Chapter 4 - Purple Silvia's
I went back to my room and unloaded the car. I'd been in Miami for about two hours and I felt like I'd gotten a lot done. I had new clothes and an address where to find races. Life was good. Well, ok, no it wasn't. But it was looking better then it had in Texas and Mississippi.
I'd bought some beer while I was out and I grabbed one and plopped down on my bed. I twisted the top off a corona and started to pull back the golden liquid. I figured I'd have two or three then call Mia.
I had lots of time to sober up before races if I got a slight buzz on before I called her. I didn't want to tell her where I was. I still felt that it was important I spend some time on my own. I knew if I told Mia where I was she'd have Vince on the next plane out here. She wouldn't even let him take the time to drive. She'd make him fly and drive home with me.
And like I've said, I wanted V to come and get me more then anything. But I also knew that it was important for me to do this on my own for awhile. If Dominic and I were going to have a chance at a future together then I had to find out who I was before I went back to him.
Because next time, if there was one, I had to be Letty who happened to date Dom. Not Dom's girlfriend Letty. I think we'd gotten to the point of taking each other for granted. It can't happen any more if we get back together. When we get back together. I need to hold on to that thought.
Three coronas later I was ready to call. It was the last time I was going to be speaking to the guys and Mia for a long time I had a feeling and I wanted to get enough of a V, Mia, Leon and Jesse fix to last me for awhile. After this it was just Let, Letty and Letitia. I picked up the phone and dialled our number. It was only 6pm in LA and there was every chance that Dom would answer. So another way I'd guess I'll know when I'm ready to go back is when the thoughts of talking to Dom on the phone don't scare the shit out of me.
The phone only rang once before it was answered.
"Hello." I breathed a sigh of relief. Mia.
"Hey Mia. How you livin' girl?" It was tradition. Poor Mia wouldn't know what to do if I didn't ask her that.
"Letty. Thank god you called. I've been so worried about you. Where are you now?"
"I'm where I am Mia." Cryptic huh?
"Letty, you told me you'd tell me where you were when you got where you were going."
"I know I did Mia but I've realized something." I can't tell her that I want to be alone. One, it's a lie and two, she'll be hurt. I wonder what to do about the whole thing. I have to tell her something.
"Do tell." Mia said with sarcasm. She was never as nice when she was worried. I didn't feel like answering her, so I launched into our favourite story.
"Member the first day we ever met?"
"Of course." Mia sighed. This was old news and I new she wanted me to get to the point.
"Well, ever since then you guys have been taking care of me. I need to take care of myself for awhile."
"Letty, you're not making sense. You take care of yourself. You're the toughest girl I know. Gosh, you took care of me all through school, all through Dom's sentence, all through Bri." She trailed off. I knew how much she hated to think of Brian and what he'd done. "We love you because you're family but we haven't been taking care of you."
"Yes Mia, you have. Dom and Vince have been taking care of me for a long time. I need some time alone to take care of myself all alone for awhile."
"Letty. We need you. We might take care of you but you take care of us too. I'm not sure I can do it without you. I can't carry the team without you Let.I need you. You're strong for both of us."
"And you're caring for both of us Mia and that won't change. It's just going to have to take a break for awhile." I decided to try and change the subject.
"So how is everything going?"
"How do you think? Letty, we're not a whole team without you." Mia was getting very close to tears. I didn't know what to do. Then I got an idea. I'd forgotten something when I left and it might just cheer Mia up.
"Mia. I'll be back. I swear. I want you to do me a favour. Go into the kitchen. I know you're on the cordless phone so go." I heard her walking.
"Ok. I'm there. Now what?"
"Who's that?" I heard HIM ask in the background.
"No one." She answered. "A friend from school." She didn't want to share me with him and I was glad. I didn't want to talk to him anyway. I heard him huff but he let it drop.
"Ok, go out the back door." I heard the screen door slam as she complied with me.
"Ok." She told me from the backyard.
"Go into the shed."
"The shed. Why?"
"Humour me." I chuckled at Mia giving me attitude. Should be the other way around.
"Ok. I'm in the shed." I could picture the shed. It was big and empty and sad without Van's charger in it. All it had was parts for the car lying in wait. Waiting for Van or Dom to pull the car in and pop the hood and start working on that mammoth engine. Waiting for one of them to put the slicks on the huge rear wheels and take it to the track to try and beat 9 seconds. But the car was gone and it wasn't ever coming back. Neither was Van. Dom I wasn't sure about.
"Go to the left and look on the bookshelf for a book called Chilton Repair Manual 1968-73."
"I see it." Mia was clearly confused. I hope my surprise goes over as well as I hope it will.
"Take it off the shelf and feel in behind it."
"Ok." I heard the book move. "Letty." She started to cry. I knew she'd found what I sent her to find.
"So Mia. You know if you have my purple car that I'm coming back. Remember what I told you about that car?"
"That it was your favourite thing in the whole world and you'd never give it away or lose it." She sniffled.
"Right. And I'm coming back for it someday. But till then you can hold on to it for me." So much for no more tears. I was on the verge again. Mia knew why that car was so important to me.
"I love you Let. We're not the same with out you. Dom's not the same. He's so sad all the time Letty."
"And all he has to do is tell me he's found what ever it was he was looking for. Then I'll come home. But not a second before." She must have walked back into the house because I heard Dom ask her.
"What do you have Mia?"
"Nothing Dom." She snapped back at him. Then I heard Vince. He must have seen what Mia had clutched in her hand because he followed her to the living room.
"Let me talk to her Mia."
"You want to talk to Vince?" She asked me. Did I?
"Sure. You gonna be ok girl?" I wanted to know before I let her go that she wasn't going to fly to pieces.
"If I tell you no will you come back now?"
"Yeah. But only if you really really mean it Mia. Only if you still want me to come back right now if you know how much it'll hurt me to come back. If you know how bad it'll hurt me to come back now and you still need me then I'll come back. I'm the strong one, remember. I can handle it. If you really need me to." I meant it. If Mia could tell me she really needed me to come back after that speech I'd do it.
"I'm gonna be ok for a while Letty. I'll try to be like you." Bad idea, I thought but I didn't tell her that. I just told her good girl and waited for her to hand the phone to V.
"Hey baby girl."
"Hey V." It was good to hear his voice.
"You doin' ok?"
"Yep. I've arrived. Settled in. Did some shopping. I'm goin racin tonight."
"Sounds like you're having fun while we miss you." Vince laughed though.
