"And this concludes the end of our meeting. When you get done eating go home and pack. We are leaving early tomorrow." The Tommy Hilfiger dressed Daniel spoke to the twenty plus members of ‘Finer Things’. He was a tall lean man, his short dark brown hair was cut short almost military in a sense. His muscular jaw seemed to sway gently with his words.

The back room of the restaurant was quiet as they listened. Tables scattered about, half eaten plates pushed aside as the glasses clinked sodas and tea around. "Here are some directions incase any of you new comers get separated from the group, team leader’s numbers are listed... Here Ralph, hand these out dude." The short red headed boy did as he was told and made his way around the tables making sure to reach everyone.

The clatter of small conversations started as Daniel sat in his booth across from Lance. The boys ate their food as the crowd slowly thinned out. The night was still young, but filled with anticipation for the next day. They were headed to Nopi Nationals in Hampton, Georgia a little city outside of Atlanta. This was an annual event that was scared to the car club. Their cars were the canvas and they, the mechanics, were the artist. ‘Tricking out’ cars was an art, the nationals, an exhibition. People came from all over to show their vision of beauty and creative poured in to twisted metal and speed. The paint, was only skin deep.

"Lance slide over" Tay asked him sweetly. He did just in time to miss her landing in his lap. "Where's Gavin?" Daniel sternly asked her. "Outside, he said if I didn't stay out there where he could see me I had to be in here with ya'll. I can't believe he still treats me like a kid..."

"You are a kid" Lance spoke up adjusting in his new seat and pulling his tea in front of him. "Whatever! I've done more at 15 than you will ever know" she smarted off. "Shut up or I'm calling your brother." Lance told the girl with his phone in his hand.

"D, we're out..." Troy stopped by the table with his baby girl in his hands. "Bye-bye Cassie... Bye, yeah..." Tay took the cooing two year old for a moment, talking to her to make her giggle. Lance watched her and saw how much of a child she really was and wondered why she wanted to grow up so fast. He was thinking about it as Troy started talking to him. "Lance... What do I say? Welcome back man."

"Spanks Tee... Good to be back." He forgot where his mind was and turned to meet his eyes. "I saw the 4runner. Dan had your ass working, huh?" Troy joked. "Yeah" Lance nodded remembering the work recently put into his "Roxie". The girl had given him a few hard times, but he was just relieved to be out of the garage.

"Finer Things is bringing it all back this year." Daniel smiled to his boys as Troy picked the baby up again. "See ya in the a.m." He waved bye to everyone and made his way out the door. Lance was new to the car club, so he tried to follow Daniel's lead. The thug persona that most of the members projected came with the territory. The car club contained a certain circle of friends that Lance and Daniel had belonged to when he first moved to Orlando. In contradiction to his good boy image to professors and bosses Lance had no problem fitting in.

In a way it was a homecoming, after he had moved back to Mississippi the year before. He realized that he had changed his out look on Florida coming back only a few months ago. With all the excitement surrounding nationals he had missed the last few ‘Finer Things’ meetings.

"Let's meet at Mickey D's by my house then you can follow me up 75." Lance nodded at Daniel in agreement as he wiped his mouth and hands one last time. *Beep* "D. we need you" *Beep* "outside!" The radio on his Nextel went off. "I'm on my way." Daniel replied and stood up. Dropping some money on the table he left. When he was gone the waitress brought the check. "Let me out Tay." Lance pushed at her so he could pay the bill. Dropping a tip on the table he went to the cashier’s stand in the front of the restaurant.  

Joining the remaining members outside he saw the confrontation. “Well if it isn't Dumb and Dumber." Lance joked as he took his spot next to Daniel and Gavin leaning on the Grand Prix behind them. Mocking the opposing car club leaders only intensified the bad scene. Ryan and Jacob snarled at Lance and turned back to Daniel. "One last meeting before Nationals?"

"What's it to you?" Gavin mouthed off. "We just wanted to stop by and tell you... ‘Civics Only’ is bringing home all the trophies this year... Not you." Ryan ran his mouth off to the group. Disapproving boos and such rumbled over the challenge from the other ‘Finer Things’ members that were in the parking lot.

