The day was starting off great, the birds were chirping outside my bedroom window, the sun was coming up, and it was Friday my last work day of the week. Not only that, race day. Well race night.
As I got up, I grabbed what I needed and got ready for work. I took a nice warm shower then headed downstairs to find something to eat.
My brother, Brian was already down there eating my cereal. That's when I notice he took the last of it.
"God damnit, Brian." I said as I threw my purse on the counter. "That was the last of my cereal."
"Sorry, there isn't anything else to eat." He said.
"Well sorry. I haven't gotten time to go to the store yet. Nor the money." I said as I went to get me something to drink since there wasn't any food really.
"Look, here." He said as he took out his wallet. "Here's $250, go to the store. All you had to do was ask for some money." He said as he handed me the money when he got up to put his bowl in the sink.
"I know." I said as I put the money in my purse.
"Well I gotta run and so do you." He said as he grabbed his coat and keys. "I'll meet you back here after work then we'll head to the race yard." He told me. "I wanna try in race tonight."
"How? Your car is down isn't it?"
"Naw, I got it back running again." He told me as he opened the door for me.
"Good, because you ain't using my car." I told him as I was walking towards my car.
My car was a 1969 Dodge Challenger. A black beauty, I call her. Brian's car was a 1999 Nissan Skyline. Olé blue he calls him.
As I got to work, a minute late, but Harry didn't care if I were late. I was one of his best workers and if it weren't for my brother buying all those parts for his car, he probably would have fired me. But he don't. As I walked in and went to the back room to stamp my time sheet, Harry came over with a paper.
"Elena, my girl." He said as he got to me. "Here's your cut of the work." He said as he handed me the paper.
I took the paper from him and looked at it. I had 5 deliveries, which was kinda good. I have time to go to the store before Brian gets home.
I walked over to my locker and put my keys and purse in there and grabbed my work truck keys.
"Harry, Ima need a raise. I know you do a lot for me and my brother. You let me stay in the back room when Brian's gone on his job trips. Its just hard at home." I told him as I grabbed my vest.
"Look, I do a lot for you because you do a lot for me. Your one of my finest drivers here. And the only girl driver on top of that." Harry told me. "Look for you I'll do it. I'll bump you up to $10. That's a $3 raise. Just don't tell anyone that I'm doing this for you." He told me then walked away.
As I started to walk to my truck he had called out.
"Tell that brother of yours his package came in today."
I sighed. What did my brother order this time.
As my 3rd delivery, I started to get hungry so I had stopped at the old Market & Café. My good girl friend works there. When I pulled up, I saw her leaning against the counter reading a magazine.
"Hey Mia." I called out as I walked up to the open door.
"Hey Elena. The same thing?" She asked me.
"Yep, my usual Hot Ham & Cheese." I said as I walked passed to grab a Dr Pepper.
As I went to grab it, I heard a noise and saw a man sitting in a chair in the back corner behind the counter. He looked my way for a moment then turn his head back to what he was doing.
I grabbed my drink and went to go sit at the counter to eat my food. As I went to sit down, Mia placed my order down.
"Thanks, girl." I told her.
"I don't get how you can eat this every single day you work." Mia said.
"What I love it. Plus its cheap when you don't have a lot of money." I said as I took a bit.
"Has Harry given you a raise yet?" She asked me.
"Matter of fact yes. I brought it up to him today. He given me a $3 raise so I'm up to $10." I told her.
We talked while I ate. Which I didn't mind it. I loved talking to Mia.
I was about half way done with my food when the man got up and grabbed another drink. He looked my way again then went back to his seat.
"Who's that? A new worker? I asked.
"Naw, that's my brother Dom. He owns the shop in town." Mia said.
I nodded at her as I took my last bite.
After a few moments of still talking, I heard a few loud cars driving pass the café but stopped to park. I turned around to look and saw a woman walking this way with a few guys behind her.
"Momma Mia!" The girl called out.
"Hey Letty!" Mia called back.
