Okay, here's the second part of that last chapter. Yay.
"So what about you?"
"Me?"
"Yeah... I told you about me. Now tell me about you. You grew up in Boston, right?"
"A bit outside of Boston actually. On the Cape. My parents and me."
"What's it like there?"
Emma tore her gaze away from the race that was currently in progress.
"More rural. I didn't have any siblings, just Kyle. He was that dorky kid next door, but our parents were friends, so even though he's you know... two years older, we were almost always together."
Letty smirked. She could picture a younger Kyle in her head.
"Anyhow, my dad was a professional motocross racer, so I grew up around bikes and tracks. I learned how to ride a dirt bike when I was about three, I knew how to rebuild the top end of a bike when I was, like... eight or something. And Kyle was always around because of our parents."
"What about your mom?"
"My mom... she died when I was twelve. I can't remember the name, but she had a problem with her heart, pretty much my whole life. One day I left for school, she had one of her appointments. When I got back she wasn't there anymore."
"Wow."
"Yeah," Emma chuckled. "What I remember about her, though... she was always trying to make me be more of a girl. Undo my dad's evil work."
Letty grinned.
"How'd she do that?"
"I was enrolled in dance. Since I was about four, she was always forcing me to dress up and go to classes and recitals. When she died though... I dunno, I just stuck with it. I guess something to stay close to her by." Emma shook her head. "I haven't been to a dance class in months though. No one seems to know of a good place around here."
"I could ask around. Probably find something pretty easy."
Emma grinned.
"Oh, by all means. You know this area way better than I do."
"What kind of dance did you do?"
"Well, I started off with ballet. I transitioned into hip-hop when I got to high school, though."
"Cool. And what about your dad?"
When she did not receive an answer, Letty looked over to Emma. She was leaning against the rail, looking over the track with a small, sad smile on her face.
"He died last year. Lung cancer."
Letty looked down. How do you respond to that?
"Sorry."
"Hey, you didn't make him smoke."
"No, but that sucks."
Emma nodded.
"He had started street racing when I was in high school, as well. Sort of divided our attention, dirk bikes one day, street bikes the next, you know?"
"You seem to have picked it up okay, though."
"I guess I did. I dunno, after everything was all settled with my dad, I just... I had to get away, you know? And my dad left me everything, so I had a small fortune of bikes and money at my fingertips. When I decided I wanted to move, Kyle jumped at the chance. I still own the house up there, but Kyle's parents are keeping after it for me."
They stood for a few more moments before Emma pulled herself away from the railing, continuing her stroll. Letty followed.
"And now you're way out here."
She nodded.
"Yep."
"So, you think you're far enough away?"
Emma chuckled.
"Yeah. This is working for me."
"Good."
Eventually the pair made their way back to the Jeep, and they sat in an agreeable silence as they ate, listening to the crowd and engines from the race.
"Women's 250 will begin in five minutes."
"Hey Philips! Don't cry too hard this time, yeah?"
Jamie paused as she was passing the Jeep.
"You wish."
Letty was relieved to see Emma back to her normal self. Solemnity did not suit the younger girl.
Emma put on the top half of her gear again, before sliding on her gloves and hooking her helmet on one wrist, so she had both hands to push the bike. Letty grabbed Tye's leash, once again walking with her to the gate, where half of the other riders already were getting ready.
"Keep it up."
Emma grinned.
"Just watch me."
Letty managed to secure the same spot that she had during the first race, and she waited for the gate to drop with the rest of the crowd. Emma was the first one out this time.
"And it looks like Morgan is picking up right where she left off, as she grabs the holeshot. Philips seems to be out for redemption, however. Will she succeed?"
Letty was glad when she did not manage a come back.
"That looks like so much fun," she admitted to Emma, when they were loading her bike onto the trailer afterwards. Emma had changed out of her gear, and into a fresh tank top and denim shorts.
"It's a lot of work."
"But still. It's worth it right?"
Emma laughed, as they started strapping the bike into place.
"Totally worth it."
"Motocross is amazing. I wish I knew how to-"
Letty stopped abruptly, cutting off that sentence.
"Knew how to what?"
"You know... race," she fabricated.
