Chapter 35 – Ready or Not?
I was gonna race it? What the fuck is he thinking? He's going to put me behind the wheel of that wonderful car and let me turn it lose on a crowd of unsuspecting little racer boys?
I can't remember the last thing that made me so damn excited.
I can't remember the last thing I wanted more then I want the chance to run that Acura.
I can't remember the last thing that scared me totally shitless.
What if I crash the damn thing? What if I lose because I'm not sure of the car? I've only driven it three times. It's not my car. I can't be as crazy with a borrowed ride as I can with my own. I'll be 'on my best behavior' the whole time I'm driving it. It'll make me check myself and I won't race at my best.
"Me?" I croaked out loud since Tej seemed to be waiting for some response. I straightened up and made a mental vow not to let anything else he said cause me to show my shock on the outside.
"Yeah, you. You've proved you can race in your own car. I've driven this thing, it seems ready to run. You not confident in your build or something?" Tej asked me, smirking.
"Hell no! I'm confident in my build; this car can take anything on the road. But it's a damned expensive car. What if something happens to it? I mean, you crashed out in it, what if I do?"
"Then you'll fix it. You already know how. It's not optional. You're racing the car. Tonight. Be ready by 11 to roll out." Tej walked off with a strange look on his face.
"What the fuck Brian? Is this another one of his tests?" I asked Brian, still not sure what to think. "I beat Suki, I beat Rome. Who else does he want me to beat? It's not like he races. I don't get it."
"I don't know Reina. But I do know you're good for it girl. You can win in this car. Its better then your car anyway. You know it is." Brian saw my scowl and continued anyway. "You don't have to like it to know it's true."
I gave him a nasty look but kept my mouth shut. He was right. I had to calm down.
"I know it," I growled out. "I'm going for a drive. I'll be back later." I walked away from the crowd and Suki's booth, up toward the garage.
"You're not taking the Phoenix?" Brian called after me, laugher in his voice. I spun around and flipped him off then continued walking up the hill. My car was parked in the garage, next to the Skyline.
I'd sent it off to get the body work done while I'd finished Tej's car. It took them longer to get to it then it had Tej's car since the Skyline wasn't a rush job, much as they wanted to have their logo on it when it was back on the road. As if, after making me wait for two and a half weeks to have it back. Not that I would have had time to work on it anyway but they still made me wait. I don't take well to being kept waiting on anything. Over the time it was gone I had had one conversation with Vince about how Leon was taking the loss of it.
It wasn't very well. He'd flipped out when they told him it was crushed and destroyed and he'd never see it again. He'd spend the next week in his room, more depressed then anyone had ever seen him. Leon doesn't really get depressed. He's the sorta go with the flow easy one and it takes a lot to really phase him. I talked to Mia about it and she said that not even her famous barbequed chicken got him out of his room to associate with the team. He just hid in the basement and moped about the damn Skyline.
Leon won't hear of going to races. He hides in his room when they party afterward. He hasn't had a girl over for any reason since it happened. That, for Leon, is pretty close to the end of the world. That made me more worried about him then anything else. Ok, he might still be upset about the girl he was running away from when he crashed, but normally he and Vince would have the theory 'if you fall off the horse you need to get right back on and ride again'. Ok, that's crude, but it's true. He won't even talk to me on the phone anymore. He's gotta get over it soon! I mean, it's just a car. I doubt he'd appreciate me tellin him that though.
Of course the good thing for me is he absolutely won't hear of buying another car either. That means I'm not going to show up with the skyline all done only to find out he got another car he likes more. That would be the worst case scenario. It's not likely to happen either but it would still suck. The skyline project is pretty ambitious. Brian asked me the other day how I plan on getting home with two cars. I have no idea how yet. Ship one? But then how do I make sure the shipped car arrives before me? I'll have to sort that out when I go to leave I suppose.