"Hey beautiful." A man called to her and kissed her cheek.
"Boyfriend of yours?" I asked.
"Naw, a good friend of the family." He had said. "Vince." He brought out his hand.
"Elena." I said. "Well Mia, Ima hit you up later. Gotta get back to work." I told her as I laid a $10 bill on the counter. "Keep the change."
"Elena, it's on the house. Its only $3." Mia told me as she handed me back the money.
"Well see yea later Mia. Bye Mia's brother." I called out a little louder.
I took my drink and head towards my truck and opened the door. As I was about to get in, I was being pulled by the hair, yanked to the ground.
"What the hell!" I called out.
"I don't want to see you here ever again." It was Letty. "And if I do, Ima have a talk with Harry. So go run off like a little skank you are." Letty said as she threw against the truck.
I ain't one for fighting unless I had to. And this was one I had to do something.
"Bitch." I said as she started to walk away.
"Excuse me?" She asked.
"What gotta hearing problem, b***h. Yea that's right I called you a b***h. B. I. T. C. H. b***h!"
Well that got her. She went to swing at me but I blocked her and punched her. One thing about having a big brother that worked for the FBI, he thought me how to fight.
That punch kinda got her but it only pissed her off more. She grabbed me and threw me against my truck.
"Ahhh!" I yelled.
She kicked me a few times by the 3rd time I grabbed her leg and making her fall on her ass. I got on top of her and punched her two times. Until someone pulled me off of her.
"Enough!" A man had yelled.
It was Mia's brother Dom.
"Letty, get out of here. You had no right of beating up this woman for eating at the café." Dom had said.
"Dom, she was hitting on you." Letty had said.
"No I wasn't." I said.
"And if she was, who cares. We're not together so stop chasing away females that talk to me." Dom told her. "Now get your ass gone, now."
Letty stomped her way to her car with the others behind her. Mia came running over to check on me.
"Elena are you okay?" Mia asked.
"I'm fine. A few bumps and bruises will be fine." I told her. Then looked at Dom. "Thanks and sorry."
"No, its fine. Just go before Harry gets pissed that your late or behind." Dom said then walked away.
That was the first time I have saw him and will probably be the last. Or so I thought.
By the end of the day, after dropping off the last two runs, I went back to the shop. Harry came walking over to me.
"Elena, Dominic called me. He told me what happened. You okay?" Harry asked me.
"I'll be fine. I just wanna go home and take a bath and rest." I told him as I walked over to my locker.
"Okay, well have a nice weekend." Harry said then walked away.
I got in the car and head towards the store. When I got there, I got about a couple weeks worth of food and headed home. Once I got home, I put the food up, but left out what I was gonna make for dinner.
After dinner was done, I had ate then wrapped the rest for Brian. After that I took a nice hot bath like I said I were gonna do. When I took off my clothes I looked in the mirror and saw the bruises already starting to show. And that doesn't help with the split lip either.
I got in the tub and laid back for about half an hour to an hour until I heard Brian come home.
"El, I'm home!" Brian called out.
"In tub! I'll be out in a few!" I called out to him.
I got out 5 minutes later and put on some cute clothes. I grabbed my black short shorts and purple tank top with my black leather jacket and boots. I done my make-up, black and purple eye shadow, dark red lip stick and black eyeliner. I left my hair down in its wavey way. I grabbed my purse and keys and head into the kitchen.
When I got in there I saw a box on the table. I looked at it and saw it was the package that he had ordered I forgot to tell him about it but he probably went by and checked on it.
"So what did you ordered this time?" I asked as I sat down.
"I got a larger and better tank of NOS to help for tonight." He said as he looked up at me. "You look nice." He told me
"Thanks." I said. "Ima head out and fill up on gas. And I'll meet you there." I told him as I was walking towards the door.
"Okay, hey take the tank out of my car you can use it its still full." He told me. "I know you won't need it with that car but still."
I nodded and head out. I went to his car and grabbed the tank and hooked it up in my car. When I was done, I head towards the gas station and filled up my gas tank full and head towards the race yard.
