1986

Letty held on to her father's hand as they walked to the house down the street.

It was a hot morning. The summer heat still hadn't gone, and she was sweaty and uncomfortable in her new school uniform.

She didn't really understand why she had to wear it. Her old school didn't have uniforms; they let the kids wear whatever they wanted. Now she had to wear a stupid skirt.

And there were more kids there; her new school had little classes and had no boys…and also no Mia.

She missed seeing Mia. They always stayed together and saw each other after school; waiting for their mom's to pick them up.

"But you're mom left" that little voice in her head bit back "And Mia's mom is dead"

She gripped her dad's sweaty palm as she tried not to cry.

Big girls didn't cry, and she was a big girl now. The nuns at the school said so. And her mom said so, before…

She just had to be tough.

She fumbled for a bit as she tried to hide a sniffle, making her father stop and turn.

"Leticia?" he asked, looking down at her with questioning eyes

Her father looked worried, and she didn't want him worried. That was one of the house rules: never worry papa.

Everyone said that he had enough problems to deal with, he didn't need anymore.

"I tripped" she answered, trying to keep her little voice from quivering "I'm sorry"

For a moment he just stood there, looking at her, and thought that maybe he was angry.

Of course, she'd never seen him angry. But then she'd never seen him at all before this, he was always just in his study.

But the moment passed and her father suddenly bent down, making her panic. She thought he was going to yell at her.

Instead, he reached out and scooped her in his arms, carrying her for the rest of the way.

It was an unfamiliar feeling, but she found herself burying close to her father's neck, hoping to hide the tears that were forming in her eyes. For some reason she felt safe doing this.

"I'm sorry Leticia" his father murmured

"Its okay papa" she answered bravely, not wanting to let go of this new sensation "We don't have to go to Mia's house. I can make breakfast"

Her father gave a short laugh, making her pull back and look at him.

Her father never really…laughed. He didn't do it often, he just smiled; but when he did, she found that each laugh was different.

It fascinated her.

"I know you can make breakfast, baby" he answered "but that's not why we're going"

"Are you tired of cereals?" she asked "Because I can learn how to make other things. I saw this lady on TV, and she was making pancakes with-"

"I like your cereals just fine" he said, smiling "Best frosted flakes I've ever had."

She was about to answer when he suddenly stopped.

"We're here" he said, releasing her from his arms and putting her down

Letty reluctantly let go of her dad's neck and stared at the white house in front of them.

She hadn't been to Mia's house in a long time, not since not since Mrs. Toretto died and her mother had stopped bringing her there.

That was last year.

A lot of things had happened since then, tons of things. She didn't understand what was happening, but she knew something was wrong.

How she had stopped going to the Toretto house, since her mom had stopped going there and Mia never wanting to staythere, always wanting to be out. Or how Dominic stopped smiling…or how Mr. Toretto got quieter, not sad but just not as happy as before.

But the biggest change in her life was her mother.

You don't have a mother anymore…

Letty rubbed at her eyes and reached for her father's hand. She felt him give it a little squeeze, making her look up to see what he was thinking.

She couldn't tell what he was thinking. But he looked tired. He was smiling, but the light didn't seem to reach his eyes.

"Let's go" he said

She just nodded, and stepped into the Toretto's backyard.

Present

The morning started only slightly better on the other side of town.

Letty woke up disoriented…and late. Very late.

The alarm rang at exactly six am, but as usual she was awake before it went off.

Didn't mean she got up though.

That was how she was. She'd wake up at the right time, but always, always had a difficult time getting out of bed.

It was a habit that used to make her late for school.

She'd lie there, staring at her ceiling, just thinking. Wondering what she would do to get through a day of school, what kind of car she wanted and how she was going to get it.

Things like life and what the hell she was going to do for the fucking rest of it.

She'd deliberate, staring at dust motes and making plans, starting with the logic of a twelve year old and later on with the jaded eyes of a twenty year old woman.

And before she knew it, an hour had passed and she was late. It may be a bad habit, but it was one bad habit that she refused to give up.

"Like smoking" she recalled, smiling at her now defunct addiction

"Like Dom" her mind automatically added

The thought of him made him wince and she got up.

Of course she had to think of him. Why wouldn't she? For the past 15 years, he was the first thing that came into her mind when she woke up.

"And the last fucking thing you think about before you go to bed" she thought "How fucking romantic"

And how true.

