Chapter 24 - I got the guy
"Who's there Nyssa?"
"Some guy named Colin. Do you know why Dom wouldn't want me to be around him?"
"Only cause he is just not a very nice man. He and Dom do some business together but he's kind of a mean jerk." Colin was the guy who got them into the trucks.
"I see. Well then I am glad I called Dom and didn't just tell the guy to get out if he didn't want to make an appointment."
"It's good that you called. Is Dom there yet?"
"Yeah, he just pulled up now."
"Ok, I'm going to give it 10 minutes then head down to finish that Evo anyway ok?"
"Sure see you soon."
Nyssa stayed in the office till Dom and the man went outside. Then she ran out to the service bays and waited for Jesse. He arrived and they worked on the car while they waited for Dom to come back in. Dom came back and called Jesse over. Nyssa took the K&N filter to clean. She watched them talk out of the corner of her eye while she used compressed air to blow the filter clean. Letty had taught her basic stuff like this so she could help out while it was busy out back but not up front. She could flush the cooling systems, do oil changes, change filters and bulbs, install neon kits, and put cars on hoists now. She was learning more every day. She noticed Dom did not look at all happy. She finished with the filter and went to reinstall it on the car where she hopped to be able to hear them talk.
She picked up a few words like heist and big and moved. She figured that the next truck was going to be a big payoff and the guy, Colin, had changed the date on them. Oh well the sooner the better as far as she was concerned because Vince had promised her that he was stopping for a long vacation after this last big job. She was sort of day dreaming about her and Vince in a warm climate with nothing to do but drive too fast, drink too much, and lie on a warm, white sandy beach all day when she realized that Dom was talking to her. She snapped out of it and admitted that she had been zoned out and missed whatever he had been saying.
Dom sighed and told her that he wanted her to go get lunch for them all. Leon and Letty had shown up while she was off in la la land. She frowned at him. She hated being used as an errand girl. She was about to tell Dom just that and he saw the belligerent look on her face and held up his hand. He told her not to even bother because she was going like it or not, Mia was expecting her. She shook her head and told him that they should go get there own damn sandwiches. Dom pointed at the door. She figured he wanted to talk to the team about whatever Colin had told him and wanted her out. She snatched up her keys and slammed out to her mustang. She hadn't bothered putting the top down on the way to the garage but she did now.
She fired up her car and backed out of the DT parking lot. She roared down the street to the house. If they were going to make her get lunch they could darn well wait while she went to see if Vince was up yet. She pulled into the driveway that was for once devoid of cars but for Vince's and her Skyline. She looked on the main floor for Vince and he wasn't around. He was down stairs, just pulling on his shirt when she opened the door to the room. She said good morning and threw herself down on the bed with a frown. Vince asked her what was wrong and she told him that Dom had made her go on a lunch run so she decided to make them wait while she went to see if he was up yet or not.
Since Dom knew that Vince normally went to pick up lunch for them when he headed down that was strange. Nyssa filled him in on the fact that Dom had gotten an unexpected visit from Colin that day and Vince swore softly. He turned to Nyssa and told her they would go get the lunch from Mia and take it to the garage together. They took Nyssa's mustang again cause it was a beautiful day and it was nice to drive around with the top down.
They stayed and chatted with Mia for awhile and then took the food back to DT. She was gone about an hour all together. When she walked back into the garage with Vince Dom gave her a dirty look.
"I thought you ran away cause you were mad at me or something. The store is only like ten minutes away from here.
"Well first I had to go see Vince, and tell him I got lunch today, then I had to visit with Mia at the store. That all takes time you know."
"Bout time you got back anyways."
Everyone started to eat but Dom pulled Vince into the office and shut the door. Dom told Vince that Colin had moved the job up a bit and it was going to be on the first night of racewars instead. Vince just nodded. That was fine with him. But he told Dom that the talk of a vacation after this big job better not have been all talk cause Vince was ready to not do this for awhile at least. Dom thought about that for a second and said Letty and Mia were after him to stop too. Dom said they all had lots of money now and they could always start doing it again if they had to. Vince said that made sense and the two guys went to join the others in lunch.
Nyssa went up front again after lunch and just stood at the counter waiting. There were people coming to pick up their cars soon so she figured she would just hang around up front till that happened. She was trying to plan how to go to Manda's. Did she get all dressed up and go or did she put everything she needed to get ready in a bag and wear sweats over there so they wouldn't suspect anything. She was also figuring she would have to stay at Janet's with Manda unless she wanted to tell at least Vince what she had been up to. Plus she didn't want to take her car over to Manda's because she was not going to be in any shape to drive herself home.
