Chapter 50
"Tej, you did it!" Jordan squealed happily after Tej had won the first race. She threw her arms around him excitedly. He grinned and picked her up.
"It ain't that big a deal." He laughed, amazed she was acting as though he had never raced before.
"It is seeing as how you haven't raced since the accident." Jordan said, her blue eyes looking deeply into his. He just shook his head.
"Well, we got two more to go, Baby Girl." He laughed. He didn't want to encourage her to break up with Dominic but right now she was looking really good to him. He loved her whole attitude, her huge heart, and her natural excitement about things.
"Let's do it.' She smiled, happy that he wasn't tripping on her. She shivered, even though it was almost 100 degrees outside. He looked at her, worried.
"You are still running a fever. Take these." He handed her two pills.
"What are they?" She asked, doing as she was told.
"Tylenol with codeine. It'll take care of that fever and here's my shirt." HE said, taking off the button shirt he was wearing, exposing his brown muscles in a white wife beater. Jordan self consciously checked her mouth to make sure she wasn't drooling and scolded herself guiltily.
"You gonna tell Brian?" She asked, feeling bad for Tej.
"Hell no. You're the one who has to make that call. I'm just making sure you can keep it on the dl if that is your choice. I'm cool, Baby Girl." Tej assurered her.
"You sure are." Jordan laughed. She wasn't sure how people could have feelings for two people but she was beginning to wonder if she did. She was beginning to feel confused.
"Hit that nos, Babe!" Tej yelled, letting her be a part of the race. They flew into what seemed to be a jolt of electrifying adrenaline. Jordan was sure she was an adrenalin junkie for sure. "Yeah, sweet." He nodded, as they pulled back around to go claim their second victory.
"Brian! Brian! You okay?" Dominic asked, opening the door for him. Brian's nose was bleeding and he was holding his shoulder.
"I'm fine." He grimaced, looking at his car. "Damn it. I got that fuckin 10 G race tonight and my car is fucked." He shook his head, pissed and hurting.
"You got keys to Tiff's cars." Dominic reminded him. Then his anger and relief kicked in, knowing Brian was ok. The paramedics sat him on the stretcher to give him a once over.
"Yeah. Sadly she brings more cars than us and they are all just for show." Brian said, frowning at the paramedic that touched the right shoulder.
"Brian? What the hell were you thinking, Man? Why did you race and not totally be focused? You shouldn't have went into that race if your head wasn't on straight." Dominic scolded, his typical 'racer' personality kicking back in after finding Brian to be ok.
"What?" Brian looked stunned. "I had my self straight." He objected. "Chill, Dom." He said.
"Remember when I said that your cool head is your meal ticket?" Dominic asked as Brian got off of the stretcher. Brian nodded, remembering the restaurant and how he'd been giving the address to Race Wars. "You let a female ruin your state of mind. That is what it was. Brian, you gotta be on top of your game to race here." Dominic sighed, running a hand over his head.
"Dom, I'm sorry you think I just fucked things for Team Toretto." Brian kept his walk at a fast pace. He stopped and faced Dominic. "That female your talkin about is my girl. Your best friend. She matters to me, Dom. I was gonna ask her to marry me after I won that race tonight." Brian took off walking again, not caring if Dominic cared to follow or not.
"Whoa. Brian, that is why you wanted her there tonight?" Dominic asked.
"Yeah." He sighed, looking around at the crowd. "She thought I wanted her to be there to show her off and that is why we got into it. She thinks I have a problem with her job. Hell, if I had a problem with that, I wouldn't be with her. Me and Ice are cool…He didn't even object to me asking her so I gotta be doing something right. I mean, he of all people, didn't think I loved her. Everyone just swore I loved…Mia. And I had feelings for …" Brian stopped, realizing who he was talking to. Dominic held up a hand to stop him.
"It's cool. Let's go set up the race for tomorrow, get you relaxed, go do some test runs in Tiff's car for you to get a feel, and barbeque." Dominic put his arm around him carefully.
"Sounds good. Let me call J." Brian nodded, running a hand through his hair.
"Hello." Jordan answered her phone.
"Can I ask where you're at or do I want to know?" Brian asked, sounding as though he was worried.
"I'm a racin with Tej. Moral support, Bro." Jordan smiled as Tej put mardi gras beads around her neck, making her laugh. He was so crazy and so…different.
"For ..ok, yeah, I got that." He nodded, everything falling into his thought process. It all made sense. He saw Dominic staring at him and didn't want to get him mad.
"You gonna tell him?" Jordan asked, worried and feeling 'fuzzy'. Tej's pills were kicking in.
"No, Sis, It is fine. You do your thing with them and we'll meet up at the trailers later, ok? I'll let Dom know you're ok. Have fun." Brian said, not wanting to ruin her happy mood. She sounded so happy, he thought to himself.
