Chapter 30 - RUN!
"I am my own 'problem' but there is no problem because I'm fine and I can drive however I want." She said while looking at Vince, not even turning around to look at Dom. If he could see her face he would see the faces she was making at Vince to make fun of Dom. Dom had a fair idea just by watching Vince and Leon try not to laugh.
"Come here Torrie." He took her hand and took her over to a quiet spot. "I don't want you to do anything like that again ok? It was stupid. I don't want you to get hurt."
"Well then don't yell at me for taking 10 minutes too long to get dressed. I was pissed at you for yelling at me over that in front of everyone."
"You used NOS on the freeway because you were mad that Letty saw me yell at you over being late? Why? She knows we have disagreements Torrie; she has to know we are not perfect. I was too far from it with her for her to ever believe that you and I have a fairytale romance."
Torrie was mad that he figured out this was about Letty. "It's not just that, it's the fact that you got so mad at me over such a little thing. I mean do I have to take off on you after the races again? I didn't really do anything but yet I still get yelled at."
"If you ever take off on me like that again I will spank you. I don't care how old you are. I'm sorry I yelled."
Torrie could tell he meant it. He really was sorry. She decided to forgive him. "Fine Dom I believe you are sorry but why don't you just try not to yell at me unless it's for something serious."
"OK. Agreed. WHAT WERE YOU THINKING DRIVING LIKE THAT ON THE FREEWAY?"
She laughed. "Ok that was stupid. I deserve that yell and I will never do anything so dumb again."
Dom hugged her to him. "Good I don't want to lose you."
They rejoined the rest of the team and found out that the races were all organized. Torrie was against Letty in her first race. Torrie won. But not by much, considering that Torrie's car had the Japanese engine and Letty's did not. Dom raced against three guys and won by a lot. His car was very fast after Jesse's modes. Brian raced and lost just barely to a Tran. But he was rusty. Leon raced and won and so did Vince. The team did well. Then Leon yelled into the walkie talkie.
"Cops! Cops! Cops! We got Cops coming." Everyone scrambled for cars and took off. Torrie took off right after Dom but they quickly had cops on their tails. Torrie called him on his cell. She never had to dodge cops before. She had always gotten away before they chased her. Now however there were two cruisers after them. She had no idea what to do, how to lose them other then try to dodge in and out of cars faster then they could.
"Dominic what do I do? They are right on us!"
"Just follow me baby, I'll get us out of here."
"OK Dom but I'm scared. What if they catch me?"
"Then you get a ticket and maybe taken downtown. They can't put you in jail for street racing baby. It is just a misdemeanour. Follow me."
"Ok Dom."
Dom zigged and zagged and Torrie stuck to him like glue. They were slowly losing the cops now that they had hit the freeway. The way looked clear in front of them for a long stretch. Dom decided they had to use NOS to get a good lead on the cops. He called Torrie back on her cell.
"We gotta use NOS to get a better lead on them so we can hit an off ramp while they can't see us. Pull out into the outside lane and come up beside me. Hit your NOS when I do then when we are a good 600 yards ahead of them fall back behind me but keep up. Watch me close though cause I will be looking for the first off ramp to take while they can't see us ok?"
"Ok Dom, I'll do my best. I love you."
"I love you too baby. Go now."
She whipped out into the fast lane and then pulled up beside him. She saw him go for his NOS. They hit the NOS at the same time and both cars flew ahead at blinding speeds. They left the police eating their dust and got well ahead of them around a slight curve and the cops could not longer see them. She got back behind Dom and they saw an off ramp. They slowed down and shot down the ramp. They pulled into a small side street and cut the engines and lights. They waited for the cops to go past on the freeway and then they headed for home. When they got home Torrie was still so shaken she could not get out of her car. She just started to shake in the front seat. Dom came over and helped her out of her car. He hugged her to him.
"See we got home ok girl. We're fine. You did great. I'm proud of you. You never had to outrun the cops like that before have you?"
