Chapter Three

Since Gavin knew the way to Mark's house he led the way to where the car club would be staying. Ralph followed Daniel's RX7 in his truck towing the 4 runner with the hazard lights on. After riding down Tara about ten minutes they saw the garage just as Mary Jane had said. All of the five garage doors were closed except two. The lights were on, but the sign on the door read closed.

The boys got out and Daniel approached the open door. Lance watched him disappear into the garage. He turned to see Ralph leaned against his low rider that was rigged up looking like a fire ant pulling a bullet. Lance traced the ‘Finer Things’ logo on the window and made small talk about all the traffic. "Yeah lots of tricks in tricked out cars."

"Yeah, ha" they both laughed. Lance cleared his throat. "Red, I'm sorry..." He was cut off. "Don't even worry about it, my jaw isn’t made out of glass." Ralph rubbed his face where Lance had hit him. "Cool man" they put the fight behind them.

About this time Daniel returned with an older rosy-cheeked white man. "Lance this is Dave." He introduced him. "Yes sir," Lance extended his hand for a shake. "Evening boys, what have we got here?" He walked around the truck. "Vandals, they busted my Roxie man..." Dave nodded with a clip board in his hand he made a few notes "Yep we see a lot of that this time of year. She looks pretty bad... it's a big job."

"I thought it was hopeless too. That chick MJ sent us." Lance shook his head. "Not hopeless, let me get Dylan to take a look at it. I'll be back... Umm, the office is closed but you guys can get a drink out of the machine." They followed him and found themselves in the ‘Hot Body’ lounge. Framed pictures of a 1920's limo '56 Chevy and a few 70's muscle cars lined the room tastefully. Ralph found the female clerk filing papers behind the counter. Daniel and Lance ignored the girl and turned their attention to the vending machine.

"So do you really think this guy can fix three months of work in one night?" Lance questioned. "I doubt it, but Mary Jane said if any one could do it, Dylan could." Lance pursed his lips and mumbled "Whatever".

"Dude what the hell, is that a chick out there?" Daniel questioned raising an eyebrow. "Let's go..." Lance told him.

Walking into the parking lot they found a girl inspecting the vehicle. You could make out jeans and a wife-beater tank top under unzipped coveralls. Her long hair was french braided with a few loose strands in her face. Her Asian features were obvious even in the dimly lit parking lot. "Sweetie... can I help you?" Lance arrogantly greeted her. "I doubt it,” she said barely looking at him still deep in to the truck. "Well we're waiting for Dylan. Could you go get him, instead of standing out here like you know what you are doing? It would help me out a million, thanks."

"Damn that was cold" Daniel laughed at with Lance at the shut down. The girl stood up, turned on her heel and marched away furious. Five minutes later Lance went into the last open garage door. He quickly found Dave "Hey man, do you have a twenty on Dylan or what?"

"Yeah I sent her out there a while back. I thought she already talked to you..." His stomach flipped flopped and he could feel the blood draining to his feet. "She? Did you say SHE?"

"Yeah, wait just a second... Dylan come here." Lance swallowed hard before turning around to see her. The early twenties Asian girl stood with her arms across her chest. "Lance this is Dylan. DC this is the guy with the 4runner." Dave introduced the two unknowingly. "Dylan..." Lance stalled. "Hi I'm Lance..." he tried to shake her hand. "Try again" she stated bluntly, her face in an unforgiving frown.

"I'm so sorry about earlier." He dropped his head in apology. "Will you please fix my car?" He whined a little peeking up to see her face. "Much better...” she smiled softly at his antics. “Let's go" she said as they walked back outside.

Daniel and Ralph stopped mid-conversation to see Lance return with the girl. "Why did you bring Mulan back?" Ralph chirped. She rolled her eyes and waited for Lance to tell them. "Guys, this ‘is’ Dylan." Daniel couldn’t help but to doubled over in laughter to hear Ralph had put his foot in his mouth AGAIN. "Well Miss Dylan, what do you make of the damage?" Daniel asked her when he regained his composure.

