Published on December 10, 2019
Chapter 32: College, Part 2
….
Previously:
"Catwoman again?" Han licks his dry lips as he tears into another bag of chips, keeping his hands busy.
"A classic never goes out of style," Gisele quips, "Frankenstein?"
"Yes! Finally! Alice gets miffed every time someone calls me the Hulk."
"They're focusing on everywhere but your face," Gisele points at the bolts on Han's cheeks.
"You didn't."
"I can't," Gisele slips out, her eyes briefly flashing to take in Han's very toned body peeking out of the skin-tight and ripped tank, unconsciously licking her lips as their gazes meet.
Han's cheeks flush, the chips he's eating suddenly leaving him parched but doesn't respond due to their dates rejoining them.
…
Drifting
It was past midnight on the night of the Halloween mixer. Gisele's Catwoman mask was off at the moment, making Han feel dumb in his green Frankenstein/Hulk makeup and exaggerated eyebrows.
"What did you mean when you said you can't look at me?" Han asks softly, sitting next to Gisele on the steps of the courtyard outside the student center.
"We're friends. We share friends," Gisele answers, "You have a girlfriend."
"And if I didn't?"
"It's still not a good idea," Gisele deflects, rubbing her hands together, "it's a…physical reaction. I haven't been with anyone in awhile and you're just-you've been great since summer."
"I've enjoyed this summer, too. And what you just said, that's more than just physical attraction isn't it?" Han's soothing voice replies, "We could be good together,"
"We already are," Gisele answers sincerely.
"We are," Han tries his best smile, genuinely touched by what Gisele said as he gets back to his date.
-A few days later-
"Don't let the fear lead you, Yashar!" Han uses his motivational coach/teammate voice.
"I'm not getting this. Maybe worse," Gisele whines behind the wheel of Han's red mustang, "Is it me? Is the car too heavy?"
Han and Gisele were at an empty parking structure both learning to drift.
"Maybe if we can do it in this we can do it in anything. This is supposed to be fun, right?" Han questions.
"I just like to get things right," Gisele sighs.
"I know."
..
-A week later-
Dominic Toretto was down south and when he returned home a few weeks ago he found that Mia had a new renter, another college student.
"I don't want to be the person you're thinking of right now," the gruff voice comments as Gisele is viscously going at a punching bag in the backyard.
"You think it's a good idea to sneak up on me?" Gisele stills the heavy bag.
Dom grins, "Mia said you had car trouble. I can fix it up."
"I can't afford it right now," Gisele gives another hard punch.
"Not your day?"
"Not my week," Gisele sits down to catch her breath.
"You can make it up by working shifts at the market," Dom leans into the punching bag, "And we can find you something at the autoshop too. Pay what you can now."
Gisele overcome with gratitude flings herself into the bald man in a tight hug, getting sweat all over his church shirt as the man's silver cross chain swings out from it. Gisele impulsively kisses Dom, something more than just a peck she intended. They look at each other when the kiss ends, then lean in to join their lips again.
A laugh comes out of Gisele's lips, "I'm sorr—I," unable to control her reflexes, trying to kiss again but failing.
"You don't feel it either?" Dom chuckles.
Gisele nods a no, settling down.
"We're doing barbeque," Dom eases in, "if there's anything you want I can call the guys to pick it up."
"What goes with Corona?" Gisele asks, unwrapping the gauze from her hands.
"Everything. That's not a question," Dom grins, "Not kosher?"
"No," Gisele gathers her things, "I'm going to head in."
"Invite a friend."
"Sure."
Gisele runs into Han exiting the restroom, not unusual as he would come over for study sessions, but not of late. First it was his shift change at his job, and then girlfriend, now ex, Alice occupied his time.
"I'll be real quick in the shower," Gisele rushes through.
Han was helping Dom move the picnic table in the backyard when Gisele got dressed.
"Are we studying?" Gisele asks as they finish up.
"If you want."
"Why don't we take a break? Stay for the barbeque. I'm making the salad you like."
