Koen didn't like pulling out his phone many times during a car meet, he felt like he was missing the moment rather than being in it. Absorbing it. Being one with the cars, the sound of engines revving, the smell of grease, oil, and cheap vape.
Because he knew, in a moment, in a blink—it's all gone. The feeling would just be a shell of nothing but memories kept inside his head, and then he's right back to Fernview where it all started.
That's why every minute, and every second, he loved it, and wouldn't take out his phone even to check a message. Because this was a moment he didn't want to slip by so easily.
It wasn't long before he came across this one car, one he didn't really recognize instantly that much. The livery was too…graphic, to say the least. But at least he saw the badge up front, Subaru…
…but this Subaru was different from all of the others, and was accompanied by a driver sitting on the hood, laptop on their lap. Wearing an entire Marlboro jumpsuit as if he was a…
"Huh," Koen grunted out once.
As if he was a Rally Driver.
The Rally Driver had dark smooth skin, black eyes and jet black hair that was kept in braids. Their fingers typing up and down on their laptop, not entirely noticing Koen just yet, swept up in what they were doing.
The car alone stood out from the flashy exotics or tuners, the wide fenders, even it's stance…something looked…off, about it really, Koen thought—or moreso he knew already. He just couldn't put a finger to it.
What kind of Subaru would this one be?
The Rally Driver must've noticed Koen watching, because shortly after he put down his laptop to the side and jumped off. Putting on a cap with many, many designs of what appeared to be…rally racing teams?
Koen's eyes then shot back to the car, rally. Rally. Rally.
Before the Rally Driver could speak, Koen already went ahead.
"Is that…a 22B?" Koen asked, extending his hand. The Rally Driver must've already known Koen's presence in the underground scene, and dapped him up.
He nodded right after, "Yeah, how'd you guess?"
Koen put a finger to his chin, "Really? I don't know. It looks…wider than the other regulars. Lower stance, there's probably a whole lot more I'm missing…but…"
He looked around to the other cars, then back at this one.
"But I figured if a Subaru like this was here, than it has to be special."
The driver nodded. Because then, of course, if it truly was a 22B…Koen was standing before something, very, very special.
Only 400 were ever made. Or close to that number—Koen forgets what the true value was. Majority of them hailed from Japan, and then a small number made for the UK and US. Because Subaru realized this could be much more than a car.
It was a literal love letter to rally racing, personified. Most people never get to see a 22B, even the fact that it was sitting here, at a car meet of all places was shocking.
It was like seeing a unicorn.
And despite all that, it seems like other people at the lot managed to overlook it. Maybe because they never realized it, or cared further enough to inspect it. Koen didn't blame them, however. You go to Car Meets for your own reasons, maybe to look at the cars there, or catch a vibe, or even just soak in the fierce atmosphere.
So, no, nobody would blame you if you didn't catch probably one of the rarest cars to see here.
The Rally Driver laughed, maybe to fill the lack of conversation between them. Music pressing deep into Koen's ribs, matching his heartbeat as if he was one with the meet.
"Micah," He began, introducing himself.
Koen nodded, "Koen Cruz. You ever drive this thing?" He further asked.
"Depends, it's more like a gift, and others would rather keep it in a garage for collection purposes…" Micah trailed off, walking near the hood with his laptop. He picked it up, then went right back towards Koen.
"But to hell with that. It's built like a Rally, so I will treat it like a Rally." His voice was set on, confirming his decision. Koen nodded, and to be fair? He didn't blame Micah. It sounded like he had rallying aspirations…I mean, look at his entire get-up.
Street clothes to a car meet—cool. Pajamas, anything like that is fair too. But to say you would be cosplaying as a rally driver as if you were one?
That's crazy.
But car meets love crazy.
"Could you imagine if I built this thing only to park at Starbucks and call it a day?" He said, showing off his laptop. On the screen, and from what Koen could see, was nothing more than launch settings, and spreadsheets of RPM bands and boost targets.
But…that was stuff Koen barely knew how to go through and figure out, however. He's more used to the techincal/enginnering stuff, but he wouldn't mind learning, maybe especially under someone like Micah for example.
Just as Koen was about to speak again, the loud roar of another car entered, but it sounded…different. Far different. Caught the attention of both of them. They both turned around, and there it was.
The car rolled into the meet, slowly. Every pair of eyes was on the lime color of the vehicle. Not just green, but…radioactive. It looked like it had been carved from pure aggression and venom, it rode low and acted high.
Koen spotted the badge, and then the carbon wing. Pieced it all together faster than Micah could.
"Porsche 911."
Micah looked at him, shocked. Faster to analyze the car than he did? That's something. Although Micah really wasn't interested in those street/track cars…but the fact that Koen was able to spot it almost instantly, was something.
But Koen already realized something. A car of that level could only mean one thing.
The guy's not here to be seen. He's here to drive.
And Koen just might have an idea on who he's trying to go against.