"I can't stay here one more second!"

"Angela DiMarco stop right there!" Angela stopped on the way to the front door of the house hearing her mothers' yell.

"Momma, I'm going to LA." She said looking at her.

"And do what? Play that silly guitar of yours?" her mother asked, pointing to the case strapped to her daughters' back. "You'll end up on the street playing for quarters."

"I'm good, everyone says I'm good. I played for Marco at his bar since I was thirteen, he even says that I've got serious talent."

"He just said that so you'd jump into bed with him."

"But I didn't."

"Thank god for that. I will not have my eighteen year old daughter be a whore."

"Please momma, just let me go."

"I forbid it."

"I'm 18! A legal adult! I can leave anytime I want, I just want your blessing."

"You won't get it." Angela turned to leave. "You walk out that door, don't even think about coming back, you will be dead to me."

"Goodbye momma." She walked out the door and got into her car, a Ford Escape hybrid. She put her guitar case and her duffel bag full of her clothes and all of her money, $500 dollars, saved up from her performances, in the backseat. She got in the drivers' seat and started it up, her Kelly Clarkson CD playing loudly. She switched it to her favorite song, Breakaway, turning it up full blast and singing along, her voice harmonizing perfectly.

Grew up in a small town

And when the rain would fall down

I just stared out my window

Dreaming of what could be

And if I'd end up happy

I would pray (I would pray)

Trying hard to reach out

But when I'd try to speak out

Felt like no one could hear me

Wanted to belong here

But something felt so wrong here

So I pray (I would pray)

I could breakaway

I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly

I'll do what it takes til' I touch the sky

I'll make a wish

Take a chance

Make a change

And breakaway

Out of the darkness and into the sun

But I won't forget all the ones that I loved

I'll take a risk

Take a chance

Make a change

And breakaway

Wanna feel the warm breeze

Sleep under a palm tree

Feel the rush of the ocean

Get onboard a fast train

Travel on a jet plane, far away (I will)

And breakaway

I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly

I'll do what it takes til' I touch the sky

I'll make a wish

Take a chance

Make a change

And breakaway

Out of the darkness and into the sun

But I won't forget all the ones that I loved

I'll take a risk

Take a chance

Make a change

And breakaway

Buildings with a hundred floors

Swinging around revolving doors

Maybe I don't know where they'll take me but

Gotta keep moving on, moving on

Fly away, breakaway

I'll spread my wings

And I'll learn how to fly

Though it's not easy to tell you goodbye

I gotta take a risk

Take a chance

Make a change

And breakaway

Out of the darkness and into the sun

But I won't forget the place I come from

I gotta take a risk

Take a chance

Make a change

And breakaway, breakaway, breakaway

She drove for hours, her heart skipping slightly when she passed the large sign, "Now Leaving Colorado".

A few days later she pulled up at a small diner, Toretto's. Her savings had depleted only a hundred dollars and she was suddenly glad that she had suffered through all those business and budgeting classes when she was in High School. But she was tired and hungry. Stuffing a twenty into her jeans she walked up and sat down at the counter.

"Hi there!" the young woman had dark brown hair, tan skin and kind brown eyes and smile. "What can I get you?"

"Tuna sandwich?"

"Gotta warn you, it sucks." She said and Angela managed a tired chuckle.

"Based on the crap that I've been eating for the past I don't know how many days, it'll probably taste like escargot."

"You must have been goin to pretty crappy restaurants then." The woman said as she fixed her sandwich.

"Roadside diners, greasy, bug infested where the cooks look like the missing link in evolution." She said and the woman laughed.

"Where ya from?"

"Smithfield, Colorado." Angela said, something about this woman made her at ease. The woman gave out a low whistle.

"Long way from home." She said and Angela chuckled humorlessly.

"It was a place to live, not a home." She said and the woman looked at her worriedly as she set the plate down.

"Crappy home life?"

"Understatement of the century, I'm Angela by the way. Angela DiMarco."

"Mia Toretto, you just get into town?"

"Yup." Angela said and took a bite of her sandwich.

"You're probably looking for somewhere to work and stay then."

"Yup." She said again, swallowing that bite.

"Well there's a pretty decent hotel down the road and I could use some help here."

"Doing what?"

"Cashier and keeping my older brother off my back."

"Pain in the ass?"

"Understatement of the century." Mia said smiling. "How old are you?"

"Eighteen."

"Eighteen and on your own already, wow."

"On my own whether I like it or not."

"Mom or dad?"

