Fast and Furious: Future (editing and adding to)

Chapter 2: Barbecue

Sundaywas known to us as 'Shopping Day'. All my friends were those fromcollege, including Fern. The only difference to be noted between usthat I probably had dirt and grease under my fingernails; other thanthat, I was all dolled up as they were. I wore my flat black sandalsalong with a short floral Santorini dress. It was fairly simplethough after last night, I had little time from waking up to plan onwhat to wear. First on the agenda was hitting the shoe shops whichtook up less time than it usually did; this meant I wasn't toohungry compared to normal as we went to our favourite food outlet forlunch.

Itwas such a lovely day, so hot that there was no doubt that summer wasaround the corner. It was when we were in one of the many clothesshops that the conversation turned to me.

'Whydon't you ever bring us in your Mustang, Ella?' Jasmine asked,sifting through a rack of black and white striped tops.

Iwas helping Fern look for her size on another rack. 'Because it'snot my day car. The Mustang is for racing only. I don't even givesmall lifts in it.'

'Thenwhat is the point in having it?' Alison added.

Fernand I exchanged understanding glances. Although Fern didn't raceherself, Carlos did and they were pretty close to know what a racingcar was all about. 'Maybe you could take it out in the day once inawhile. Everyone around here knows you have one.'

'ReallyI don't see the need to have two cars in the first place.'

Igiggled as Fern went to try her shorts on. 'The more I drive myMustang, the more likely something will go wrong with it. Plus itisn't set up for casual driving.' Saying that reminded me of whatJack had said to me last night. There was nothing in here that hadcaught mine or Alison's eye so we headed off to the toilets leavingFern and Jasmine to purchase their pick of clothes.

'Youdo see our point though, don't you? You get a lot of money for theblack one that you could spend or save for the Mustang.'

'Yeh,I get your point but I like having both.'

'Isthere a race tonight?' she asked. Jasmine and Alison rarely camealong with Fern and I to the night races.

'Notthat I know of. The organised ones are held Friday and Saturdaynights, depending on the main convenience of those who want to race.'

'Whydon't you ever remind us so we can plan our nights around them?'

Isuppose it was partly my fault why they hadn't been to many raceswith us. My main, secret reason was that they weren't so car mindedas I was and the rest of the time I was too busy at work to rememberletting them know. 'Tell you what, I know there's one thisweekend. I'm not sure when it is yet as Ed hasn't messaged me.I'll set a note on my fridge to remind me to text you.'

'Ohgood. I haven't been in months. It's well good fun being aroundall them lads in one place.' I rolled my eyes. Trust Alison to turnthe subject onto guys. 'Oh come on. You must like it all too.'

'Allwhat?'

'Allthe attention? There aren't many girl racers round here. Has anyoneactually beaten you recently?'

Myvoice caught in my mouth as I was about to say 'last night' butmy head stopped me and I remained quiet. Alison might have saidsomething to my silence but I didn't hear her. As I glanced aroundseeing if Fern and Jasmine had finished in the last clothes shop, Isaw a small group of guys a few hundred yards down the mall's maincorridor. It turned out, Fern and Jasmine were indeed done with theirlast purchase and just joined in our twosome when the lads were inhearing distance to us. All the while I had kept my head down andlooking in the complete opposite direction when he called out.'Ella?'