Playlist

Panic At The Disco - The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide Is Press Coverage

Oh, we're still so young and desperate for attention

Linkin Park - In The End

It starts with; one thing


Chapter 2: Remember when, that Texan jerk crashed my car.

The races.

These two words can mean different thing to three different types of people;

To the racers: Time when I can put my brand new Mazda to use to prove to everyone I'm the best.
To the girls: Time when I can dress up like a complete slut and either tease the boys or try my luck with Han Seoul-Oh.
& to people like me, Earl, Reiko and Twinkee: Time when our skills are constantly overworked and we're underpayed.

It was brimming on 9PM and I'd just pulled up in Earl's car with Reiko in the back seat working on something on my laptop. She typed furiously away at something that it had me a little worried. Turning to face her, I asked, 'what're you doing on there?'

'Someone just totally blew me up.' She said and I shot Earl a glance.

'Excuse me?'

Reiko pressed a button and huffed as she looked up at me, 'my spaceship. Someone thought it would be a good idea to blow me up while I'm on a highscore!'

Suddenly, me and Earl burst out laughing and as I was still turned in my seat, Reiko's pout and angry expression made me almost cry with hilarity. I thought she was doing something constructive and she was playing Space Invaders.

'Bet you can't beat my highscore.' Earl shot at her as he pulled into the underground carpark and found a space where Han's Skyline was parked.

I saw Han a few feet away already swamped with models and DK was nearby with Neela and Morimoto. More people were still arriving but already the atmosphere was buzzing with racers, car dealers, girls and the people who made the magic happen. The mechanics, technicians and engineers.

Reiko and Earl was still arguing when we made our way over to Han and DK.

That's when I saw something out of the corner of my eye. Parked behind Han's car was something very dear to me. Blue and orange, RX-7. My car. Or technically, Han's car but my birthday present that was soon to be given to me when I turned 19 in two months.

Completely ignoring Earl and Reiko who told me to set up, I strode towards Han and grabbing his shirt collar, pulled him roughly out of the crowd of models who instantly started cursing at me.

Shooting them a look, I turned my attention to the man in front of me who casually threw a candy into his mouth with a killer smirk.

'What's thatdoing here?'

'Don't you want to show it off?' Han asked offering me a candy I dutifully accepted to ease the clenching feeling in my stomach. I don't know if it was due to the fact my precious birthday car was out of the garage and I was nervous of it's wellbeing or the fact that Han was really close to me.

I let go of his collar and then smoothed it out enjoying the feeling of his chest under my hands. Oh gosh, two years and the crush still hasn't withered.

'Not really.' I whimpered and Han turned back to a model who was trying to gain his attention.

Rolling my eyes when Han only kissed the model instead of answering me, I walked away with my arms crossed throwing a quick hello to Neela and DK and then heading towards Earl and Reiko who had my laptop set out already on the hood of their car.

Several races were being prepared already and many cars needed assistance. Thankfully, me, Earl and Reiko were only supposed to attend to Han's or DK's friends cars.

Our services weren't required anywhere else.

And I quickly set to work as Morimoto decided to race a Mazda down the car lot. It was obvious he'd win just by the scared expression on the smaller Asian boys face.

When the pitiful race was over, I gathered his speed and told Earl any problems that occured and then showed Morimoto the footage that had been sent via mobiles to my phone.

'You see?' I asked as he only cockily smirked basking in the attention, 'you completely needed to swerve more on that turn. Or that would've been a paint job needed on your precious car.'

'Girl,' Morimoto reached out to stroke my cheek to which I stepped back with a disgusted sound, 'I won, didn't I?'

And just like that, he walked away and I made an action of snapping his neck. I saw Han further down still talking to some models but he'd spotted my little performance and smirked.

Han barely smiled but it always made me tingle when he'd laugh or smile at something I did.

Then a familiar green car pulled into the car lot and parked beside me.

Twinkee got out first but out of the passenger door. With a confused look from me, he only smiled and then said, 'Lina, I'd like to introduce you to Army brat and fellow American, Sean.'

Then a guy who looked to be a few months younger than me stepped out from the car and smiled at me politely. But that smile told me everything. He thought he knew what was happening here and he honestly had no clue.

'Sean,' holding out his hand which I shook.