"Mom, dads outta the picture. I think her words were 'walk out that door and you're dead to me' or something like that."

"Ouch."

"No kidding."

"Well ya got the job."

"That was quick."

"I really need the help." Mia said the corner of Angela's mouth perked in a tired smile. "Now you look like shit, no offence."

"None taken, I know I do."

"When you pull out, take a left and drive straight, the hotel will be on your right."

"Okay, thanks." Angela said, she had finished her sandwich by now and she stood, getting her money.

"Don't bother, it's on the house."

"Thanks."

"Employee discount." Mia said winking at her and Angela put her money back in her pocket. She turned to walk back to her car when Mia's voice stopped her.

"Angela!" she turned around and looked at her. "You know anything about cars? Mechanics?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Because my brother owns a garage and I know he needs a mechanic. How about it? Two paychecks, I'd have to talk to him first though."

"I'll think about it. Thanks Mia."

"No prob." She said and watched as Angela got into her car, driving away and taking her directions. The teams' cars screeched to a halt in front of the diner and they got out, running into the gloom and out of the hot sun. Brian hopped over the counter and kissed her cheek.

"Hey." He said smiling against her skin and she leaned into him.

"We miss anything Mia?" Leon asked as Vince tossed him a soda and Dom went into the back.

"I hired a new cashier."

"Guy or girl?"

"Girl."

"Nice. She hot?"

"I really didn't notice since I'm a girl, but she was kinda pretty." Mia said and Leon and Vince shared a grin. "Calm down guys, she's barely legal."

"How old is she?" Vince asked.

"Eighteen."

"Damn." Leon said. "That's young."

"Yeah it is, so don't try anything."

"What's her name?" Dom asked, coming out of his office.

"Angela DiMarco."

"Where she from?"

"Colorado."

"She a cop?"

"She's eighteen Dominic!"

"And?" Dom asked levelly and noticed the expression on Brian's face. "What's up?" he asked him.

"DiMarco sounds familiar."

"Familiar how?"

"I dunno, but I know I've heard it before." He looked at Mia. "Did she mention having a brother?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Did she say his name?"

"Nope. Why?"

"Because back when I was on the force I picked up an Angelo DiMarco, who was from Smithfield, Colorado."

"That's where Angela is from, think they're related?"

"Might be."

"What you pick him up for?" Leon asked.

"Drug trafficking."

As soon as Angela flopped down on the bed her cell phone began to ring.

"Not happening." She moaned and got it from her bag, flipping it open and holding it to her ear. "Hello?"

"Hi little sis!" the voice jolted her.

"Angelo?"

"The one and only. I heard you were in town."

"How'd you hear that? I just got in a half an hour ago." She asked and her fraternal twin brother chuckled.

"I never reveal my sources. I'd love to see you again, catch up, you know all that shit."

"You mean catch up from when you bailed two years ago and never called or wrote, not even an IM?"

"You know I thought about you everyday little sis."

"Stop calling me that, you're older than me by two minutes."

"Still older. How's the music goin?"

"Just great."

"How's mom?"

"Why should I care? I'm dead to her."

"Huh?"

"Long story. I need sleep Angelo."

"Okay sis. Sleep well Angel." He said, using his nickname for her and the line went dead. She shut her phone off and flipped it closed. Well sleep was out of the immediate plans now, her system have being shocked awake by her brother. Instead she got up and got her guitar out of the case, tuned it and started to play a Dashboard Confessional song. There was a banging on the wall from the room next to her halfway through the song.

"Keep it down!" the guy yelled and she sighed, putting her guitar away and lying back on the bed, listening to the constant hum of the small air conditioner. She lay there for a little while before getting up and taking a shower.

When she was done she wiped the fogged up mirror and looked at her reflection. She was kinda pretty with her long light brown hair and pale green eyes. Her face was a pleasant heart shape with high cheekbones, Angelina Jolie lips and slightly upturned nose. Her skin was pale from not being out in the sun and spending most of the time in her room. Her fingers were callused from playing guitar since she was nine and her body was toned from constant exercise. She grabbed her pajamas from the duffel bag and got into them, getting under the light covers on the bed.

Dom thought his new employee, Angela DiMarco. Mia mentioned that Angela knew a little bit about cars and suggested that maybe he should hire her for the garage. Shit, they really couldn't afford to give her one paycheck, forget about two. Mia said that she was staying at the hotel down the street so he could swing by and have talk with her. In fact, that's exactly what he'll do. He got up from his chair and went to his car, getting in and driving away from the diner.