Lance stepped forward as Jacob stepped back and spoke seriously. "Why don't ya'll just bounce? We don’t have time for this” turning his back he didn’t see what came next. "Oooh, your not scared are you?" Jacob slapped him on his back knocking off his balance a step. Lance threw a quick elbow to his nose that was powerful enough to knock him down out of reflex. He put his foot on his chest so he could not move, now more than annoyed with the creature.

"Say what you want, but don't touch me!" Daniel intervened, pushing Ryan who was still standing only by fate, forcefully toward the waiting Hondas. "Get the hell out of here... Now" Lance pushed Jacob off with the side of his shoe. He crawled away quickly and jumped into the backseat of the car. "This isn't over!" Ryan yelled over the squealing tires.

Chapter Two

The state line was a welcome sight to the entourage of tricked out cars. The lean silver 4runner followed the pearl white RX7 up the interstate. The sun was setting when the 19-41 exit appeared.*Beep* "Hey D." *Beep* the Nextel sounded off. Daniel turned down the radio before answering. "What?"

"The tribe is getting restless...Can we stop soon?" Lance asked him. "Yeah, up here on the left there is a steak house Kevin and Joey told me about." *Beep* "Cool, we're following you." Lance said.

Tara Boulevard was a strip of gas stations, grocery stores, specialty shops, and welcome Nopi signs. The city of Jonesboro seemed to be stocked full of Nopi traffic. Every red light could have turned to into a car show on the spot.

Soon the Longhorn parking lot was full. There must have been 10 different car clubs there. Naturally the guys all stretched out and dawdled around for a minute before going inside. The wooded door swung loosely on the hinges giving them all entrance. Lance was expecting to wait for a table since it was so crowded. He was surprised to be greeted as soon as they went in.  

"Oh shit, check her out..." Gavin sounded off from the back of the line. "I heard that." The tall Nubian girl shot fire from her eyes as she welcomed them. Her long limbs showed her curves and you could sit a drink on her ass. The ghetto-fab hostess, Dorian showed divided group to their tables. Gavin winked at her as she passed by him. She finally gave him a smile and asked for his name.

She spoke briefly with a short blonde at the entrance of the servers ally. "Here is another set five tops, the cute one they call Gavin is mine baby girl."

"Ah I see, handle ya shit D. Hey wait…" the girl laughed with a twinkle in her blue eyes. “What?” she asked seriously. “D, he looks like Quaddus from MTV.” Dorian casually glanced back over to the table. “Damn you’re right, guess I’ll have to make my request totally live, tonight…” They gave each other a knowing look and busted out laughing again. She made her way over to the first table and gave her welcome spill.

"I'm Mary Jane, May I take your drink order?" She asked each guy standing between Lance and Gavin. Stopping when she made it to Daniel, she scribbled on her pad before making eye contact. He seemed to be distracted by her beauty, so he never heard her voice cracking over her own nerves kicking her in the stomach. "And for you sir?"

"Bombay Sapphire gin and grapefruit juice, please” he mumbled almost holding his breath. "My, my, a man who knows what he wants" She smiled. "Yes ma'am..." Daniel winked at her. The sexy blue-eyed girl gave him a sly look and disappeared behind the bar. While she was gone the boys gave him a hard time about his weak mack attack.

They saw Dorian enter the room again rolling her eyes. Behind her they saw why. ‘Civics Only’ had decided to dine at Longhorn as well. "Oh here we go" Gavin mumbled to Lance replaying the night before. "I know right." He was leaned back with one arm draped over the back of his chair giving off his toughest vibes. It seemed to work as the guys didn’t say anything when they saw them. "Don't even sweat it." Daniel instructed to the boys and gave their other tables a nod to do the same, as Mary Jane returned with their drinks.

It wasn’t long before the chatter of the room was overcome by Jacob's roguish behavior. Talking loudly and trashy his buddies only encouraged him. Daniel ignored them as long as he could. He kept his eyes on his drink and tried to see what Lance was thinking.  

"Hey Blondie!" Jacob yelled. Hearing Mary Jane scream after her ass was pinched was his breaking point. “Hands off jerk!” she slapped the guy in the face. When stood up to reach for her Daniel jumped to his feet, and snatched Jacob off his feet. Forcefully throwing him toward the door. Lance and Gavin were on their feet when Ryan tried to jump in.

They were all in the foyer when Tim the manger made it to the front of the store. Hearing bits and pieces of the story from Mary Jane and Dorian he made the decision to 86 the ‘Civics’ and extended the deepest apologies to “Finer Things”.

