Mia didn't get any sleep that night. The next morning she decided to do something she never thought she would do, call one of Johnny's ex-girlfriend. She knew his last girlfriend pretty well. She was a pretty blonde who was a year older than Mia. Her name was Angel and she lived just a few blocks away from Mia so it wasn't any trouble getting there. Mia got dressed and ran downstairs. She left a note on the counter to tell the guys and Letty that she was going for a walk, there were leftovers in the fridge for breakfast and she would be back later.
It didn't take Mia long to find Angel's house. What Johnny had said the night before had really freaked her out so she had ran just about all the way there. When she rang the doorbell she sighed in relief when the skinny blonde opened the door.
"Hello?," she said as she looked at Mia with a puzzled look on her face.
"Hi. I'm Mia Torretto. My brother is Dominic Torretto...," Mia began before the girl smiled and opened the door a little wider.
"Dom's sister? Does you coming here have anything to do with Johnny?," the girl asked. Mia was a little shocked at first that the girl would know that right away but then everyone new how Johnny felt about Dom after Dom and Cami.
"Umm...yeah...so you know about everything that happened with Dom and Cami then?," Mia asked. The girl just laughed and nodded.
"Everybody knows what happened with Dom and Cami. Before Dom left Johnny threatened to kill him in front of everybody, including Letty," Angel said, "come in. There is no one else here so you can tell me what you want."
Mia walked into the house and made her way over to a couch in the corner.
"I'm just kind of freaked out. I was walking home from Letty's a few nights ago and Johnny stopped to talk to me. He was drunk so I thought that was why but then he winked at me in the mall and I wasn't really worried then but then he called me at home and last night he was outside my house when I was alone. He grabbed my arm and made me touch his..."Mia started before Angel interrupted her.
"You think Johnny will rape you?," Angel asked. Mia nodded.
"Okay...look, Mia, Johnny might hit you, he may even kill you but he's not gonna rape you. He's too afraid of his father to get into too much trouble. His father is the only person who can control him besides Cami. Johnny won't go after you...in a very bad way. If he did hurt you it would be to get back at Dom. I think if he's following you then you're most likely not the person he's trying to get to. Think about it, he wants to hurt Dom so whatever he does he's going to do to Letty or Vince," Angel said. Mia looked confused.
"If he wants to hurt Dom why wouldn't he come after me?," Mia asked.
"Because Dom slept with Cami. Johnny won't just settle with hurting you. It's not enough. He has something big planned. If I were you I'd tell someone about what's been going on but anyway, I have to go," Angel stood up and walked Mia over to the door. Mia stepped out and turned around to face Angel.
"Thanks," Mia said before running down the stairs and walking back towards her house. As soon as she got back to the house she went straight to the kitchen and started washing the dishes leftover from breakfast. Mia jumped when the phone rang and let it ring a few times before she answered it.
"Hello?," she whispered. The response was one she definitely did not expect.
"Mia? Hi, it's Cami," the Asian girl replied. Mia was surprised to hear Cami's voice on the phone.
"Uh...hi Cami. What do you need?," Mia asked.
"I was just thinking that maybe you could tell Dom something for me," Cami said.
"Umm...sure...what do you want me to tell him?," Mia asked.
"Tell him that I miss him and that I'm terribly sorry about everything that has happened," Cami replied.
"Okay. I'll tell him. Thanks," Mia said, "is that all you needed?" Mia heard Cami tell someone in the background who she was talking to before Cami replied.
"Well, almost, I know we have never been the best of friend's but I was wandering if you might like to come to my seventeenth birthday party Friday night. You can even bring Letty if you want to. It's going to be a huge party at my house. I will understand if you guys don't want to come but it would be nice if you could," Cami said. Mia was surprised by Cami's question. She was being invited to Cami Tran's birthday party.
"Cami, I'm just not sure. I don't know if Dom would want me to do that," Mia said as she sat down at the kitchen table. She heard Cami's high-pitched laughter.
"Mia, Dom's in Lompoc. How's he going to know? You can just tell Vince and them that you are spending the night at a friend's house . We could be friend's, you know? Come on your only young once. Come have some fun," Cami replied. Mia thought about it for a second. She was usually the one who was always staying out of trouble. Dom always went out and done whatever he wanted. Everyone had fun besides her and anyway, what could happen with Cami's parents around?
