'You can stay in here.' Tori said, pushing her guestroom door open. Letty
entered, carrying a cardboard box full of clothes and the things she would
need for the week. The room was neat and tidy, with a large bed and it
didn't smell like Dom. Perfect, Letty thought as she dropped her things on
the bouncy bed.
'Thanks a lot Tor.' Letty said sitting down on the bed and looking over at the strange lamp. Torynn smiled and leaned against the doorframe.
'No problem.' She said watching her friend. 'You need anything, my room's downstairs to your left.'
'Torynn, venga aquí y como su cena!' Martina, Torynn's older sister yelled from downstairs. Tori shook her head and turned to yell back.
'I'M NOT HUNGRY!' she yelled back, and Letty smiled.
'You get down here right now, pequeño Diablo, or I'll tell Papi!' Martina shouted. Tori sighed.
'You gonna be okay up here?' she asked. Letty nodded, and Tori turned and closed the door. Letty let out a huge sigh and fell back on her bed. How did she get here?
She'd walked for miles down the streets, her hair messy, her feet bare and her cheeks stained with tears. She'd walked for what seemed like forever, before Tony found her, wandering the market alone. He'd been picking up groceries and when he saw her, he nearly had a heart attack.
They'd talked nearly the entire night. And even then she hadn't given up hope on Dom. Mia came home and went straight her room, not even looking at Letty, and still Letty didn't chase her. She still cared for Dom. If he came home that night, she'd know he cared for her. But he didn't. At two a.m. Tony finally said she had to go get some rest. She told him she wanted to leave, that staying with them was wonderful and painful at the same time. She wanted to live somewhere else. She had to or it would kill her.
'I'll send you to one of your friend's houses. Just think about it Leticia.' Tony said, rubbing his neck, obviously under a lot of strain. Here he had a daughter who was heart broken, Letty who wanted to leave desperately, and a son who was god knows where. He also had the big race coming up this Saturday, which was bearing down on him all too quickly. So Letty decided she would respect his wishes and simply stay at Nikki's or Torynn's.
She woke up the next morning to hear the frontdoor close. She looked to Dom's alarm clock, which read 4:30 a.m. She slipped out of bed quietly and crept down the stairs, her nerves buzzing at what she was about to find. She peaked around the corner to look into the kitchen, where Dom was standing, leaning over the table, still in his tux, though it looked a bit disheveled. Letty's eyes began to water again, but she blinked the tears back and marched up the stairs.
Five minutes later, she came bounding down the stairs, with a large sports bag with clothes crammed into it and almost dove at her shoes, trying desperately to get out of there as quickly as possible. She was wearing a pair of jeans and a baggy sweatshirt, the kind of clothes she used to wear before Dom messed up her life. She'd managed to lace up her left trainer when she felt movement behind her. She couldn't help turning around and looking at Dom, who was holding a Corona, staring at her, frowning slightly.
'Letty...what are you doing?' he asked in a gruff, deep, throaty voice. Letty looked back to her right sneaker and began lacing it up.
'I don't live here anymore.' She said quietly, though she knew he could hear her. She was about to continue when she heard glass break and felt cold liquid spray her back. She looked up at Dom, who was staring at her, his eyes dark, the Corona now on the floor.
'What are you talking about?' he asked urgently. Letty got up, staring at the floor, averting eye contact.
'I...I don't live here anymore Dom. I can't.' she said, her voice on the verge of breaking. Dammit, she thought, I can't even be mad at him. That's not right. 'This is who I am.' She said motioning to herself. 'Coming here, living here, changing my looks, being with you. It was all a mistake.'
'But it wasn't! Letty I'm sorry, okay? I didn't mean what I said, I didn't mean to hurt you so much!' he said grabbing her arms and shaking her so that she would look up at him. 'I can't lose you.' He said looking at her with the most sincere look she'd ever seen. She frowned, her pride getting the better of her. She broke away from him and picked up her bag.
'You never had me Dom. Not really.' She said trying to keep her voice icy.
'It's not what you think!' he said motioning to his wardrobe. Yeah right, Letty thought, Mailin just happened to undress you so you could come home and knit with her until 4 in the morning? Letty shook her head at him and breathed in deeply.
'I'll be back to get the rest of my stuff later.' She said before turning toward the door and walking to it.
'Letty.' She stopped and turned to look at him. 'Please. Don't go.' He said, his brows creased, and if he were any less a man, he might have cried. Letty grimaced. She didn't want to hurt him. Not really. But this was what she had to do.
'I'm sorry Dom.' She said before opening the door and walking down the front steps out onto the road. She was free again. And yet it felt so awful. But this was what she'd wanted, right?
Letty looked around her new room and silently cursed it. It wasn't big like Dom's room. It wasn't posted with pictures of cars. It didn't smell like the wintry aftershave she'd come to love. It was freezing cold. It was dark. It wasn't her real home.