Outside pissed off the boys had other plans. "Punkass bitches! Do you believe they got to stay in there...."? Jacob scoffed to his friend. "There is some light at the end of that tunnel."

"Huh?" he asked confused. Annoyed Ryan decided to take baby steps with him. "Look at that pretty chromed out 4runner Jacob." He his hand on his chin forcing his face in the right direction. "Yeah so..." still lost Jacob was confused. "You're such a dumbass! It has a ‘Finer Things’ logo on the window." Slowly catching on Jacob began to laugh, "You're thinking, maybe we bust that window?" he started to crack his knuckles walking toward the truck. "The window is going to be the least of his problems..." The other goon replied.

Now full of steak and shrimp the guys sat around drinking and talking to a few of the other tables. Introducing themselves to the other teams the mood was lighter than it had been in weeks. "Dude, I hate it but we have to get going. Mark said he would be home at 7:00. It's about ten minutes away from here." Daniel spoke to Lance. "Ok... Hey where does he live at again?" he asked not really paying attention. The girl from another car club had been making eyes at him since the fight and he was slightly interested in finding out her name. "Umm it's called Forest Estates... It's on a lake and they have a big golf course and stuff. Mark loves it." Daniel finished. "Lake Spivey" Gavin interjected. "Got ya. I was just wondering. G. where you going?" Lance asked him as he began to walk off.  

"Man, give Dan's girl my change for a tip. I have to go give Dorian a formal goodbye." The remainder of the table laughed as he wiggled his eyebrows and gave their drinks another sip. "Hey Danny give her mine too?" Lance asked him wanting to do some investigating of his own. "Why?" Daniel was thrown off by the idea. "If I have to explain it then you need more help than I thought." Lance smiled and Mary Jane appeared over his shoulder. "Get the hell outta here!" Daniel laughed. With that he waved bye to Mary Jane and headed for the door.  

"Where did all your pals go?" Mary Jane asked innocently. "You don't really care do you?" he joked pulling out a chair for her to join him. She sat down laying out all the receipts and change out pretending to be to organize them while he built up his nerve to hit on her. "So are you ok? About those guys?"

"Sure. Same story different day." She stopped fidgeting to make eye contact with him. "Damn, what does your boyfriend think about that?" She gave him a crooked look of disappointment. "Nothing, no boyfriend to speak of."

"Well if you were my lady you would never have to worry about those punks." He cited truthfully, taking her free hand into his own. "Oh really?" She spoke softly so only he could hear her. "Yeah" He spoke back in the same manner. Right when the conversation had taken an intimate turn it was interrupted.

"Daniel, I'm really sorry but you need to come outside and see this." Gavin said in a rush pulling on his arm. They both stood up and hurried to the door. Outside he saw Lance pacing and yelling with every step. Behind him the reason sat. The once immaculate 4runner was busted up. "What in the hell happened?" Ralph giggled a little too loudly. Lance didn't say a word as he lunged at him. Anger in full throttle he started swinging on him. No one but Daniel could pull him off of the guy.

"Damn it Lance he didn't do it!" Ripping away from the hold Lance tried to walk it off. He pulled at his shirt and ran his fingers through his hair quickly taking in big gulps of air. Daniel gave the group a glance before he tried to reason with him again. Staying back a few feet, he knew Lance was beyond furious. "No it was those Sunsabitching Civics!"

"I know they fucking did, but attacking your own team is not going to help anything." Lance stopped and turned towards him throwing his hands up in the air. "I'm out of the competition, you know that right?" Daniel put his own hands out in front of him patting the air between them. "Lance I know, but you have to calm down." They continued to go back and forth for a while. Lance felt his insides trying to come out as the steam seemed to come out of his ears.

Some of the Longhorn crew has spilled out in the parking lot and were watching the chaos, Dorian elbowed Mary Jane in the side. "What?" She whispered standing close to her. "Tell them about ‘Hot Body’…”

"Word!" Mary Jane realized that was the answer. Making it through the small crowd she just caught Daniel's arm as he passed by. He stopped and turned to her. "What's up baby? I’m sorry, I didn’t come back… I wanted to, but look at this." He said distracted from the event, his phone ringing, and wanting her to know he really was sorry.