The hot California sun was slowly beginning to set. Rachel shielded
her eyes from the sun, as Leon led her through the crowd. Occasionally he
stopped to point of certain cars, and to introduce her to some of the
racers. She tried to act interested in all that he was telling her about
the cars, but after awhile it was difficult.
She knew that for some people racing was a great outlet, even a way of life, but she could not for the life of her understand why people would put themselves in danger. For the adrenaline rush? For excitement? For the money? For her, she obtained satisfaction by other means, but then, everyone is different right? Who was she to judge someone for their passion? Certainly they would think she was a very boring person. Someone who enjoyed sitting at home, reading a great book, or even sitting on her back deck, enjoying the quiet.
Rachel let Leon hold her hand, as he navigated them through the crowd. She tried to keep up, but eventually, while trying to get next to him, she tripped, and almost took a nose dive. As she felt herself fall forward, but was relieved when Leon's arm snaked around her waist, and righted her. She smiled.
"Thanks a lot. That would have been embarrassing." Rachel said, straightening her herself. Leon kept his arm around her waist.
"Not a problem. I don't mind helping out a lady." He said, smiling down at her. Rachel nervously brushed a stray lock of hair from her face.
"So come on. Let's get something to drink, and then head back." He said. He pulled her through the crowd, and to a vendor.
"Alright, two Coronas, brotha." He said, pulling out some money.
"Uh, actually, I don't drink." Rachel said. Leon looked at her with a surprised look. "Yeah, see, I stopped drinking a long time ago. I can't seem to handle my alcohol very well." Rachel said. She felt herself blushing, and looked down at her boots. They were covered with a thick film of dust.
"Come on. One can't hurt ya. I will make sure you are okay. If I think you are getting too drunk, I will make sure you slow down." Leon said, winking at her. Rachel laughed. Against her better judgment, she let him get her a beer. She silently prayed, that she would be able to handle it. The last time she had drank, she remembered very little. What she eventually learned from her friend was that she had totally let her guard down, and basically acted like a fool.
Slowly, they made their way back to where his car was parked. Leon leaned against the trunk, and motioned for Rachel to do the same. Rachel slowly sipped the beer.
"So tell me about yourself. What are you all about, besides, cars?" Rachel asked, casting Leon a sideways glance. He took a sip of beer, and stared ahead.
"Well. I don't know. Cars are pretty much my life. I grew up around them. Then when I met up with Dom, and the crew, it got to be more. I work at Dom's garage, building cars, fixing cars, whatever. When I'm not fixing 'em, I'm racing 'em. When I'm not doing that, then I'm drinking and having a good time. I don't know. What do you want to know about me?" Leon asked, turning his attention to Rachel. She smiled.
"Well. What's your favorite sport? What is your favorite food? That sort of shit." Rachel said. Leon laughed. He rubbed his chin.
"Uh, basketball. Italian. And I like looking at beautiful women." Leon said, meeting her eyes.
Brown. They were a nice shade of brown, and what appeared to be green and gold flecks, Rachel thought as she stared back into his eyes.
"Okay. So basketball, Italian food, beautiful women, and fast cars." Rachel said, nodding, taking a sip of her beer.
"So now you. What do you do, Rachel? Or can I call you Rach, or Chel?"
"Well, I'm a bank manager. And I have to be honest with you right now. I don't know anything about cars.I mean nothing. I know how to fill up the gas, and take it to the dealer when a warning light goes off." Rachel said. Leon's eyebrows shot up.
"Really. A bank manager, who knows nothing about cars.that is definitely a first for me. You are not like anyone I know." Leon said. He smiled. Rachel suddenly felt a little awkward.
"Well. I would have to say you are not like anyone I know. Well, there's Marci, and her thing about these races, but then it's mostly to hook up with a guy." Rachel said.
"Alright, well, what do you do to hook up with guys?" Leon asked. Rachel laughed.
