10th December- Los Angeles, United States
Church grounds
Letty's POV
Three days had passed like a blur. If anyone was to ask me what had happened during that time I wouldn't be able to tell them, I had been and was still completely out of it. I had spent the days locked up in my room with my own thoughts for company, not ready to face reality or anyone anytime soon.
As far as feelings go all I had only deciphered three feelings so far- one that I was hurt because he had broken his promise to me about getting help. Two I was sad because even with all the shit he had put us through he was still my dad and I loved him, but now he was gone. Three, which was the most important of all, was that I was angry. I was angry at his addiction to alcohol, at the fact that two other innocent people had lost their lives because of his problem, but most of all because I didn't get to say goodbye.
Now I stood, being held up by a tree, as I looked out at all the other headstones that sat in silence in the distance. It was the day of the funeral and I completely unready. It was the first time since the news broke that I had actually seen anyone other than my mum for more than five minutes. Everyone else, even Dom, had given me space realizing I obviously just wanted to be left alone.
"Hey." It was so quiet I almost didn't hear it as I titled to my head to the side to see who was standing behind me.
"Hey Mia." I responded just as quietly as I looked away from her once more. I had chosen this spot against a tree because it was away from the crowd that was gathering by the church. I was dressed in a plain black dress, black flats and my hair down, held back by a headband letting my hair sit just below my shoulders. Not something I was usually found dressed in.
"How come you're over here?" She asked quietly as she came to stand next to me.
"I think you already know the answer to that Mia." I said lightly and she gave me a small smile.
"Everyone is really worried about you." She started and I sighed looking away into the distance once again.
"I know." I answered simply. We stayed silent after that. It was clear she didn't know what else to say so we just looked out to the distance together, each left to our own thoughts.
I heard footsteps coming up behind us and I wondered who it was going to be this time, mum or Tony.
"Let." I turned around when I heard Dom's voice and found both he and Vince behind me dressed in suits. If the day wasn't what it was I would have laughed at them both. They both looked out of place and uncomfortable but despite that, Dom looked hot.
"Mia, dad wants you." He said quietly as she turned giving me one last comforting look before running off to find Tony.
"Did you want something?" I asked them as Dom shook his head.
"Tony asked us to give you some space, that's why we haven't been around. We just wanted to see you, see how you were doing." Vince said even going the distance to give me a small crooked smile.
"But from what he tells us, you're not doing well at all. You've had yourself locked away for the past few days; you've barely even seen your mum." Dom said taking a step closer as did Vince, who chose to lean against the same tree I was.
"Is it a crime for wanting to be alone?" I asked turning to him.
"No, but you can't shut everyone out either."
"I'm not trying to." I muttered.
"Let people just want to help you." Vince said.
"I don't need their help." I ground out and they stayed silent again just standing with me.
"It's time to head in Let." Vince said carefully.
"I'll be there in a minute." I said softly. Out of the corner of my eye I could see them trading glances.
"We both know that's a lie; if you don't do this now it'll be a regret you'll carry forever." Dom said. I didn't say anything and I heard Dom sigh.
"Why don't you want to do this?" He asked quietly.
"I don't know. I don't want to stand there and hear what a great person he was and how everyone's sorry for me." I snapped.
"I understand that but you have to do this." Dom said gently as Vince wrapped an arm around my shoulders gently tugging me towards the small church. Sighing I took one last look out to the distance before I let him lead me up to the church as Dom stayed close by my side.
I stood with mum during the service but through the burial I stood between Dom and Vince. I couldn't handle any more of the looks or whispered words of wisdom I was getting off relatives who thought they knew me. Between Dom and Vince I felt safe, completely tucked away between their huge forms. Having cried the day I found out I hadn’t been able to shed a tear since, so I stood there dry eyed staring at the hole in the ground. Judging by the looks I received from the family whenever I met their eyes I knew I was scaring the shit out of them.
