Mellie: Yup you aren't the only one hehe. Even I agree with the Dom/Letty
forever-ness. they are just so right together. well the movie characters my
Dom is coming off like a three year old.
Chapter 2
I sat on the small-protected area near the front door. On the steps, sucking the amber remanence from my second beer, alternating between putting it on my face and trying to drown the emotions inside.
No one had come near me since the garage. Well Mia had to clean up my face and treat it with stuff that made me feel like it was about to sting it's way right off my face. She was good at it. Patching me up, giving you this impersonal look that said she had absolutely no interest and what caused all your bruises and battle scars. Even If I knew that she did.
She was so good I think she should get into it professionally. She had the grades. She deserved to be a 'profession' like an actually having to go to college and study, getting-paid-a-salary kinda wage. She could be a great nurse. No. A Doctor. Mia wouldn't be a nurse if she thought that's what I expected her to be. She could be a doctor. I knew it. When she didn't want to rip my heart out with a spoon I'd mention it to her.
I tipped my beer bottle upside down when I tried to drain it once more and found it drained already. That meant I'd have to make the walk of shame through the house, where Jesse would peer startled, and afraid I was going to insult him from the living room, and Mia would avoid eye contact and pretend she didn't see or hear me rummaging through the fridge. Then I'd have to go back to have the lounge room treatment one more time.
My shoulders and spine stiffened suddenly and I kept my head bent towards the bottle of empty beer, as I saw Leon's beat up magna pull up on the kerb. I didn't move. I didn't have to this was my house. Said so in dad's will, which I always kept in my front pocket just in case there was a settlement dispute of course.
He stopped a few steps in front of me, and I eyed the pack of beer under his arm, wondering where an eighteen and just barely year old had managed to get a pack from in this law-abiding neighbourhood. I sat stiffly pretending I didn't notice he was there. didn't notice the man that had so easily caught me off guard and destroyed my face, and my somewhat cocky opinion of myself, was going to do.
I wasn't scared of him. I hadn't been scared of anyone in a long, long time. Well. I was scared of myself, quiet a lot lately, but of someone else. not really. But I was wary, wondering if maybe Vince had brought the case as payment for him coming and killing me. I knew Vince would be to sentimental to try and kill me. Well so far, I hadn't done enough to whip him into a rage.
"Mia wanted me to come and apologize about that shit in the garage. play nice and shit and hope you'd lemme keep my job. Then she figured we could bond over a six pack and you could tell me what the fuck your problem is, because Vince don't wanna talk to you and Jesse's scared to death of you." He told me neutrally. I knew Jesse was scared of me but it was quiet another thing to hear a weak-kneed little bitch who cared more about what some girl, okay my persuasive - in a way I didn't even want to consider yet - sister, told him to, in the hopes of keeping a job. Pride was worth more then anything. Lompoc 101.
"But I ain't saying any of that shit. Frankly, you deserved to get pummelled, you should be apologizing to every person in that garage, 'specially the one's you pretend are your friends, while having to turn your back to bitch them out. I think you're a coward and a selfish prick that can't control his jealousy over what shit I don't even know but, you do get hella lot of issues." Leon frowned. He wasn't quaking in his boots as I'd thoughts seconds ago, he was still angry, probably ready to sock me again. I had to respect his stand, always put pride before all. I give he'd already been taught that.
"So you gonna give me a beer or you wanna smack me around some more? Cause I'm ready for you this time junior." I said holding my hand out for a beer. If he wanted to take it and shake it well. I wasn't going to punch him in the face. What he did was another matter. And I couldn't begin to hazard a guess at what he'd do. I respected that. I didn't like that I got punched in the face, but I KNEW if it hadn't been me to insult Letty like a dumb dick, I'd have done the same thing as him. but I don't know how easy I'd have let up. Had more control then me too. Respected that.
I allowed myself a small smirk of relief, as Leon gladly fumbled at a beer bottle all to willing to hand it to me without getting in my face again. Perhaps I wasn't the pathetic, un-intimidating bastard I had been just thinking myself. The kid had taken me on but obviously didn't want to do it again. That was a good sign for me.