No matter where she was, what she did, or what she felt, angry, happy or sad, her thoughts never really strayed from him.

"And maybe that's actually a good thing" that annoying romantic imp in her head spoke up

But that was the thing, wasn't it? The romance?

She was over with the romance. She knew how it was like with Dom; how good it could be. The moment he'd set his eyes on her when she was 16 she was gone.

She couldn't even tell when the hero worship had turned into love. All she knew was that when he decided that he'd wanted her, he'd done everything he could to get her. He'd done little things and big things, romantic things, but she didn't really care for those, just for him. He'd offered her the world just by looking at her, and she had gladly accepted.

And for a while he did give her the world…but that was their world.

The real world wasn't as forgiving.

"Fuck the real world" she cursed

She dragged herself out of bed and was struck by a moment of disorientation.

Instantly, her mind choked and her heart sped up as she looked at her surroundings.

"This isn't my house" she thought, panicking "This isn't my room, that isn't my floor…where the fuck am I!"

And just as quickly, her brain got back her equilibrium.

"I'm in my apartment" the reasonable part of her answered

She gave a sigh of relief as she took a walk towards her kitchen.

My apartment…

This was her apartment.

These were her hardwood floors, those were her new furniture; that was her window, with her new view and this was her new neighborhood.

"And this is my new home" she murmured to herself, reality hitting her like a ton of bricks as she sank on her kitchen counter

1986

"So what is it like in your new school?"

Letty swallowed a piece of her pancake and looked at Mia's eager eyes.

Just a few months ago, Mia was upset that she had to go to a new school.

Up until then, the two of them had always done everything together: played together, shopped together, hung out together, went to school together…

So when the idea of her going to another school came up, Mia bawled and she was too stunned to even protest. Not that she could.

Her father had already enrolled her even before she could throw a fit, and Mia was immediately bussed off to summer camp while Mr. Toretto took Dominic to the races.

That's what Mr. Toretto did now: go to the races.

He was out almost every weekend with his cars. Sometimes he took Mia, but most times Mia stayed at home with her and her mom.

Now that her mom had left, Mia mostly traveled with them and that left her alone.

"Its okay" she answered, not really knowing what to say at that point

The school was okay. The classes were okay. The teachers were okay. And the nuns were kind. She thought they would be mean, but the moment she came in they were very…calming.

But the kids were intimidating. All the girls there seemed to know each other, and they all seemed so sure of themselves.

She'd made some friends, but she didn't go with one group. Not like in her old school, where she went around with Mia.

Her new school was so small that there really wasn't any group, everyone just went along with someone for whatever time and each kid seemed to just…stick to themselves.

Which was fine by her, since Mia was her best friend and that wasn't changing…even if Mia didn't seem to miss her as much as she did last summer.

"Are the kids okay?" Mia was asking her "What's it like not to have any boys in class?"

Dom, who was stuffing his face with his fourth pancake, rolled his eyes.

"Uh…I dunno" she answered honestly "It feels the same"

"Yeah, right" Dom snorted, and Letty felt like smacking him in the head.

She thought he was starting to turn into a real jerk, and all he ever did was eat, hang out with Vince, and act pissed…really pissed.

And that was one of the other things that she had to deal with.

Dom had always been nice to her, looking after her and Mia. Now all he did was just… be mean to her.

"Letty ain't interested in any of your boy crazy stuff Mia" Dom told them "Why do you think they put her in that pansy school? It's to straighten her tomboy a-"

She'd been quiet up until then, but her foot reacted a lot faster than her mouth did.

"Sorry" she automatically said

And she meant it. She really did. Of course, she'd really wanted to kick him. Several times. But she knew he didn't mean it…not really.

After all, she missed her mother too.

Present

For Letty, it took a total of five minutes for the novelty to burst and the routine to kick in.

Pushing herself off her counter, she went to the cupboards in search of some breakfast…and found none.

"What the fuck…" she muttered, bypassing the rows of Spaghetti O's she'd stocked as "rations" and the usual cupboard staples

A quick look in her other cabinets revealed none of what she was after either, and she knew there was only one reason why she couldn't find it.

"Damn those idiots" she cursed, shoving the last drawer close

She was contemplating on throwing on some shoes when and running to the corner store when she saw the envelope in the middle of the table.

