Quarter
Mile at a Time
Chapter Seven
The next day, Gaby didn't head out to the garage. She knew the guys were going to be curious why she hadn't come around but she needed some time. The situation had changed and she needed to sort her thoughts out. She also had to get herself into the right frame of mind. Anger at Bilkins still boiled beneath the surface and confusion still whirled within her.
She resorted to working a bit for Harry and just lounging on her bed in the back. Why had she agreed to do this again? So far it was just a mess of conflicting emotions and other issues she didn't even want to think about. The only good thing so far was her 'suspects'. She figured they'd be drunks or druggies, but they hadn't. They were just a family trying to make ends meet. They welcomed her with open arms for the most part, and probably cared for her more fiercely than anyone at the moment, especially Vince.
A sigh escaped her lips as she thought about him. Guilt was chewing at her insides. She never planned this. How was she supposed to know she'd end up liking him, maybe even loving him? She let out another sigh as she flopped back on the bed and stared at the logo stickers around her.
"Oh Vince, if you only knew…"
Gaby entered the garage the next morning, her coveralls folded in her arms. She walked over to her 'car' to see it covered. She frowned and then smiled as a pair of arms encircled her waist.
"Hey," she greeted as she leaned her head back onto Vince's shoulder.
"Hey, I missed ya yesterday," he said pressing a kiss to her neck.
"Yeah, sorry about that. Some stuff came up." She turned in his arms, looking into his blue eyes as her arms wrapped around his neck. "Missed ya too."
"Better have," he chided before kissing her. Gaby melted against him, letting him hold her up. Everything else seemed to fade away until a loud cough made them break apart. She looked over to see everyone staring at them with grins on their face. Vince flipped them off behind her back and gave Gaby one last kiss before pulling back from her.
"So guys," Gaby said as she willed her flush face to cool off, "What's with the cover?"
"You didn't peek?" Leon asked with a raised eyebrow.
"No, unlike you, I can control myself," she shot back, causing Leon to scoff at her. Gaby gave him a smile seconds later to show that she was just playing with him.
"Alright Jess, I think you should unveil it," Dom instructed and they all watched as Jesse stepped forward. He clutched the front of the cover, and like a magician, whipped it off. Gaby gasped as she took in the sight before her.
The iridescent purple blue color flecked in the sunlight and the decals were flawlessly put on. The targa top was off and everything was perfect. The whole car just screamed beauty.
Gaby's jaw dropped as she circled the car. Vince wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed a kiss below her ear. "You like?" he whispered.
"Do I like? I love it! When do I get to drive it?"
Everyone in the garage laughed at her eagerness. Dom scooped the keys out from his pocket and threw them at her. She caught them and broke free of Vince's grasp. After regaining her composure, she climbed into the driver's seat and cranked the engine. Applause filled the room as the car came to life and the engine revved as Gaby pressed down on the gas.
Dom climbed into the passenger's seat just as Vince started to move toward the car. He shot Gaby a look of disappointment, but she blew him a kiss.
"We shouldn't be too long, babe."
Vince nodded and stepped back a bit, sensing that everyone was watching him. He felt a little embarrassed, but brushed it off and crossed his arms over his chest. After a while he felt everyone's eyes move from him, except for one pair. When he looked around the room, he found Mia staring at him. She gave him a small smile before focusing on Dom.
Vince sighed and shifted his stance a bit. His life had changed so much over the past two months. He had gone from being head over heels in love with Mia to feeling nothing but brotherly love for her. Gaby was the best thing in his life and he prayed that he didn't lose her.
Dom and Gaby's playful banter brought him out from his thoughts.
"So, Ms. Arizona, you ready to take your beauty for a ride?" Dom asked, a look of seriousness on his face.
"If you think you can handle my driving, Mr. Toretto," Gaby quipped.
Letty snorted at this, but no one acknowledged it. She shoved her hands into her pockets and leaned against a shelf behind her.
"Well, let's go then."
Gaby let go of the emergency brake and shifted into first, loving every second of it. Pressing down harder on the gas then necessary and slowly letting the clutch up, the engine revved and she peeled out from the garage, Jess whooping after them while the rest of them cheered.
Dom directed her towards the highway and soon they were cruising down 101, taking in the scenic route and the beautiful day. The ride was smooth and the car accelerated with ease, whipping around any corners.
As they neared the beach, there were forced to stop at a stoplight. A black Ferrari pulled up next to them, the man leering over at them.
"What's the retail on one of those?" Gaby asked, making conversation.
"More than you could afford little girl, it's a Ferrari," he called back, revving the engine, presenting the challenge.
Dom turned towards Gaby, his sunglasses covering his eyes. "Smoke 'em."
