Chapter 14 - With Catlike Grace
AN: Thanks to everyone who reviewed. I'm glad you all seem to be enjoying my story. I wanted to take a second to address Jiffy's question. Well, it does have one. I don't know how to go into it without giving away the whole story to come. Well, the story is about my character and her team, so if you're waiting for the focus to shift to team Toretto you'll be disappointed. The team is in it, mainly because as many have guessed Kat and Leon are into each other. There's lots of drama, racing, and even a surprise action plot to come down the road. I have to set my team up here. Kat's been racing to make it to the level she's at for 4 years but I didn't want to go into it because there wouldn't be any of the team in it and it'd be boring. It's mainly about her struggle to make it in a male dominated world and overcome all the other adversity that she'd had thrown at her. I don't know if that helps or not, but I will tell you all that anyone who thinks that Kat is gonna sail through this story is wrong. There's lots of evil stuff comin' her way. Enjoy.
Kat shifted up to second and gained on the Eclipse. She was slowly overtaking her. She passed the Eclipse a second later.
The girl in the Mazda was just playing at being a racer, she never really had a chance to begin with. She fell further and further away. The Eclipse was keeping up, but not gaining any ground on the two Nissans. Kat knew she was sitting in Letty's blind spot right now, which should keep the other girl guessing for a few seconds while she waited to redline 5th and use her first shot of NOS.
It worked out like she planned and she heard the chime from the system telling her it was time for the NOS. She pressed the red button on her Sparco steering wheel and the sudden burst of horsepower squealed the tires and forced Kat back in the seat with a snap. She was flying and Letty's car was just a streak of light as she flew by it. Letty had to wait another second and then her car was also ready for NOS. She caught Kat when she used it.
Kat could see the finish. No way was she losing to this chick. She couldn't give Dom the satisfaction. She knew now he had planned this, hoping to live vicariously through his girlfriend. He wanted his shot to beat Kat, he figured that Letty could beat her, he knew Kat didn't want to race, but knew she wouldn't be able to say no to a chance to race girls. Kat pushed the accelerator harder and the car shot forward with a growl.
Letty wasn't losing to this girl. If Dominic was the king of street racing Letty was the queen. She was gonna win. She'd never been able to beat Leon, but this girl couldn't be as good as Leon. Could she? She shifted up to 5th and waited to use her second shot of NOS. Kat hit 6th and waited to use her NOS. She knew that Letty was gonna get to use hers first. But she figured that the lead she already had plus the force and speed she'd get when she used hers would be enough to keep her out ahead. She heard the squeal as Letty started to gain on her after using her NOS.
Kat waited a second longer till Letty was in her blind spot and hit her NOS at just the right second. She could see the silver grey Eclipse the guys were waiting for her in ahead and knew the finish was right there. She shot ahead, the sound her car made at these speeds with it's straight pipe exhaust was deafening.
The line was right there. Letty had her car open full throttle, the thing was just screaming and Kat was still half a car ahead of her. Letty decided to do what the last guy to race Kat had done, hold down but NOS buttons to empty the tanks and hope for the best. She took a deep breath and went for it.
Kat knew Letty wouldn't just give up and anticipated what she would do. She dropped it down to 5th, boosted her revs way up and shot over the finish line ahead of Letty by a car length. People standing at the finish would have been hard pressed to describe her car, it went by so fast it was just a blur of purple neon and red brake lights. It took her another almost ΒΌ mile to get it slowed down, then she drove back to the finish line. She got out of her car and was engulfed by first her guys then the crowd in general.
Hector handed her the money. "Here you go girl. You gave us one hell of a woman's race for sure."
"Thanks Hector." She looked around and saw Letty wasn't happy at all. She was glad that she wasn't going home with Letty. The girl was irate. Oh well, you won some and you lost some. It was team Torreto's time to lose some. Kat smiled and realized they were three thousand richer.
She was gonna get up early on Monday and go house hunting. They finally had the down payment money they needed to find a place. She was talking to Edwin and Hector and their girls. Her guys had all taken off to talk to people, she'd told Stacy and Kale not to worry about her, to just take the Eclipse and have a good time. They'd been ecstatic about that. They had a hot car and there were more chicks around then they'd ever seen in one place before. She'd figured Sean would stick around her like he always did but he must have seen someone he wanted to speak to because he was no where to be seen.
Someone walked up behind Kat and covered her eyes. She heard Hector say "guess who?" Presumably at the request of who ever was behind her. She didn't know who it could be. She didn't know anyone who wasn't in front of her already down here. But Leon! She thought. But she wasn't gonna just guess that right away. It made it too obvious she was hoping for it to be Leon.
