To Be Needed

Part 5

Ashby looked inside her closet in a state of panic. She didn't have clothes to go out in. She wasn't a clubbin type of person. She never went to parties. She was never allowed too. Ashby didn't even know what would be appropriate. She's hasn't been to a party since her junior year in high school. High school parties were much different from the club scene. She didn't even really know the style that all the women were wearing for Clubs nowadays.

She approached Mia's room with caution. She didn't want to disturb her, but she didn't know who else to ask. She couldn't ask Dominic. He couldn't even dress Maria without her mismatching.

She didn't trust Leon's judgment. He'd probably have her looking like one of his two-dollar hoes.

Jesse was definitely out of the question. Ashby didn't want to ask Vince, because she didn't want him to think she was stupid.

Ashby sighed and knocked on Mia's door gently. She jumped when Leon popped out of his room and touched her shoulder from behind.

"Jeez! Leon, you scared me!"

"Sorry. Mia's not here. She took Maria out for a drive. She was being fussy and Mia knows it helps her sleep." He explained why Mia didn't answer her knock.

"Just great," she mumbled to herself.

Leon frowned at her. "What's up Ash?" he asked, concerned.

Ashby sighed. "Nothing. It's okay. I'll just have to figure it out on my own." She said, then turned and headed back to her room.

"What is it? Maybe I can help?" he asked as he followed her into her room. He looked around and saw clothes everywhere.

"You'll think I'm stupid." She mumbled, embarrassed.

Leon shut her door and walked over and sat on her bed. "No, I won't. Now tell me what's up." He said gently.

Ashby stared at him. "I've never been anywhere. I've never even been to a club. I don't' know what do wear to the races tonight." She told him, speaking softly because she felt stupid. She looked away, as her face felt slightly warm.

Leon was blown away. He couldn't believe someone as attractive as Ashby has never been to a club. He always thought she never went out with them before because of Mia and the baby. When Maria was first born Mia was severely stressed out. They all agreed it was best not to leave Mia alone for a while.

Then later, she always declined, saying she had to study or do this or that.

I wonder why she never went out before she came to live with us, Leon thought.

"It's okay, Ash. I'll help you. Let's just take a look in your closet and see what you got."

He said as he stood up and made his way over and started rummaging thru it.

Ashby smiled at the back of Leon's head. She would be grateful to him forever, for not laughing at her. She gave a quick hug around his waist, and helped him dig thru her clothes.

Leon frowned. "I'm still not feelin the skirt, Ash. The top's cool thou." He said at the outfit he helped Ashby decide on.

"If you're not feelin it just because it's not short enough then too bad. I'm not tryin to look like one of your hoes. And the halter top is pushin it as it is." She told him sternly.

Ashby was wearing a denim skirt that flared slightly at the bottom with a deep blood red halter-top that left her belly button and shoulders exposed. She decided on red clunky sandals that added about an inch and a half to her height.

Leon smiled. "You could never be mistaken for a ho, Ash' don't worry. That's the outfit. It's good."

Ashby smiled at him. "Thanks, Leon. Now get out of here so I can take a shower and change." She told him.

Leon laughed. "Aight. See you later." He said and left her room. After he shut her door he turned and walked straight into Vince.

"My bad bro." Leon said.

Vince nodded. "It's cool. Where's Ash'? In her room?" Vince asked.

"Yeah, but she's changing." Leon told him, and then headed for his own room.

Vince frowned at Leon's back. How would Leon know if she was changing?

He turned and knocked on Ashby's door.

"Just a minute!" He heard her yell out.

He stood and waited patiently.

Ashby opened her door a crack and peeked out. "I'm about to get in the shower, V. Is there something you need?" She asked.

Vince's eyes widened. "No, I was just checkin to make sure you weren't gonna back out. I'll go get ready too." He told her.

"Okay. See you later." She said, and then shut the door quickly.

Vince sat in the living room. He wasn't a patient man. And Ashby was seriously pushing to the edge of his limit. She was taking forever to get ready. He knew she didn't normally take this long to get ready. He's seen her get ready in half the time she was taking now.

