Have to say this really fast: VIN DIESEL'S NEW MOVIE IS OUT!!! *drools* Sexy man…lol, I'm sorry you had to hear that, but I'm a little bit hyper from the day's events…hahaha.
Oh, and a quick note to Tempest- the main reason that I do the 'Dom's POV'/'Mel's POV' is for my own sake when I'm drafting the story. That's all.
One last, last thing: This chapter was WAY too long when I was nearly finished, so what's going to happen is this; this will be chapter 6, without the race that I promised (sorry!), but I'm posting Chapter 7 immediately after I've posted this, without waiting for the four reviews to come up. Just disregard what I said about chapter 7 in the Authors Note. Sorry for the confusion and stuff (or, at least this was confusing for me…) On with the story!
*Dom's POV*
Today was it, today was the day the finally let me have my freedom back! G-d knows I've been praying and hoping to be able to see the sun unfettered again, but it always seemed to go to the wind… this was so surreal, but at the same time, it just seemed obvious that I would walk as a free man again. Vince would be picking me up, apparently, Leon was busy helping Letty in the garage, and Mia wanted to do something special for me, so, Vince was the only person who was too lazy to do anything besides picking me up, haha.
I'm standing outside the gates of Lompoc, and I am literally straining my eyes in order to see Vince's new car coming down the road. He'd told me about it over the phone, he was so excited. Finally! A dust cloud is speeding my way, and all I can think to do is to clutch my small shoebox- size container of belongings. The dust cloud is getting closer and closer, and I can make out a '69 Mustang coming my way. Damn, that's such a sweet ride. Vince says he's taking it out tomorrow at the races for a 'big introduction'. It's closer than ever, now! Probably about a mile away now…100 yards…50…
"Hey brotha, long time no see!" Vince is giving off this huge smile, as he steps out to hug me. I return the hug and reply, "Yeah man, I know. I've missed all of you so bad, it's great to be coming home."
"Tell me about it. Now breathe the sweet air of freedom, 'cause we're gonna be back in that garage in an hour, and you know you ain't getting fresh air in there!" I laughed at that, he was so right. My dad's old garage had been filled with nothing but the smell of fuel since the day he signed for it, and that's basically how it would always stay.
"Oh come on, you know that shit in there is like oxygen to me," I said, hopping into the car and throwing my box into the back.
"Yeah, whatever, man." Now he turned serious as he glanced over to gates I'd been behind only a few hours before. "You look different, Dom. What was it like in there? How'd they treat you?"
I sighed, and then looked over at him as he started up the car. "What can I say? It's prison- it's rough. Treatment wasn't too great…I only did this," I said, indicating my muscles, "to stop them. Shit, I got beat so bad. But you tell no one, aiight? I don't want anyone thinking I'm some pussy who got beat on by the bullies."
He looked back at me as he stopped at a red light. "Sure, secret's safe with me. Oh hey, you've missed some seriously bangin' chicks passing through our house, you know. Even this one came up at the garage. I swear, Dom, you leave for two years, and you come back just in time- all of the girls have changed a lot…and for the better," he smirked as he figured out what I was thinking. Hell, it was probably going through his head too, but what can I say, 19-year-old guys, what else are our minds supposed to be on?
"No shit, tell me about 'em." As if V could be any happier. He started to go on and on about blondes, brunettes...everyone.
"Oh, and man, you should've seen this girl the other day. She was hot, but I turned her down. Figured I'd let you have a little play." Liar, she'd probably rejected him, I thought to myself. He probably noticed me smiling at my private joke, so he went on about whoever-she-was.
"Anyway, body was incredible, she was like Letty, except lighter skin and longer legs. I'd say three or four inches shorter than you. She had these pretty light brown eyes too. Hair was doing that flowy-thing that Mia's always does. She was cute, all in all. Didn't tell me her name though. College students, what are you going to do, huh?"
What? This sounded like Melanie. That girl just makes her face known, doesn't she? I'd see her tomorrow night, and then I'd find out why she'd been following my tracks. Until then, I'll just settle back. I'm going home, I'll see my family. Nothing can worry me now.
Finally, we pulled up to my house. Six imports were lined up around our driveway, as well as the sidewalk. Looks like they've done well for themselves so far. I stopped to take a breath and to calm myself down. I didn't want to return into everyone's lives as a huge ball of mixed-up emotions. V glanced back in my direction and asked,
"Dom, you gonna stay in that car, or are you going to come in?"
I pulled myself together once more, stepped out, and began walking towards my home. As I pulled the door open, the smell of Mia's home cooking hit me, and I shut my eyes to take it in. Right then, a big cheer went up, and when I opened my eyes, everyone I knew- Edwin and his crew, Hector's crew, and then some- were all right there to welcome me back to civilization! I walked through the sea of people; women kept bouncing up to me, hugging and kissing me, guys slapped me on the back, saying, "Nice to see you survived, bro! "
I managed to reach the kitchen, where Letty and Mia where sitting at a table, talking excitedly. I stood there for a second before saying, "Mi, come on, be nice and grab your big brother a beer…please." I swear, her back literally froze at that, and then she jumped up, hugging me and crying and laughing all at the same time. Letty didn't move that much, she just smiled at me with tears in her eyes, and waved me over. As I walked up next to where she was sitting, Mia screamed for Leon, and then she yelled back at me.
"DOM!! Don't get any closer to her, wait for Leon and Jess to get here!" What was going on? Why couldn't I hug Let? I missed her too…
Leon and Jess came running from wherever they had been, and after a quick hug and exchange of "It's great to be back" "It's great to have you back", Leon moved over to Letty and gave her his hand. She stood up beside him and placed her left hand over her stomach. There was a diamond ring on her ring finger! I opened my mouth to congratulate the two, but was silenced as Letty rubbed her stomach and said, "Dom, I'm so glad you came back now. You won't have to miss the little Santos' birth. While you were gone we…" A little Santos! Leon and Letty were getting married, and having a kid! So they were too young, big deal. Nineteen is still old enough to raise a child, and Leon made good money at the garage, and off the streets. I went over to congratulate them again.
"Heheh…been busy Le?"
"Busier than you, dawg, but that'll change, right?"
I smiled yet again and said, "Yeah, man, that's changing, alright… A baby, I'm so glad, I can see it now, a little boy learning to work the cars, just like we did when we were little! Oh, and congratulations on getting married, you two are great for each other! Wait, was this the big surprise Melanie wasn't supposed to tell me about?"
Mia grinned at that. "So, you two know each other. She said she'd been working on a journalism assignment with you. Are you two close?"
I laughed and returned, "What kind of close are you talking about? Conjugal visit close, or friendly-visitor-close? I'd say I've got the friendly-visitor bit down…"
The guys laughed hard at that, actually, so did Letty for that matter, but Mia glared at me. "Dom! She's become a really good friend to me ever since her first visit, and she's done nothing but be nice to you since then! Show some respect!"
"Alright, alright, I was just playin', she's nice, I agree, but that doesn't mean I can't make nasty jokes, she probably does the same for me when I'm not nearby." Mia cracked a smile (the millionth one that day) and settled back down into a chair. The rest of the day was just a party, and then the day after that, we all went to the beach. Nothing exciting, just quality time with the people I love. Things did begin to get interesting at the races, however…