"Oh I can fix her, the only thing is I don't have the grill. Since Grillcraft doesn't have to be cut I can probably install it, no problem." She had a knee down on in front of the truck unlatching it from the low rider. "But you don't have it." Her hands were quick to finish as they watched over her. "Hey let me worry about that Red!" Dylan snapped at Ralph throwing the straps his way.

“The Eurohood with factory hinges and chrome hood pins are in back storage. Wiper blades, side mirrors… you know you’re lucky they didn’t rip the frames off. Umm... Head lights, turn signals last but not least. Yeah the grill is the only thing I need." She stepped back for a moment accessing the truck again. “Who did you piss off?” Lance shook his head in acknowledgement and sighed. “Nobody special.”

Dave joined the group and handed her a cell phone. She took the call and started pulling off the coveralls. "Yeah I need a silver one. And he won't be there? Okay, give me half an hour." She put the coveralls in his hand. "Are you going to Forest Park?" Dave asked already knowing the answer. "Yeah I gotta get over there before JC gets back. Go ahead and put the windshield in." She carried on a conversation with Dave in exchange for the keys.

"Whoa you are leaving?" Lance asked standing in front of her she was a bit put off by him jumping in front of her. "I have to go pick up some parts..." She slipped past him in a hurry. "When will the car be ready?" he yelled after her. Stopping only long enough to give him an answer. "Come by tomorrow... I have to go." And with that she climbed into the yellow 4x4 work truck with a ‘Hot Body’ decal on the door. With that her tail lights disappeared into the sea of Nopi traffic. "I have to get to work. You guys better get going."

Chapter Four

Three O'clock that morning Dylan went home exhausted. She dropped her keys on the side table by the door kicking out of her work boots. Not surprised to find her roommate Mary Jane asleep on the sofa. Dropping her purse on the counter she bounced down beside her.

"Wake up be-och" she shook her friend awake until she came to. "What the hell, Dill..." Mary Jane blinked a few times and stopped to see her. Stretching out and fighting her body to sit up she wiped the sleep from her eyes. She curled her body against the back of the couch and snuggled up in her down blanket again. "Why are you just getting home? Did you get some JC on your way?"

"Oh you are so funny" Dylan said lighting her cigarette. Mary Jane stole it and took a big puff. "It's your fault I'm late” she said not caring at her loss. "What did I do?" She asked in a cloud of smoke. "Oh let me think, busted 4runner ring any bells? And I know you saw the-..."

"Pearl white RX7 with Lorenzo shoes and Raygun graphics." Mary Jane smiled to remember Daniel. "Yeah that would be the one." They laughed. "Did you get the truck fixed?" Mary Jane smiled and took a moment to think about the boy. "Did you smoke today?" Dylan asked a trick question. "Work ya magic..." Mary Jane nodded.

Dylan took her cigarette back and picked up Mary Jane's pipe. Packing a bowl she took along hit holding it in for a minute. "You know I had to go the Nopi shop for his grill." Mary Jane knew what that meant. "The one in Forest Park...On Main Street... The one JC works at..." Dylan couldn’t help but think about the past year. "Yes, yes, and yes. I called ahead so I wouldn't run into him though." She blew out the smoke and shook her head a bit. "And?" Mary Jane tried to take the pipe, but failed to get it in the first swipe. "And nothing. He wasn't there, but you know that bitch Leigh Ann is going to tell him I was there." She took another hit and continued holding it. Mary Jane getting aggravated began to talk. "Trust me, I hear everything that your saying but."

"But what freak?" Dylan teased her knowing, Mary Jane smiled and started singing Sean Paul's song. "Just give me the light and past the dro...." They both fell out laughing and rolled over the couch. Later when the muchkins set in the made their way to the kitchen. They argued over who was cuter Daniel or Lance.

Saturday morning Lance woke Daniel up early eager to check on his truck. They gathered their belongings for the day and drove to ‘Hot Body’ garage. Lance went inside and found Dave talking to the same girl behind the counter.

