Stella threw her legs up onto the desk and flipped open her magazine as she tried to cut out the commotion going on in the garage. It was pouring rain outside and everyone decided to choose today of all days to bring their cars in. She sighed as she flipped to the next page just as the door came open and in stormed Vince. "I need your help." He was almost out of breath. Stella's eyes were wide as she looked past him. Tony was on his way over. "What did you do?" Stella asked.
"Stel…" Vince stopped just as Tony came up behind him. "Do you want to come help me?" Vince eyed her. She nodded her head at him setting the magazine down on the desk. "Hey, Pops." Stella waved as she moved past him. "Stella Marie." She stopped in her tracks as Vince stopped too but didn't turn around. "I need to ask you a few questions. Come back over here."
"What is it?" Stella's hands began to shake as she put them behind her back.
"It has come to my attention of your brother and Letty deciding to race this weekend." Stella didn't respond. "I'm telling you this right now, you lie to me, your summer is over with." Stella still didn't move.
"I don't know anything about any races." Stella whispered. Tony had found out about their whole racing team a whole two weeks after it had started. Stella had brought some drawings home to work on for Vince's car when Tony walked in on her. She couldn't lie to him then. Dom didn't speak to her for weeks because Tony had shut it down. Stella looked over at Vince who was still staring at her. "I really don't know anything about any races right now."
"I was nice, Stella. I let you guys do this because you were doing it together. There was a promise that you girls wouldn't be put in danger at all. You did the detail, Letty helped with the maintenance. Mia…well Mia did whatever she wanted to do. That was the deal."
"And it's still the deal." Stella replied softly. "I know that Letty is dying to race Dom. He would never let it happen. She only just got her permit two weeks ago. I'm sure you just overheard them trying to one up each other. They do it all the time."
Tony nodded his head as she sighed throwing her hands up in the air. "I don't know why you keep coming to me about these things. If you didn't want us having any part in it then you should have said something." She moved past him. "I'm sorry that we are so untrustworthy." She turned on her heels and walked towards Vince who she glared at. "I can explain…" He started but she held her hand up in the air. What was going on behind her back? She knew they were keeping things from her and she was going to find out before someone gets killed.
"Are you serious?!" Stella shouted as Vince closed the door to Dom's bedroom. Tony wasn't home yet and Stella knew exactly where to find Dom. She had been in the room for five minutes when Dom admitted to challenging Letty to a race this Saturday. Stella's blood was boiling as she stood in front of the doorway so he couldn't leave. "So am I not a part of this team anymore?"
"I was going to tell you." Dom replied. Stella shook her head as she turned around to leave but Vince stopped her. "I knew Pops was going to say something to you. He goes to you, Stella, when he wants to know something. You have never been able to lie to him."
"Were you ever going to tell me?" Stella turned back around crossing her arms over her chest. There was silence in the room as she sighed. "Why are you doing this, Dom? Why did you even involve me?"
"You know why." Dom replied softly.
"Right."
"Your designs are sick, Stel." Vince finally chimed in.
"Can you move please?" She was quiet as Vince moved from the door. She held back the tears until she closed the door behind her. They immediately spilled down her face as she looked up to her sister standing at the top of the stairs. "I promise I was…." Mia started as Stella hurried away from her running into her room and slamming the door. She threw herself onto the bed she buried her head into her pillow. "Stel…" Mia knocked on the door. "Just talk to me."
"Go away!" Stella screamed. She hugged the pillow tight as she squeezed her eyes closed. Dom was right. She couldn't lie to her father. She had never been able to. They all knew that. There was another soft tap on the door as she took in a deep breath wiping her tear stained face. She hated being the youngest some times. She leaned over to her bedside table and opened it up reaching for the notebook. It was all her drawings. She had taken up drawing when she turned ten but hadn't really thought about taking it places before. It was Vince who convinced her to start drawing on cars. She sighed as she flipped to the page that she had saved for Vince's car. It was coming together nicely and she wanted to give it to him for his birthday next week. She continued to look at the page as another knock came on the door. "Let's open the door!" Dom's voice was hard as she closed the notebook and shoved back into the drawer. She walked over to the window and looked out as Vince stood in the middle of the street holding his hands up in the air. She didn't want to talk to any of them. She quickly pulled the string to her blinds letting them fall down. The sun would go down soon meaning her dad would be home too. She decided to call it a night. She took her shorts off throwing them on the floor before pulling her hair into a ponytail. She climbed into the bed just as she heard another knock at the door. "Stel...will you please just let me in." Mia's voice was begging as Stella, for one second, thought about giving in. She reached for the light, cutting it off, and closing her eyes.