She figured she would take the Mustang over to Manda's and just leave it there over night. She would take all her stuff in her kitbag and would take night clothes and a change of clothes just in case she decided not to come home that night. She had just made her mind up about that when a very hot guy walked into the garage.
She smiled at him and asked him how she could help him. She might be totally into Vince but she figured she would have to be dead not to appreciate how good looking his guy was. He was about 6 feet tall, built like a basketball player or track star. He smiled back at her. He told her he was here for his car. She asked him what car it was. He told her a green Evo IV. She told him she knew just the one and she figured it was done, but told him to hang on a sec while she went to check it out.
She went back into the shop and the first thing she did was went over to Letty and told her to try to steal a look at the hottie in the reception area. Letty walked over to the window and looked in at him. She made the wow face and shook her hand as if to say the guy was hot. Nyssa blinked at her then went over to Jesse and asked him if the Evo was ready yet. Jesse told her it was. She got the keys and the work order from him and went back into the reception area.
She told the guy his car was ready he was just paying her and making small talk when Vince walked into the room. Nyssa was laughing at something the guy had just said and he was smiling at her. She complimented his car and he started to tell her about it. She was smiling up at him in a friendly way because he was as into his car as they were, and it was a nice car. Vince stood back in the doorway and watched them talk. He thought that punk was checking out his girl and he wasn't happy 'bout it. He walked all the way into the room and grabbed her from behind in a bear hug.
"How's it goin' babe?" Vince asked Nyssa, with a pointed look at the other man.
"Good V. Oh, Vince, this is Chad, Chad this is my um, well." She didn't know what to call Vince in her life. They had never had that discussion. She didn't want to call him her boyfriend and scare him.
"Her boyfriend." Vince finished. Well that question was answered she guessed.
"Yea, Chad was just telling me about his car, that green Evo we have out back. He's never raced it yet and wants to start." Nyssa told Vince.
"Oh ya, can the car handle it?" Chad ran down the way his car was kitted out. Vince nodded. "So you've really never raced before? With any car or just this one?"
"Never man. I have always wanted to but I just got the money to buy the car and get it ready recently. So I heard LA is the place to go."
Vince nodded. "Well, there's races tomorrow night, if you can figure out where they are then you can race." They didn't just tell anyone where races were, people had to want it bad enough to find it. Chad nodded.
"Well Nyssa, thanks for everything, and tell Jesse thanks too for me ok?"
"Sure. By the way, if you can find races tomorrow, I know for a fact there is a junior race for people who have never raced, or people who have never won before. You want to pick a race where you are not racing someone like Dominic cause you'll have your ass handed to you." Nyssa told Chad.
"Thanks for the tip, I'll do my research to find the spot."
"Good luck."
Chad collected his car and left, after talking to Jesse for a few minutes about his car. Jesse thought the car had potential but was never going to be a high class contender unless Chad put a lot more time and money into the mods.
Vince asked Nyssa what was up with the guy that they had been talking for so long. She told Vince he was just a nice guy who was new to LA and didn't know anyone so she figured he was lonely and they talked cars for awhile. Vince seemed to accept that. She looked at the clock.
"Shit, I gotta go grab my stuff and head to Manda's, she's waiting on me." They sometimes kept strange hours at the garage, getting in late and staying late and it was already 6:30. She had her stuff in the car already so she just had to drive to Manda's. She jumped into the car and headed to her cousin's house. She was so excited. She had never done anything like this before.
She pulled up into the driveway and got out of the car. She put the top up since she had taken the mustang this time to try and not get more grief from her aunt. She realized she was wearing her greasy shop clothes but it was too late to do anything about that now. She headed around the back of the house and her aunt and uncle were sitting in the back yard.
"Well Nyssa it is nice to see you driving an appropriate car this time but what in heaven's name are you wearing?"
"Oh, sorry Aunt Karen, I was running late at DT and didn't have time to change. Sometimes I do minor work on the cars and today was one of those days. I have clean clothes with me."
"Come give your uncle a hug Nyssa, it is always good to see you." Her uncle said. She loved her uncle, he was just a slightly less fun version of her father. But he was just as nice. She ran up to him and he stood up and caught her up in a hug. "You look good. This Vince character treating you well?"
"He's so sweet. He told some guy he was my boyfriend today. I didn't even have to tell him he was my boyfriend, he just volunteered. And he is always bringing me little treats and stuff. He's great." Other then the fact he hijacks trucks and street races and does some other illegal activities on the side, she though, but he is still sweet. She figured that had to count for something.
