I was sat at one end of the couch, my side was against the back of it while my legs were sprawled out in front of me, my feet in Vince's lap. Every so often he would get so lost in his thoughts that he'd start rubbing them before realising and abruptly stopping. I frowned every time he did. Each time it started to feel really good just as he stopped. We'd been like that for over an hour, since I hugged him and told him it wasn't his fault. Letty, Dom and Mia all made excuses to leave but Leon and Jesse stayed for a long while, both glancing over every so often before they too left.

"Why did you act like that?" I asked quietly.

"Act like what?" His voice was hoarse.

"Trashing the place."

"You were told," he shrugged. "I was angry."

"And you blamed yourself," I nodded. "But it still seems to be a little bit of an overreaction."

"You know what the other reason could be," he accused, glancing at me at of the corner of his eye. "And me saying it will spike an argument."

I bit my lip. I didn't want to guess anymore, it was tiring. "It might not."

"Well I'm not risking it," he decided. "Not if you have to live here for a while."

"Not too long though," I whispered.

"Let's set an exact day."

"Saturday," I shrugged. "It's about a week away, when I get up I'll make the choice to go to the house to stay there or to pack my things."

"And come back here," he said sternly.

I felt myself tense up slightly and he must have felt it. Going over it in my mind I'm sure it must have been brought up, but stay here? I'd only known these people for a little over two weeks if that. Was this really the right option? Now that I thought about it things were moving along hastily. In no way was I saying that I'd cut them out of my life, they'd grown on me, I loved them almost. But staying here with them?

"V, I couldn't."

He was looking at me now, no longer looking miserable or out of it. "Why not?"

"It's just… It ain't right."

"And neither is living with that asshole but if you decide you still wanna do that in a weeks' time I have to just deal with it."

"And we both know you won't," I sighed.

"But I'll try." He trailed his hand up my leg to rest on my knee, it was the furthest he could reach without leaning over. "You're talkin' like you're going back."

I shrugged. "It's a possibility, V, and you can't be angry at that."

He didn't say anything but it was clear he wasn't happy. His hand squeezed my knee repeatedly as he stared back into space. I sighed, fighting with myself on wanting to comfort him. I wanted so much to hug him but I knew the only thing that would make him really happy was to promise I'd never go back to Nate, I couldn't do that.

Sunday was agonizing. There was hardly any work, the usual family barbecue and a lot of time of nothing, time to sit in awkward silence while everyone tried to avoid talking about recent events without being too obvious that they were avoiding it. It was all very confusing and it just made the day ten times more intense. Monday and Tuesday were slightly better due to work but I was on edge because I didn't know if Nate would show up or not, he never did but the boys and Letty dropping by more than usual for breaks didn't help, it was clear they were worried about the same things I was. By time Wednesday arrived I wanted to cry.

"What's eating you?" Leon asked.

I looked up at him. I was sat outside the front of the house, he was swinging his car keys around on his finger. I hadn't realised he wasn't inside. "Where have you been?"

"Fine, ignore the question," he chuckled. "Out, nice to know I was missed, but the welcoming party is a little poor."

I gave a sorry excuse for a laugh as my response. "Out where?"

He rolled his eyes and held out his hand. I took it and allowed him to help me stand up. "Don't matter, now answer my earlier question."

"You didn't answer mine."

"I answered plenty," he countered. "Your turn."

"Things have just been tense."

He nodded. "Everyone's worried and doesn't know how to bring it up, y'know?" He headed inside, motioning for me to join him. "We just don't want you going back to him."

"If I do it doesn't mean I'm leaving."

"Might be what's best if it stops him getting pissed at you."

Before I realised it I was following him towards the basement.I tried not to think about what he said as we walked. I'd like to think that I could have them and Nate in my life. That's all I wanted but it seemed that some people from both sides didn't think it could work out. He led the way down the stairs and into his bedroom. He sat on the bed, his back to the wall.

"You get used to it," he said when he caught me looking around. It was the first time I'd actually been down here. I was either in the spareroom, kitchen, living room or out.

"It's nice," I shrugged. "Not much real light but still."

"Stop commenting on the lighting and sit down."

"If you tell me where you were."

He patted the space beside him. I sat carefully, ready to get up and leave if he wasn't going to talk. "I was with a girl."

I sat back more comfortably. "Ah, maybe I don't want to know then."

"Nothing happened," he sighed.

I wanted to make a joke but he seemed a little dissapointed so I went with sympathetic instead. "Sorry…"

"Nah, bitch tried to get out of paying."

"Didn't know you ran those sort of services…"

He narrowed his eyes at me. "I meant for the job we did on her car." I smiled and he pushed me lightly. "Figured if she'd sleep with me she wouldn't have to pay."

"How far did you get before you realised?"

"Just back to her place," he shrugged. "She brought it up on the way inside."

"Is Jesse like this too?" I asked. "Was Dom?"

"Like what?"

"Do whatever they can so to speak."

"Well V hasn't gotten laid in like two weeks."

"Two weeks?" I choked out.

"About that," he shrugged. "Well, it's like a week and a bit but still, something stopped him."