"Hey Bro, I'm on vacation." I giggled. Vince can pull me out of my bad moods most of the time.
"Sure. Sure. So, where are you?" He was trying to make it sound like he was just curious so I'd tell him where I was.
"We're not going there V. I'm where I am and you guys'll know when I'm ready to tell you all."
"Alright. So you let Mia have your car eh? That was nice of you."
"Nope. I didn't let her have it. I let her hold onto it. You know I'll never give that car away Vince."
"I know Letty." Like he knew I wanted to get off the phone before Dom got up his courage and asked to speak to me he started to begin the process of letting me go. "I know you said you weren't going to call much, but don't do that ok. Call me. I need to know that you're ok, even if I don't know where you are. If I think you're not ok I'm going to have Jesse try to find you. But if I know you're safe I'll stop him and let you have your space. Comprende?"
"Ok V. I'll call every few weeks. I'm not committing to more then that." I couldn't. Every call increased the chance of him answering the phone or asking to speak to me.
"Ok." He sighed. He'd wanted a better promise out of me but I didn't have one to give. We said our I love you's and hung up.
And of course the whole thing with Mia got me thinking about the purple car. Now I imagine it's obvious it's THE purple car. The one I showed Dom on the day I met him. That's not why it's so special though.
It called to me. The day I saw it in Walmart I knew I had to have it. It was the one thing I risked my dad's wrath and whined for. I had to have it. I was 8 when I got it. And from the day it left the package it was never off my person. It was always in my pocket, or in my bag. I always had it within grabbing distance. Till I got something better, but I'll tell that story later. But I still kept the car. It meant too much to me not to.
I wanted a car just like it. I wanted to own that car. If there'd been a way for me to make that car big enough for me to drive I would have. When I was young I told anyone who'd listen I was going to own a real car just like it someday. As I got older I realized everyone was saying 'yeah right' in their heads and I stopped telling people. But I still felt that way. It was among the first things I ever told Dom after all.
Dom never forgot it. As time went on we became closer friends and slowly but surely he hated me being around less. And as time went on it became more and more obvious to me I was never going to own my car which made all those doubters right. But my family had no money and I couldn't get a job to work to save up because my dad wouldn't let me. So I had to put my plans on hold for the car. But it hurt. And plus, while I didn't know what kind of car my toy was I could tell that any car that would look just like it would be a very expensive car.
And even then I still held on to the little purple car. I lost most of my other 'Hot Wheels' but never the purple one. Dom knew. I think he knew how sad I was that I wasn't getting my car any time soon too. I wanted a car, any car, for my 16th but I knew it wasn't going to happen. My family still had no money. I knew my family was doing what they always did for my birthday. Nothing. But I figured that Mr. Toretto would have a special dinner for me like he always had, ever since my 11th birthday. He told me once he was sorry that he missed out on 10. But he never missed another one. Well, not while he was still with us.
Dom had been taking Mia and I to races every once in awhile already, behind Van's back of course. It was making it even worse because there were all these nice cars there and I knew none of them would ever be mine. I had a burning desire to drive all of them and race all of them. I knew even then when I didn't know how to drive that I wanted to race. It called to me. It had since the first time Van had taken me for a spin in his stock car. It got worse when Dom let me ride along in his RX-7 while he street raced one night he took us to races. It didn't matter though because I was never getting a car I could use to race. It was looking pretty hopeless.
The day of my 16th birthday was sunny and hot. Dom was 20 and he worked for his dad in their garage so most days he'd drive Mia and I to school before he went to work. I was always at their house anyway. I stayed in Mia's room most nights. Mia and I were pretty much inseparable even then. We had other friends by then but Mia and I were like sisters. Dom drove us to school and told us not to leave at the end of the day that he wanted to come get us. That was strange but not unpleasant. Dom was already one of those guys with a reputation and us knowing him wasn't a bad thing. Getting picked up out front in his RX-7 was going to be cool.
I could hardly make it through that day in school I was so excited about Dom coming to get us. But I made it and sure enough when we burst out the front doors of the school there was the bright red car, it's owner leaning with studied indifference against the side.
"Hey Dom!" Mia called out.
"Hi girls. How was school?"
"You must remember Dom. You haven't been done so long yourself." I teased him. He'd missed a few classes and it had taken him an extra year to finish. He had the good grace to blush.
"Get in the car Letty." He shoved me playfully toward the car. I shoved him back with a laugh. We'd grown closer over the 6 years we'd known each other and over the last year of it my feelings for him had changed. Well, they'd shifted at 13 but they were really different now. I wanted him the way a woman wants a man. I really didn't think Dom wanted me that way and I knew Dom would never do anything about it because he thought he was too old for me anyway.
I'd never had a boyfriend either. Not that guys didn't ask but I was holding out for Dom. Well, I'd gone out a few times because Dom had lots of girls. They were always hanging off him. And like a typical 20 year old he sucked up the attention. But sometimes, just sometimes I caught him looking at me funny. I hoped it meant what I thought it did. So I dated other guys every once in a while but it never went anywhere because my heart wasn't in it. But as Mia climbed in the back of the car, telling me it was my birthday so I could have the front, that actually had a seat, all I had on my mind was what Van had planed for my birthday.
"We gotta go to the garage first. Dad wants me to look at something quick then we'll all go home together." Dom told us right before he cranked the tunes up and headed for what was at the time known as Toretto's garage. It didn't become DT's till after. He drove fast, and if he wasn't Dom it would have been reckless too. But because he was Dom I knew we were safe with him. I enjoyed the ride. I think he drove faster then he would have if he was alone because he knew how much I loved fast rides.
When we pulled up to the shop Dom made me and Mia come in too. We didn't want to. We wanted to sit in Dom's cool car and listen to his stereo but Dom insisted. We walked into the shop and all the lights were off.
"What the." Dom trailed off. "Dad! We're here. Where are you?" Dom called, but it sounded like he had laughter in his voice.
The lights flew on and there, in the middle of the shop was my purple car. Not the toy but a real car that looked just like it.
"Happy birthday Letty." Dom told me quietly. Then louder he said "Well, go see her." And gave me a shove toward the car.
"The car is for me?" I asked as I stumbled toward it. I couldn't believe it.
"Of course. Who else but you would want a purple car?" Dom smirked good- naturedly "I'm sick of driving you and Mia to school. I had to do something about it." Dom grinned. "Go." He shoved me softly toward the beautiful car again. I looked closer. I could see myself in the gleaming, flawless paint. I walked slowly around the car. When I got to the name on the back of the car I sucked in a breath. I knew what this was. This WAS my purple car. I wanted to take this gift more then anything. But it was too much. This was a rare car. The Toretto's weren't rich. I couldn't take something like this from them. It was the hardest thing I'd ever done but I turned to Dominic and his father.