"N.No I never had to. I was so scared. I thought we were going to get separated then one of us was going to get caught."
"We're fine though baby. Besides it is all part of the game. Now let's go inside in case they come around here to ask questions. We've been having a party all night and don't know what they're talking about if they come ok?"
"Ok Dom."
They headed into the house and were happy to see everyone made it home safe.
"Yo Dom." Leon started. "There were too many cops there man. They got Edwin and he's ."
Dom cut him off not wanting Torrie to know what had happened to her friend after telling her that she would only get a ticket. "He got a big fine right?" Dom laughed.
"Ya Dawg, how'd ya guess?" Leon got it right away when he saw how scared Torrie was. "You guys have a hard time shaking them?"
"Had to use NOS on the freeway and then hit an off ramp hard. You guys all ok?"
A chorus of yes's was heard. Most of them never even had to shake cops off like Torrie and Dom. The slow ass people mostly got caught but the cops were always jonesing for Dom. Sure enough the cops showed up 20 minutes after Torrie and Dom got home. Letty was playing a video game. Vince was playing his guitar. Leon was watching Letty and yelling encouragement at her. Brian and Mia were dancing as were Jesse and some cute little girl that came to the party. Dom was sitting in a chair with Torrie curled up in his lap, her head on his shoulder her arms around him taking it easy. She was still upset about what happened.
Dom was thinking about him and Torrie. She really did not belong in their world if running from the cops was this traumatizing for her. Look at Letty. Lying on the floor playing a video game like nothing happened. Giving the guys a hard time and taking one from them as good as she gave. She fit in. Dom didn't love her anymore like he use to but she was one of them. Of course Letty had been racing since he bought her her first car when she was 17, a sweet little spyder. But she had outgrown it and had helped him build the Nissan when she was almost 19. Two girls, so much alike yet so different. He loved Torrie but he wondered if she was ever going to fit in. He would watch how she handled herself with the cops. He wouldn't be able to let her live with them anymore if he thought she was going to be a liability to the team. If he thought she was going to end up giving them away in the future he would have to send her away. Love her or not the team had to come first. With these thoughts out of the way he looked up from Torrie's down turned face and looked at his house. It was utter chaos but that's how it always was after races.
There were girls and guys dancing everywhere and the yard and street looked like an import car dealership threw up on it. When the bell rang Dom had a fair idea who it was and asked Brian to get it. He figured if a cop told the cops they had been in all night they would believe it.
"Ok Dom, I'll get it." He opened the door. "Evening guys. How can we help you?"
"Hello Officer O'Connor. We came because there was a large illegal street race tonight and we chased a red car that looked an awful lot like Torreto and a blue car that looked an awful lot like the one parked behind him in the driveway now."
"Sorry guys but we've had people over since early evening so we haven't left the house."
"You sure about that O'Connor? It seems to me that a blonde guy driving an orange Supra outran the police too."
"I'm sure that we were home all night guys. Hope you catch those darn street racers. We are all legit here. Just cause we run a garage and drive imports doesn't mean we street race. We gave it up."
"Well then in that case can we speak to the owner of the blue car parked behind Torreto?"
"Sure, if she's awake, she's not feeling good."
"Well she better wake up and come speak to us."
"Just a minute." Brian leaned back and shouted into the living room. "Hey Torrie, girl, these officers want to talk to you about your car."
Torrie looked at Dom with wide eyes. "What do I do?"
"Tell them the truth, you were home entertaining our guests all night baby."
Torrie walked to the door where the two officers were.
"I understand you want to ask me about my car? Is something wrong with it? Did anything happen to it?"
"Yes Miss, we need to speak to you. No your car is fine. You have not moved the car since when exactly?"
"Oh since this afternoon sometime when I went shopping. I needed a new outfit for the party tonight as you can see." Torrie didn't go valley girl all the way but she figured a bit of stupid surfer couldn't go wrong. After all some cops remembered her from her youthful indiscretion and would call her out on her street impression.