"Um, well, let me see. Could be Ricky?" She said with a smile.
"Nope." Hector said.
"Well, I guess I need more info to figure this out." She reached her arms back and ran them up the guys sides. She noted the quick in draw of breath. The guy was well muscled but not huge. Nice abs. "Well, that helped some. Lets see." She reached back over her head and ran her fingers through the 'mystery' guy's hair. "Well, I would have to guess, Steve." She didn't even know a Steve. The guy's hair was sort of long and messy before she ever even touched it. The 'mystery' guy growled low in his throat. She almost didn't hear him. But now she could guess safely. "Oh, it's Leon. I'd know that growl anywhere."
Leon laughed and let her go. She spun around to face him. "What's the big deal of sneaking up on me like that? You could be spittin' out an important part of your anatomy right now."
"Naw, I was standing sideways at first, I anticipated that." Leon laughed. "How ya doin'?"
"How do ya think? I'm great. Other then the guys seem to have taken off on me and left me in the dubious company of these two." She smiled and pointed at Hector and Edwin.
"Well, how would you like to come to a party at our place? We always have one after races." Leon asked her hopefully. She smiled at the other guys, took Leon's arm and slowly walked him away from the crowd.
"Leon, much as I would love to party with you, me and your roommate almost killed each other today and I just creamed his girlfriend and took a g of his money. Do you think he'd be pleased to see me in his house?" She asked with a frown.
"No. You're right. It wouldn't be smart. But I wanted you to party with us." Leon really had wanted her to come over, he hadn't thought of the fact that she and Dom would likely fight.
"I'll take a rain check to some time when Dom and I can be in the same room without screaming at each other and needing to be physically restrained and Letty isn't ready to claw my face off." She giggled. "When I get a drink in me it gets worse not better."
"Well it's the same for Dom so you're right, you'd better not come any time soon."
"Won't he be mad at you for hangen' out with me?" Kat didn't want to be the reason why Leon had trouble at home.
"Maybe, but I can handle him. Don't worry about me." Leon wasn't so sure. He hadn't been around as long as the others, 'cept Jesse. But he knew Dom would never send Jess away. Leon wasn't so sure about himself. But he figured after all they'd been through Dom wouldn't get that mad over a girl. But one could never tell with Dom. "Ok, I won't then." She looked at him like she would anyway, but she'd allow him the dignity of not telling him about it or letting him know.
Dom was looking for Leon. They were heading out. He found him off to one side talking to none other then Kat. Jesus, couldn't Leon take a hint? They didn't need that girl around. She was smiling up at Leon and had a hand on his arm. He now had to walk up to them to tell Leon it was time to go. He didn't want to even look at the girl, now he'd have to say hello or he'd look like the ass. As he started over to them Leon tucked a piece of hair off Kat's face and behind her ear. Oh damn, Leon was after the girl, even if he didn't want to date her. And he was about to kiss her, right here at races in front of everyone.
Leon didn't know what possessed him to touch her like that, to move her hair off her face, in preparation to lean down and kiss her, truth be told. He felt that she would let him do it too. She kinda had her lips parted a bit. While he watched she licked her upper lip. It was a totally unconscious thing, and that made it even hotter to Leon. She wasn't trying to entice him, she was just really into him physically too. As he was about to lean in he heard his name.
"Leon. Yo, Leon. We're goin' home Man." Dom broke in. Leon groaned and Kat looked kinda dazed.
"Dom, can't you see I'm busy right now?" Leon looked at his friend with his eyes wide and with a touch of his annoyance in his voice.
"Yeah, I can, and it doesn't change the fact that we're leaving now." Dom emphasized now.
"I have my own ride Dom and last time I checked I knew how to drive home without you." Dom gave him a very dirty look. "Ok, in a second Dom. I'll meet you by the cars in a second." Dom walked away. Kat looked embarrassed. "I guess I gotta go. Sorry 'bout that."
"Don't be sorry Leon. I understand." She was mad at herself for losing her cool like she had, and worried that Sean never came back for her. But she did understand he had to keep Dom happy for now. She guessed she'd just hang out with Hector and Edwin for awhile and if Sean never came back she'd just leave in her car. But when she looked Hector and Edwin were gone. She'd have to wait by herself. Leon saw the same thing.
"Where's your entourage?" He asked. He wouldn't leave her down here alone. Dom would just have to wait.