"Dom this is a Silvia. I can't take this. It's too much."
"Sure you can. I only got it for you. I only painted it that horrid color for you. I mean I had to strip it right down. I knew you'd always want it to be purple so I had to gut it and properly change the color. It's purple now and it's your car."
"It was built with you in mind Letitia." Van added. "We want you to have your purple car." He grinned. "Get in."
"It's too much." I protested as I slid into the car with Dom's help. "I can't keep this."
"You can keep it and you will. Besides, I got it cheap. It was wrecked. I've been working on it for the last year now." Dom told me with a cocky grin. He leaned into the window and got right in my face for the rest. "Besides it's not even close to done yet. It's pretty well bone stock. I'll expect you to put in your own wrench time to build your race car. I want you to have it Letty. I want you racing this car by my side. You got it in you girl. I can see it in your eyes. You'n me are gonna run the streets." He hadn't wanted his dad or sister to hear him say those things. It wouldn't do for even Mia and his dad to hear him talk like that. He stood up away from the car and just looked at me with those black eyes that almost no one but me can read.
I stood up out of the car and grabbed Dom around his neck. We were pretty touchy with each other. We had been for some time. "Thanks. I'll take real good care of it." I really didn't know what else to say.
"You're welcome. And I know you will. Besides you didn't think I was going to let you drive my car to learn stick did you?" I sniffled. Dom looked down at me, deep into my tear filled eyes, then right in front of his sister and his dad he kissed me. On the lips. And not the kind of kiss one gave a sister. The kind of kiss that one gives a girl that one liked. It was the best birthday ever. Dom's dad even approved of us. I thought his dad would be mad because I was too young for Dom. I thought Van would try to keep him away from me because of the age difference. But now that I think about it I'd say that Van pushed Dom toward me. He never approved of any other girl Dom ever brought home.
They left us alone in the garage beside the car. I think it was like they knew we needed to be alone for a few minutes. And Dom kissed me again. Then set me inside the driver's seat and got in the passenger and started to show me around the interior. He showed me all sorts of stuff about my new car. My new car. I couldn't say it to myself enough.
He took me out after our special family dinner and started to show me how to drive a standard. I'd never gotten the chance to learn. That wasn't all he taught me on the night of my 16th birthday. It was also the first night we christened my car. The first time I ever had sex. Turns out Dom had wanted me since I was 13 and he was 17, just like I'd wanted him. But he had known I'd been too young then. But I wasn't now. 4 years wasn't such a big deal. But Dom was my first. And Dom's the only one I've ever had sex with to this day. And that is how I got my car and why it's so important to me. It's the best thing anyone ever gave me and there are little parts of me and Dom all through it. So therefore the car is the best of Dom and me all rolled up into one package. Plus it reminds me of Van.
When I came out of my reflection I had tear tracks on my face. Yep, that was why Raidon was so special to me. And I'd put him on the line over a stupid car race. But I wasn't losing. And if I did I could never go home. Dom gave me that car. He told me he loved me for the first time in that car. He taught me to race in that car. He made me the queen to his king of the streets in that car. He helped me build that car. He and I spent so much time together in that car. I couldn't lose this race. I knew that I was going home to Dom someday. If I went home without my Silvia he'd never forgive me. His dad had told me what Dom really went through to get that car and it wasn't as easy as Dom had made me think.
He'd saved for a whole year to buy it. He'd gone without a lot of things he'd really wanted so that I could have my car. For the year he'd saved he'd worked for his dad and for another guy at the race track. Then he'd put almost all his race winnings for that year toward it too. It hadn't been wrecked. It had been in a minor accident. Then he worked on fixing it up for a year like he'd said. Every time I couldn't find him. Every time I wondered why I didn't see him as much as I'd used to it was because he was building my car. Van had helped him fix it up and had given him a small amount of the money he'd needed to buy it but other then that it had all been Dom. It had been all Dom's idea to buy it in the first place. He'd had to go on the internet to find out just what kind of car my Hot Wheels had been too.
So that whole year he'd been MIA so much he'd been building my car. That and trying to keep his hands off me. He told me that later. But it was ok because I'd been trying to keep my hands off him too. And even Mia approved of the match. And he did just what he'd said. He'd made me his queen. I'm glad that Van got to see me and Dom happy together before he died. Where ever he is right now he's pissed at both of us for letting things get this bad.
Having Dom for my own is what gave me 'the attitude'. If I got Dom then I was special. It went to my head. And it made other girls hate me. And it made other guys want me. But through the whole first year we dated we were the ultimate couple. We never fought. Dom was affectionate and passionate. He wanted everyone to know I was his girl. He never let anyone forget it.
Then Dom's dad was killed.
That was the worst day of my life. We were all at the track. We all went with Van every time. We cheered for him from the front row of benches every race. He was going right to the top of the pro circuit and we couldn't have been more pleased.
I remember Van was out front and Kenny Linder was right behind him. Linder was driving recklessly and I remember Dom making a comment about how he was going to cause an accident if he didn't smarten up. Linder came too close for comfort to Van's bumper and I grabbed Dom's hand in fear as I watched. He squeazed back. He was nervous too.
But Van kept it on the track. That time. The next time he wasn't so lucky. Linder clipped his bumper solid and Van's car spun out into the wall at 120. The car burst into flames. I just stood there in shock. Mia broke down into great racking sobs and Dom and Vince tried to jump the fence to get to the car.
But none of us could do anything and we had to watch Van burn to death. For the week after that day Dom was inconsolable. We went to the funeral two days after it happened and it's the only time I've ever seen Dom cry. Not tears running down his face but great, racking sobs that shook his whole body. He wasn't as big then. That came after. But all I could do was hold him and try to be strong. He'd made me strong, with his love. Tough came from my dad and how he use to treat me but strong came from Dom.
I had to stop with the reminiscing and get to the racing. It was almost time. I really hope I'm as good as I think because if I lose my Silvia then my life won't be worth living. It will be like loosing Van, Dom and the rest of the team all over again.
I got dressed in some of my new cloths and then headed out to the car in question. Still purple, still had the same graphics that Dom put on it for me. I slid inside and slammed the door. Still had a hint of his aftershave if I closed my eyes while I took a big sniff. It was time for me to win one on my own.
