Not for you (FIN)

Chapter 13

...is a bit short, but just bridging to the next, longer chapter.


Facts & Trivia:


What Racewars is really like: To see Racewars the way I'm remembering and referring to it, you would have to see the German Racewars. Which, of course, could be a bit difficult if you're not in Germany. This is why I give you the links to these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOOY73wR4qY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-D4rMEIpyyE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_j7F7JTpy4

videos, to give you a short impression.
It's pure car porn to me; but I'm loving car porn and perhaps I can make you love it, too.

In the first video you could spot two people on which two of my OCs are based on... if you knew who or what you'd have to look for, that is, which I won't tell you.

The team trophy: As I've often said, I'm referring to German Racewars in this story even if it plays in the US. The members of a team scoring highest in the official races there win a team trophy at the end of the races.




The next day most definitely was a Racewars day just as I had always dreamt about.

Except that it started with the nightmare of being woken by the complete team in my trailer at eight in the morning, all demanding to have breakfast.

Still lying in my bed, pulling the blanket to my nose, I told them that if they wanted breakfast, they would have to bring their own supplies. Dom threw pillows at them until they were all on their way, getting whatever they wanted to eat; and I took the chance to take a shower as quick as possible and get dressed before they returned.

On popular demand, I didn't just have to show how the bed disappeared into the ceiling, but also vice versa - and back up again. Everyone thought it was brilliant, and I beamed with pride.

With the computer chair we even all managed to fit at the small table that replaced the bed, had breakfast, laughed together and had fun.

I felt as if I was at home; and that was a feeling I didn't even have in my own home in Germany.

Dom, Leon and Brian took off relatively early; they had races to win; some of them outside the racetracks that would bring them more money. Vince stayed with me, still eating his sandwich while I was bringing the dishes to the sink.

"You know," he said, taking a bite from his sandwich, "this all reminds me of the good old times. We often had breakfast in Dom's and Letty's trailer back then."

"What happened to her?"

"Who, Letty?" Vince looked at me, mumbling past the sandwich in his mouth. "Already told you, she's multiplying herself in Mexico."

"Why isn't she with the team any more?"

"Well, she can't drive. Cracked her hip in the crash, which we, just like she, first didn't notice. We couldn't exactly take her to a hospital either. Some weeks later, she was in pain whenever she had to push the metal of a pedal; the hip had healed, but in the wrong place. You get the point?"

"Sort of. But wasn't she together with Dom?"

He stared at me. "So? Relationships end."

"Well, perhaps I thought some didn't."

"Letty needed a kind of security Dom couldn't give to her, that's all."

"But he's changed?"

"Yes, now. Not back then. I also doubt that he would be able to now, Letty's a bit... strange."

"Oh." I said, pouring water over the plates.

"I have a funny idea, what about getting to know Letty?"

"Who, me?" I almost dropped the plate I was holding.

"Yeah, you. We're visiting her after Racewars, just after another event that takes place next week but it's on the way, well, almost. I doubt anyone of us would object if you came along since you, too, belong to the team now."

"Uh, I think Letty might?"

"She doesn't love him any more. But they've been together too long not to be friends now."

"Wish I could have managed that, too."

"With Dom?" He frowned.

"No, with Michael. Didn't work after we broke up."

"Hum." Vince said, taking a sip from the coffee he brought. "You still love him?"

"No, but I think he does. Don't want to hurt him, though, because I still like him so much. He tries so much to just please me, but fails each time he does because I'm just unnerved when he does. "

"That's not good. Had that same problem with Dom's sister; that's why I hated Brian in the beginning because he had her attention. Which, of course, just unnerved her more. Doesn't work for a friendship."

"I know. Say, there was something I was wondering about. Where does Dom keep his car?"

"Oh, he usually parks it on the other side of the camp. Not too close to our camp, in case he has to run. And his other car is parked in the next town in a small garage he rented."

"What other car are you talking about?"

"He didn't tell you?"

"Not really."

"Well, our Dom is not exactly looking like the average guy, as you might have noticed. Someone like him constantly driving around in a rice burner gets too much attention. So - for everyday driving, he's preferring a grey SUV."

Now I really dropped the plate.

"You're kidding me, right? For my life I can't picture him in something like that."

"Possible, but the cops usually don't stop something like this if it doesn't break the speed limits. And I didn't say he didn't tune up the engine. But he needs a car that won't be recognized too easily."

Now it was up to me to say "Hum."

"Come on, I'll help you with the dishes." He said, getting up.

Funny, I thought, I never imagined that I would find myself at Racewars, cleaning dishes with the Doc.

For the rest of the day, we were all spending time at the races. Watching, participating, winning, betting, learning, laughing, watching drag racing, looking at other cars, buying parts - all of the wet dreams of a car enthusiast coming true.

And at the end of the day which was the last day of Racewars, the newly reformed Team Toretto took the team trophy home to its trailers.

"Fucking tired." Said Dom, throwing the trophy into Brian's trailer. "Think we should all get some sleep. Want to leave early in the morning when the streets are not so crowded."

"Where's the next race, and when?" I asked.

"Next weekend, near the Mexican border. Though we'll go to Houston first, work a bit on the cars; Brian's business partner rented a house for us. We talked this afternoon when you were racing and thought that we'd all make the trip to Houston, so that you would see a bit of that wonderful country of ours and have some sunshine and bathing at the Golf of Mexico. I guess some holidays would do all of us good. Wanna go?"

"Isn't that a bit... far?"

"Not really; a bit over six hundred miles. If we take off really early, we could be there by nightfall tomorrow." Brian said.

"Sounds good to me." I smiled.

"Good, boys... good night, we'll start at six in the morning." Dom said, sending the others to their trailers.

Again, it was just him and me remaining. "And, still have problems asking?"

"Not really. Your trailer or my car? I'm a bit-"

"Oh, this time I have a choice?"

"Uhm, not really, just tried to be polite."

"Trailer it is, then."

I noticed this evening and the next morning while packing that Dom was avoiding me.

He didn't stand in my way when I needed to pass through a door, he didn't put his arm around me when he slept. He didn't take his shirt off while I was around, and it was really hot that day.

He even remembered to lock the door of the shower when he used it.

Thinking of it, this had started the night before, when I had told them what had happened - after he had carried me into the trailer. The only physical contact he bestowed on me was occasional elbowing or pushing me from time to time when my mouth was bigger than my brain.

Not that I would have minded, though. I was thankful for the absence of the seduction. Out of sight, out of mind.

For the moment.