I moved across to the side of the steps, and darted my eye's beside me. one step down, offering him a seat, wondering if he'd take it. Kinda hoping he wouldn't. I was hoping I was still intimidating enough to scare a barely eighteen-year-old enough not to want to sit in close proximity to me.
He took the offer though.
He'd played this game before.
Interesting.
We sat in silence a few minutes each drinking our beers trying to figure out what to say to this afternoon's adversary. not that I put up much in the way of a fight. We both were dieing to ask the obvious questions but he surprised and even slightly amused me by waiting it out, drinking to our silence calmly. More patience then most eighteen-year-olds.
"So where did that right hook come from?" I finally muttered, rubbing my jaw ideally against the beer bottle. The silence stayed a few minutes after I asked the question and I wondered if he'd heard me.
"Jiu Jitsu, among other things." Leon said slowly. "Been training since I was a kid; Seven or so." He scratched his jaw ideally.
"Jiu. crap." No wonder, little martial arts master to my left. How I had missed this I wasn't sure but I was kicking myself for it.
"So why aren't you roaming the street's threatening to kick un-worthy ass in your spare time?" I demanded, if I was eighteen, with 11 years martial arts training behind me. and I was so supremely confident that I could knock a man twice my size on his ass, as he had seemed to be this afternoon, why wouldn't you let the power go to your head?
" 'Cause I've been on probation for the last 2 years." He muttered into his beer bottle sucking the very last drop down his throat quickly to hide the heavy sigh I swear I heard him utter.
"For what?" I questioned a little more claim now that I could at least understand where he was coming from. And I was realizing he wasn't dumb. Another thing I respected. He had enough brains to be scared as hell of going to jail. Sounded good enough to me, I wouldn't be telling him to blow the law anytime soon.
"Put my pop in hospital when I was 16." He muttered his jaw tightening as he reached for another beer.
"He'd done it to you a few times, you figured turn and turn about but you got busted?" I hazarded a guess. Seen it before. The abuse from scummy fathers. Vince actually. 'Cept he had been 9, and his father had beat him into un-consciousness, then left for the bar.
I dragged him the 6 blocks from his place to the hospital by myself. All I could think was that he was dead, that he was going to die and I'd have to find a new best friend. That I would now get blamed for all the tricks we used to pull. What was the point of prank and scatter if you were the only one scattering?
Dad had been real good about it though. Let me take time off in school to go visit him when he woke up, and then let him come and stay with us. Vince stayed with us until we were both sixteen, then he moved out by himself, and moved back in two years later when I went to Lompoc.
Leon was nodding and I finally noticed some real emotion on his face. He had a nervous tick going wild in his jaw, and it was all he could do not to burst into a tirade I could see. "Yeah.. Something like that." He muttered not expanding on it. But then again who wanted to revisit that kind of situation.
"So I could report that fist fight we got into this afternoon and you'd be in jail by tomorrow morning?" I questioned without threat.
"Yeah. but who's gonna, believe or care what a violent ex-con has to say, especially when you're the one that beat up that guy." He was attacking, he felt backed into a corner I could tell that's why I let that comment slide. this once.
"So I don't need to expect any kind of outbursts like that again?" I asked finishing my fourth beer of the night.
"Long as you don't pull a stunt like you did this afternoon I'll keep a lid on it." He bartered right back. I liked that, pretending he wasn't intimidated.
"Yeah. Exactly. Leon wouldn't do something like that normally. He's a passivist aren't you Leon?" Mia said from behind us causing both of us to jump. We both turned to see her smiling proudly at Leon, assuming the mission she'd sent him on had been completed.
I wasn't about to burst her bubble.
"Yeah Mia. I don't even like violence." Leon rolled his eye's and a chuckled slightly. So he still had enough testosterone to show off to the girls. My little sister. HEY!
Mia smiled slightly herself passing a all to quick look over me as she mumbled, "Dinners ready." And walked inside.
Okay, I was safe from getting attacked in my own home, at least until Vince showed up, but I was somehow getting the feeling Mia and I weren't alright. I don't know it was just like a sixth sense or something. I'd help her wash up tonight. where she was a captive audience. I'd apologise and try to make her see why I allowed myself to act like a Jealous three year old.