The Saturday morning sun was shining bright in her room as she rolled over shielding her eyes. Why was the blinds open? She rolled back onto her back and leaned up. "Morning, cupcake!" Vince shouted from her vanity. She groaned throwing her body back onto the bed. "Let's get up!"
"No. Go away." She groaned pulling the covers up covering her face. "How did you get into my room?"
"I am very good at picking locks. I thought I would give you a few days but see how you won't even talk to your best friend, Mia. I knew we had a problem."
"Oh you see a problem now?" Stella still didn't come from under the covers. "Just go away, Vince. Don't you have something to prepare for tonight?"
"I want you there."
"No." She replied. "I'm not going. You guys have fun." She felt the bed dip down as Vince jerked the covers from her head. "Hey!" He didn't smile as he held the covers down on the bed so she couldn't move them. "What is it, Vince? You make it seem like your dog just died or something. Dom should have never asked me to be apart of the team. He knows that I can't lie to Pops. I have never been able to. It's a curse!" Vince chuckled. "But yet, you guys are still mad because two years ago he found out that we were a racing team."
"We aren't mad..."
"All I have ever wanted, Vince, was to be apart of something with you guys. It sucks sometimes. I have to live in this shadow of everyone because I am too young to do most things. And I was so happy that you asked us to be apart of the team. I could draw more. I could spend more time..." She stopped. "I felt like it was just ripped from me because I can't lie to my father." She stopped talking as she crossed her arms over her chest and waited.
"Done?" Vince asked. She glared at him before nodding her head. "We were going to tell you. We were actually going to tell you today. I have no idea how Pops found out about it. It never once crossed my mind, Stel. I swear."
"But it crossed Doms?" Her voice was low. "I would never rat you guys out. I would never do that to family." There was silence again. She shifted her weight and leaned against the bed. "So it's actually happening then? Letty is going to race Dom?" Vince nodded his head. "And what happens when she gets hurt?"
"She won't. They have been practicing." Stella nodded her head as she reached over for the notebook on her bed side table. "I drew this for you." She replied opening it up. Vince's eyes lit up as she turned the book around so he could see better. "It's not finished but I was hoping to have it done before your birthday. Her legs would go towards the back of the car..."
"Stel..." Vince's eyes widened as she looked up at him. "This is amazing!" A smile covered her entire face as she went to speak again but a loud knock on her door sounded as she jumped. "Yes?" Stella asked raising her eyebrows. "It's me." Dom's voice was hard and low as she smirked over at Vince who patted her leg before getting off the bed to answer the door. "Hey brother." Vince's voice was low. "I'll let you two be alone." Stella closed the notebook and put it back on the table before looking up at her brother. "Before you say anything..." Stella held her hand up. "There is nothing in the world that I want more than to be able to hang out with you and Vince. When you asked us to be apart of this team, it was the greatest day of my life. I know how I acted but deep down I was so happy. I never would rat you out on purpose, Dom. I want this just as much as you do."
"Are you finished?" Dom asked as she slowly nodded her head. He sighed rubbing his hand over his head before sitting down on the bed. "I had this plan that you would find out about the race tonight on the actual night. I know Pops and I know you. He would con you into saying something."
"I would have tried my hardest not to." She whispered. Dom began to laugh as he patted her leg. "Oh, Stella. You just aren't really good at keeping secrets." Stella rolled her eyes. "You are fourteen years old. Do you think that it is wise that you are doing any of this with us?"
