Fast and Furious: Future (editing and adding to)

Chapter 1: 1327

Todaywas the day my life changed. It had started off normal; I woke up,showered, dressed and then drove to work. Once I was in the shop,that was all I focused on. Sorting out stock, packing orders from thelast few days, re-checking others, refilling the shop floor and, asalways, dealing with customers.

Itwas a Saturday so it was decently quiet. I was just finished withfilling up the cleaning product shelves when the door opened. With alook over my left shoulder, I saw a guy about my own age. 'I'llbe with you in a moment,' I called out. I slipped behind the deskand logged into the computer saying, 'How can I help you?'

Hehad grey-blue eyes and short, scruffy, dirty blonde hair. Althoughclearly being white, there was a hint of Latino in his skin. To behonest, he was quite good-looking. 'I ordered a load of partsyesterday,' he simply replied.

Ichecked the order logs. There was only one order placed yesterday soI assumed it was his. Glancing at the fairly long list, I noted theywere Nissan parts. 'Nissan?' I asked, just to check.

'Yeh,that's it.'

'It'sout back. It won't take long,' I explained, though some of theparts I knew were kind of heavy. In the storeroom, I called for helpto my colleague. 'Hey, Nicky! I need a hand!' No sooner had Ifinished, was he pacing beside me. Having checked this order earlier,I knew exactly which pile it was. I picked up an armful of thelighter items and left the rest to Nicky (he was as strong as a bullso I knew he would manage). 'Okay, where do you want them?'

'Couldyou bring them outside to my car?' he asked, taking a head gasketfrom me.

'Sure,no problem.' I followed him and Nicky followed me. The customertook out his keys and remotely unlocked his car. That was when Ilooked up. His car was beautiful; so beautiful that I stopped andnearly dropped half his order. 'Woah,' I mouthed as he opened thetrunk. Nicky walked straight past and loaded his half into the backof the Honda S2000.

'Er,miss, can I have my parts please?'

Ilooked at him then shook my head. 'Yeh. Sorry.' I quickly butcarefully placed the parts into his trunk. 'I was just admiringyour car,' I explained.

'Likeit, huh?'

'Er,yeh.' I pulled myself together. 'So that's three hundred,seventy four dollars and thirteen cents,' I told him, rememberingthe total from before.

Takingout his wallet, he counted out three hundreds, a fifty, a twenty,four singles and a quarter. I took it off him but before I could sayanything, he spoke first. 'Keep the change.' With a wink and asmile, he went to the driver's side and ducked inside.

Icouldn't just go back indoors, I had to hear the purple sleek carpurr away and roar once taking a left.

Afterswitching off the back room lights and locking the shop up, I headedjust down the street to my little Subaru. I bought it cheap just toget me around town but when the sun went down over LA, my other lifebegan.

Iwas changed and ready to go. Opening the garage, I got into myMustang and sped down past my flat and my Subaru. Taking a shortcutover the freeway, I was down on the back streets in no time. Therewere a few 'Road Closed' signs so it was clear I was in the rightplace. Round the next corner, the crowd and the music started.

Droppingto first, I slowed to a crawl and let the crowd move out of my way.Finding a spot, I parked up and got out to see a few very familiarfaces.

'Hey,Ella. 'Bout time you showed up,' came André's voice.

Ismiled. 'Hey, Dre.' We shared a quick hug. 'Fern, Carlos,' Iadded, nodding to my other close friends. 'Are you racing tonight,Carl?'

Heshook his head and looked very miserable. 'Can't. Broke myfingers on my gear hand.' Bringing his right hand up in front ofhis chest, I saw that they were splinted and bandaged. He couldn'teven bend them. I didn't ask why, he was always getting into somekind of trouble. 'You should though,' he added, smiling broadly.