She wanted so badly to forgive him and run back to him, love him like she wanted to. But her pride wouldn't let her.
Letty sighed and got up walking over to her door and opening it, walking down the stairs and into the Diego kitchen. Seven pairs of eyes automatically swung to her as she entered. Tori got up and walked to Letty's side.
'What's wrong?' she asked, 'Do you need anything?' Letty smiled.
'No, I'm just hungry.' Letty said patting her stomach. Tori smiled and pointed to an empty chair and walked over to the counter and began pulling out plates and glasses. Letty sat across from Torynn's dad, Marco. Tori had a big family. Three sisters, Martina (20), Sydney (11) and Chaka (5). And one brother, Marco Jr (10). Letty didn't know how they all got along, but they seemed to get by.
Martina was a lawyer and their father sold cars at a local dealership. Everyone except for Torynn went to the local Spanish school a few blocks down from their house. Their mother was dead, and the family was almost always fighting and yet at times they seemed so together. The way Letty had always wanted her family to be.
'So, Leticia, you must be excited for summer.' Marco said in a loud, rounded voice, his Spanish accent very obvious. He, Martina and Torynn were the only ones who spoke English and even then, only Torynn and Martina could speak it well. Letty only nodded. Torynn walked over and placed a plate of chicken and potato in front of Letty and then sat next to her.
'Letty.' Little Chaka piped up. 'Dónde vive usted?' she said waving her little fork around. (Where do you live?) Letty grimaced.
'No sé.' Letty replied (I don't know). She began playing with her food, her mind else where, as the Diegos began talking in rapid Spanish about the summer. All Letty could think about right now was Palmdale, Dom speeding toward his father's race, farther and farther away from her.
'Actually I think I'll just go to bed.' Letty said pushing her plate away and getting up. 'I'm not very hungry.' Tori frowned.
'But Lett, it's only nine o'clock! Tony said he'd call you after his race to tell you how it went.' Letty shrugged.
'I'm sure he did fine.' She said as she walked out of the kitchen. She walked lazily up the stairs and fell across her bed, willing herself to fall asleep. About ten minutes later, Letty heard Martina walk into her room next door and turn on her radio. Letty listened as the Canadian pop star sang away, and slowly drifted to sleep.
I remember the days when I was so eager to satisfy you
And be less then I was just to prove I could walk beside you
Now that I've flown away I see you've chosen to stay behind me
And still you curse the day I decided to stay true to myself
~ Nelly Furtado, 'On The Radio'
Letty rolled over and felt a sharp stabbing pain in her stomach. Her eyes squinted open as she heard her stomach rumble, and she sighed. I guess skipping dinner wasn't the smartest thing, Letty thought to herself. She sat up and felt chilled in only her tee shirt and boxers and woolly socks. She shook her head, and pushed her blankets back, looking to the alarm clock. It read seven forty am. Letty frowned and looked out her window, the skies clouded over with gray. Guess its not going to be a particularly good day. She shrugged and got up, stretching, praying Torynn wasn't cooking breakfast otherwise she could look forward to food poisoning as well as a crappy day.
She crept down the stairs and practically tip toed into the kitchen. She saw Martina sitting across from Sydney who was talking so fast, Letty couldn't understand a word she was saying.
'What's up?' Letty asked, noticing how they both immediately stopped talking as she entered. Martina cleared her throat and Sydney got up and scurried out of the room, chancing a backwards glance at Letty.
'Letty, please sit down.' Letty froze. She hated when people said that. It was always a signal that something bad had happened. Whenever she'd been in trouble for fighting, when her mother had done something wrong, when her father died... no, Letty did not like it when people said that.
'What happened?' Letty asked softly as she sat down across from Martina. She sighed and clenched her hands together.
'I don't know how to say this really.' Martina said, her voice trailing a little. 'But Mia Torretto called.' Letty smiled. Mia, probably wants me to come home with them on Monday.
'Did she leave a number?' Letty asked with a sigh. Martina's face grew grave, and Letty frowned. Martina was only twenty and yet she looked years older, her eyebrows set in a frown and creases forming all over her face.
'She's at the police station.' Letty frowned. 'With her brother. There was a car accident.' Letty shook her head, disbelievingly. Flashes of her father's dead body began forming in her head at the word car accident. How could this happen? So soon after...
'Are they alright? Are they hurt?' Letty asked, speaking quickly, almost hysterically. 'They aren't hurt or anything? How's Dom?' She kept throwing questions until Martina raised a hand.
'They are both fine. However the social services worker will be coming to pick you up soon...'
'Social services worker?' Letty repeated, her eyebrows contracting. 'What social service worker?' Martina sighed.