"Mia is fifteen. So is Letty. It would be different if I was still twelve but I'm not. I know how cars work and I know a lot about racing. Our dad has been trying to hide it from us for years. I would never get behind the wheel, I just like designing stuff for you guys." There was another knock on the door as Stella leaned back against the headboard of her bed. She was popular this morning. She sighed as Dom answered the door. "Hey." Tony walked in. "What's going on?"
"We were just talking." Dom replied looking over at Stella who looked out the window. "I've been trying to get Stella to come out of her room for some time now. Maybe you can have better luck." Dom patted Tony on the shoulder before leaving the room. "What's going on?" Tony asked sitting down.
Stella moved her hand to the top shelf of the can goods when she heard a loud band behind her. She quickly turned around to her Latino friend standing at the counter banging her hand down. "Really?" She groaned grabbing the cans and moving to the counter. "Hector! What do you want?" Hector had a huge grin on his face as he moved the flier in front of her. "Have you heard?" He asked. "It's all over town. Dom and Letty are racing tonight and you aren't even going to be there."
"Put that away!" She shouted grabbing the piece of paper and crumbling it up. "My pops would walk in here any time. He doesn't know."
"So what are you doing here then?" She shook her head grabbing the cans again and moving to the back room. "They didn't ask you…" She quickly turned her head towards him giving him a looking. He shut his mouth quickly as she groaned moving past him. "My father knows something is probably going to happen tonight. Dom thinks that I should work so it will throw him off."
"I can stay if you want." Hector replied softly. Stella gave a little smile before shaking her head.
"I know how much you want to go to this. Just go. Let me know how it goes."
"Oh hey, Hector!" Tony walked into the store with a box on top of his shoulder. "What brings you in tonight?"
"I was just here to see Stella." Hector replied. "Well I should get going. I'll see you later, Stel." Stella nodded her head as she waved goodbye. She looked over at Tony who was eyeing her. "What?" She asked. Tony shook his head with a laugh before moving to the back. Stella watched as Hector hopped into a car and drive away. She wondered what was happening right now between Letty and Dom. Was she winning? Would he let her win? "Stel!" Tony shouted as she jumped and looked over at him. "You okay?"
"Yeah. Sorry, I was just thinking about something." She grabbed the cloth from the shelf below before wipe the top of the counter. "What time do you want me at the garage tomorrow?"
"Stel…" Tony stopped with a sigh. "The beginning of this summer you were all against having to work. You wanted to go to the beach and hang out with your friends. I heard from a little bird that you are mad at her and you haven't spoken to her in three days. What's going on?"
"It's nothing."
"It's Letty."
"It's not Letty. I like her." Stella didn't want to continue this conversation but she knew he wasn't going to let it go. "I just…she came around and she's Mia's age. She likes Dom. Dom seems to not care at all but they are all hanging out together."
"And you're too young?"
"They think I am still twelve. It's like I will always be the little sister who can't do anything."
"Vince showed me the design you made for him for his birthday. You are very talented." Stella shook her head. "You don't think so?"
"I think that they will find someone better and I will be left alone again." Tony walked over to her as she sat down on the stool. "I like Vince likes Mia."
"Vince is like a son to me. Neither one of you should be dating him." Stella rolled her eyes.
"You aren't listening to me." Stella replied loudly. She threw the cloth down onto the counter before covering her face. "I just don't want to be here anymore." Tony nodded his head putting his hand on her shoulder.
"You can go then." Stella looked up at her father. "Stella, it was your night off. Enjoy it. Go hang out with Hector." She rolled her eyes again as Tony began to laugh. "Okay, don't hang out with him. But go find some friends and go to the movies." Stella nodded her head as she hoped off the stool and kissed him on the cheek. "Be good and be careful."
"I love you, Pops!" Stella skipped outside to the street and looked up it. The streets light came on lighting the entire street. She looked behind her as Tony was still looking at her. She turned away quickly just as a car came speeding up to her and Hector jumped out. "STELLA!" He screamed grabbing her shoulders. "You have to come quick!"