The others were already in their cars waiting. They had to leave together and show up together. It was something they've always done. They were a 'team' and they made sure everyone knew it.

Vince stood up and headed for the stairs. He was gonna drag her out of her room, ready or not.

He stopped short when he saw her on the stairs. He was speechless.

She was absolutely breathtaking. He couldn't move.

Ashby walked down the stairs. She looked at Vince nervously.

"What's the matter? It's wrong isn't it? I'll go change." She said and turned to go back up.

"No," Vince stated and grabbed her arm to hold her still.

"You just look…beautiful." He told her as his eyes roamed her body.

She didn't look like the other skanks at the races. She looked like a real woman. She had on a long denim skirt, which emphasized her shape. The red halter-top left her belly button in view and her bare shoulders were extremely sexy. Vince didn't know how he was going to be able to keep his hands off of her.

Her hair was left down. It fell to the middle of her back. She had minimal make-up, which Vince liked. He hated a girl who looked like she needed Paint thinner to take off her make-up.

"Come on. You look great. The others are waiting. Let's go." He said as he pulled her towards the front door.

Ashby's face flushed. She was grateful he wasn't staring at her anymore. She was afraid of that look in his eyes. She really didn't want to lead him on or let him think she was trying to impress him. She was just trying to fit in.

As Vince lead her to his car, the others honked their horns at her. Dom gave a whistle.

"Lookin good, Ash!" Jesse shouted.

Leon just winked at her.

He face turned even redder. Vince chuckled at the others and helped her into his car.

"All right. Go time." Dom announced once Vince was settled in his car.

Ashby has never in her life seen anything like it. There were probably hundreds of people at the abandoned buildings outside of town. There were tons of cars. All racers, but none, she knew, were as good as the 'teams.'

Vince followed where Dom pulled up in the center of the crowd. Dom got out first, followed by Vince, and then Leon and Jesse. Vince went around and helped her out of the car. He placed an arm around her shoulder and held her firmly to his side. He made sure everyone knew she belonged to him. Any man who even looked at her would be sorry.

Ashby hadn't noticed Vince's sudden protectiveness. She was watching Dom set up the race with Hector. She also saw Edwin. She smiled at the two in acknowledgement. She hadn't seen either in awhile.

After there were four people set to race, everyone hung out for a bit, before going to the race site.

"V, I'll be back. I wanna go say hi to Edwin." She told him.

Vince was in the middle of discussing last minute check ups with Dom over Dom's car. He just nodded and continued to talk. So he didn't stop Ashby from pulling away from his hand.

Ashby headed over to where Edwin was standing with his crew. She stopped when a guy stood in front of her, cutting her off.

"Hey there." He said looking her up and down, then licking his lips. He was tall, almost as tall as Vince, but skinnier.

Ashby looked at him disgusted. She could tell he was Latin, by the caramel color of his skin and his dark coloring.

"Wanna go for a ride?" he asked, his eyes resting on her breasts.

"No." Ashby stated firmly and walked around him to continue to head for Edwin.

The guy grabbed her arm, holding her back. "Oh come on baby. Don't be like that. Fine then, how much?" He asked her.

Ashby gasped. She knew there were girls who sold themselves here, but never did she think she could be mistaken for one of them.

She pulled her arm out of his grip. "Fuck off!" She snapped at him. She was angry now.

The guy glared at her. "Fuck you, you bitch! No one talks to me like that!" he snapped back and raised his hand.

Before he could lay a hand on her someone rushed at him and tackled him from the side.

Ashby blinked in shock when she saw it was Jesse who was trying to beat the guy up. Poor Jesse wasn't big enough though.

"Jesse, no!" She yelled at him. She didn't want to see him hurt.

"Oh shit! V, look! Jesse's fighting!" Leon yelled when he saw Jesse's head pop up from the crowd that had surrounded men fighting.

Vince looked over to where Leon was pointing. "Shit! Come on!" Vince yelled as he ran over, pushin his way thru the crowd. Leon and Dom followed him.