I started the car up and headed to the address the guy had given me. There was already quite a crowd gathered. I guess the guy hadn't given me the wrong address or anything. I got a spot and stood up out of my car, looking around.
I looked to my left and, low and behold, there was the buster, to borrow a page from Vince.
"Hey baby." Same stupid grin. Still talking to my boobs.
"Hey. When are we on?" I got right to the point.
"Whenever you're ready girl. I hope you brought you're partying clothes." He leered at me. Oh man. What a loser. "I'ma own that sweet little body when we're done."
"Whatever. Let's race."
"Feisty. I like that."
"Whateva." I got in my car again and rolled down the window. "We on?" I was getting impatient.
"Yeah baby. We on. I hope the man who build that ride for you isn't in the picture because you'n I are gonna get so freaky that he'd have to kill me if you were his girl."
"I built this car. Now go get in yours and drive to the line so I can follow you there." I sighed. But he went and got in his car and as he drove I followed him. When we stopped at the line he called a black man with cornrows over to his car. I guess he was telling that guy what was up.
The black guy must be the equivalent of Dom down in this place. It seemed that all races had to go through him. The guy looked over at my car and nodded. Then he walked my way. I sighed again. He was going to want to talk to me. I didn't want to roll my window down. I wanted to stay as low key as I could and my 5% tint all around was helping me out there. But I couldn't ignore the guy when he was right beside my window. I rolled it down.
"Hey. I'm Tej." The guy told me.
"Letty." I answered him shortly.
"You know what you're doing? This guy, much as he's an idiot, can really race."
"Yeah, well, so can I so are we doin this or not? I have a car to win." I was getting sick of getting the run around.
"Ok girl. Good luck." He walked away and I rolled my window up. It was on. A race skank walked out in front of us and held up a scarf. I revved up my car and the crowd cheered. I didn't have any use for a Toyota. Why was I doing this again? Oh yeah, because I have Dom's pride. It's gotten me into trouble before.
The skank dropped her scarf and we took off. Tej wasn't kidding. The guy was good. But he wasn't that good. I got the lead after the first three seconds and I kept it. I crossed the finish line half a car ahead of him, turned around and then went back to the party.
I pulled up into the crowd and got out of my car. I was surrounded in a heartbeat by cheering well wishers who wanted to be in my presence. I'd won a car. Fair and square. I took the congratulations with cool politeness.
"Hey girl. That was some race. You wanna give me a chance to earn back my car?" The punk was still full of his own importance.
"Nope. But I'll give you a chance to buy it back. For 20 G's." I smiled at him, a very cocky smile.
"Done. I love my car. I love to caress her." He started to go on and on. Trying to convince me that he would be a good lover for me based on how he liked his car, based on his smart mouth.
"Shut up and give me my money punk." I told him with a smile that had no amusement in it. He handed it over, surprise surprise.
"There you go." He handed me a huge wad of cash. Then he sighed in defeat and walked away. Tej walked up to me.
"Hey girl. That was some race. You sticken around for awhile? I got a few more races for you if you are."
"Yeah man, I'll be in town for awhile. If you can hook me up then just let me know." I was pretty happy to get in good with the guy who organized races on my first night out.
"You wanna run again tonight?" I leaned in my window and checked my NOS gage. I had lots of spray left.
"Sure." I told him with my first Letty cocky grin since I'd left LA.
"Good." Tej started to walk away from me to set up the next race.
"Tej what's this I hear about you finding a racer that can beat me?" A slightly familiar voice asked from behind me. I turned slowly around.
"Chumpy?" I asked in shock. Brian was in Miami. This couldn't be happening.
"Letty?" Brian was just as shocked as I was. But he smiled that killer smile at being called my pet name for him.
"You two know each other?" Tej asked and before either of us could answer a very slim woman stepped in between us.
"What's with calling our Bullit Chumpy?" She asked me with attitude.
"Bullit?" I asked and I couldn't help it. I burst out laughing. "Chumpy, you convinced these people you can race?" Brian's smile got bigger.
"Not against you girl. Never against you. Reina, how you been livin?" Brian seemed pleased to see me, slipped into his nickname for me. Was Spanish for queen. His reference to the fact that I was Dom's queen. Then his face seemed to fall and he looked around nervously. "Are you here alone?"
"Yep." I answered.
"Why?" Brian seemed to have a lot more questions.
"Why did you run away from us?" I shot back. I had a lot too. Mainly why did you break my best friend's heart? Brian had a lot to answer for.
"Maybe we should go talk alone huh Let?"
"Might be for the best Brian." I suddenly was really glad Brian was in Miami. I wasn't alone anymore. Assuming he had a real good reason for not telling Mia what was happening and what he was going to be doing. If not I'd have to beat the shit out of him. The idea had no appeal but it would be the principle of the thing.
"Where you staying?" He asked. I named my motel. "Hell no. Girl, you can come stay with us. Can't she Tej?" Brian turned to Tej.
"Sure, we got room." Tej answered. I could tell that he wanted to know more about me.
"I'll follow you to your room. You can get your stuff and then follow me to Tej's. You have a job yet?"
"Hell no Chumpy. I just got here."
"It's your lucky day then. Tej needs a mechanic."
"No shit?" I wasn't ever this lucky. This was pretty lucky.
"Well, I do need one but I need a seriously good one." Tej broke in.
"I'm the best." I answered. I was one of the best. I knew it.
"Well." Tej didn't look sure.
"We can talk about that more tomorrow Bro. For now I wanna get her settled in." Brian saved me from telling Tej of my skills and how I got them at 1am.
"Sounds good Brian." Tej gave up.
"Stop calling our Bullit Chumpy." The girl tried one more time to convince me that Brian deserved to be called Bullit. I wasn't in the best mood to begin with and this girl was getting on last nerve.
"I'll call him Bullit when he beats me in a race for the first time. Besides that all the skills he's got he got from." I couldn't call him Dom. These people wouldn't know who he was. I couldn't call him my boyfriend because he wasn't. So what was Dominic Toretto to me now? I didn't even know. "He got from the same old friend who taught me. And I was taught first. I have more race time. He's gonna be my Chumpy. He can be your bullit if you want him to be." I smirked. If the girl wanted to go I'd oblige her.
"It's ok Suki." Brian told her with a smile. "She's an old friend and she can kick my ass six ways to Sunday, either on the track or in a fight."
"Are we friends Brian?"
"I think we need to go talk about that." Brian turned serious for the first time.
"Lets go." I told him and got into my car. He followed me to the motel and helped me pack up my shit. I checked out then followed him to Tej's house.
