Chapter 2
Sundays have never been a day of rest in the Toretto household and today was no different. As soon as we got home from church I quickly changed out of the flowery dress Mia forced me to wear and into a pair of jean shorts with a neon pink tank top. It was a little after noon and daddy was already outside getting the grill warmed up while Dom and Vince had gone to get refreshments.
"You look like yourself again," Letty commented as I walked out the backdoor with my sunglasses on.
I tightened my high ponytail, "So much better."
"Hey," she stopped me from going any further. "I'm missing some of my clothes you haven't seen them have you?"
"Nope," I popped the 'p' as I answered and continued on my way to the garage.
Daddy's charger; one of the most magnificent cars I had ever seen. My fingers glided over the black paint as I made my way to the door. Sliding into the front seat I had never felt so small. I had only been to the track with my dad a handful of times but even then I had to stay in the stands so he could concentrate on the race. I could only imagine what it felt like to be able to drive at those speeds, to not only be operating the car but to move as one. One day, one day I'd be a skilled racer with my own body shop just like my dad.
"Day dreaming again?"
Dom's voice made me jump right off the front seat. I growled at him as I got out of the car and closed the door gingerly, "It's not nice to sneak up on people, baldy."
He chuckled and shook his head but I saw it in his eyes, he felt the same way about this car as I did. "You know he's accepted a race against Linder next weekend."
"He'll win," I kept my eyes on the black beast in front of me. "No one is going to beat daddy."
Dom threw his arm over my shoulders and walked with me back to the barbeque. "Where's curly? Thought I'd be breaking his neck for being too hands on."
"I'm not with Sam anymore," I told him as I moved from his embrace to jump on Vince's back. I messed up his hair as much as I could but you could barely tell, "This is the only curly man I need besides at least this one let's me drive."
My dad who had been chatting with some of the neighbors raised an eyebrow at Vince and I had to hide my face in the back of his shoulder to stop the laughter. I slid off his back and he flicked me in the back of my head for getting him in trouble.
I turned around, grinning from ear to ear as I walked backwards away from him. Dom seemed to be grinning equally as big as me. I probably just told him the best news he had had all month. Ever since Sam and I started dating Dom hadn't exactly been thrilled about it but I had to admit he kept a respectable distance a majority of the time.
"So, thief, how come you and Sam broke up?"
I looked at Letty with a raised brow. "Thief? I have no idea what you're talking about."
"I'm not stupid, I know you steal my clothes," she explained, smirk in place as she folded her arms over her chest. "Now answer the question."
"He's a jerk," I shrugged. "Need I go on with my reasons?"
She laughed, nodding her head a little. "Good a reason as any."
"So, sneak in any windows lately?" I turned the tables and her eyes quickly darted over to where dad had started pulling the burgers off the grill. I couldn't help but laugh, "Oh, he doesn't know you can relax." I watched as she exhaled slowly. "At least I don't think he does." That one earned me a smack in the arm and I rubbed the assaulted area in mock hurt. "Actually, I was wondering if you'd be able to help a sister out."
"Maybe."
I glanced around to make sure no one could over hear and then I leaned closer to her, "Daddy is racing Linder next weekend."
"Okay…" Letty trailed off not seeing what that had to do with me or her for that matter.
"I want to go," I continued and she sighed deeply, "Just hear me out! I know daddy won't let me go because it's like a really big deal but I was hoping if someone put Dom in a good mood the night before he might let me sneak up into the stands."
She looked at me wearily. There were a lot of things she would do for me but sometimes she knew when not to get involved. From the look on her face I knew this was one of those times where she was considering taking a step back.
"Ellie, I don't know…"
"Please, Let," I begged, trying to keep my voice in a hushed tone so dad and that wouldn't hear. "This is a big race, I know everyone thinks so. I should be there to see it. I never really get to see him race anymore."