I took a tight corner and made my tires chirp, which brought me back to reality. That was in the future, all that stuff with Leon and the Skyline. My race in Phoenix was tonight. I should have taken the Phoenix out instead of my car. I really should get more familiar with it before tonight. I'd never raced in anything but Raiden before. I'd driven the RX-7 a few times but never raced it. It was well understood the only one who did crazy things in that car was Dom. While he would let me drive it every now and again, mostly when there was no other option, he'd never let me race it.
I pulled into the beach boardwalk that I'd taken to spending time at when I had to think and parked. I got out of the car, pulled on my sweater and went out to the water's edge. I sat on a rock and stared out at the Atlantic. It was a different ocean then the pacific. Colder for one thing. Different plant life. It was even a different color. You could pick up on it when you were used to looking at the other. It just reminded me how I still didn't belong.
You can take the girl outta Cali but you can't take Cali outta the girl. As I stared out at the water, wondering what was over the distant horizon something occurred to me.
I was ready to go home.
Miami was getting old. I was ready to have my team back. I was ready to race in my own circles. I was ready to work on cars in my own garage. See my friends. See Dom. I was ready. I'd learned just about all I was going to from Miami.
Or so I thought at the time.
I drove home slightly damp and smelling of salt water. When I arrived I parked the car and looked at the Skyline. I might be ready to go home but Kimi needed a bit of work before she'd be presentable. It was lookin like a car again, true. But it was a car without an engine.
The engine had pretty much been crushed beyond repair in the accident. The rad had been pushed back into the fan, the whole engine had been shifted back toward the passenger compartment. The frame bent, the subframe snapped. It was a mess. It was now a car with a straight frame and not much else. I'd had to gut the engine bay just like with Tej's. Only not like Tej's, this one wasn't going back in so easy. I had to replace the rad, the fan, the main wiring harness...A ton of other stuff on the driver's side of the car. That was the side that had sustained the most damage. The intercooler, being a front mount was toast, as were the turbos. Skyline parts are not easy to come by, and they are not cheap.
Brian had been a huge help with the car, beyond what I thought he would be. He really did know his Skylines and he wasn't busy very often so he spend a lot of his free time working on the car. This was one project I wasn't being too picky with the help on. Anyone who wanted to work on it, as long as they did quality work was more then welcome to go ahead and give us a hand. I wanted it done because I couldn't go home without it being done.
Brian had been busy while I was gone. He'd painted the newly repaired engine bay. It had to be done while the engine was out and after painting Tej's car I hadn't been looking forward to painting the Skyline. That was when Brian had decided to let me in on the fact he'd painted his own car himself. Granted the design wasn't very complicated, but it was a nice quality paint job. Suki was already working on drawing the warrior on the side out from what she could make out of what was left of him. Then we'd have to find someone to cut the graphics out of vinyl for us so we could put them back on. Putting them on was always Mia the perfectionist's job but I suppose we'll manage without her.
"It's coming along good." Rome said as he walked up behind me.
"Yeah, it's goin ok. I hope it all lines up when it's done. If I do all this work just to have it dog track like a sonabitch I'm not gonna be a happy girl."
"It seems pretty true to me." Rome answered, squatting onto his haunches about 20 feet in front of the car.
"Yeah, but we won't know till we drive behind it for sure."
"True dat. So, you're gonna race Tej's car tonight?"
"So he tells me. I'd really rather not. I don't like doing fast things with other people's rides."
Rome nodded. "Yeah, but it's not like he'll be racin it. Someone may as well."
"I guess, but why not someone he knows better? Someone who wouldn't have to be cautious with it?"
"You don't have to be. He won't expect you to be. You don't have any more chance of crashing it then you do of crashing your car. You worry too much."
I laughed. It was the first time I'd ever heard that one. I was worrying more here then I had at home but I was normally told to take some responsibility for myself for a change. I didn't spend much time worrying really. But then tell me who wouldn't worry about borrowing a 120,000 dollar car for the night and racing it at crazy speeds around town.
"Ok, I'll just pretend it's mine and do what I want."