"What is it?" Stella shouted as fear overtook her. What could it be? Dom and Letty that's all it could be. She quickly turned around to Tony running outside. "Get inside!" Tony shouted. "Lock up and go home!" Stella nodded her head. Shit. They were going to be in so much trouble. "Hector, let's go!" Stella stood outside as Hector looked back at her before climbing into the backseat of the car. Tears sprung to Stella's eyes as she turned back to the store. She ran in grabbing the doors behind her and jerking it down. She grabbed the keys from behind the counter and began locking up. It was going to be a long night, she knew that for sure.
Stella paced back and forth in the living room of their Los Angeles house. The couch was a yellow color. Something her mother had picked out a long time ago and Tony could never get rid of it. He hated that couch though but now Stella found herself staring it. Why was it yellow? Who would want a yellow couch? The door opened and slammed as she looked up at a scared Vince. "Wha-" She moved towards him but he put his hand up. "Vince."
"Get inside!" Tony shouted as Mia slowly opened the door and walked in. "Everyone sit down!" Stella slowly sat down on the couch as Mia hurried and moved next to her.
"Where is Dom and Letty?" Stella asked. Vince shook his head. "Are they okay?"
"Stella…are you involved in this at all?" Stella looked over at Vince who looked down at the floor. Tears sprung to her eyes as she slowly nodded her head. "You knew?"
"I knew." She whispered. Tony slammed his hand down onto the table next to the door. Mia and Stella jumped as Mia quickly grabbed her hand. "What happened?" Her chest jumped as the tears flowed down her face.
"You want to know what happened?" Tony moved over to them. "Your brother decided to go forth with racing Letty. Their egos are the size of grapefruits. The other wouldn't give up until they clipped each other. They were spinning out of control until a wall finally stopped them." Stella wiped her face as she shook her head. "Dom's arm got caught between the wall and the car."
"Are they…" Stella stopped as she sobs caused her not to speak clearly.
"They are alive. They are lucky." Tony's voice was calm. "I will be going to the hospital. Do not think this is over. You all grounded until I say otherwise. Do not come out of your rooms for anything. You have to pee you hold it until you can't any longer then you can come out."
"Dad…" Tony held his hand up. Stella shook her head as she moved up to the stairs and hurried into her room. She slammed the door throwing herself onto the bed as she sob s came out into her pillow. The door downstairs slammed closed as the entire house shook.
Stella's door slowly opened as Mia walked in with Vince behind her. Stella wiped her face as she nodded her head letting them know it was okay for them to come in. "What happened? You said she was ready. She said she would be safe." Vince shook his head. "He is going to kill us." She squeezed her eyes closed. "No." Vince whispered bringing her into his arms. "I will not let you get blamed for this."
"He knows I knew, Vince!" She shouted. "He knew I was lying to him."
"This isn't your fault, Stel." Mia replied. Stella looked up at her sister before moving over to her wrapping her arms around her neck. "I sure have missed you."
"I'm sorry." Stella cried. Vince sighed rubbing his hands over his face. "What happened?"
"They were doing fine. Your dad was right though. They are both stubborn. Letty wasn't going to let up. She wasn't going to win. She knew it. She was trying to scare him into slowing down, I know that's what she was doing but she just went over too much. She clipped him just a little bit but the speed just caused them to spin out of control." Vince shook his head. "Dom's arm was hanging outside the car. He's lucky he gets to keep it. I don't know how she did it but she pulled him from the car. She put pressure on his arm until the ambulance arrived."
"I do not even want to know what happened with pops showed up." Stella replied.
"I saw him get out of Hector's brothers car. I was confused at first but I knew it…Letty is going to be okay. They just wanted to take her just in case she has a concussion."
"So they are okay?"
"Yeah." Vince patted her leg.
"We should probably get out of here. I don't want to listen to him yell at us any longer." Mia replied as she released Stella. "I'll see you later, Ste."
"Thank you." Stella whispered. "Thank you for letting me know I was crazy." Vince and Mia began to laugh as they moved through the door shutting it behind them. Stella continued to look at the door as she let her mind wonder. Mia wouldn't do that to her right? Vince was off limits. Mia had to of known that.
AN: Question for everyone...at what age do you think Dom and Mia was when their dad died? Do you think he was around for these wrecks that happened or do you think it was an early age? Let me know what you think!