Chapter Eleven
A scowl on her face, Antoinette walked towards Hector, pushing her way through the crowd and being followed closely by everyone else. Getting closer she saw Hector talking to one of his boys and decided to iterrupt, she wasn't in the mood to stand there until he was finished. She'd be damned if she was going to wait in a line to talk to him.
"Hector! Long time no see, boy." She said from behind him. As he turned around she noticed he looked a little irritated that his conversation had been interrupted, and waited for him to say something.
"Do I know you?" He asked, not being able to place her.
"Ya know I'm hurt. You don't remember your favorite trophy girl from way back when you actually raced? Cuz from what I hear you're trying to turn legit on us." She said, pretending to look hurt, as Dom and the team showed up behind her.
"No way in hell! You can't be who I think you are."
"Hector would I do this with Letty standing right here if she wasn't my baby sister?" Dom asked before pulling her backwards and kissing her on the cheek.
"Eww Dominic! We're in public! Besides I'm still pissed at you."
"Holy shit, it is my girl! Come here and give me a hug." Laughing, she hugged him, and after pulling away gave him her puppy eyes and asked,
"Still mad I interrupted you?"
"Shit no girl, I'm glad ya did. You know you've been missed 'round here."
"Good, cuz I'd hate to hafta add you to my shit list too."
"Damn, someone's there already? Do I even wanna know who?"
"Well he never reall got off it really, but yeah you wanna know who. Johnny Tran, or as I like callin' him, Stupid Fuck."
"Oh damn, I'm guessing that he didn't recognize you either?"
"No, and he damn near got the ass beating of a lifetime. The boy should know better than to raise his hand to any girl that rolls with my team." Dom answered for her.
As she rolled her eyes, and started scanning the crowd, she was listening to her brother and Hector setting up the race for the night. After hearing the buy in price she walked over to Rome. If it was possible she was going to race tonight, she needed that adrealine rush, it'd been far too long since she'd felt that sensation.
"Hey Ro', how much cash did we bring?" She asked, trying to play innocent.
"That depends on what you want it for." He replied, seeing right through her act. He'd known her too long to fall for it.
"You know damn well what I want it for. The question is how much do we got?"
"Four grand, what's the buy in?"
"Thirty-five hundred. We still got five hundred left if I lose."
"Go for it girl. You know your only real competition is your brother. I don't see why these fools even waste their money trying to beat him."
"Either do I, but what can I say, they're stupid. Thanks Rome, you know you be rockin' them socks." She said, taking the money from him, and giving a quick hug, before heading back over to Dom and Hector. Handing her cash over, she looked at the two men, a grin plastered on her face, and said, "I'm in."
"Hell no Tiny! You ain't racing tonight. You might as well take your money back right now."
"Are you trying to die at a young age. Because lemme tell ya, you're digging yourself on deep as grave today."
"Whatever, you're not racing."
"What? Afraid I'll kick your ass?"
"No."
"Then race me, Dom."
"Fine, you're on. But when I cross that finish line before you do, I don't wanna hear shit."
"Fine, and the same goes for you. Cuz I will be the one crossing that line first." And with that she walked away, going to make her last minute checks over her car. Brian, Rome and Letty following right behind her. Popping the hood on her car, she went over everything, then moved on to checking her gauges to make sure they were working properly, never acknowledging the other three's presence. After she was finished she sat down in the driver's seat and grabbed her cd case, flipping through it and scowling at each page. She couldn't believe that Dom had tried to tell her she couldn't race. She didn't know who he thought he was, but she knew that he damn sure wasn't going to run her life no matter how hard he tried to.
As they watched her, the same thought was running through all three of their heads, and that was, 'He just doesn't know when to stop pushing her, and one of these days he's going to push her too far.' Looking at the two men, she knew by the look on their faces that niether one would go talk to her, fearing she'd take her pent up anger out on them, Letty sighed and walked over to her friend's car. Sitting on the passenger side seat, she looked at the girl she'd known since she was six years old, and saw the very familiar look gracing her features that could always be found when she was irritated.
"So girl, how pissed are you?"
"Do you really want to know?" Anni asked, sending her friend a grateful look. She was glad that she had come over and actually talked to her instead of gawking at her like the boys were doing at the moment.
"Is it at that dangerous level, where if someone pushes the wrong button or says the wrong thing you're gonna lay them out?"
"Yeah, pretty much. I mean first he pulls that shit earlier, and now this? What's his deal? He was never like this before."
