THIRD PERSON'S POV>>>

The team sat anxiously around the house, waiting for Alexa to arrive. The Social Services guy was running late, and it was grating on Dom's nerves. He couldn't wait to see her again, seeing as it had been about 4 years now. She used to come over a lot with her family, until her mom died in a car accident. Then her dad became distant with the family and they hadn't talked much. Dom now knew why, and it pissed him off.

"They're here!" Mia announced happily, jumping to her feet when a black BMW pulled into the driveway.

The whole team filed out to the porch and waited as she grabbed a big duffle bag from the back, got some papers from the man driving, and walked towards them slowly as the car pulled out.

"Hey Lex!" Mia broke the silence first and ran to her and gave her a big hug.

"Hi Mia," Alexa said quietly. She was happy to see her cousins and their friends again, but nervous at the same time.

Mia was all smiles when she pulled away and Dom gave her a big hug next. "Good to see you again Lex," he said softly.

"You too"

"And I'm sorry I didn't know. If I had known Uncle Lucas was drinking like that, I woulda got you out," he whispered, so only she could hear.

"It's ok"

"No it's not," he whispered before pulling back. "But you're here now, and everything's ok."

She nodded and he took her bag while she reacquainted herself with everyone. That left her looking curiously at Brian.

"Lex, this is Brian. He lives here too...he's Mia's boy friend," Dom explained, adding the last part hesitantly. Mia and Brian had been taking things slowly since Brian came back after the tuck incident. Everyone had to start over, and they were doing ok.

"Good to meet ya," Brian said with his usual good-nature, and shook her hand.

"You too," Alex sais with a small smile. It wasn't a whole-hearted smile.

"Come on, let's get your stuff in your room and then we'll get something for lunch," Dom broke the silence that had fallen and led her up to her room before they ate.

"Hey Jon," I greeted as I walked into the kitchen after school.

"Sup J?" he asked, around a mouth full of a sandwich.

"Not much...what ya got?"

"Ham and cheese"

"Mmm," I grabbed it and took a bite before handing it back to him.

"Hey!"

"What you gonna do about it, little bro?" I teased, knowing full well it would bug him.

"Hah! Little? I may be younger, but I am in no way you're 'little' brother," he laughed at me and finished his sandwich while he flicked through a magazine.

I chuckled and went to my room to change. Jon was right. He was just barely 16, but he surely wasn't my little brother. He was about 6'2", and 195 pounds. He went over well with the lady's too, having a nice body from weight lifting and sports. He was just a sophomore, but was a starting lineman on the Varsity football team. Yep, by little brother was playing with the big boys. I loved him to death. He had light brown hair and baby blue eyes, and was the sweetest guy. He was funny and totally lovable if you were on his good side. I think every girl should have a crush on him, cuz he's gonna make some girl really happy one day. We're real tight too, which I'm glad of. He's the person who knows me best, and sometimes I think he knows me too much.

I changed and went into the bathroom, smiling at the thought of Job being little. He'd been bigger than me for a long time. I looked in the mirror and it was true. I was about 5'7" and 137 pounds. Nice and tan from hanging out outside a lot, and I was real proud of my body. I was in good shape but I was extremely happy to say that, unlike most girls at my school, it wasn't from dieting and practically starving myself. I worked hard for my body, and was happy with the results of it. I was nice, tone and fit. My hair, unlike Jon's, was dirty blonde. I had it cut short so that it just tucked behind my ear, and the back was cut so that it flipped out. I loved it. It barely took any time at all to do in the morning, and it looked good on me. I'd recently added dark lowlights to it, and they looked pretty cool.

"J! Get out of the bathroom, I gotta pee!" Jon yelled through the door, hitting it once for an emphasis.

"Why don't you use the other one?"

"Joyce is in there, come on!"

"Yea, yea," I opened the door and gave him a big hug. "See you later tonight."

"Aiight, do good, sorry I can't be there"

"No biggy"

"Ok, go make me proud," he said dramatically, and then dashed into the bathroom and closed the door.

I laughed and threw on some black tear-away pants before leaving the house.

I jogged across the street and up the front steps to the Toretto house. I didn't have tons of time, but I'd promised to stop by.

