27th November- Los Angeles, United States
Toretto House
Dom's POV
I lay spread out on my bed, music blasting through the speakers as I try to drown out the giggling I could hear coming from the room down the hall. It had been this way for a good hour or two now. Vince had gone home to get ready for the party with the promise of being back by dinner and Letty had stayed with Mia. Although I should have been used to it by now it still annoyed the fuck out of me.
In all honesty I knew I had it lucky. The only time I really had to put up with both of them was at home around dinner time and occasionally at the store or garage on weekends for an hour or two tops. Through school was a bit different; Mia was in a different section right down the other end of the school, I only ever saw her before school and after. Letty on the other had was different seeing as she was in my section of the school.
'I don't actually see her though.' I realized as I thought about it. I only ever saw her when we passed briefly in the halls between classes, and I had to admit she'd never spoken to me or Vince during school hours. It was strange in a way because she was always around whether it was at the house or the shop and sometimes the garage, she was just a shadow that was always there but school was different. She didn't hang out with us, had never even tried to; in fact I don't even know who she did hang out with. Though it hadn't been bad at all at school I was still glad to be done with it, at least I'd have the entire day at the garage without either of them around. I mean I love my sister and Letty was family, but sometimes it was just much for a guy to handle. Plus it was no secret that Letty had had a crush on me at one point, though I suspected she still did but she did hide it very well if that was the case. The thought of it had got on my nerves and in a way it still did. She was a sister and a kid, I couldn't ever see her as anything more.
"Dom." Looking up from the car magazine I had been staring blankly at, I looked to dad who was standing at my bedroom door.
"Yeah dad?" I asked carelessly chucking the magazine to the side.
"I'm going to be away for the weekend out of town so I expect you to look after your sister. If you want to have a party that's fine, just make sure you keep an eye out on Mia and Letty when she's over. However if you have a party I expect you to clean this place up and back to the way I left it before I get home; and I mean you. Don't go putting Letty and Mia on cleaning duty for something you did, got it? If I hear one compliant of you upsetting Mia or even Letty you'll be grounded for a long time." He said sternly and I nodded.
"Okay I understand." I said.
"Also while we're having this discussion, let's talk about girls." I winced.
"Dad…" I whined but he silenced me with a glare.
"I know what you're like Dominic so don't try and tell me otherwise. I'd like to think I've been pretty lenient when it comes to you dating and having girls over while I'm not here." I sighed and nodded, that was true.
"I've said it before and I'll say it again, I don't want to answer the door one day and find an angry set of parents telling me my son got their daughter pregnant. I'm too young to be a grandfather, so make sure you're being responsible about it." I rubbed the back of my neck uncomfortably.
"Got it." I spoke awkwardly while he frowned at me.
"You have been haven't you?" He demanded sternly as I had to resist the urge to roll my eyes. It would only get me in trouble.
"Yes dad I swear I have." I promised and he nodded once.
"Right well, that's one thing I guess. Nothing in front of the girls got it?" I nodded in understanding as I sat awkwardly on my bed. I watched as he rolled his eyes at me before he left. I turned over what he said in my mind, he'd be gone for the weekend.
'Races here we come.' I thought as I dove for my phone. I sent a quick text to Vince about the news and waited for a reply.
I grabbed for my phone as it started ringing. Glancing at the I.D I saw it was just Vince so I answered without hesitation.
"Hell yeah man party time. Two parties in one week, I'm loving the this no school thing." He hollered down the phone while I grinned, shaking my head at his antics.
"Yeah pretty sweet, but there's a draw back. I also have to look after the rugrats." I said sighing in disappointment.
"Aww man. Can't Mia just sleep over at Letty's place for the night?" He asked while I rubbed the back of my neck.
"V Letty lives down the street, they're going to see and hear the party. They're not coming to the race but Dad's already given me the speech about how grounded I would be if he heard a complaint from Mia or Letty, so they have to come to the party."
"Dude that sucks. How are you gunna get laid while also keeping an eye on them?" He asked while I thought back to the conversation dad and I had just had. I shuddered and pushed it out of my mind.
"With your help. If I've got a girl then you can watch them, if you have one I'll watch them." I said quickly thinking.
"What if we both have chicks at the same time?" I groaned, count on Vince to think of something I hadn't.