Vince made it thru to see Ashby trying to keep the two apart. She wasn't having very much luck. He snapped into action when he saw her get knocked to the ground as the same guy tried to get to Jesse.

Vince ran over and yanked the guy back. The guy tried to punch him, but Vince got him first. The guy hit the ground and didn't get back up. He was out cold.

Vince looked at Ashby, worried. She was bleeding from a cut on her eyebrow. He figured she must have gotten it from hitting the ground. He helped her up. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "You okay, baby?" He asked her gently as he walked her towards his car. The crowd spread to give him room.

The crowd that had gathered watched in shock. Mostly everyone there knew Toretto and his 'team'. Everyone knew you didn't fuck with the Toretto team or their women. They were all shocked at how Vince just knocked the guy out cold with one punch and walked away.

When Vince is involved there was always a fight.

Leon and Dom helped Jesse up, who was also bleeding from his nose and lip. "Jess, man. What happened?" Dom asked him as he practically carried him back to where all their cars were parked.

"He tried to hit Ash. I couldn't let him and you guys were too far away." Jesse mumbled, then spit out blood that had filled in his mouth.

Leon's eyes widened. He couldn't believe Jesse jumped in to save Ashby like that.

"Good going Jess. Vince will be happy." Leon told him.

Jesse smiled before passing out in Dom's arms.

Leon panicked. But Dominic reassured him.

"He's all right Leon. He's just been knocked around too much. He's just fainted. He'll be fine."

Vince sat in the passenger's side of his car with the door open. Ashby sat on his lap. He was inspecting her face and cleaning the blood off with a rag he had in his car. It wasn't too clean, but it was better than nothing.

"What were you thinking going in and helping Jesse like that? You could have really gotten hurt. You should have came and got one of us.' He told her.

"I didn't. He helped me. I was trying to go and talk to Edwin, but that guy stopped me. He asked me if I wanted to go for a ride, but I told him no. Then he asked me how much, but I told him to fuck off. He called me a bitch and raised his hand to hit me, but that's when Jesse tackled him and they started fighting. I was trying to get Jesse to stop. That guy would have killed him." She explained.

Vince looked at her. She was telling him the truth. He never should have left her alone. "That fucking bastard! I'm gonna kill him!" Vince snapped, angry.

Ashby wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tight. "It's doesn't matter anymore, V. Leave it alone." She said into his ear.

Vince didn't want to let it go. He wanted to go back and pick the guy up off the ground and then knock him back down again. And then do it again.

Instead he sighed and agreed with her. He closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around her, holding her closer.

"I'm sorry. This isn't turning out very good. We still have to go thru with the race." He told her.

"It's fine. I don't' mind. We can go somewhere else after." She told him. Ashby felt bad. She knew Vince was trying hard to make this date go off without a hitch.

Dom walked up to them. "Ash' you all right?" he asked. Ashby turned her head and looked up at him.

"Yeah. I'm all right. Just a small cut. I'll be fine. How's Jesse?" She asked, worriedly. She looked around to see him, but all she saw was Leon standing by Jesse's car.

"He's all right, but he's passed out. Can you drive his car? You can take him home, but we can't back out of the race." Dom asked her.

"He's passed out, are you sure? Yeah I'll take him home. You guys go ahead." She informed him.

She stood up from Vince's lap, but he wouldn't let go of her hand until Dom stepped away.

"I'll come pick you up after the race. Don't go to bed." He told her as he pulled her close for a hug.

He lowered his head to kiss her, but stopped himself. He really wanted too, but he knew she wouldn't be comfortable with it.

Ashby realized what Vince was about to do. She panicked inwardly. She didn't know what to do.

When he stopped himself at the last second Ashby didn't know what to think. Was she disappointed that he stopped? Did she want him to kiss her after all? That's how it all starts. Ashby remembered how her last relationship started…and ended. There was no way she would put herself thru that again.

She pulled away from Vince. "See you later." She mumbled and headed for Jesse's car.