'Letty, what I am saying, is Mr. Torretto is dead.' Letty stared at her, a ringing suddenly filling her ears, but Martina continued. 'You now do not have a legal guardian. Which means, you are going to be taken to an orphanage, where hopefully, someone will adopt you...'
'Dom can take care of me. He's eighteen.' Letty said in an almost breathless voice. Tony was gone. Just like her father. But Letty didn't cry, she just sat across from Martina in shock.
'If he is to take care of you, he'll have to be seen as fit by a judge.' Martina said, folding her arms and trying to read Letty's emotions. 'I'm sorry Letty.'
As if on cue, the doorbell rang. Letty didn't even look up, as Martina sighed and walked to the front door, leaving Letty to stare at an empty chair. Once again her life was being drastically changed.
'Letty?' Torynn asked as she entered wearing her pajamas, Sydney and Marco Jr hiding behind her. When the front door slammed Marco and Sydney ran back to their rooms, but Torynn stayed. Suddenly Martina came back in, a short old woman dressed in brown with short white hair right behind her. Torynn looked at Letty, a confused look on her face.
'Are you ready to go?' the woman in brown asked, bending slightly as if Letty were a tiny child. Letty looked up and shook her head.
'I need to get dressed.' Letty said in an almost monotone voice. The woman nodded, and Martina put on some coffee while Torynn continued to stare. Letty got up and shuffled toward the stairs, but she could hear loud voices in the kitchen speaking Spanish as she changed into her clothes.
'What's going on?' Torynn said loudly, though the social worker couldn't understand her. 'Where is she going?'
'Letty is going to go see if she can get adopted.' Martina said, in a firm voice.
'What?! I don't understand! I thought she was going back to the Torretto's next weekend! I thought they were just taking a ... a break!' Torynn said, her voice still loud enough so that Letty could hear.
'Mr. Torretto is dead.' There was silence. Letty crept back down the stairs, fully clothed in a pair of tight jeans and a huge gray brown baggy sweater from Baby G, but she wanted to hear what Tori would say next.
'How?' Torynn asked in a small voice. Martina sighed.
'Racing. Okay Tori? He was racing and he went into the wall! This is why mom never wanted you to be so into cars!' Martina shouted, her voice echoing through the house. Letty could see Marco, Sydney and Chaka all sitting behind a desk listening to their sisters fight.
'Don't talk about mom!' Torynn screamed. 'Don't ever talk about her!' Again there was silence. Letty felt bad for listening. Torynn was very sensitive about her mother, who had committed suicide two years ago. 'Does Letty have to go?' Tori asked, this time in English, so the Social worker could answer.
'I'm afraid so. She has no family, no legal guardian.' The woman asked in a raspy deep voice. Letty shut her eyes, as if she wanted to wake up from a horrible dream.
'But what about Dominic?! He could take care of her! He's old enough!' Torynn said, as if desperate. Letty couldn't stand anymore. She suddenly bound down the stairs and stopped in front of the table.
'I want to go now.' She said looking at Tori. Tori opened her mouth to say something but Martina shook her head violently. Letty sighed. 'I want to go.' The woman nodded and got up, handing her mug to Martina.
'Thank you for your hospitality.' She said shortly before leading Letty to the front door and then to her beat up old Chevy. Letty got in and the smell of Febreeze and cats filled her nostrils. The woman got in and started the car, the engine emitting a sickening rattle.
'First we're going to take you to the police station, so that the Torrettos and the police know that we've collected you.' She said as they pulled onto a main road. Letty nodded, but it was more for herself than for the woman. 'I am Mrs. Breech, and I'm going to make sure you will be alright.' Letty nodded again. 'Now we will only be stopping for a few minutes, and then we will leave, clear?' Nod.
They pulled up in front of the station, and all Letty could think about was what Dom would be like. He loved his father so much, practically worshiped him. How would he take his father's death?
Letty walked behind Mrs. Breech as they continued down a bunch of cubicle offices, phones ringing, people tacking things up, people shouting. Letty grimaced. This must be hell for Dom and Mia. Such a chaotic scene, not good when someone has lost someone so precious. They rounded a corner and Letty saw someone with long black hair and tears streaming down her face.
'MIA!' Letty yelled as she practically pushed Breech out of the way. Mia looked up, her eyes wide, her lower lip quivering as she sobbed loudly. Letty ran forward and grabbed Mia and hugged her tightly. She felt Mia hug her back, crying uncontrollably. 'Shhh... Mi, don't cry...' Letty whispered, remembering Dom saying things like that to her. It hadn't helped but it did sort of calm her down. Letty patted her head and finally pulled away.
'...I saw him, Letty... I saw...' Mia cried, grabbing Letty again, sobbing. Letty frowned and patted her.
'It'll be okay, Mi... It'll get better... I promise...' Letty said softly, pulling away and looking around. Mia wiped her cheeks. Where the fuck was Dom?