When I pulled in, I saw the same ole cars that were always there. Some new ones as well. I saw Hector and he pointed towards me to park next to his car.
Hector was my best guy friend. We were always f*****g around with each other. When I got out I heard a few people call my name. One of them were Edwin. Another good friend. Always trying to hit on me but I let it slide some time but never let it get to far.
I popped my hood and checked everything on my car to make sure it was going to be good for tonight. I was under the hood until I felt someone right up on me. Touching me. I thought it was Edwin or Hector but it wasn't. I turned my head and saw it was some random guy. I stood up and turned around and faced him.
"Excuse you!" I said to him.
"Oh, come on baby." He said to me.
"One I ain't your baby." I said as I went to close the hood.
"So you always checking your ole mans car out before he races?" He asked.
"This is my car." I said after I closed the hood.
"Damn a woman driving some muscle. How about I show you some muscle under here." He said as he grabbed my hand to touch him.
I pushed him into the hood of my car and pinned his arm behind his back. Everyone came running over to us to see what was going on.
"Ever touch me again, this hand won't be the only thing getting ripped off." I said as I pushed him off my car.
"b***h!" He yelled out.
He went to slap me but Hector and Edwin came over and stepped in the way.
"Baby girl you okay?" Edwin asked.
"Yea, I'll be fine." I said as I went to the driver side of the car.
"Better handle your girl."
"She ain't my girl. And she can handle herself." Edwin told him.
"How about this. I'll race you and show you who's the b***h. One on one, for $200 cash." I said as I took out the roll up cash out of my pocket.
"Deal. I win you go out with me as well." He has said.
"Naw, you won't win." Hector had said.
Both me and this guy looked at Hector. I smiled and he winked at me.
"Quarter mile, winner gets $400 from the loser. Take your bet on who's gonna win now." Hector said.
The man walked away from me to get in his car. I got in and started up my car and went to the mark up spot. Hector came over to me.
"You got the money?" He asked me.
"All I have on me is $50 I was bluffing with him to see if he go for it." I told him.
"Elena you got to stop doing that." Hector told me.
"I know. Its just hard with money right now. But I'll win, I always win." I said as I reved up black beauty.
"Damn wish you rev me up baby." Edwin said walking on the other side of the car.
I chuckled a little bit. Edwin was something else. Edwin walked away and Hector walked towards the middle. Right before he gave us the clear, I saw Brian parking where I was at then saw a few other cars pulling in. One was the exact car like mine.
Hector tapped on my hood to see if I were ready. I nodded. Then he done the same for the other driver. He nodded then looked at me. Hector raised up his hands as he was doing that I reved up my car again, had my hand on my shifter ready to put it into gear.
That's when Hector swung his arms down and I shifted right into gear right when he started to come down. I was off within a second. I shifted into 2nd then 3rd by the next light. The other driver was a few seconds behind me. We wasn't even at the 3rd light yet. He tried to catch up with me by using his NOS. He thought he had me but the last second, I shifted into 4th and I speed up faster ahead of him and passed the light.
I won. And I knew I would. I always win.
I slowed down and turned around and head back to the beginning to Hector. I stopped right in front of him and got out. Everyone cheered for me. I walked over to Hector right when the other driver came back to us. Once he got out, he came over to us.
"Well I guess I'm the b***h now. Fair is fair. Here is your $400." The guy had said as he handed me the money.
"And here's your cut of the bets $500." Hector said to me.
I took the money from Hector an gave him $75 of it. I kissed his cheek after I handed it to him.
"And that's how you roll." I called out.
Everyone cheered again.
Someone came up behind me and gave me a hug. It was Brian.
"Hey!" I said to him.
"I saw you race, nice." He told me.
"Yea, I made almost 1k so far." I told him as I went to my car.
"Already, with one race?"
"Yeppers." I said smiling as I opened my door.