"I'll be there," Mia said. Cami gave Mia the address and they hung up. Mia wrote another note to Letty and the guys to tell them she was going to the mall. She walked quickly to the mall and started searching for a nice gift for Cami. After about an hour she finally settled on a black choker and a Playboy necklace. She had just picked up the necklace when she heard voices behind her.
"I heard that Dominic Torretto went crazy with that wrench. He almost beat the guy to death. It was horrible. That young man deserves to get life instead of just a couple years," an older woman said to another one in the next aisle. Mia's hands clenched into tight fists as she fought back the tears as the two women continued talking about he brother like he was some kind of psychotic killer. She stood and listened for about ten minutes before she felt the tears flowing down over her cheeks. She ran out of the store, ignoring the sound of the alarm as she ran out of the store and the mall with Cami's gifts in her hands. Mia ran all the way to the garage where her dad and Dom kept "their car" and she climbed into the car and curled up into a little ball as she let the tears fall down off her cheek onto the seat. No one would ever forget. Why couldn't they all just forget?
Mia didn't know how long she had slept but when she awoke it was darker in the garage then it had been when she fell asleep. She climbed out of the car and walked out of the garage. It was already dark so she had to hurry and get home. The guys and Letty were probably all worried about her. The wind on her bare arms made her shiver as she hurriedly walked home. When she walked into the back door Letty was sitting in a chair in the middle of the doorway that led into the other room. She smiled at Mia as she stood up.
"Where have you been, Mi?," Letty asked.
"I was at the mall and then I decided to get something to eat. Sorry. I had no idea what time it was," Mia lied. She could tell by the look on Letty's face that she knew it was a lie but she moved out of the way anyway.
"Just try to get in a little earlier from now on. Dom will kill all of us if anything happens to you," Letty said. Mia smiled and hugged her.
"Goodnight, Let," Mia said. She ran up the stairs to her room and shut the door behind her.
Friday morning Mia ran downstairs early to fix breakfast for the guys. She wanted to make it good just in case they found out that she was going to Cami's tonight. Maybe they would remember that she wasn't always getting into trouble. In fact, she usually wasn't. She had told them that she was going to a friend's house. They hadn't asked for any more information. They just told her to call when she got there so that they knew she was okay. The guys and Letty were going to another street race. Jessie was really interested in getting involved but the night before he had brought up the idea with Letty and she completely freaked out but then Mia could completely understand that. The last thing that Dom needed to get involved with when he got out of Lompoc was something illegal.
After she finished fixing coffee and some waffles she sat down and started eating one herself. Vince walked in and yawned as he poured himself some coffee.
"Good morning, Mi," Vince said as he grabbed a waffle and sat down beside her," what do you and your friend have planned for tonight?" Mia reached over and grabbed Vince's cup of coffee. She took a small sip as Vince started laughing.
"Well at least your not drinking beer...your not, right?," Vince asked with a troubled expression on his face. Mia giggled.
"No. I'm not drinking beer and it's my friend's birthday," Mia said as she took another bite of her waffle. Letty, Leon and Jessie walked in grabbing some waffles and three coronas out of the fridge. Mia smiled at them as they sat down.
"Are you guys ready to work on that Honda?," Vince asked. Letty laughed.
"Come on, Vince. Johnny Tran's dad wants us to fix that up for Johnny. We should REALLY fix it up," Letty said. Everybody at the table laughed except Mia. Johnny's dad was crazy enough to take that car to their garage? Vince shook his head and took another sip of his coffee.
"He's gonna give us ten thousand dollars. Dom would kill us if we turned that down," Vince said and Mia almost choked on her waffle, which only made Letty laugh even more.
"You okay, Mi," Letty asked with a mischievous smile playing across her face. Mia ignored the laughter in Letty's voice.
"Yeah, Let, I'm fine," Mia said. Before standing up and heading for the stairs, "I have to go get ready for tonight. See you guys tomorrow." Mia ran upstairs to her room and went into to the bathroom to take a long, hot shower.
After her shower Mia walked back into her room and started going through her closet for something to wear. She picked out a short, spaghetti strapped black dress with daisies all over it, some black sandals and a locket that Dom had gotten her for her thirteenth birthday.
