Disclaimer: Though I wish I owned this entire series, I don't. All original characters are mine. None of the songs used belong to me.
Summary: After he loses Gisele, Han finds himself picking up the pieces without her in Tokyo. Tired of living in her sister's shadow, Joanna decides starting over in a new country would be a fantastic idea. Neither of them expects to cross paths, nor do they expect the sparks that come with it. But he's got his secrets, and so does she and when their two worlds collide in a spectacular way, it's enough to leave them shaken, reeling, and utterly breathless.
A/N: So I recently marathoned the entire Fast and Furious serious. And this little baby popped into my head. And like all babies, it began to grow. Please note that it takes place before, during, and after Tokyo Drift. Now, without further ado: Breathless.
Chapter One
Wasting My Time – Default
Location: Tokyo, Japan
She was supposed to be here. She was supposed to be by his side. This was their plan; they were supposed to finally settle down. No more heists. No more dangerous jobs. No more Hobbs. No more Toretto.
But she wasn't here. She chose his life over hers. Some days he wished she hadn't. Other day he wished he had died with her.
But he didn't.
Location: Los Angeles, California
"Joanna Marie Worthington, if you do not hurry up and get dressed, I will strangle you with that dress." A middle aged blonde woman fumed as she stood in the doorway of a large dressing room.
The person she was speaking to looked up at her and rolled her eyes. She was not in the mood to deal with her mother's tantrum.
"Would you just chill? I'm getting dressed now." Her mother continued to scowl at her while she fiddled with the pink chiffon mess her sister called a bridesmaids' dress.
"Grace has been planning this day for months, and it will not be ruined by your childish antics. Do you hear me?" Joanna simply ignored her mother until finally the woman stormed off, muttering about where she and Joanna's dad could have possibly gone wrong in raising her.
Once she was gone, Joanna slumped into a chair and stared at the dress. Her sister was getting married today, so she should be happy. At least, that's what she kept telling herself. But she wasn't happy. In fact, she was the furthest thing from it. It's not that she didn't love her sister, Grace was her best friend. They were as thick as thieves, almost inseparable. No, she adored her sister, but there was something that always bothered her.
Grace was completely, utterly, and disgustingly perfect.
Joanna hated being compared to her sister, but it always happened. Grace was always more beautiful, more talented, she deserved the name Worthington. Joanna was the rebel without a cause, many believing that she was unhappy with her lavish lifestyle. She was really just bored with it. But she'd never lashed out, not like more college age kids do. Instead, she spent all her time trying to be like Grace. She tried acting like her, dressing like her, and even dating the same kind of guys.
And she was absolutely exhausted.
"Jo?" A knock on the door snaps her from her thoughts as one of the other bridesmaids, "It's almost time."
She nods and forces a smile and finishes getting dress. Then she follows the other girl down a corridor and to the main entrance of the church, where the rest of the bridal party is waiting. Right on cue, their entrance music begins to play and they all line up. One by one, they enter into the sanctuary. She can hear the murmurs as they pass about how Grace has planned such a flawless ceremony. She feels bile rise in the back of her throat but forces it back down. She would not ruin her sister's big day.
Once they are all in place, the bridal song begins to play and everyone stands. To say that her sister looks beautiful is a huge understatement. She's breathtaking and Joanna feels as though everyone should cover their eyes because no one is worthy enough to look at her, including herself.
Once she joins her husband-to-be at the altar, they begin to recite their vows. People laugh, and other cry, and Joanna just wants to get out of there.
"Now, if anyone has any reason as to why these two should not be wed, speak now or forever hold your peace." A hush falls over the room as people wait for someone to possibly speak up. It's at this time that Joanna sneezes suddenly. There are a few chuckles and a pointed glare from her mother and father.
"Sorry, allergies. Carry on." A few more chuckles and Joanna swears her mother is about to walk to her and slap her across the face in front of everyone. She mouths to her youngest daughter to shut up.
"As I was saying, speak now or forever hold your peace."
"I have something to say." There are a few gasps and Joanna offers her sister an apologetic smile as she speaks, "I just want to say that there's no reason why these two shouldn't get married. Look at them; they're Ken and Barbie for goodness' sake. So of course, no one is going to say anything about them. But I have to warn you, Ken, Barbie's family is a little crazy. So you might want to go ahead and think twice. And Grace? Great wedding. Perfect, as freaking usual."
"Joanna Marie!" Her mother is standing now, but she's not done. She's spent the last 22 years having to deal with her parents' obvious favoritism. She was done.
"What mother?! What have I done wrong now? God, I'm so sick of this. I'm tired of being Grace's little sister. I'm tired of you and dad always treating me like I'm some redheaded step child. I'm a brunette! As a matter of fact, I'm so sick of it, that I'm leaving. Right now and I won't be coming back. You all have a nice day and enjoy the wedding."