'Lina.'

'So, what's a girl like you doing here? This is the big boy playground.' His texan accent didn't go unnoticed and I scoffed at his attitude.

Leaning around him I spotted Twinkee who was trying to get Earl's attention. Still on about that damn engine. 'Twink, what's this guy doing here? Tokyo racing isn't the same as American racing.'

Knuckle head Sean only smiled again, 'and how'd you know that? That accent is European.'

'British.' Earl defended from behind him and Twinkee laughed.

Then, one of DK's minions came into view, 'Neela's coming back after her test drive. She still aint happy.' I nodded once and ignoring Texan Knuckle Head, I picked up my laptop and waited for Neela to pull up.

As soon as she did, Reiko popped the hood and Earl leaned in to inspect it.

Neela, half Australian beauty stepped out with her long tanned legs and long brunette hair and put a hand on my shoulder as I pulled up a few documents.

Earl connected the chip from my laptop to the engine and I laughed as Neela shook her head with distaste.

'Hear that?'

She pointed at the engine that Earl was looking at intently, 'it's still not right for the way I drive.'

Reiko cast a look at what I motioning at on my laptop screen, 'that's because the way you drive is wrong.'

'She's right, Neel, look.' I showed her the throttle response and it was totally over the limit.

She shot me a look and then pushed Earl gently with a laugh, 'I don't need a computer to tell me about my throttle response. Okay?'

The young boy sighed dejectedly, 'fine, then we're done here.' And he walked away from the car as Neela rolled her eyes.

'Ignore him.' I said as Reiko unplugged my laptop.

'You wouldn't have the problem with a V8.' Texan Knuckle Head said as he approached Neela. Why of course, he would be interested in her. Wait until DK finds out about this.

'Boys,' Neela said a little flirtaciously and I sat down on the hood of Earl's car with my laptop in my lap as I tried to figure out what actually could be done with the half Austrailian beauties car engine problem.

I wasn't particularly listening to the conversation at hand. To be honest, Texan Knuckle Head bothered me especially when he said, 'so y'all race with these things. Cute little toys?'

'Hey!' I protested a little loudly, 'cute little toys? Don't let Earl hear you say that, he'll run you over.'

Neela giggled and Texan boy only smiled.

Neela then said, 'Sean here has joined the school.' Turning back to him she said, 'I almost didn't recognise you without your slippers on.'

'Uwabaki.' Me and Texan boy said simultaneously. I'd left the school last year. At 18, you don't need to continue education in Japan. I remembered those hideous slippers. I'd thought of a tactic back at school, get there early and pick the best pair. Worked every time.

Neela grinned and ran a hand through her hair. She liked him and I cocked my head giving her a warning look.

She noticed and quickly recovered. 'You're Neela.' Texan boy who was skating on really thin ice stated and Neela gathered herself back. She took the bonnet of the car down mumbling something about being a quick learner. She knew she couldn't talk to people like Sean. The Texan boy was exactly that. A gaijin. Like me.

'Where'd you come from?'

Neela turned around to face him and I inwardly groaned. She had no idea what that position looked like. Sean was standing way too close and I could see DK glaring at us from his spot next to the hordes of models.

'Does it really matter where I'm from?' Neela asked with a quick smile and I stood up then, placing my laptop on the car, I grabbed her hand.

'Nope, I don't think it does, does it Texan boy?'

I went to pull Neela away and saw Twinkee beside Sean. Unfortunately we were too late and DK grabbed our attention. 'Hoi.' He shouted followed by Morimoto and a few other evil minions.

'He was just leaving.' Twinkee said and I then gently ushered Neela towards her boyfriend. DK, AKA, Drift King but in my book I referred to him as FF; Flat Face.

It's not technically racist considering every other Japanese person I know has the most beautiful face but DK's looks like he's ran into a back of a bus. And then it ran over him. Twice.

Mentioning something in Japanese that even I couldn't understand, DK grabbed Neela from behind the waist and held her to him like property. I stepped away from them thinking Knuckle Head would back off but then stopped in my tracks when stupid, idiotic and literally a Knuckle Head decided to be cheeky.

'I'm sorry, I don't speak Japanese.'

