed out of her car and ran up to Leon. "Leon," she called out.
"It's okay Akisha I'm fine," said Leon rubbing his sore face.
"He better not be okay, I'll hit him again," said the guy glaring at Leon.
"Hey take it easy Vince, I just got here," said Leon returning the look to Vince.
"Took you long enough, well anyways welcome back." His look switches to Akisha. "Who's she?"
"My name's Akisha," she replied extending her hand to Vince, who just stared at her with suspicion. "Never mind. I guess I should've have done that, so you must be Vince?"
"Yeah so what's it to you?" he said with a smirk.
"Hey Vince take it easy, she's just trying to be polite."
"Whatever Leon, so why's she here anyway, looking for her to replace Jesse?"
"Hey that's not nice you know she came with me for personal reasons. It has to do with some stuff back home, so cut her some slack."
"She a cop or anything having to do with the law, don't want another incident to happen like what happened with Brian?"
"No she's got nothing to do with that, besides where's the rest of them?"
"They're over at the store; they'll be here at noon, why?"
"No reason just asking," taking Akisha by the hand Leon led her inside the house.
Once inside Leon told her to wait in the living room while he went back out to get their stuff. Akisha walked into the living room and sat on the couch. She looked around the room which was pretty average. There was a TV with a PS2 hooked up, a couch and some armchairs. She got up to take a look at some pictures that lined the walls. A few of them were kid shots and family, but none had Leon except for some recent ones. She heard the front door open and saw Leon enter with their dufflebags and the beer. He set the bags down and headed to the kitchen to put the beer in the fridge. He came back and said, "Let's go downstairs to my room and I'll set us up."
"Sure thing," she said as she followed him. Once they were downstairs she followed him past the laundry room and bathroom to the first bedroom. The room was pretty big with a queen-sized bed in the middle. There was a dresser which had a mini-stereo system on it, a closet that had clothes loosely hung and clothes on the floor. "Pretty cosy," she said smiling
"Yeah it is, it'll be even cozier now that you're here," he replied shutting the door and kissing her on the cheek. He set the bags on the bed and began empty them. Akisha watched him put some of the clothes in the dresser drawer at the bottom. She went over to the vanity dresser and looked at the picture frames. They had pictures of him and the team here and some of him by himself. When she came to the one on the end she began to cry softly. Leon heard her, stopped what he was doing and went over to her. "Hey what's wrong?" he said wrapping his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulders. She said nothing but held up the frame in her hands, it was the one she had that said "Me and my girl". Leon took it from her and glanced at it, he smiled. "You thought I left this behind didn't you?"
"I thought you no longer kept it since you left."
"What would make you say that?"
"Nothing really," she said wiping her tears.
"You think I stopped thinking about you and the others?"
"A little, when I never heard back from you."
Leon went and sat down on the bed, he patted the bed, motioning her to sit beside him; Akisha went and sat down. Leon put his arm around her. "Hey don't ever think I would forget you, otherwise you wouldn't have that engagement ring on your finger," he kissed her hard on the lips and pulled her into him so that she was straddling him. He then gently rubbed his hands around her back underneath her tank. He then moved from her mouth to her neck and began gently nibbling it, Akisha let out a gasp. He then pulled her down with him onto the bed so that she was lying on top of him. He then gently slid her tank over her head and dug his face deep into her breasts, kissing the space softly. He was about to undo her pants where there was a knock on the door. "Who is it?"
"It's me Coyote, the rest of the gang's here."
"Kay we'll be out."
"Who's Coyote?" asked Akisha with a confused look.
"It's our nickname for Vince, long story."
"Oh I see," she said getting off Leon and slipping her tank back on.
"Let's go up and meet them," he said heading for the door. He opened it and headed out followed by Akisha.
When they got upstairs, the rest of the team was there hanging out in the living room. They stopped what they were doing and turned their attention to Leon and Akisha as they entered the room. "Hey guys," said Leon nervously to the group, they just looked at him and said nothing. "Look guys I'm sorry for taking off and not saying a word, I had no choice I was scared."
