Loving the Buster//Brian O'Conner

Ten

Brian, Roman, Suki, Tej, Jimmy and I are waiting for two guys that Tej knows to show up. They pull up in some muscle cars. Little snag to the plan we could only get two cars which means I'm stuck driving the Viper I've been fixing up. We just gotta hope that Markham is to stupid to realize.

"Yeah. Here they come," Tej tells us.

The men get out of their cars with two women. I recognize the guys from earlier.

"Fonzie and Fabio. Glad you can join us," Tej remarks.

The guy with the bun starts, "We heard you boys wanted to get rid of those CrackerJack toys."

"No. Actually we just figured those cars you got deserved better drivers, which is why we're gonna take 'em off your hands," Brian remarks.

The guy steps towards Brian. "You know, why don't we settle this now?"

"Wait, wait. How about we settle this on the blacktop, huh? Each car does it down and back, tag-team style... for slips," Tej offers.

"Loser walks home," Suki tells them.

"We came to race," the guy states.

"Well, load 'em up then," Tej tells them.

"Come on, bro," Brian tells Roman. "Let's get these cars." We start to walk away from the guys.

"All right, check it out. There's no way you're gonna beat these guys straight up," I tell them. "The Hemi's puttin' out about 425 and that Yenko will snap a speed on about five seconds flat. You're gonna have to pull somethin' out of your ass."

"The only thing I can think of is save the spray for the way back, the return trip," Brian offers.

"Done deal," Roman tells him.

"All right. Let's do this, bro," Brian says. "I'm gettin' that orange one."

Roman laughs as he jumps in his car. "You ain't ready, Fabio!"

"All right. You each got a barrel to go around down at the end of the road. The second wave gotta sit tight till your partner crosses this line right here. First team to go down and back twice wins the race. At which point, the losers will hand over them keys. Otherwise, you'll be eatin' breakfast through straws from now on. Comprende?" Tej explains.

"I get it," the guy assures.

Tej turns to Roman. "Oh, this means you too."

"I got it," Roman assures.

"A'ight. Let's race," Tej says.

"Come on, baby! You got this, Rome. Let's do it," Suki shouts.

"Hey, you gone, homey. I got this. This is done," Roman taunts. "You about to lose your car."

"Do it, Rome!" I shout.

"You think I'm worried about this fool, man?" Roman laughs. "This is nothin'."

Roman starts to rev his engine. The other guy revs his engine and it may be a problem.

"Aw, no," I remark.

"All right, here we go," Tej says, throwing his hands up.

Suki steps over in front of him. "It's all right, baby. I'm gonna handle this."

Tej puts his hands on Suki's hips. "Handle it."

Suki holds her arms up. "Ready and... go!"

Roman and the other guy take off down the street. The other guy is in the lead by more than I would like to see. That is until Rome hits the NOS and catches up. The other guy uses his car to hit a sign into the road in front of Roman. Rome has to swerve to avoid hitting it. Rome takes a moment but he gets back onto the road.