Part Fourteen

Part Fourteen.

Nicollette followed Mia and Brian into the house. Several people were there.

"Everyone! I'd like you to meet my little sister, Nikki," Brian called to the people.

"Leon! Vince!" Mia called them over.

"Nicollette, meet Leon and Vince. They're part of the family," Brian replied with a grin as he hugged his sister.

"Nice to meet you," Nicollette said absent mindedly, wondering where Dom was. He hadn't followed them in. "If you'll excuse me," she said politely before making her way back through the house. She turned to see Brian drinking a beer, laughing with his friends. She knew he cared for her. Otherwise he wouldn't have asked Dom to go in after her. She knew he was happy she was okay. Everyone was happy. Everyone except her.

Nicollette walked out the front door to sit on the steps of the porch. She stared into the night sky, the silence that had once been there, no more. The hip-hop music blared from inside. No one seemed to notice or care. Laughter wafted through the windows, then Brian whooping. The stars were barely evident in the pitch black sky. Just tiny pin points here and there, when the light from the city wasn't drowning them out.

"You okay?" Dom asked, startling her.

"Fine. Where'd you come from?"

"I was sitting in the corner," he pointed to a little chair in the darkest corner of the porch.

"So . . ."

"So," Dom said in reply.

"Aren't you going to go join the party?"

"Nope. You?" Dom wondered.

"Dominic Toretto not going to his own party? There's a shocker!" came Letty's voice.

"Well, my life's calmed down a lot recently, Mia's inside," he didn't even scowl at her.

Letty looked at his companion. She was young, pretty, and just sitting there. Not clawing at his clothes. Not the way the tramps at the races did. Not the way she used to.

"Heard you was kidnapped."

"I was," the girl said. "Dom came to get me."

"Dom to the rescue? He does that. He gets you in trouble then saves you. Don't you, Dom?"

"Dom didn't get me in trouble."

"Oh, you're just another slut then, right?"

"Letty!" Dom said sharply. "Mia's inside. Go talk. Then leave."

"Didn't come to see Mia. Came to see you."

"Well, I'm busy. Don't wanna see you. Leave."

"Why? You busy?"

"Yeah. Meet Nicki. Nicki, this is Letty."

"Nice to meet you," Nicollette said dryly. "I'll leave you two alone."

"Thanks," Letty replied.

"No, Nicki, stay. Whatever she has to say can be said in front of you. We have no secrets," he stood, and turned back to Letty.

"Fine," Letty replied. "I want you back. Simple as that." Letty watched Nicollette run off, Dom not noticing.

"Really?"

"Yeah. So whaddya say?"

"Let me think about that. No."

"Dom? What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing. I don't want to talk to you. Come back tomorrow. I'm tired. I wanna go to bed."

"I could join you," Letty said seductively.

"Sorry, but you ain't my type no more," Dom remarked.

"But . . ."

"Go home Letty. Go home."

Dom turned around to find Nicollette gone. He searched the house, but no one knew where she was. Dom got in his car and took off. He cruised around the block and the surrounding blocks for a while before finally calling home.

"Hello?" Mia answered the phone.

"Mia, get Brian. Nicollette's gone."

"What?"

"Just tell him. You gotta help me find her."

"Okay." Click.

Nicollette wandered back to the park where Dom and she had been earlier that day. Back to the place where he'd last kissed her. Back to the last good memory she had. It was dark out, but she didn't care. She didn't care what happened to her now. Dom was at his house screwing that girl. That Letty girl, forgetting all about her.

Dom drove. The last place he had to look was the park where Brian had picked them up earlier that day. It was going to be light soon. He stopped at the edge of the park; once he saw Nicollette sitting on the swing they'd occupied the day before.

He got out of the car and started walking toward her. As if sensing him, Nicollette looked up.

Nicollette saw Dominic approaching her. She stood, smiled and fled. She ran. She couldn't face him. Couldn't see him and then leave again. It would be too hard. It would break her heart more than it was already breaking. She couldn't bare it. Down the sidewalk she ran. Faster and faster, hearing him behind her.

Dom raced after Nicollette. First on foot before finally giving up and going back to get his car. He drove after her. Tires squealed at every turn. She was too far ahead of him. It had taken him too long to get his car. Without thinking, Dom stretched his hand out, and hit the NOS button. His car sped forward, past Nicollette. He turned, right in front of her. Nicollette stopped herself right before she would have hit it.

Dom opened the car door and ran after Nicollette, who was running again.

"Nicki!" he cried. He ran faster. He was only a few feet behind her. He reached out, grabbed her arm and swung her around, his arms going around her.

"Dom!" she sobbed. "Let me go," she whined. "Please."

"Never," he whispered, brushing her hair out of her face. "I'm never letting you go."

Nicollette had been crying on Dom until he said that. Suddenly her tears stopped. She looked at him.

"What?"

"You're not going anywhere. Except with me," he whispered.

"Why? You have 'Letty'."

"Don't want Letty. I want you."

"You what?"

"I. Want. You," he said slowly, making sure he was getting his point across. "Forever and ever."

"Why?"

"Because, Nicki. I love you. I fell in love with you. I'm not gonna let you go that easily."

"You love me?"

"Yeah," Dom said, leaning down and pressing a kiss to her lips. "I do."

"I love you, too," Nicki smiled. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his head down to hers, kissing him passionately.