Another week passed and Toby let me go for walks with Rocco. Rocco was good company and I got along well with him, we did after all have something in common. We walked down the street I had heard Rocco’s cry for help in.
“Never thought I would walk down here again,” I said.
“Why is that?” Rocco asked. I thought for a minute but couldn’t come up with an answer. So I shrugged my shoulders.
“Come to think why are we here?” I asked.
“Hardly anyone walks here, I like it,” Rocco replied.
“Why do you like it?” I asked panic slipping into my voice.
“For reasons like this.” Rocco pushed my down the alley I had gone down to find him cornered. He pushed me against a brick wall and my heart began to thud in my chest. Rocco leaned down and pressed his lips to mine. He was kissing me. I wasn’t a cheat; I would never cheat on Toby or anyone. I pushed Rocco back and the instant I did it I regretted it. The moment I met Rocco I did feel something for him and it was as strong as how I feel about Toby.
Rocco smiled but I glared at him, I went to leave but he grabbed my arm. I struggled to break free.
“Let go,” I cried.
“Summer we need to talk,” Rocco said ignoring my request.
“There is no need. I love Toby and he is mine I can’t leave him or cheat on him I feel so bad for kissing you just before. I’m sorry Rocco,” I replied.
“Summer please listen to m-”
“No, what you did just then made me a cheater. I just cheated on Toby,” I hissed. I punched Rocco in the face with my free hand. He let go of my arm as soon as his hand was gone from my arm I ran.
“Summer!” he called, “Summer.”
“LEAVE ME ALONE!” I screamed at him. I kept running when suddenly I ran into someone.
“Summer, what’s wrong?” Toby asked.
“Oh, Toby,” I sobbed. I hugged him and cried.
“Where’s Rocco?”
“I don’t know or care,” I replied.
“What did he do to you?” Toby demanded.
“He kissed me,” I cried.
“WHAT?!”
“He kissed me; I pushed him away and punched him in the face. I told him I love you and because of him… well let’s just say I feel like I have just cheated on you,” I explained.
“It’s not your fault,” Toby said in soothing voice. I hugged Toby tighter not wanting to let go.
“There she is. Is she alright?” I heard Rocco ask.
“Why did you kiss her?” Toby demanded.
“I dunno what you are talking about,” Rocco replied. Toby let go of me and I turned to watch him grab Rocco.
“Yes you do,” Toby said through clenched teeth.
Rocco and Toby started yelling at each other and every now and then someone would get hit. The sun was setting and I wanted to get far away from them. I walked away silently. I saw three ten second cars drive past me going in the direction I was going. I decided to follow them to see where they were going, more cars passed me and I started to run. I turned a corner and saw car after car lined up and people walking around and dancing to music.
This place looked like a scene from The Fast And The Furious I walked into the crowd. Everyone stopped and looked at me.
“Fresh meat,” someone whispered.
“Can I race?” I asked.
“What have you got to give us if you lose?” a female asked.
“One hundred Reais,” I replied, I pulled the money out of my pocket. “But someone needs to let me borrow their car.”
“You’re in kid, the name’s Tess you can have my car. To make things interesting you can have my car if you win,” Tess said.
“Sweet,” I replied. “The names Summer.”
The other races gave Tess the money and I did too.
****
Tess’s car was blue like mine, the one Chris gave me. This car was a sky blue with pink decals on the side of the car. The neon light under the car was pink. Three other cars lined up next to me and smiled. If I was as good as Molly said I would leave these guys in the dust. I looked at the steering wheel and saw two Nos buttons; I let my smile grow wider. This was a race I had done before back home with Chris and Molly. A drag race.
“Ready… Set… Go!”
I shifted the gears and got a perfect start. The car I was driving shot in front of the others and I felt adrenaline course through my body. I timed my gear changes perfectly and I was in the lead, but for the fun of it I pressed the two Nos buttons in at the same time. I saw this happen in a Fast And Furious movie. The car was like a rocket, I was driving extremely fast and I loved it.
“YES!” I yelled when I crossed the finish line. I slowed the car done and I found that I was breathing heavily. The crowd cheered as I climbed swiftly out of the car.
“Here you go. Four hundred Reais and the pink slip to my car,” Tess said.
“You’re American,” I mumbled.
“How did you know that?” Tess asked.
“Who else would call that piece of paper a pink slip,” I replied. Tess smiled and patted me on the back.
“Smart kid,” Tess said.
“So how often are the races on?” I asked.
“Every night,” Tess replied.
“Now were talking,” I mumbled.
Tess laughed. I took the money and the pink slip when sirens pierced the night. People started speaking in Portuguese but I didn’t need any translation to tell me what was happening, I ran to my new car and started it up. Cars went in all directions and I went towards my apartment. Well at least the way I thought it was.
