Happiness Doesn't Come Easily

Beta’d by Oli.

Song Lyrics are from the song Side Of A Bullet by Nickelback.


Chapter Nine


That night Abi and D.K. drove over to the parking garage where the race was happening. Abi got out of the car and adjusted her vest. She looked over to Han and saw him talking to Sean, who was sporting a huge black eye. She walked over to them and leaned on the hood of Sean’s car.

“How’s your face?” Sean asked.

“It’s good. I’ve had worse.” Abi said as she watched Neela walk over to D.K., “Has she seen what D.K. did to you yet?”

Sean shook his head no. Han came over to Abi and leaned on the car next to her, “How are you?”

“Fine.” Abi said as she looked around for Tierra. She spotted her chatting up this really cute guy. Abi had to smile at that. Tie needed a nice guy. She walked over to Tie and threw her arm around her shoulder. Abi looked over at Han who was trying hard not to look at the girls around him. She had to smile as he hung his head and looked at his shoes. He looked miserable. Abi was just getting ready to put him out of his misery when the bitch from the other night walked up to him.

Abi narrowed her eyes when she saw her. She watched as the bitch rubbed against Han. Han tried to get her off him, but she wasn’t taking no for an answer.

“I can’t believe that bitch!” Abi muttered as she continued to watch. Han’s face was getting more and more desperate as he looked over at Abi and saw her watching them with a scowl on her face.

“Tie, I’ll be back. I need to go teach someone a lesson.” Abi said as she stalked over to Han and his unwanted admirer. Abi turned the other woman around and glares at her. The other woman just stuck her nose up and turned back to Han. Abi just sighed as she heard Tierra giggle. Determined to back this bitch off Abi slid in between her and Han and glared at her again as she said, “Look bitch. I’m tired of you. My boyfriend is tired of you. I know you think that just because you got to suck his dick that you’re entitled to talk to him whenever you want, but he doesn’t want you anymore.”

“Han, baby what is this psycho talking about? I thought we were dating.”

“Kiki, you were nothing more than a means to an end. I’d never date you or anyone like you. You’re only good for a night or two.” Han said as he wrapped his arms around Abi’s waist and pulled her close to him. Abi smirked at Kiki’s look of confusion.

“What he mean’s Kiki is that you were nothing more than a quick blow job. That’s it. That’s all you're good for. Now if you don’t turn around and walk away, I’ll be forced to kick your ass.”

Kiki got the hint and left, but she swore that she’d get Han one way or another. No ugly, fat assed American girl was going to take her man away. She walked back over to her friends and they started conversing rapidly in Japanese. They kept looking over at Han and Abi and glaring at her. Abi just shrugged and turned around in Han’s arms.

“Hi.” She said.

“Still mad at me?” he asked.

“I was never really mad at you. I just don’t know if I can trust you yet.”

“You can.” Han said.

“Prove it.” Abi replied. Han smiled at her and leaned down to press his lips to hers in a gentle kiss. Abi pulled away and smiled. She was leaning back in for another kiss when she saw Morimoto drive up.

“Oh hell yeah! It’s on now!”

Abi smirked as she ran over to the car she was driving. She stood back for a minute and admired the beautiful car in front of her. The black ’02 Nissan 350Z was D.K.’s car but she was racing it for now, she still needed to get her car shipped over from the States.
The silver-ish black vinyls on the sides shone in the fluorescent lightning of the parking garage as the black paint glinted. Abi looked over at D.K. and smiled. This race was hers. This car would guarantee that.

She opened the door and slid into the seat easily. She started the car and backed out of the parking space she was in. She yawned a little bit and then drove slowly over to the starting line where Morimoto and his car sat idling. His dim yellow and prominent black car shone in the lighting as Abi slowly rolled to a stop behind the starting line. She revved the car engine when the person who was starting the race screamed, "Are you ready?!" Morimoto followed suit and the only sound you could hear as the guys’ hands fell was the squealing of tires on pavement.