"I'm waiting for the big race at the end. That's more money." Brian said. "Ima go check out the competition." Said then walked away.
I looked at him for a moment then started up my car. I reved it up a few times making everyone move out of my way and found a spot. While I was looking, I saw the car that looked like mine. It was a few cars down from a spot where I could park at.
When I got out, I opened up my hood again. I checked the oil, antifreeze, coolant, etc after that race. While I was whipping every thing down, someone came over and leaned against my car. I rolled my eyes.
I swear if that's that guy again, I gonna tear him a new one. I thought to myself.
I threw down my rag and started mouthing off. "Look dude, I won the race, get off my back." I said with vemon until I saw who it was at the end of my sentence. "Sorry, that you were the guy I just raced."
"Its not easy being a girl racer when there's a lot of men here think they can run them all over."
"Dominic, right?" I asked as I started to close my hood.
"Dom." He said as he stopped me from closing my hood. "I see for a 1969 you have been keeping it good in shape huh." He said touching everything, that wasn't hot or it wasn't hot to him.
"I try to. At least." I said as I leaned against it. "When my brothers home from work after his work trips he helps keep it up and running for me. But other than that, I keep it full of what it needs." I said as I crossed my arms as I was looking at him.
Then he looked at me. I started to blush a little then looked away from him.
"Where did you get this car? Usually girls like the newer fast cars." He asked me.
"Well I'm not that type of girl." I said at first then looked back at him. "The car belonged to my dad. When he left me and my brother young, he told my mother, brother, and I that the car was mine." I told them then looked down. "My brother and I thought he would get it since he was the oldest but guess not." I said as looked at in the crowd for my brother.
"Do you not like it?" He asked me.
"No, I love it. My father use to give me rides in this car when I was younger. The time of speed and joy was amazing. Having the windows down, going the right speed, letting your hair blow with the wind." I said as I looked at him.
"Watch yourself." He said as he touched my arm.
I moved away from the car and he closed the hood for me. I looked at him and smiled to let him know I appreciated the help.
He jerked his head and walked away. He wanted me to follow him. We walked a few cars down from my car to the car that I saw from earlier.
"This is my car." He said as he popped the hood. "She's a beauty just like yours." He said as he opened her up.
Everything in the car looked all new and shiny.
"What year?" I asked.
"1970 Dodge Charger R/T." He told me. "Your car is a year older but different type car. Maybe we can try to race see who's faster for $50." Dom said as he looked at me.
"Hector will make it $100." I told him.
"I know." He said as he closed the hood.
"Make it $150 then." I told him as I brought my hand out.
"Deal, if you win I'll give you the money. If I win, you should come by the shop and I'll help you really clean her up." Dom said as he pointed towards my car.
"Deal, it's a date." I said as I turned around to go to my car.
As I was walking back, I started blushing. What did I just put myself into. When I got in the car, I put my hair in a high ponytail and started up my car. I drove to the start up and Hector came over to me.
"Racing again?" He asked me.
"Yep, against that." I said as I pointed at Dom when he pulled up next to me.
"How much we going for?" He asked us.
"$150." We both said.
"Okay." Hector said as he touched my shoulder. "Listen up people! We got Elena again going against Dom for $300. Place your bets now." Hector called out.
I took a deep breathe to clear my head. Brian came running over towards me. So did Dom's people towards him.
"What are you doing? $300 really. We need that money." Brian told me as he looked at Dom through my window.
"Don't worry, I got this." I told him.
Brian than ran over to the driver side. "No, let me race." He said as he opened my door.
I got out for a second. "Brother," I said as I placed my hand on his shoulder. He knew I meant business and I got this when I said brother. "I got this. Have I ever lost a race?" I asked him.
"No, but this car is newer and better model than your car. I don't,"
"Brother, stop. I'm racing my car. You have your own car to race. Now go stand by Edwin." I told him.
"We racing here or not, Elena?" Hector asked.
"Yes." I said as I got back in the car.
I looked at Brian then at Dom. Brian closed my door then leaned in kissed my cheek.
