Here's a chapter to ease off the maintenance pains.
Chapter 9
2:23 AM
We were a pretty long way from home, it seemed. Arisu was pretty alert while pulling out of the small town, but after surpassing about 100 miles, we let our guard down a little bit and just...well, chilaxeed I guess. I nearly fell asleep when Arisu had started speaking.
"I think I know where these guys are coming from.."
"Uhh....me?"
"Don't worry, it's nothing related to you.....I think."
"Those guys looked awfully familiar......I might have seen them before."
"When was the last time you've saw them?"
"Too long to recall. It goes way back."
"Glad we're on the same page."
"What....what do you mean 'on the same page'?"
"I was into thefts when I was a teenager. I would take half the store without a single trace."
"Well, that's nothing compared to what I did."
"I wasn't done."
"Well..I'm so friggen' sorry."
"You really like interupting people in the middle of their sentences, don't you?"
"I'm too impatient. Guess it's in my genes."
"Ugh....anyways....I didn't just do petty shoplifting, I jacked a few cars to help my uncle get some cash. One day, my dad tried to point my damn uncle in the right direction. He left with a bullet in the head and chest."
"Wow."
"That's probably an understatement. It's much more than a 'wow'."
"Then what am I supposed to say? Cool story bro?"
"Shut up. You're agitating me."
"Fine. Fine. I see how it is."
"Heh, that's what I thought. Get some sleep, your eyes are redder than someone who takes drugs every hour."
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May 30th, 2008
Wilmington, CA 11:09 A.M
Right off the PCH
Woke up to the sound of a blaring siren outside, some dude blasting Vincente Fernandez outside, and the smell of dog crap. Very nice. Just another typical day in So Cal. I swore to myself that I needed to get a good car so that it can lead to a good job, and then a good life I guess. I know a few places where I could get an okay car, one that doesn't come with Walmart rims, or one that doesn't break down the minute you drive off. In fact, I know a pretty ghetto place where you can find some hidden treasures, like an Evo for only $10,000, or a Silverado for $5,000. What was that guy's name? Eric? Aric? No...it was probably Enrique-yup, that was it. Enrique Garcia. That guy fixes up cars and sells them for dirt cheap. So I took the bus to east Wilmington and walked an extra 3 miles to a dirt road with a tow truck pulling a Civic and an S10 with rims the size of a monster truck. I went to a crudely made door and banged on it, making a clank sound.
"Quen es?"
"Me.."
"Quen es 'me'?"
"Thomas.."
"I'll be there esse, don't move an inch."
The door opened and a fat man with a Dodgers cap and a beer belly showed up.
"I'm looking for Enrique."
"Hold on, I'll get that foo for you, stay put."
About 2 minutes later, a rather slim man smoking a cigarette showed up, the exact opposite of the man who first showed up. Hell, he even weared an Angels cap!
"Thomas...my man! Que pasa?"
"Nothing much, man. Just looking for a car, something practical or fast, or at least both."
"Foo, yo tiene los dos! Come in!"
He was correct, Enrique did fix up any kinds of car, I even saw a Supra smashed up from the back.
"You lookin' at that Supra huh?"
"Yup, the price when it's done?"
"The price is too much for you, amigo."
"Yeah...sure."
We walked up to a covered area with even more wrecked cars.
"Jose! What the hell are you doing? Why are you putting that body kit on the Fit?"
"It's mine, foo! When I get to buy it, anyways."
"I don't pay you enough, anyways. Ha!"
"Shut up, Enrique! I bust you up!"
"You wish....anyways Tom, here's some cars that you might like. They might have some defects, but they're most likely small. If there's anything big, blame it on Jose."
"This foo's trippen'!"
There were a lot of great cars. But they all were either over my budget or too ghetto. I kept looking and looking until I saw this beauty.
"Hey! Enrique!"
"Yeah?"
"This one's alright."
"Let's start it up to see if you'll still like it."
I got in the Accord and turned the ignition. The motor came to life and the gauges lighted up.
"You like it even better?"
"How much money?"
10 Freeway
11:03 P.M
Driving down to one of my friends place was a breeze, the car was so smooth on every turn I took. When I neared an exit, a Hummer blocked the road, so I couldn't get on the on-ramp.
I honked a few times, until something strange happened. Some dude came out of the H2 and pointed a gun at me.
"Hey, gimmie some of your money!"
I reversed out of the way and went for the next exit, but I couldn't go through without getting a couple of bullet holes through my car. The guy even tried to throw a hammer at my rear view.
I guess that's how I got to meet my later fate.