And with that, she skipped down the aisle leaving shocked guests and a fuming Mrs. Worthington in her wake. As she walked out of the church doors, she could feel her spirits lifting. It was definitely not the way she would have planned to do it, but she was happy about finally speaking her mind.
But she would have to face her parents, something that did not appeal to her at all. And yet, she didn't have to stick around for them to find her. She had been serious, she was going to leave and never come back. She had been thinking about it for a while and even had some destinations in mind. It was just all a matter of getting on a plane. Revving up the engine of her Lotus Elise R, she sped out of the parking lot and on to her new life.
Location: Tokyo, Japan
7 months later
It didn't take long before he fell into a routine. He found business opportunity in a wannabe gangster named Takashi, opened a garage and a nightclub, and spent his days working on his latest masterpiece, a Mazda RX7. It was getting easier to get out of bed, though he still felt her absence. There are times when some of the models that frequent his club call his name, and he swears they sound like her. But it's not. It never will be.
"Hey Han, you alright?" He looked up from the engine he'd been engrossed in and glanced over to where a student named Twinkie was standing. There's concern in his eyes and it made Han sick. He doesn't want people to see that he's been hurting.
"I'm fine, just thinking too hard." He closed the hood and turned around, "What time is it? I believe there's a party that's calling out names."
The guys that had pulled up beside her obviously were out of their minds. She could hear them rev their engine as they catcalled to her. They wanted a race, but she knew how the boys drove around her. She'd only been in Tokyo a month but after stumbling upon the street racing scene in Madrid, she made it a point to drive like they did. She let her baby give one low growl as the light was about to change. Turning on the stereo, her car shook as music pounded through the speakers.
The light turned green.
Shifting into first, Joanna and sped down the strip of highway leading to the next light. The car that was beside her kept pace with her until she flipped the turbo switch and activated her Nos. Leaving them behind, she sped onto the freeway towards her destination.
It was lot easier finding the races in Madrid. She had simply been out late one night and stumbled across a race in action. It had been a rush to watch the two drivers in the 10 seconds they had to show who was better. It wasn't long before she hooked up with the local champion and he taught her thing or two. All she had to do was agree to go on a few dates.
But in Madrid, the driving was straight forward. In Tokyo, she planned to master the art of drifting. She didn't ask anyone outright about where the races took place, knowing that she was considered an outsider. But she had overheard a few girls talking about someone named DK and with a little more eavesdropping, she found out the location of an abandoned parking garage where the races happened.
It excited her. She had never done anything dangerous or illegal when she was at home. She had spent too much time trying to be Grace.
She still hadn't spoken to her sister.
Ignoring the guilt that had started to creep up, she floored the accelerator and simply concentrated on her driving. It wasn't long until she was pulling into the garage. People moved out of the way she drove in, many gawking at her car. Pulling into a space, she opened the door and got out of the car. Leaning against the driver's side door, she surveyed everything going on around her.
It was one big party, she grinned.
"Damn girl, is that an Elise?" She turned to see a young black guy walking around her car, his eyes glued to the exterior.
"It was a birthday gift," She smirked, "It gets me around."
He finally looked up at her and gave her once over. He couldn't have been more than 17, she thought. And he definitely appreciated what he saw.
"You're new here, aren't you? The name is Twinkie. Think I could take you out some time?" She laughed outright but gave him a warm smile.
"I'm Joanna. You're cute, Twinkie, but I think I'm a little too old for you."
"Age is just a number, baby," He chuckles, "So what brings a girl like you and a car like this to Tokyo?"
"Just needed a change of scenery is all. Besides, I heard the car scene here was worth checking. So far, I like what I see." Around them cheers erupt as two drivers drift past them and Joanna claps her hands and lets out a yell of her own.
"Oh man, I have someone you have got to meet." Twinkie grabbed her hand and pulled her into the crowd. She apologizes as they shove past people and she realizes he's taking her to the top of a garage.
There's a large crowd of people crowded around the cars that have just finished racing. People are talking animatedly around her and she relishes in the sheer joy of it all. It wasn't nearly as electrifying in Madrid as it was here. This was more than just cars and racing, this was these kids' livelihood.
"Hey Han!" Twinkie calls out and Joanna looks to the person he's calling out to, "I have someone you need to meet."
The guy he calls Han take Joanna by surprise. He's older, she can immediately tell but there's something else about him that she can't quite place. The fact that he's handsome is also noted. He gives her a scrutinizing look as she and Twinkie stop in front of him.
"And you are?" His voice is cold but he doesn't let her answer, "Twink, why do you insist on bringing me the cheap ones, you know I don't like them. They're a waste of time."
Before she realized what she was doing, Joanna saw red andher hand flew out, slapping the man across his face. If there was one thing her mother did teach her, it's that she should not be disrespected by anyone.
"Screw you," She spat before turning and storming away. It was late and she was both tired and thoroughly pissed off. She was going home.
She had slapped him.
She had slapped him.
She had slapped him.
She had slapped him.
She. Had. Slapped. Him.
End of Chapter One