She couldn't help but smile when she read through Mia's handwriting.

"Letty"

1986

Letty stared defiantly back her father, ready to throw a fit.

Her father had taken her out to the backyard when she'd reacted badly to what he had to say.

"It's going to be okay" he was telling her, but somehow she wasn't convinced

And he knew it.

She didn't know him. Her mama made things better…and though she liked seeing him, liked being with him…she still didn't trust him.

"I don't understand" she said harshly, trying to act tough to mask her confusion "Why can't you take me to school?"

"Because I have work" he explained softly

"Then I'll walk" she answered belligerently

She knew she was being difficult, and she really didn't want to be, but all she wanted was for him to tell her why…for everyone to tell her why.

When her mother left, she didn't understand why she had to be yanked out of school and away from Mia to a place where everyone seemed to include everyone but her.

Why she couldn't go with Mia to summer camp, and instead had to spend most of the day with a sitter or some aunt, or watching her dad struggle to entertain her when he couldn't even talk to her.

But he tried, and that was enough for her.

Her mother taught her never to ask any questions, to never complain, and she never did.

But after this morning, she felt compelled to ask why her father was now placing her under the Toretto's care when she thought they were doing so well together.

"You can't walk baby, it's too far" he told her

"I'm not a baby, and it's not too far."

The wrinkles in his eyes grew deeper as he sighed, and for a moment she felt guilty.

But she was mad more than she was guilty…but more than that, she was scared.

"You just don't want to drive me" she said hotly "You don't want to take me to school coz you don't like me"

Light flashed in his eyes and for some reason, Letty rejoiced in his reaction.

Her father rarely reacted. Not to her.

"You know that's not true" he answered "And it's just during the morning's baby, for breakfast and the ten minute drive, coz I just…I can't drive you to school baby…I just…I can't"

She could see her father unraveling, and she was almost sorry that she did it.

Her mother panicked when he did that, and it scared her. Scared her mother too. Her mother always explained it by saying that she had said the wrong thing.

And for the life of her, Letty never did know what exactly the wrong thing was, or why her mom seemed to have said a lot of then, though she guessed that this was one of those things now.

"I'll just walk her to the bus stop, Mr. Toretto" a voice boomed behind them

They both looked up to see Dom standing by the backdoor, obviously done with his breakfast and ready to go.

"That's not necessary, Dom" her father told him "Besides, Letty's too young to go to school on her own"

Her hands curled into fists and her foot ground on the pavement. She was about to launch into a tantrum when Dom walked down to where they were talking in the driveway.

"The bus stop isn't really very far, and I've seen tons of other kid's her age take it" Dom explained "Holy Cross is near the middle school, and her stop's on my way anyway. Really, I don't mind."

The two of them looked dumbly at him for a moment.

She didn't know what her father's reason was, but she was surprised with what Dom was doing.

Just a few minutes ago, Mr. Toretto had yelled at him for teasing her and disturbing the morning peace on the breakfast table.

Now he was offering to walk her to the bus station?

"What gives?" she thought

"I think it would help, Raul"

All three of them looked up and saw Mr. Toretto come out, Mia close behind him

"Dom walks to school with Vincent everyday, so she'll have two big boys watching over her" Tony assured him

She watched her father waver for a bit, then finally cave in.

"Alright" his father sighed, then looked back at her "You be careful"

She shrugged on her backpack and looked determinedly up at him.

"Of course" she answered smartly

Present

"Letty" she read the note aloud "You want this, you gonna have to come get it. We're already missing you for breakfast. Mia. PS. Just in case, there's some bagels and cream cheese in the fridge."

She laughed, looking in the envelope and seeing a Frosted Flakes coupon.

She was tempted, she really was…

But there was a reason why she moved all the way over here. This wasn't temporary (and her fuckin' lease proved that) She had something to prove…to the team, to herself…and even though it was just breakfast, she couldn't give in to the temptation of going home.

Not on her first day.

"Day One" she said to herself, opening the fridge and getting some breakfast

Nobody said it was going to be easy. She knew even before that this was going to be one of the biggest challenges in her life: finding herself.

All her life, she'd let herself be defined by other people. She thought that by being tough, she could get away from that. How fucking wrong she was.

But now…now she knew better. Now she stronger, and was to accept these changes…

"And make some changes" she thought, before biting into one of Mia's bagels, thinking of her family