Mia spent the rest of her Friday cleaning the house and around six o'clock she started making her way over to Cami's house. Cami's house was huge. Her dad was one of the richest men in L.A. Mia walked up to the front door and rang the doorbell. A young Hispanic woman answered the door.
"You must be here for Miss Tran's party. Follow me," the woman said before turning and leading Mia through the house and back into the dining room where the family was just sitting down for dinner. A lot of Cami's friend's were already sitting at the table but Cami had saved a seat for Mia right beside her and right across from Lance. Johnny was sitting a few seats down from Lance beside a skanky blonde who had her hand under the table. No doubt doing something for Johnny that Mia really did not want to know about. Mia smiled as Cami introduced her to her parents. The meal(s) were huge and Mia couldn't eat half of it but it was pretty good. She had never tasted most of it. After dinner all the girls followed Cami out into the backyard for her party. Cami walked up onto a stage with a microphone and smiled at everyone.
"Thanks to all of you for coming. There will be some boys here soon but they aren't spending the night," Cami winked at the blonde girl and quickly glanced over at Johnny, who was standing beside some glass doors by the pool, "I hope all of you brought bathing suits. If not, Johnny or Lance can give you a ride back home to get one. Mia sighed. Big surprise, Cami would leave out the most important detail. Cami glanced over in Mia's direction.
"Sorry, Mi. I know I forgot to mention that when we talked. Johnny will have to take you back home to get your bathing suit. Lance is going to go pick something up for us," Cami said. Mia glanced over at Johnny and he gestured for her to follow him. Mia reluctantly walked around the pool and followed him around the house to his car. He opened the passenger side door for her and after she gave him a confused look she climbed inside. Johnny walked around and climbed into the driver's side before driving out of his parents circle driveway and driving toward Mia's house.
"If your gonna come see my sister you can call and I'll come pick you up," Johnny said, keeping his eyes on the road. Mia continued to stare out the passenger side window.
"I'd rather walk but thanks anyway," Mia said angrily. She could here Johnny's intake of breath. He quickly pulled off the road into an alley and turned so he was facing her.
"I was trying to be nice," Johnny replied angrily. Mia rolled her eyes and looked at him.
"Look, Johnny, it doesn't matter if your nice. I don't like you," Mia said, staring into his eyes to try and intimidate him so he might drop the subject.
"Damn girl, you don't even know me!" Johnny screamed and opened the driver's side door. Mia opened the passenger side door and stepped out.
"I know enough. I know you hate my brother because he fucked your sister," Mia screamed but almost instantly regretted it when Johnny moved quickly around the car and pushed her against the car. He held her at arm length with his hands on her shoulders and stared down into her eyes angrily.
"Yeah, Mia. That angel of yours did fuck my sister and then he nearly beat a guy to death. Did you see the pictures in the newspaper, Mia? Your brother is insane. The man he beat is lucky to be alive," Johnny screamed before shaking her violently, "wake up, Mia. I'm not the monster here. Dom is." By now the tears were flowing down Mia's cheeks but Johnny expression didn't change. He just released her shoulders. Mia looked up into his eyes.
"Johnny, you don't understand. I don't even think Cami does. My daddy is dead. Linder killed him. Dom isn't as strong as I am. He can't just let things go and if anyone understands that it should be you. It was wrong of him to treat your sister like that, okay? But what he did to Linder wasn't just Dom being an asshole," Mia replied. Johnny sighed and leaned back against a wall.
"you're right. I can't let go of things and I never stop until I get what I want and right now what I want is you," Johnny said. Mia looked at him a little surprised and then looked down at the ground.
"Even if I liked you...which I don't...that's not true," Mia replied. Johnny looked at her confused.
"What makes you think it's not true?" Johnny asked. Mia looked back up into his eyes.
"Because all you're after is revenge on my brother and I talked to one of your ex-girlfriend's and she told me that you would do something bigger than just fuck his sister. She said you would probably go after..." Mia stopped when she realized that she was saying too much. Johnny stepped closer to her again and he stared down into her eyes.
"She said I would probably go after who?" Johnny asked. Mia looked down and refused to answer.