Dom got up from the couch and walked over to Leon, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Hey man it's okay, we all had the same reason to split and go unannounced."
"Thanks man I knew you'd understand," said Leon smiling.
"Is this her," he said eyeing Akisha, "the champion racer you were talking about?"
"Yep this is she, her name is…"
"Akisha," she replied slowly extending her hand to Dom.
"Well Akisha it's nice to meet you," he said as he gently shook her hand. "Leon's told me a bit about you, hoping it's all true. I know he was hoping that I'd allow you to be on the team, but after what happened before, I weary about letting just anybody on the team."
"I understand your concerns Dom and it's okay with me. I'll understand if you don't wish for me to race for awhile."
"You're right, but I'll let you help elsewhere for the time being. For now why don't you come and meet the rest of the team," he said gesturing them to follow. He introduced Akisha to the rest of the team who welcomed her happily, though when she met Vince he still treated her with skeptism. "C'mon Vince be polite she's new."
"Hell no we don't know her enough to trust her," he said with an icy glare.
"Fine be that way, let's go to the garage and work on the cars," said Dom as he headed for the door and left, the others followed.
"Should we go with them?"
"Yeah I think it's a good idea, out cars could use a tune up," replied Leon putting an arm around her waist as they headed to the front door.
"When do you think Dom will allow me to race?"
"Give him a day tops, by then he'll have warmed up to you."
"Okay let's go," she said as she closed the door behind them. When she got to her car she got in and started it.
"Just follow me to the garage, I'll go slowly," said Leon as he came up to the driver-side window.
"Will do," she said as she gave him a small peck on the cheek. She pulled out behind him and followed him to the garage.
When she got to the garage she watched as the others pulled in and parked their cars. She pulled in and parked her car after them. She decided that first she would work underneath before working under the hood. She walked over and grabbed a trolley and laid down on it, grabbed a wrench and rolled underneath. As she worked on tuning up the muffler she felt someone kick her sneaker. "Yeah sup"
"Hey it's Mia can I talk to you for a sec?"
"Yeah sure give me a sec," she said as she set down the wrench and rolled out. "What do ya want to talk about?"
"Just about you and Leon, he really seems to care for you."
"There nothing really much to talk about, we've been friends for a number of years."
"Really I remember him talking about you some night after the races, when he wasn't busy romancing other girls."
"When he did what with who?" said Akisha shocked and hurt.
"Sometimes he'd be flirting with other women after the races. I sometimes thought why he'd do it when he was some in love with you."
"Are you sure about this that he really did stuff like this?"
"I'm sure about it, well see ya later," said Mia as she walked away."
"Yeah bye," said Akisha softly to herself. She continued on with her work, tears gradually streaming down her face. She rolled out from underneath the car, got up and walked over to the large toolbox and pulled out a ratchet. She went back to her trolley and rolled back underneath. She wiped away the tears and worked on her transmission. As she worked on it she couldn't help but go back to the conversation she had with Mia about Leon. She couldn't believe that he would do something like this to her. After all the times that he told her that he loved her and would love no one else, she had to find out about this. She couldn't take it anymore she had to get out of there. She rolled back out, went to wash her hands and got into her car.
Leon saw her get into her car and went after her. "Hey Akisha where are you going?" Akisha gave him no reply but just backed out and drove off.
When she got back to the house, Akisha ran inside and down to Leon's room. She fell face down onto the bed and began crying; she then rolled over and stared up at the ceiling. She got up and went over to the dresser and picked up the frame with the picture of Leon and her. As she looked at it she couldn't believe that she was going to marry him, knowing that everything about their love was a lie. She set the frame down and took a look at the engagement ring on her finger. She took it off and looked at it from every angle, noticing that on the inside it was engraved with the words: For the love of my life. She immediately began to tear again and as much as she wanted to believe that those words were true, she couldn't. With a heavy heart she placed the ring in front of frame, and then she picked up her duffle bag and began packing it with her clothes. She then left the room and headed back upstairs and out of the house. She headed to her car and tossed the bag in the back. She then got in and started up the car. She backed out and took one last look at the house before driving away. She wondered where she would go from there
To be continued