"I don't know. I mean, Stacy and Kale took off in the Eclipse with some new 'friends' they made tonight long ago, but Sean should still be around." She was getting worried for Sean. She knew she could take care of herself so that wasn't a concern. But it wasn't like him to just take off on her. He normally worried about guys looking at her the wrong way or something too much to leave her alone. "Well, I'll wait with you by your car for another while till he comes back." Leon told her and took her elbow and started to lead her over to her car.
"No, you gotta go, I'll be fine." She told him and tried to push him in the direction of his friends, who were not so patiently waiting. She sat on her hood carefully. "Go with your friends Leon. I'll be fine."
"I'm not goin' till your friend comes back." He sat down beside her. Dom saw this and walked over to them.
"Leon, let's go." Dom growled out.
"I gotta wait with Kat till her friend comes back. I'm not leaving her alone down here." Leon gave Dom a look. Dom was a bit surprised. Leon was the easy goin' one. He normally went along with whatever other people said or told him. But Dom guessed he could see why Leon would not want to leave the girl here all alone. But they weren't waiting all night.
"Fine, we'll wait." Dom gave the girl a dirty look. He hadn't said a word to her in all the times he'd seen her that night.
"No one needs to wait for me. I'll be fine. Leon, go home." She widened her eyes at him and made a small head gesture like I would rather be alone then here with HIM. Leon was gonna fight her on it when her friend Sean walked up. He'd seen the tinge of fear in her eyes when Dom walked over and the way she looked at Leon. Sean said hi to Leon, thanked him for keeping Kat company and then gave Dom a menacing look. Dom knew that Sean knew that Kat didn't like him in that second. He walked over to his team. Leon told Kat goodnight and followed Dom.
Kat knew that part of the reason she didn't like Dom was his arrogance. But it was also the fact that he came by his confidence honestly. He was the best racer in LA as far as the world was concerned and Kat knew that when she raced him he'd make her really work for the win. She knew that there was every chance she wouldn't be able to beat him too. But mostly she just hated the way he made her feel like he was looking down at her as not worthy of being here, of racing here. She knew since he didn't know her he was basing that conclusion souly on the fact she was a woman. And that ticked her off. She didn't know why Dom would not like her, other then the answers that Leon had given her. Answers she didn't really fully buy. Kat turned to Sean.
AN: Thanks to everyone who reviewed. I'm glad you all seem to be enjoying my story. I wanted to take a second to address Jiffy's question. Well, it does have one. I don't know how to go into it without giving away the whole story to come. Well, the story is about my character and her team, so if you're waiting for the focus to shift to team Toretto you'll be disappointed. The team is in it, mainly because as many have guessed Kat and Leon are into each other. There's lots of drama, racing, and even a surprise action plot to come down the road. I have to set my team up here. Kat's been racing to make it to the level she's at for 4 years but I didn't want to go into it because there wouldn't be any of the team in it and it'd be boring. It's mainly about her struggle to make it in a male dominated world and overcome all the other adversity that she'd had thrown at her. I don't know if that helps or not, but I will tell you all that anyone who thinks that Kat is gonna sail through this story is wrong. There's lots of evil stuff comin' her way. Enjoy.
Kat shifted up to second and gained on the Eclipse. She was slowly overtaking her. She passed the Eclipse a second later.
The girl in the Mazda was just playing at being a racer, she never really had a chance to begin with. She fell further and further away. The Eclipse was keeping up, but not gaining any ground on the two Nissans. Kat knew she was sitting in Letty's blind spot right now, which should keep the other girl guessing for a few seconds while she waited to redline 5th and use her first shot of NOS.
It worked out like she planned and she heard the chime from the system telling her it was time for the NOS. She pressed the red button on her Sparco steering wheel and the sudden burst of horsepower squealed the tires and forced Kat back in the seat with a snap. She was flying and Letty's car was just a streak of light as she flew by it. Letty had to wait another second and then her car was also ready for NOS. She caught Kat when she used it.
Kat could see the finish. No way was she losing to this chick. She couldn't give Dom the satisfaction. She knew now he had planned this, hoping to live vicariously through his girlfriend. He wanted his shot to beat Kat, he figured that Letty could beat her, he knew Kat didn't want to race, but knew she wouldn't be able to say no to a chance to race girls. Kat pushed the accelerator harder and the car shot forward with a growl.
