They got back to the house at about 1 in the morning, but to Ali it felt closer to about 6 in the morning, she wasn't quite used to the time difference yet and jet lag was definitely setting in.

They went into the house, were the party had clearly already started, you could here the music on the street. She stood there for a minute trying to decide whether she wanted to be there or not.

"You want a corona?"

She looked up and saw Mia standing in front of her.

"Yeh sure thanks. I thought you were in bed?"

"With this noise hardly likely."

She said smiling at her. Ali followed her into the kitchen and took the corona that was handed to her.

She stood there taking in everything around her. This was just like back home, she thought to herself. She couldn't get thoughts of Taylor and that night out of her mind now. It was just too hard. She turned around to Mia.

"I'm just going to go outside for a bit ok?"

"Yeh that's fine. You ok?"

"I just need some air."

"Ok girl."

She walked out the back door and into the back garden. There was a long table and barbeque in the garden. It was big and she could imagine them all out there when it was sunny.

She sat down on the steps and starting drinking her beer.

What was I thinking coming over to America, knowing no one. In some ways I'm proud of myself for being spontaneous and after all, what was there to keep me at home.

She was brought out of her thoughts by the back door opening. She turned around to see who it was. It was Leon.

"Hey girl you alright?"

Yeh I'm fine thanks just needed some air. It's all a bit too much in there."

"Well you'll have to get used to this kind of thing if you're planning on staying around here for a while. This is normal every race night."

"I don't need to get used to it. It just reminds me a lot of back home. Things I don't want to remember."

"Look I don't know what you have in your past but I'm telling you that there isn't one person in this house, who hasn't had some shit in their life, but we stick together and that's how we get through everything."

"That was very philosophical Le. You going soft on us?"

They both looked around to see Mia standing behind them"

"Aw Mia don't creep up on us like that." Leon got up from were he was sitting.

"See you later Ali."

"See you Leon."

Mia came and sat beside her.

"I thought I come see how you are. I wouldn't leave anyone with Leon for too long." She said smiling at Ali.

"He's alright. Was nice of him to come out but I really don't want people to think I need to be checked up on all the time."

"I'm not checking up on you Ali I'm just trying to be friendly because I figured you haven't got many friends out here yet."

"I know you're right I'm sorry. I just don't think I was ready for all this yet."

"Don't worry about it. Things take time."

Ali looked at her suspiciously.

"He's told you hasn't he?"

Mia looked embarrassed. She probably shouldn't have said anything.

"Told me what?"

"Brian's told you what happened in Ireland hasn't he?"

She just nodded.

"Ali he only told me, no one else. I'm his girlfriend, he tells me everything."

"No it's fine."

Ali got up off the steps and headed into the house.

"Where are you going?"

"I think I'm going to have an early night. It feels a lot later to me. Joys of jet lag and all."

"Are you annoyed at me?"

"No."

With that she walked into the house through the kitchen and down to the basement.

Meanwhile Mia was still out on the back steps.

"Shit." She muttered under her breathe and got up and walked into the house.

She went into the living room where Brian was standing talking to Dom.

"Brian I need to talk to you. I think I've done something wrong."

"What's up girl?"

"Ali knows that I know what happened in Ireland. It just slipped out when I was talking to her."

Brian just rubbed his head.

"Mia how did you manage that."

"I was just trying to be friendly."

"Where is she now?"

"She said she was getting an early night. Something about jet lag but I don't think she was ok."

"I'll go and see if she's ok."

"No it's ok Brian I'll go." Dom walked past them and headed down to the basement.

Ali had just got into bed when someone knocked on the door.

"Ali you there? Are you still awake?"

it was Dom. She really wasn't in the mood for talking. She just wanted to get some sleep. She was so tired. She didn't reply. She didn't mean to be rude but if he thought she was sleeping it wouldn't make any difference. She closed her eyes.

He knocked again and she then heard the door opened slowly. He looked in the door and saw her sleeping and left again.

He went back upstairs where Brian and Mia came over to her.

"She ok?"

"Yeh she's sleeping. She's just tired guys don't be worrying about her."

"That's ok. I'm sorry Brian." Mia turned around to Brian.

"It's ok you thought you were doing the right thing." He leant over and kissed her on the forehead.

"Ok guys enough. I don't need to see that kinda thing."

They both laughed as Dom walked away.

He walked over to Letty and whispered something in her ear. She turned around and smiled at him. He took her hand and they went up the stairs.

Ali could hear the party for the next couple of hours. She looked at her watch in the dark room. It read 5:45. About 10 minutes later the music went off and she could hear people leaving. She heard laughter coming down the stairs and the bedroom door opened. She looked at the door.

It was Jesse with some blonde racer chaser. This is just great she thought.

"O I'm sorry Ali I forgot you were down here."

"Don't worry about it Jess it's your room. Have fun."

She got out of bed and lifted her quilt and headed up the stairs.

The place was empty now, and a complete mess. She found a space on the sofa and eventually fell asleep.