Chapter 12 - Black and White, now with shades of gray.

"What's on your mind V?" She asked him. He looked pensive and it was a strange look for Vince. Nyssa didn't figure he did too much deep thinking. She knew he wasn't dumb, like Manda had told her he was, but he wasn't as complex as some other guys she had known. He relied on instincts and gut feelings more then deep involved thought. That didn't make him dumb to her, it made him refreshingly different. But most things in Vince's world were either on or off, Nyssa reasoned. Most things in Vince's world either fit or they didn't. She figured she was about the only grey area in his life; most of the rest must be pretty black and white.

For instance, if someone messed with a member of the team he would fight that person. There would never be a time when he didn't really want to, or wouldn't fight because he thought the other guy could beat him. It was just a thing with Vince. If they hurt or insulted a member of Vince's family they would get pounded on. With most people it would be a conscious decision. Like does he deserve the beating? Yes. Can I beat him? I have a chance. Do I want to fight? Yes or no. Can I walk away from this? Yes or no. Then based on what they thought of during that process they would either fight or not. Not Vince. He'd just do it because that's just how he was.

Vince was thinking about her. He was wondering about whether she was going to make it on the team or not. She was cool, and funny, and really smart, but she didn't have much drive for learning to race. She was watching him drive from her seat. It was kind of unnerving to be watched that closely, with that kind of intensity. He answered her question. "You are."

"Well, that can't be good. Why do you look so, well, lost over thinking about me?"

"Because I want you to get on the team and I don't think you ever will if you keep up this attitude toward learning to drive your car."

"What attitude?" She knew she had lots of attitude, just not over driving the car.

"Never wanting to practice, letting me drive everywhere. If this was my car I wouldn't want to let anyone else drive it, ever. I'd want to be the one driving; I'd be driving it all the time. You seem happy to let other people drive it for you all the time."

"Vince?"

"Yeah?"

"I wanted to drive the car. I just knew you did too. I figure I can drive it at the track all I want and I wanted to let you drive it on the way there because you looked like you wanted to. Plus, I'm still not great with it and I don't want anything to happen to us on the public roads. We can practice every day after school if you want. I want to race and I want to make it on the team. But let's face it V, even if I become the best driver on earth there's no guarantee that Dom will ever accept me."

"You only didn't want to drive to the track because you knew I wanted to?" She nodded. Thanks."

"Don't mention it."

"And I know Dom makes the final decision but if you're a good driver and you've proven your loyalty to the team then he won't say no. If he didn't like you at least some already you wouldn't be staying with us anymore. But you will need to practice more. That goes double if you want to be ready for Race Wars in 4 months time. You need to get good at the track then race in a few small buy in races on race nights to see how you do."

She nodded. They were pretty silent till they arrived at the track. She strapped herself in on the driver's side and started the car. She was doing better with the car this time. She got all the shifts right and also accelerated at a good rate. She was faster today, and more confident. She got up to 120mph too. Again Vince made her stop the car and take off from a dead stop up to 120 then stop and do it again. She did it about 10 times and the amount of time it took her to go from 0 to 120 was getting smaller. She had her shifting down better. She was better able to judge when to shift and how to let the clutch off.

Vince took over the controls again and did a run with NOS, full race style. She enjoyed the ride but she paid careful attention too. She wanted to learn all she could. She was getting into racing late to begin with and maybe she hadn't been taking it as seriously as she should have been. Given that she had no experience around cars other then the small amount she'd gotten with her brother she was at a distinct advantage. So after Vince got to do his run instead of letting him drive home she said she wanted to.

"You? You want to drive home?"

"Yeah. I have to drive it on the streets sometime right? Might as well start to get use to it. After all, it's on the streets that I'll be racing too. How'm I supposed to do that if I can't drive on the street to begin with?"

"You have a point. Crawl over here." Vince got out and let her slide into the driver's seat. When he got back into the car he was visibly pleased with her initiative.

"You know, we should go get your car and take both of the cars to Dom's. This constant switching of cars should stop." Nyssa mused as she guided the car out of the track parking lot and onto the road that led to the freeway.