"Chica if I knew I'd tell ya. But seriously girl, after he came back from Lompoc he was just... different... really protective over the whole team, like he was afraid he lose another one of us."
"Doesn't he realize he never lost me?" Anni asked, her eyes questioning. After talking for a few more minutes, they all headed towards the start line. Watching the the other cars pull up next to her she started her stereo system, and immediately 'Yeah' by Usher was blaring through her speakers. Looking at her brother's car she began to tell herself, 'You can do this. It's just like any other race. You can and you will beat him.', but somewhere in the back of her mind she knew this wasn't like any other race. She had to prove herself to her brother.
As Hector signalled them to go, she slammed on the gas and began shifting gears. In an instant Antoinette was calmed, and no longer worried about winning or proving that she was a good racer. For the few seconds this race would last, nothing else mattered except for her car, the competition, and the stretch of road in front of her. By the time had gone through all his gears, she still had one left, and she quickly shifted into it, making her car pull up in front of his. Hitting his NOS button, he'd thought he won it, until Anni's car flew past his and crossed the line mere inches ahead of his own.
Pulling her car to a stop and getting out she was met by Letty and Rome, who each threw their arms around her at the same time, turning it into a group hug.
"Hell yeah girl! It's about time someone showed him that he's not as untouchable as he thinks and that he can be beaten." Letty said, grinning from ear to ear.
"I told him I was gonna hand him his ass. And I swear if I hear him complain once I'ma slap him upside that bald head of his." Antoinette said, and you could tell that she was completely serious about it.
"Well here's you chance to see if he does." Rome said nodding in the direction Dom was coming from, Hector right next to him. Once they'd reached them she was given the money she'd won, which she handed over to Rome who stuffed it in one of his various pockets. Then looking at her as if in shock, with a voice that showed he couldn't believe what had just happened, Dom said,
"I can't believe my baby sister beat me."
"Aww Dom I promise, next time I come to the races I won't race. Besides did you really expect less from a Toretto?" She asked, smiling widely.
"No, truthfully I woulda been pretty damn disappointed if you hadn't at least tied with me. But that don't mean I expected you to beat me."
"So we gonna gonna get outta here before the cops show and celebrate my victory over you? I mean it's not everyday the King of the Streets loses, especially to a girl."
"Ha ha, they all know racing's in your blood. But yeah, we're gonna celebrate. You know where to go."
"Kay, we'll see ya there in a bit." And getting into her car, Anni and Rome drove off towards the house, only to see flashing red and blue lights in the rear view mirrors not long after. Driving off faster, they went in the opposite direction of the house to keep from being stopped by the cops. Pulling into a McDonald's drive-thru they got Rome some food and started for the house, figuring that they'd stayed clear long enough. When they got there, they saw a spot in the drive way and pulled into it.
"You ready to party Mr. Pearce?" Antoinette asked, looking over at him from the driver's seat.
"Hell yes, Ms. Toretto, but try not to get too shit faced tonight." He answered.
"I refuse to make a promise I'm not sure I can keep. Now c'mon, let's go!"
The minute they walked in the door both were handed a Corona, Anni's complete with a lime. Soon the two of them had been separated and were on opposite ends of the house. She was holding her third Corona for the night, since the party had started when Letty pulled out the shot glasses and a few bottles of tequila.
"You ready to get this party started right, girl?" She asked, sitting down at the table in the kitchen in the seat next to the other girl.
"Hella yeah! I'ma go get some of the boys real quick." The blonde said, getting up and starting for the living room. She stopped dead in her tracks when she reached the the doorway and her smile quickly fell. Across the room Roman was sitting on the couch with a girl on each side of him. While they continued to be all over him, everything seemed to stand still in her eyes. She couldn't, didn't want to, believe what she was seeing. Finally noticing Brian was watching her, she put on a fake smile and steadied herself before walking over to where he and Leon were standing. Putting an arm around each one of their shoulders, which was still a bit of a reach since she was shorter than them she said,
"Hey you two. Come do shots with me and Let. Ya know you can't leave us two girls alone with multiple bottles of tequila."
"Fuck no, can't let you two have all the fun. Besides we all know how you get when you drink tequila." Leon said.
"Violent?" She asked, trying to sound innocent, like she didn't have a clue what the answer was.
"Exactly. Do you remember the last time you drank tequila and someone pissed you off?" Brian said.
"Yes I remember. You and about twelve other guys had to keep me from beating the hell outta some girl running her mouth. But enought talking, let's go drink!" And grabbing them each by the hand, started pulling them towards the kitchen, leaving Brian to wonder why she'd looked so upset, while Rome never noticed any of them leave the room.