"Look, things might not go so great but I'm probably going to see Dom the night before the race anyway so if you want to try you can but I'm not promising there'll be any difference."
I gave her a small hug, muttering a thank you to her as I moved away. Dom raised a brow at the two of us. I figured he had guessed that I knew about him and Letty but it was clear he wasn't sure. Every time Letty and I talked quietly to each other he would watch us suspiciously. Sometimes I liked to look at him after a conversation with Letty and look like I'm trying not to laugh as I quickly look away again.
*Fast and Furious*
It was two days before daddy's big race and half the town was talking about it. The excitement was almost too much to bear and I had a hard time concentrating on anything else besides how to see him race.
"Number three isn't right," Dad placed my math homework back in front of me. I erased my answer and tried to work it out again. He must have sensed my hesitation. "Ellie, you know this. Something on your mind, pumpkin?"
I shrugged my shoulders slightly before setting the pencil down, "Do you get nervous before you race?"
"No," he shook his head. "Want to know why?" When I eagerly nodded a small smile pulled at the corner of his lips, "Because a true racer knows his car inside out. It's not about who goes the fastest it's who knows how to handle their car the best at those speeds. Remember, Ellie, it doesn't matter if you win by an inch or a mile; winning it winning."
"And you are going to win."
He picked up my discarded pencil and placed it back in my hand, "All you have to worry about is getting your homework done."
"I still say the answer is six," I mumbled.
He opened my math book and flipped to the right page, "Now look, you have to multiply before you add."
I, once again, erased what I had and started over as he picked up his crossword puzzle and filled in one of the blanks. The problem in front of me seemed to be equally as tricky as my plan to watch my dad race. I would have to figure something out soon or I wasn't going to be able to go. If this race was as big as everyone was making out then surely I had a right to be there? Maybe I could surprise him and be waiting at the finish line for him.
As I thought over my predicament the correct answer to my math problem popped out at me. I scribbled the answer into the little box and turned the book around to face dad. He set his crossword aside and took a look at it. A few seconds passed before a smile lit up his face.
I grinned in satisfaction. One problem down, one to go.
*Fast and Furious*
It was the night before the race and I didn't know how to contain my excitement. After staring at my ceiling for over an hour I decided to get a snack from the kitchen. I threw my ipod on my bedside table and walked out into the hallway and started down the stairs until I heard someone talking in the living room.
I crept down to the bottom step as I heard Dom and Vince talking in hushed voices, clearly not wanting to be heard. They couldn't see me from where I was so I got comfortable. Dad had left to do a few practice laps and Mia and Letty had gone out.
"Letty came to me," I heard Dom whisper.
"About what?"
"Ellie." There was a brief silence. I could imagine Vince staring Dom down, waiting to find out what was coming next, he could be just as protective sometimes. "Apparently, Ellie really wants to come to the race."
"Would it really be so bad?" Vince questioned. I sent up a silent prayer of thanks and good will towards him. Maybe I had a chance of going after all.
"It's not a good idea for Ellie to be there," Dom argued with a tone that suggested Vince should know better. "It's not really the best place for her. I know she has a love for cars but I don't want her around some of the guys there. Not to mention it's such a big race for dad."
"If she had been allowed to come to some of the smaller races then maybe it wouldn't be such a big deal now."
"Look, even if I did let her sneak up to the stands like we've done before there's no way we could keep her quiet," Dom said knowingly. "And Dad would know, he knows everything."
"What if I stayed with her up in the stands?" Vince offered and I had to bite my bottom lip to keep in the squeal of excitement. If I had one of them on my side it usually wasn't too long until I had the other one too.
I heard Dom let out a deep breath, "You know she'll look at me with those big brown eyes and ask me to take her." I silently nodded along. "But I need you on my side with this, V. We forget sometimes she's only seventeen."
I sighed in defeat. Dom seemed to be semi-open to the idea of my coming along but it was the side of him that was against it that would cause me trouble.
