I

"Shit," Dom Toretto muttered as Letty stormed away from him, not for the first time. He loved the girl, he really did, but he was beginning to question whether or not he was in love with her.

He'd been in love before, just once, and it was nothing like he shared with Letty. He smiled as he remembered his first love. He remembered meeting her for the first time; remembered the jolt that had gone through him the first time they kissed.

//Flashback – April 1996, San Jose, California//

Dom watched the new arrivals enter. He remembered his arrival, just a month before, but already he felt like he'd been here forever. He watched as ten boys entered, looking frightened, but pretending otherwise. Then, the last teenager arrived.

A girl. A beautiful blond girl who walked into the joint like she owned the place.

He watched as she was taken into a room to be stripped and searched, and when she came out about thirty minutes later -- longer than usual -- she was wearing the "formal uniform": loose gray pants and a short sleeved button up shirt in the same color.

She wore the same clothes as everyone else, but she wore it well. As the guard led her over towards her "unit", Dom made a decision.

"Yo, Jim," he called out. The guard turned to him wearily, but turned nonetheless. "I know you're busy, so I can take her to her block if you want." Jim knew damned well that he wasn't supposed to, but he was busy, so…

"Alright, Dom," he agreed cautiously, "She's in A Block, just like you." He handed the girl her stuff and turned away. Dom turned to look at the girl in surprise. A Block was for serious shit. Hard-core crimes. He wondered what she'd done.

"I'm Dom. Welcome to San Jose Juvenile Hall. How long you in for?" She grinned and he was startled by her smile. People here rarely smiled as vibrantly as her.

"I'm here 'til I turn 18, and then on to Lompoc for another year, unless I get off on good behavior, which is unlikely. I have a tendency to get into trouble, if you know what I'm saying. I'm Liv McCoy, by the way. How 'bout you?"

"Dom Toretto. I'm out when I turn 18. Armed robbery and boosting cars. You?"

"Same. Plus drugs. And an assault." Dom stared at her. He was in love already.

"We're gonna be good friends, Liv McCoy," Dom said, slinging an arm around her shoulders as they entered A Block, "Real good friends, you and me."

//End Flashback//

"Dominic!" Dom startled out of his memory to see his sister standing in front of him, hands on her hips. "You're up early."

"Yeah. Couldn't fall back asleep, you know?" he replied, rubbing the back of his neck.

"You and Letty have a fight?" Mia asked sympathetically. Damn Mia for knowing him so well.

"Yeah. Chick's nuts. I don't know how I've handled her for so long." Mia laughed, but only because it was true. He knew that Mia understood his feelings for Letty, but that she didn't know about Liv.

"I'm gonna make breakfast," she said, pushing him out of her kitchen, "Go away." Dom grinned and walked out to his garage. All the guys were still sleeping, so he sat on a bench, opened a Corona that Mia would kill him for drinking at 7 o'clock in the morning, and returned to his thoughts.

//Flashback – June 1996, San Jose, California//

"You two, make me so fucking mad!" Jim shouted, furious at the two people in front of him, who didn't even pretend to look ashamed. Dom, at least, was trying to hide a smirk, but Liv was out-and-out grinning.

He'd caught the pair of them with the janitor's keys, trying to break into the head guard's office. He had no clue what they were going to do, and he probably didn't want to.

"You're both on dish duty," he said, watching as they exchanged glances and shrugged, "for a month!" He was pleased to finally wipe the smiles off their faces. "Report to the kitchens after each meal, everyday, until I tell you to stop. You get me?" The pair nodded, and he told them to leave.

"A month of dish duty," Dom groaned as they left Jim's presence. Liv shrugged carelessly.

"It would've been worth it if Jimmy-boy hadn't come in," she said, grinning like a moron. Dom agreed with a laugh. "Damn, Dom, I still get off on getting into trouble," she said, cracking her neck and giving him a look. Dom grinned. He loved that look.

Liv stood at the big sink, dancing and singing to the brand new CD she'd got from her older brother. Buckcherry. Good stuff, he liked it a lot. But what he liked more was watching her shake her ass.

He returned to her side and began drying and putting away the dishes she washed. His mind wandered as he did so, and he didn't notice when Liv started talking to him. He did notice when she flicked water in his face though.

He turned to her, about to get ripping pissed, when he noticed the smile on her face.

Damn, Dom thought, that girl's got a gorgeous smile…

He smiled back and her smile turned into a shit-eating grin, as he splashed her. She laughed and took the sprayer of the sink, and sprayed him full on in the face.

He laughed and dipped his dishtowel into the sink, and whacking her with it. Their fun continued until Jim – of course – came in to see what all the shouting was about.

//End Flashback//

Dom grinned. He and Liv had some great times in juvie. Strange place for fun – and love – but somehow, it had happened.