"Well that's good Nyssa. You'll have to bring him over for dinner with us and Manda some day. Manda can bring whatever guy she is seeing at the moment." John was clearly not happy with the fact his daughter changed boyfriends like some girls changed their hair color.
"It sounds good to me but I'll have to run it by Vince. Let me know when you have a day picked out and I'll ask him, OK? Daddy still wants to meet him too."
"Well I insist on meeting all of Manda's dates myself so I can't say I blame him, but I can see why this situation is different."
"Now, Uncle John, if I bring Vince here you can't give him the tenth degree or anything."
"Of course not sweetie, now run into the house, Manda has been excited about this girls night all week."
"Me too, see you guys later." Nyssa ran into the house and up to Manda's room. She opened the door and she and Manda looked at each other for a second then squealed and hugged and did a little dance around.
"I can't believe we are going to do this." Nyssa was nervous but excited. She didn't know what she thought would happen. What could happen? The club could figure her ID was fake and not let her in but that was just going to be embarrassing. She didn't think anything could come of it once she was in.
"I know, it's crazy but it's going to be fun." Manda figured it would be fine if they got in too.
The girls got ready. Manda loved Nyssa's new pants. Manda wore black lowriders and a sliver top like a bra but with fring on the bottom to just above her navel. Both girls wore black boots with huge heels. Then they both pulled on sweaters to hide their outfits from Manda's parents while they left the house. They did their hair and makeup. Nyssa and Manda both left their hair down. Both had hair to the small of her back, but one was strait and blonde while the other was almost black and curly. Then they did their makeup. They then headed out to the car. They told Manda's parents they were going to the mall then to Janet's and it could be really late before they got back. Manda's parents said that was fine.
They took Manda's car since Manda planned on Crashing at Janet's anyway. Manda drove a Mercedez convertible. Her parents were loaded. They put the top down and played the music loud the whole way to Janet's. They arrived and armed the security system of the car and walked in. Janet greeted them and then they sat down and started to drink. Nyssa was bummed there was no corona. Janet told her they didn't drink beer. She made her a tequila sunrise. *Ah tequila my old friend* Nyssa thought as she drank her drink. It was nicer to have mixed drinks then strait tequila. She told Janet about the last night she drank tequila.
"And we all thought you didn't have it in you to get crazy." Janet said.
"Well I got the guy in the end so it was worth it." Nyssa replied.
"Who's there Nyssa?"
"Some guy named Colin. Do you know why Dom wouldn't want me to be around him?"
"Only cause he is just not a very nice man. He and Dom do some business together but he's kind of a mean jerk." Colin was the guy who got them into the trucks.
"I see. Well then I am glad I called Dom and didn't just tell the guy to get out if he didn't want to make an appointment."
"It's good that you called. Is Dom there yet?"
"Yeah, he just pulled up now."
"Ok, I'm going to give it 10 minutes then head down to finish that Evo anyway ok?"
"Sure see you soon."
Nyssa stayed in the office till Dom and the man went outside. Then she ran out to the service bays and waited for Jesse. He arrived and they worked on the car while they waited for Dom to come back in. Dom came back and called Jesse over. Nyssa took the K&N filter to clean. She watched them talk out of the corner of her eye while she used compressed air to blow the filter clean. Letty had taught her basic stuff like this so she could help out while it was busy out back but not up front. She could flush the cooling systems, do oil changes, change filters and bulbs, install neon kits, and put cars on hoists now. She was learning more every day. She noticed Dom did not look at all happy. She finished with the filter and went to reinstall it on the car where she hopped to be able to hear them talk.
She picked up a few words like heist and big and moved. She figured that the next truck was going to be a big payoff and the guy, Colin, had changed the date on them. Oh well the sooner the better as far as she was concerned because Vince had promised her that he was stopping for a long vacation after this last big job. She was sort of day dreaming about her and Vince in a warm climate with nothing to do but drive too fast, drink too much, and lie on a warm, white sandy beach all day when she realized that Dom was talking to her. She snapped out of it and admitted that she had been zoned out and missed whatever he had been saying.
Dom sighed and told her that he wanted her to go get lunch for them all. Leon and Letty had shown up while she was off in la la land. She frowned at him. She hated being used as an errand girl. She was about to tell Dom just that and he saw the belligerent look on her face and held up his hand. He told her not to even bother because she was going like it or not, Mia was expecting her. She shook her head and told him that they should go get there own damn sandwiches. Dom pointed at the door. She figured he wanted to talk to the team about whatever Colin had told him and wanted her out. She snatched up her keys and slammed out to her mustang. She hadn't bothered putting the top down on the way to the garage but she did now.