'Miss Torretto we're ready to see you now.' An officer said, motioning for her to enter his office. She was about to go when Letty lightly grabbed her arm. She turned, her eyes still wide and brimming with tears.
'Where's Dom?' Letty asked, not wanting to upset Mia. But she couldn't help it. Mia gulped the air and nodded toward the hallway. Dom was pacing, looking downward. Letty nodded and let go. 'You'll be okay Mia. I promise, remember!' Mia was lead into the office and the door closed.
'We need to leave soon.' Breech said, her arms crossed, trying to look politely onto the scene. Letty nodded.
'Just a few more minutes.' She said walking toward the hallway. Dom had his back to Letty and she was trying to think of what to say. What could she possibly say? She was so bad at being sympathetic. But she shook herself. Dom needed her now, and he hadn't hesitated when she needed him.
As if he'd known all along, he suddenly turned and came face to face with her. They simply stood there for a few moments. All sound was gone, replaced by the same ringing Letty had heard after she was told Tony was dead. They stared at each other until finally Letty came a bit closer.
'I'm sorry Dom.' She said looking up into his deep brown eyes, usually so loving and soulful, now so cold and dead. She went on when he didn't move. 'I wish it wasn't... I'm so sorry.' Letty felt a few tears escape her eyes. She looked down, too ashamed to look him the eye. She was the one crying but it was his father who'd died. Then suddenly she felt two large arms encircle her and next thing she knew Dom was holding her tightly in his arms. Her arms crept up his back and she felt his head dip into the crook of her neck.
'He's gone Lett.'
'I know.' She answered him, pulling him even closer.
'He was alone when it happened.' Dom said, in his deep voice, though now it was very lifeless. 'He was screaming...' Letty had to fight back more tears. This was killing him. And her. 'He was alone...'
'You're not. I'm here.' She brushed the back of his bare neck, trying to soothe him. She felt him shudder.
'They're going to take you away.' He said low in his voice, so his whole body shook. Letty grimaced.
'I'm here now.' She said trying to offer any comfort she could. Her answer had not been enough obviously, because Dom dropped to his knees, pulling her down with him. They were kneeling in front of each other, Dom clutching her closely, murmuring 'Don't leave me again.'. Letty rubbed small circles on his back, wishing she could say she wouldn't, that there was no way in hell she'd ever leave him again.
'It'll be okay...' Letty cooed, snuggling into his body. 'I won't leave if you won't.'
'I won't... never...' he shook with his emotions, not able to form words anymore. Letty kissed his shoulder, offering more reassurances. They were kneeling for what seemed like forever, when Letty felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up, Dom's face still buried in her shoulder.
'We need to leave now.' Mrs. Breech said, before walking back to the cubicle offices. Letty glared at her. What kind of unfeeling bitch...
'Dom...' Letty said lightly, trying to pull him away a bit. He leaned back and looked down at her. She placed her forehead against his. 'I have to go with social services for a little while, but I swear I'll be back. I swear.' She couldn't look at him. It hurt her too much. It was like being stabbed over and over.
'Leticia, now!' Breech said in a loud firm voice. Letty frowned and got up, leaving Dom on his knees. Finally he too got up, his face pained. Letty began walking down the hall and then suddenly stopped. She turned to look at him. He looked so lost. And something in her just went off.
She ran back down the hall toward him and jumped up into his arms. He caught her, though he didn't know what was going on until her lips found his. He closed his eyes as she began to suck on his upper lip, her hands massaging the back of his head. She felt his hands begin to massage her legs, as he pulled her deeper into the kiss, his tongue slipping into her mouth, finding hers and then stroking it. Letty felt that it was pure bliss and unadulterated hell. Letty felt like crying and laughing at the same time. Just being with Dom, jumbled her feelings until she didn't know which way was up.
Finally she broke away from him and leant her forehead against his, looking him right in the eye.
'I promise we'll do this more often.' Letty said, sliding down from his body. He seemed to want to protest, but Letty knew she had to go. Besides, though her heart was screaming for her to declare her undying love for him, it also told her that he was hurting right now, and that he probably wasn't sure of anything right now. Letty decided she would tell him later, when he wasn't hurting so much.
She broke away from him and walked down the hall toward a scowling Breech, who was muttering 'In my day...' and 'Youth!'. All that Letty could think about was how she'd just kissed Dom in front of the entire police station. And she'd do it again. And that made her smile.
********************************************************************** Very long chapter.. But very VERY important.. Hope you all enjoyed, and remember to keep reviewing! This chapter is dedicated to all my diligent little reviewers! *Sniff* You all make me so happy... So yeah, please keep reading and reviewing! Becuz that's why I write! Love ya'll! ~*~ S.T.O.K.E.S ~*~
Thanks to China, DomLetty4eva, Minnie Letty, letty girl 101, devil-child, Jrodriguez, Alex Diesel, VinsGirl123, hope, homegirl, greenglasschassis, Fez and Chookstar! Keep reading, I love you guys!