****
It was early morning when I finally found the apartment. I spent all night trying to find it, I was glad when I did find it. I left the car on the street and I made sure that I locked it. I walked up some stairs and down a hallway until I got to my apartment. I got the key for the apartment out of my pocket and opened the door. I walked quietly into the apartment.
“Finally,” someone murmured. I walked in the direction of the voice to find Dean, Rocco, Uncle Josh and Toby sitting together looking relieved.
“Where have you been?” Uncle Josh demanded.
“Around,” I replied, “I couldn’t find the apartment.”
“You were walking around all night by yourself,” Dean said horrified.
“No, I won myself a car and four hundred Reais,” I replied.
“You won a car,” Dean said in disbelief.
“Yep a good one too,” I said.
“Whatever. Summer we thought that Ricoh had found you,” Rocco said.
“I don’t care about what you have to say,” I snapped.
“It was just a k-”
“Zip it,” I snapped again cutting Rocco off. “I just want some fun is that so much to ask for?”
“No, but we just want to protect you,” Toby replied.
“I know how to fight and use a gun,” I mumbled.
“But could you fight Ricoh?” Uncle Josh asked.
“I have before, Rocco saw me,” I replied.
“Summer you won’t last in a fight with Ricoh,” Rocco said.
“Wanna bet,” I replied sarcastically. I grabbed the gun from my uncle’s belt and walked outside.
“Summer no,” Dean cried. I ran to my car and climbed in.
“Here I come Ricoh,” I muttered.
I drove through the streets of Rio looking for Ricoh or anyone that could help me find him. I was beginning to feel exhausted. I hadn’t slept for a while now maybe fifteen hours since I last slept, I don’t know maybe even more. I drove at a fast pace not even bothering to check the speed, I was determined to kill Ricoh. I wanted Uncle Josh and Toby to understand that I wasn’t weak; I know that Ricoh might kill me but at least I will die fighting.
It took me a few hours to find Ricoh. And when I did I was pleased, I climbed swiftly out of my car and locked it. I had Uncle Josh’s gun in my belt and I couldn’t believe it managed to stay there.
“I hear you have been looking for me,” I called teasingly at Ricoh.
“Well, well you made my job of killing you a lot easier,” Ricoh replied. A sly smile played on his lips. “How unfortunate your uncle isn’t here.”
“I wanted to kill you myself,” I said teasing him again.
“And what makes you so sure you will succeed?”
“This does.”
I left the gun in my belt and punched Ricoh. I could tell by the expression on Ricoh that he was pissed off. Ricoh grabbed my right arm and pinned it behind my back. He put his other hand on my neck and started to squeeze my neck, he was cutting of my air supply. I couldn’t let him kill me. I spun around quickly which forced him to let go of my neck and managed to get my right arm free. I kicked him in the stomach which made him stumble backwards.
Ricoh pulled a knife from his belt and threw it at me. I ducked just in time, if I hadn’t moved it would have got me in my heart. I left the gun in my belt so I could use it as a last resource. Ricoh and I started hitting each other and trying to block each other’s hits. The fighting was going on for thirty minutes and I was getting tired. Ricoh was winning and he would kill me if I failed to defeat him. Ricoh punched me in the chest and I landed on the ground.
Blood was flowing from my mouth and nose, Ricoh had hit me more than I had hit him. Ricoh picked up his knife and he kneeled next me swinging the knife back and forth in front of me. He was teasing me. Ricoh slid the knife across my left and right arm cutting them but he didn’t cut me deep enough, but I still bled.
“Oh I have been looking forward to this,” Ricoh said, he sounded pleased.
“So have I,” I replied. I managed to get Uncle Josh’s gun from my belt and I pulled the trigger. I shot Ricoh in the chest, I watched him as he fell to the ground and I smiled. I shot him again to make sure he was dead.
With all the blood leaking from my body I knew I was in deep trouble, I sat up. Blood trickled down my face and down my neck. I had to get out of here and that’s when Toby appeared next to me.
“Summer, I found you,” he said. “Oh god, you’re going to bleed to death.”
“They aren’t that deep,” I replied.
“Hmm, I should be able to help you cover them up,” Toby murmured. Toby took his t-shirt of and ripped some pieces of and wrapped them around my arms. I hardly ever got to see Toby shirtless and I was enjoying it, sure I have seen him without a shirt before but I hadn’t for a while. Toby checked my nose and my mouth. He ripped another piece from his shirt and started wiping the blood away from my mouth and nose. Once Toby was finished he turned and saw Ricoh.
“Holy shit Summer you killed him.”
“Wow I hadn’t noticed,” I replied sarcastically.
“I gotta get you outta here, is that your new car?”
“Yes.”
Toby helped me up and he grabbed the gun. He insisted on driving home and I let him. I gave him the keys and he unlocked the car, I climbed into the passenger side and we took off.