"So, I take it this is gonna be on the down low, right?" Jordan asked, surprised her brother would be so nice. But then, Tej was his homeboy, she thought. Tej grinned, glad Brian wasn't giving her shit today. Him and Dominic had done enough of that. Jordan hung up the phone, looking happy. "We're safe, Tej." She high fived him.
"Yeah, so I hear." He said, lining up for his last and final race. "Last one for Rome.. Too bad all my money I've won is gonna hafta go towards food when he does his 24 hour stint." Tej laughed. He put his hand on Jordan's face, moving her hair out of her face. He felt her forehead out of concern. She looked at him with her huge eyes, making him have the urge to kiss her again.
"Me too, boy. I Haven't ate since…" She tried to think of the last time she had ate.
"Umhmm. You need to eat and put some meat on those bones. Those nice bones, I mean, I'm not complainin." He grinned. Jordan playfully slapped him.
"So, can I go with you to get him?" She asked.
"At six in the morning?" He asked skeptically. She nodded with a smile. "Cool, then we take his punk ass out to breakfast." Tej laughed.
"You're on." Jordan nodded, watching an official walk up to Tej.
"There was a crash, so it'll be at least fifteen." He told Tej.
"Hey, I'm gonna go get a drink. Want one?" She asked.
"Yeah, Pepsi." He nodded. Jordan got out and started to go for the concession stand, but one of the guys from Diego's team stopped her.
"When you're ready for a real man, let me know and I'll be here." He nodded, doing a once over on Jordan.
"What do I have to do to get respect around here? Grow some balls and shave my head?" Jordan retorted back, making his friends laugh and him mad. Tej opened his door and stood up, defensive.
"I thought Roman already kicked your ass for keying Di's car. Do you need me to give you second helpings?" He asked, furious that he would talk to Jordan that way. Almost everyone at Race Wars knew not to mess with her. That word had been put out a long time ago.
"Chill, Man." He said.
"Yeah, all right." Tej nodded, giving him a look that had warning wrote all over it.
The Next Day
"Dom, I'll be back, Babe. I'm gonna go get Rome outta jail." Jordan kissed Dominic. He held up a hundred dollar bill.
"Here, feed him." Dominic yawned, making Jordan smiled. He was so tired he didn't even ask who she was going with or how she was getting there, much to her satisfaction. She limped on out, no crutches.
"Baby Girl, where is your crutches? You're limpin." Tej looked concerned.
"I'm fine. It's just a lil pain." She admitted, getting in. "Can you give me somethin stronger?" She asked, as he drove towards the jail. "I just gotta deal until after wars and then I'll be fine." She said.
"That's your decision, Babe. I don't agree. But I can't force your stubborn ass." Tej shook his head, really worried.
"Nope, you can't." Jordan agreed. Tej handed her two pills. "Are these stronger?" She asked softly.
"Yeah. Percocets, Girl. They will most def take away the pain and help with that fever that you can't seem to break." Tej nodded.
"Thanks." Jordan sighed, feeling bad for making Tej have to keep such a powerful secret. She was bound and determined not to leave race wars, though. "ROME!" She yelled, giving him a hug when he walked out.
"Hey Sweetheart," He hugged her tightly.
"You so need a shower." She laughed, backing away from his stench.
"I so need to eat. Let's go get our grub on." He laughed, rubbing his stomach.
"Yeah, I'm hungry myself." Jordan said.
"Why you limpin and where are those crutches?" He asked, staring at her.
"Tej, you need to school your boy on what you learned." Jordan said in the car and on the way to the restaurant.
"School the great Rome? Never. I do the schoolin, Missy." Roman laughed. "Hope we're planning to hit a buffet unless you brought a thick ass wad of cash." Roman laughed.
"Compliments of Dominic Toretto." Jordan held up the hundred dollar bill.
"Whateva. We won 3 G's yesterday, Girl. Save that and go shopping." Tej laughed, making her put up the money.
"Fine. I got plans for this money, anyhow." Jordan shrugged, her lack of sleep showing in her playful attitude. "I'll be back, boys. Try not to get in trouble and try to save me some food." She grinned and left for the restroom.
"She is stessin me, Bro." Tej admitted once she was gone.
"Yeah, I wonder why." Roman said. "Shit, she felt like she was running a fever and now she's limping. Is she okay?" He asked.
"She's had fever for two days now. I've been giving her Tylenol and pain pills cause she made me swear not to tell anyone." Tej said, his voice low.
"The infamous pinky swear?" Roman laughed, making Tej want to hit him.
"Ro, it's not funny." He frowned. "Then she kissed me yesterday so I know she is delirious from the fever and I'm worried and if Brian and Dom finds out I will mutilated and smashed to a pulp." Tej fretted.
"Just when we got your ass back in the racing game too." Roman shook his head, still smiling. Tej looked at him and Roman coughed, turning serious. "Ok, ok. I know. Straighten up. Here she comes. We'll finish this up later." He nodded.
