Chapter 34

For that night at least, everyone forgot the looming race. It was now Thursday afternoon. The race was on Saturday. The whole crew were sitting out the back. The girls were sunbathing, and the guys wore their jeans only. They were talking about the way the Eclipse was running. "Is the NOS feed OK?" Vince asked. "Yeah, that's fine. But I feel like it pulls to the side. Like it's not running straight!" he replied. "Maybe the alignment's off centre" Leon put in. Dom saw the moment and grabbed it. "Only one way to find out!" He shouted. Brian knew where this was heading. "And that would be?" he laughed. Dom pouted his lips, and shrugged his shoulders at the same time. "For me to drive it. Everyone knows I can spot miss-alignment a mile off!" Vince, Leon, and Brian all laughed at the same time. "Is that so?" Brian asked. "It's a fact!" Dom answered. "Right guys?" he asked, raising his hands for Vince and Leon to back him up. They both laughed. "Yeah. For sure!" they tried to sound as convincing as possible, but Brian knew what they were up to. "Look, if you wanna drive the car, just say it man!" Brian knew that Dom was making lame excuses to drive it. Dom laughed. "Me! Drive it! Nah!" he sniggered. "Just wanna help ya out!" he exclaimed. Brian gave him a slap on the shoulder, then got up off the grass. "OK Dom. Can you drive my car to see if the alignment's off?" he offered Dom a way out. "Why sure! No problem". He got up to and Vince and Leon followed him, wanting to see how Dom handled it. "Dom you betta be careful. You were pissed the last time you drove it. All that power could go to your head now your sober man!" Vince poked fun at him. "Funny Vince. Real funny!" he retorted. The four guys headed round to the front of the house. "Brian could you do us a favour?" Leon asked. "Sure. What favour?" "Can we drive it too?" he slapped Brian on the arm. Brian laughed at him. "Sure Leon! Sure!"

Letty and Mia were lying on beach towels, soaking up the sun. Letty rolled onto her side and looked over at Mia. "So I take it you and Brian are getting along then. If the noises you were making last night were anything to go by." Mia sqidged up her face. "You and Dom made your fair share of noises too girl! Don't get up on me about it" The girls both laughed. "Yeah we're great!" Mia said, with the slightest of smiles. Letty sat up straight and crossed her legs, fixing the straps on her top. "Doesn't sound like it!" she said. "What's up?" Letty knew that Mia was holding something back. "Nothing. It'll be fine!" Mia said, sitting up and letting her hair fall down. She ran her hands through it several times, before pulling on one of Brian's shirts. "Mia c'mon." Letty pleaded. "I know something's wrong. You've said three words today. An' that aint like you!" she half-laughed. Mia looked at Letty and tears began falling down her cheeks. Letty moved over to her and gave her a hug. "Hey hey hey!" she comforted her. "C'mon girl. What's up with you? Is it Brian? Has he done something? Coz if he has, I'll kick his ass for it." Letty was trying hard. She felt Mia shake her head against her shoulders, and knew it wasn't Brian that had upset her. "Well what is it then?" Mia pulled away from her and wiped her eyes on the towel. "I don't know. I'm not sure!" she said, trying to get her tears under control. "What d'ya mean your not sure?" Letty asked her. Mia paused to catch her breath. "I'm four days late!" At first Letty didn't understand her, but eventually she clicked on. She widened her eyes. "Y..Y.Your..Your pregnant?" Letty stuttered. Mia just nodded her head. Letty let out a deep breath and rummaged her hands through her hair, taking in what she had just said. "Jesus. You been to the Doctor's yet? Just to make sure?" "I made an appointment yesterday. It's today"

"TODAY! Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Letty half-yelled in shock. Mia looked at her. "I wasn't going to tell anyone until I knew for sure" she answered, getting up and wrapping the towel around her waist. Letty left her towel and walked with Mia over to the table. They sat down and looked around, neither knowing what to say. "So, what? Your not happy about it?" Letty questioned her. She knew that Mia had always loved, and wanted kids, and she knew that Mia loved Brian more than anything. Mia jumped in. "I couldn't be happier Let" she replied, grinning broadly, while rubbing her stomach gently. Letty was more confused than before. "So why you so upset then?" she was determined to make some sense of it all. Mia started crying again. "It's Brian. What if something happens to him when he races Tyler? What if he crashes the car, or Tyler runs him off the road, or if Tyler tries to kill him the way he did me?" Mia was talking faster and faster the whole time. She was panicking and her face had started to go red because she wasn't breathing. Letty leaned forward and grabbed Mia's flailing arms. "Mia.Mia. Calm down Mia!" she hollered to get her attention. Mia looked back at her, and took a few deep breaths. "Look. Your getting way ahead of yourself here. I'll come with you to the Doctors and then we'll know for sure. OK?" She nodded her head. "OK. What times your appointment?" Mia looked at her watch. "In an hour and a half!" she replied, looking nervous. "That gives us plenty of time. We'll go get ready, and I'll drive us down to the clinic. Sound OK to you?" she asked, eyeing Mia seriously. "Yeah. Sure!"