Brian walked away and stood on the side with the others. When I looked back at Dom, Letty was staring right at me. I looked back straight quick.
I took a deep breathe and reved my car a few times. Hector pointed at each of us. We both nodded. Hector raised his hands up and then threw them. I was shifted into gear as Dom's car went up in the air then hit the ground and was off. My eyes got big when I saw that.
"Fuck." I said as I shifted again.
I got close to him and looked at him for a moment. He done the same. I shifted again into 3rd then 4th gear and was ahead of him. We were close to the end when he hit his NOS.
"f**k!!!" I yelled.
I was gonna lose this race until I looked over and saw my own NOS. I turned the knob a little and hit the button. I was off. I was head to head with Dom until I crossed the light and I won.
"YES!!!" I screamed.
I turned the NOS off and turned around and went back to the front. When I got there, Brian, Edwin, and Hector ran over to me, as the crowd surrounded the car. Brian opened my door and pulled me out. I jumped into his arms, wrapping my arms and legs around him.
I never have been so excited. Not over a race because I always, but this was a close call. Everyone thought I was gonna lose this one. Edwin and Hector came over to me and Brian and hugged me when I got off of Brian.
Dom came walking over towards us. He handed me $300 and shook my hand.
"Nice race, Elena. But I still want you to come by the shop. The cleaning is on the house." He told me as he handed me the money.
"Thanks and same to you." I said as I took the money. "And I'll take you up on that offer." I said.
"Elena, here's your cut of the race, $400." Hector said.
"Really, how much was his bet?" I asked.
"Well if Dom won, it would been $600. At first it was 50/50 but when he pulled that stunt in the beginning, everyone was betting on him til the end." Hector said.
"Give her 1/4 of my winnings and you keep the rest. She earned it." Dom said as he looked at me.
I started blushing at what he had said. Until Letty came over to the group.
"What the hell, Dom!" He yelled at him.
"Don't start. She won fair and square." He told her.
They walked away from us still talking. She looked pissed.
"Dom!" I called out. He stopped and looked at me. "Thank you, again." I said.
He nodded and turned back around.
I end up moving my car back to where it was and sat in it. I turned on my music loud as I can stand it with my windows down, letting beauty cool down. As I was doing that I counting my money. $825 from my 1st race and $1,000 from my 2nd race. And I wasn't even done racing for the night. When I sat up and put the almost 2k in my purse, I saw Brian pulling up to the race line with Edwin and another guy. I turned my music off, rolled my windows and locked my car. I ran over to the race line. I went over to Brian. As I was walking over Edwin was talking to some girl, she was moving his hand all over her when I walked passed. The other guy was playing a game on his little touch screen radio. I rolled my eyes.
When I got to Brian, pass side I leaned in.
"Are you sure you got this?" I asked.
"Yes, Elena." He said as he turned around in his seat to get his NOS ready to use.
"I hope so. We need the money."
"Elena, I know what I'm doing." He said as he looked at me.
I was about to say something when the 4th car was pulling up. I looked up and saw it was Dom. I stood up straight and looked up at him.
"Shit." I said. "Brian, don't do this. Dom will smash you with his car. And you know it." I said.
"Elena, I let you race him and you won."
"My car could run right." I told him.
"I got this." He said.
"Well don't bet to much." I said.
Hector came over and stopped at every driver to their bets. About this big race it was different than the quarter mile one with two people. This was a half mile race with 4 people. You go down to the quarter mile mark and turn around to make back here to finish the race. And what you place as you bet with the other drivers, it all adds up on top of the crowds bets. And who wins gets all that money.
"So Brian how much you placing?" Hector asked.
"I don't have the money or here's the deed to my car." Brian said as he placed it all to him.
"What no, this is your baby." I said to him.
"I know, that's why I'm going to try and win the race." Brian told me as he finished getting ready.
I shook my head and walked over to where Hector goes. Hector looked at me. I stood in between Brian and the guy that was playing the game. I closed my eyes for a second. Then opened them.