"You sure about that miss?"
"Very sure officer. I went to the mall and bought my outfit and then came home and we ate supper and I got ready. Then people came over. That's about the whole night sir, we never left all night."
"Maybe you'd like to explain why all the cars feel so warm?"
"Cause we live in California and it is hot here? I don't really know why they would feel warm at all officers. Do you have an idea why?"
The cop that had not been talking spoke up now, seeing the girl was not going to give away anything. Her green eyes were very intelligent and he knew damn well the little girl lost act was just that, an act. He did not see how he could prove it however.
"Well then sorry to have bothered you miss, have a good evening."
"You too officers, be safe and have a great night!" The cops obviously did not believe her but they let it go considering it was the two of them against a house full of people who would all swear they never left the house all evening. They walked away muttering about how driving imports with thousands of dollars of performance parts should be enough to haul them all downtown but unfortunately was not. Torrie walked back into the living room.
"Dom, can we go to bed now? I'm tired."
"Of course baby, I could go to bed now too. You did good with the cops."
"Good, that night took a lot out of me. I never thought of what would happen if I got caught. Or if you or one of the guys got caught and it was a big reality check you know? I mean up till now racing was all fun and games. The cop incident really brought home just how real it is."
"Well I have never gotten caught for it yet and I've been doing it a lot of years. It is part of the game Torrie but I remember the night it dawned on me how serious parts of racing are and it does come as a bit of a shock doesn't it?"
"Yes it sure did."
Dom told everyone they were turning in and carried Torrie to bed piggyback style. They went to sleep. Torrie had nightmares that night. They centered not on her mothers accident but on what would happen to her if Dom was ever caught racing and taken from her. Dom woke her and asked her if it was just a recurrence of her same old dream. She told him yes cause she didn't want him to think she couldn't handle the stress of running from the cops. She could she would just have to adjust to the life. It was not like the cops showed up to every night. Sometimes they got in 6 races and no cops ever came. Sometimes they got in one and cops came. She would just have to learn to handle herself.
"I am my own 'problem' but there is no problem because I'm fine and I can drive however I want." She said while looking at Vince, not even turning around to look at Dom. If he could see her face he would see the faces she was making at Vince to make fun of Dom. Dom had a fair idea just by watching Vince and Leon try not to laugh.
"Come here Torrie." He took her hand and took her over to a quiet spot. "I don't want you to do anything like that again ok? It was stupid. I don't want you to get hurt."
"Well then don't yell at me for taking 10 minutes too long to get dressed. I was pissed at you for yelling at me over that in front of everyone."
"You used NOS on the freeway because you were mad that Letty saw me yell at you over being late? Why? She knows we have disagreements Torrie; she has to know we are not perfect. I was too far from it with her for her to ever believe that you and I have a fairytale romance."
Torrie was mad that he figured out this was about Letty. "It's not just that, it's the fact that you got so mad at me over such a little thing. I mean do I have to take off on you after the races again? I didn't really do anything but yet I still get yelled at."
"If you ever take off on me like that again I will spank you. I don't care how old you are. I'm sorry I yelled."
Torrie could tell he meant it. He really was sorry. She decided to forgive him. "Fine Dom I believe you are sorry but why don't you just try not to yell at me unless it's for something serious."
"OK. Agreed. WHAT WERE YOU THINKING DRIVING LIKE THAT ON THE FREEWAY?"
She laughed. "Ok that was stupid. I deserve that yell and I will never do anything so dumb again."
Dom hugged her to him. "Good I don't want to lose you."
They rejoined the rest of the team and found out that the races were all organized. Torrie was against Letty in her first race. Torrie won. But not by much, considering that Torrie's car had the Japanese engine and Letty's did not. Dom raced against three guys and won by a lot. His car was very fast after Jesse's modes. Brian raced and lost just barely to a Tran. But he was rusty. Leon raced and won and so did Vince. The team did well. Then Leon yelled into the walkie talkie.