"Hey Jairyn," Jesse greeted, throwing open the door seconds after I knocked.

"Hey Jess," I smiled. I absolutely loved Jesse. He was a great guy.

He smiled and gave me a big hug as I stepped in. I know him the best out of everyone at the house, putting Mia at a close second.

"Hey," Dom called from the kitchen and waved us in.

"Sup?"

"Not much. Jairyn, I'd like you to meet Alexa; Alexa this is Jairyn"

I looked in the room and my eyes fell on the girl sitting quietly next to him. Yea, she was shy. One look at her and you could tell. She was probably around my height, maybe a littler shorter, and maybe 120 pounds, give or take. She had the same complection as Mia, and had dark green eyes and dark brown hair that was pulled back into a loose pony tail. She looked down at her hands for a little bit, and it was obvious she wasn't gonna say something first.

"Sup girl?"

"Nothin..."

"Fun... so, guess we're neighbors now, huh?"

"Looks like it"

"K...what do you like to do for fun?"

"I dunno..."

"Sports?"

"Used to cheerlead, but I guess that's already started so I won't this year"

"I can probably ask around and get you on the squad"

She looked up and looked happy for a minute, but the look passed to be replaced by nervousness. "No, you don't have to"

"Nah, if you want to then it's no big deal"

"No, really. Don't bother"

"Why not? Good way to meet new people...course some of the girls are total airheads...but that's beside the point. Bet you're good" I kicked myself mentally for getting off topic and mentioning cheerleaders and airheads in the same sentence. Most of cheerleaders didn't like that.

"Eh..." she shrugged and blushed a little.

"Why not Lex?" Dom asked, looking down at her.

"I'll think about it I guess"

"K, let me know?" I asked hopefully. Cheerleading would probably be good for her. She'd meet knew people, some of whom were really nice and fun, and everyone wants to get to know a cheerleader.

"Yea..."

"So, J, any advice? Like...what teachers to watch out for?" Mia asked with a smile.

"Mrs. Jamison, if you have her. She's just...I don't know. She favors guys and likes to find reasons to give girls bad grades. She's crazy"

"K...any kids I should look out for?" She asked nervously.

"Oh, I don't know. Depends I suppose...worried about what people will think?" I leaned up against the wall and watched her fidget a little.

"Yea, guess so..."

"Then my advice is to just not worry about it. I'll be honest, there's a lot of fake people at school. Lot of people who'll walk on just to think they're cool. If people don't like you; fuck them. Excuse my language...but it's true. People are gonna think what they think no matter what you do or say, so you might as well be you," I told her honestly. She should've have to be worried about what people think.

"Yea, I know, but...it's hard every since..." she stopped and looked down, obviously not meaning to have said something.

I looked at the others for an answer, but no one seemed to want to elaborate for a while.

"Her mom died about 4 years ago...things haven't been easy," Dom explained quietly.

"Oh...yea, I know how you feel"

"Do you?" Vince asked. He didn't mean it in a mean way, more of a curious one, but I got instinctively defensive.

"Vince!" Mia whispered harshly and glared at him. Jesse hit him on the back of the head.

"Yea, my mom died from cancer about 6 years ago," I answered quietly, just wanting to leave.

"Oh...sorry..." he sighed and looked like he felt stupid for saying something.

"Yea...well, look, I should get going. I got a game and all...see you at school Lex," I nodded to her and turned to leave.

"Yea.."

"Oh! One more thing. Try not to talk to Krista Evans. She's a bitch. Ignore anything she says and don't take it to heart, she's nice to about 2 people. So yea...see ya later." I left through the front door, not really because I had to hurry back to the school but because I hated talking about my mom. That was pretty much the hardest thing I'd had to go through, and I tried not to talk about it. I almost wanted to cry. Almost.

"Nice Vince," I heard Dom say sarcastically before I shut the door

She fooled, all of her friends into thinking she's so strong

But she still sleeps with the light on

And she acts like it's all right on

As she smiles again

And her mother lies there sick with cancer

And her friends don't understand her

She's a question without answers,

Who feels like falling apart...

This is a Call, by Thousand Foot Krutch

R and R