"Walk around looking bored. No really, I don't go out trying to pick up guys. It's not my thing." Rachel said. She began swirl her beer around. Without even knowing it, she had finished almost all the beer.
"So.you got a man or anything?" Rachel shook her head no.
"Nah. I prefer to be single. Leaves me open to anything that might come up." Rachel said. She couldn't believe that she was attempting to flirt. She wasn't even sure if she was doing a good job at it. She hoped he didn't think her to be a complete idiot.
"My lucky day." Leon said. He took a sip of beer, and nodded his head. Rachel smiled, and turned her head away from him to hide it. It certainly was turning out to be her lucky day. If someone would have told her that she would have met a guy today, unlike any guy that she had ever known, she would have said they were full of it. If she would have known that she would actually find herself attracted to a man that was the complete opposite of her, she would have laughed, and asked what kind of medication they were on.
Rachel looked up at the now darkened sky and said a silent thank you. She couldn't wait to let Marci know that what had started out a terrible day, was now getting better and better. To top it all off, it was still early and who knew what could happen.
Speaking of Marci, Rachel scanned the crowd, looking for some sign of her. She spotted her. Of course, in the middle of a crowd. The guy she had been with earlier was gone, and a new one had been found. She was drinking a shot of something, and moving her body in time with the music that was coming from a near by car. Rachel doubted very much that Marci would be riding home with her.
"Leon, we got ourselves a sucka." Rachel glanced up and saw a group of people approaching. Three guys, and two girls. Rachel looked over at Leon as he jumped up, and took a couple of feet in their direction.
"No fucking way. Who?" Leon asked. The bigger guy, sporting a bald head, and piercing eyes responded.
"This like shit of a guy. Thinks his 2000 civic has some power." They all stopped, and noticing Rachel, they all gave her a once over, and then turned their attention back to Leon. Rachel knew a brush off when she saw one, and side stepped past them. They all began to talk about the competitor's car, and she wasn't involved. She turned and walked away. As she passed by a garbage can, she tossed the bottle into. Then she made her way over to Marci.
Rachel didn't want to feel a little hurt that she was brushed off so easily, but then, she told herself that she shouldn't be so surprised.
"Rachel, hon, where have you been? I saw you with Leon earlier. How'd that go?" Marci asked, when Rachel stopped at her side. Rachel smiled.
"He was nice. To into the car thing." Rachel said. Marci laughed.
"Honey, they are all too into the car thing. Cars are always first." Marci said. "Come one, let's get me a drink." Marci said, grabbing her arm, and pulling her over to a beer vendor. She ordered a Corona, and Rachel surprised herself by ordering one also. Marci gave her a look. Rachel gently pushed her, and threw some bills on the counter.
"Holy shit, the Virgin Mother having a drink. This is a special occasion." Marci said, taking a large gulp. Rachel laughed.
"Shut up."
Rachel glanced over at where she had previously been with Leon. The group was still there, although they were now dispersing, and getting into several cars that were parked nearby. Rachel was surprised when she didn't see Leon.
"Why did you take off?" Rachel nearly jumped out of her skin, when Leon popped up next to her, and put his arm around her shoulder. She put her hand over her heart, and tried to catch her breath. Leon started laughing.
"That is not funny. I almost had a heart attack, you ass." Rachel said, punching him in the arm.
"Damn girl. Feisty, I like that." He turned her so that she faced him, and planted a kiss on her lips. It was a quick kiss, but nonetheless, it was sent a tingling sensation down her spine.
"Leon, don't you know better than to maul a girl you just met?" Leon lifted his head, and smiled at Marci.
"Hey, Marci, how you doing?" He asked. Leon moved his arm from around Rachel's shoulders, and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her body as close as possible to his. Rachel put her hands on his arms, and couldn't have put smile.widely.
"Not quite drunk enough, but getting close." Marci said. Marci continued to look at Leon, and then turned and walked up to the new guy. Rachel frowned, and wondered what hell that was all about.
"Come on. I want you to meet some people." Leon said, looking down at her.
