A/N: So, I'm not being an ungrateful wretch this time... Maybe next time... Unless I don't update as soon as I anticipate... Meh... Whatever. I'd originally written this chapter way back when I first started the story but it didn't fit in. When I say written, I mean by hand... in the middle of the night because it needed to be on paper before I forgot and before I was capable of getting sleep... I feel cheesy giving an entire background story... On with the chapter!

Banger-Man, Driver And The Get-Go!

"Hey Jordan, d'you think I could, you know... make it as a... you know..." A twelve year-old boy asked his bother excitedly. He bounced up and down as he waited for an answer. He hadn't been that giddy since last Christmas morning.

"As a porn star? Never. You're too scrawny and you don't exactly have a-" The sixteen year-old boy answered mockingly to his younger brother. How many times that he had asked him that same old question, he didn't' know: he had stopped counting at nine times. To date, he'd already interpreted the question seventeen different, exotic answers. Hula dancer, bikini waxer, professional human being (it was his favorite so far), tattoo artist and others of the like.

"No! Not a banger-man!" The younger boy yelled at him frustrated. He never knew why he was always so timid when he asked or why he was never able to name his dream profession, "You know what I meant! I wanna be a driver!" He had said it. It never changed when he asked his older brother. Maybe the interpretations of profession changed but that was it.

"Yeah, I did know..." Jordan sighed as his laughter slowly cam to a halt. He always cracked himself up. "You probably could... As long as you don't put on more than..." He paused to look his brother over, "Ninety pounds." He concluded but quickly added "And don't forget to run daily and do about two hundred push-ups a day." when his brother was about o interject.

"What? What'd'ya mean 'push-ups'? Do they enhance driving ability or something?" He questioned his brother.

More than once, his brother had played practical jokes on him, making him do ridiculous things like the time when they sat in their parents' car waiting for them to finally get out the door. In his boredom, Squall had noticed a button that said 'Touch'. Squall, being a very curious child, asked Jordan what the button did. Jordan told him to push it. He knew that nothing would happen since the car was even started. So Squall pushed it, not realizing that nothing would happen. And sure enough, nothing did happen. Squall asked Jordan why it didn't work and Jordan said it was because he wasn't jumping up and down when he pushed it. Squall pushed the button while jumping up an down and, once again, nothing happened. Jordan said that it was because he was supposed to jump up and down on one foot. Squall did as he was told and still, nothing happened. Then Jordan said that he had confused it with another and told Squall to rub his stomach and pat hi head at the same time while pushing the button. It still didn't work. Jordan had fed him various, ridiculous scenarios and Squall continuously fell for them. When their parents had finally left the house, they got to their car seeing their son flapping his arms like a chicken with is left foot on the 'Touch' button.

"So you can run your ass off after you crash your car." Jordan replied as if it were the common thing in the world.

Squall was still confused. "That's the running... I asked about the push-ups."

Jordan continued his know-it-all facade, "So you can pull yourself out the window! Duh!" He explained. After a moment had passed, he quickly added in, "Besides, chicks dig big biceps."

"Oh... That sounds like a god reason... Unless they have cooties!" Squall said in comprehension.

"So, you coming to the game tonight?" Jordan asked, holding up two tickets, changing the subject.

"Yeah!" Squall yelled with enthusiasm.

***

I sat there quietly beside Selphie as we waited for time to pass by. Normally the drivers would be getting dressed but since I fell for Selphie's joke again, we were already dressed and ready to go.

She sat there singing some weird song or another and I sat beside her thinking about my bother. That was the last time I was ever able to ask him that question that always got on his nerves and I always found it funny. Even now I miss him.

We never had sibling rivalry fights, even though he nearly drowned me on vacation in Fisherman's Horizon...

***

The Loire family ad taken a vacation to Fisherman's Horizon one summer. Their sons were just six and ten years of age. Their eldest son was a head taller than their youngest and loved it. He also had a few extra years of school more than his brother, which he used to his advantage. That wasn't to say that his brother was stupid either. He was smart for his age; but, it didn't stop him from falling for his brother's pranks.

One fine morning, Laguna had decided to take his family snorkeling down at the beach. He had gone a couple times before but never with his wife, which was the main purpose of his expedition.