"See, now that's the attitude you wanna have." Rome grinned.
"Yeah. I think I'll go call home before the main event." I told Rome and started for the door.
"You're leaving soon aren't you?" Rome asked from the door with more astuteness then I ever would have give him credit for. I turned to face him and he looked sad.
"Maybe. I'm ready to go back. I just have some stuff to tie up around here first. Why?"
"You seem different. Like you realized something important and I just guessed that it was that you were ready to go home."
"Why does that make you sad?" I know he thought he liked me but he really seemed like he'd gotten over that. I thought I caught him looking at Fiona a few times but I couldn't be sure.
"Because you're a good friend, and when you go you're taking Brian with you. I'm only here because'a homeboy. I don't know what I'll do when Brian leaves."
"Rome, these people are your friends too. I don't think they only keep you around because of Brian."
"No, but I only keep me around because of Brian."
"Tej will need you more then ever once Brian's not here anymore. You'll find your place. No sayin Brian won't realize he never really fit in with us in L.A. and come right back here after he makes his peace with Mia and the team."
"Naw, you ain't seen how Bri can be wit girls. He's been different ever since L.A. and it can only be because he really liked that Mia girl. He'd'a been all over all the potential that hangs around here if not."
"Yeah, but he fell for Mia under false pretenses and they might not hold true anymore."
"Or they might hold more true because now he really is Brian O'Connor, street racer. He's not just pretendin anymore. Since now he really is what he was pretending to be he'll fit in even better."
"That might be true and it might not. You could always come too. Brian might need someone at his back to save him from Vince." I laughed and Rome joined me.
"I might just take you up on that offer."
"The offer stands dude. You're more then welcome. I might need help moving all the cars I'm supposed to take with me anyway."
"I never thought of that! You just might need a driver with skills."
I nodded and headed for the door. "You think on it anyway and we'll see what's up when I go to leave." He just nodded and kept contemplating the Skyline. I headed out of the shop and down to the boat. I picked up the phone and dialed home.
I mean, if there's any evidence it's still home, it has to be that when I have big news I still have to call L.A. and tell them about it. They're my team and I still have to share my news with them. I can't get away from that no matter how well I started to fit into the team here. It was like when a cousin came to visit you for the summer.
They started to fit into your life, started to get to know your friends and you included them in stuff. Let them roll like they were part of your team.
But they always missed their own people and you always knew they didn't truly belong.
Then when they went home they were relieved to be with their own friends again no matter how well they'd fit in with yours and you were just as glad they were gone because you wanted to be back to your own routine.
And you knew, in the back of your head that you were scared they'd start to replace you or at least become just as important to your friends as you were. And in the back of their head was always the worry that their own friends might learn to get along without them or realize they were just as happy while they were gone.
I'd been gone about two months and it would be three before I got back. That worry that my team would learn to roll without me was getting louder and louder in my head. I'd never planned to run away forever and I'd learned a lot about me in the time I'd been gone. All I could do was hope that Dom had too. I hadn't called as much since the time I'd called and had to talk to Dom so I'd never had to talk to him on the phone again. I don't know if it was by some design of his or just luck but it hadn't happened.
When the phone was answered it was Leon on the other end. That was weird. He was ok with answering the phone now? Well it was more good then weird I guess.
"Hey Leon. How's it goin?" I asked, trying to sound cheerful. I'm sure he'd tell you that Letty and cheerful are two words that don't belong in the same sentence.
He sighed. "Fine I guess." Ok, he was closer to the phone then anyone else and he picked it up off instinct then. He's definitely not better.
"I see. Anything new happen lately?"
"No." He sighed again. Either he liked the girl better then the team all thought or he's really too attached to his car. I really don't know which. But he's gotta get over it. As far as he knows his car is gone for good. It's not healthy to be this depressed over it this long.
"Leon?"
"Yeah?"
"This has gotta stop."
"What does?" He asked petulantly like a spoiled child.