Letty wasn't losing to this girl. If Dominic was the king of street racing Letty was the queen. She was gonna win. She'd never been able to beat Leon, but this girl couldn't be as good as Leon. Could she? She shifted up to 5th and waited to use her second shot of NOS. Kat hit 6th and waited to use her NOS. She knew that Letty was gonna get to use hers first. But she figured that the lead she already had plus the force and speed she'd get when she used hers would be enough to keep her out ahead. She heard the squeal as Letty started to gain on her after using her NOS.
Kat waited a second longer till Letty was in her blind spot and hit her NOS at just the right second. She could see the silver grey Eclipse the guys were waiting for her in ahead and knew the finish was right there. She shot ahead, the sound her car made at these speeds with it's straight pipe exhaust was deafening.
The line was right there. Letty had her car open full throttle, the thing was just screaming and Kat was still half a car ahead of her. Letty decided to do what the last guy to race Kat had done, hold down but NOS buttons to empty the tanks and hope for the best. She took a deep breath and went for it.
Kat knew Letty wouldn't just give up and anticipated what she would do. She dropped it down to 5th, boosted her revs way up and shot over the finish line ahead of Letty by a car length. People standing at the finish would have been hard pressed to describe her car, it went by so fast it was just a blur of purple neon and red brake lights. It took her another almost ΒΌ mile to get it slowed down, then she drove back to the finish line. She got out of her car and was engulfed by first her guys then the crowd in general.
Hector handed her the money. "Here you go girl. You gave us one hell of a woman's race for sure."
"Thanks Hector." She looked around and saw Letty wasn't happy at all. She was glad that she wasn't going home with Letty. The girl was irate. Oh well, you won some and you lost some. It was team Torreto's time to lose some. Kat smiled and realized they were three thousand richer.
She was gonna get up early on Monday and go house hunting. They finally had the down payment money they needed to find a place. She was talking to Edwin and Hector and their girls. Her guys had all taken off to talk to people, she'd told Stacy and Kale not to worry about her, to just take the Eclipse and have a good time. They'd been ecstatic about that. They had a hot car and there were more chicks around then they'd ever seen in one place before. She'd figured Sean would stick around her like he always did but he must have seen someone he wanted to speak to because he was no where to be seen.
Someone walked up behind Kat and covered her eyes. She heard Hector say "guess who?" Presumably at the request of who ever was behind her. She didn't know who it could be. She didn't know anyone who wasn't in front of her already down here. But Leon! She thought. But she wasn't gonna just guess that right away. It made it too obvious she was hoping for it to be Leon.
"Um, well, let me see. Could be Ricky?" She said with a smile.
"Nope." Hector said.
"Well, I guess I need more info to figure this out." She reached her arms back and ran them up the guys sides. She noted the quick in draw of breath. The guy was well muscled but not huge. Nice abs. "Well, that helped some. Lets see." She reached back over her head and ran her fingers through the 'mystery' guy's hair. "Well, I would have to guess, Steve." She didn't even know a Steve. The guy's hair was sort of long and messy before she ever even touched it. The 'mystery' guy growled low in his throat. She almost didn't hear him. But now she could guess safely. "Oh, it's Leon. I'd know that growl anywhere."
Leon laughed and let her go. She spun around to face him. "What's the big deal of sneaking up on me like that? You could be spittin' out an important part of your anatomy right now."
"Naw, I was standing sideways at first, I anticipated that." Leon laughed. "How ya doin'?"
"How do ya think? I'm great. Other then the guys seem to have taken off on me and left me in the dubious company of these two." She smiled and pointed at Hector and Edwin.
"Well, how would you like to come to a party at our place? We always have one after races." Leon asked her hopefully. She smiled at the other guys, took Leon's arm and slowly walked him away from the crowd.
"Leon, much as I would love to party with you, me and your roommate almost killed each other today and I just creamed his girlfriend and took a g of his money. Do you think he'd be pleased to see me in his house?" She asked with a frown.
"No. You're right. It wouldn't be smart. But I wanted you to party with us." Leon really had wanted her to come over, he hadn't thought of the fact that she and Dom would likely fight.
"I'll take a rain check to some time when Dom and I can be in the same room without screaming at each other and needing to be physically restrained and Letty isn't ready to claw my face off." She giggled. "When I get a drink in me it gets worse not better."
"Well it's the same for Dom so you're right, you'd better not come any time soon."
"Won't he be mad at you for hangen' out with me?" Kat didn't want to be the reason why Leon had trouble at home.