Live fish terrified his wife, Raine. She had forbidden her sons from buying fish as pets and always made him cook fish whenever she was in the mood to eat the scaly creatures. But Laguna didn't know that she would also receive nightmares from encounter.

As a joke, Laguna had slipped a slice of bread into the pocket of his trunks that he would take out while she was under water. His plan was perfect, ready to be executed. He was sure that his sons would like a good laugh so he ushered them out of their room and out the hotel.

They walked down the beach to the shack that rented out the equipment necessary. His wife wasn't too keen on it but after it was declared a family activity, there was no way she would be able to escape. It was impossible. It was family life.

Squall and Jordan were bored. Seeing fish up close and under water wasn't their idea of fun. After ten minutes of seeing their mother trying to worm her way out of seeing the fish up close, it was no longer fun. They wished they had thought of bringing a slice of bread with them but they had no time with their father breathing down their necks, urging them to move faster as they put their bathing suits on and throwing them out the hotel room door.

The water was nice and warm and the sea called them. The two boys went in, impatient for their parents to finally go snorkeling. There weren't that many fish to be seen as of yet so they decided to have a little fun by wrestling in the water.

As it was on land, Jordan had the size advantage over Squall and had pined him under water a couple times. As the time passed by, the more competitive they became.

Eventually, Squall had managed to land a punch on Jordan's right eye, a definite shiner. It was also the trigger to the next move.

Forgetting that he was fighting his brother, Jordan yelled out a string of curses (ones that his parents weren't supposed to hear) and seized his brother by his head and neck and plunged him under water without warning.

The younger Leonheart thrashed about, struggling for air. He was ready to pass out when he felt the hand on head and neck retreat. He resurfaced, gasping for air. When he opened his eyes, he saw that his brother was trying to cover up for why Squall had been submerged for so long to his mother.

It turned out that Laguna was able to persuade her into the water. She had her goggles on and the mouthpiece of the tube was in. They were ready to go.

They set out further into the ocean and decided on a spot that looked suitable for fish watching. They dove below and for a moment, there wasn't a fish to be seen... Until Laguna took out the piece of bread and gave it to Raine.

Raine held the bread, confused. Why would her husband give her a slice of bread in the ocean? It was only when she saw a about four schools of fish flock towards her did she realize that the bread attracted the fish towards her. She was incapable of swimming away fast enough. The fish were all around her, nipping at her fingers and legs. She was terrified.

Finally, her husband rescued her from the fish and brought her to shore. She wrapped herself in a blanket and locked herself in the hotel room for the remainder of the trip. She had nightmares at night about the fish and she had also forced Laguna to sleep on the couch while she slept in the bed. He was punished for the time being.

Squall and Jordan walked out of the water, laughing hysterically at their mother. They had forgotten what had happened before that for the moment just to make fun of their mother. It was a trip they would never forget.

***

We never really meant it every time we threatened each other. All those times that I would make a threat on his life, saying that I would smother him in his sleep with a pillow, I never meant it. I know for sure that every time he told me that he seize me by the neck and throw my head into mom's juicer, he never meant it either. We were just brothers who loved each other to death and expressed it by declaring threats on each other's lives. I never knew that he would die one day before I expected it to ever happen.

I was never told in great detail exactly what happened. They feared that it would scar me permanently and cost me more than the five years of therapy I already had. Either that or they feared that if I had had found out that he was stoned or drunk at the time it would cause me to think less of him.

But that's impossible. I idolized him far too much. Maybe that was it. Maybe my idolatry for him would cause me to walk down the same path. I doubt it. I never took drugs... Except for that time when my sweet tooth got the better of me at a party and cause me to devour our brownies laced with some drug or another. My mother wasn't very happy about it in the morning.

The intercom sounds in the room and some cheery voice tells us that it's to start. Great. Let's get this show on the road. But my mind wasn't focused on the race; it was focused on what I assumed was what had happened the day Jordan died and why I wasn't able to say "Goodbye" to him.