"I have errands to do with my mom. My parents are going to Korea and they wanted me to drop Maxo at the sitter in the morning," Han explains, speaking of the dog Gisele helped dogsit at the end of summer when he was at work.
"I came by to see if you wanted to study a bit or come say goodbye to Maxo, take him for a walk. But you're busy, so I really should go."
"I'll save you a plate if you can make it by later."
"Thanks," Han nods, "and thanks for the invite Mia we'll have to do it next time."
"Take care," Mia responds as she fills a cooler with drinks.
..
-Week of midterms-
Midterm exams were in full swing and Han and Gisele were in the midst of studying at Han's apartment.
"You want to quiz with flashcards?" Han asks after growing weary of reading his textbook, "It's your turn."
"Time?" Gisele asks, stretching on out on the leather couch.
"9:48," Han responds, "You want a ride home early? A few hours of sleep can be better than cramming sometimes."
Gisele was processing Han's words but not completely, a little delirious, and debating whether she should power through with another cup of coffee, a nap, or call it a night like Han suggested.
Mia planned on picking Gisele up after her the night shift at her temp job.
"This is the only time I wished I still lived a few doors down. Not much of an all-nighter."
They started at 6:00 pm, keeping their schedule open until 1:00 am.
"A morning person like you can put in an hour in the morning. A nap's going to fuck with your sleep pattern anyway."
"Fuck it," Gisele sighs, gathering her things, "You think you'll be alert by seven to meet on campus or do I have to drag you out of bed?"
"That was summer and I'm back in school, so my brain just works that way."
"Since middle school I hear," Gisele teases.
"Has Becky been slandering me? You can't believe everything you hear," Han chuckles, "I've evolved since high school."
"We have better things to talk about other than you're quirks," Gisele jokes as Han locks his front door, "and if it is then it's because she's looking out for you."
They walk to Han's car, buckling up.
"Such a teacher," Han agrees.
They ride in silence.
"My car will be up and running soon," Gisele says when Han they are nearing the Toretto's.
"Yeah?"
"Mia's brother helped me with it."
"Cool," Han didn't know how else to respond, perhaps waiting for Gisele to reveal that she was dating the famous street racer after seeing them kiss at the Toretto's. Han sets his car on neutral, "Got your keys?"
Gisele takes them out of her bag and jingles them for effect, "I only locked myself out when you had to borrow my compass keychain for an assignment."
"And I should have asked you before we got in the car," Han chuckles.
"At least you haven't driven off this time," Gisele replies, "Baby steps."
"I'll see ya."
"Later," Gisele tries to open the jeep door but it jams, "Maybe it's my due to drive you around."
"I don't mind. I want you know that. We're friends and this is what we do for each other."
"We haven't been the same since Halloween. Like we're off. Maybe I treated you like a boyfriend when you weren't and it came out and now it's weird between us. We can't even study like we did."
"Maybe I did same with you. Seeing you as a girlfriend when I felt like it," Han shrugs, getting out and opening the door from the outside when Gisele failed to open it again, "I didn't break up with Alice expecting you'd suddenly want to be with me now or in the future. I need you believe that."
"I think I wouldn't be here if I didn't," Gisele responds, "We're good."
"Good."
They hug goodnight.
Gisele receives a text from Han from later that night, reading it the next morning:
I think the beginning of friendships can be like relationships. You have the good phase where everything is clicking and the more time passes the flaws come out, and we'll argue or disagree, but it all settles and things will work out.
…
Thanksgiving
..
Han was at the Torettos waiting for Gisele to get back. Mia's car returns with a flourish, pulling up in an incredibly long and smooth drift. Han is in awe, stunned, "I think I'm in love."
He's further stunned when not only Gisele exits, but their friend Becky. Han staggers to the two.
"I wanted to surprise you guys," Becky hugs Han.
"Good to see you, too," Han murmurs, proceeding to help with the groceries.
"Did you see her?!" Becky beams pointing in Gisele's general direction, "It was good, right? It felt good. A good slide."
"It was something," Han makes eye contact with Gisele who grins.
