J walked into the house and all the memories came back to her. The fights, the movies, the dinners, the parties, the lonely days, being sick, being drunk, sleeping on the couch, wrestling on the floor; J smiled to herself when she remembered when Vince bet Jesse that Letty could beat J in wrestling. They moved out the TV and couch and Letty and J went at it. It turned out that Letty really was a better wrestler. J walked through the living room and into the kitchen.
She stopped in the door when she saw Dom sitting at the head of the table, drinking a Corona. She smiled and walked in, sitting at her old chair. Dom looked at her and smiled.
"Hey." He said.
"Hey." J responded. There was an eerie silence; the only noise that could be heard was the music and chatting coming from the living room. "Listen Dom, I really don't know how to explain why I left, I just did. It's not a good excuse, I know, but I was so confused. I came back to the house and I got all my stuff and I just drove. I drove until I couldn't drive anymore; I ended up in Miami. I got a job and I basically kept myself hidden from the world unless I had to work. I didn't meet up with Brian until about a month after I got there. I met Rome, Suki, Tej, and Jimmy and we all got along great. Rome and I dated for a while, but we were too close. And now we're here.
"I know deep down you want to yell at me for running off and I really don't blame you. I needed a break from all the drama, really. Everything that was going down was way too much, and I know I shoulda told you, but hey...I panicked." She trailed off, looking at the white wall, waiting for Dom to say something.
"Well, if that's as good as it's going to get, then whatever." Dom stood up and started walking into the living room. The truth was, in Dom's head, that he wanted to kiss her. He wanted to kiss her until he couldn't kiss her anymore. But he wasn't going to do that, he couldn't. Even if Jezzie was going to stick around, he knew she'd end up being Leon's girl again. J's head snapped up and she turned around.
"Say what?" She said. Dom stopped and turned around.
"If that's as far as you can explain, then ok. I don't really care, I just wanted to know why." J's face turned red, she was angry.
"You are an asshole Dominic Toretto. I should have never come back." She stood up and pushed past him, running through the living room and running out of the house. She ignored the looks from both teams, and from the other losers in the house. She didn't care about what anyone thought. She ran to her car and got in. She didn't start it up right away, but she sat there, thinking. She felt tears come to her eyes and she cursed herself.
"Crying over Dominic Toretto, that's a great story." She rolled her eyes and started the car. But she didn't move. "Come on Jez, its not that hard. Just move. Leave. What are you waiting for? For him to run out of the house after you? Fat chance, its Dom you're talking about." She sighed and pulled onto the street. She didn't turn around, but it took her everything not to. Something screamed at her to look, but she kept driving. It was a mistake for her to come back, a mistake that made her leave.
"You screwed up again!" Mia yelled at Dom as they stood on the lawn, watching J drive off. Dom threw up his hands.
"I know Mia, Damn! My best friend left and know she comes back and I treat her like shit. Damn it, I know I screwed up. What do you want me to say?" Mia hit his arm, he grabbed his arm and his mouth formed into 'ow' of both surprise and hurt.
"You are such an idiot Dom. I cannot believe you are my brother. My brother wouldn't be standing here watching her drive away. My brother would be getting in his dumb ass car and driving after her!" Dom looked at Mia.
"I can't." He turned to walk back into the house but Mia grabbed his arm, and with strength he didn't know she had, yanked him back.
"You listen to me Dominic Toretto." She pointed down the street, the way J drove off. "She has known you for 10 years! She has given you 10 years of her friendship, yet you never knew she wanted more. Not only did she look up to you and want your approval, she loved you. She loved you more than Letty or any skank could ever dream of. And you've thrown it all away. Why? Because she bolted, she was scared. Some lunatic was fucking stalking her AND Leon and she didn't want that for you all." Dom glared at Mia.
"How the fuck do you know?" He screamed through clenched teeth.
"Because I'm not an idiot. I talked to Jez, before she left, she told me how she felt. Jesus Dom, open your eyes!" Dom shook his head.
"They are open. And all I see is a girl who's been my best friend for 10 years and she bolts without an explanation why, leaving no trace of her, except for one picture and memories. We needed her Mia! Goddammit! WE FUCKING NEEDED HER!" Dom turned and stalked back into the house, slamming the door shut and pounding his way up to his room.
Mia stared after her brother, her mouth hung open, and she was shocked beyond words. She knew he was right, but she also knew he loved her. Mia closed her mouth and ran a hand through her hair, tears falling down her cheeks. She sat down on the stonewall and put her head in her hands, letting the tears fall.
Mia's POV
Why did everything have to be so hard? Why did everyone have to fight? Why did Dom have to say those words? Why couldn't he just forgive her and let her know how he feels? Why couldn't he be nice for one day? I know that Dom has been hurting since Jez left, but which of us hasn't? She touched our lives in ways nobody thought possible. She brought joy, sadness, tears, fights, fears, fun, laughter... and love. She was back and then she was gone just like before. But something was different about her. I could tell. She was hiding something.
No One's POV
He saw it all happen, he hadn't smiled like this in 3 months, but he was happy. He never thought he would be proud of Dom, but he was. Jeff wiped the smile off his face and walked over to Mia. He sat down next to her, but a few feet away so she wouldn't freak out. She looked up and over at him. She quickly started wiping her face. She could barely see the guy, but she felt like she knew him, so she wasn't frightened.