She fired up her car and backed out of the DT parking lot. She roared down the street to the house. If they were going to make her get lunch they could darn well wait while she went to see if Vince was up yet. She pulled into the driveway that was for once devoid of cars but for Vince's and her Skyline. She looked on the main floor for Vince and he wasn't around. He was down stairs, just pulling on his shirt when she opened the door to the room. She said good morning and threw herself down on the bed with a frown. Vince asked her what was wrong and she told him that Dom had made her go on a lunch run so she decided to make them wait while she went to see if he was up yet or not.
Since Dom knew that Vince normally went to pick up lunch for them when he headed down that was strange. Nyssa filled him in on the fact that Dom had gotten an unexpected visit from Colin that day and Vince swore softly. He turned to Nyssa and told her they would go get the lunch from Mia and take it to the garage together. They took Nyssa's mustang again cause it was a beautiful day and it was nice to drive around with the top down.
They stayed and chatted with Mia for awhile and then took the food back to DT. She was gone about an hour all together. When she walked back into the garage with Vince Dom gave her a dirty look.
"I thought you ran away cause you were mad at me or something. The store is only like ten minutes away from here.
"Well first I had to go see Vince, and tell him I got lunch today, then I had to visit with Mia at the store. That all takes time you know."
"Bout time you got back anyways."
Everyone started to eat but Dom pulled Vince into the office and shut the door. Dom told Vince that Colin had moved the job up a bit and it was going to be on the first night of racewars instead. Vince just nodded. That was fine with him. But he told Dom that the talk of a vacation after this big job better not have been all talk cause Vince was ready to not do this for awhile at least. Dom thought about that for a second and said Letty and Mia were after him to stop too. Dom said they all had lots of money now and they could always start doing it again if they had to. Vince said that made sense and the two guys went to join the others in lunch.
Nyssa went up front again after lunch and just stood at the counter waiting. There were people coming to pick up their cars soon so she figured she would just hang around up front till that happened. She was trying to plan how to go to Manda's. Did she get all dressed up and go or did she put everything she needed to get ready in a bag and wear sweats over there so they wouldn't suspect anything. She was also figuring she would have to stay at Janet's with Manda unless she wanted to tell at least Vince what she had been up to. Plus she didn't want to take her car over to Manda's because she was not going to be in any shape to drive herself home.
She figured she would take the Mustang over to Manda's and just leave it there over night. She would take all her stuff in her kitbag and would take night clothes and a change of clothes just in case she decided not to come home that night. She had just made her mind up about that when a very hot guy walked into the garage.
She smiled at him and asked him how she could help him. She might be totally into Vince but she figured she would have to be dead not to appreciate how good looking his guy was. He was about 6 feet tall, built like a basketball player or track star. He smiled back at her. He told her he was here for his car. She asked him what car it was. He told her a green Evo IV. She told him she knew just the one and she figured it was done, but told him to hang on a sec while she went to check it out.
She went back into the shop and the first thing she did was went over to Letty and told her to try to steal a look at the hottie in the reception area. Letty walked over to the window and looked in at him. She made the wow face and shook her hand as if to say the guy was hot. Nyssa blinked at her then went over to Jesse and asked him if the Evo was ready yet. Jesse told her it was. She got the keys and the work order from him and went back into the reception area.
She told the guy his car was ready he was just paying her and making small talk when Vince walked into the room. Nyssa was laughing at something the guy had just said and he was smiling at her. She complimented his car and he started to tell her about it. She was smiling up at him in a friendly way because he was as into his car as they were, and it was a nice car. Vince stood back in the doorway and watched them talk. He thought that punk was checking out his girl and he wasn't happy 'bout it. He walked all the way into the room and grabbed her from behind in a bear hug.
"How's it goin' babe?" Vince asked Nyssa, with a pointed look at the other man.
"Good V. Oh, Vince, this is Chad, Chad this is my um, well." She didn't know what to call Vince in her life. They had never had that discussion. She didn't want to call him her boyfriend and scare him.
"Her boyfriend." Vince finished. Well that question was answered she guessed.
"Yea, Chad was just telling me about his car, that green Evo we have out back. He's never raced it yet and wants to start." Nyssa told Vince.
"Oh ya, can the car handle it?" Chad ran down the way his car was kitted out. Vince nodded. "So you've really never raced before? With any car or just this one?"
"Never man. I have always wanted to but I just got the money to buy the car and get it ready recently. So I heard LA is the place to go."
Vince nodded. "Well, there's races tomorrow night, if you can figure out where they are then you can race." They didn't just tell anyone where races were, people had to want it bad enough to find it. Chad nodded.