The wake was the worst part. It was as I feared; having to listen to other family members and people I didn't know talking about what a good person he was and how much of a loving father and husband he had been. Turn back time a few years and I would have agreed in a heartbeat, but I had seen sides of him the people gathered here couldn't even begin to imagine.
Whenever someone started to mention anything good about him I found myself fleeing elsewhere, away from the words I didn't want to hear. I found myself wandering the streets, each time longer than the last. When I eventually found myself back at the house Tony or my mum would be waiting out the front worried.
I was on my sixth round of the neighbourhood kicking a stone down the pathway as I dragged my body slowly back to the house. The light was starting to fade and the temperature in the air around me was slowly lowering. With one last kick of the stone I looked towards the house and the group of people that stood in front of it. I had come back to a small search party consisting of Dom, Vince, mum and Tony.
"Letty will you stop disappearing on us please, you're starting to scare me. " Mum begged, taking me in her arms as I reluctantly agreed to stay. Instead of staying where they could see me I retreated up to my room for good.
Maria's POV
"Watch her." Tony demanded to Dom and Vince as they walked past us to head back inside nodding as they went.
"I'm getting worried about Letty, she hasn't cried since I told her she's just…empty." I whispered to Tony as we stood on the front porch.
"Maybe counselling would help." He suggested and I gave him a look to which he let out a small laugh.
"Letty? Going to see a shrink? I wouldn't be able to get her in the car let alone anywhere near the building." I responded.
"There must be something." He said and I bit my lip hesitating.
"There is. I think I'm going to take her away for the holidays, to visit my parents in the D.R. It will give me a break too." I said tiredly and he ran a hand over my back soothingly.
"It sounds like a good idea. You'll miss Christmas though." He said quietly and I nodded.
"And Letty's sixteenth but we'll make it up when we get back I promise. Right now I think it's something we really need to do." I explained looking at him for guidance and he nodded.
"It's your call to make; I'm not going to stop you. When would you leave?"
"I don't know, the day after tomorrow probably. It'll give me time to tie up any loose ends before we go." I said as we both sat in silence looking out to the neighbourhood.
12th December- Los Angeles, United States
Toretto garage
Dom's POV
It had been two days since the funeral and I hadn’t seen Letty since she retired to her room at the wake. I was all for giving her space but after how she was at the funeral I didn't think she should be left alone for much longer.
"Dad are you sure Letty's going to be okay?" I asked as we worked together on the same car.
"Give her some time to adjust and sort herself out. Despite what he did she still loved him and it must be difficult for her to work out what she feels.”
"I'm all for giving her space dad but don’t you this is a little too much? Maybe Vince and I should go round and see her after work." I suggested. He looked up at me confused as he paused in his work.
"Didn't I tell you?" He asked straightening up. I frowned doing the same as I shook my head at his question.
"Tell me what?" I asked frowning.
"I'm sorry Dominic it must have slipped my mind. " He sighed tiredly.
"What? Did something happen." Vince asked before I had a chance.
"No nothing bad. Maria's taken Letty to the D.R for the holidays, to visit her family and to get away for a while."
"For how long?" Vince asked and my dad shrugged.
"I honestly don't know. I only spoke to Maria about it briefly at the funeral, at that point she wasn't sure when she was leaving. I stopped by yesterday and they weren't there, just a contact number she had left for me so I rang and spoke to her." Dad explained.
"So that's it they've just left? Without saying goodbye?" I asked feeling put out.
"It's nothing permanent, well at least not at this stage." He trailed of silently. I frowned but nodded as I tried to reassure myself she would be back.
"Maria said she'd get Letty to call Mia when she can, maybe you could speak to her then." He hinted and I nodded.
"Yeah maybe." I said lost in my own thoughts.
"Can you pass me the wrench please?" He asked as I blindly handed it over, leaning against the car as I wiped my hands. I let my mind wander to the lost girl I had seen two days ago and I wondered what she would be like when she returned. Despite not being able to physically see her speaking to her over the phone mightn't be such a bad thing.
