Blind Curve Read online

  I nod.

  “OK, may the best girl win.” He knocks on my roof, and I raise the window.

  Mai revs her engine, not like a macho guy but like a pilot getting ready for takeoff. But the whole time she’s staring at me coolly. I rev my engine too. The Teg sounds sweet. She’s been waiting for this day. We won’t let each other down. I give Mai and the guy in the glasses a nod. He raises his hand.

  When his hand falls, time lengthens. I suddenly feel cool and sure. My hands and feet know where to go, what to do. For the first few seconds, my body feels liquid as the Teg flies down the road and I shift in perfect rhythm. I feel like I am the Teg, and it’s the best feeling ever. My eyes are on the first curve—it’s far ahead but getting closer fast.

  It’s not until I finally take a breath again that I glance over at Mai. She’s right there, like our cars are tied together by an invisible thread. She looks grim. I laugh out loud. Right now I feel so good doing this, I don’t even care what happens.

  Then we’re on the curve, and the laugh dies in my mouth. It’s a curve to the left, and it’s steeper than I thought. I’m fighting to hold the Teg to the road. I’m still filled with the thrill of the speed, but whatever that part of your brain is that doesn’t want you to get hurt or die is back, and I’m scared now too. And now Mai pulls ahead with the advantage the curve gave her.

  The gear feels wrong. I downshift, trying to catch up. Curve again, now to the right. I wish I could close my eyes to think for a moment how to make it work for me. But I can’t close my eyes—I’m driving. Oh god.

  Don’t overthink it, I hear Bee’s voice say. Is he here? In my mind? This is starting to feel like such a dream, I’m not sure, and I can’t look at anything but the road.

  I let my hands and feet do as they want. It’s all I can do.

  Coming out of the second curve, I’ve caught up. I see cars ahead. Now—I have to do it now!

  With my pedal to the floor and a death grip on the wheel, we flash past the cars and guys waving. It takes a moment to realize that Mai has stopped. I can only pull my foot slowly off the pedal, my legs shaking. No way could I slam on the brakes now.

  When I’m going a normal speed, I turn around and drive slowly back to Mai and the guys. I have no idea what happened, who won. I feel like I’m going to throw up, there’s so much adrenaline in my body.

  I pull up next to Mai. Before I can get out, she’s pulling open my door and yanking me out by my arm. She’s cussing me out, and I keep saying “Who won?” Is she mad because I did?

  “You’re going to answer my questions!” she yells, not letting go of my arm.

  “But—” I say.

  “Ooooh, catfight, catfight!” the guys chant. I look for the glasses guy. I don’t see him. The guys are just a blur anyway. “Settle it with a fight!” One of them whoops.

  “Wait, did we tie?” I ask Mai, pulling away from her. She cusses at me some more. “I’ll answer your questions,” I say. “As long as you answer mine.”

  “Aren’t you a skanky man-stealer?!” she yells at me.

  “Nooo,” I say, completely taken aback. What is she talking about? “Weren’t you racing when that kid got hit on Lexington?” I shoot back.

  “No!” she yells. “I don’t even know what you’re talking about!” But I see fear in her eyes. “And that’s bullcrap what you said. That’s Bee Lee in your embroidery, and he’s my sister’s boyfriend!”

  “Wait, what?!” I say. “But what about the California gir—”

  “So you knew! My sister is in California, but she’s coming next week. You knew he had a girlfriend, and you went for him anyway, you—”

  The guys are around us, clapping and laughing. But then one of them is pushing between us.

  “OK, ladies, break it up, break it up. The dude’s not worth it, I’m sure. Settle it another day with another race.”

  Oh, no. It’s Bee.

  I turn my head, swinging my hair to hide my face. I start to walk away, but Mai grabs my arm again.

  “Bee! Who is this b—”

  Bee’s looking past me to my Teg. He looks back at me, my head hanging down.

  “Penny?!” His mouth stays open.

  “And who’s Penny?” Mai hisses, looking back and forth between us.

  “Sister,” Bee and I say at the same time. Now Mai’s mouth falls open. I can’t help it, I just start laughing.

  After everyone’s calmed down (now I’m just hiccuping. I feel like a five-year-old), I hold my breath and ask Mai the big question. I have to ask her. I still can’t ask Bee.

  “Was that your car that day even if you weren’t driving?”

  “What day?” Bee asks, confused.

  She hesitates, exhales, and nods. “My brother was driving.”