After dinner.
Chapter 2
I sat on the small-protected area near the front door. On the steps, sucking the amber remanence from my second beer, alternating between putting it on my face and trying to drown the emotions inside.
No one had come near me since the garage. Well Mia had to clean up my face and treat it with stuff that made me feel like it was about to sting it's way right off my face. She was good at it. Patching me up, giving you this impersonal look that said she had absolutely no interest and what caused all your bruises and battle scars. Even If I knew that she did.
She was so good I think she should get into it professionally. She had the grades. She deserved to be a 'profession' like an actually having to go to college and study, getting-paid-a-salary kinda wage. She could be a great nurse. No. A Doctor. Mia wouldn't be a nurse if she thought that's what I expected her to be. She could be a doctor. I knew it. When she didn't want to rip my heart out with a spoon I'd mention it to her.
I tipped my beer bottle upside down when I tried to drain it once more and found it drained already. That meant I'd have to make the walk of shame through the house, where Jesse would peer startled, and afraid I was going to insult him from the living room, and Mia would avoid eye contact and pretend she didn't see or hear me rummaging through the fridge. Then I'd have to go back to have the lounge room treatment one more time.
My shoulders and spine stiffened suddenly and I kept my head bent towards the bottle of empty beer, as I saw Leon's beat up magna pull up on the kerb. I didn't move. I didn't have to this was my house. Said so in dad's will, which I always kept in my front pocket just in case there was a settlement dispute of course.
He stopped a few steps in front of me, and I eyed the pack of beer under his arm, wondering where an eighteen and just barely year old had managed to get a pack from in this law-abiding neighbourhood. I sat stiffly pretending I didn't notice he was there. didn't notice the man that had so easily caught me off guard and destroyed my face, and my somewhat cocky opinion of myself, was going to do.
I wasn't scared of him. I hadn't been scared of anyone in a long, long time. Well. I was scared of myself, quiet a lot lately, but of someone else. not really. But I was wary, wondering if maybe Vince had brought the case as payment for him coming and killing me. I knew Vince would be to sentimental to try and kill me. Well so far, I hadn't done enough to whip him into a rage.
"Mia wanted me to come and apologize about that shit in the garage. play nice and shit and hope you'd lemme keep my job. Then she figured we could bond over a six pack and you could tell me what the fuck your problem is, because Vince don't wanna talk to you and Jesse's scared to death of you." He told me neutrally. I knew Jesse was scared of me but it was quiet another thing to hear a weak-kneed little bitch who cared more about what some girl, okay my persuasive - in a way I didn't even want to consider yet - sister, told him to, in the hopes of keeping a job. Pride was worth more then anything. Lompoc 101.
"But I ain't saying any of that shit. Frankly, you deserved to get pummelled, you should be apologizing to every person in that garage, 'specially the one's you pretend are your friends, while having to turn your back to bitch them out. I think you're a coward and a selfish prick that can't control his jealousy over what shit I don't even know but, you do get hella lot of issues." Leon frowned. He wasn't quaking in his boots as I'd thoughts seconds ago, he was still angry, probably ready to sock me again. I had to respect his stand, always put pride before all. I give he'd already been taught that.
"So you gonna give me a beer or you wanna smack me around some more? Cause I'm ready for you this time junior." I said holding my hand out for a beer. If he wanted to take it and shake it well. I wasn't going to punch him in the face. What he did was another matter. And I couldn't begin to hazard a guess at what he'd do. I respected that. I didn't like that I got punched in the face, but I KNEW if it hadn't been me to insult Letty like a dumb dick, I'd have done the same thing as him. but I don't know how easy I'd have let up. Had more control then me too. Respected that.
I allowed myself a small smirk of relief, as Leon gladly fumbled at a beer bottle all to willing to hand it to me without getting in my face again. Perhaps I wasn't the pathetic, un-intimidating bastard I had been just thinking myself. The kid had taken me on but obviously didn't want to do it again. That was a good sign for me.