At the Thanksgiving dinner was Letty, the Toretto's neighbor, and their three gearhead friends Vince, Leon, and Jesse.
They divided tasks, trying to stay out of the way of one another in the kitchen. Soon they were just waiting on the turkey.
"Look at you," Mia comments at Han washing pots and pans, "the moms must love you."
"Early dishes-" Gisele starts fixing drinks.
"Means an early workday," Becky finishes, proceeding to help Han dry.
"I can't stay too long. Just doing my part," Han shuts off the water, "Looks like I can't join you guys for the post-Thanksgiving hike."
"Like you needed an excuse," Becky playfully nudges Han, "Lisa and Brad can't come because of the baby, so we'll probably skip the hike and go to lunch or early dinner. Gisele?"
"I'll be tied up all day and night," Gisele says with a hint of nervousness, measuring ice, a few for Han, extra for herself, none for Mia or Becky.
Han takes his glass, handing Becky's to hers, "Are we all free Saturday?"
"Saturday hike?" Gisele swirls her drink.
"Saturday hike," Becky agrees.
"That's not—" Han sputters.
"Bowling?" Becky interrupts.
"Bowling," Gisele nods.
"Bowling," Han agrees.
"That was too easy," Becky laughs, "I could have used you in high school Gisele. So bowling, K-Town, and we'll see where that leads."
The turkey was taking longer than expected and Han's eyes soon reverted back to Gisele who was huddled closely next to Dom as they talked over her car, pointing at various parts.
Soon they stuff themselves as the football game provided background noise and the Coronas flowed.
"You and the Dominic Toretto?" Han sits down on an armchair at the start of dessert in the living room.
"No."
"No?" Han chuckles wryly, "Fixing your car. Flirting 101."
"He has an off-and-on longtime girlfriend. I am not getting into that," Gisele stabs at her slice of pecan pie.
Han sneers passively, "If you say so."
"Don't pick a fight," Gisele replies, "You of all people should know."
"Know what?"
Gisele lets the alcohol in her system take over, "What it's like to be hung up on someone."
"This is not about Becky!"
"It was about Becky when it was about Alice!" Gisele sneers back keeping her volume low.
Han extracts himself from the armchair to go back to the kitchen with the rest of the guests, dashing to the coat rack when they all join Gisele.
"Thanks again for having me, Mia, Dom," Han says goodbye as he holds Becky's coat out for her as she's thanking the Torettos for the invite.
"You know this boy, Gisele," Becky swaps her coat with a box of leftovers, brushing her blonde strands from her eyes, "Can't hold his liquor."
"I'll be quick with her," Han eyes Becky up and down, and says curtly, "Gisele. Flashcards?
"Essay."
"Essay."
..
-About 45 minutes later-
Becky drives Han to his parents' house, as his apartment's heat was spotty at the moment.
"How is it that we never hooked up here?" Han checks the thermostat as Becky pours tall glasses of water.
"We broke up."
"And you haaaaaaaate this house," Han rolls his eyes, "We got back together."
"And we were adults then with our own places," Becky looks at the pictures in the living room that hadn't changed since high school, "Car sex? More like scars sex. Never again."
"We came close last Thanksgiving," Han whispers hotly in Becky's ear, touching the scar on her right forearm.
"I don't hate this house. I didn't like how it kept us apart when you moved. But that's just an excuse wasn't it?"
"Do you feel the distance now?"
"I think I always will with you," Becky laces their fingers together.
..
-Later that night-
"Not bad." Letty's voice booms from high as Gisele wheels herself from under the car, "You shouldn't be working on a holiday, though."
"I'm not American, so…" Gisele shrugs wiping the hint of grease from her hands.
"You're celebrating with us, so…it's Thanksgiving movie night."
"I thought this would be the exception. Cars."
"When we're sober," Letty offers a water bottle to the other woman towering over her.
"Just checking and sanding," Gisele picks up a stray sandpaper and looking around the car for a place to buff, "I'll be busy with school so I won't know when I'll have free time…essays."
