Twilight isn't mine, but the idea is. I was inspired to write this after a marathon of Fast and Furious. All the songs on the soundtrack helped me create this, so you should check them if you don't know them.
Many thanks to my dear friends m0t0b33 and TeamAllTwilight for the pre-reader and beta work.
And to you, my readers and followers, thank you! I wish I had the time to answer you, but we can discuss stuff in my facebook group. ;)
Edward and his friends spent the night catching up and having fun, trying not to think of his father's business. They had fallen asleep on Alice and Jasper's bed in the early hours of the morning, exhausted.
The bed was too small for all four of them, and despite the boys' snoring, Bella's mumbling and Alice's kicking, they all slept well.
The ringing of a cell phone was their brutal wake-up call at only ten in the morning.
Edward grabbed his phone, fumbling with it before pressing the right key to answer. "Yeah?"
"You need to come home," Emmett told him seriously.
"Something wrong?" Edward asked. Worry ate at him. "Is Dad okay? Mom?"
"Yes, yes. You can bring Jasper, too."
"Oh, okay. See you soon."
"You have to go back?" Jasper slurred out, yawning loudly.
"And take you with me. Em wants to talk."
"I've done nothing."
"Dunno what he wants." Edward shrugged, rolling on his side and brushing the hair out of Bella's face. "Hey, we need to wake up."
"I'm awake, but too tired to open my eyes," she mumbled.
Edward grinned, leaning down to kiss her cheek. "Come on, I have a feeling it's going to be a long day."
She blinked her eyes open, looking at him sleepily. Slowly she traced his jaw, smiling. "You need a shave."
"Later." He pecked her mouth before sliding out of the bed. "Jazz, don't go back to sleep."
They went through their morning routine moving in slow motion. Only after the first sip of coffee—courtesy of Alice—they started resembling humans. Alice seemed to be the only one fully awake when they left through the door one hour later. It didn't take much persuading from her to have Jasper throw his car key at her, but not without warning her not to speed.
She immediately took Bella's hand and continued chatting animatedly about Christmas shopping. Edward shrugged apologetically to his girlfriend as he crossed the street to his car. The girls went to Jasper's car while the boys slipped into Betty.
"You going to tell them what we established last night?" Jasper asked curiously.
"I kind of already told Mom, so yeah. I'll tell them, and explain what happens if I don't participate. I'm terrified."
"Don't worry. Tell them to keep an open mind. I'll be there."
Edward glanced at his friend and threw him a small, nervous smile.
"Since Ally mentioned Christmas…do you have any idea what you're getting Bella?" Jasper wondered, looking through the side mirror at his car, behind them.
"No. She's my first girlfriend. You tell me."
"I usually go with Ally to the mall and buy her whatever she wants. There's also the surprise gift…which is something insignificant. Last year it was a pair of panties since I ruined her favorites."
"Dude, I don't need to know that." Edward felt sick.
"Just giving you ideas."
"It's not like that," Edward muttered. "We haven't," he blurted out, concentrating on driving.
"You haven't what?"
"You know," he said pointedly. "Fucked."
Jasper stared bemused at his friend. "Where's the catch? Is she Catholic or something?"
"We just haven't, Jazz. She's special…and she's not ready."
"Not ready? Hold on…you mean she's a virgin? Man!"
"Jasper!" Edward hissed, annoyed.
"I didn't say anything. Wow. You're waiting for a girl. Let me take a moment and let that thought sink in."
"It's pure torture," Edward said after some minutes. "But I think…" He bit his lips, glancing at his friend. "I'm falling for her, man."
Instead of joking at him, Jasper nodded solemnly. "It was just fun in the beginning with Alice, but since she moved in… Things got serious and simply waking up to finding her there..." He sighed loudly. "Dude, we're turning into pussies."
"Say…if I am going to do what I have in mind…for Bella's Christmas present…would you help me with money?"