Stokes x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x
'Thanks a lot Tor.' Letty said sitting down on the bed and looking over at the strange lamp. Torynn smiled and leaned against the doorframe.
'No problem.' She said watching her friend. 'You need anything, my room's downstairs to your left.'
'Torynn, venga aquí y como su cena!' Martina, Torynn's older sister yelled from downstairs. Tori shook her head and turned to yell back.
'I'M NOT HUNGRY!' she yelled back, and Letty smiled.
'You get down here right now, pequeño Diablo, or I'll tell Papi!' Martina shouted. Tori sighed.
'You gonna be okay up here?' she asked. Letty nodded, and Tori turned and closed the door. Letty let out a huge sigh and fell back on her bed. How did she get here?
She'd walked for miles down the streets, her hair messy, her feet bare and her cheeks stained with tears. She'd walked for what seemed like forever, before Tony found her, wandering the market alone. He'd been picking up groceries and when he saw her, he nearly had a heart attack.
They'd talked nearly the entire night. And even then she hadn't given up hope on Dom. Mia came home and went straight her room, not even looking at Letty, and still Letty didn't chase her. She still cared for Dom. If he came home that night, she'd know he cared for her. But he didn't. At two a.m. Tony finally said she had to go get some rest. She told him she wanted to leave, that staying with them was wonderful and painful at the same time. She wanted to live somewhere else. She had to or it would kill her.
'I'll send you to one of your friend's houses. Just think about it Leticia.' Tony said, rubbing his neck, obviously under a lot of strain. Here he had a daughter who was heart broken, Letty who wanted to leave desperately, and a son who was god knows where. He also had the big race coming up this Saturday, which was bearing down on him all too quickly. So Letty decided she would respect his wishes and simply stay at Nikki's or Torynn's.
She woke up the next morning to hear the frontdoor close. She looked to Dom's alarm clock, which read 4:30 a.m. She slipped out of bed quietly and crept down the stairs, her nerves buzzing at what she was about to find. She peaked around the corner to look into the kitchen, where Dom was standing, leaning over the table, still in his tux, though it looked a bit disheveled. Letty's eyes began to water again, but she blinked the tears back and marched up the stairs.
Five minutes later, she came bounding down the stairs, with a large sports bag with clothes crammed into it and almost dove at her shoes, trying desperately to get out of there as quickly as possible. She was wearing a pair of jeans and a baggy sweatshirt, the kind of clothes she used to wear before Dom messed up her life. She'd managed to lace up her left trainer when she felt movement behind her. She couldn't help turning around and looking at Dom, who was holding a Corona, staring at her, frowning slightly.
'Letty...what are you doing?' he asked in a gruff, deep, throaty voice. Letty looked back to her right sneaker and began lacing it up.
'I don't live here anymore.' She said quietly, though she knew he could hear her. She was about to continue when she heard glass break and felt cold liquid spray her back. She looked up at Dom, who was staring at her, his eyes dark, the Corona now on the floor.
'What are you talking about?' he asked urgently. Letty got up, staring at the floor, averting eye contact.
'I...I don't live here anymore Dom. I can't.' she said, her voice on the verge of breaking. Dammit, she thought, I can't even be mad at him. That's not right. 'This is who I am.' She said motioning to herself. 'Coming here, living here, changing my looks, being with you. It was all a mistake.'
'But it wasn't! Letty I'm sorry, okay? I didn't mean what I said, I didn't mean to hurt you so much!' he said grabbing her arms and shaking her so that she would look up at him. 'I can't lose you.' He said looking at her with the most sincere look she'd ever seen. She frowned, her pride getting the better of her. She broke away from him and picked up her bag.
'You never had me Dom. Not really.' She said trying to keep her voice icy.
'It's not what you think!' he said motioning to his wardrobe. Yeah right, Letty thought, Mailin just happened to undress you so you could come home and knit with her until 4 in the morning? Letty shook her head at him and breathed in deeply.
'I'll be back to get the rest of my stuff later.' She said before turning toward the door and walking to it.
'Letty.' She stopped and turned to look at him. 'Please. Don't go.' He said, his brows creased, and if he were any less a man, he might have cried. Letty grimaced. She didn't want to hurt him. Not really. But this was what she had to do.
'I'm sorry Dom.' She said before opening the door and walking down the front steps out onto the road. She was free again. And yet it felt so awful. But this was what she'd wanted, right?
Letty looked around her new room and silently cursed it. It wasn't big like Dom's room. It wasn't posted with pictures of cars. It didn't smell like the wintry aftershave she'd come to love. It was freezing cold. It was dark. It wasn't her real home.
She wanted so badly to forgive him and run back to him, love him like she wanted to. But her pride wouldn't let her.