Han had grabbed my hand and I turned to face him as he sat on a hood of a nearby car. I knew that look. It was the same look he had when he brought me into his loft two years ago and that same look he had when he accepted Twinkee. He was interested in the Knuckle Head.

Letting go of my hand to pop another candy in his mouth I took a spot next to him, my hand resting on his shoulder. I wasn't usually interested in FF's fights but this one was surely something to be nosey about.

FF planted a kiss on Neela's cheek and looked at Texan boy cockily, 'understand that, gaijin?'

I'd tensed up and Han had placed a hand on my lower back.

I hated that word and understandably, Neela did too as she scolded her boyfriend seriously. 'I hate that fuckin' word.' I cursed under my breath and Han only glanced at me. 'They was just talking DK.' I said but FF didn't even look my way. Sean only agreed with me however Neela knew her boyfriend well enough to know he wouldn't give in so easily.

'This isn't your scene.' She said and I glanced at Twinkee. 'Get him out,' I mouthed to him and Twinkee only shrugged helplessly. 'Han, we gotta get rid of the Texan jerk.'

'Let it play out, Lina.' He said in that monotone voice of his that had me reeling with frustration. 'That word you called me,' Sean the stupid Texan idiot continued, 'gaijin or whatever. What does it mean?'

DK nodded and looked up at the slightly taller boy with a glare but that cocky smirk on his face many people just wanted to slap right off said, 'it means turn around. Keep walking.'

'Twinkee, get him outta here.' I mouthed to the teenager and was furiously making hand gestures to which Han eventually reached up taking both of my wrists and pinning them to his lap. I frowned but raised my head towards Twinkee when I heard him speak. 'That's exactly what we're gonna do.'

I made my way to go with them cornered Sean who didn't look the slightest bit worried about Twinkee had just said, 'look man he's Yakuza.'

'Sean, don't start anything.' I attempted but Sean only turned back around leaving me and Twink completely clueless as to what his motive was with starting on someone as important as FF over there.

'See, that's kinda funny. She can talk to whoever she wants.'

And then DK got up in Sean's face and I could see where this was going. Morimoto was holding a wrench and the other evil minions of Flat Face Takashi was ready for the fight if there need be one.

'Know who I am, boy?'

Sean seemed to consider this and I ran a hand through my hair exasperated at this whole situation. I knew I should've stayed at the loft, wait for the party to begin, escape into my bunk and then stay there until morning.

However, what I heard next made me burst out laughing causing DK to glare at me and Han to shoot me a look that said, 'shut up or I'll drag you outside.'

Sean, the Texan jerk had made a comment about DK being the Justin Timberlake of Japan and I'd lost it. Stifling my laugher in my sleeve, I coughed it out. Knuckle Head made a funny. Cute.

Neela was pushing DK away while she said, 'leave it,' in Japanese as I took one arm of Seans and Twink took another as we began to drag him away. 'Damn man, you know yakuza?' Twink began.

'The Mafia, Texan boy.' I said but Sean didn't even look phased. It seemed he was a naughty boy back in America but here, he couldn't just mess with whoever he felt like it and I left Twink to apologize to DK and escort Sean out the car park as I headed back to Han. 'Can we go now please? I thought this was the races not wrestling.'

Han nodded and stood up, offering me a candy as he chewed on one himself. 'Come on D. Time to race.'

Everyone was walking away with Han's hand on my lower back I followed DK and Neela towards his car where DK was about to race when we all heard it.

'Good luck Timberlake.' In that annoying accent of that Knuckle Head I was about to go back and throw him out myself, causing trouble around here. But Han held me back with a blank look on his face but wonder in his eyes as we all watched Takashi get in Sean's face again.

'You're the one that's lucky.' Flat Face said, 'because I'm about to race.'

'Then let's race.' Sean offered and I stood there and literally face palmed myself.

'What's he thinking?' I asked nobody in particular but Neela turned towards me with a helpless expression on her face too. But Han looked more than impressed with the boy's stamina and courage to keep up an argument with DK.

'With what?' DK asked and Sean looked a little clueless, 'it's easy to be cocky when you got no ride.'

I heard a jingle of keys from beside me and looked down to see Han going through his pockets. No way. No frickin' way was Han going to give away his beautiful Skyline car for this muppet who can't even race.