Gaby gave him a nod before settling back in her seat and trying to control the butterflies in her stomach. She focused on the light and waited. As soon as it turned green, she popped the clutch and the car took off with a squeal. Her heart was pounding inside of her chest.
She kept pace with the Ferrari but as they came up to a set of cars she was forced to go around them, Dom clutched onto the frame as she swerved between the cars on the other side before coming back to the lane. The Ferrari came up just behind her and Gaby continued to speed on, her hair blowing wildly in the wind. She saw Dom look over his shoulder and nod his approval.
"You're one crazy chick, you know that right? No wonder you fit with Vince." Dom chuckled and Gaby just smiled at him. "Take the next exit, Mia's doing a barbeque." Gaby did as she was told, eager to get back to Vince.
A little later, Gaby pulled up the house, parking on the street, seeing as the driveway was already stuffed with cars. They walked into the backyard, Dom carrying the case of Corona they had stop to buy.
"Hey," she greeted as she walked up to Vince and kissed him.
"Hey, so how did it ride?" he asked keeping one of his arms wrapped around her waist.
"You'll find out later," she replied with a wink.
"You're going to let me drive it?"
"Maybe." She gave him a coy smile, and swatted him off towards the grill, which he was in charge of. She headed up to the kitchen and poked her head in.
"Need any help?" She asked hesitantly, remembering her last debacle with helping.
"If you could just take out the potato salad." Mia gestured towards the bowl on the counter.
Mia seemed distant, almost angry. "You okay, Mi?" She stepped further into the kitchen and watched as Mia started to cut some cucumbers for the salad.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
Gaby rolled her eyes. "My bull shit detector is in the red here. What's really wrong?"
"I'm just tired, Gaby, really. Now, could you please that the potato salad out?" She asked, not turning to look up at her. Gaby could see how tightly coiled she was and the tension in her back. Gaby quirked an eyebrow before shrugging it off.
"All right, can do."
Gaby grabbed the bowl and hurried outside before she could do any damage. Having finished her task as she set the bowl on the table, she looked around. Leon and Jess were playing basketball, Letty and Dom were talking towards the back and if the look on his face said anything, it wasn't going well. She couldn't help but laugh at the domesticated look Vince presented as he stood at the grill and flipped the chicken; an apron was tied loosely around his waist.
"You laughing at me?" he growled over his shoulder.
"No, never," she said around her giggles. "You just look so cute in that 'Kiss the Cook' apron."
"Aren't you going to do what it says?" he asked with a smile.
"Now, why would I do such a thing?" she teased.
Vince finished cooking, a promise of retaliation on his face. Once the chicken was ready, they gathered at the table, and after another intriguing blessing from Jesse, they dug in.
It was after dinner when Gaby was sitting outside that the feeling of guilt rose up within her again. Everyone had clattered inside to watch a movie, Gaby saying she'd be there in a minute. Truth was, she had to put herself together. After their trusting eyes had been on her for so long, she felt as if she was going to burst at the seams with guilt.
It was a matter of days before she would no longer be apart of their world. The thought of losing Vince sickened her, but the more she thought about it, the more she realized that she would lose Vince one way or another. Either to jail or to hatred. He would surely hate her after he found out who she was, what she had done.
She'd been sitting for a good five minutes before the back door creaked open and footsteps could be heard on the porch stairs. Vince straddled the bench, sitting behind her and Gaby leaned back as his arms came around her.
"What's up?" he asked.
That simple question had Gaby almost ready to cry. Not one of her ex boyfriends would have been able to tell that something was up with her. The fact that Vince could tell something was wrong, that he knew her so well, and he'd only known her for about two weeks, almost had her in tears… almost.
"Nothing," she said with a sigh.
"Come on, something's bugging ya."
"Look V, I have my good days and my bad days just like anyone else. I'm human too," she added softly.
"I know, but there's something on your mind," he coaxed her as his hand brushed lazy circles on her arms.
"It's just, I've been here for a while and still haven't found a place. Money's not exactly in the overflowing amounts for me at the moment," she replied, hating herself as the words came out.
"If it's money, I can help," he said in a quiet tone. Gaby instantly turned around and stared at him.
"No, see, that's one thing about me, Vince. I don't need handouts. I don't take handouts. I earn my way, every step. I just gotta figure out how to make a little extra on the side, like you guys." Gaby fidgeted, hoping he wouldn't see through her lies.
"Like us?" Vince questioned, his gaze turning dark.
"Look Vince, I'm not stupid. I know that there's no way in hell you guys paid for all that shit that's under the hood of those cars by doing tune-ups and selling groceries. Whatever it is you're in on, I want in on it too."
They stared at each other for a long time before a quiet shuffle from their left caught both of their attention. Dom stepped out and handed Gaby a piece of paper.