Letty sighed and got up walking over to her door and opening it, walking down the stairs and into the Diego kitchen. Seven pairs of eyes automatically swung to her as she entered. Tori got up and walked to Letty's side.
'What's wrong?' she asked, 'Do you need anything?' Letty smiled.
'No, I'm just hungry.' Letty said patting her stomach. Tori smiled and pointed to an empty chair and walked over to the counter and began pulling out plates and glasses. Letty sat across from Torynn's dad, Marco. Tori had a big family. Three sisters, Martina (20), Sydney (11) and Chaka (5). And one brother, Marco Jr (10). Letty didn't know how they all got along, but they seemed to get by.
Martina was a lawyer and their father sold cars at a local dealership. Everyone except for Torynn went to the local Spanish school a few blocks down from their house. Their mother was dead, and the family was almost always fighting and yet at times they seemed so together. The way Letty had always wanted her family to be.
'So, Leticia, you must be excited for summer.' Marco said in a loud, rounded voice, his Spanish accent very obvious. He, Martina and Torynn were the only ones who spoke English and even then, only Torynn and Martina could speak it well. Letty only nodded. Torynn walked over and placed a plate of chicken and potato in front of Letty and then sat next to her.
'Letty.' Little Chaka piped up. 'Dónde vive usted?' she said waving her little fork around. (Where do you live?) Letty grimaced.
'No sé.' Letty replied (I don't know). She began playing with her food, her mind else where, as the Diegos began talking in rapid Spanish about the summer. All Letty could think about right now was Palmdale, Dom speeding toward his father's race, farther and farther away from her.
'Actually I think I'll just go to bed.' Letty said pushing her plate away and getting up. 'I'm not very hungry.' Tori frowned.
'But Lett, it's only nine o'clock! Tony said he'd call you after his race to tell you how it went.' Letty shrugged.
'I'm sure he did fine.' She said as she walked out of the kitchen. She walked lazily up the stairs and fell across her bed, willing herself to fall asleep. About ten minutes later, Letty heard Martina walk into her room next door and turn on her radio. Letty listened as the Canadian pop star sang away, and slowly drifted to sleep.
I remember the days when I was so eager to satisfy you
And be less then I was just to prove I could walk beside you
Now that I've flown away I see you've chosen to stay behind me
And still you curse the day I decided to stay true to myself
~ Nelly Furtado, 'On The Radio'
Letty rolled over and felt a sharp stabbing pain in her stomach. Her eyes squinted open as she heard her stomach rumble, and she sighed. I guess skipping dinner wasn't the smartest thing, Letty thought to herself. She sat up and felt chilled in only her tee shirt and boxers and woolly socks. She shook her head, and pushed her blankets back, looking to the alarm clock. It read seven forty am. Letty frowned and looked out her window, the skies clouded over with gray. Guess its not going to be a particularly good day. She shrugged and got up, stretching, praying Torynn wasn't cooking breakfast otherwise she could look forward to food poisoning as well as a crappy day.
She crept down the stairs and practically tip toed into the kitchen. She saw Martina sitting across from Sydney who was talking so fast, Letty couldn't understand a word she was saying.
'What's up?' Letty asked, noticing how they both immediately stopped talking as she entered. Martina cleared her throat and Sydney got up and scurried out of the room, chancing a backwards glance at Letty.
'Letty, please sit down.' Letty froze. She hated when people said that. It was always a signal that something bad had happened. Whenever she'd been in trouble for fighting, when her mother had done something wrong, when her father died... no, Letty did not like it when people said that.
'What happened?' Letty asked softly as she sat down across from Martina. She sighed and clenched her hands together.
'I don't know how to say this really.' Martina said, her voice trailing a little. 'But Mia Torretto called.' Letty smiled. Mia, probably wants me to come home with them on Monday.
'Did she leave a number?' Letty asked with a sigh. Martina's face grew grave, and Letty frowned. Martina was only twenty and yet she looked years older, her eyebrows set in a frown and creases forming all over her face.
'She's at the police station.' Letty frowned. 'With her brother. There was a car accident.' Letty shook her head, disbelievingly. Flashes of her father's dead body began forming in her head at the word car accident. How could this happen? So soon after...
'Are they alright? Are they hurt?' Letty asked, speaking quickly, almost hysterically. 'They aren't hurt or anything? How's Dom?' She kept throwing questions until Martina raised a hand.
'They are both fine. However the social services worker will be coming to pick you up soon...'
'Social services worker?' Letty repeated, her eyebrows contracting. 'What social service worker?' Martina sighed.
'Letty, what I am saying, is Mr. Torretto is dead.' Letty stared at her, a ringing suddenly filling her ears, but Martina continued. 'You now do not have a legal guardian. Which means, you are going to be taken to an orphanage, where hopefully, someone will adopt you...'