"Maybe, but I can handle him. Don't worry about me." Leon wasn't so sure. He hadn't been around as long as the others, 'cept Jesse. But he knew Dom would never send Jess away. Leon wasn't so sure about himself. But he figured after all they'd been through Dom wouldn't get that mad over a girl. But one could never tell with Dom. "Ok, I won't then." She looked at him like she would anyway, but she'd allow him the dignity of not telling him about it or letting him know.
Dom was looking for Leon. They were heading out. He found him off to one side talking to none other then Kat. Jesus, couldn't Leon take a hint? They didn't need that girl around. She was smiling up at Leon and had a hand on his arm. He now had to walk up to them to tell Leon it was time to go. He didn't want to even look at the girl, now he'd have to say hello or he'd look like the ass. As he started over to them Leon tucked a piece of hair off Kat's face and behind her ear. Oh damn, Leon was after the girl, even if he didn't want to date her. And he was about to kiss her, right here at races in front of everyone.
Leon didn't know what possessed him to touch her like that, to move her hair off her face, in preparation to lean down and kiss her, truth be told. He felt that she would let him do it too. She kinda had her lips parted a bit. While he watched she licked her upper lip. It was a totally unconscious thing, and that made it even hotter to Leon. She wasn't trying to entice him, she was just really into him physically too. As he was about to lean in he heard his name.
"Leon. Yo, Leon. We're goin' home Man." Dom broke in. Leon groaned and Kat looked kinda dazed.
"Dom, can't you see I'm busy right now?" Leon looked at his friend with his eyes wide and with a touch of his annoyance in his voice.
"Yeah, I can, and it doesn't change the fact that we're leaving now." Dom emphasized now.
"I have my own ride Dom and last time I checked I knew how to drive home without you." Dom gave him a very dirty look. "Ok, in a second Dom. I'll meet you by the cars in a second." Dom walked away. Kat looked embarrassed. "I guess I gotta go. Sorry 'bout that."
"Don't be sorry Leon. I understand." She was mad at herself for losing her cool like she had, and worried that Sean never came back for her. But she did understand he had to keep Dom happy for now. She guessed she'd just hang out with Hector and Edwin for awhile and if Sean never came back she'd just leave in her car. But when she looked Hector and Edwin were gone. She'd have to wait by herself. Leon saw the same thing.
"Where's your entourage?" He asked. He wouldn't leave her down here alone. Dom would just have to wait.
"I don't know. I mean, Stacy and Kale took off in the Eclipse with some new 'friends' they made tonight long ago, but Sean should still be around." She was getting worried for Sean. She knew she could take care of herself so that wasn't a concern. But it wasn't like him to just take off on her. He normally worried about guys looking at her the wrong way or something too much to leave her alone. "Well, I'll wait with you by your car for another while till he comes back." Leon told her and took her elbow and started to lead her over to her car.
"No, you gotta go, I'll be fine." She told him and tried to push him in the direction of his friends, who were not so patiently waiting. She sat on her hood carefully. "Go with your friends Leon. I'll be fine."
"I'm not goin' till your friend comes back." He sat down beside her. Dom saw this and walked over to them.
"Leon, let's go." Dom growled out.
"I gotta wait with Kat till her friend comes back. I'm not leaving her alone down here." Leon gave Dom a look. Dom was a bit surprised. Leon was the easy goin' one. He normally went along with whatever other people said or told him. But Dom guessed he could see why Leon would not want to leave the girl here all alone. But they weren't waiting all night.
"Fine, we'll wait." Dom gave the girl a dirty look. He hadn't said a word to her in all the times he'd seen her that night.
"No one needs to wait for me. I'll be fine. Leon, go home." She widened her eyes at him and made a small head gesture like I would rather be alone then here with HIM. Leon was gonna fight her on it when her friend Sean walked up. He'd seen the tinge of fear in her eyes when Dom walked over and the way she looked at Leon. Sean said hi to Leon, thanked him for keeping Kat company and then gave Dom a menacing look. Dom knew that Sean knew that Kat didn't like him in that second. He walked over to his team. Leon told Kat goodnight and followed Dom.
Kat knew that part of the reason she didn't like Dom was his arrogance. But it was also the fact that he came by his confidence honestly. He was the best racer in LA as far as the world was concerned and Kat knew that when she raced him he'd make her really work for the win. She knew that there was every chance she wouldn't be able to beat him too. But mostly she just hated the way he made her feel like he was looking down at her as not worthy of being here, of racing here. She knew since he didn't know her he was basing that conclusion souly on the fact she was a woman. And that ticked her off. She didn't know why Dom would not like her, other then the answers that Leon had given her. Answers she didn't really fully buy. Kat turned to Sean.