About an hour and three empty liqour bottles later, Vince walked into the kitchen to find Brian nearly passed out on the table, Letty and Leon both looking like they'd had too much to drink, and Anni leaning back in her chair grinning Corona in hand.
"Should I even ask?" He said shaking his head.
"You mean the empty bottles tell you absolutely nothing?" She replied before taking a drink of her beer.
"No they tell me quite a bit actually. For example you drank all the tequila and never thought to come get me."
"Aww, I'm sorry, I woulda invited you but you looked busy."
"Nah it's okay Tiny, I forgive ya. Besides i coulda ended up looking like them. Dunno if Dom's gonna wanna see them in the shape they are."
"Meh, he'll get over it... eventually. I'm gonna go dance now." And that said, she hopped out of her chair and went into the living room, never hearing Vince mumble to himself, 'She's drunk off her ass.'
As soon as she entered the room 'Right Thurr' by Chingy came one. Sqealing a little in excitement, she grabbed some random guy, went to the middle of the room and started dancing. As their bodies got closer Antoinette was too busy being oblivious to the world to notice that Rome had been neglecting his arm candy, and was now watching the two of them, a jealous look on his face. At this point Anni was right up on this guy, grinding and having a good time all the while Rome becoming more jealous and angry with each second that passed and Dom watching her closely. When Alex, which she'd found out was his name while they were dancing, started kissing her neck as she leaned her head back and giggled they'd had enough. Both reached the couple at the same time and Dominic took Alex by the collar of his shirt, literally picking him up off the ground and put him down so that he was away from Anni so that he'd have to go through Dom in order to get back to her. Rome on the other hand grabbed Antoinette by the arm and half yelled,
"What the hell are you doing?!?"
"Well damn Ro' I was dancing until you two interrupted us, that is." She answered, getting irritated.
"Bullshit Antoinette! You two were all over each other!"
"I'm shocked you even noticed! I mean you looked pretty damn busy over there with those two bimbos!" She yelled, pointing to where he'd been sitting, the two girls still sitting there as though they were waiting for him to come back. By now the music had been shut off and everyone was watching them, including Letty and Leon, who hearing yelling came to see what was going on.
"What do you care? It's not like you're my girl!" As soon as he'd said that, Antoinette opened her mouth to reply but couldn't form words and ended up opening and closing her mouth a few times before she could actually make a sound and managing to get out in a clm, somewhat quite voice,
"Fuck off, Rome." And she ran out of the house tears filling her eyes, never noticing Roman was right behind her, and half the house hot on his heels. Once she was out in the front yard she pulled the house number up on her cell and hit the send button. It rang once before Rome was right next to her once again.
"Well Anni? Why? Why do you care so damn much?" He yelled.
"I could ask you the same question Rome!" She yelled back, ignoring her phone, which she was now holding at her side. The tears she'd been holding back starting to fall.
"Just answer the fucking question! Why the hell do you care?!?"
"You really want to know Rome? Fine, I'll tell you. I think I might be in love with you. Are you happy now?" At this point the tears were streaming down her cheeks and she was starting to tremble.
"Are you serious?" Rome asked, stepping closer to her.
"Yes I'm serious. Why would I joke about something like that?" She answered, hugging herself. What happened next shocked everyone. Taking the couple of steps it took to close the distance between them, he held the sides of her face with his hands and leaned down, kissing her. At that moment it was as if everything around them had sped up and there was no sound to be made. As they pulled apart, Anni stepped back and looked at him with wide, very surprised eyes.
"That's good to know cuz I think I might love you too." Looking at him for a moment, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him into another deep kiss. As they pulled away for the second time she grinned and said,
"What? You shocked the hell outta me, it's only fair that I return the favor." As he smiled at her, until the both heard the faint noise of someone talking. "Oh shit, my phone! Ashton's gonna kill me!" And bringing the phone up to her ear she began rambling on trying to explain what had happened. Once she'd hung up after promising repeatedly that everything was okay, she and Rome started walking to the house. Going up the stairs they were stopped by Dom who looked Rome directly in the eye and said completely serious,
"You break her heart and I'll kill you."
A/N: Sorry its taken so long to get this up i'll be short in saying that my computer sucks and it died and i just figured out i could upload without having word. blonde moment So i'll keep this short in saying thanks for waiting so long... i'm gonna try and update really soon!! Later ya'll!!
Jess