  A huge weight lifts off my heart. At the same time, I’m sad for her. I know what that weight is like.

  “Don’t tell anyone,” she begs me. I nod. I was never trying to get anyone in trouble, just trying to keep my brother. Mai doesn’t want to lose her brother either. “That’s why I painted it, got new plates, and he went to California,” she continues in a low voice to me. “And that’s why my sister’s coming here. My brother will take her job with our uncle, and she’ll help me take care of our grandparents.”

  “Kao Li’s really coming here?” Bee says. I think it’s the only part of the conversation he’s understood. A grin is spreading across his face. Maybe it’s just the only part he really cared about.

  Mai nods, giving him a hard look. “And you’d better treat her right. Now you know how tough I am.”

  Bee laughs and tries to hide it.

  “But if they get married, her name will be Kao Li Lee,” I say behind my hand to Mai. “Are you sure you want that for your sister?”

  She giggles. “Sounds like a good match for Bee Lee? They’ll be perfect together.”

  Bee and I reach home at the same time. I pull the Teg into the garage. Bee pulls his 300ZX in next to it. When I get out, he’s standing there with folded arms.

  “We need to talk,” he says, sounding just like our dad. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. I’m so relieved he won’t be leaving and he wasn’t part of the race on Lexington. But I wish he wouldn’t race like that at all. And I don’t want to explain what I’ve been up to.

  “First, what is up with all … that?” He points at me.

  I shrug. “Sherry wanted to do a makeover. And … I didn’t want you to recognize me. I’m going back to my old clothes—they’re more comfortable. I kind of like the hair though.”

  Bee shakes his head like he’s trying to clear it.

  “OK, second, what the heck were you doing there? Why aren’t you in school? Or in bed? Didn’t you tell Mom you were sick?” He’s being such a bossy older brother I get mad.

  “Well, what were YOU doing there today? And all the other days you’ve skipped school to go do something stupid like race on a road where you or someone innocent could get hurt or killed? Huh?”

  Bee shakes his head again. “You look so crazy, I can’t even look at you. You don’t even look like Penny.”

  “That’s right, change the subject,” I mutter, wiping my lipstick off with the back of my hand.

  “But you’re right,” Bee says, looking at the Teg. “I don’t know how you found out—was it Johnny? I didn’t want you to know because I knew you wouldn’t like it. And it was for you.”

  “For me?” I’m dumbfounded.

  “Well, mostly. To win money to help you finish the Teg for your birthday.”

  “I TOLD you I don’t care about finishing for my birthday!” I yell. “I never asked you for money! I can get my own money in perfectly safe and legal ways. Well, mostly legal,” I finish, thinking about my homework business.

  “I know, I know, and that why I didn’t want you to know,” Bee says, looking at me finally. “But it’s important to me that you have the Teg for your birthday, Penny.”

  “Because you’re leaving after all,” I
say, my eyes filling with tears. “With that skank Kao Li—”

  “Whoa, whoa,” Bee says, holding up a hand. “Kao Li is way more like you than she is like Mai. Even Mai’s just playing dress up—she’s a good kid too. And who said I’m leaving? It’s just—I’m graduating—”

  “Unless you flunk for skipping all the time,” I put in.

  Bee waves his hand. “I’ve already got enough credits. Plus, my homework always gets good grades.” He smiles. “Listen, I’m graduating. I’ll have to take some kind of community college classes because Mom and Dad will make me. But mostly I’m going to be really busy with my new job.” He grins again.

  “What new job?” I ask.

  “Working on Formula Drift cars. That Hopkins guy with the new shop is working for the circuit and said he’d give me a try.”

  “Wow.” I’m impressed. All those races we’ve watched together on YouTube and now Bee will be working on those cars.

  “So I won’t be around as much. And next year you’ll graduate and go away to a fancy school,” he continues.

  “No, I won’t,” I counter.

  “Well, you should if you can,” Bee retorts. “Family should support you, not hold you back. You can always come home, but you need to make your own future.”

  I look down, trying not to cry again.

  “And I promise I won’t street race again. You’re right, it’s stupid. I just got sucked in because I usually win and it’s an easy way to make money. But from now on I’ll keep my racing to the track. I can kick Chai Xiong’s butt just as easily there, take his money, and make him drive two hours for the privilege. Anyway, there’s a rumor a track might be built in the metro.”

  “That would be sweet,” I say, rubbing my hand on the hood of the Teg.