"I bet your dad will help, but yeah, I'll do it."
"Good because Dad wouldn't give me the money to go for a night in a hotel to be alone with my girl. I don't want to do that…for her first time in my bed with my parents in the house, and especially where I had others before her."
"Spoken like a true love-sick pup."
"Shut up, Jazz."
They parked in front of the Cullens' house. As they got out of the car, Alice parked behind them and opened the door, beaming at Jasper.
"I love driving your car."
"I'm jealous," Edward mumbled, taking Bella's hand when she joined them. "You got to ride in the Mitsubishi."
"Betty is better."
He gave her a big grin before dipping down to kiss her. She liked his car.
The front door of the house opened and Esme appeared there leaning against the jamb. She waved the group closer. When Edward approached, she wrapped her arms around him, whispering to him that everything was under control. He relaxed, unaware he'd been tense up until that moment.
"Your father is really upset," she whispered into his ear.
"Problems with…you know?" Edward asked.
"Problems with his son."
Edward frowned, not getting it.
Once the group took their shoes and coats off, Esme ushered them to the living room. Carlisle was leaning against the mantle, tapping his foot. Emmett and Rose were on the couch holding hands and talking quietly. And to Edward and Bella's surprise James was in an armchair looking enraged.
"Jimmy," Bella squeaked out, dropping Edward's hand. Tentatively, she walked to her brother and leaned down to give him a hug. "What's up? Why are you here?"
"Were you going to lie so nonchalantly to me?" Carlisle thundered, approaching Edward and pushing a file in front of his face. "I won't race, Dad. And to think I even believed you!"
"What…" Edward had no idea what was going on. Then he realized what file his father was holding. "Oh, shit."
"Oh, shit sums it up perfectly, son."
"Dad, look. Let me explain."
"Give me one good reason not to do something I will definitely regret and call the Judge."
Sweat trickled down the teenager's back. "Uh." He glanced at Jasper, who nodded solemnly. It was time to face the music. "I swear to you I didn't have in mind to compete when I repaired the car for Jake. I knew that was his intention," Edward explained, meeting James's eyes. "I'm sorry."
"But? Why the sudden change of heart? Is it the prize? It's a hefty amount." Carlisle looked through the file, before turning his glaring eyes to his son. "What is it? Explain, because I can't seem to understand. The money? The adrenaline? The love to disobey me?"
"Dad, it's not like that."
"Jake gave me the file to give it to Edward. I thought it was a mistake," Bella blurted out from her spot perched on the arm of James's seat. "He had no idea until two nights ago. He was really shocked when I told him."
"So you know about him racing?" James asked, surprised.
"Yes, Jimmy. And I also believe and trust Edward when he says he'd never do it again."
Edward raised a finger, feeling his legs shaking. "I have to compete now that my name is there. He probably gave the others my info…"
"You don't have to—" Emmett stood up, narrowing his eyes at his cousin.
"I have to! You don't understand how this works! If I don't show up…the other gang will track my, er…Jake's gang. It won't be pretty. I don't want anyone hurt."
"He's right, sir," Jasper butted in, stepping closer to his best friend. "Unfortunately, being the leader of such a gang…I can attest to that. I had no idea of this unspoken rule until one of my drivers couldn't compete because he had a stomach bug, and I didn't have anyone as good as him for that type of race." As he spoke, his eyes were on Emmett, fearful of what he was bringing upon himself. "Not even a week after that their leader came over with five others armed to their teeth. They turned my garage upside down, got most of my money, trashed the cars I was working on and…even injured one of my mechanics who was a simple employee, not involved in that shit."
Everyone stared open-mouthed at him, except Edward who knew the story. He still remembered his shock upon seeing his friend's garage when he was done with school for that day.
Esme stared in horror at Jasper before rushing to her son and hugging him tightly.
"Can't someone else compete instead of you?" Emmett wondered.