"Oh yeah? Who?" Rachel asked. She couldn't help but smile up at him.
"To me, they are family." Leon said, and led her back over to the his car.
She knew that for some people racing was a great outlet, even a way of life, but she could not for the life of her understand why people would put themselves in danger. For the adrenaline rush? For excitement? For the money? For her, she obtained satisfaction by other means, but then, everyone is different right? Who was she to judge someone for their passion? Certainly they would think she was a very boring person. Someone who enjoyed sitting at home, reading a great book, or even sitting on her back deck, enjoying the quiet.
Rachel let Leon hold her hand, as he navigated them through the crowd. She tried to keep up, but eventually, while trying to get next to him, she tripped, and almost took a nose dive. As she felt herself fall forward, but was relieved when Leon's arm snaked around her waist, and righted her. She smiled.
"Thanks a lot. That would have been embarrassing." Rachel said, straightening her herself. Leon kept his arm around her waist.
"Not a problem. I don't mind helping out a lady." He said, smiling down at her. Rachel nervously brushed a stray lock of hair from her face.
"So come on. Let's get something to drink, and then head back." He said. He pulled her through the crowd, and to a vendor.
"Alright, two Coronas, brotha." He said, pulling out some money.
"Uh, actually, I don't drink." Rachel said. Leon looked at her with a surprised look. "Yeah, see, I stopped drinking a long time ago. I can't seem to handle my alcohol very well." Rachel said. She felt herself blushing, and looked down at her boots. They were covered with a thick film of dust.
"Come on. One can't hurt ya. I will make sure you are okay. If I think you are getting too drunk, I will make sure you slow down." Leon said, winking at her. Rachel laughed. Against her better judgment, she let him get her a beer. She silently prayed, that she would be able to handle it. The last time she had drank, she remembered very little. What she eventually learned from her friend was that she had totally let her guard down, and basically acted like a fool.
Slowly, they made their way back to where his car was parked. Leon leaned against the trunk, and motioned for Rachel to do the same. Rachel slowly sipped the beer.
"So tell me about yourself. What are you all about, besides, cars?" Rachel asked, casting Leon a sideways glance. He took a sip of beer, and stared ahead.
"Well. I don't know. Cars are pretty much my life. I grew up around them. Then when I met up with Dom, and the crew, it got to be more. I work at Dom's garage, building cars, fixing cars, whatever. When I'm not fixing 'em, I'm racing 'em. When I'm not doing that, then I'm drinking and having a good time. I don't know. What do you want to know about me?" Leon asked, turning his attention to Rachel. She smiled.
"Well. What's your favorite sport? What is your favorite food? That sort of shit." Rachel said. Leon laughed. He rubbed his chin.
"Uh, basketball. Italian. And I like looking at beautiful women." Leon said, meeting her eyes.
Brown. They were a nice shade of brown, and what appeared to be green and gold flecks, Rachel thought as she stared back into his eyes.
"Okay. So basketball, Italian food, beautiful women, and fast cars." Rachel said, nodding, taking a sip of her beer.
"So now you. What do you do, Rachel? Or can I call you Rach, or Chel?"
"Well, I'm a bank manager. And I have to be honest with you right now. I don't know anything about cars.I mean nothing. I know how to fill up the gas, and take it to the dealer when a warning light goes off." Rachel said. Leon's eyebrows shot up.
"Really. A bank manager, who knows nothing about cars.that is definitely a first for me. You are not like anyone I know." Leon said. He smiled. Rachel suddenly felt a little awkward.
"Well. I would have to say you are not like anyone I know. Well, there's Marci, and her thing about these races, but then it's mostly to hook up with a guy." Rachel said.
"Alright, well, what do you do to hook up with guys?" Leon asked. Rachel laughed.
"Walk around looking bored. No really, I don't go out trying to pick up guys. It's not my thing." Rachel said. She began swirl her beer around. Without even knowing it, she had finished almost all the beer.
"So.you got a man or anything?" Rachel shook her head no.