  Bee raises his eyebrows.

  “I mean,” I say quickly, “it is stupid, but it was really … awesome. Really, really awesome.”

  “Now you know why me and Toua never taught you how to race. We didn’t want you to catch the bug. But from what I saw today, you’re a natural. Must be in the blood. Lees for speed.”

  As Bee puts his hand out for a high five, I know I’ll never lose him, no matter where life takes us.

  MODEL HISTORY

  Also known in markets outside the United States as the Honda Integra, this model has a lot in common with the Honda Civic. The Integra was a luxury sports car that was in production from 1985 to 2006. It was only available in front wheel drive, either in a two-door coupe or a four-door sedan style.

  There have been four generations of Integras to enter the market. Many owners “soup up” their vehicles (add parts to make them more visually appealing or sporty). One of the most common “mods” (modifications) made is the installation of a cold air intake system. Since engines thrive off colder air, these systems help ramp up the horsepower of a vehicle.

  Some Integra owners also supercharge, or turbocharge, their engines. The job of a turbocharger is to force more air through the engine at a faster rate. The more air that moves through the engine and the faster it moves, the more power can be exerted from the automobile.

  Honda Formula 1 cars were the predecessors of the Integra. The Integra has been active in racing circles ever since its introduction in the 80s.

  THE INTEGRA TYPE R

  First released in 1995, this car was named “the greatest front-wheel-drive performance car ever” by Evo magazine. This car was considered to have superior handling, acceleration, and performance as compared to other Honda models.

  The Type R vehicle was produced mainly for publicity purposes. Honda hoped that the car’s performance in international racing circles would win it support on the commercial market. Their upgrades paid off, and Type R was very competitive on the racetrack.

  The Type R had a five-speed manual transmission and better intake and exhaust systems than the original Rcura Integra. With increased power and a lighter overall weight, the Integra Type R was built to move fast.

  THE INTEGRA AND THEFT

  While the Integra was often ranked among lists of the most stolen vehicles in the United States, it wasn’t stolen as much as its cousin, the Honda Civic. The Integra, like the Civic, was a popular target for thieves because it was relatively easy to break into and because its parts were in high demand and could be used on many different makes and models of vehicles.

  THE INTEGRA TODAY

  The Integra today is a scooter. I’m not kidding! Honda has done this before–converted a car model into a motorcycle model. In fact, according to jalopnik.com, the Integra was actually a motorcycle model before it became a car model in 1985. Regardless, Honda claims that the new 2013 Honda Integra has great handling and comfort, combining the power and performance of a motorbike with the ease of a scooter.

  ENGINE: 140 horsepower, 1.8-liter transverse front-wheel-drive engine, valve train–four valves per cylinder (sixteen in total); a turbo kit to ramp up the horsepower and max RPM; replaced valve guides (the Teg needed new ones because the engine was starting to burn oil–not good); installed a cold air intake system (engines like cold air, which increases the vehicle’s horsepower); installed a new five-point belt (with my one-of-a-kind embroidery to boot); replaced fuel injectors

  DRIVETRAIN: replaced ball joints; cut down the manual shifter to a short shifter (makes it quicker to transition from one gear to another and helps the Teg accelerate faster)

  SUSPENSION: replaced the front sway bar and rear sway bar; installed Integra coilovers (drops the Teg low to the ground–with a lower center of gravity, the car will handle and perform better on the road); camber kit (shock absorber that helps straighten out the wheels and makes for a smoother ride)

  BRAKES: new front and rear brake pads; installed rotors (these keep the brakes cool, letting out the heat produced by braking– cooler brakes last longer and stop more efficiently)

  WHEELS/TIRES: Pirelli tires (like the ones Mai had–they looked so sleek I just had to get them!); tucked tires; trimmed bumper and quarter panels to prevent rubbing or friction

  EXTERIOR: replaced LED headlights with JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) headlights; painted the body with a fresh red coat; installed underglows; tinted the windows; installed an ITR back spoiler (increased downforce, which enhances tire traction–important for a fast-moving front-wheel-drive car)

  INTERIOR: added a superior-handling steering wheel; put in new floor mats (to keep remnants of the snowy Minnesota winters off the cabin carpeting)

  ELECTRONICS: installed a new stereo system to blast some of my favorite songs while working on homework in the Teg or cruising down the highway; added a fuzz buster (this awesome tool lets me know if a cop is using a radar gun to monitor my speed)