"This 'woe is me' shit over that car. Yeah, it was a really nice car. Yeah, you really really loved it. Yeah, it sucks that it's gone. But face it boy, whether the cops had crushed it or not you were never driving it again. It was clearly too wrecked for the road."
"How do you know they didn't crush it because it was a street racing car?" Leon whined.
"Because they'd just impound it then either sell it to a collector to pay your fine or deport it back to Japan. They wouldn't crush it for that. You're lucky to be alive, no girl is worth doing this to yourself over, especially not if she was a cheating ho, and you'll own another car."
"I don't want another car."
"You sound like a spoiled child and it doesn't suit you Leon. You could buy a 240sx and then have Jesse help you swap a Skyline RB26DETT into it you know."
"Way to be practical Let." Leon laughed, I think I got through to him. "When did you turn into miss practical it's just a car girl? Don't think I don't know you'd marry your damn car too if it was an option."
"Yeah, but if I wrecked it and I couldn't fix it I'd buy a new one and move on. I mean, it might take me a while to find just the right one but I'd find one."
"I got no money to buy anything." Leon admitted, sounding reluctant to make that confession. So that's why he's so bummed. "It took all my money to pay the fine, and I still gotta go to court in a month's time to see if I'm gonna get jail time or community service or anything over it. I mean, if I had the car I couldn't even afford to get it fixed anyway."
"You could ask Dom if..." Leon cut me off.
"I'm not asking him," he dropped his voice to barely above a whisper, "for any of that money. Are you crazy? He won't touch it for anything."
"It's not just his Leon. We all had to slave for it and so it's not just his decision. You on a street racing team. You need a car." I spoke in my no arguments tone that had been known to win me my way from Dom a few times.
"I know that Letty but he's the Big Dawg. I'm not askin."
"He's selfish to not have offered." I was getting mad at Dom again. It's not fair really. I bet he just never thought that Leon would be ashamed to ask him for some of the money. We'd stashed some of it in accounts that were hidden. Dom knew all the specifics. All I knew was how I'd get the money if I needed it. Like I already said, spending it is distasteful to me too but I'd do it if I had to. And I'd consider it a necessity to keep Leon out of jail and in a street car. He is a racer on a street racing team. He's also the only one who really knows how to work all the scanning equipment.
Equipment that was, despite being quite illegal, still in the car. I guess that's what happens when the FBI gets your car out of impound for you. They even get the illegal stuff back too. I'm liking Brian's father even though I've never met him.
But anyway, it's not that Dom wouldn't want to help Leon out with his new car, he'd just think that when Leon was good and ready for a new car he'd come and ask Dom about it. It would never occur to Dom that Leon wouldn't ask. But it should because Leon's as proud as Vince, who would never do anything that would amount to, in his mind, begging for money.
"I don't think he's selfish Lett. He's worried I'll ask for another Skyline." Leon laughed.
"I'll talk to him for you Leo. And if you want another Skyline then you should have one and I'll find a way to get you one." Big words for a girl on the other side of the country.
"Naw LD, don't worry bout it. I'll find a way to get a new car when I'm ready for one. I need more time. Just a car or not I was that attached to it."
Him needin more time was just fine with me. I needed more time to give him back his girl anyway.
"Ok, but if you don't have a new ride by the time I get back I'm picken you one out myself and buyin it too."
"Yeah, right. Where will ya get the money girl?"
"I'm makin pimpin money here racin baby boy. Yo girl'll hook you up!"
That made him really laugh. I was just bein silly and I think he got it.
"When you comin home girl? Miss you almost as much as that damn car." Leon mumbled. I bet he's blushing.
It occurs to me that there's a skank back home with my name all over her what will be bruised and broken body. Leon's kinda like me, tough on the outside but soft inside. He just doesn't like to let on. I'ma school puta on a few things for him. Thing one is don't mess with Letty's familia.
