Summary: It's TK and Kari's senior year in high school and they take a surprise Thanksgiving trip to America where things get super complicated. It doesn't look good for TK and Kari's relationship when Kari decides to move back to America and have nothing to do with TK. Can their relationship survive the test of time or will Kari's stubbornness keep them apart forever?
Hard to Love You
The Kiss Seen Around the World
One Year and One Month Later
"Brian Vickers leads the field to the green flag! Two laps to go in this year's Daytona 500!" NASCAR commentator, Mike Joy, exclaimed.
"Just think DW, in five miles we'll have another Daytona 500 champion!" Larry McReynolds, the second TV commentator chimed in with excitement.
"But first, Brian has to hold off his Hendrick Motorsports teammates, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Casey Mears and thirty-nine other drivers!" Darrell Waltrip, the last TV commentator explained.
"I haven't seen anyone dominate this race in years like Brian Vickers has today," added Mike.
"Rick Hendrick must be going crazy with all four of his drivers up front fighting for the win," said Darrell.
"How much do you want to bet he's praying they don't crash?!" asked Larry Mac and he laughed.
"That would be Rick's worst nightmare right now," answered Darrell. "How much do you want to bet Jeff and Jimmie have something up their sleeve?"
"One lap to go, but this race is far from over folks!" Mike Joy exclaimed.
"Look at all those fans Mike, they haven't sat down since the green flag waved!" Larry Mac said as the camera panned to the fans in the stands, standing, cheering and some jumping in excitement.
"If Jeff, Jimmie and Casey are going to team up and pass Brian they better do it now before its too late," said Darrell.
"As strong as Brian's car is today, they will need all three HMS cars to work together to pass him," replied Larry.
"The fans have been waiting months to see this! Here they come down the backstretch," announced Mike.
"Oh no, Jeff is going high and Jimmie is going low! I don't think this was part of their plan!" Darrell exclaimed in panic.
"Poor Casey Mears doesn't know which one to follow. Yet, all three of them are his teammates!" Larry said as the four drivers entered turn three.
"Here comes the rest of the field. Tony Stewart is pushing Jeff and Dale Earnhardt Jr is pushing Jimmie," said Darrell.
"But it doesn't matter Darrell. Casey is pushing Brian all the way to the checkered flag! Brain Vickers wins the Daytona 500!" Mike exclaimed in excitement.
"Of all of Brian's twenty-three wins, this win is definitely his most prestigious win," said Larry Mac.
"Remember his first restrictor plate win?" Darrell asked reminiscing when Brian accidentally spun out teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr for the win at Talladega in 2006. "I think he'll take this win over that one any day!"
Brian celebrated on the start finish line by doing cookies and burnouts before he took the checkered flag and drove around the track in a victory lap. He finally pulled into victory lane where his team, teammates and friends were waiting for him. As soon as he parked the car, hundreds of media people swarmed the car, waiting for him to get out. Brian sat in the car for several minutes, soaking in the feeling of winning the most prestigious stock car race, Daytona 500. When Brian got out, confetti and streamers showered him. After his team gave him the traditional champagne bath, Brian was ready to give interviews.
"Brian, congrats on winning the biggest race of your career!" Pit reporter Steve Byrnes congratulated him. "What was going through your mind on that green-white-checker restart?"
"Oh man, I was just praying I wouldn't screw up! I knew Jeff, Jimmie and Casey were going to team up and pass me but there must have been some miscommunication or something." Brian said as he wiped the champagne and confetti off his face. "I'm just so glad Casey decided to push me to the win. Casey's car worked really good with mine. I ran my fastest when he pushed me during the race."
His teammates and Rick Hendrick all came and gave him big hugs and gave Brian their congrats. Occasionally throughout the interview, his team sprayed champagne all over victory lane.
"There was rarely a time today when you weren't leading this race. How was that Hendrick horsepower for you?" Steve asked, impressed that Brian lead 160 of the 200 laps.
"This Ditech GMAC Chevy Impala was just amazing! It was definitely the best car I have ever had here. I couldn't have won this race without the hard working guys back at the shop, my team here at the track, my crew chief, my wonderful teammates, and the best car owner ever Rick Hendrick. I have to thank God, my family, my friends and all my supportive sponsors Ditech, GMAC, Garnier Fructis, Mountain Dew, Quacker State, and Chevy. I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for them," answered Brian. "I can't believe I just won the Daytona 500!"