"Well Nyssa, thanks for everything, and tell Jesse thanks too for me ok?"
"Sure. By the way, if you can find races tomorrow, I know for a fact there is a junior race for people who have never raced, or people who have never won before. You want to pick a race where you are not racing someone like Dominic cause you'll have your ass handed to you." Nyssa told Chad.
"Thanks for the tip, I'll do my research to find the spot."
"Good luck."
Chad collected his car and left, after talking to Jesse for a few minutes about his car. Jesse thought the car had potential but was never going to be a high class contender unless Chad put a lot more time and money into the mods.
Vince asked Nyssa what was up with the guy that they had been talking for so long. She told Vince he was just a nice guy who was new to LA and didn't know anyone so she figured he was lonely and they talked cars for awhile. Vince seemed to accept that. She looked at the clock.
"Shit, I gotta go grab my stuff and head to Manda's, she's waiting on me." They sometimes kept strange hours at the garage, getting in late and staying late and it was already 6:30. She had her stuff in the car already so she just had to drive to Manda's. She jumped into the car and headed to her cousin's house. She was so excited. She had never done anything like this before.
She pulled up into the driveway and got out of the car. She put the top up since she had taken the mustang this time to try and not get more grief from her aunt. She realized she was wearing her greasy shop clothes but it was too late to do anything about that now. She headed around the back of the house and her aunt and uncle were sitting in the back yard.
"Well Nyssa it is nice to see you driving an appropriate car this time but what in heaven's name are you wearing?"
"Oh, sorry Aunt Karen, I was running late at DT and didn't have time to change. Sometimes I do minor work on the cars and today was one of those days. I have clean clothes with me."
"Come give your uncle a hug Nyssa, it is always good to see you." Her uncle said. She loved her uncle, he was just a slightly less fun version of her father. But he was just as nice. She ran up to him and he stood up and caught her up in a hug. "You look good. This Vince character treating you well?"
"He's so sweet. He told some guy he was my boyfriend today. I didn't even have to tell him he was my boyfriend, he just volunteered. And he is always bringing me little treats and stuff. He's great." Other then the fact he hijacks trucks and street races and does some other illegal activities on the side, she though, but he is still sweet. She figured that had to count for something.
"Well that's good Nyssa. You'll have to bring him over for dinner with us and Manda some day. Manda can bring whatever guy she is seeing at the moment." John was clearly not happy with the fact his daughter changed boyfriends like some girls changed their hair color.
"It sounds good to me but I'll have to run it by Vince. Let me know when you have a day picked out and I'll ask him, OK? Daddy still wants to meet him too."
"Well I insist on meeting all of Manda's dates myself so I can't say I blame him, but I can see why this situation is different."
"Now, Uncle John, if I bring Vince here you can't give him the tenth degree or anything."
"Of course not sweetie, now run into the house, Manda has been excited about this girls night all week."
"Me too, see you guys later." Nyssa ran into the house and up to Manda's room. She opened the door and she and Manda looked at each other for a second then squealed and hugged and did a little dance around.
"I can't believe we are going to do this." Nyssa was nervous but excited. She didn't know what she thought would happen. What could happen? The club could figure her ID was fake and not let her in but that was just going to be embarrassing. She didn't think anything could come of it once she was in.
"I know, it's crazy but it's going to be fun." Manda figured it would be fine if they got in too.
The girls got ready. Manda loved Nyssa's new pants. Manda wore black lowriders and a sliver top like a bra but with fring on the bottom to just above her navel. Both girls wore black boots with huge heels. Then they both pulled on sweaters to hide their outfits from Manda's parents while they left the house. They did their hair and makeup. Nyssa and Manda both left their hair down. Both had hair to the small of her back, but one was strait and blonde while the other was almost black and curly. Then they did their makeup. They then headed out to the car. They told Manda's parents they were going to the mall then to Janet's and it could be really late before they got back. Manda's parents said that was fine.
They took Manda's car since Manda planned on Crashing at Janet's anyway. Manda drove a Mercedez convertible. Her parents were loaded. They put the top down and played the music loud the whole way to Janet's. They arrived and armed the security system of the car and walked in. Janet greeted them and then they sat down and started to drink. Nyssa was bummed there was no corona. Janet told her they didn't drink beer. She made her a tequila sunrise. *Ah tequila my old friend* Nyssa thought as she drank her drink. It was nicer to have mixed drinks then strait tequila. She told Janet about the last night she drank tequila.
"And we all thought you didn't have it in you to get crazy." Janet said.
"Well I got the guy in the end so it was worth it." Nyssa replied.