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Chapter 8:

Dom gets some in The Art of Persuasion…

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*Mia's POV*

I'd tried my best; I'd really done all that I could think of. Vince went in and out, each time closing the door and shaking his head. No one could get to Dominic. He wouldn't come out to eat, he just sat on his bed and stared at this old picture he kept of him and Melanie. It was the one where we'd gone to the beach, and someone just caught this sweet picture of them snuggling as if there was no one else in the world to care about. To Dom, I guess there really wasn't anyone left anymore. It was like he'd just isolated himself from everyone, and nothing could be said or done to fix my broken-hearted brother.

Maybe I could tear that picture away from him and show it to Mel at school tomorrow. Maybe that could jog her memory…I'd have to try, for everyone's own sake, including mine. Mel was like a second sister to Letty and me, she was perfect for Vince and Leon, since she could be just as immature as either of them, and as for Jesse, they had all of these inside jokes and things together, she really was a sister to him.

But the most important thing would be to get her back to Dominic.

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*Natsuko's POV*

I walked into my journalism class to be greeted by a quiet classroom. All around Toretto's girl were people speaking in hushed whispers and watching Melanie's every move. I grinned as I thought of the crash that had occurred not too long ago. Poor dear, she'd lost all of her memory, just like that.

I'd heard from some race whores that Dom wouldn't talk to anyone, that he was too hurt from losing his precious angel to amnesia. I laughed merrily on the inside as I put on a very practiced kind face and strolled up to Melanie, taking a quick glance at what she'd do as I sat down.

I'd expected some reaction, but I took in her shocked look as I pulled her into a hug and faked a couple of tears. "Oh, Mel, are you okay? I just heard about the accident, I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you when it happened. Are you alright?" I questioned.

Her look of shock mellowed out until she was smiling a goofy grin. She stroked her injured arm and said to me, "I'm sorry, but my memory isn't exactly what it used to be. Who are you again?"

I smiled sweetly before answering, and I pulled out some digitally altered pictures in which the two of us were seen 'hanging out' with some of my own friends. "Aw, you don't remember your best-friend, Natsu? Here, look. We went to the beach a little while ago, see? That's you, and there're Chris, Jade, Trinity, the whole gang really."

She peeked through the small pile of photos and shook her head. "No, sorry, I don't remember. Not yet, anyway. You seem like someone I'd be friends with, I'm sure the memories will all come flooding back in time." Her face split into a small smirk, and she got quiet as our teacher walked in.

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*Mel's POV*

I leaned in to hug Natsu as she finished her story in tears. "I can't believe that he'd do that to you, and pretend he loved me just so that he could…" I trailed off, not wanting to finish.

Natsu had just told me about what Dominic Toretto and his 'team' had done to Johnny, Natsu's boyfriend. I was disgusted to think that Dom was so messed up that he'd pretend he was a friend just to get to me. He was sick.

Natsu sniffed as she continued, "I know…I'm so sorry this had to happen, but, he has always been 'in love' with you. Ha! What does he know about love when he took mine away? We should get him back, don't you think, Mel-chan?" She asked, looking curiously at me. I had to admit, whatever she was thinking was kind of interesting, and so I consented and listened to her plan. At first, she called in her own race team, Team Vengeance. I looked at all of the members, Trinity, Heather, Chris, Tempest, CiCi, and Lance, Johnny's cousin as they sat on the couch opposite the one Natsu and I were sharing, and paid attention.

"Dominic Toretto is 'in love' with our Melanie. However, he tries all of the stupidest ways to try and get her in his bed, and he doesn't come close to deserving our dearest friend, right?" Natsu waited as the rest nodded. She went on. "So it's clear that the best way to get our revenge is to play with him and tease him, isn't it?" Another round of nodding heads- no one ever defied Natsuneko Lee. "So here's what we do: first, we're all going to go to the races, but we won't actually race. We'll just watch. Then, we'll send Mel to Dom's house, and she has to go alone- if we go, he'll know that something is up. Anyway, Mel, you'll start to cry and you'll pretend that you remember him, you know, the way he used to 'hold and make you feel so wonderful.' When he takes you upstairs, don't let him take you. Play with him a little bit, then ask for a massage, and after a little while, pretend to fall asleep. Tease him, and then leave in the middle of the night. Then, never allow him to touch you again. How's that for a plan?" She stared at everyone for a response.

I thought for a moment, considering the plan. It could be dangerous, for sure. Dominic was a big, as in very strong and intimidating, man.

I raised my voice to state the problem. "What if he, you know, what if he gets upset? What if he…hits me? I don't want to get hurt, Natsu."

She gave an exasperated sigh and looked at me, a little annoyed. "Please, Mel. That idiot wouldn't raise a hand against you! Dominic Toretto wouldn't hit a woman, no matter how evil he is to his own sex. All you have to do is seduce him and then fall asleep. Will you do it?"

That was true, the last time I'd seen him (flipping out in the hospital) he was considerably sweet around his sister and that other girl. I gave in. "I'll do it."

I was in.