"Hector owes me a favor or two." I mumbled.
"Sweet."
"Yeah…listen see you when get back here?" I asked wanting to wrap this up.
"Yeah brother." He agreed before I hung up, sighing as I tossed my phone onto my bed. Standing up slowly I stretched my back before making my way to Mia's room.
"Hey Mia, Letty." I said kindly.
'I could be nice when I wanted to.' I thought to myself.
"Hey. You're too late dad's just told us." Mia said. I resisted making a face, having a fair idea of what his words to them might have consisted of. I knew if I said one thing wrong I could kiss my privileges away for a long time. Taking the safe route I just nodded and stayed quiet.
"So are you going to have a party?" Letty asked knowingly. Sighing I nodded, there was no point in lying.
"Yeah, you can come over if you want." I said quietly still not liking the idea at all.
"We can come to the party? Or are you just saying that for now and going to force us to stay locked up in my room all night on the day?" Mia asked and I sighed.
"You can come but Mia no drinking, that goes for you too Letty." I watched as she rolled her eyes at me.
"Whatever, but you ain't my dad Dom. If I wanna drink I'll drink." She said rolling her eyes. I ignored her attitude as a thought suddenly struck me.
"Hey, what did my dad want to speak to you about?" I asked curiously.
"Oh nothing important, don't worry about it." She mumbled. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Mia gave her a disbelieving look. It peaked my attention but at the same time it made me frown, something told me I wasn't going to like it.
"What do you mean nothing important? Letty it's huge!" Mia exclaimed happily. Suddenly interested in what had happened I leant against the door frame and turned to Letty. She was glaring at Mia, obviously it was something she didn't want to share with me.
"What is it?" I asked as Letty looked anywhere but at me and stayed silent.
"Dad offered her a spot at the garage after school. He's going to show her the ropes like he did with you and V." Mia explained to me. I stood stunned against the frame as Mia's words sunk in, only then to feel a rush of anger after the shock wore off. I turned to Letty and looked at her seriously as I tried to control my anger.
"Are you serious? Vince and I had to be sixteen before we were allowed to work at the garage after school. Why the hell are you any different?" I demanded watching as she shrunk back slightly but still looking away.
"I don't know." I frowned at her response. Judging by her guilty expression she knew damn well why but I knew she wasn't going to say anything. I sighed angrily as I turned and stalked out of the room. From the top of the stairs I could hear dad in the kitchen so I stormed my way down the stairs ready to start demanding answers.
"Dad?" I called.
"What's wrong?" He asked as I entered the kitchen.
"Why didn't you tell me you asked Letty to work with us?" I demanded while he sighed.
"Dom I don't understand why you have a problem with Letty. She's a nice girl." He started as I rolled my eyes.
"I don't have an issue with Letty alright? She just hangs around a lot, it's a bit full on sometimes." I whined as he looked at me amused, though clearly he didn't believe me.
"Ahuh. So she has a school girl crush on you, what's so bad about that? She's not giving you any trouble, in fact she doesn't even speak to you unless she has to and you know it. Give it a couple of years and I guarantee you won't care how much she hangs around." He spoke amused while I scoffed at his words.
"Yeah right." I muttered.
"Be nice you hear me?" He warned as I had started to protested again. Slowly I nodded, I knew I didn't have much of a choice.
"Besides I have my reasons as to why I offered her the job." He hinted as I frowned at his words.
'What the hell did that mean?'
"Care to share?" I questioned with an attitude despite his warning gaze.
"Watch it or I might just rethink that party." I wisely stayed quite but also gave him a look to say I was waiting.
"I offered her the experience to get her out of the house. Her parents are going through a rough patch, a rather bad one and her father takes it out on her sometimes." He said quietly as he glanced to the door. I followed his gaze but no one was there so I took that to mean he had been checking. Thinking over his words I struggled to think of something to say. It was news to me. Letty's parents were the perfect couple as far as I could recall, how had it suddenly changed.
"Takes it out on her how?" I asked sounding unsure.
"Yells, screams, throws things…" He muttered. I could tell by his tone he was trying to keep his anger in check.
"Does he hit her?" I questioned feeling protective of the girl I thought of as a sister.