"Good idea. Dom'll stop worrying that I'm lying about my car being fine where it is or hiding the fact that it's wrecked."

Nyssa turned the car toward her garage. She was nervous about driving the car in the street still and to tell the truth she was scared out of her mind when she hit the freeway. Vince could tell she was trying to be brave about things but she was not having a very fun time. Every time a car whizzed by her she flinched but she never complained and tried not to let on how scared she was. Vince figured maybe he was pushing her too hard. When she was more comfortable driving it on the track she might do better on the street. Well hell, he guessed he would have to take her to a quiet neighbourhood and let her get use to driving it on the street there, not on a busy freeway.

"Take this off ramp ok?"

"Sure, why?" Nyssa asked as she signaled and exited the freeway.

"Because you're doin great but you're not really ready to be on the freeway in this car. I'll finish the trip to your garage." Vince told her as he got back onto the main road. "I was thinking, we'll take you to a quiet neighbourhood, like around home even, and let you get use to driving on the road there ok? I think you should drive my car home too. I'll drive yours back to Dom's."

"That sounds perfect Vince." She was visibly relieved.

"You did good though. I could tell you were scared on the freeway." He tugged on her ponytail then fired the car back up and got back on the freeway.

They arrived at her garage and he gave her the keys to his car. After letting herself into the garage she started Vince's car and pulled it out of the garage. He waved at her and took off in the skyline and she followed him in his car. She enjoyed driving the Maxima. She found the gearshift instinctively easier to use and the car was very fast and responsive. Not fast like hers but way faster then the mustang her dad had bought her when she turned 16. Her mom had made her leave it behind in the house when they left because she said it was bought with her dad's 'dirty money'. Nyssa knew her dad had broken the law but he had provided for them as well. She found she didn't really care how he had made his money. She had missed him while they lived with Ed.

Her dad still owned the big house she had grown up in and she guessed the car was still there in the garage. Or at least she assumed her dad still owned the house since no one new had ever moved in. Now that her mom was gone she could likely have gone back and lived in her dad's house while she waited for him to get out of jail but it would have seemed sad and lonely without her dad and her brother. Plus she would have had to go to the jail to ask her dad about it.

She had only gone to see her dad once while he was in jail and that had been to tell him about her brother's death. He hadn't wanted her to see him that way, locked up in jail wearing an orange jumpsuit. Looking battered but not beaten. But she was the one who had to tell him about her brother. Her mom hadn't been around to do it and Danny had been killed. Her dad had to know. Her mom likely still didn't know because while Nyssa had tried to find her to tell her too, figuring even if she had run off she deserved to know, she hadn't been able to find her. Nyssa had been a child herself and shouldn't have had to be the one to break that news to her dad.

She couldn't hug him to comfort him while he cried over the loss of his son and it had about broken her heart. Most of the time she was able to deal with it all in a matter of fact way. There was nothing she could do about any of it and she knew it. But on that day it had gotten to her. They wouldn't even let him out long enough to come to the funeral. Her brother had been her protector and mentor ever since she was a little kid and she'd had to burry him. Her dad, her idol, her champion had been locked up in jail instead of at her side. It had been a hard thing for her to deal with, the whole situation, but deal she had.

Vince was a lot like Danny in many ways. Her brother had been gruff and quiet. He had loved to work on his car. Vince was a criminal and her brother had been a cop and of course that was different but they still had a lot in common. Her brother had lived in a pretty black and white world too.

Vince was driving pretty fast and in his car she was comfortable keeping up with him. She always had this sense of nervousness when she broke the speed limit like they were though. She was always on the lookout for cops. What if she got pulled over? She hardly had any money and couldn't afford to pay fines. She supposed she should tell her dad her situation and then see if he could start giving her an allowance again. She laughed at the thought but the idea had merit. She could still live with the Toretto's if she didn't tell them but then she'd have money for new clothes and to do any activities she wanted to participate in.