"What's this?" she asked as she unfolded it and read it.
"It's directions to Race Wars. We'll see how you do. Then we'll talk," he said over his shoulder as he headed into the house.
"I hate it when he does that," Vince mumbled.
Gaby gave him a small smile. A silence fell between the two. She laid her head on his shoulder and put her hand around his. It was Vince who finally broke the silence.
"You…uh…you'd let me know if you were miserable here…with me?" he said the last part almost silently and she strained to hear it.
Gaby bolted up from her resting position and looked over at Vince. His head was lowered and he fidgeted with the hem of his shirt.
"V, look at me. I'm not miserable, I swear. I'm anything but in fact. I love being here with the team and with you..."
Vince didn't reply. "Come on," Gaby said quickly snatching up his hand and jumping off the bench. He followed a bit reluctantly.
"Where are we going?"
"You'll see," she replied, continuing to drag Vince.
The two ran through the backyard and toward Gaby's car, the top still off. She jumped into the driver's seat and cranked the engine. Vince climbed into the passenger's side. Gaby felt a pair of eyes on her and looked in the direction that they were coming from. What she found was Mia staring down at both of them, an unexplainable look on her face. Gaby waved, but the gesture was unreturned with Mia walking away from her window. She pushed it to the back of her mind to ponder on later and pulled away from the house.
A couple of minutes later, Gaby pulled up to the beach that she and Vince went to on their first date. She got out and walked to the front of her car. The sound of waves crashing against the beach filled her ears. Seconds later, Vince came up and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"I'm not miserable, V," she whispered. "How could you think I was with everything we've been through? Not one part of it has been miserable for me. Has it been for you?"
She spun in his arms and watched his face intently, fear making a knot in her stomach.
"No, babe, it's been perfect and, well, that scares me a bit," he answered, his hand cupping her cheek.
"What? Why?" Her eyebrows down together in confusion.
"Let's just say things always go down hill just when they're perfect. Kind of like I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop." He brushed her hair behind her ear, staring at her with a wistful smile.
"Well look," she pulled back from him and begun taking off her shoes and socks. "There's one," she said as she let one shoes drop to the ground. "And there's the other." She dropped her other shoe. "Anything bad happen yet?" A coy smile crawled onto her face and she bit the corner of her lip.
"Well, something is definitely about to," he murmured before tackling her to the ground and tickling her senseless.
Gaby giggled as Vince finally gave up tickling her. He let out a content sigh as he collapsed on top of her then rolled to the side, pulling her with him.
"I-I just wish things could stay like this forever…" Vince said softly. His face was buried into her hair and his arms were wrapped around her waist.
"Like what?" Gaby placed her hands on his shoulders and drew lazy circles on them.
"You know…like this. Simple, carefree. Like tomorrow isn't going to come for a million years and all I have to worry about is keeping you all to myself."
Gaby twisted her body to where she and V were nose to nose. She stared into his eyes for a second with a blank look on her face.
"What?" Vince shifted nervously in the sand.
"That was real weird, V."
A blush crept onto Vince's cheeks and he pushed himself away from Gaby. Gaby managed to tug him back down next to her. "But incredibly sweet." She pressed a chaste kiss against his cheek and snuggled closer to him. Gaby smiled as she felt Vince kiss the top of her head and pull her closer to him, if that was possible. God, this is so going to go downhill.
The rest of the week seemed to fly by, the guy workings on costumer cars and fitting their own in between. Jesse was running around like a chicken with its head cut off trying to make sure everything was running as it should be.
By Thursday night, everything was ready and packed to go. Gaby could hardly contain the excitement within her. Her excitement making her forget about the severity of the situation. She bounced around the garage with a permanent smile on her face. All the team could do was laugh, Vince sneaking her off every once in a while to make out with her in the back room. It seemed her good mood was infectious and Vince's normally broody disposition was less broody and more carefree.
They had just finished wrapping up the garage, putting the closed sign in the window and closing the doors. The team already heading up to the fort since Vince said he'd lock up.
"You staying the night?" Vince asked with a raised eyebrow as he stared at Gaby who was putting the last of the sockets away.
"I wish. Harry wants me to finish up some stuff and I need to take care of some things before tomorrow," she answered, turning to Vince to see him pouting. She rolled her eyes at him and walked over, stopping in front of him.
"Are you pouting? Plus, we both know that if I stay, sleeping is going to be the last thing on your mind." She had to stop herself from giggling at the look on Vince's face, his lower lip extending even farther out as he fluttered his eyelashes at her.
"Fine," she resigned with a sigh, a smug smile appearing on his face. "I'll see if I can make it over, but it won't be till late tonight, and I mean late."