"Racer chaser. Yum." A guy muttered as Jordan walked by.
"Take your ass to the buffet if?oi you're hungry. Go to the bar if you want skank. I am not on anyone's menu." Jordan turned around and said sharply. Roman and Tej looked at her in concern. The guy looked shocked.
"So, Rome, what's happening with the whole Diego thing?" Tej asked, trying not to overreact to Jordan as she sat down.
"What?" She asked. They both shook their heads as she started to eat.
"Nothing, Girl. Damn. They are rubbin off on you way too much." Roman laughed. "I like you. You're not afraid to eat around guys. Guys like that." Roman nodded, complimenting her.
"I'm flattered." Jordan yawned, laying her head on Tej's shoulder. He put his arm around her and let her drift off to sleep.
"You guys would be cute together." Roman said, grinning. "Ok, sorry. I know, I know, don't encourage you." He laughed, his mouth full. "Diego's teammate did her car. He's trying to kick her off the team so I'm thinking maybe asking Dom if she can come to DT." Roman confessed.
"She can race, I'll give you that." Tej nodded. He felt Jordan's forehead, frowning.
"Hey Ice." Brian woke up, his body sore and aching.
"Hey." Ice said, just getting out of his car and holding some roses.
"Brian, you okay?" Dominic called from out of the window of his trailer.
"You didn't tell me it hurts worse the next day, Bro." Brian grinned, shaking his head.
"Yeah, I didn't wanna discourage you when you started racing and then I just forgot." Dominic laughed. "Where's J?" He asked, coming out of the trailer.
"YOU let her go get Rome." Brian said. He looked at Ice, who was holding out the roses to him. "Aw, thanks, Ice. I guess I should get hurt more often." Brian joked.
"Shut up, smart ass. I got these for you. What you do with them is up to you." Ice shrugged.
"Thanks, Bro. I guess the good thing about the crash is that maybe Tiff will be here by tonight." Brian said.
"Don't count on it, Bri. I don't wanna get your hopes up, but they had a flight delay." Dominic said, looking grim.
"We'll see. I take the positive look in life so I'm gonna say she is gonna be here." Brian took the roses inside his trailer and plucked the petals off. He spread them over the bed and left one rose, fully petaled, on the pillow. He put the engagement ring he had bought under Tiffany's pillow and sighed. Time was passing by slowly and he used Ice's trailer to take a much needed nap.
"Wake up, Boy. Someone's here." Dominic knocked on the trailer door. Brian rubbed his face and looked at the clock. It was already six pm. Damn, he thought as he jumped up. That medicine he had taken had knocked him out.
"Who?" He asked. The guys looked at the Porsche 911 GT2 that was a metallic black cherry color. It had forest green stripes running on the side and detailed tribal art on the sides. Tiffany got out with Jesse James, owner and founder of West Coast Choppers. Brian about did a double take and his face was red. Tiffany was dressed for Race Wars today. She had on a European red leather ensemble. She had a backless halter top, more like a sports bra, that was complete red leather. The red leather pants had lace up criss cross sides that showed the skin. A piece of suede was intertwined to show off the crisscross effect. She had on high heeled red leather boots. Her hair had been completely straightened and her big hoop earrings set off the outfit perfectly. Brian thought she looked like a European supermodel.
"Hey Babe." She smiled at him. He looked at Jesse James and was livid.
"Is this your car?" Ice asked. She nodded.
"Jesse built it for me. What do you think?" She asked, smiling. Her intentions to piss off Brian was working well. She was glad she could make her plan happen.
"Hell the fuck no." Brian fumed. He was pissed in the fact that Tiffany hadn't bothered to dress like that before, that she rolled up with a guy, and the fact he had built her a car. He got in his car and took off.
"Ice, you better find a way to hold him off and get him back here." Tiffany said. Ice was already on his cell phone.
"I got it, don't worry. Where's my girl?" He asked, waiting for his contact to pick up the phone.
"She's comin." Tiffany said, starting to worry about Brian. She wondered what it was that had pushed him over the edge.
"Damn it." Brian hit the steering wheel as the cops pulled him over. He was already mad and this was like adding oil to the fire.
"License and registration, Sir." The cop said. Brian handed it to him without a word.
"What'd I do?" He asked.
"Speeding, you street racer." The cop said, writing down his information.
"Hey, that isn't fair. We're doing it legally." Brian fumed.
"Once a street rat, always a street rat. Same thing with a hood rat." The officer said. "You're looking at an expensive ticket." The cop shook his head.
A/N: Hey-This is a disclaimer of some sorts. I do not or did not invent Jesse James. I am a fan of his as well so I decided to use him so people could get a visual. IF anyone does sue me, they won't get anything cuz I'm too poor! Enjoy and review PLEASE!