She had to talk to Vince about his behaviour around Brian before they hit the backyard. She'd promised Mia she'd do her best to make sure there was no repeat of the episode at the party the night before.

Both cars squealed to a stop in front of the house. Nyssa was just about to climb out of the car when Vince opened the door. She thought it was a wonderful coincidence as she could grab him now before they got out back. If she didn't talk to him first and Brian was already out back the situation was lible to get real thick real quick. Vince held out his hand to her to help her out of the car. She took it and stood up, hitching up her pants.

Vince grabbed her waist. It was one of those things he couldn't even have told himself why he did. He just went on instinct and wondered about it afterward.

"You did good today." Vince told Nyssa gruffly, not good at giving praise to anyone. Just look at how he did with Mia. Always with the 'you look good' shit.

"Well, thanks. Your car's fun to drive." She grabbed him around the neck so he couldn't take off on her when she continued into less benign topics.

"So's yours when you get use to it." She wrinkled her nose, wondering if that day would ever arrive for her. But the time had come to break the news to Vince about Brian and acceptable behavior. She was almost mad at Mia for putting her into this bind. She had a funny feeling Vince was going to be upset about her talking to him like he was in playschool and didn't like one of the other toddlers. It really wasn't Nyssa's place to teach him to share but she couldn't have Vince and Brian fighting again. It was going to end up tragic if it kept happening.

"Vince?"

"What?"

"We need to talk a second before we go up in the house."

Vince picked her up and carried her around to the back of his car and set her on the trunk, then stood between her legs. "What do we need to talk about little girl?" Much as Vince tried to convince himself it was some silly topic only a girl would care about he could tell by the set of her face it was more important then that and even more importantly he wasn't going to like it.

"You and your behavior because you might as well know that Brian is going to be here. Mia invited him. Did Dom get a chance to speak to you about that?" If Dom had found time to read the riot act then Nyssa wouldn't go into it again. She knew that it was possible to beat a topic to death, even with someone as stubborn as Vince.

"No. And we don't have to either." Vince bit out, looking at the ground. "I know how to behave." Nyssa grabbed his hair and tilted his head back to look him in the eye. She was pushing her luck, she knew but she really wanted to have a nice relaxing time, not watch things go from bad to worse.

"Yes we do need to talk about it. We can not have a repeat of last night V. Brian is an invited guest of Dom's and for now he is just plain a nice guy. He treats Mia well and she likes him. He hasn't forced her into anything and he treats her like a lady. If you feel this strongly that he's not what he seems then watch him. But you can't fight him or be obviously rude to him either V. You get me?"

"Yes. I get you. But he is hidin somethin. I don't want him to hurt Mia." Vince snorted and looked away, not wanting to continue the conversation any further. He wanted to beat Brian Earl Spilner into the ground and he didn't want anyone telling him reasons why he couldn't. "Can we go eat now? Please." He met Nyssa's earnest gaze again with his own more then mildly annoyed one.

"Yes, if you promise me that there will not be a fist fight for this one day at least. Please." He nodded reluctantly. "Does that mean you promise me?" He nodded with an exasperated look on his face.

"Do you need it in blood?" Vince growled.

"I guess your word is good enough. Are you going to help me down off the car?"

Vince turned around and told her to get on his back. He piggy backed her into the backyard. Everyone but Mia was sitting around the pick nick table. Vince set her down beside Letty and went over to talk to the boys. He gave Brian a dirty look but he held his temper otherwise.

"That looked cozy. Everthing ok between you too now?" Letty asked Nyssa as she kicked back against the table, on the seat backwards.

"Well, it's good. But it didn't help that I just had to nag him for the first time." Nyssa giggled despite herself. "You know the 'thou shall not mess up the pretty face of the blond pretty-boy' speech I just had to deliver for Mia in the driveway." Letty laughed.

"That does suck because Dom didn't forget so Vince is libel to hear it again. But really, how's he treaten you?"