"On the count of 5, y'all should be ready." I said as I looked at all of them. I looked at Edwin. "1," I said as I pointed. He reved his car. "2," I pointed to the game guy. He reved his car as well. I looked at Brian. "3," as I pointed at him. He reved his car as well. I took my finale look which was to look at Dom. "4," I said as I pointed at him. He done the same as the others by revving up his car. I took a deep breathe raised my arms up in the air. "5." I said then spun around bringing my arms down and they were off.
I looked up as they took off and watched the race. My brother and Dom were head to head. I was worried about this race. I was afraid that the worst was gonna happened.
They were almost at the quarter mile mark when I started seeing sparks coming from Brian's car. As he turned around with Dom, he had stopped. I saw smoke coming from his car.
"Brian!" I screamed.
Hector came over to me held me in place. As Dom crossed the line with Edwin and the gamer guy it took awhile for Brian to get back to us. But when Brian got back to us. I threw Hector's arms off of me and ran over to Brian as one of Dom's friends came over with a fire extinguisher. Brian got out and popped the hood.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Both me and Dom's friend said.
"Its just over heating." Brian said mostly to me.
"More than that."
"Jesse, will it be fine? Because now it's my car." Dom said.
"I don't know after I let her cool down and I check everything." Jesse said.
"Dude. I almost had you." Brian said to Dom.
Dom looked at my brother. "You almost had me? You never had me. You never had your car. Granny-shifting, not double-clutching, like you should. You're lucky that 100-shot of NOS didn't blow the welds on the intake." Dom told him.

Which he was right. Brian been messing with this car for months and he thinks its gonna be fine for the first race. Well it wasn't.
As they were talking, I heard police sirens then the cops started showing up. Everyone ran like roaches.
"Elena!" Brian yelled for me.
"Brian!" I yelled for Brian.
"Elena go home now!" He yelled at me once he saw me.
I tried to run for my car, but I had tripped over my feet when I turned around. Then I was helped up. It was Dom. He helped me up and ran with to my car.
"Go get out of here!" He called out as I opened my car door.
Once I got in I started her up and saw Brian driving off in his f****d up car and Dom running back to his charger. I took off. A cop started to block me but I went around him and got away. I took every different road to get away from the race yard. It was f****d up. We never get caught at the race yard. Someone must had called on the race yard.
By the time I finally got home, I put my car in the garage and went inside. I was worried about my brother. I was pacing all around the house. I tried calling him but he wasn't picking up.
I laid on the couch, waiting for him to show up. But the next thing I know was waking up, on the couch with a cover over me. As I sat up, I heard water running in the kitchen. I got up and walked in there and there I saw Brian washing the dishes.
"Hey, when did you get in?" I asked.
"About little after midnight. I ummm, got away from the cops kinda. I end up finding Dom walking on the street. I was driving him home when the Chinese mob pulled us over in China Town." He said as he turned off the water.
"What? Are y'all okay?" I asked.
"Well yes and no. Johnny Tran blew up my car." Brian was saying as he dried off his hands. "So Dom and I shared a cab to his place and I had a few beers with him. Then he paid for my cab fair for me to get home."
I walked over to him and slapped him in the face but not hard.
"How stupid, idiotic are you. You almost blow yourself up in the car, you almost get yourself shot, and again you almost got yourself blown up with Dom with you." I said ranting to him.
"Can you just be happy I'm alive and home safe." He told me as he wrapped his arms around me.
"Yes, I'm happy that the problem Brian. I don't know what would happened if you didn't come home." I told him.
Brian is all I had left. Dad ran off mom killed herself after I turned 16 so it has been me and Brian together. Even though I'm 23 now, I still think of the future.
Sooo what do y'all think of my first chapter of 'The Fast & Furious'.
Elena making almost 2K by racing her father's car. Brian almost getting himself killed 3x.
Most off what do y'all think of Dom and Elena????
Keep reading more to find out on those two on the next chapter.