I went back to my room and unloaded the car. I'd been in Miami for about two hours and I felt like I'd gotten a lot done. I had new clothes and an address where to find races. Life was good. Well, ok, no it wasn't. But it was looking better then it had in Texas and Mississippi.
I'd bought some beer while I was out and I grabbed one and plopped down on my bed. I twisted the top off a corona and started to pull back the golden liquid. I figured I'd have two or three then call Mia.
I had lots of time to sober up before races if I got a slight buzz on before I called her. I didn't want to tell her where I was. I still felt that it was important I spend some time on my own. I knew if I told Mia where I was she'd have Vince on the next plane out here. She wouldn't even let him take the time to drive. She'd make him fly and drive home with me.
And like I've said, I wanted V to come and get me more then anything. But I also knew that it was important for me to do this on my own for awhile. If Dominic and I were going to have a chance at a future together then I had to find out who I was before I went back to him.
Because next time, if there was one, I had to be Letty who happened to date Dom. Not Dom's girlfriend Letty. I think we'd gotten to the point of taking each other for granted. It can't happen any more if we get back together. When we get back together. I need to hold on to that thought.
Three coronas later I was ready to call. It was the last time I was going to be speaking to the guys and Mia for a long time I had a feeling and I wanted to get enough of a V, Mia, Leon and Jesse fix to last me for awhile. After this it was just Let, Letty and Letitia. I picked up the phone and dialled our number. It was only 6pm in LA and there was every chance that Dom would answer. So another way I'd guess I'll know when I'm ready to go back is when the thoughts of talking to Dom on the phone don't scare the shit out of me.
The phone only rang once before it was answered.
"Hello." I breathed a sigh of relief. Mia.
"Hey Mia. How you livin' girl?" It was tradition. Poor Mia wouldn't know what to do if I didn't ask her that.
"Letty. Thank god you called. I've been so worried about you. Where are you now?"
"I'm where I am Mia." Cryptic huh?
"Letty, you told me you'd tell me where you were when you got where you were going."
"I know I did Mia but I've realized something." I can't tell her that I want to be alone. One, it's a lie and two, she'll be hurt. I wonder what to do about the whole thing. I have to tell her something.
"Do tell." Mia said with sarcasm. She was never as nice when she was worried. I didn't feel like answering her, so I launched into our favourite story.
"Member the first day we ever met?"
"Of course." Mia sighed. This was old news and I new she wanted me to get to the point.
"Well, ever since then you guys have been taking care of me. I need to take care of myself for awhile."
"Letty, you're not making sense. You take care of yourself. You're the toughest girl I know. Gosh, you took care of me all through school, all through Dom's sentence, all through Bri." She trailed off. I knew how much she hated to think of Brian and what he'd done. "We love you because you're family but we haven't been taking care of you."
"Yes Mia, you have. Dom and Vince have been taking care of me for a long time. I need some time alone to take care of myself all alone for awhile."
"Letty. We need you. We might take care of you but you take care of us too. I'm not sure I can do it without you. I can't carry the team without you Let.I need you. You're strong for both of us."
"And you're caring for both of us Mia and that won't change. It's just going to have to take a break for awhile." I decided to try and change the subject.
"So how is everything going?"
"How do you think? Letty, we're not a whole team without you." Mia was getting very close to tears. I didn't know what to do. Then I got an idea. I'd forgotten something when I left and it might just cheer Mia up.
"Mia. I'll be back. I swear. I want you to do me a favour. Go into the kitchen. I know you're on the cordless phone so go." I heard her walking.
"Ok. I'm there. Now what?"
"Who's that?" I heard HIM ask in the background.
"No one." She answered. "A friend from school." She didn't want to share me with him and I was glad. I didn't want to talk to him anyway. I heard him huff but he let it drop.
"Ok, go out the back door." I heard the screen door slam as she complied with me.
"Ok." She told me from the backyard.
"Go into the shed."
"The shed. Why?"
"Humour me." I chuckled at Mia giving me attitude. Should be the other way around.
"Ok. I'm in the shed." I could picture the shed. It was big and empty and sad without Van's charger in it. All it had was parts for the car lying in wait. Waiting for Van or Dom to pull the car in and pop the hood and start working on that mammoth engine. Waiting for one of them to put the slicks on the huge rear wheels and take it to the track to try and beat 9 seconds. But the car was gone and it wasn't ever coming back. Neither was Van. Dom I wasn't sure about.
"Go to the left and look on the bookshelf for a book called Chilton Repair Manual 1968-73."
"I see it." Mia was clearly confused. I hope my surprise goes over as well as I hope it will.
"Take it off the shelf and feel in behind it."
"Ok." I heard the book move. "Letty." She started to cry. I knew she'd found what I sent her to find.
"So Mia. You know if you have my purple car that I'm coming back. Remember what I told you about that car?"
"That it was your favourite thing in the whole world and you'd never give it away or lose it." She sniffled.
"Right. And I'm coming back for it someday. But till then you can hold on to it for me." So much for no more tears. I was on the verge again. Mia knew why that car was so important to me.
"I love you Let. We're not the same with out you. Dom's not the same. He's so sad all the time Letty."
"And all he has to do is tell me he's found what ever it was he was looking for. Then I'll come home. But not a second before." She must have walked back into the house because I heard Dom ask her.
"What do you have Mia?"
"Nothing Dom." She snapped back at him. Then I heard Vince. He must have seen what Mia had clutched in her hand because he followed her to the living room.
"Let me talk to her Mia."
"You want to talk to Vince?" She asked me. Did I?
"Sure. You gonna be ok girl?" I wanted to know before I let her go that she wasn't going to fly to pieces.
"If I tell you no will you come back now?"
"Yeah. But only if you really really mean it Mia. Only if you still want me to come back right now if you know how much it'll hurt me to come back. If you know how bad it'll hurt me to come back now and you still need me then I'll come back. I'm the strong one, remember. I can handle it. If you really need me to." I meant it. If Mia could tell me she really needed me to come back after that speech I'd do it.
"I'm gonna be ok for a while Letty. I'll try to be like you." Bad idea, I thought but I didn't tell her that. I just told her good girl and waited for her to hand the phone to V.
"Hey baby girl."
"Hey V." It was good to hear his voice.
"You doin' ok?"
"Yep. I've arrived. Settled in. Did some shopping. I'm goin racin tonight."
"Sounds like you're having fun while we miss you." Vince laughed though.
"Hey Bro, I'm on vacation." I giggled. Vince can pull me out of my bad moods most of the time.