I moved across to the side of the steps, and darted my eye's beside me. one step down, offering him a seat, wondering if he'd take it. Kinda hoping he wouldn't. I was hoping I was still intimidating enough to scare a barely eighteen-year-old enough not to want to sit in close proximity to me.
He took the offer though.
He'd played this game before.
Interesting.
We sat in silence a few minutes each drinking our beers trying to figure out what to say to this afternoon's adversary. not that I put up much in the way of a fight. We both were dieing to ask the obvious questions but he surprised and even slightly amused me by waiting it out, drinking to our silence calmly. More patience then most eighteen-year-olds.
"So where did that right hook come from?" I finally muttered, rubbing my jaw ideally against the beer bottle. The silence stayed a few minutes after I asked the question and I wondered if he'd heard me.
"Jiu Jitsu, among other things." Leon said slowly. "Been training since I was a kid; Seven or so." He scratched his jaw ideally.
"Jiu. crap." No wonder, little martial arts master to my left. How I had missed this I wasn't sure but I was kicking myself for it.
"So why aren't you roaming the street's threatening to kick un-worthy ass in your spare time?" I demanded, if I was eighteen, with 11 years martial arts training behind me. and I was so supremely confident that I could knock a man twice my size on his ass, as he had seemed to be this afternoon, why wouldn't you let the power go to your head?
" 'Cause I've been on probation for the last 2 years." He muttered into his beer bottle sucking the very last drop down his throat quickly to hide the heavy sigh I swear I heard him utter.
"For what?" I questioned a little more claim now that I could at least understand where he was coming from. And I was realizing he wasn't dumb. Another thing I respected. He had enough brains to be scared as hell of going to jail. Sounded good enough to me, I wouldn't be telling him to blow the law anytime soon.
"Put my pop in hospital when I was 16." He muttered his jaw tightening as he reached for another beer.
"He'd done it to you a few times, you figured turn and turn about but you got busted?" I hazarded a guess. Seen it before. The abuse from scummy fathers. Vince actually. 'Cept he had been 9, and his father had beat him into un-consciousness, then left for the bar.
I dragged him the 6 blocks from his place to the hospital by myself. All I could think was that he was dead, that he was going to die and I'd have to find a new best friend. That I would now get blamed for all the tricks we used to pull. What was the point of prank and scatter if you were the only one scattering?
Dad had been real good about it though. Let me take time off in school to go visit him when he woke up, and then let him come and stay with us. Vince stayed with us until we were both sixteen, then he moved out by himself, and moved back in two years later when I went to Lompoc.
Leon was nodding and I finally noticed some real emotion on his face. He had a nervous tick going wild in his jaw, and it was all he could do not to burst into a tirade I could see. "Yeah.. Something like that." He muttered not expanding on it. But then again who wanted to revisit that kind of situation.
"So I could report that fist fight we got into this afternoon and you'd be in jail by tomorrow morning?" I questioned without threat.
"Yeah. but who's gonna, believe or care what a violent ex-con has to say, especially when you're the one that beat up that guy." He was attacking, he felt backed into a corner I could tell that's why I let that comment slide. this once.
"So I don't need to expect any kind of outbursts like that again?" I asked finishing my fourth beer of the night.
"Long as you don't pull a stunt like you did this afternoon I'll keep a lid on it." He bartered right back. I liked that, pretending he wasn't intimidated.
"Yeah. Exactly. Leon wouldn't do something like that normally. He's a passivist aren't you Leon?" Mia said from behind us causing both of us to jump. We both turned to see her smiling proudly at Leon, assuming the mission she'd sent him on had been completed.
I wasn't about to burst her bubble.
"Yeah Mia. I don't even like violence." Leon rolled his eye's and a chuckled slightly. So he still had enough testosterone to show off to the girls. My little sister. HEY!
Mia smiled slightly herself passing a all to quick look over me as she mumbled, "Dinners ready." And walked inside.
Okay, I was safe from getting attacked in my own home, at least until Vince showed up, but I was somehow getting the feeling Mia and I weren't alright. I don't know it was just like a sixth sense or something. I'd help her wash up tonight. where she was a captive audience. I'd apologise and try to make her see why I allowed myself to act like a Jealous three year old.
After dinner.
