A/N - Attn: Isabelle8888 - Here is the chapter you were asking about. Brian's first appearance. It starts where the 2Fast Prologue ends. And to everyone else - Caution! I do not know anything about cars or racing cars. So please don't be upset if the following race is not correct or possible. I don't know what I'm talking about here. Just writing what I've seen or possibly heard about. At any rate, I hope you all can enjoy. Please, please read and review. Thanx.
Chapter 6: Brian Fits In
~~~~~ Miami, Florida somewhere near a beach ~~~~~
Brian pulled his Skyline to a stop on the side of the road. He watched and smiled as several girls in bikinis walked past him. Then as the girls continued on, he saw something else which made him smile. Two race cars about to turn a corner in front of him. He had just found his white rabbit to follow to the street racing world of Miami. Smiling he pulled away from the curb and followed the two racers down the street.
He followed them to a place called Tej's Garage. Out front, the parking lot was full of street cars. Apparently, this is the place. Brian thought. He parked his car on the street and got out. As he walked closer, he could hear cheers and applause coming from somewhere. He turned the corner to walk into the open garage door and stopped. Apparently, this really IS the place. As Brian walked through the garage, he saw lots of people out back on the dock. A man in cornrows with a bull horn was sitting in a lawn chair near the water.
"Come on, baby! Show 'em what you got!" The man with the bull horn yelled as two jet skiers rounded a bouie and headed back down to the finish line. "Come on, come on, come on!" One of the racers caught a lead and zoomed past crossing the finish line. "Alight! I told ya'll she could do it! Get down here and pay up! Next race is coming up! I'm taking shit for that one too." The man said into his bull horn.
"Hey, man. What's goin' on?" Brian asked a small Asian man who was under the hood of a car in the garage.
"Same thing that goes on here everyday. Racing." The man said as he wiped his hands on an oil rag. "You new here?"
"Yeah, man. You could say that." Brian said with a smile.
"The name's Jimmy Masada and that's Tej Parker. He owns the place." He said as he pointed at the man with the bull horn.
"The name's Brian O'Connor." He announced as he extended his hand.
Jimmy nodded as he shook Brian's hand. "So, Brian, where ya from and what brings you to Miami.?"
Brian tensed a moment, Just don't tell him the whole truth. I don't want to get anyone else into trouble. Then he relaxed and said, "L.A. I just thought I could use a change of scenery."
"That's cool."
"So, what do ya'll race here in Miami?" Brian asked as he pointed to the dock.
"Everything, wave runners, bikes, boards, cars. Everything. And Tej here organizes it all. Why? You race?"
"On occasion." Brian said with a sly smile.
"What would that be?"
"My car. The silver Nissan Skyline out on the street."
"You have a Nissan Skyline?" Jimmy said looking astonished.
"Yeah, man." Brian beamed.
"Yo Tej! Come here a minute!" Jimmy shouted at Tej who was talking to a pretty girl in a hot pink bikini.
Tej smiled at the girl then trotted over to Jimmy and Brian. "What up?"
"Yo, Tej. This is Brian from L.A. and you will never believe what he's drivin'." Brian extended his hand and Tej shook it. "A Nissan Skyline!" Jimmy said excitedly.
"For real?" Tej asked looking at Brian.
Smiling, Brian nodded over his shoulder. "It's out on the street."
"Ya mind?" Tej asked nodding his head in that direction.
"Not at all, man." Brian said turning to lead the way.
The three of them walked outside and over to Brian's car.
"Whoa, sweet car." Jimmy exclaimed.
"Nice car, ya race it?" Tej asked looking through the drivers window.
"Every now and then." came Brian's answer.
Tej got a huge grin on his face, looked at Brian, and asked, "Would you like to race her tonight?"
Brian smiled and said, "Sure."
"There's a race later tonight, it's a 5g buy in. You up wit dat?"
"Sure, man. Where at?"
"Jimmy'll tell ya. Be there at eleven o'clock sharp. I've got some calls to make. Catch ya later, Brian." Tej said before bounding away to the garage.
Brian looked after Tej a moment before turning back to Jimmy. Jimmy had popped the hood and was admiring the engine. "You build her yourself?"
"Yeah, took me awhile too. When I got her, she was a heap in some car lot in Texas." Brian said as he came over to stand next to the short man.
"I bet she can really fly." Jimmy said smiling.
Brian smiled back, "I guess you'll find out later tonight."