"Cops! Cops! Cops! We got Cops coming." Everyone scrambled for cars and took off. Torrie took off right after Dom but they quickly had cops on their tails. Torrie called him on his cell. She never had to dodge cops before. She had always gotten away before they chased her. Now however there were two cruisers after them. She had no idea what to do, how to lose them other then try to dodge in and out of cars faster then they could.
"Dominic what do I do? They are right on us!"
"Just follow me baby, I'll get us out of here."
"OK Dom but I'm scared. What if they catch me?"
"Then you get a ticket and maybe taken downtown. They can't put you in jail for street racing baby. It is just a misdemeanour. Follow me."
"Ok Dom."
Dom zigged and zagged and Torrie stuck to him like glue. They were slowly losing the cops now that they had hit the freeway. The way looked clear in front of them for a long stretch. Dom decided they had to use NOS to get a good lead on the cops. He called Torrie back on her cell.
"We gotta use NOS to get a better lead on them so we can hit an off ramp while they can't see us. Pull out into the outside lane and come up beside me. Hit your NOS when I do then when we are a good 600 yards ahead of them fall back behind me but keep up. Watch me close though cause I will be looking for the first off ramp to take while they can't see us ok?"
"Ok Dom, I'll do my best. I love you."
"I love you too baby. Go now."
She whipped out into the fast lane and then pulled up beside him. She saw him go for his NOS. They hit the NOS at the same time and both cars flew ahead at blinding speeds. They left the police eating their dust and got well ahead of them around a slight curve and the cops could not longer see them. She got back behind Dom and they saw an off ramp. They slowed down and shot down the ramp. They pulled into a small side street and cut the engines and lights. They waited for the cops to go past on the freeway and then they headed for home. When they got home Torrie was still so shaken she could not get out of her car. She just started to shake in the front seat. Dom came over and helped her out of her car. He hugged her to him.
"See we got home ok girl. We're fine. You did great. I'm proud of you. You never had to outrun the cops like that before have you?"
"N.No I never had to. I was so scared. I thought we were going to get separated then one of us was going to get caught."
"We're fine though baby. Besides it is all part of the game. Now let's go inside in case they come around here to ask questions. We've been having a party all night and don't know what they're talking about if they come ok?"
"Ok Dom."
They headed into the house and were happy to see everyone made it home safe.
"Yo Dom." Leon started. "There were too many cops there man. They got Edwin and he's ."
Dom cut him off not wanting Torrie to know what had happened to her friend after telling her that she would only get a ticket. "He got a big fine right?" Dom laughed.
"Ya Dawg, how'd ya guess?" Leon got it right away when he saw how scared Torrie was. "You guys have a hard time shaking them?"
"Had to use NOS on the freeway and then hit an off ramp hard. You guys all ok?"
A chorus of yes's was heard. Most of them never even had to shake cops off like Torrie and Dom. The slow ass people mostly got caught but the cops were always jonesing for Dom. Sure enough the cops showed up 20 minutes after Torrie and Dom got home. Letty was playing a video game. Vince was playing his guitar. Leon was watching Letty and yelling encouragement at her. Brian and Mia were dancing as were Jesse and some cute little girl that came to the party. Dom was sitting in a chair with Torrie curled up in his lap, her head on his shoulder her arms around him taking it easy. She was still upset about what happened.
Dom was thinking about him and Torrie. She really did not belong in their world if running from the cops was this traumatizing for her. Look at Letty. Lying on the floor playing a video game like nothing happened. Giving the guys a hard time and taking one from them as good as she gave. She fit in. Dom didn't love her anymore like he use to but she was one of them. Of course Letty had been racing since he bought her her first car when she was 17, a sweet little spyder. But she had outgrown it and had helped him build the Nissan when she was almost 19. Two girls, so much alike yet so different. He loved Torrie but he wondered if she was ever going to fit in. He would watch how she handled herself with the cops. He wouldn't be able to let her live with them anymore if he thought she was going to be a liability to the team. If he thought she was going to end up giving them away in the future he would have to send her away. Love her or not the team had to come first. With these thoughts out of the way he looked up from Torrie's down turned face and looked at his house. It was utter chaos but that's how it always was after races.