"That is one happy driver right there. Over to you Matt Yocum." Steve said as he ended their interview.
"No, no, no wait!" Brian exclaimed. Steve and the camera guy turned around to see what the victorious driver could possibly want. Brian begged them to turn the camera back on. As soon as Matt was done interviewing Dale Earnhardt Jr, the camera turned back on. "I also want to thank one more person!"
Brain pointed to Kari who was standing with the rest of his team in victory lane. He signaled her to come over to him but she shyly shook her head no. She had noticed while Brian was giving interviews, more and more of their NASCAR friends coming to victory lane. They all stood off camera and watched Brian give his interview. Kari thought it kind of odd that they just didn't go congratulate Brian like several other drivers already did. When Kari didn't come, he came over to her, bringing the camera crew with him.
Since she and Brian started dating last spring, Kari started to go to the Nascar races again. She taught and worked all week and early on Saturday mornings she would hop an airplane and fly out to the track. Kari fell in love with Nascar all over again. She hardly ever missed a race and tried to make as many of Brian's races as possible. It was just like old times when she lived in America as a teenager.
"I really want to thank this girl right here," said Brian. "And I want to ask her something really important."
The large crowd suddenly quieted down as Brian quickly walked back to his car. Kari felt like everyone knew something she didn't. When Brian came back he took her hands.
"Kari has been my friend since I first started driving at Hendrick Motorsports. I have loved her with all my heart and I can't imagine my life without her. She gave me the extra motivation to go out and win this race today. I have been waiting a long time to do this," explained Brian. He got down on one knee and made sure the camera guy was still taping. "Kari, I love ya so much. Will ya marry me?"
Kari was shocked, she couldn't believe he was asking her to marry him. They had been going out for a little over a year but she never expected him to purpose just yet. Especially not in victory lane in front of millions of people watching on national TV.
When Kari imagined herself getting married, she always thought she would be getting married to TK. It was weird to think of herself getting married to Brian, the guy who caused them to break up. Kari still had those dreams about herself getting married. She always believe the guy at the end of the isle was TK, but now she wasn't so sure. The guy in her dream was tall and had blond hair. Kari looked down at Brian kneeling in front of her and saw the blond highlights in his hair. She still had her doubts but she was suddenly certain the blond mystery man in her dreams was Brian after all.
"Yes, yes, I will!" Kari replied with tears running down her face. Brian quickly got up and gave her a kiss on the lips.
It was the kiss seen around the world. It made headlines and the front page of almost every newspaper in America. It even made news all over the world from France to Australia and even Japan. The kiss made the sports highlights and even became a popular news story on the news channels like CNN and Fox News.
Davis woke up early the next morning. He always woke up early to do paper work at his restaurant before his employees showed up for work. When he finished, it was his ritual to read the paper. He was shocked and surprised to see his old friend on the front page of the sports section. Davis immediately thought of TK and quickly got in his car to make a quick visit. He ran up the flights of stairs to TK's apartment and was relieved to see TK's paper still laying outside his door. Davis quickly thumbed through the paper until he got to the sports section. As he pulled the section out of TK's paper, TK's door started to open. Davis quickly got up and tried to hide the sports section behind he back.
"Davis? What are you doing here? And why do you have my sports section?" TK asked confused as to why Davis was even her in the first place.
"You see, I was in the neighborhood and I stopped for coffee. And while I was drinking my coffee, I was reading the paper. But I realized the paper I was reading didn't have a sports section so..." Davis tried to explain but struggled for words.
"You thought you could come take mine?" TK finished the rest of his obvious lie.
"Yeah, yeah. I didn't think it would be a big deal," replied Davis nonchalantly.
"Davis, you live across town," said TK, not convinced by his story.
"Yeah and I was in the neighborhood," Davis lied again. "So... um... did you watch the Nascar race yesterday?"
"I watched the first half of the race but I feel asleep and missed the end. I would watch it again today but my electricity got cut off during the middle of the night. Do you know who won?" TK asked curiously.
"No...I missed it too." Davis lied again. He became worried when he heard TK's electricity had been cut off again. "Hey, if you need help with the bills just say so TK. I'd be more the happy to help you out."
"No, that's alright. I'm getting paid this week so I should get my electricity back by the end of the week," explained TK.
"That's good. Well I gotta get to work," said Davis. "But if you need help TK, just say so."
"Thanks Davis." TK replied as he watch Davis leave with his sports section.