"Bass thought you'd be up here early. Come on I want you to see something." Lance said hello and followed him in fear of the worse. "So how did the mighty Dylan do?" Lance asked his guide before seeing the truck. The truth sat before him, everything was fixed and brand-new. He could not find the words as he walked around looking at every aspect.

"She's as good as new." Dave smiled. "Dylan stayed pretty late last night, but I knew she'd get it done she always comes through." The truck had been reborn. Lance begged to see Dylan, only to find she was already at Nationals. Backing out of the garage door he let Daniel see the miracle on wheels. "Looks great, but your missing one thing dude." Daniel popped the trunk and rummaged through a box. He pulled out a fresh ‘Finer Things’ decal and handed it to Lance.

When all the business was done they made the rest of the way down to Atlanta Motor speed Way. After making it though check point Daniel hit Gavin up on the Nextel. Finding their car club lot they parked. Everyone oohed and ahhed over the improvement of Roxie.

The boys ventured out into the crowds. Vendors everywhere you look open hoods, and speakers poured music into the air. Muscle heads with their blondes wiping down chrome were only out numbered by the slim shady wannabes. Tunervision was interviewing big competitors. Gavin's camcorder got an eye full with the Dyno contest and Xbox girls.

Daniel searched for RX7s and the ones they did find were in his opinion ‘weak’. Gavin stopped walking and motioned for them to join him. "Look at this lot right here." He laughed at their creative spelling. Lance and Daniel read the banner aloud. "Xpnsv Sh*t"

"Dude that is pretty tight" Daniel agreed. "Hey D, check out that car." Lance elbowed him. He saw the phat RX7 staring back at him. Candy apple red set off by just the right amount of chrome. As he got closer he could see the playful baby pink interior. A Remus cat back rear with twin 92x78mm tips. It was sitting on 18s with BF Goodrich tires. "Dude I think I'm in love." He ducked down over the cars before moving to the front to look under the hood. "I know" Lance joked seeing the owner approaching. "Hey, hey, hey... No drooling I just waxed it." Mary Jane walked up to Daniel with a smile. "Is this your car?" He asked smiling thankful to be this close to her again.

"Hell yeah, didn't you see the pot leaf etched in the back window, Mary Jane?" she giggled playfully at the play on the symbol and her name. "Word!" they both seemed to say at the same time making the moment last even longer.

She put her hand on her hip. He took note of her pink and red Puma gear. Her tight baby flared jeans showed the toe of her classic Puma sneaker. Her pink baby tee had "PUMA" across her chest and the red Puma sweatshirt tied around her waist gave away her constantly chilly state. The silverish sunglasses set atop her spike blonde do. Her faint freckles made her cheeks smile as she talked to him. She pulled out some lip-gloss and rubbed the tube on her full lips. She enamored Daniel.

Lance pretended to look around as stood by his buddy's side. Waiting for his chance to ask about his own interest... Dylan. With his hands in his pockets he nudged Daniel. "Oh yeah Lance, how's you truck? I just don't know where my mind is today..." Mary Jane said to him keeping her eyes on Daniel. "She's perfect, better than new."

"Why didn't you tell us Dylan was a chick?" Daniel asked. "Yeah" Lance agreed remembering the awful scene that could have been avoided. "Did I leave that out?" Mary Jane laughed a bit “Honestly, would you have trusted me if I’d told you that Dylan was a girl? It’s ok, common misconception in this crowd…” She waved her hands around to their surroundings in the male dominated environment that said women were there for decoration only. Daniel understood where she was coming from. "So is she here? I wanted to thank her at the shop, but they said she was out here somewhere." Lance was going to cry out loud if he didn’t see her soon.

"Oh...yep, she is busy today but maybe she could squeeze you in." Mary Jane took a few steps to the driver’s side of her car. “Busy?” Lance questioned. "She is right behind you, by the blue cavalier." Mary Jane informed him ignoring his question with her back still turned to him. She and Daniel went off on there own leaving him to look for Dylan.