"Tonight is gonna be great!" Jimmy said as he lowered the hood to Brian's car.
~~~~~ Later that evening at a different garage ~~~~~
Tej looked around nervously. Brian, man, where are you? I promised these people a show. Tej glanced at his watch. It read "10:55 pm". Then he heard it. The low purr of a high performance engine. He looked up just as it came around the corner and pulled into view. Brian pulled the car up to the line and stopped as the crowd gathered around wondering who the new guy was. He killed the engine and stepped out of his car. Brian was wearing a black t-shirt, comfortable blue jeans, and a pair of black boots. He smoothed his shirt and ran a hand through his hair.
"'Bout time Brian. Glad you could make it." Tej said with an air of relief as he walked up to him.
"Worried, bro? You did say eleven o'clock sharp didn't you?" Smiling, Brian glanced at his watch.
Tej just shook his head. Jimmy had told Brian when, where and how the races worked. "So, you ready fo this?"
"Sure, man. What ya got?"
"I think your gonna like this." Tej smiled as he walked over to another racer. "Brian O'Connor, meet Suki Yokuro."
The Asian girl turned around when she heard Tej call her name. She was pretty. She had long brown hair with sun-streaked highlights. She was about 5'6" with a slim but shapely frame. She was wearing a hot pink strapless top that showed her midriff and a pair of black leather hip huggers. She looked tough like Letty. Brian thought smiling.
"Suki, this is Brian. He's your competition tonight."
Suki looked Brian up and down and then looked at Tej with the look that said 'get real'.
"So, Brian, you ready to race me?" Suki asked.
"Ready when you are." Brian answered.
"Then let's do this." Suki said handing Tej her money.
Brian did the same as Suki headed to her car. He was surprised when he saw her get into a hot pink Honda S2000.
"She any good?" Brian quietly asked Tej.
"She's the best. I've never seen anyone beat her, yet." Tej answered.
Brian smiled. "There's a first time for everything." was all he said as he got in his car.
Suki had pulled up on Brian's left and stopped at the line. The crowd gathered around began cheering with anticipation. Tej came up between the two cars to start the race. He looked at one then the other and put his hands in the air. Suddenly the crowd could not be heard over the roar of the engines as both Suki and Brian revved their cars.
As Tej dropped his hands they both took off. Suki taking the lead with Brian on her bumper. Brian took the inside as they turned the first corner to the left and he gained a few inches on her. Suki was still in the lead but Brian was giving her a run for her money. On the second curve, Brian anticipated Suki's reaction when she tried to cut him off by taking the inside curve. Brian quickly changed sides and turned the corner, staying right with her.
By the third and final turn Brian had actually caught up with her by half a car length. He was on her right as they came upon the last turn. Timing it perfectly, Brian took his foot off the accelerator and quickly turned the steering wheel causing the back end of his car to swing around the corner. As his car straightened, Brian slammed his foot on the accelerator.
Suki looked over and saw Brian neck and neck with her. She couldn't believe it. Someone was actually a challenge. But confident she would win she turned her head and concentration back to the race. With the end of the race in sight Suki hit her Nos button and took a lead on Brian. But Brian only held out a few more seconds before he hit his Nos button. Brian smiled as he crossed the finish line a mere six inched in front of Suki, winning the race.
The crowd cheered as Brian came to a stop followed shortly by Suki. The crowd gathered around the two cars as both drivers stepped out. Brian looked at Suki and smiled. Tej pushed his way through the crowd towards Brian. "Out of my way, people. Out of my way! Let me through!"
"Holy shit, man! I can't believe you actually beat her." Tej said as he slapped money into Brian's hand.
Brian took his money, counted out a small amount, and handed it to Tej. "For helping me out." Brian told him before heading in Suki's direction leaving Tej stunned. As he came up to her, Brian held out his hand and said, "Nice race. You were good."
Suki looked at Brian's hand and then up to his face where she saw him smiling. Finally smiling as well, Suki shook Brian's hand. "You too. You are good. Better than I expected for someone from L.A."
"Well, I'm not originally from L.A. That's just the last city I lived in."
"Well, anyway, you're good. I'm having a party at my place later if you want to stop in." Suki said as Tej walked up.
"Thanks but maybe some other time. I have to find a place to stay for the night."
"Man, you can stay at my place. I got an extra room." Tej told him. "Just until you get on your feet. And with the way you drive, I don't think you'll have a problem."
Brian laughed. "Thanks, man. I appreciate it." He said as he shook Tej's hand.