Chapter 3

Party Time

Finally Eve and Vince got to the house. The team and Jake were outside waiting for them. Jake went up to Eve. "You get out alright?"

"No problem J."

Leon put his arm around her shoulders and started walking toward the house. "I can't believe you bought our house."

"It's my house too. At least it was."

"It'll always be your house baby-girl."

She smiled at him. He had always called her 'baby–girl.' She assumed it was because she was the baby of the family. "Only Jake and I live here so there's still plenty of room for you guys."

"Great! Now lets Party! You do have Corona don't you?"

"I'm insulted Leon. After growing up with you guys do you really think I'd have anything else?"

"That's my girl."

They went inside. Eve led them through the crowd to the kitchen. Eve's crew was there waiting for her. "Took ya long enough."

"Shut up Danny."

As she walked to the fridge she went past Jamie and took her beer. "Hey!"

"True or false Jamie, you are 20, not 21?

"True."

"That's what I thought."

She drank Jamie's beer and got more from the fridge for the others.

Jesse went to Sam. "You wanna dance?"

"Sure."

They turned to leave. Eve stopped them. "Hey Jesse, if you two are gonna end up half way naked and making out could you take it upstairs instead of the middle of the living room like usual?"

"I'll see what I can do."

Sam gave Eve a look as if to ask if she was serious. She nodded. Sam didn't seem to mind. In fact, she was intrigued.

The others left the kitchen to mingle with their old friends.

Some racer skank was following Leon around. He was trying to lose her, but couldn't. Kelly saw his frustration. She walked over to him and kissed him, then turned to the skank. "Beat it bimbo."

She gave Kelly an evil glare and left.

"Thanks"

"No problem"

"It's Kelly right?"

"Yep. And you are?"

"Leon"

"You wanna dance Leon?"

"Sure." They danced together for hours next to Jesse and Sam.

Mia and Brian went up to Mia's room to hang out alone.

Dom and Letty just sat around downstairs. Letty was talking with some old friends, but Dom was watching Eve. She was just walking around, with Jake not far behind, but he couldn't stop watching her. He had missed her so much. He hated what happened between them. They had been so close when they were little. If only things could've been the way they were back then.

Eve went upstairs to her room. Jake started to follow her, but she told him to stay and enjoy the party. She laid down and closed her eyes, trying to remember the good times she had in that room. It had been Vince's room. It still smelled like him. She loved his scent. Sometimes she'd close her eyes and breath it, and would almost feel like he was there with her.

"Should've known you'd take my room."

She quickly turned to see Vince standing in the doorway. "You can have it back. I'll get my stuff out tomorrow."

"Don't. We can share it." He sat on the end of the bed and pulled her onto his lap so she was straddling him. "Just like we used to."

"We never shared this room V. I snuck in here every now and then when I knew my brother was asleep or occupied by Letty."

"Close enough."

He leaned in to kiss her, but she stopped him. "Don't Vince."

"Why not? I know you missed me."

"Yeah, I did."

"Then what's the problem?"

"You're very drunk."

"So?"

"I can't. Not like this."

She got off his lap and he laid back. After a few minutes he was asleep. She took off his shirt and pants, leaving him in only his boxers. Then she tucked him into bed. She just stared at him for a moment, thinking of everything that had happened between them. She leaned down and kissed his forehead, then quietly left the room and went back downstairs. She went to the stereo and turned off the music. "Party's over people. Get the hell outta my house."

"Come on Eve!"

"I have to work tomorrow. Go. Goodbye. See ya. Get out."

Everyone complained, but left.

Jesse and Sam were making out on the couch, and Leon and Kelly were making out on a chair. Eve smacked Leon and Jesse's legs. "Take it upstairs boys."

"Are our rooms occupied?"

"Nah, their all yours."

Leon got up and carried Kelly upstairs with Jesse and Sam right behind them.

Eve went into the kitchen and saw Jake with his head down on the table, asleep. "Jake, wake up."

He opened his eyes a little. "Is the party over?"

"Yeah"

"I'll help you clean up."

"Don't worry about it. I got it. Go to bed."

He very reluctantly went upstairs. She started cleaning up. A few minutes later Dom came in. "What room is Jake in?"

"Mine"

"Where do you sleep?"

"Vince's room."

"Why?"

"Because… it's bigger."

"Oh."

They were both silent. Dom started helping her clean up. Finally Eve spoke. "So where's Letty?"

"Asleep upstairs."

"Wow. I didn't think you two could be separated. When you weren't biting each other's heads off you were attached at the hip. No wait, it was a little lower than that wasn't it?"

Dom couldn't believe she had said that. "Well you've definitely changed. You never used to say shit like that."

"Yeah well, you try livin' without your family for 3 years an see how you turn out."

"You chose to leave."

"Because you were tryin' to control me."

"I just wanted you to have a good life."

"I had a good life Dom! Damn it, I had a great life! I loved the way things were, but it was never good enough for you! I was never good enough for you!"

"That's not true!"

"I tried to be perfect for you Dom, I really did, but I couldn't be."

"I never wanted you to be perfect."

"Yes you did. You may not have said it out loud, but you did. You were asking me to give up everything I loved and I couldn't do that. I hated leaving all you, but it was the only way I could live my life my way, so I did it."

She wanted to just crawl into his arms and cry as she used to when she was sad, but she couldn't. She wouldn't. She wouldn't show her pain. She wouldn't become weak. She was afraid if she started crying she'd never stop.

He could see that she was hurting, though she was trying hard to hide it. He slowly walked up to her and gave her a tight, brotherly hug. This time she returned it. "I'm sorry Eve."

"I know. Just promise me you'll never do it again.

"I promise."

"Good. Now help me clean up."

They started cleaning up again.

"You know, that was some pretty sweet driving at the race Eve."

"I always told ya I'd beat ya."

"Oh please, I was just a little off from seeing you again."

"You want another shot?"

"I could beat you blindfolded."

"You are so…"

They both stopped and busted out laughing.

"It's good to know some things never change."