Angela woke up to someone knocking on the door. With a groan she got up and brushed through her now dry, tangled hair. She went to the door and peeked out the view hole seeing a large tan man out there.

"Who is it?"

"Dom Toretto, Mia's brother. You Angela DiMarco?"

"Yeah, hold on a sec." She slid back the chain lock and undid the deadbolt, opening the door.

Dom was shocked, he expected some gawky teenager, but what he saw instead, was a mature looking young woman. Her brown hair was sleep tousled and she perked an eyebrow at him.

"Yes?" she asked, her hand resting on the doorframe.

"I'm Mia's brother."

"You said that already. Coming to see if I'm not some whack-job huh?" she asked and he chuckled.

"Something like that. Can I come in, its really hot out here." He said and she thought for a moment.

"Sure come on in." she got out of the way and he stepped into the cool gloom. The door closed behind him and he looked around, there was an open duffel bag at the foot of the bed along with a guitar case.

"You play?" he asked pointing to it and she looked at it.

"Nah, I just think its pretty." She said with a small smile and he smiled back.

"Stupid question."

"Uh...yeah."

"Ya any good?"

"Been told that I am. But you didn't come here to ask about my musical talent."

"No I didn't...Colorado huh?"

"Yeah."

"Ya got any family here?"

"A brother."

"What's his name? Maybe I know him."

"Angelo DiMarco." She said and he paused, as if he was thinking.

"Sounds familiar, but I don't think I know him."

"Be happy that you don't."

"Why is that?"

"Cause he's a prick." She said bluntly and he laughed, she let herself give out a little chuckle.

"How old are you?"

"Eighteen, but somehow I don't think Mia would have left that out."

"She didn't. Trust and verify."

"I can understand that. So...ya a good guy to work for or are you an asshole?"

"Damn you're blunt."

"You have no idea."

"I can be a good guy to work for. But mess with me or the ones I care about and I can be the biggest pain in your ass. I know Mia thinks I'm a big pain."

"Yeah she does, but I don't want to get her in trouble so pretend I didn't say that."

"Why would she get in trouble?"

"I dunno, the last time I called my brother a pain he laughed then gave a black eye." Angela said and he grimaced.

"Did you fight back?"

"I tried, he broke my arm."

"Bastard."

"Told ya he was a prick."

"Mia mentioned that you knew something about cars."

"I helped out in the local garage back home."

"How long ya been doing that?"

"Since the owner of the garage is the one who taught me how to play the guitar, and I've been playing since I was nine..." she looked toward the ceiling, doing the math. "Since I was six, so that's about twelve years or so."

"Your mom didn't mind?"

"Momma didn't know, and as long I was home by dinner time, she didn't care."

"Damn, must've loved that home life." Dom said sarcastically. "Ever been to a street race?"

"There wasn't a straight street a quarter mile long in the town, so no. Why do you ask?"

"There's one tonight, and since you appear to be apart of the Toretto team now, I was wondering if you'd like to come, see the real side of LA."

"Might be fun."

"Always is. So you gonna?"

"Sure, why not."

"Great. Wear your best club clothes."

"Club clothes?" she asked, her eyebrow perked.

"Yeah, you know. Clothes that'll make guys look at you, not that you'll have any problems in that department."

"I don't have any clothes like that." She said. "The most eye catching thing I own is my bright yellow sun dress, and I don't think that'll be appropriate." She said and he sighed.

"Mia will have to loan you something, you're about her size. I'll write down my address for you." He said and grabbed the hotel note pad off the nightstand and a fished a pen from his pocket, he wrote down his address and handed it her. She looked at it and back up at him.

"Dom I just got here. What makes you think I'll have any idea how to get to your house?" she asked and he sighed again.

"Damn, I keep forgetting you're not local. Okay, be at the diner at six."

"That I can do."

"We're making progress then." He walked to the door. "Ya got a nickname?"

"Angel."

"Angel, got it." he opened the door.

"So Dom. Am I a whack-job?" she asked and he chuckled.

"Nah, you seem like an okay kid to me." Dom said looking at her and she smiled a small smile, nodding.

"Good enough for me. It was nice talking to you Dom, you aren't a big of a pain as I thought you'd be."

"Compliment?"

"Coming from me? Hells yeah." She said and he chuckled again. "Bye Dom, see ya tonight."

"Bye Angel." He left the room, closing the door behind him. when he was gone she locked it again and lay back on the bed, her hands behind her head, staring up at the ceiling.