"She says not but I know he hits Maria. I don't like the thought of Letty being around that anymore then she has to be. I offered her the job because I know the day is going to come one day where he goes for Letty. Maybe if she's out of the house a lot it won't get to that." I was silent as I listened to my dad's words looking out the window and down to the house across the road. It was quiet and it looked as if no one was there but the car in the driveway told a different story.
"I'm sorry I shouldn't have told you that. Don't say anything to Letty alright? Just make the effort to try and be a little nicer. I know you and Vince find her annoying and you don't like it because she has a crush but have you ever thought that maybe she hangs around with you because you make her feel safe?" He asked me quietly. Immediately I felt regret for treating her the way I had over the years. Maybe she didn't hang around because of the crush after all, maybe she hung around because she did feel safe with us.
"No." I whispered and he smiled sadly.
"I'm not asking you to become her best friend but I am asking you to look out for her a bit more. Letty's a good kid who's been dealt a bad hand in life. Like I said give it a few years and I bet you anything that you won't be complaining." I went to argue but he cut me off.
"I know, I know. Say you want now but just you wait. I'll be right. Anyway my point is just try, please?" He asked and I nodded.
"I'll try and make more of an effort." I promised.
"Thank you. I'd also like it if you kept a close eye on her while I'm away, I'm worried about leaving." Again I nodded.
"Yeah I can do that. Why can't she just stay over all weekend?" I asked.
"She can't, not if her father has anything to do with it. She'll be around a lot though." I nodded as I made my way silently out of the kitchen. Walking back to my room in a daze as I thought about everything I had just learned. I felt like such an ass for treating Letty the way I had been. Dad was right she probably did feel safe around Vince and I and this whole time we had been turning her away.
As I got to Mia's room I looked in silently not wanting to alert them to my presence. Immediately I felt another surge of regret. I couldn't believe I had failed to note the difference in Letty. Taking her in as she sat on Mia's bed listening to Mia talk about some kid you could clearly tell her head wasn't there. I flicked my eyes to Mia, she obviously didn't know by the way she was going on; Letty hadn't told anyone. Making a silent promise to myself as I moved away from the door and padded back to my own room, I vowed I was going to make sure I looked out for her from now on. She was family and we looked after our own.
Toretto House
Dom's POV
I lay spread out on my bed, music blasting through the speakers as I try to drown out the giggling I could hear coming from the room down the hall. It had been this way for a good hour or two now. Vince had gone home to get ready for the party with the promise of being back by dinner and Letty had stayed with Mia. Although I should have been used to it by now it still annoyed the fuck out of me.
In all honesty I knew I had it lucky. The only time I really had to put up with both of them was at home around dinner time and occasionally at the store or garage on weekends for an hour or two tops. Through school was a bit different; Mia was in a different section right down the other end of the school, I only ever saw her before school and after. Letty on the other had was different seeing as she was in my section of the school.
'I don't actually see her though.' I realized as I thought about it. I only ever saw her when we passed briefly in the halls between classes, and I had to admit she'd never spoken to me or Vince during school hours. It was strange in a way because she was always around whether it was at the house or the shop and sometimes the garage, she was just a shadow that was always there but school was different. She didn't hang out with us, had never even tried to; in fact I don't even know who she did hang out with. Though it hadn't been bad at all at school I was still glad to be done with it, at least I'd have the entire day at the garage without either of them around. I mean I love my sister and Letty was family, but sometimes it was just much for a guy to handle. Plus it was no secret that Letty had had a crush on me at one point, though I suspected she still did but she did hide it very well if that was the case. The thought of it had got on my nerves and in a way it still did. She was a sister and a kid, I couldn't ever see her as anything more.
"Dom." Looking up from the car magazine I had been staring blankly at, I looked to dad who was standing at my bedroom door.
"Yeah dad?" I asked carelessly chucking the magazine to the side.
"I'm going to be away for the weekend out of town so I expect you to look after your sister. If you want to have a party that's fine, just make sure you keep an eye out on Mia and Letty when she's over. However if you have a party I expect you to clean this place up and back to the way I left it before I get home; and I mean you. Don't go putting Letty and Mia on cleaning duty for something you did, got it? If I hear one compliant of you upsetting Mia or even Letty you'll be grounded for a long time." He said sternly and I nodded.
"Okay I understand." I said.