"Sure. Sure. So, where are you?" He was trying to make it sound like he was just curious so I'd tell him where I was.
"We're not going there V. I'm where I am and you guys'll know when I'm ready to tell you all."
"Alright. So you let Mia have your car eh? That was nice of you."
"Nope. I didn't let her have it. I let her hold onto it. You know I'll never give that car away Vince."
"I know Letty." Like he knew I wanted to get off the phone before Dom got up his courage and asked to speak to me he started to begin the process of letting me go. "I know you said you weren't going to call much, but don't do that ok. Call me. I need to know that you're ok, even if I don't know where you are. If I think you're not ok I'm going to have Jesse try to find you. But if I know you're safe I'll stop him and let you have your space. Comprende?"
"Ok V. I'll call every few weeks. I'm not committing to more then that." I couldn't. Every call increased the chance of him answering the phone or asking to speak to me.
"Ok." He sighed. He'd wanted a better promise out of me but I didn't have one to give. We said our I love you's and hung up.
And of course the whole thing with Mia got me thinking about the purple car. Now I imagine it's obvious it's THE purple car. The one I showed Dom on the day I met him. That's not why it's so special though.
It called to me. The day I saw it in Walmart I knew I had to have it. It was the one thing I risked my dad's wrath and whined for. I had to have it. I was 8 when I got it. And from the day it left the package it was never off my person. It was always in my pocket, or in my bag. I always had it within grabbing distance. Till I got something better, but I'll tell that story later. But I still kept the car. It meant too much to me not to.
I wanted a car just like it. I wanted to own that car. If there'd been a way for me to make that car big enough for me to drive I would have. When I was young I told anyone who'd listen I was going to own a real car just like it someday. As I got older I realized everyone was saying 'yeah right' in their heads and I stopped telling people. But I still felt that way. It was among the first things I ever told Dom after all.
Dom never forgot it. As time went on we became closer friends and slowly but surely he hated me being around less. And as time went on it became more and more obvious to me I was never going to own my car which made all those doubters right. But my family had no money and I couldn't get a job to work to save up because my dad wouldn't let me. So I had to put my plans on hold for the car. But it hurt. And plus, while I didn't know what kind of car my toy was I could tell that any car that would look just like it would be a very expensive car.
And even then I still held on to the little purple car. I lost most of my other 'Hot Wheels' but never the purple one. Dom knew. I think he knew how sad I was that I wasn't getting my car any time soon too. I wanted a car, any car, for my 16th but I knew it wasn't going to happen. My family still had no money. I knew my family was doing what they always did for my birthday. Nothing. But I figured that Mr. Toretto would have a special dinner for me like he always had, ever since my 11th birthday. He told me once he was sorry that he missed out on 10. But he never missed another one. Well, not while he was still with us.
Dom had been taking Mia and I to races every once in awhile already, behind Van's back of course. It was making it even worse because there were all these nice cars there and I knew none of them would ever be mine. I had a burning desire to drive all of them and race all of them. I knew even then when I didn't know how to drive that I wanted to race. It called to me. It had since the first time Van had taken me for a spin in his stock car. It got worse when Dom let me ride along in his RX-7 while he street raced one night he took us to races. It didn't matter though because I was never getting a car I could use to race. It was looking pretty hopeless.
The day of my 16th birthday was sunny and hot. Dom was 20 and he worked for his dad in their garage so most days he'd drive Mia and I to school before he went to work. I was always at their house anyway. I stayed in Mia's room most nights. Mia and I were pretty much inseparable even then. We had other friends by then but Mia and I were like sisters. Dom drove us to school and told us not to leave at the end of the day that he wanted to come get us. That was strange but not unpleasant. Dom was already one of those guys with a reputation and us knowing him wasn't a bad thing. Getting picked up out front in his RX-7 was going to be cool.
I could hardly make it through that day in school I was so excited about Dom coming to get us. But I made it and sure enough when we burst out the front doors of the school there was the bright red car, it's owner leaning with studied indifference against the side.
"Hey Dom!" Mia called out.
"Hi girls. How was school?"
"You must remember Dom. You haven't been done so long yourself." I teased him. He'd missed a few classes and it had taken him an extra year to finish. He had the good grace to blush.
"Get in the car Letty." He shoved me playfully toward the car. I shoved him back with a laugh. We'd grown closer over the 6 years we'd known each other and over the last year of it my feelings for him had changed. Well, they'd shifted at 13 but they were really different now. I wanted him the way a woman wants a man. I really didn't think Dom wanted me that way and I knew Dom would never do anything about it because he thought he was too old for me anyway.
I'd never had a boyfriend either. Not that guys didn't ask but I was holding out for Dom. Well, I'd gone out a few times because Dom had lots of girls. They were always hanging off him. And like a typical 20 year old he sucked up the attention. But sometimes, just sometimes I caught him looking at me funny. I hoped it meant what I thought it did. So I dated other guys every once in a while but it never went anywhere because my heart wasn't in it. But as Mia climbed in the back of the car, telling me it was my birthday so I could have the front, that actually had a seat, all I had on my mind was what Van had planed for my birthday.
"We gotta go to the garage first. Dad wants me to look at something quick then we'll all go home together." Dom told us right before he cranked the tunes up and headed for what was at the time known as Toretto's garage. It didn't become DT's till after. He drove fast, and if he wasn't Dom it would have been reckless too. But because he was Dom I knew we were safe with him. I enjoyed the ride. I think he drove faster then he would have if he was alone because he knew how much I loved fast rides.
When we pulled up to the shop Dom made me and Mia come in too. We didn't want to. We wanted to sit in Dom's cool car and listen to his stereo but Dom insisted. We walked into the shop and all the lights were off.
"What the." Dom trailed off. "Dad! We're here. Where are you?" Dom called, but it sounded like he had laughter in his voice.
The lights flew on and there, in the middle of the shop was my purple car. Not the toy but a real car that looked just like it.
"Happy birthday Letty." Dom told me quietly. Then louder he said "Well, go see her." And gave me a shove toward the car.
"The car is for me?" I asked as I stumbled toward it. I couldn't believe it.
"Of course. Who else but you would want a purple car?" Dom smirked good- naturedly "I'm sick of driving you and Mia to school. I had to do something about it." Dom grinned. "Go." He shoved me softly toward the beautiful car again. I looked closer. I could see myself in the gleaming, flawless paint. I walked slowly around the car. When I got to the name on the back of the car I sucked in a breath. I knew what this was. This WAS my purple car. I wanted to take this gift more then anything. But it was too much. This was a rare car. The Toretto's weren't rich. I couldn't take something like this from them. It was the hardest thing I'd ever done but I turned to Dominic and his father.