'Dom can take care of me. He's eighteen.' Letty said in an almost breathless voice. Tony was gone. Just like her father. But Letty didn't cry, she just sat across from Martina in shock.
'If he is to take care of you, he'll have to be seen as fit by a judge.' Martina said, folding her arms and trying to read Letty's emotions. 'I'm sorry Letty.'
As if on cue, the doorbell rang. Letty didn't even look up, as Martina sighed and walked to the front door, leaving Letty to stare at an empty chair. Once again her life was being drastically changed.
'Letty?' Torynn asked as she entered wearing her pajamas, Sydney and Marco Jr hiding behind her. When the front door slammed Marco and Sydney ran back to their rooms, but Torynn stayed. Suddenly Martina came back in, a short old woman dressed in brown with short white hair right behind her. Torynn looked at Letty, a confused look on her face.
'Are you ready to go?' the woman in brown asked, bending slightly as if Letty were a tiny child. Letty looked up and shook her head.
'I need to get dressed.' Letty said in an almost monotone voice. The woman nodded, and Martina put on some coffee while Torynn continued to stare. Letty got up and shuffled toward the stairs, but she could hear loud voices in the kitchen speaking Spanish as she changed into her clothes.
'What's going on?' Torynn said loudly, though the social worker couldn't understand her. 'Where is she going?'
'Letty is going to go see if she can get adopted.' Martina said, in a firm voice.
'What?! I don't understand! I thought she was going back to the Torretto's next weekend! I thought they were just taking a ... a break!' Torynn said, her voice still loud enough so that Letty could hear.
'Mr. Torretto is dead.' There was silence. Letty crept back down the stairs, fully clothed in a pair of tight jeans and a huge gray brown baggy sweater from Baby G, but she wanted to hear what Tori would say next.
'How?' Torynn asked in a small voice. Martina sighed.
'Racing. Okay Tori? He was racing and he went into the wall! This is why mom never wanted you to be so into cars!' Martina shouted, her voice echoing through the house. Letty could see Marco, Sydney and Chaka all sitting behind a desk listening to their sisters fight.
'Don't talk about mom!' Torynn screamed. 'Don't ever talk about her!' Again there was silence. Letty felt bad for listening. Torynn was very sensitive about her mother, who had committed suicide two years ago. 'Does Letty have to go?' Tori asked, this time in English, so the Social worker could answer.
'I'm afraid so. She has no family, no legal guardian.' The woman asked in a raspy deep voice. Letty shut her eyes, as if she wanted to wake up from a horrible dream.
'But what about Dominic?! He could take care of her! He's old enough!' Torynn said, as if desperate. Letty couldn't stand anymore. She suddenly bound down the stairs and stopped in front of the table.
'I want to go now.' She said looking at Tori. Tori opened her mouth to say something but Martina shook her head violently. Letty sighed. 'I want to go.' The woman nodded and got up, handing her mug to Martina.
'Thank you for your hospitality.' She said shortly before leading Letty to the front door and then to her beat up old Chevy. Letty got in and the smell of Febreeze and cats filled her nostrils. The woman got in and started the car, the engine emitting a sickening rattle.
'First we're going to take you to the police station, so that the Torrettos and the police know that we've collected you.' She said as they pulled onto a main road. Letty nodded, but it was more for herself than for the woman. 'I am Mrs. Breech, and I'm going to make sure you will be alright.' Letty nodded again. 'Now we will only be stopping for a few minutes, and then we will leave, clear?' Nod.
They pulled up in front of the station, and all Letty could think about was what Dom would be like. He loved his father so much, practically worshiped him. How would he take his father's death?
Letty walked behind Mrs. Breech as they continued down a bunch of cubicle offices, phones ringing, people tacking things up, people shouting. Letty grimaced. This must be hell for Dom and Mia. Such a chaotic scene, not good when someone has lost someone so precious. They rounded a corner and Letty saw someone with long black hair and tears streaming down her face.
'MIA!' Letty yelled as she practically pushed Breech out of the way. Mia looked up, her eyes wide, her lower lip quivering as she sobbed loudly. Letty ran forward and grabbed Mia and hugged her tightly. She felt Mia hug her back, crying uncontrollably. 'Shhh... Mi, don't cry...' Letty whispered, remembering Dom saying things like that to her. It hadn't helped but it did sort of calm her down. Letty patted her head and finally pulled away.
'...I saw him, Letty... I saw...' Mia cried, grabbing Letty again, sobbing. Letty frowned and patted her.
'It'll be okay, Mi... It'll get better... I promise...' Letty said softly, pulling away and looking around. Mia wiped her cheeks. Where the fuck was Dom?
'Miss Torretto we're ready to see you now.' An officer said, motioning for her to enter his office. She was about to go when Letty lightly grabbed her arm. She turned, her eyes still wide and brimming with tears.