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I sat on the hood of Chris's car at the races, uncomfortable with his constant staring in my direction. He was creepy. Jade was his girlfriend, but he kept trying to get close to me. I thought of the day I'd gone over with all of my things to live at Natsu's house, and Chris had come up to me immediately and started rubbing my back, and hugging me longer than was necessary. Natsu had calmly gone over to him and pushed him back, saying, "No, Chris, not yet…" It had bugged me the way she'd said it, but Natsu was my friend, she couldn't have meant anything sinister by it.

Now, as I sat trying to pull my ultra-short skirt to a somewhat more modest look, I turned to see what everyone was going 'ooh' and 'ah' about. It was a formation of five cars with a bright red Mazda RX-7 at the front. There was a decal on each car that had the letters DT on it. So this was the Toretto Team in action…

I saw Dom step out of the Mazda and hi five a short bald man, and then another even shorter black man. I walked up until I was standing a foot or so away from the trio. Waiting for Dom to catch me, to catch the bait.

Just as I anticipated, he turned and saw me, and a mixture of surprise and pain came at me from his eyes. Rather amazing eyes, for that matter.

I wrung my hands nervously as I watched him, acting, as though I was unsure of what to do. Finally, I walked away after giving him a sorry look. I think he was about to cry. I felt a jolt of hurt in my heart when I noticed how upset he was. Then, I threw my act into gear, freezing as thought I'd forgotten- or remembered- something.

I pressured tears into my eyes and turned to Dom, who was still following my retreating back. I took quick steps until I was at his side, my hand touching his caramel colored arm. He really did have perfect skin…

I looked into his eyes while I kept on 'crying'. "Dom…" I whimpered, begging for him to hold me. He wrapped his strong arms around me. I gasped at how safe I felt in them.

"Melanie…you remember me now?" He whispered into my ear, leaving a tiny trail of soft kisses along my ear.

"I missed you, Dommy…" It was a stretch, but maybe 'Dommy' might work even better. It did- he nuzzled into my neck, kissing as though he had the right to while he moved down.

He actually acted as if he were in love with me.

I squeezed him as hard as I could and pulled back with a kittenish look in my eyes. "Can I be your trophy again, please?"

He laughed, a deep, gravelly, chortle as he held my hand and led me over to his own team. "You always were before, princess!"

Of course, when we got to his team's set of cars, the people were nowhere in sight, and so he leaned back against the RX 7. "I guess they all disappeared, huh, baby?" He was moving closer and closer, and he finally kissed me on the lips, probing for more as he kissed harder.

After about 5 minutes of lip-action, he was pulled away by the bald, Latino man and went off to race, looking at me as he walked backwards. I laughed as he almost tripped over some girl's skanky boots.

Another few minutes later, and he was swaggering back to me, eyes glinting. He'd won, and he showed off, handing a huge wad of money to his sister and swinging me up in the air, proclaiming, "My trophy…"

Giggling at being raised so high in the air, I kissed him on the cheek and then looked around for Team V, huddled in a dark corner of the block, watching my actions.

Out of nowhere, a guy yelled about cops coming, and we ran for it, me swinging into the passenger seat of Dom's car.

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At the party, I snuggled into Dom's embrace as we sat enfolded into a comfortable armchair. He was playing around, kissing me here and there, obviously enjoying my skimpy outfit (which, for the record, I hated). I was wearing a short black miniskirt that exceeded all laws of matter and managed to cover and sow off my ass and thighs at the same time. My shirt was also black with a thin string going around my neck. In the back, only half of my back was covered. I was showing off more skin than I would have liked to, and the odd scar still showed in a few places, although it was well covered with makeup and such.

In any case, the scars didn't keep Dominic from toying with my hair- moving it around and placing a peck at whatever he uncovered- and my skin, which he was tickling lightly. All in all, he was clearly overjoyed to be 'back' with me. I was having some fun as well, for that matter…

I checked the clock to see that it was almost 1 AM. I had to put my plan into action if I was going to get anything done, so I stood up and pulled him up with me. He smirked like he knew what was going to happen and murmured, "You wanna go upstairs, baby?"

Faking a grin, I replied, "Yeah, it's getting late. I think you should go up and give me a massage, Dominic…" I let his name flow from my mouth, emphasizing the hard 'C' at the end. A huge smile crossed his face and dazzled me, and he dragged me up the stairs behind him, pushing me into a bedroom at the end of the hall and shutting the door behind him.

"Wait right here, love, I'll go get the oil and stuff, okay?" He sounded so eager to be with me…

Nodding, I watched him go through a door to the bathroom and then I lay stomach down on the bed. He came over, spilling a few drops of floral smelling oil into his hands and sat next to me, kneading his hands into my back. I started to close my eyes when something caught the edge of my eye.

What did it mean? I wondered as I allowed myself to fall asleep under the gentle pressure of Dom's hands. My mind fell blank at what I had seen, confused by all of the events of the previous few weeks, right up until what was happening now.

Before I gave into the unconsciousness of sleep, one thought crossed my mind.

Who am I, really?

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Dun Dun Dun!! Mel saw something and fell asleep! What did she see and why did it have such an impact on her? Find out in…Chapter 9! (Hehe, no one will know the name of the ninth episode! Muaha!)