"Nah. I prefer to be single. Leaves me open to anything that might come up." Rachel said. She couldn't believe that she was attempting to flirt. She wasn't even sure if she was doing a good job at it. She hoped he didn't think her to be a complete idiot.
"My lucky day." Leon said. He took a sip of beer, and nodded his head. Rachel smiled, and turned her head away from him to hide it. It certainly was turning out to be her lucky day. If someone would have told her that she would have met a guy today, unlike any guy that she had ever known, she would have said they were full of it. If she would have known that she would actually find herself attracted to a man that was the complete opposite of her, she would have laughed, and asked what kind of medication they were on.
Rachel looked up at the now darkened sky and said a silent thank you. She couldn't wait to let Marci know that what had started out a terrible day, was now getting better and better. To top it all off, it was still early and who knew what could happen.
Speaking of Marci, Rachel scanned the crowd, looking for some sign of her. She spotted her. Of course, in the middle of a crowd. The guy she had been with earlier was gone, and a new one had been found. She was drinking a shot of something, and moving her body in time with the music that was coming from a near by car. Rachel doubted very much that Marci would be riding home with her.
"Leon, we got ourselves a sucka." Rachel glanced up and saw a group of people approaching. Three guys, and two girls. Rachel looked over at Leon as he jumped up, and took a couple of feet in their direction.
"No fucking way. Who?" Leon asked. The bigger guy, sporting a bald head, and piercing eyes responded.
"This like shit of a guy. Thinks his 2000 civic has some power." They all stopped, and noticing Rachel, they all gave her a once over, and then turned their attention back to Leon. Rachel knew a brush off when she saw one, and side stepped past them. They all began to talk about the competitor's car, and she wasn't involved. She turned and walked away. As she passed by a garbage can, she tossed the bottle into. Then she made her way over to Marci.
Rachel didn't want to feel a little hurt that she was brushed off so easily, but then, she told herself that she shouldn't be so surprised.
"Rachel, hon, where have you been? I saw you with Leon earlier. How'd that go?" Marci asked, when Rachel stopped at her side. Rachel smiled.
"He was nice. To into the car thing." Rachel said. Marci laughed.
"Honey, they are all too into the car thing. Cars are always first." Marci said. "Come one, let's get me a drink." Marci said, grabbing her arm, and pulling her over to a beer vendor. She ordered a Corona, and Rachel surprised herself by ordering one also. Marci gave her a look. Rachel gently pushed her, and threw some bills on the counter.
"Holy shit, the Virgin Mother having a drink. This is a special occasion." Marci said, taking a large gulp. Rachel laughed.
"Shut up."
Rachel glanced over at where she had previously been with Leon. The group was still there, although they were now dispersing, and getting into several cars that were parked nearby. Rachel was surprised when she didn't see Leon.
"Why did you take off?" Rachel nearly jumped out of her skin, when Leon popped up next to her, and put his arm around her shoulder. She put her hand over her heart, and tried to catch her breath. Leon started laughing.
"That is not funny. I almost had a heart attack, you ass." Rachel said, punching him in the arm.
"Damn girl. Feisty, I like that." He turned her so that she faced him, and planted a kiss on her lips. It was a quick kiss, but nonetheless, it was sent a tingling sensation down her spine.
"Leon, don't you know better than to maul a girl you just met?" Leon lifted his head, and smiled at Marci.
"Hey, Marci, how you doing?" He asked. Leon moved his arm from around Rachel's shoulders, and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her body as close as possible to his. Rachel put her hands on his arms, and couldn't have put smile.widely.
"Not quite drunk enough, but getting close." Marci said. Marci continued to look at Leon, and then turned and walked up to the new guy. Rachel frowned, and wondered what hell that was all about.
"Come on. I want you to meet some people." Leon said, looking down at her.
"Oh yeah? Who?" Rachel asked. She couldn't help but smile up at him.
"To me, they are family." Leon said, and led her back over to the his car.