When he turned he saw the car. The blue monster was sporting a RK Sport hood, body kit and wing. 18' Icy blue wheels and butterfly flame graphics. Needless to say he was impressed. Walking over though it was only a resemblance of the girl he had seen the night before. The long black hair held a few mini braids, some with blue streaks. Her girlish looks were much more apparent. The baby blue racerback shirt held her strong shoulders and well toned arms. When she turned he saw the curves of her hips. The whisker wash jeans held her just right.

"Dylan?" He tapped her on the back. "Huh?" She turned quickly not knowing who was calling in a carefree manner. Taking a deep breath she saw someone different too. Overwhelmed by his thug appeal she pulled off her raybans and took a step back. Timbs, baggy jeans, topped off by a parasuco shirt.

"Mr. Bass... How's your lady?" She acted like she was dusting his shoulder off to compliment his style. "I wanted to thank you, I never thought you'd..." he started off too fast mixing his words into foreign sentences. “Let's just leave it at thank you.” Dylan started to walk away. Lance fearing he had pissed her off again bounced in her path. He knelt down on one knee and began to shout. "What are you doing?" She tried not to laugh.

"Work it Dill!" Britney yelled from across the yard drawing everyone's attention to them.

"Dylan!" Lance yelled knowing everyone was watching. "I now bow to the Queen of the car gods! Thank you so much, I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t come into my life when you did! Baby please come home, if not for me, then for the children… Christopher misses his Mommy." He dropped his head in mock worship holding on to her hips as if begging for her forgiveness. He finished to clapping from the spectators. "Get up, get up!" Dylan pleaded slapping at his hands red faced from embarrassment shaking her head to make it stop. When he did he extended his hand in a truce.

"I really am thankful." She smiled and put her hands on his chest. Backing him into her car where he could not move. "Your welcome and I suppose... since our friends are hooking up we should be civil." she dropped her hands and grinned. "Baby I want to more than civil" he said pulling her into a hug. She stood there a little too long in her mind somewhat worried, she had been down this path before. However her body seemed to think differently relaxing in his arms. "Uh-huh, and just what is going on over here?" Mary Jane came across with deep ghetto slang. Dylan stood up and played with her hair like she was innocent. The four decided to go around the venue and check out everything. Over the course of the afternoon they all talked and saw thousands of cars.

Lance introduced the girls to Will Castro from Unique Auto Sport who happened to be Dylan's idol. He and Daniel reminisced about the good times at West coast Customs in Inglewood, CA. Dylan introduced Tay her idol as well. Nopi Chic Anna Lee who happened to be her cousin. Nopi Chic Nikki took the young girl under her wing. Ready to follow Nikki to the back stage of the swimsuit competition. "Don't take her back there... Y’all will corrupt her young mind with silicon and hair spray!" Mary Jane teased. "It's ok, she's a blonde!" Nikki walked away laughing.

After meeting up with Gavin they headed over to the main stage to watch the hydraulic jump-off. Mary Jane stopped to tie her shoe and noticed where she had stopped. In front of the ‘Civics Only’ lot. "Jerks!" She snapped and walked away. "Who?" Dylan asked. "Don't worry we're going to smoke them tomorrow" Daniel assured his new honey. "What do you mean tomorrow?" Dylan asked another question.  "We are in the Best Over All: Presentation and Sound against them, with your mad skillz I'll whip it" Lance told her proudly. "Did you say B.O.A?"

"Yeah" Lance smiled and tried to pull her under his arm. She turned pale white and walked away from the group slowly. "You know... I have to go... I uh... See ya later!" She practically ran away. Lance tried to follow her and Mary Jane stepped in front of him. "Don't Lance, just let her go." The guys were all confused by the actions. "What the hell MJ?" Lance asked. "Dylan is a judge for B.O.A. She can't be gallivanting with you today and judging you tomorrow." They all knew the consequences of them being together would botch the event. "Damn it!"