"Dom this is a Silvia. I can't take this. It's too much."
"Sure you can. I only got it for you. I only painted it that horrid color for you. I mean I had to strip it right down. I knew you'd always want it to be purple so I had to gut it and properly change the color. It's purple now and it's your car."
"It was built with you in mind Letitia." Van added. "We want you to have your purple car." He grinned. "Get in."
"It's too much." I protested as I slid into the car with Dom's help. "I can't keep this."
"You can keep it and you will. Besides, I got it cheap. It was wrecked. I've been working on it for the last year now." Dom told me with a cocky grin. He leaned into the window and got right in my face for the rest. "Besides it's not even close to done yet. It's pretty well bone stock. I'll expect you to put in your own wrench time to build your race car. I want you to have it Letty. I want you racing this car by my side. You got it in you girl. I can see it in your eyes. You'n me are gonna run the streets." He hadn't wanted his dad or sister to hear him say those things. It wouldn't do for even Mia and his dad to hear him talk like that. He stood up away from the car and just looked at me with those black eyes that almost no one but me can read.
I stood up out of the car and grabbed Dom around his neck. We were pretty touchy with each other. We had been for some time. "Thanks. I'll take real good care of it." I really didn't know what else to say.
"You're welcome. And I know you will. Besides you didn't think I was going to let you drive my car to learn stick did you?" I sniffled. Dom looked down at me, deep into my tear filled eyes, then right in front of his sister and his dad he kissed me. On the lips. And not the kind of kiss one gave a sister. The kind of kiss that one gives a girl that one liked. It was the best birthday ever. Dom's dad even approved of us. I thought his dad would be mad because I was too young for Dom. I thought Van would try to keep him away from me because of the age difference. But now that I think about it I'd say that Van pushed Dom toward me. He never approved of any other girl Dom ever brought home.
They left us alone in the garage beside the car. I think it was like they knew we needed to be alone for a few minutes. And Dom kissed me again. Then set me inside the driver's seat and got in the passenger and started to show me around the interior. He showed me all sorts of stuff about my new car. My new car. I couldn't say it to myself enough.
He took me out after our special family dinner and started to show me how to drive a standard. I'd never gotten the chance to learn. That wasn't all he taught me on the night of my 16th birthday. It was also the first night we christened my car. The first time I ever had sex. Turns out Dom had wanted me since I was 13 and he was 17, just like I'd wanted him. But he had known I'd been too young then. But I wasn't now. 4 years wasn't such a big deal. But Dom was my first. And Dom's the only one I've ever had sex with to this day. And that is how I got my car and why it's so important to me. It's the best thing anyone ever gave me and there are little parts of me and Dom all through it. So therefore the car is the best of Dom and me all rolled up into one package. Plus it reminds me of Van.
When I came out of my reflection I had tear tracks on my face. Yep, that was why Raidon was so special to me. And I'd put him on the line over a stupid car race. But I wasn't losing. And if I did I could never go home. Dom gave me that car. He told me he loved me for the first time in that car. He taught me to race in that car. He made me the queen to his king of the streets in that car. He helped me build that car. He and I spent so much time together in that car. I couldn't lose this race. I knew that I was going home to Dom someday. If I went home without my Silvia he'd never forgive me. His dad had told me what Dom really went through to get that car and it wasn't as easy as Dom had made me think.
He'd saved for a whole year to buy it. He'd gone without a lot of things he'd really wanted so that I could have my car. For the year he'd saved he'd worked for his dad and for another guy at the race track. Then he'd put almost all his race winnings for that year toward it too. It hadn't been wrecked. It had been in a minor accident. Then he worked on fixing it up for a year like he'd said. Every time I couldn't find him. Every time I wondered why I didn't see him as much as I'd used to it was because he was building my car. Van had helped him fix it up and had given him a small amount of the money he'd needed to buy it but other then that it had all been Dom. It had been all Dom's idea to buy it in the first place. He'd had to go on the internet to find out just what kind of car my Hot Wheels had been too.
So that whole year he'd been MIA so much he'd been building my car. That and trying to keep his hands off me. He told me that later. But it was ok because I'd been trying to keep my hands off him too. And even Mia approved of the match. And he did just what he'd said. He'd made me his queen. I'm glad that Van got to see me and Dom happy together before he died. Where ever he is right now he's pissed at both of us for letting things get this bad.
Having Dom for my own is what gave me 'the attitude'. If I got Dom then I was special. It went to my head. And it made other girls hate me. And it made other guys want me. But through the whole first year we dated we were the ultimate couple. We never fought. Dom was affectionate and passionate. He wanted everyone to know I was his girl. He never let anyone forget it.
Then Dom's dad was killed.
That was the worst day of my life. We were all at the track. We all went with Van every time. We cheered for him from the front row of benches every race. He was going right to the top of the pro circuit and we couldn't have been more pleased.
I remember Van was out front and Kenny Linder was right behind him. Linder was driving recklessly and I remember Dom making a comment about how he was going to cause an accident if he didn't smarten up. Linder came too close for comfort to Van's bumper and I grabbed Dom's hand in fear as I watched. He squeazed back. He was nervous too.
But Van kept it on the track. That time. The next time he wasn't so lucky. Linder clipped his bumper solid and Van's car spun out into the wall at 120. The car burst into flames. I just stood there in shock. Mia broke down into great racking sobs and Dom and Vince tried to jump the fence to get to the car.
But none of us could do anything and we had to watch Van burn to death. For the week after that day Dom was inconsolable. We went to the funeral two days after it happened and it's the only time I've ever seen Dom cry. Not tears running down his face but great, racking sobs that shook his whole body. He wasn't as big then. That came after. But all I could do was hold him and try to be strong. He'd made me strong, with his love. Tough came from my dad and how he use to treat me but strong came from Dom.
I had to stop with the reminiscing and get to the racing. It was almost time. I really hope I'm as good as I think because if I lose my Silvia then my life won't be worth living. It will be like loosing Van, Dom and the rest of the team all over again.
I got dressed in some of my new cloths and then headed out to the car in question. Still purple, still had the same graphics that Dom put on it for me. I slid inside and slammed the door. Still had a hint of his aftershave if I closed my eyes while I took a big sniff. It was time for me to win one on my own.
