Seven Ways to Break a Racer's Heart

Disclaimer: Bah, check the past three chapters.

Summary: Check the past three chapters for that also.

A/N: Happy Holidays. This is everybody's present.

Chapter Four: Meet the Step Cousins

Kara sat on the couch, her thumb pulsing in a rhythmic pattern on the channel button. Yes, four-hundred channels are nice for a rainy day, but it wasn't raining outside, and every time Kara stopped to watch something, it felt awkward without somebody to talk to. Finally, the sound of the garage door opening in the car bay relieved her boredom and gave her something to go do. Jess was already down there working on her own car, so it shouldn't be a problem, right?

Making her way to the door, she steadily rising voices coming up toward her. She reached for the door handle, only to find it not there. Instead, she saw her brother... with his arm wrapped around the waist of a certain friend of hers.

"Hey... Kara," Alex choked.

"Hey yourself," Kara replied snuggly, even though inside, she was throwing up. He always managed to seduce her friends, which made her wonder if she had that gene also. If I do, she told herself, it sure isn't helping me any.

"Um," Alex bit his lip, ready for his sister to burst out violently.

Kara sighed, "Where is everybody?"

"Back at the mall," Alex said timidly.

"Thanks,"

Alex relaxed and started past his sister.

"Alex?" Kara asked, trying to make her voice sound intimidating.

"Yes?" Alex peeped.

"Josh is up in his room,"

"Oh... wait, Josh is here?" Alex turned, but Kara had already gone.

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Kara smiled pleasantly as she opened the door of her car, drawing her keys noisily from her pocket, but a thought stilled her hand as she reached to put it the key in the ignition.

I can't go, her conscience told her, it might ruin Christmas.

Drawing away, she reclined her chair and relaxed. The seat was warm and she was stretched out enough to where she was tempted by sleep. It was very tempting. So tempting, in fact, that before she knew it, her consciousness had slipped away.

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"This was a great idea," Kara heard herself retort. It was another hazy memory from the past few years that was coming back in the form of a dream. "Invite the step cousins, Kara, it's the right thing to do. Come on, Alex, when have you ever done the right thing?"

Alex gave his sister a reassuring look. "The four of them are supposedly some of the best in New York. Derek recommended them himself."

"But he never gave specifics, Al... this could be a giant mistake. They've always had the money for their cars. They've never had to work a day in their life. They are uber rich kids that believe that they can race. When they get here, they are really gonna get a slap in the face, and, even though I've never met them, I'm sure they deserve it."

"Kara--"

"Gah, shuddup Al," Kara said.

There was silence for a second. "At least they're bringing their own cars,"

Kara smiled as they pulled into the parking lot of the Los Angeles Airport. If it had another name, they ignored it. This wasn't the ideal place for two teenagers, who happen to steal cars, to hang out. They had only been there twice their whole lives, avoiding it ever since the giant incident of 9/11 due to increased security.

"There they are," Alex pointed out, motioning toward the cars that idled near the loading docks. Four people leaned up against their own separate vehicle.

"Great," Kara snorted, blowing air out of her nose. "What's with the matching cars and outfits?"

Alex smothered a chuckle as they stepped out of Kara's Mustang GT. "Are you suckers trying to get shot?" he called over the wind that swept over the busy runway to the four siblings.

Kara rolled her eyes at her brother. "Are you trying to pit them against us already?"

"Why not?"

"Excuse me?" the tallest male said. He was was drastically different than his three siblings and obviously the oldest. His midnight black hair stood out among his blonde kin, but all their eyes were the same. The same cold green. All of their cars were fairly similar, also. They had the same color scheme, but with different designs, like their outfits.

Next to him stood two girls, one had white-blonde, short, spikey hair, and the other's hair was long, but layered to an extreme. The last was a guy with the same hair and outfit as the former girl. Twins.

"He doesn't know what he's talking about. The doctors think he has Turrets Syndrom, but personally, I think he's just stupid." Kara smirked. Alex shot a look at her that said 'I can't believe you' written all over it. None of the siblings cracked a smile. An uncomfortable silence fell between the two groups.

"Tough crowd," Alex muttered.

"You got that right," Kara agreed.

"Since this conversation is going nowhere fast, I might as well speed it up myself." He stepped away from the car and walked toward Kara. She finally got a good look at him. He was slim, but his jacket covered his arms and his pants were to baggy to make out if he had any definition to his body, and he was definitely taller than Kara.

"Sounds good," Kara said, offering her hand.

"Asano Thorton," he said, shaking her hand.

"Asano... isn't that Japanese?"

"Um, yeah... our parents liked foreign and exotic names. You are?"

"I'm thinking you already know my name, but I'll tell you anyway for the sake of the moment, I'm Kara Tezla."

Kara smiled. She was beginning to feel this wasn't going to be so bad.

"Come on Sano, get us out of here," nagged one of the girls.

"How about we finish introductions back at the HQ because there are plenty of others to... get to know."

Asano turned to leave.

"Oh, wait, I forgot, this is Alex, my... so-called twin." Kara said. Asano turned and looked at Alex.

"Derek told us we would be greeted by twins."

"Well, then, Derek's just spiffy then, isn't he?" Alex said in a valley-girl tone of voice.

"Just follow us back," Kara directed, pulling herself back into the Mustang. This was going to be a long month.

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Back at the mall, little did Kara know, Vert was busy. After walking around the crowded mall with the blonde, whose name had turned out to be Ashley, he decided to show her his pride and joy: Reverb. His conscience was now being seduced by sweet, cherry lips. When she finally had to go, he felt the nagging guilt return. What had he done?

Pshaw people. The four Thorton siblings will be coming in the real story later. They are some interesting people to say the least... thank you to my reviewers, Kawaii, Fenrir's Daughter, and Sabrielle. I am very greatful! Love your story Fen!

Asano (if you read Bleach, yes you will recognize this name) – Ah-sah-no