Church grounds
Letty's POV
Three days had passed like a blur. If anyone was to ask me what had happened during that time I wouldn't be able to tell them, I had been and was still completely out of it. I had spent the days locked up in my room with my own thoughts for company, not ready to face reality or anyone anytime soon.
As far as feelings go all I had only deciphered three feelings so far- one that I was hurt because he had broken his promise to me about getting help. Two I was sad because even with all the shit he had put us through he was still my dad and I loved him, but now he was gone. Three, which was the most important of all, was that I was angry. I was angry at his addiction to alcohol, at the fact that two other innocent people had lost their lives because of his problem, but most of all because I didn't get to say goodbye.
Now I stood, being held up by a tree, as I looked out at all the other headstones that sat in silence in the distance. It was the day of the funeral and I completely unready. It was the first time since the news broke that I had actually seen anyone other than my mum for more than five minutes. Everyone else, even Dom, had given me space realizing I obviously just wanted to be left alone.
"Hey." It was so quiet I almost didn't hear it as I titled to my head to the side to see who was standing behind me.
"Hey Mia." I responded just as quietly as I looked away from her once more. I had chosen this spot against a tree because it was away from the crowd that was gathering by the church. I was dressed in a plain black dress, black flats and my hair down, held back by a headband letting my hair sit just below my shoulders. Not something I was usually found dressed in.
"How come you're over here?" She asked quietly as she came to stand next to me.
"I think you already know the answer to that Mia." I said lightly and she gave me a small smile.
"Everyone is really worried about you." She started and I sighed looking away into the distance once again.
"I know." I answered simply. We stayed silent after that. It was clear she didn't know what else to say so we just looked out to the distance together, each left to our own thoughts.
I heard footsteps coming up behind us and I wondered who it was going to be this time, mum or Tony.
"Let." I turned around when I heard Dom's voice and found both he and Vince behind me dressed in suits. If the day wasn't what it was I would have laughed at them both. They both looked out of place and uncomfortable but despite that, Dom looked hot.
"Mia, dad wants you." He said quietly as she turned giving me one last comforting look before running off to find Tony.
"Did you want something?" I asked them as Dom shook his head.
"Tony asked us to give you some space, that's why we haven't been around. We just wanted to see you, see how you were doing." Vince said even going the distance to give me a small crooked smile.
"But from what he tells us, you're not doing well at all. You've had yourself locked away for the past few days; you've barely even seen your mum." Dom said taking a step closer as did Vince, who chose to lean against the same tree I was.
"Is it a crime for wanting to be alone?" I asked turning to him.
"No, but you can't shut everyone out either."
"I'm not trying to." I muttered.
"Let people just want to help you." Vince said.
"I don't need their help." I ground out and they stayed silent again just standing with me.
"It's time to head in Let." Vince said carefully.
"I'll be there in a minute." I said softly. Out of the corner of my eye I could see them trading glances.
"We both know that's a lie; if you don't do this now it'll be a regret you'll carry forever." Dom said. I didn't say anything and I heard Dom sigh.
"Why don't you want to do this?" He asked quietly.
"I don't know. I don't want to stand there and hear what a great person he was and how everyone's sorry for me." I snapped.
"I understand that but you have to do this." Dom said gently as Vince wrapped an arm around my shoulders gently tugging me towards the small church. Sighing I took one last look out to the distance before I let him lead me up to the church as Dom stayed close by my side.
I stood with mum during the service but through the burial I stood between Dom and Vince. I couldn't handle any more of the looks or whispered words of wisdom I was getting off relatives who thought they knew me. Between Dom and Vince I felt safe, completely tucked away between their huge forms. Having cried the day I found out I hadn’t been able to shed a tear since, so I stood there dry eyed staring at the hole in the ground. Judging by the looks I received from the family whenever I met their eyes I knew I was scaring the shit out of them.