Letty overheard Gisele in Han in the living room even before the little show at Han's departure and she finally understood, even if the woman had a crush or admiration for her boyfriend, Gisele was in too deep with this Han guy. In her younger days she may have carried a grudge, but not now. Becky who drove Han home hadn't returned yet and Letty was doubtful that she would tonight.
"Mia said you like gummies."
"They have a chocolate candy with the popping candy in Israel. I miss that."
"You up for a walk?"
Gisele's barefoot by the time they reached Toretto Market & Cafe with Mia in tow. Gisele takes a swig from a flask as she sits on the counter stool Mia hands her something on a plate soon after.
"This might be your best sandwich," Gisele reasons, biting into the chocolate bar with Pop Rocks sandwiched in between, "Very close."
"Over here they have myth where you're stomach explodes if you have it with soda."
"Let's do beer. We're adults," Gisele's already reaching for three.
Mia and Letty exchange looks. The three go for it, trying to keep the foaming at minimum.
"Reminds me of Wine Coolers," Mia says.
"Don't remind me," Letty replies in disgust, thinking of her first sip of alcohol she sneaked with Mia.
"My mom died a year ago," Gisele sniffles, throwing back a packet of the sweet candy and chasing it with another swig, "I was a month into one of the greatest times of my life and then she was gone. All I have now is a Great Aunt Poland I maybe said "Hi" to on the phone once."
"You have us," Mia puts her hand on Gisele's shoulder.
"And I didn't think of your mom," Gisele continues to sniffle, "Self-centered. You have all been amazing."
"We all hurt. And are allowed to feel it, no matter what the context is." Mia assures.
"Life's not fair," Letty lets out, "My Tia, my aunt, was like my mom. She's gone too."
"We need more," Mia starts, then throwing her keys to the liquor cabinet to Letty, "stronger."
When they return back to the Toretto's Becky is there, and Gisele lets her tears fall, crying into the embrace of her dear friend, clutching a box of Pop Rocks.
"Babe, you know why I came."
…
Resolutions
"Ah," Han groans at the bright light hitting his pupils. He was sick, confined to his apartment couch.
"This is why you're not in Seoul?" Gisele sees his morbid face adjusting to the light.
"Slept through my alarm," Han coughs.
"I came to grab a book I left for my flight," Gisele explains, fluffing and inserting another pillow behind Han's head.
"You should get out while you can," Han burrows into his blanket even more and shutting his eyes again, "Germs."
"Kettles already going," Gisele clatters in the kitchen, reaching for teabags above the fridge,
"Gisele…"
"What kind of friend wouldn't?"
"I was a jealous jerk," Han declares.
They hadn't spoken since Thanksgiving.
"You can be," Gisele waits at the kitchen table crossing her arms.
"I saw you and Dom kiss before the barbeque, and I knew it then that it was more than this summer and how it felt good to be needed by someone, but I tried to brush it aside and say it was, until Thanksgiving when I saw you two again. I have feelings for you…but I'd never make you choose between me or Becky."
"That's thing isn't it? I'd think you'd always choose her. Six months ago you weren't even an option," Gisele contemplates, "And six months from now I don't even know where I'll be."
"We can't control what we feel for each other. "I'll never know. You'll never know if we don't try, right?" Han questions, "You think all our friendships can't survive it all?"
"If I lose her then I lose you."
"She'll come around," Han tries again.
"I wouldn't forgive you,"Gisele clarifies.
Gisele couldn't tell him was what Becky had confessed that spring at her sister's nuptials that she didn't ever see herself getting married, but if it was anyone, Becky said it would be Han. That didn't mean much to Gisele then. She didn't quite understand their relationship until later that summer when she got to know Han better. She could see running into the pair together later in her life, and they'd be happily married with beautiful children and amazing careers. And that's all she wanted for them, what they deserved.
"It's settled then?" Han shrugs in defeat.
Gisele nods.
"I won't bring it up again. I'll try."
Gisele heats Han leftovers, refills his humidifier, and checks his portable heater.