"Okay. Fine. Get in the car, " Johnny said. Mia climbed back into the passenger side as Johnny walked around the car and climbed into the driver's side. They rode the rest of the way to Mia's house in silence. Mia glanced down.
"you're right. I don't know you but I know what I've heard. That you're the king of one night stands. That you've never cared about any girl besides Cami. That your dangerous but even if all of that wasn't true my brother still wouldn't want me to get to know you. I'm not like Cami and those other girls..." Mia started but Johnny interrupted.
"Ever think that maybe that's why I want to know you?" Johnny asked. Mia glanced at him before climbing out of the car and running inside to grab her bathing suit.
When she walked back outside Johnny was talking to a Hispanic guy on the street. Mia ran out and climbed into the passenger side. The guy laughed and leaned down so Mia could see his face. Damn, Hector.
"Mi, what's up? What are you doing hanging out with Tran?" Hector asked. Mia figured she hadn't done anything wrong so she decided to just tell Hector the truth.
"Cami invited me to her birthday party," she replied. Hector nodded and told Johnny bye before walking away. Johnny started the car and they made there way back to the Tran house. They walked inside together and Johnny showed her where she could change.
After she changed into her beige bikini she made her way outside. She met Johnny's eyes. He was sitting on the opposite edge of the pool with the girl from earlier between his legs. Mia rolled her eyes and he smiled. She walked over to where Cami and some other girls were by the pool.
"Hey Mia. I like your bathing suit," Cami said as she straightened out her red bikini top. For some reason Mia's eyes kept lingering to Johnny and the girl. It was pissing her off because the last thing she wanted was to make anybody here think that she even cared what he was doing. She was still watching Johnny when someone pulled her down into the water. She came up out of the water and saw Cami giggling right in front of her. Mia smiled and started splashing Cami and some of the other girls with some water. She heard some voices and saw Lance and a bunch of other guys she had never met coming into the party. They all looked at least Lance and Johnny's age and almost all of them were Asian. Mia didn't recognize any of them. Lance sat down about ten twelve packs of corona's.
"Anybody thirsty!" He screamed and everyone started scrambling out of the pool to get a beer. Mia just sat there. She couldn't lie and drink. If Dom found out she would be dead. Cami glanced back at Mia.
"Hey Mi, you thirsty?" Cami asked. Mia shook her head and everybody got their beers and began sitting down around the pool. Five guys surrounded cami almost instantly. Mia just stared into the pool until she felt someone's leg rub against hers. She looked over to see Johnny staring at her. Everyone else seemed too preoccupied to notice.
"You know, you can drink. You're not driving, are you?" Johnny asked. He held his bottle out to her but Mia shook her head.
"No, I can't," Mia replied. Johnny just nodded and took another sip. Mia glanced at him.
"Are you going to get drunk? Like you were the other night?" Mia asked. Johnny smiled.
"Do you want me to?" Johnny asked. He laughed and sat the beer down beside him. Mia rolled her eyes.
"Does acting like an asshole half the time and an idiot the other half of the time turn most girls on?" Mia asked. Johnny sighed and took another sip of his beer.
"It's not an act, baby," Johnny said. Mia rolled her eyes again.
"Well if your trying to get me to like you I don't suggest being an asshole or drunk," Mia said. Johnny gave her a surprised look.
"You're helping me out?" Johnny asked. Mia laughed and instantly couldn't believe she had actually had a good moment with Johnny Tran.
"Well, you know, you are pretty pathetic," Mia said, trying to fight back a smile. Johnny placed his hand over his chest and gave her a puppy dog face.
"Ouch, Mi. That really hurt," he smiled, "so...why don't you tell me what a girl like you does like?" Mia glanced at him and reached cross the lap to grab the beer. She held it up in front of his face.
"I don't like this. It makes you act stupid. At least when you're an asshole you're not dumb," Mia said. Johnny laughed and grabbed the beer out of her hands.
"Okay. Well, I can't give up beer completely 'cause I love it too much but go on," Johnny said. Mia looked at him and smiled a little.
"I like things gentle and I like to take things slow and I like to swim and shop and talk and..."Mia started but Johnny interrupted.
"And I like your smile," Johnny said. Mia blushed and looked down at her legs, "I also like those," he continued. Mia giggled and glanced around again to make sure no one was watching. Johnny stopped for a second and looked across the pool.