'Take mine.' Han said and tossed the keys that Sean caught with ease. Then I saw the blue and orange keyring and almost fell on my knees in the middle of the carpark.


'No way.' I told Han as everyone was bustling to get the best standview point of the race that was about to happen. But if I had to stand in front of every corner and risk getting run over by a speeding vehicle, I'd do it.

That RX-7 was mine! Mine! And I hadn't even driven it yet! And now some stupid cowboy was going to completely mess it up!

'Come on, Lina. Live it a little. I wanna see what the kid's got.' We were walking towards his car where a route was being made where the race would happen. I grabbed his forearm and stopped him with a pleading look.

'I'm living. I'm breathing, walking, talking and living! Please, not my car.'

Han then stepped towards me and resting his forehead on mine, he looked so deep in my eyes that I thought I would collapse. 'Lina, trust me.'

Placing a peck on my forehead, Han walked away from me and I was dragged away by Twinkee with that same mesmerised look on my face. Han kissed me. Han kissed me. Han kiss-

'The kid doesn't know how to drift.' Twinkee said with a pained expression on his face.

The shock came and went and was immediately replaced by delusion. I laughed out loud and fell on my knees only for Twinkee and Reiko to quickly pull me back up.

'Of course he doesn't! He's taking my brand new car and he doesn't even-' I trailed off and breathed deeply. This wasn't happening. If only I wasn't too overwhelmed with Han kissing me, okay on the forehead but it was still a kiss I would be slapping the shit out of Texan boy and driving my brand new car home.

'Did you tell him how important that car is to me? To Han? Twink, Han built that car from nothing!' I was being bundled towards where Han was sat with Neela and Morimoto and Earl.

Twinkee was nodding, 'I told him not to wreck it.'

I glared at Han when we got to him and decided against sitting next to him and instead stood beside Earl and Twinkee, my hands on my heart as I watched my beautiful baby and DK's car stop next to one another.

This was it. If this kid can drive, please, I prayed to every single God out there that he has the common sense to not wreck the car.

A cute guy stepped in the middle between the two cars and spoke in Japanese. Turning to one girl who said, 'ready,' I clenched Twinkee's arm in my grip and dared him to pull away.

The guy then pointed to another girl who said, 'set.' And I whimpered as I grabbed Earl's arm in my vice like grip and he flinched, 'Ouch.' Shooting him a death glare I turned back to the man who then shouted, 'go.'

And my breath stopped. Sean pulled away quicker than DK but speed wasn't the issue here. It was obvious he was used to straight line racing as he only accelerated and I could see where this was going as if I'd already seen it played in my head.

That's why as Sean hit the first corner, he panicked and couldn't turn quick enough. My beautiful car, the car that Han had made literally from the ground up smacked harshly into the pillar and there was a huge dent left in it's wake.

As the crowd went wild with gasps and a few cheers, I went completely still. I stepped forward to get a better look at my car as Sean only drove on. Then I was ushered towards the elavators.

Han was sat still chewing on his candy but I didn't even spare him a glance. This had really hurt me and I couldn't bare to look at him right now.

Twink held my hand as we went into the elevator and while he was temporarily distracted with the models, I felt like crying. If it endured anymore damage there's no way we can rebuild it back as new again by my birthday.

As we all gathered on the carpark roof, we waited in anticipation. I wasn't in the least bit shocked when DK came up first and as pure usual, his evil minions spurred the crowd into a full on celebration victory dance for him.

I was stood behind Twinkee as Han sat on the hood of a car beside me, I was hiding my eyes behind Twinkee's shirt and he only told me things like, 'don't worry.'

And then I saw it.

The piece of shit Texan asshole has crashed my car almost beyond repair as it jittered and jumped up the ramp, catching the paint job as he did and I went limp.

Han caught me before I could fully fall down but I roughly pulled away from him.

His face wasn't stoic but it looked almost sad. I narrowed my eyes at him and knew they were filling with tears I wouldn't dare shed in front of him.

'Thanks for the lovely birthday present, Han.'

And then I stalked away from him, away from Sean whose attempts at saying sorry was only met with my back and a middle finger across my shoulder and back towards Earl's car waiting to go back to the loft.

This was surely the worst day ever.


~ Ello Harley