"Good. I guess." Nyssa blew her hair off her face. "I don't know. I'm confused about how he feels about me. He's never made it clear. I think it's because he's still confused about how he feels about me too. I just tell myself it'll all work out one way or the other sometime so I may as well just enjoy the ride for now. How's it workin out between you'n Dom?"

"Same shit different day. He's sorry that he was dancing with the hoe, he says he didn't know I'd take it so hard. I'm getting sick of him flirting with skanks just to show me he could have them if he wanted them. It feels like he's rubbin my nose in the fact he could have them all if he wanted them so I better watch myself." Nyssa nodded her understanding.

"Letty, Nyssa, could you come here a second?" They heard Mia call from the door of the kitchen. They went into the house via the back door. "The food's ready. Could you help me carry it out to the table?"

"Sure." Letty and Nyssa picked up all they could carry and Mia grabbed the rest. Mia set up the table then called them all over to eat. Dom sat at the head of the table, Leon at the foot. Letty sat at Dom's right, then Nyssa then Vince, and Mia sat on Dom's left, then Brian, and finally Jesse. They ate after Mia said grace. Nyssa grabbed a Corona out of the open grouping of them in the center of the table and took a big gulp. Vince scowled at her in disapproval and Brian looked downright horrified. Dom just laughed. He liked Nyssa. He liked her attitude. She was underage but Vince was the one who offered her her first beer so it was sort of like it was their fault she liked it.

"Well, I wouldn't even know I liked Corona if you hadn't given me my first one. Doesn't that make you my pusher or somethin?" Nyssa pointed out to Vince. He gave her a dirty look but didn't say anything.

They finished eating; Vince and Brian tried to out stare each other over the whole meal. They talked about what to do after they cleaned up and they decided to go to the local drive in theatre after they ate. Nyssa had never been to a drive in so she was interested in getting to see one.

Letty and Dom took his car, Brian and Mia took Mia's car, Jesse and Leon took Jesse's car and Nyssa and Vince took Vince's car. They made quite a sight parked in a row near the front. All the cars with matching style graphics and gleaming paint. They saw two movies and by the time they got home it was really late. Since it was Sunday Nyssa had to get up for school in the morning and she wasn't looking forward to it.

Vince had to get up for his big job but of course Nyssa didn't know about that. He knew he didn't know her well enough to let her in on that sort of secret. The team was involved in something other then racing, something much more illegal and that was why Vince was so concerned about Brian just showing up. The timing was almost too convenient. He was so concerned about Nyssa's drinking and about getting in good with Dom. It just came at the wrong time for Vince to look the other way on it.

They were getting read for bed when Vince figured out a way to get Nyssa to look the other way about why he wanted to sleep in when she got up when he'd normally get up with her and take her to class.

"Take my car to school tomorrow morning why don't you? I'll have yours here if I need it and then if you want to go anywhere you have a ride."

"You sure about that?

"Yeah, unless you don't want to, then I'll drive you before I go to work." Vince managed to internalize his groan. He didn't want to get up in the morning but he would if he had to, to keep her off the trail.

"I'd love to have a car with me for a change but what if something happens to the Maxima? I'd never live it down." She smiled softly because she knew how much love he had for his car. She didn't really understand it but she knew it was there.

"It'll be fine. Just be careful and remember to turn on the security when you park it. And don't let anyone eat in it. Not even you." Vince shook a finger at Nyssa. It was fine when he was around to make sure nothing was spilled but he didn't want anyone eating in his baby when he wasn't around.

"Ok, well then you can drive the Skyline if you need to."

"Ok then, goodnight." He kissed her good night and they went to sleep.

She woke up the next morning in Vince's arms. It never ceased to amaze her how they could go to sleep on their own sides of the bed and wake up together in the center. She found it hard to believe she had known him all of 5 days too. She untangled herself from Vince and got up. She got ready quickly and stopped to look at Vince asleep in bed. She could never believe how good looking she found him. Most girls went for Dom even though he had a girl. She just didn't see how anyone found Dom better looking then Vince. She guessed she was just into scruffy guys more then bald, muscle bound ones. She kissed Vince softly and let herself out of the house.