"You do race."
"Not like that!" she waved to the track. "On a bike, off road. Nothing against racing on road, I love it, but it seems totally different."
"It is different," Emma assured her. Letty was almost positive that this was the first time she had ever seen the younger woman with her hair tied back. Even when she was racing, she only bunched it up under her helmet.
"Exactly."
Tye was already on the back seat of the Jeep, watching them work.
"You've never driven a bike before, have you?" Emma asked suddenly.
Letty pursed her lips for a moment before avoiding the question.
"What makes you think that?"
"Well I just remember, when I gave you a ride back that night... you said you had never been on a bike before. So I just figured-"
"Oh, right."
So much for covering it up.
"Wanna learn?"
Letty froze.
"What?"
"Do you want to learn how to ride a motorcycle? I mean, it may take a while, but who knows... maybe we can get you into an amateur race after enough practice."
"I... seriously?"
Emma nodded, with a grin.
"Yeah, what are you up to tomorrow?"
"Absolutely nothing."
"There you go. Kyle and I are heading back here early morning, with the four-wheelers. Whole day trip, trail riding. You can come with us. With this trailer, and his truck there is more than enough room for the 125."
"The 125?"
"It's the size down from this," she said, tapping the seat of her bike. "Its a better learner bike. Smaller, not as much power."
"Well... what time are you leaving?"
Emma shrugged.
"Pretty early, probably around six. You can stay over our place tonight."
Thinking it over, Letty realized she had never been to Emma's house before. She was not even sure where it was, exactly. Emma was either at a race, at the club, at the store, or over at Mia's when they hung out.
"We can pick some stuff up for me right?"
"Yeah, no problem. And I have more than enough extra riding gear back home."
Letty grinned.
"Alright then."
"Cool beans."
Letty shot her a weird look, but shook her head at the terminology.
"Are we all set here?" Letty asked. Emma packed the decent size trophy she had won in one of the duffel bags.
"We are now."
"Let's go then."
"So you'll be back tomorrow night?"
"Yeah, I'll be at the races."
Mia nodded, looking out the front door to where the dirt covered jeep was half on the sidewalk. She shook her head at the poor parking, somehow knowing that Emma did not particularly care.
"Okay. See you then, Let."
"Later chica."
Mia watched her friend jog down the steps and climb back into the Jeep, before returning Emma's wave, with a grin. She shook her head.
"She's a good kid. She's just odd," she convinced herself, shutting the door. She joined Jesse on the couch, fighting for the remote.
The sun was still shining when Emma turned up the curved, sloped driveway. Letty studied the area in interest. It was fairly close to her neighborhood, but in a more suburban part of LA. Letty hopped out of the Jeep when Emma stopped, and the pair unhitched the trailer as Tye ran into the yard, barking as he chased a butterfly.
Kyle's truck was already there, and the light in the kitchen signaled where he was.
"Oh, lookie. He already got the ATVs together!"
Letty followed Emma's gaze, and she did a double take at the garage. It had as many bikes as their shop had cars.
Which is to say a lot.
She helped Emma unload both dirt bikes and push them into the garage, setting them in their original place. Emma waved Letty over to a much smaller bike.
"This is a Yamaha TT-R125. Clearly I am a big Yamaha fan, almost all of my bikes are Yamaha. Anyhow, this is 2003, five-speed. We'll get to the bigger details tomorrow. Let's just grab some gear for you," she said, leading the shorter woman up to the loft. She took the trophy out of her bags, placing it aside so she would not leave it in the garage.
"Okay, so you're pretty much my size," Emma decided, giving her a once over. "What, an inch shorter or so?"
Letty shrugged.
"Well, whatever. Let's see..."
She handed Letty one of the several gym bags before she rummaged through the off road dresser, pulling out white and gray pants, shirt, and gloves. She handed them to Letty, who put them in the bag she had.
"Kyle teases me about it, but I'm really color specific. I like it when things match," Emma explained, as she grabbed a white and silver helmet, goggles, and black boots. Letty fit the boots and goggles into the bag, but left out the helmet.