"I'll have to remember that," Johnny whispered. Mia glanced back at him.
"Remember what?" She asked. Johnny looked at her with the most serious expression she had ever seen.
"How good it feels to make you smile," Johnny replied as he pushed a loose strand of hair over Mia's shoulders. Mia sat completely still. Not sure what to say. Johnny licked his lips.
"Mia, I'm gonna ask you something and if you say no I won't ask again, okay?" Johnny asked. Mia nodded. It was like everyone else disappeared and she felt so alone. She was terrified of what his question was going to be.
"Can I kiss you?" Johnny whispered. Mia looked at him like he was a complete stranger. She had no idea what to say. When she nodded she had no idea why but before she could change her mind his lips were pressed gently against hers. He was kissing her slowly and gently and she had no idea what to do. As if she were under some kind of spell she felt herself beginning to kiss him back. The only part of their bodies that was even touching was their lips. He wasn't even trying to take it farther but he didn't break the kiss either. He just kept kissing her and she finally closed her eyes. The kiss seemed to have just started when he pulled away. She opened her eyes to see him lick his lips. His face was emotionless. She didn't know what to say but she didn't have to say anything because he started talking a few seconds later.
"Mia, that kiss was great and honestly I want more...not just kissing but sex. I can't explain what keeps me from trying to force you into more but I'm not going to but I do want to know you. Please let me know you," Johnny said. Mia looked into his eyes. She could feel the tears in her eyes but she couldn't cry in front of him. It would make her seem more vulnerable than she already did.
"Johnny, my brother..." Mia whispered. Johnny sighed and brushed his hand against her cheek.
"Mia, all I can do is tell you that I can be a good listener. I can be your friend but you have to let me," Johnny said. Mia gave him a small smile and looked around. Everyone was going inside for some cake. They didn't have much longer to talk.
"No one can know...ever," Mia said. Johnny nodded and stood up. He reached his hand down and she took it. They walked inside together and ate cake with Mia and the others. After the party everybody started to leave to go to the street race. Everyone else was leaving but Johnny volunteered to stay with Mia so she wouldn't be alone. Johnny led her upstairs and pushed open the door to his room. Mia walked in and looked at him in surprise.
"It's huge," Mia said. Johnny burst out laughing. Mia rolled her eyes.
"You are such a pervert," Mia said. She picked up a pillow off his bed and threw it at him. He caught it and threw it back before walking over to his bed and falling back onto it.
"I know. Ain't it great?" He said. Mia laughed and sat down on the edge of the bed. She picked up a picture of a little boy in a baseball uniform on the table beside his bed.
"Is this you?" Mia asked. Johnny stared up at the ceiling and nodded.
"I was ten. I had just made the little league team. My dad was so proud. He bought me all kinds of baseball equipment and was at every game. Yeah, he thought I was perfect but things change," Johnny said. Mia bit her lip. Almost afraid to ask more.
"How did they change?" Mia asked. Johnny closed his eyes.
"When I was 14 everything changed. I started doing drugs, drinking, fucking every girl around. I became popular. My reputation was huge but my dad hated it. He tried everything to change me but there was no way I was going to give all that up," Johnny said before sitting up and playing with the hair hanging over Mia's shoulder. He stared at it as he twirled it between his fingers.
"I'm everything he hates and your everything he loves," he whispered as he met Mia's eyes. Mia placed her hand over his and tried to force a weak smile.
"I'm sure he still loves you. You're not all bad. I'm sure he knows that," Mia said. Johnny smiled and leaned in close to her, placing his lips gently against hers. She closed her eyes and kissed him back as she moved her hands up to his shoulders. Gently pushing against them as he laid her back on the bed. He flicked his tongue against her lips and she opened them to him. He slid his tongue inside and slowly began massaging her tongue with his. Mia was completely confused. She was scared and excited at the same time. When he pulled away this time she was surprised. What was wrong?
"Mia, get up, come with me, I wanna show you something," Johnny said. Mia followed him out of his bedroom and downstairs confused. He walked through the door into a huge ballroom. Mia glanced around and smiled when he turned the lights on. The walls were painted a beautiful gold and there was a giant chandelier in the middle of the ceiling.
