Chapter 14: Cars and Dinner
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It turned out Mia was right about the store and July found everything she needed. The short drive had helped but she still needed to chill for a bit. She had also bought a small portable stereo and set it up next to the tub. She flipped through her CDs after she had turned the water on, letting the tub fill. Having trouble deciding which one to listen to, she simply put in one of her mixed CDs and pressed play. The song "Bleed" by Cold filled the room as she took off her clothes and slipped into the bathtub. She shut her mind down and let the music fill her head.

After the water had started to turn cold, July slipped out of the tub, pulling the plug and letting the water take her tension with it as it swirled down the drain. She returned to her room, setting down the portable player next to her bed. She dressed in a black spaghetti strapped shirt and a pair of cotton shorts.

Looking at the clock she saw it was only around 4. It was still too early to eat and she wasn't hungry anyways. She sat on her bed, wondering what to do when her eyes landing on her old drawings and she thought of the cars.

The garage.

She still had yet to look in there. Slipping on her sneaker, she headed downstairs and took the hallway towards the back, easily locating the door at the end of the hall on the right.

July opened the door and stepped into a pitch-black room. She fumbled with her hand to find a switch and flicked it on, letting out a gasp at what she saw. A 1968 Chevy Nova, painted a dark blue, and next to it was a 1991 Toyota Soarer, presumably imported in from Japan. A closer look proved that because the steering wheel was on the 'wrong' side of the car. She guess Arnold hadn't been joking when he had said her father had been into cars. The Soarer was painted a midnight blue but you could see the pearls used in the paint, a brighter blue and a purple mix. It looked like the night itself. A classic muscle car and an imported beauty.

July was in heaven.

If only they ran I could take them for a spin now, she thought with a sigh of disappointment.

The garage was bigger than it appeared. There was a large workbench and big drawers that she was sure were filled with every tool she could ever need. There was equipment everywhere; a couple of jacks, an air compressor, and various other things. She had everything she needed to fix them except for parts.

With that thought in mind, she ran to the kitchen and returned to the garage with a pen and paper in hand. Putting them on the workbench, she opened each hood and poked around, checking various parts. Wiping her hands on a rag she found near by, she grabbed the pen and paper and started jotting things down: spark plugs, oil, coolant, hoses, batteries, brake fluid; the list was endless.

After almost filling a whole page, using one side for each car, she was done listing all the parts she needed and some that she wanted. All she needed now was a place to buy them.

Walking back into the living room she noticed it was already after seven and her stomach gave an audible growl. She went into the kitchen and made some pasta for dinner. She lounged in the living room, eating her bowl of pasta and watching some music videos but by nine, her eyes were getting heavy and she fought to keep them open.

Shutting off the television with the remote, she blindly made her way up to her room. She gave a harsh laugh at calling it her room. Last week she didn't even know about it and now she was already claiming it. She continued on her way nevertheless, fumbling on the stairs as she forced her exhausted body to move.

Once July made it to her room, she cracked open the alcove window, allowing a light breeze to enter. She walked over to the canopy bed and got in. Somewhere in the recess of her mind she knew that it all felt familiar, too familiar, but she was too tired to care. She fell asleep with the thought of the new cars in her mind and all the work she had ahead.

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A few hours after July had left the store, Mia closed up her books and began the routine of shutting down the store. When she arrived home, she washed up and began making dinner, as the team was going to be home soon.

An hour later the noise of car engines signaled the arrival of the team. They all came through the door and sat down at the table, dressed in their dirty clothes, looking at Mia hungrily.

"Oh, you guys are extra dirty today, go wash your hands at least, they're filthy," she ordered.

"Come on Mia, we're hungry!" Vince protested, even as Dom and Brian got up.

"I realize that Vince, but I'm not having a bunch of dirty monkeys sitting at my table and getting it dirty. You're lucky I'm just asking you to go wash your hands and not making you take a shower, now go, or everyone is going to get to eat before you do."

Vince grumbled a few choice words that no one could make out but himself and he followed the other boys down stairs to use the bathroom.

"You tell him Mia," Letty teased, who was washing her hands in the sink in the kitchen.

Mia gave a laugh and began to set everything on the table. Her and Letty sat down and waited for everyone else, who all turned up shortly. After a quick grace, everyone reached in and soon the food was devoured. Everyone ate their fill and chatted with each other. Once it had become quiet again Mia cleared her throat.

"I've got something to tell you guys," she said.

"What is it?" Dom asked, giving Brian a look. Brian just shrugged, looking lost.

"We've got a new neighbor and I invited her over for the barbeque on Friday."

"You invited a complete stranger over to have dinner here?" Dom asked, irritation was heard in his voice.

"Yeah, we don't need another Spilner. No offense Brian," Letty said and Brian nodded at her telling her he understood what she meant; he didn't want anyone coming in and breaking up the family he just put back together either.

"Look, she's new here. She moved into the empty house next door. She didn't even know where to find shampoo and you think she's a cop?" Mia asked, defending July.

"Mia we don't know anything about her, that's the point," Dom said.

"Look, just give her a chance. I've got a good feeling about her," Mia commented, but one look at Dom said he was still against it. "Please Dom, just let her come over and if anyone has a problem with her I won't have her come over again. Please…" Mia asked him and gave him a pleading look. Soon enough she saw him cave.

"Fine, but if Vince," Dom said looking at Vince and he nodded, "or anyone thinks something is up with the chick, it's over," Dom said knowing that if Vince thought the girl was off then it was true. Dom felt dumb for not realizing that Brian was a cop when Vince did and now respected his judgment more; but in a way he was glad he hadn't realized Brian was a cop because he had gained a good friend and Dom knew he could trust Brian with Mia.

"Thanks Dom," Mia squealed, getting up and hugging him.

"Yeah yeah yeah. So what's her name?"

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tbc…