'Where's Dom?' Letty asked, not wanting to upset Mia. But she couldn't help it. Mia gulped the air and nodded toward the hallway. Dom was pacing, looking downward. Letty nodded and let go. 'You'll be okay Mia. I promise, remember!' Mia was lead into the office and the door closed.
'We need to leave soon.' Breech said, her arms crossed, trying to look politely onto the scene. Letty nodded.
'Just a few more minutes.' She said walking toward the hallway. Dom had his back to Letty and she was trying to think of what to say. What could she possibly say? She was so bad at being sympathetic. But she shook herself. Dom needed her now, and he hadn't hesitated when she needed him.
As if he'd known all along, he suddenly turned and came face to face with her. They simply stood there for a few moments. All sound was gone, replaced by the same ringing Letty had heard after she was told Tony was dead. They stared at each other until finally Letty came a bit closer.
'I'm sorry Dom.' She said looking up into his deep brown eyes, usually so loving and soulful, now so cold and dead. She went on when he didn't move. 'I wish it wasn't... I'm so sorry.' Letty felt a few tears escape her eyes. She looked down, too ashamed to look him the eye. She was the one crying but it was his father who'd died. Then suddenly she felt two large arms encircle her and next thing she knew Dom was holding her tightly in his arms. Her arms crept up his back and she felt his head dip into the crook of her neck.
'He's gone Lett.'
'I know.' She answered him, pulling him even closer.
'He was alone when it happened.' Dom said, in his deep voice, though now it was very lifeless. 'He was screaming...' Letty had to fight back more tears. This was killing him. And her. 'He was alone...'
'You're not. I'm here.' She brushed the back of his bare neck, trying to soothe him. She felt him shudder.
'They're going to take you away.' He said low in his voice, so his whole body shook. Letty grimaced.
'I'm here now.' She said trying to offer any comfort she could. Her answer had not been enough obviously, because Dom dropped to his knees, pulling her down with him. They were kneeling in front of each other, Dom clutching her closely, murmuring 'Don't leave me again.'. Letty rubbed small circles on his back, wishing she could say she wouldn't, that there was no way in hell she'd ever leave him again.
'It'll be okay...' Letty cooed, snuggling into his body. 'I won't leave if you won't.'
'I won't... never...' he shook with his emotions, not able to form words anymore. Letty kissed his shoulder, offering more reassurances. They were kneeling for what seemed like forever, when Letty felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up, Dom's face still buried in her shoulder.
'We need to leave now.' Mrs. Breech said, before walking back to the cubicle offices. Letty glared at her. What kind of unfeeling bitch...
'Dom...' Letty said lightly, trying to pull him away a bit. He leaned back and looked down at her. She placed her forehead against his. 'I have to go with social services for a little while, but I swear I'll be back. I swear.' She couldn't look at him. It hurt her too much. It was like being stabbed over and over.
'Leticia, now!' Breech said in a loud firm voice. Letty frowned and got up, leaving Dom on his knees. Finally he too got up, his face pained. Letty began walking down the hall and then suddenly stopped. She turned to look at him. He looked so lost. And something in her just went off.
She ran back down the hall toward him and jumped up into his arms. He caught her, though he didn't know what was going on until her lips found his. He closed his eyes as she began to suck on his upper lip, her hands massaging the back of his head. She felt his hands begin to massage her legs, as he pulled her deeper into the kiss, his tongue slipping into her mouth, finding hers and then stroking it. Letty felt that it was pure bliss and unadulterated hell. Letty felt like crying and laughing at the same time. Just being with Dom, jumbled her feelings until she didn't know which way was up.
Finally she broke away from him and leant her forehead against his, looking him right in the eye.
'I promise we'll do this more often.' Letty said, sliding down from his body. He seemed to want to protest, but Letty knew she had to go. Besides, though her heart was screaming for her to declare her undying love for him, it also told her that he was hurting right now, and that he probably wasn't sure of anything right now. Letty decided she would tell him later, when he wasn't hurting so much.
She broke away from him and walked down the hall toward a scowling Breech, who was muttering 'In my day...' and 'Youth!'. All that Letty could think about was how she'd just kissed Dom in front of the entire police station. And she'd do it again. And that made her smile.
********************************************************************** Very long chapter.. But very VERY important.. Hope you all enjoyed, and remember to keep reviewing! This chapter is dedicated to all my diligent little reviewers! *Sniff* You all make me so happy... So yeah, please keep reading and reviewing! Becuz that's why I write! Love ya'll! ~*~ S.T.O.K.E.S ~*~
Thanks to China, DomLetty4eva, Minnie Letty, letty girl 101, devil-child, Jrodriguez, Alex Diesel, VinsGirl123, hope, homegirl, greenglasschassis, Fez and Chookstar! Keep reading, I love you guys!
Stokes x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x