"Also while we're having this discussion, let's talk about girls." I winced.
"Dad…" I whined but he silenced me with a glare.
"I know what you're like Dominic so don't try and tell me otherwise. I'd like to think I've been pretty lenient when it comes to you dating and having girls over while I'm not here." I sighed and nodded, that was true.
"I've said it before and I'll say it again, I don't want to answer the door one day and find an angry set of parents telling me my son got their daughter pregnant. I'm too young to be a grandfather, so make sure you're being responsible about it." I rubbed the back of my neck uncomfortably.
"Got it." I spoke awkwardly while he frowned at me.
"You have been haven't you?" He demanded sternly as I had to resist the urge to roll my eyes. It would only get me in trouble.
"Yes dad I swear I have." I promised and he nodded once.
"Right well, that's one thing I guess. Nothing in front of the girls got it?" I nodded in understanding as I sat awkwardly on my bed. I watched as he rolled his eyes at me before he left. I turned over what he said in my mind, he'd be gone for the weekend.
'Races here we come.' I thought as I dove for my phone. I sent a quick text to Vince about the news and waited for a reply.
I grabbed for my phone as it started ringing. Glancing at the I.D I saw it was just Vince so I answered without hesitation.
"Hell yeah man party time. Two parties in one week, I'm loving the this no school thing." He hollered down the phone while I grinned, shaking my head at his antics.
"Yeah pretty sweet, but there's a draw back. I also have to look after the rugrats." I said sighing in disappointment.
"Aww man. Can't Mia just sleep over at Letty's place for the night?" He asked while I rubbed the back of my neck.
"V Letty lives down the street, they're going to see and hear the party. They're not coming to the race but Dad's already given me the speech about how grounded I would be if he heard a complaint from Mia or Letty, so they have to come to the party."
"Dude that sucks. How are you gunna get laid while also keeping an eye on them?" He asked while I thought back to the conversation dad and I had just had. I shuddered and pushed it out of my mind.
"With your help. If I've got a girl then you can watch them, if you have one I'll watch them." I said quickly thinking.
"What if we both have chicks at the same time?" I groaned, count on Vince to think of something I hadn't.
"Hector owes me a favor or two." I mumbled.
"Sweet."
"Yeah…listen see you when get back here?" I asked wanting to wrap this up.
"Yeah brother." He agreed before I hung up, sighing as I tossed my phone onto my bed. Standing up slowly I stretched my back before making my way to Mia's room.
"Hey Mia, Letty." I said kindly.
'I could be nice when I wanted to.' I thought to myself.
"Hey. You're too late dad's just told us." Mia said. I resisted making a face, having a fair idea of what his words to them might have consisted of. I knew if I said one thing wrong I could kiss my privileges away for a long time. Taking the safe route I just nodded and stayed quiet.
"So are you going to have a party?" Letty asked knowingly. Sighing I nodded, there was no point in lying.
"Yeah, you can come over if you want." I said quietly still not liking the idea at all.
"We can come to the party? Or are you just saying that for now and going to force us to stay locked up in my room all night on the day?" Mia asked and I sighed.
"You can come but Mia no drinking, that goes for you too Letty." I watched as she rolled her eyes at me.
"Whatever, but you ain't my dad Dom. If I wanna drink I'll drink." She said rolling her eyes. I ignored her attitude as a thought suddenly struck me.
"Hey, what did my dad want to speak to you about?" I asked curiously.
"Oh nothing important, don't worry about it." She mumbled. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Mia gave her a disbelieving look. It peaked my attention but at the same time it made me frown, something told me I wasn't going to like it.
"What do you mean nothing important? Letty it's huge!" Mia exclaimed happily. Suddenly interested in what had happened I leant against the door frame and turned to Letty. She was glaring at Mia, obviously it was something she didn't want to share with me.
"What is it?" I asked as Letty looked anywhere but at me and stayed silent.
"Dad offered her a spot at the garage after school. He's going to show her the ropes like he did with you and V." Mia explained to me. I stood stunned against the frame as Mia's words sunk in, only then to feel a rush of anger after the shock wore off. I turned to Letty and looked at her seriously as I tried to control my anger.
"Are you serious? Vince and I had to be sixteen before we were allowed to work at the garage after school. Why the hell are you any different?" I demanded watching as she shrunk back slightly but still looking away.