"Soon. I don't know when just yet but soon. Like in a month or so I figure. I'm sorta on contract for a few more races here then I'm headed home. Keep that to yoself for now though, k?"
"Yeah. So, I bet you wanted to talk to someone till you decided you had to take me down a few over my whining didn't ya?"
"Yeah, just called to chat really. I gotta race in a new car tonight myself and I'm not lookin forward to it."
"Why you gotta race in a new car? Don't tell me you got car trouble too?"
"Naw. Did Vince tell ya'll about the car I had to build for my boss?"
"Yeah."
"Well he doesn't race anymore and I finally got that car done. But since he doesn't race and he wants to know how the car works he's making me race it for him."
"Sounds like fun."
"Maybe to you." I sighed. "I've never raced anything but the Silvia before."
"Ah. Well, you'll do great girl. No worries. Dom taught you everything he knows. I know you'll do great."
"Thanks. Say, Vince around?"
"Yeah, one sec." Leon muffled the phone. "VINCE!"
"WHA?" I heard Vince yell back.
"PHONE!" Vince picked up elsewhere in the house.
"'Lo?"
"Hey V."
"Hey Let. What's up?"
"I finished the car."
"How'd it turn out?""Good. I'm racin it tonight."
"You get to race an NSX?" Vince sounded jealous.
"Yeah. I'm not thrilled 'bout runnin someone else's car worth 100 g's."
"I would be. Damn, if he asked you to run it then it's all on him. You just get to drive the shit outta it. It's not even your car, you can drive the bag off it and not worry about what you're doing to it."
"I never thought of it like that Vince. You're right. I'll just drive the shit out of it and let the rest work itself out."
"Yeah, for sure. Other people's cars are the best to drive. You don't have to put new tires on them or worry about what you're doin to the engine."
"Say V?"
"Yeah?"
"I tried to cheer Leon out of his mood, but I need a favor from you."
"Shoot."
"Don't, no matter how better he gets, or how much he likes whatever he sees, let him buy another car. I don't want to show up with this damn thing and find out he's just as attached to some new car as he was to this one."
"Fat chance of that happening Let."
"Maybe, but just make sure no matter what he looks at you find some reason why he can't have it. I mean, that's if Dom ever pulls his head out of his own ass and figures out that he has to give Leon the money to buy a new car. I mean, not that I want you to point it out now because it's against my purposes but why the hell didn't Dom let Leon know he'd give him the money to get his car fixed or replaced?"
"I guess we all just assumed that Leon knew we'd take care of it."
"Don't assume. He thinks he can't have a new car because it took all his money to pay off his fines."
"Well shit, that ain't true. We'd make sure he got a new car. How else can he go to races and watch for cops?"
"Vince, if you ever said something that didn't have some element of selfishness in it I'd die of shock." I laughed so he'd know I was joking.
"Good luck tonight Let. I know you got a win in you in that kinda car." Vince waited a moment after he said it. "You dead yet?"
"Naw coyote, but I do gotta go. I gotta get ready and eat before 11 and its 9 now."
"K girl. Talk to you later."
"Yeah, later." I hung up and got up. I got changed out of my garage clothes into a pair of leather jeans and a tank top. I tied my hair up into a ponytail for practicality and grabbed a quick sandwich.
Then I headed up to the garage to make sure Tej's car was ready to roll. I double checked all the NOS fittings and the tank levels. I'd never had a chance to trial run the NOS. I guess races tonight will be its trial run.
You shouldn't wash a fresh paint job for two weeks. And no wax for 6. But I couldn't take the car to races all dusty like it was. I decided I'd have to go ahead and wash it. I figured if I used a new sheepskin mitt and a new chamois to dry it I should be ok. It was just dusty and not really dirty.
Tej found me when I was drying it off after it was all washed. Not a swirl mark in sight thankfully.
"You ready to do this?" Tej asked.
"Yep." I answered.
"Ok, let's get it on." Tej told me and walked away, got in his truck and started it up. He made a gesture for me to follow and headed out onto the road.