***

A young man of sixteen years old stepped onto the pavement of the then quiet street facing Esthar High School. A smile graced his face ad he chuckled over the memory of his friend's idiocy during the course of the previous night. Sure, it was no different from the night before last but h never learned: never kiss a girl who's drunk and ready to puke (Squall had heard the story many times, all occurring on different dates).

He bent down to retrieve the lost football when, out of nowhere, a speeding car swerved from around the corner and down the street, never slowing down. It was only when he had hit the teen, wiping the mirth off his face, did he realize that he had committed a serious crime. Panic stricken, the driver continues, never once slowing down, as he drives out of sight. Why should he get sentenced to two to four years of prison because of a careless teen and his own stupidity?

Perhaps the answer lay in the six-pack he had downed before hopping in the car and racing down the street, trying to escape the demons that came to life after he fled the realm of sobriety.

The teen had breathed his last breath and heart had beat its last beat. His brain had completely shut down and prepared for 'The Big Sleep' as his soul moved out of his body.

 His friends are shocked beyond belief and there is nothing that the paramedics could do because no one had thought of calling E.M.S.* sooner. The shock of seeing a once laughing friend of theirs die before their eyes and fly over the hood of the car was being burned into their minds, marking them for life.

Past flings and friends join around the teen's body to grieve over the loss of their friend. Somewhere in the back, someone has finally gotten the common sense to call an ambulance. Teachers had fled out of the school, trying to keep the crowd at bay.

***

I don't blame myself for being in detention that day, I blame that driver that took him away from me. I blame the sky for being blue, the grass for being green and the birds that chirped that morning and through out the course of the day. They were the signs that pointed to a cheerful day, one that would finish with all of us eating dinner at home. They pointed to a common everyday day... If that makes any sense.

We walk down the halls and to the garage where everyone's cars are parked. One by one the drivers climb in through the driver's side window and into to the seat behind the wheels. The ignitions turn and the engines start. Two by two, the cars leave the garage through the double garage doors.

We drive out to the track to see that the stands are crowded and the banners waving in the breeze.

None of the drivers know it but all the way at the top of the bleachers, to dozen important figures, such as organizers and sponsors, are watching us in the top box, exactly two dozen of them. No more, no less. None of my drivers except myself. My brother had applied for a summer job at the track before he died and they said that he was to serve exactly twenty-four people in the top box. He had told me this and said that one day it might be important to know or something like that.

That fateful day, the mighty smighter had smote me in a place where it hurt more: my heart.

"This is for you, Jordan." I whispered as the light turned green.

*Emergency Medical Service

A/N: Hey! Aren't y'all happy that I updated this quickly? Well, ok, it wasn't that quick but it is compared to all other updates... I think... Whatever. If you want me to write faster, write me a review that provides more than just a "Good chappie. Update soon." I know how boring those are... I used to write them! So I apologize to all authors to whom I wrote such a lame review to you. So, If you say 'Good chappie' tell me WHY. See you all in the next chapter! By the way: Random html tags are not my fault; they are the markings of incompetence.

Sabam: Well, sorry I stole your miracle buddy but then again, you want your exams… meh… Glad you like my 'Rinoa's-a-blimp' idea… it was a mean one but whatever. And yes, I know you love her character too much to do something like that… And Squall, well, keep dreaming. See you later, my friend!

DBH: Glad it's enjoyable.

Rhi-an: Good to know that it isn't hopeless… And glad I got you intrigued and hope this was relatively soon.

Kool Kaizer: Glad you don't think my story is hopeless/useless either… Hope the party was fun… Thanks for the encouragement!

Rinoa36: Glad (I think I over-used that word right now) that your opinon of my story is that 'it's awesome'… And I'm proud of those lines about Viagra… they're true!

darkcloud: Yup, school and projects suck… What can you do about it though?

Verdanii: Dude, you reviewed almost every chapter! Thanks, man! Glad you like my story!

Karla3: Glad you liked the last chapter… How does this one fare?  *anxious to know what she thinks*

omnitoad: ^.^;;

Renegade Seraph: I'd be glad to have a car. Hope you like the story!

angel-brokensorrow: Happy to have your attention! And I'm  sure that you're a good writer… I mean, I'm not that great… At least I don't think so…

Smiles all around!