I started the car up and headed to the address the guy had given me. There was already quite a crowd gathered. I guess the guy hadn't given me the wrong address or anything. I got a spot and stood up out of my car, looking around.
I looked to my left and, low and behold, there was the buster, to borrow a page from Vince.
"Hey baby." Same stupid grin. Still talking to my boobs.
"Hey. When are we on?" I got right to the point.
"Whenever you're ready girl. I hope you brought you're partying clothes." He leered at me. Oh man. What a loser. "I'ma own that sweet little body when we're done."
"Whatever. Let's race."
"Feisty. I like that."
"Whateva." I got in my car again and rolled down the window. "We on?" I was getting impatient.
"Yeah baby. We on. I hope the man who build that ride for you isn't in the picture because you'n I are gonna get so freaky that he'd have to kill me if you were his girl."
"I built this car. Now go get in yours and drive to the line so I can follow you there." I sighed. But he went and got in his car and as he drove I followed him. When we stopped at the line he called a black man with cornrows over to his car. I guess he was telling that guy what was up.
The black guy must be the equivalent of Dom down in this place. It seemed that all races had to go through him. The guy looked over at my car and nodded. Then he walked my way. I sighed again. He was going to want to talk to me. I didn't want to roll my window down. I wanted to stay as low key as I could and my 5% tint all around was helping me out there. But I couldn't ignore the guy when he was right beside my window. I rolled it down.
"Hey. I'm Tej." The guy told me.
"Letty." I answered him shortly.
"You know what you're doing? This guy, much as he's an idiot, can really race."
"Yeah, well, so can I so are we doin this or not? I have a car to win." I was getting sick of getting the run around.
"Ok girl. Good luck." He walked away and I rolled my window up. It was on. A race skank walked out in front of us and held up a scarf. I revved up my car and the crowd cheered. I didn't have any use for a Toyota. Why was I doing this again? Oh yeah, because I have Dom's pride. It's gotten me into trouble before.
The skank dropped her scarf and we took off. Tej wasn't kidding. The guy was good. But he wasn't that good. I got the lead after the first three seconds and I kept it. I crossed the finish line half a car ahead of him, turned around and then went back to the party.
I pulled up into the crowd and got out of my car. I was surrounded in a heartbeat by cheering well wishers who wanted to be in my presence. I'd won a car. Fair and square. I took the congratulations with cool politeness.
"Hey girl. That was some race. You wanna give me a chance to earn back my car?" The punk was still full of his own importance.
"Nope. But I'll give you a chance to buy it back. For 20 G's." I smiled at him, a very cocky smile.
"Done. I love my car. I love to caress her." He started to go on and on. Trying to convince me that he would be a good lover for me based on how he liked his car, based on his smart mouth.
"Shut up and give me my money punk." I told him with a smile that had no amusement in it. He handed it over, surprise surprise.
"There you go." He handed me a huge wad of cash. Then he sighed in defeat and walked away. Tej walked up to me.
"Hey girl. That was some race. You sticken around for awhile? I got a few more races for you if you are."
"Yeah man, I'll be in town for awhile. If you can hook me up then just let me know." I was pretty happy to get in good with the guy who organized races on my first night out.
"You wanna run again tonight?" I leaned in my window and checked my NOS gage. I had lots of spray left.
"Sure." I told him with my first Letty cocky grin since I'd left LA.
"Good." Tej started to walk away from me to set up the next race.
"Tej what's this I hear about you finding a racer that can beat me?" A slightly familiar voice asked from behind me. I turned slowly around.
"Chumpy?" I asked in shock. Brian was in Miami. This couldn't be happening.
"Letty?" Brian was just as shocked as I was. But he smiled that killer smile at being called my pet name for him.
"You two know each other?" Tej asked and before either of us could answer a very slim woman stepped in between us.
"What's with calling our Bullit Chumpy?" She asked me with attitude.
"Bullit?" I asked and I couldn't help it. I burst out laughing. "Chumpy, you convinced these people you can race?" Brian's smile got bigger.
"Not against you girl. Never against you. Reina, how you been livin?" Brian seemed pleased to see me, slipped into his nickname for me. Was Spanish for queen. His reference to the fact that I was Dom's queen. Then his face seemed to fall and he looked around nervously. "Are you here alone?"
"Yep." I answered.
"Why?" Brian seemed to have a lot more questions.
"Why did you run away from us?" I shot back. I had a lot too. Mainly why did you break my best friend's heart? Brian had a lot to answer for.
"Maybe we should go talk alone huh Let?"
"Might be for the best Brian." I suddenly was really glad Brian was in Miami. I wasn't alone anymore. Assuming he had a real good reason for not telling Mia what was happening and what he was going to be doing. If not I'd have to beat the shit out of him. The idea had no appeal but it would be the principle of the thing.
"Where you staying?" He asked. I named my motel. "Hell no. Girl, you can come stay with us. Can't she Tej?" Brian turned to Tej.
"Sure, we got room." Tej answered. I could tell that he wanted to know more about me.
"I'll follow you to your room. You can get your stuff and then follow me to Tej's. You have a job yet?"
"Hell no Chumpy. I just got here."
"It's your lucky day then. Tej needs a mechanic."
"No shit?" I wasn't ever this lucky. This was pretty lucky.
"Well, I do need one but I need a seriously good one." Tej broke in.
"I'm the best." I answered. I was one of the best. I knew it.
"Well." Tej didn't look sure.
"We can talk about that more tomorrow Bro. For now I wanna get her settled in." Brian saved me from telling Tej of my skills and how I got them at 1am.
"Sounds good Brian." Tej gave up.
"Stop calling our Bullit Chumpy." The girl tried one more time to convince me that Brian deserved to be called Bullit. I wasn't in the best mood to begin with and this girl was getting on last nerve.
"I'll call him Bullit when he beats me in a race for the first time. Besides that all the skills he's got he got from." I couldn't call him Dom. These people wouldn't know who he was. I couldn't call him my boyfriend because he wasn't. So what was Dominic Toretto to me now? I didn't even know. "He got from the same old friend who taught me. And I was taught first. I have more race time. He's gonna be my Chumpy. He can be your bullit if you want him to be." I smirked. If the girl wanted to go I'd oblige her.
"It's ok Suki." Brian told her with a smile. "She's an old friend and she can kick my ass six ways to Sunday, either on the track or in a fight."
"Are we friends Brian?"
"I think we need to go talk about that." Brian turned serious for the first time.
"Lets go." I told him and got into my car. He followed me to the motel and helped me pack up my shit. I checked out then followed him to Tej's house.