"I don't know." I frowned at her response. Judging by her guilty expression she knew damn well why but I knew she wasn't going to say anything. I sighed angrily as I turned and stalked out of the room. From the top of the stairs I could hear dad in the kitchen so I stormed my way down the stairs ready to start demanding answers.
"Dad?" I called.
"What's wrong?" He asked as I entered the kitchen.
"Why didn't you tell me you asked Letty to work with us?" I demanded while he sighed.
"Dom I don't understand why you have a problem with Letty. She's a nice girl." He started as I rolled my eyes.
"I don't have an issue with Letty alright? She just hangs around a lot, it's a bit full on sometimes." I whined as he looked at me amused, though clearly he didn't believe me.
"Ahuh. So she has a school girl crush on you, what's so bad about that? She's not giving you any trouble, in fact she doesn't even speak to you unless she has to and you know it. Give it a couple of years and I guarantee you won't care how much she hangs around." He spoke amused while I scoffed at his words.
"Yeah right." I muttered.
"Be nice you hear me?" He warned as I had started to protested again. Slowly I nodded, I knew I didn't have much of a choice.
"Besides I have my reasons as to why I offered her the job." He hinted as I frowned at his words.
'What the hell did that mean?'
"Care to share?" I questioned with an attitude despite his warning gaze.
"Watch it or I might just rethink that party." I wisely stayed quite but also gave him a look to say I was waiting.
"I offered her the experience to get her out of the house. Her parents are going through a rough patch, a rather bad one and her father takes it out on her sometimes." He said quietly as he glanced to the door. I followed his gaze but no one was there so I took that to mean he had been checking. Thinking over his words I struggled to think of something to say. It was news to me. Letty's parents were the perfect couple as far as I could recall, how had it suddenly changed.
"Takes it out on her how?" I asked sounding unsure.
"Yells, screams, throws things…" He muttered. I could tell by his tone he was trying to keep his anger in check.
"Does he hit her?" I questioned feeling protective of the girl I thought of as a sister.
"She says not but I know he hits Maria. I don't like the thought of Letty being around that anymore then she has to be. I offered her the job because I know the day is going to come one day where he goes for Letty. Maybe if she's out of the house a lot it won't get to that." I was silent as I listened to my dad's words looking out the window and down to the house across the road. It was quiet and it looked as if no one was there but the car in the driveway told a different story.
"I'm sorry I shouldn't have told you that. Don't say anything to Letty alright? Just make the effort to try and be a little nicer. I know you and Vince find her annoying and you don't like it because she has a crush but have you ever thought that maybe she hangs around with you because you make her feel safe?" He asked me quietly. Immediately I felt regret for treating her the way I had over the years. Maybe she didn't hang around because of the crush after all, maybe she hung around because she did feel safe with us.
"No." I whispered and he smiled sadly.
"I'm not asking you to become her best friend but I am asking you to look out for her a bit more. Letty's a good kid who's been dealt a bad hand in life. Like I said give it a few years and I bet you anything that you won't be complaining." I went to argue but he cut me off.
"I know, I know. Say you want now but just you wait. I'll be right. Anyway my point is just try, please?" He asked and I nodded.
"I'll try and make more of an effort." I promised.
"Thank you. I'd also like it if you kept a close eye on her while I'm away, I'm worried about leaving." Again I nodded.
"Yeah I can do that. Why can't she just stay over all weekend?" I asked.
"She can't, not if her father has anything to do with it. She'll be around a lot though." I nodded as I made my way silently out of the kitchen. Walking back to my room in a daze as I thought about everything I had just learned. I felt like such an ass for treating Letty the way I had been. Dad was right she probably did feel safe around Vince and I and this whole time we had been turning her away.
As I got to Mia's room I looked in silently not wanting to alert them to my presence. Immediately I felt another surge of regret. I couldn't believe I had failed to note the difference in Letty. Taking her in as she sat on Mia's bed listening to Mia talk about some kid you could clearly tell her head wasn't there. I flicked my eyes to Mia, she obviously didn't know by the way she was going on; Letty hadn't told anyone. Making a silent promise to myself as I moved away from the door and padded back to my own room, I vowed I was going to make sure I looked out for her from now on. She was family and we looked after our own.