The wake was the worst part. It was as I feared; having to listen to other family members and people I didn't know talking about what a good person he was and how much of a loving father and husband he had been. Turn back time a few years and I would have agreed in a heartbeat, but I had seen sides of him the people gathered here couldn't even begin to imagine.
Whenever someone started to mention anything good about him I found myself fleeing elsewhere, away from the words I didn't want to hear. I found myself wandering the streets, each time longer than the last. When I eventually found myself back at the house Tony or my mum would be waiting out the front worried.
I was on my sixth round of the neighbourhood kicking a stone down the pathway as I dragged my body slowly back to the house. The light was starting to fade and the temperature in the air around me was slowly lowering. With one last kick of the stone I looked towards the house and the group of people that stood in front of it. I had come back to a small search party consisting of Dom, Vince, mum and Tony.
"Letty will you stop disappearing on us please, you're starting to scare me. " Mum begged, taking me in her arms as I reluctantly agreed to stay. Instead of staying where they could see me I retreated up to my room for good.
Maria's POV
"Watch her." Tony demanded to Dom and Vince as they walked past us to head back inside nodding as they went.
"I'm getting worried about Letty, she hasn't cried since I told her she's just…empty." I whispered to Tony as we stood on the front porch.
"Maybe counselling would help." He suggested and I gave him a look to which he let out a small laugh.
"Letty? Going to see a shrink? I wouldn't be able to get her in the car let alone anywhere near the building." I responded.
"There must be something." He said and I bit my lip hesitating.
"There is. I think I'm going to take her away for the holidays, to visit my parents in the D.R. It will give me a break too." I said tiredly and he ran a hand over my back soothingly.
"It sounds like a good idea. You'll miss Christmas though." He said quietly and I nodded.
"And Letty's sixteenth but we'll make it up when we get back I promise. Right now I think it's something we really need to do." I explained looking at him for guidance and he nodded.
"It's your call to make; I'm not going to stop you. When would you leave?"
"I don't know, the day after tomorrow probably. It'll give me time to tie up any loose ends before we go." I said as we both sat in silence looking out to the neighbourhood.
12th December- Los Angeles, United States
Toretto garage
Dom's POV
It had been two days since the funeral and I hadn’t seen Letty since she retired to her room at the wake. I was all for giving her space but after how she was at the funeral I didn't think she should be left alone for much longer.
"Dad are you sure Letty's going to be okay?" I asked as we worked together on the same car.
"Give her some time to adjust and sort herself out. Despite what he did she still loved him and it must be difficult for her to work out what she feels.”
"I'm all for giving her space dad but don’t you this is a little too much? Maybe Vince and I should go round and see her after work." I suggested. He looked up at me confused as he paused in his work.
"Didn't I tell you?" He asked straightening up. I frowned doing the same as I shook my head at his question.
"Tell me what?" I asked frowning.
"I'm sorry Dominic it must have slipped my mind. " He sighed tiredly.
"What? Did something happen." Vince asked before I had a chance.
"No nothing bad. Maria's taken Letty to the D.R for the holidays, to visit her family and to get away for a while."
"For how long?" Vince asked and my dad shrugged.
"I honestly don't know. I only spoke to Maria about it briefly at the funeral, at that point she wasn't sure when she was leaving. I stopped by yesterday and they weren't there, just a contact number she had left for me so I rang and spoke to her." Dad explained.
"So that's it they've just left? Without saying goodbye?" I asked feeling put out.
"It's nothing permanent, well at least not at this stage." He trailed of silently. I frowned but nodded as I tried to reassure myself she would be back.
"Maria said she'd get Letty to call Mia when she can, maybe you could speak to her then." He hinted and I nodded.
"Yeah maybe." I said lost in my own thoughts.
"Can you pass me the wrench please?" He asked as I blindly handed it over, leaning against the car as I wiped my hands. I let my mind wander to the lost girl I had seen two days ago and I wondered what she would be like when she returned. Despite not being able to physically see her speaking to her over the phone mightn't be such a bad thing.