"So I'll keep the door unlocked for you, alright?" He grabbed her and gave her a breathtaking kiss before releasing her. He then turned her around, swatting her on the bottom, propelling her forward. Gaby gave a little yelp and looked over her shoulder at him. "The sooner you get going the sooner you'll be back," Vince simply said, a grin on his face.
Gaby shook her head at him, blew him a kiss, and then disappeared out of the garage. Vince did the last of what needed to be done and then headed out, locking the doors behind him.
His good mood made his hands itch to play his guitar. By the time he got home, everyone had eaten and Mia was pacing around waiting for him.
"Took ya long enough," she chided as he walked in. She quickly set his plate down and sat down next to him, a smile playing on her face. Vince raised an eyebrow at her strange behavior but the food presented in front of him was too much of a temptation to pass up. He paid no attention to Mia, who continued to watch him as he ate.
Once he was done and had pushed his plate away, he turned to thank her but paused when he saw the coy look on her face.
"Hey V, what was that name of the Cuban restaurant you wanted to take me to? You know, the one with the little red candle, food everywhere," she prompted as she ran her hand down his arm. Vince's body stiffened, shock at her action running through his body. At his lack of reaction, Mia continued to caress his arm, learning over farther towards him. "Vince?"
The sound of his name knocked him out of his daze and he carefully took Mia's hand off his arm and scooted back.
"Uh Mia, what are you doing? You feeling okay?" he asked as he got up.
Mia gave him a confused look. "I don't understand, V. I figured you would have jumped at the opportunity."
Suddenly, it hit Vince like a ton of bricks. "Aw, Mia..." he said softly. Anger appeared in Mia's eyes as he gave her a sympathetic look.
"Don't you dare look at me like that Vince," she said rather loudly.
"Look Mia, you need to understand…I don't like you like that anymore. I might have before but I don't now. I like Gaby. I'm with Gaby," he said trying to emphasize the Gaby part. Mia gave him an odd look before anger covered her face again.
"So what? You just forget all about me because some chick that can moderately drive a car shows up?"
Vince tensed up a bit and peered at Mia. Her demeanor had changed all within a couple of seconds. "What is wrong with you? You turned me down all the time and now that I finally have someone, you decide that you do have feelings for me. No, Mia, that's not how the game is played."
"So what this is all a game to you? I thought that you'd be happy. That we could…"
"That we could what?" Vince questioned, his hands balled into fists at his side.
"I don't know," Mia replied exasperatedly. "Maybe if that two bit skank hadn't shown up, this would have gone so much better," she mumbled, but Vince heard every word she said and had to restrain himself. He took a deep breath before looking up at Mia, his gaze cold and calculated.
"Don't you ever, EVER, say something like that about Gaby again. God, I think you might actually be worse than Letty…"
Mia laughed. "Letty? You are actually comparing me to Letty? I can't believe it. Vince you know full well that if...Gaby hadn't come along that you would still be worshipping the ground I walk on. Just admit it, you still care for me."
Vince couldn't believe what he was hearing. Gone was the sweet Mia he had once known, and in her place was an evil monster. "Who the hell are you? I mean here you are acting like some two bit skank," he said using her words against her," you're acting like a complete bitch, and talking bad about Letty who has been your best friend since you were four."
"Oh get off your high horse Vince, it's not like you haven't made your mistakes. Do you really think that Gaby is going to stay with you once she finds out about the trucks? What will her reaction be? I have a feeling that she won't think of you the same way ever again. She'll probably just leave you and you'll come crawling back to me."
"What, are you going to go tell her?" He asked even though he fully knew she wouldn't, more like couldn't tell. "You got one thing right, Gaby might leave me, but after tonight, there is no way in hell I would come crawling back to you." He turned and left the kitchen, pounding up the stairs and grabbing his guitar before sitting down in his corner chair.
His fingers flew over the strings as he attempted to allow the anger to seep out of him, but after awhile it was too much. Vince sat the guitar down next to his bed and began to pace back and forth. He couldn't believe what a bitch Mia had been. It was like she was someone else entirely. He screwed his eyes shut and ran a frustrated hand through his hair. He was definitely going to have to talk to Dom about her, and he gave a groan at the idea.
How the hell was he supposed to talk to him about this without getting his face pound in? He continued to pace as he contemplated what to do. It was an hour later when he realized that he wasn't alone in his room.
A/N: y0. I know we haven't updated in a while, but BloodyTears and I have had one heck of a case of writer's block for pretty much all of our stories. We apologize deeply. Finally, we got to talk last night and finished up this chapter. I hope y'all enjoy it, 'cause we had uber amounts of fun writing it. Please review!
x cap'n gin and first mate pj