"Yeah," I nodded numbly. I tried to count it up in my head. Dom had walked into the bar a little over two weeks ago, I'd met them the same amount of time as well. Vince's games had started almost instantly. I know the seriousness of them had become questionable, but were they always questionable?

"You seem a little out of it, are you OK?"

"Oh, yeah, I'm great," I lied. "But are you serious?"

"Yeah," he laughed. "I mean, I said two weeks because like for a bit he'd start something and then kick her out before anything could really happen, y'know?"

"So really, nothing, nada, for about a week?"

"Little more than that for sure-" He turned to me, glint in his eye. "Hey, didn't Dom meet you at that bar about two weeks ago?"

"A little more than that," I mumbled. "Be three weeks soon."

"Wow," Leon laughed.

I pushed him slightly. "What?"

"He really has it bad for you."

"Who?"

"Don't act stupid," he chuckled. "You know exactly who."

"No I don't," I said stubbornly, not wanting to agree with this.

"V always plays games, all the time so it seemed normal but I saw him turn down this pretty hot blonde a few days ago," Leon said seriously. "I'm not lying, kind of girl you'd want to be sober for 'cause just by the look of her you'd expect to want to remember everything the next day, but no he turns her down without a second thought."

I cringed at his description. "What makes you think I've got anything to do with it?"

"No one makes V think with any other part of his body when a girl like that comes around," he explained, chuckling slightly at my yet again disgusted look. "But the second you come along he manages it."

"Let's not talk about it," I sighed.

"Yeah, we'll just talk about it when you're living here for good."

"I wouldn't stay here no matter what the choice," I told him. "It wouldn't be right."

"Girl, you're talking like you're getting a choice."

I nudged him with my elbow before we lapsed into silence. He hummed a tune. I got comfortable, lost in my thoughts.

By time Friday night arrived I'd learned a lot of things. Vince still blamed himself but was deteremined to make living at the Toretto house fun and comfortable so I'd want to come back. He also offered to drive me places even though I had a car, and whenever I got up to get something he offered to get it for me. Sometimes I worked out he did it without even really thinking, it'd just become habbit and I was afraid he might be doing it to make up for pissing Nate off and effectively causing our argument and me to get hurt. Even as the cuts scabbed over he kept at it. Leon was similar in his actions. He'd offer things and made sure I was OK all the time. Both he and Jesse's methods of making me feel comfortable and at ease were to play video games, watch movies and drink. I wasn't complaining at either. The girls took another approach. Shopping after Mia got home from school seemed to be a must, we managed to slip in a quick beach visit too. Dom was the most layed back. I could see him watching me, checking in on me but he was subtle about it. From the way he spoke and acted I could see he was being just as protective but in his own silent, deadly way. And I noticed all this over what? Two days, if that? They really were determiend for me to stay there with them. And honestly, it was very tempting.

Nate never came around which surprised me. He seemed pretty determined for me not to choose them and he knew where I worked. I started to think that maybe he just didn't care, maybe he'd realised that he wasn't bothered and didn't want me to come back. I'd have to though, even if it was just for my things, so I'd be seeing him either way. Even though I knew his anger was uncalled for and he was being unfair that night I hoped he didn't think that, I wanted some sort of chance at working this out. He'd been there for me for a long time, I'd known him long before we started dating so I knew the good side of him, the better side.

"Thought I'd find you here."

I sighed and jumped down from my spot on the rocks at the sound of Dom's voice. So much had happened over the past couple of days that I just wanted to get away and the beach was the only place I could think to go to. I'd been so lost in thinking that I hadn't realised how dark it had actually gotten.

"We missed you at dinner," he explained as I reached him. "When it hit eight I figured I'd better look."

"It's nearly nine," I commented.

"I didn't come here." He led the way up to his car. He pulled out a bag from the front and handed it to me. "Dinner, a burger and some fries. I got it before coming here."

"Oh, thanks."

I fiddled with the bag as he moved out of the way so I could get in. I started to eat the fries as he got into his side of the car and started to the engine. I finished them by time we reached the house, leaving my burger. I wrapped the bag up as we got out and headed inside. Dom went straight into the kitchen, mentioning something about getting me a drink. Mia and Letty were sharing the armchair, Jesse was lying on his front on the floor while Vince and Leon were on either end of the couch. Vince's arm was across the back of the couch as he kept his eyes on the tv. I moved over and sat down in the middle of the couch, slightly closer to the couch.

Dom brought me in my drink before sitting on the floor with Jess. I ate my burger and drank the orange juice he'd gotten me, before placing the glass on the floor with my wrapper stuffed into it. This time when I leaned back I felt Vince's arm drop from the back of the couch and wrap itself around my shoulders. I shuffled into him a little more to make it more comfortable for him and myself. I turned slightly, catching Leon's eye. He gave me a knowing smirk before looking away. I almost moved but then I felt Vince's lips brush over the top of my head and I was frozen. Tomorrow couldn't come soon enough.

Not overly pleased with this one but I don't really hate it either so I guess that makes it okay. Next chapter is her choice to stay with Nate or move out.

R&R