"Oh, hi." She said. Jeff gave a smile of sympathy.
"Are you ok? I can leave, if you want." Mia shook her head.
"No, it's ok. I'm not ok, but there's nothing really that can be done about it. It's one of those things in life that you have to accept and move on. Not everybody is going to get along." She said, frowning. Jeff nodded.
"Unfortunately, that's true. It's just a way of life. Try as you might, some people just aren't meant to be together." Jeff looked up as his friend Romel pulled up to the curb and honked. He turned back to Mia. "I hope you'll be ok. There's no need for a pretty girl like you to be crying." He smiled and she laughed.
"Thanks. I actually feel a little better already." She waved at him as he got in his the car and they drove off. She couldn't help but think he was familiar. There was something about his voice that sent shivers up her spine. She shrugged, stood up, and went back into the house.
J sat on her bed, her legs pulled up to her chest, tears streaming down her cheeks. No matter how much she willed herself not to cry, the tears kept on coming. She didn't know why Dom was being such an asshole; he'd never said anything like that to her. Sure, they had their share of fights, but that hurt.
She heard the front door open and close and then the sound of feet running up the stairs. A minute later Suki burst through J's door, a look of compassion on her face. J pulled her legs away from her chest and opened her arms. Suki rushed to her friend and they held each other.
"Oh, J. All I heard was you calling him an asshole. It must have been horrible. Are you all right? Oh J, you can talk to me." Suki pulled away and looked at J. She looked a mess.
"I sorta told him why I left and he said 'well if that's it then ok.' and I just got so pissed." Fresh tears rolled down her face and Suki pulled her close again, kneeling on the bed.
"Oh J. Forget him. Dom's an ass if he let a girl like you go. Just forget about him. Move on. There are sooo many other guys in this town." Suki pulled away again and smiled. J rolled her eyes and smiled.
"I guess. But damn, I knew he was an asshole, but I never realized he was that big of a big asshole!" Suki sat down on the edge of the bed and the two girls laughed.
"Personally, he screams asshole, but I guess that's just me." Suki shrugged as the front door opened, and a minute later, slammed shut. By then Rome and Brian were already in J's doorway, staring in at the two girls.
"Come to cheer me up?" J said, flashing a big smile. Brian and Rome stepped into the room, holding up their pillows and blankets.
"We thought maybe there was a slumber party going on." Brian said shyly. J and Suki laughed.
"Come on in!" J said. Brian and Rome walked into her room, jumping on her bed. Rome sat behind her, letting her lean back against his chest.
"You ok?" He asked as he ran his hand through her hair. She nodded.
"Yeah. I'll be fine." J said, relaxing. Rome chuckled.
"I wonder how many times you've said that in the last 24 hours." J reached back and hit his stomach.
"Shut up you." She said, laughing. Monica, Tej and Jimmy walked into her room and smiled.
"Well, here we were, thinking you were crying yourself to sleep pumpkin, but here you are, all cuddled up wit ya boy and having fun!" Tej said; arms crossed across his chest. J pouted.
"Awww, I'm sorry Tej. I didn't mean to alarm you." Tej smiled and sat next to Suki.
"Yeah yeah yeah. Just don't let it happen again." He warned. J held her hands up in defeat.
"Never again daddy. I'll be a good little girl." She said in a little girls voice. The team laughed.
They all ended up falling asleep in her room a few hours later, around 2:30 in the morning. J was leaning on Rome's stomach; Brian was laying the length of the bed next to Rome's feet, which probably weren't very nice. Suki and Tej were at the end of the bed, laying in each other arms. Monica and Jimmy had gathered blankets and pillows and were on the floor in various places.
The team was awoken at 1100 when the front door rang. Suki didn't open her eyes but elbowed Tej. He grunted and stretched, and ended up falling off the bed, almost landing on Jimmy. His left arm smacked Jimmy and woke him up. Jimmy sat up with a start.
"Dude, what the serious fuck?" He said, blinking. He looked down at Tej who was sitting up.
"Chill out bro, it's just me." Tej said, standing up. Jimmy smirked.
"Is that supposed to soothe me?" He said sarcastically. Suki laughed and rolled on her back, looking up at Tej.
"He got cha!" She said, pointing and laughing at him. Tej chuckled but gave her a look and she shut up. Tej turned and stepped over Monica's sleeping body and walked out of the room. He walked down the hallway and the down the stairs as the doorbell rang again.
"I'm coming!" Tej yelled. He muttered something about 'nobady's patient anymore' as he opened the door. He was greeted by sunlight. He covered his eyes. "Yo?" He said.
"Did I wake you?" The strong deep voice came. Tej scowled as he recognized the voice.
"What you want partner? Come to give mah home girl some more shit?" Tej said rudely as his eyes adjusted. He could see Dom standing outside the door, a hurt look on his face.
"I came to apologize." He said. Tej shook his head.
"Nu uh, no way bro. You ain't coming near my girl. You may have good intentions but the last thing that she wants to see is yo dumb ass--"
"Dom?" J said as she walked down the stairs. Tej turned around.
"Not now J! I wasn't done telling him off!" J smiled at Tej and stepped up next to him, and then she looked at Dom.
"It's alright Tej. I'll talk to him." J opened the screen door to step outside.