"This is so beautiful," Mia said. She walked around the room and smiled at him.
"My parents celebrate their anniversary in here every year. They dance all night but I think they do it wrong," Johnny said. Mia looked at him, confused.
"What do you mean?" Mia asked.
"They don't dance very many slow dances. I just want to be as close to a girl as possible when I dance with her," Johnny replied. Mia smiled. Mia walked over to the CD player and pushed play. She turned back to Johnny.
"Wanna dance?" Mia smiled. Johnny walked over and wrapped his arms around her waist as she moved her hands around his neck.
"Tonight It's very clear
As we're both lying here
There's so many things I wanna say
I will always love you
I would never leave you alone"
Mia smiled up at Johnny and leaned her head against his chest. For some reason she felt safe with him. She would have never thought that would be possible. His fingers interlocked around her waist as he held her close.
"Sometimes I just forget
Say things I might regret
It breaks my heart to see you cryin'
I don't wanna lose you
I could never make you be alone"
Johnny moved her slowly around the ballroom as the song continued to play. He gently caressed her back with his fingertips.
"I am the man who would fight for your honor
I'll be the hero you're dreamin' of
We'll live forever
Knowing together that we
Did it all for the glory of love"
Mia felt like she was floating. She closed her eyes and leaned into him, wishing the song would never end. Wishing the night would never end because things would just go back to normal if it did.
"You keep me standing tall
You helped me through it all
I'm always strong when you're beside me
I have always needed you
I could never make you be alone
I am the man who will fight for your honor
I'll be the hero you been dreamin' of
We'll live forever
Knowing together that we
Did it all for the glory of love"
She felt alone as he pulled back and just stared into her eyes. She wasn't sure what he was thinking. The way he was staring at her was starting to scare her.
"Like a knight in shining armor
From a long time ago
Just in time I'd save the day
Take you to my castle far away
I am the man who would fight for your honor
I'll be the hero that you're dreamin' of
Gonna live forever
Knowing together that we
Did it all for the Glory of Love"
His lips slowly descended onto hers. He kissed her slowly and gently as he moved his hands up to her upper arms. Mia moved her hands down to her side as he kissed her.
"We'll live forever
Knowing together that we
Did it all for the Glory of Love
We did it all for love"
Johnny finally pulled away. He looked down into her eyes.
"you're beyond beautiful, Mia," Johnny said. Mia gave him a small smile and walked over to turn the CD player off.
"Thanks for the dance," Mia said. Johnny smiled.
"My pleasure," Johnny replied. He turned and left the room. Mia followed him out of the room and upstairs to a room a few doors down from his.
"Cami said you would be sleeping in here. Goodnight, Mia," Johnny said. Mia smiled and kissed his cheek. Johnny smiled.
"Goodnight," Mia replied before entering the room and closing the door behind her.
Mia hadn't been lying in bed very long before she realized that she had forgot to call home. She opened the door and walked quietly to Johnny's room she had seen a phone in there earlier. She shut the door behind her and was creeping across the room when she heard the front door and a bunch of people start running up the stairs. Oh God, was Lance gonna come in here? How was she supposed to leave with everybody out there? Well, she had to make the call anyway. She walked over and sat on the bed. She dialed the number and waiting while the phone rang. After seven rings she finally got the answering machine.
"Hey guys, sorry I didn't call before you left. I just wanted to tell you that I'm safe. I'm really sorry that I didn't call before. I'll be home tomorrow....early...love ya, Mia," Mia whispered into the phone before hanging up. Mia could still hear the voices in the hall. Lance was out there with some girl.
"Want me to just take you home now?" Johnny whispered. Mia jumped. She had thought he had been asleep. She turned on the bed so she was looking down at him.
"No. That's okay. Cami might be disappointed if I didn't stay," Mia whispered back. As soon as she heard Lance and the girl enter another room. She got up and walked towards the door.
"Mia...wanna do something a little crazy with me next weekend?" Johnny asked. Mia looked back at him and frowned.
"Like what?" Mia asked.
"Like go to a street race in the desert. I can guarantee Letty, Vince, Jessie and Leon won't be there," Johnny replied. Mia opened the door and looked back at him.
"I'll think about," Mia said before shutting the door and walking back to the room she was staying in.