There were girls and guys dancing everywhere and the yard and street looked like an import car dealership threw up on it. When the bell rang Dom had a fair idea who it was and asked Brian to get it. He figured if a cop told the cops they had been in all night they would believe it.
"Ok Dom, I'll get it." He opened the door. "Evening guys. How can we help you?"
"Hello Officer O'Connor. We came because there was a large illegal street race tonight and we chased a red car that looked an awful lot like Torreto and a blue car that looked an awful lot like the one parked behind him in the driveway now."
"Sorry guys but we've had people over since early evening so we haven't left the house."
"You sure about that O'Connor? It seems to me that a blonde guy driving an orange Supra outran the police too."
"I'm sure that we were home all night guys. Hope you catch those darn street racers. We are all legit here. Just cause we run a garage and drive imports doesn't mean we street race. We gave it up."
"Well then in that case can we speak to the owner of the blue car parked behind Torreto?"
"Sure, if she's awake, she's not feeling good."
"Well she better wake up and come speak to us."
"Just a minute." Brian leaned back and shouted into the living room. "Hey Torrie, girl, these officers want to talk to you about your car."
Torrie looked at Dom with wide eyes. "What do I do?"
"Tell them the truth, you were home entertaining our guests all night baby."
Torrie walked to the door where the two officers were.
"I understand you want to ask me about my car? Is something wrong with it? Did anything happen to it?"
"Yes Miss, we need to speak to you. No your car is fine. You have not moved the car since when exactly?"
"Oh since this afternoon sometime when I went shopping. I needed a new outfit for the party tonight as you can see." Torrie didn't go valley girl all the way but she figured a bit of stupid surfer couldn't go wrong. After all some cops remembered her from her youthful indiscretion and would call her out on her street impression.
"You sure about that miss?"
"Very sure officer. I went to the mall and bought my outfit and then came home and we ate supper and I got ready. Then people came over. That's about the whole night sir, we never left all night."
"Maybe you'd like to explain why all the cars feel so warm?"
"Cause we live in California and it is hot here? I don't really know why they would feel warm at all officers. Do you have an idea why?"
The cop that had not been talking spoke up now, seeing the girl was not going to give away anything. Her green eyes were very intelligent and he knew damn well the little girl lost act was just that, an act. He did not see how he could prove it however.
"Well then sorry to have bothered you miss, have a good evening."
"You too officers, be safe and have a great night!" The cops obviously did not believe her but they let it go considering it was the two of them against a house full of people who would all swear they never left the house all evening. They walked away muttering about how driving imports with thousands of dollars of performance parts should be enough to haul them all downtown but unfortunately was not. Torrie walked back into the living room.
"Dom, can we go to bed now? I'm tired."
"Of course baby, I could go to bed now too. You did good with the cops."
"Good, that night took a lot out of me. I never thought of what would happen if I got caught. Or if you or one of the guys got caught and it was a big reality check you know? I mean up till now racing was all fun and games. The cop incident really brought home just how real it is."
"Well I have never gotten caught for it yet and I've been doing it a lot of years. It is part of the game Torrie but I remember the night it dawned on me how serious parts of racing are and it does come as a bit of a shock doesn't it?"
"Yes it sure did."
Dom told everyone they were turning in and carried Torrie to bed piggyback style. They went to sleep. Torrie had nightmares that night. They centered not on her mothers accident but on what would happen to her if Dom was ever caught racing and taken from her. Dom woke her and asked her if it was just a recurrence of her same old dream. She told him yes cause she didn't want him to think she couldn't handle the stress of running from the cops. She could she would just have to adjust to the life. It was not like the cops showed up to every night. Sometimes they got in 6 races and no cops ever came. Sometimes they got in one and cops came. She would just have to learn to handle herself.