The car shook as Abi cranked the bass on her stereo system after she jacked up the volume. She tapped her fingers on the steering wheel with the beat and listened to the words as she relaxed.
Uncle Sam taught him to shoot
Maybe a little too well
Finger on the trigger, loaded bullet

Abi geared up and raced down the straight length before she hit the first turn. She turned the wheels sharply into the turn and quickly pulled and released the E-Brake before counter steering the wheels to face straight with the road. When she easily breezed around the corner and was nearing the end, she released the gas before hammering the pedal to the floor again.
And made the world all wonder why
I sat at home and on my own,
I cried alone
And scratched your name
On the side of a bullet
And in the wake of his mistake
So many lives are broken

When Abi had successfully pulled off most of the corners easily, almost hitting Morimoto at some point, she had come to the non-stop curving ramp. She yanked the E-Brake, after turning the wheels sharply into the turn. She counter steered quickly and just let the cars’ wheels spin underneath her. When she finally reached the top of the ramp, the crowd let out a rip-roaring cheer. Abi put the car in park as Morimoto drifted up the ramp right after her.

Abi stepped out of D.K.’s car and was swept up in a hug by him. She laughed and hugged him back. He set her down and she looked around for Tie. She found her talking to a tall, well built blonde. Abi thought to herself that he looked familiar. She just couldn’t place him. She shrugged and turned back to everyone who was congratulating her on her win.

She was talking to Han and Twinkie when she felt a pair of arms grab her from behind. She knew those arms. She turned her head and squealed as she twisted around and hugged the person.

“Oh my god, Rome! When did you get here?” she asked as she stepped back and looked at him. She looked back over at Tie, pulled away from Rome and launched herself at the guy standing next to her. He caught her and hugged her tight.

“Hey baby girl.” He said.

“Hey curly.” Abi said as she pulled away from him.

“Must you always call me that?” he complained.

“Yeah.” Abi said as she nodded.
Rome and the rest of the gang came up and stood around them all. Rome slung his arm around her shoulder and pulled her into his side. She smiled and wrapped her arm around both their waists and she introduced them to everyone.

“Curly, Rome, I’d like you too meet Han, Twinkie, Sean, Reiko, Earl, and Tierra. Back there somewhere is D.K. and Neela. Everyone this is Rome and Curly.”

Brian shook his head and said, “It’s Brian.”

“No it’s curly!” Abi said as she slapped her hand over his mouth. He promptly bit her.

“Ouch! Brian! Fuck, that hurt.” Abi swore as she punched Brian. He rubbed his arm as she walked over to Han and leaned into him. He wrapped an arm around her.

“He fucking bit me! Stupid fucking white boy!” she muttered as she glared at him.

“What?” he asked trying to look all innocent. Abi wasn’t fooled for a second.

“Oh please white boy.” Abi said as she looked over at Rome, who was laughing his ass off. Abi just shook her head.

“So who’s having the party?” Tierra asked.

“I don’t think there is one.” Sean said as he watched his sister and Han. He wasn’t sure if he liked her dating his friend, but he wasn’t about to say anything.

“That’s cool. That means Rome, Curly and I can catch up on everything. I’m going to let D.K. know that I’m crashing at the garage with the guys ok.” Abi said as she walked over to D.K. and leaned on his car.

“I’m not coming home tonight. Since Rome and Curly came over I’m going to head over to Han’s and catch up with them. So this way, you’ll be able to have some alone time with Neela. It looks to me like you guys need it.” Abi said as she tossed D.K. his keys and headed back to the others.

Abi said, “Let’s go.” Everyone got into their respective cars and drove off. They got back to Han’s and got out. Abi stood looking at his garage, her eyes taking in everything. She noticed something that wasn’t there before. She turned back to Han with a questioned look in her eyes.

“What’s under the tarp?” she asked. Rome covered her eyes and walked her over to the tarp and she heard it being pulled off of something. He lifted his hands from her eyes and she blinked not really seeing what was in front of her.

Abi’s eyes focused on the object in front of her and she screamed with delight. Brian was standing next to her car. She walked over to it and ran her hands over the hood. She couldn’t believe that her car was in front of her. She looked up at Brian.

“How?” is all she asked.

“I called some mutual friends. They brought the car to me in Miami and I put it on a plane and brought it over here. Anyway, where did you learn to drive like that, baby girl?”

“Oh, a friend taught me. Anyway thanks for bringing me my car. She can’t drift, but she’s great to have around.” Abi said as she opened the door and slid into the drivers seat, feeling the leather mold to her body. She gripped the steering wheel and felt like she was finally home.

“God, I love this car.” She said to herself as pulled herself out and closed the door. She threw an arm around both Rome and Brian and they headed up stairs to the couches to catch up on their lives.