The final bell rang and I was so glad. Thursday at 3:00. It was that much closer to my absolute favorite time- Friday at 3:00. It meant two full days of freedom. I walked out of the school and searched the student parking lot for familiar faces. I noticed Mia with a group over in the corner and began to make my way over to them. But, I was stopped by a newly familiar face.

"Hey, didn't mean to get you in trouble earlier," Luke said, jumping in front of me.
"Oh," I shrugged, "don't worry about it, man. If it hadn't been showing you where your class was I'm sure I'd have gotten in some other sorta shit."

"Still, I feel bad. And where I come from, food is a pretty good way of making amends."

"Food, huh?"

"Yeah, you know? The stuff you eat. Typically comes on a plate or some sort of a bowl."

"I know what food is, Hawaii."

"So? You down?"

I thought about it for a second. Food. He didn't really ask me on a date. He asked me for food. I guess, I've never been asked for 'food' before. It sort of sounded as though we were headed over to the feeding troughs. But, still, I was interested. "Yeah, I guess. If you want to."

"Oh, I'm in there like swimwear, baby," he smiled- still only a half-smile but I was beginning to realize that this may be his thing.

I laughed. "You won't get very far here using expressions like that, man. Sounds like a good way to get your ass kicked."

He didn't seem embarrassed and just continued to smile. "So, tonight? Tomorrow? I just moved here. I got no plans."

I thought for a second. I didn't want to miss the races tomorrow. Maybe tonight. "Tonight."

"Sweet. Well I got no idea where anything is around here but I can definitely pretend."

"We can just meet somewhere. How 'bout at a place called Rey's. It's on Taylors and the only one in town. 7:00. If you really wanna make amends, I bet you can find it," I told him, and walked away towards Mia and the group.

As I edged closer to Mia I noticed her eyeing me. I couldn't even approach the group before she pulled me aside.

"Who's that?" she asked eagerly.

"That new guy, from English, remember?" I asked. I don't think she had even looked at him during class when I had asked her. Ever since Dominic got sent to prison all Mia ever did was study. I guess it was a good distracter for her. But, I was beginning to think that it was causing her to miss out on life.

"No I don't remember that!" she exclaimed. "Lett, you can't get a new love interest and just not tell me about it."

"Chill out girl. I ain't got a love interest, new or otherwise," I informed her, a complete lie.

She just scoffed. "Yeah, right. Since when is Dom not your love interest?"

"That was a long time ago," I told her, trying to convince myself at the same time.

She just shot me a knowing glare. Sometimes I hated that Mia knew so much about me. "Whatever," she responded. "So you like…what's his name?"

"Luke and…" I just shrugged. "He's just another dude from our class."

"Uh huh, sure," she stated unbelievingly. "So what were you guys talking about then?"

Did I want to tell her? I was sure she would figure it out, one way or another. Mia had this uncanny ability to figure out everyone's secrets. Plus, I didn't really want to keep anything from her. That would look even more suspicious. But I also really didn't want this news getting back to Dom. Of course, I don't know why. It's not like Dom and I were a thing. And we wouldn't have the chance of being a 'thing' for another 1 to 3 years.

"Just he's new in town. Wanted to do something tonight."

"What are you guys gonna do?"

"Probably just go get something to eat."

Mia practically shrieked in my ear. "That's a date! You are going on a date with him? Oh my God, how exciting. What are you gonna wear?"

I looked at her freak out, as I stood there calmly. "It's not a date. And, I'm probably just going to wear this," I said, insinuating the fact that I was not planning on changing clothes.

"Letty, you can not wear that on a date," she told me.

"Then I guess it's not a date," I said.

"Whatever you say," she relented. "But, he's pretty cute."

"Eh," I said, trying to act indifferent.

"At least let me help you pick out something to wear," she encouraged.

"No. It's not like that. I really don't care what I look like," I said. "And," I stopped her before she could even start, "do not even try to make any smart ass comments about what I'm wearing or I'll have to start a rumor that you slept with Vince."

"Well that's just cruel."

"I'm giving you plenty of warning," I joked. Poor Vince had been in love with Mia probably as long as I'd been in love with Dominic. Neither of us had had any luck with those elusive Torettos.

"Fine," she said, trying to pretend she didn't care, "wear what you want."

"Gee, thanks."

"So is he coming to pick you up?"

"We're meeting somewhere." Yes, vague was good.

"When?"

"After I get off work," I said, still vague. "Which reminds me, I gotta get to work."

"Chicken! You're just running away from having to talk to me about it," she said as I walked away from her and towards my car.

I didn't respond but just waved my hand in the air. Maybe I was trying to hide it from her, a little bit. But I couldn't really figure out why. I didn't want her to make a big deal out of it. I didn't even know what was going on and I didn't want to get Mia's hopes up if it was nothing.

I got to work after a short drive. The garage was in full swing, full of orders and bustling like hell. I quickly parked and made my way over to my locker. I slipped on some coveralls and walked over to the bay, to pick up where I'd left off the day before.

"Lett, what's up?" Vince asked from where he was sitting inside the hood of the car.

"Not a damn thing, man. You?" I asked, climbing on my crawler.

"Oh, you know, livin' the dream," he smiled sarcastically. I pulled myself under the car and became lost in the only world I truly understood. I didn't give another thought to Luke. I didn't think about Mia and the immense amount of questions I knew she would ask me tomorrow. I didn't think about Dom and what him being in prison meant to everyone. I just focused on the task at hand. A problem I actually had control over. A problem I could fix.

TBC

So I know it's short and I'm going to add a flashback, like I did with the last chapter. I just wanted to get an update out there.

R&R