"I believe that should do it," she nodded her head. She grabbed the trophy before heading down the loft. They left the additional bag next to the rest of the stuff ready for tomorrow, before Emma shut the garage door behind them. Letty followed her into the house, with Tye running right behind him. Kyle was moving around in the kitchen, checking the oven and a pot of water on the stove.
"Hey Kyle."
Kyle looked over in surprised at being addressed.
"Letty? What's up?"
"I invited her along for tomorrow."
Kyle nodded at Emma's statement.
"That's cool. You don't mind pasta, do you?" he asked the latino. Letty shook her head.
"Sounds great. I'm always down for food."
"Ahh, so that's why you get along so well with Em."
"Probably."
Letty watched them interact with interest. She did not see them together very often.
"So..."
"I'll give you a tour," Em offered. "Though it's kinda a small place, so that's not really necessary."
Letty smirked.
"Still."
"Well, food will be ready in about 15 minutes," Kyle informed them.
"Thanks Tiny."
He rolled his eyes.
"Well, this is Kyle's room. Don't touch anything, he gets very cranky if you do. And behind door number two... yes, it's Kyle's bathroom. Probably the second cleanest room in the house."
Letty sniggered when Kyle told her, less than politely, to shut up.
"Clearly we are now in the living room," Emma said as they left through the open doorway off the kitchen. There was a large wrap around couch in the far corner, and an equally large entertainment system against the near wall. Several posters were hung all around, sports and otherwise. Another room off to the side had a large table, a second, smaller, refrigerator, and shelves all around the room. It was more of a display area, between trophies (Emma added her newest one to the collection) and different liquor bottles. On one shelf there was even a stack of games, and Letty shook her head.
"And this concludes the upstairs."
"Cute," Letty commented dryly.
"Very. Come on."
Emma lead them back into the kitchen, and down the basement stairs, flicking on the light. Letty looked around with a smile. The room managed to say everything about Emma's personality, without being overwhelming like the girl sometimes was.
"This your dad?"
Emma nodded.
"That's him alright."
Letty looked at the collages of photographs, mostly of Emma and friends, but some of family and school.
"You played basketball?" she asked, interested.
"Yep, all five years of high school."
Letty snorted.
"Five years?"
Emma looked away.
"Yeah, I had troubles with English. And History to a lesser extent. In the end my grades were just enough for eligibility, but I had to come back for a fifth year to make up some credits."
"English? What's with all the books then?"
Emma grinned sheepishly.
"They're all the kids versions."
"Why?"
Emma cleared her throat, mumbling a reply.
"What?"
"I have severe dyslexia. Have a hard time reading and writing, since English is pretty much all reading and writing, and History too, well... self-explanatory. That's why I like bartending, it's all numbers. Mix this amount with that amount. Math, Science, and electives were the only thing I did good at. Well, except foreign languages."
She shifted with Letty's gaze on her. Realizing this, Letty looked away, looking at the titles of movies.
There was a small binding that did not fit in, and Letty took it out of the row curiously.
'Cape Town High School'
"Your diploma?" she asked, opening it. Emma lunged for the book, snapping it shut.
"Yep. We can pass on that though."
Letty raised an eyebrow.
"After that? No way in hell. Give it."
Emma took a step back, shaking her head.
"Don't make me use force."
Emma still refused, and Letty tackled the girl onto the bed, taking her by surprise. The book slipped from her grasp, and Letty grabbed it, flipping it open.
"Emmaline Rachel Morgan. Your name is Emmaline?" she asked, laughing.
Emma shoved her to the side, sitting up and folding her arms.
"My parents had a thing for... Elizabethan sounding names."
At Letty's incredulous look, Emma shrugged.
"Okay, so, my mom liked... proper titles, I guess you could say. My dad preferred biblical names, I mean... AJ stands for Adam Joseph. Seriously. Somehow they agreed on Emmaline Rachel."
"That works though. I mean, saying it all together."
Emma shrugged.
"My full name's Leticia," Letty admitted, after a moment. "Leticia Marie Ortiz. Just you know... to be fair."
"I won't tell if you won't tell."
"Deal."
"Food's ready!" Kyle's voice carried down the stairs.
"About time."
I do not know if there really is a high school called Cape Town, but it is not really important anyways. So we'll just pretend.