"No," Edward mumbled, squeezing his mom in his arms. "I'll be fine. I know my way with a car."
"And if you say you didn't get the file?" Carlisle questioned him.
Edward stiffened. "I can't. He gave it to Bella on purpose, knowing that I had to accept it…coming from her."
"What do you mean? Is B in danger?" James thundered, fisting his hands.
"Not unless I respect the rules." Edward hung his head in shame. "I'm so sorry."
Esme walked him to the couch and sat next to him, her arms still tightly wound around him. Jasper and Alice took the other armchair. Carlisle started pacing.
"I have an idea," Emmett said softly, looking around the room.
"You're not competing under my name!" Edward hissed.
"That's not what I meant, though it's a good idea. What I wanted to say is… First, do you have any information on the rival gang? And since James had his eyes on catching them…maybe we can work on something."
"Infiltrate him in there and make sure he wins everything?" James asked, considering the idea.
"No!" Bella spat. "If something happens to Edward…like it did with Brady… NO!"
"It won't. Bella, I've been racing for a couple years. I know what I'm doing."
Carlisle pinched the bridge of his nose, rubbing the spot. "I can't believe we're having this conversation."
"It's the only way to get them. These guys put my partner in a coma," James said seriously.
"And you want to use my son as bait?" Esme shouted, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"He offered, besides as he said, there's nothing we can do. I can assure you we'll keep him as safe as possible."
"What kind of race is this?" Jasper asked, extending his hand to Carlisle to get the papers.
"Drag race," Edward mumbled.
"Oh, easy." They shared a grin.
Edward stood up. "On January forth is the first round, then the next day is the finale close to midnight. What do you want me to do? Besides winning. That's the easy part." He fixated Emmett and James with his eyes.
"It's winter." Esme looked at him pleadingly.
"It rarely snows in Arizona," James said dismissively. "Let us find a plan. In the meantime, you need to talk to that Black kid and pray he didn't send this forward. I want you there under a nickname."
"I have one," Edward said. "I'll talk to him. That can be changed even if he sent it already."
"What nickname? Troublemaker?" James joked, lightening the mood in the room.
Catching Bella's eyes, Edward swallowed thickly. "Speedy."
"Fitting name," his father commented with a scowl. "I'm not happy about this, but after the scare from yesterday, my guys are itching for some action. If the police needs help…" He trailed off, looking at Emmett.
"Thanks, Uncle C. Cous, go and talk to your friend. I'll try to make a plan with James," Emmett ordered.
That seemed to be the end of the tense conversation.
Esme left the room with Rosalie, but not before kissing her son's forehead fondly. Carlisle offered his study to Emmett James, following them in there.
"Come on. I need to talk to that bastard," Edward urged his friends to follow him up the stairs. "It's going to be alright," he whispered to Bella, holding her hand all the way upstairs.
"I can't let you do this. I know what happened to Brady."
"I don't want to insult your friend, Bella, but…I'd like to think I know more about racing than him. I can count on my fingers—from one hand—the times I lost in over one year. Please, have some faith in me."
"And when you lost…why did you lose?" she asked fearfully.
"Because he's a dickhead and he never listened to me to upgrade pieces of his car," Jasper muttered from behind them.
Edward closed the door of his room. "Besides that accident…I only had one other—in my very first race. The other car came too close to me and I freaked. I drove straight into a tree. Dad wasn't very pleased to see Betty towed and the state she was in."
"Wow. You never…had a real accident?" Bella whispered, feeling a little better. "I've seen you drive. Even at high speed you're in control."
"Yes."
"Okay, just don't kill yourself."
He beamed at her, kissing her passionately, forgetting about the others in the room. Until Jasper cleared his throat, giving them a raised eyebrow.
Bella, embarrassed, walked to the bed and sat there with Alice, whispering about what was going to happen. Edward grabbed his phone, glaring at Jasper who was making rude gestures implying he needed to get laid.
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