"Thanks," Han says when Gisele hands him a cup of tea and sets a thermos on the coffee table, going to get him another blanket before she leaves, backtracking to hand him a small gift that was tucked in her purse.
"Merry Christmas."
"I have a Hanukkah, or one holiday gift, I guess, for you too," Han puts a robe on over his sweater to retrieve it, "Open it," Han says, ripping into his.
"Just what I needed," Gisele smiles at the driving gloves, trying them on, "Fits great."
"If you want to race again, or for whenever," Han looks down at the compass keychain in his hand.
"It's in Japanese. I saw it Little Tokyo and thought you'd like it. When you get to the real Tokyo. There's a map inside."
"I love it."
..
-Two weeks later-
Han's parent's decided to stay in Seoul, so his mom recruited him to help out his Aunt for the New Year's Eve Party they normally had together.
It was hell being in the car with his yapping cousin all day. They were currently waiting for a few boxes of produce in Koreatown.
"You seal the deal with her yet?" Han's cousin stretches his feet up on the passenger seat of Han's jeep.
"What the fuck are you talking about?"
"Gisele. Why else are you inviting her?"
"We're friends."
"I saw her this summer with this huge dude. Muscle builder type. Maybe you need to bulk up…"
Han rolls his eyes.
"You do the heavy-lifting, the boyfriend stuff. And he gets the easy part. Don't get stuck in the friendzone man."
"Like you're so familiar with any type of zone."
"I'm engaged."
"For how long now?"
"It's karma. You did it back then so it's happening to you now."
-Hours later-
"How was Poland?" Han asks Gisele as they swayed to the mid-tempo music, "Meeting your Great Aunt."
"Nothing like your Aunt," Gisele looks over to the life of the party dancing wildly to the beat, "and there's the language barrier."
"You can borrow mine anytime you want," Han wraps his arm tighter around Gisele's waist, "She really likes you. You'd know if she didn't."
Gisele responds with the tightening of her arms as well, around his shoulders as she whispers, "Thank you for inviting me."
"No problem at all," Han feels the chill down his spine, "When are we going to try out those driving gloves I got you?
….
Author Notes:
end notes and rant(s)
Fancast notes: Probably Kristen Bell as Becky and Matt Lauria as Matteo (in College, Part 1)
(Unlikely, but fancasts are fantasies, yes? And I did have Tyler Posey fancasted as one of the Ortiz-Toretto headcanon kids, and then he was cast in the Netflix cartoon so who knows?)
Right now I've expanded this from 4 to 6 or 7 parts, the rest of the parts will likely be 2000 words or less each. I'm really trying a slow burn, but I couldn't get to 8 to 13 parts without feeling like I'd drive myself crazy edited and overthinking everything.
I have it all almost written, but I'm struggling with the end. I'd like to post every two weeks, which I think I can do up to part 5—historically I post something in December then can't seem to post again until the spring or summer, which might happen here with the last part.
My variation on addressing Dom/Gisele that they laid the seeds for in 4. I think this is a possible outcome, I know in the Fast Five commentary Vin Diesel was concerned with it but Justin Lin told him to not worry about it and it wasn't a big deal that Han moved in on Gisele. I feel like this could have been how Elena's love for Dom goes down, since they just kept brushing her aside and eventually just killed her instead of dealing with the Dom-Letty-Elena dynamic—just make it so she understood that her relationship with Dom was more comfort and grieving and she could have lived her life. People have relationships like that, but I suspect Diesel's need for Dom to great at everything cost Elena her life.
So I'm going with Mia and Dom's mom dying when Mia was young HEADCANON, the other option is that she left them, or she left them but Dom and his dad hid that fact from Mia, which would make an interesting AU on its own.
I'm still nervous about a beta reader, so I'm doing it myself—I try to edit mistakes I catch after publication, but I sometimes keep some grammar mistakes if it's Gisele speaking because the actresses who plays her minces her words due to the cultural/language divide so I keep some in.
I'd love to do an overhaul on all the chapters sometime in the future, the first 9 got re-edited a lot, but not so much after, but the later chapters were better when first published.