Chapter 7: Fun and Games

Matty picked up her bucket full of water and smiled evilly. She followed Jesse towards the driveway, where Vince's Maxima was parked. The hood was open and a pair of work boots stuck out from underneath the car.

She nodded to Jesse, who positioned himself next to his boots and waited for her sign. With a curt nod from Matty, Jesse pulled on Vince's boots, pulling him out from underneath the car. He looked up at the duo with a scowl on his face, which instantly turned into a wide-eyed silent scream. "What the fuck?" He yelled, glancing nervously at the bucket in her hand.

Matty giggled evilly, tipping the bucket on to Vince. Jesse jetted towards his car and drove off, at the sound of his loud yell. As the last drop of water hit Vince on the chin, Matty threw the bucket on the ground and tried to break out into a run, but he stuck out a foot, making her fall face first on to the driveway.

"FUCK!" She yelled, grabbing on to her nose. "Shit," Vince muttered, jumping up from the ground. He crouched down next to her and pushed her hands away from her face, peering at the damage. "Stop crying you big ass baby," he said, pulling off his wet wifebeaters. He handed them to her and she glanced at him like he was crazy. "Stop bitching and take it. Let me go put a shirt on so I can take you to the hospital," he said, getting up and walking towards the house.

She followed him inside and down the stairs into the basement, where he simply picked up another wifebeater that was lying on the floor and slipped into it. "No, I don't want to go to the hospital," she said, her words mumbled because of the shirt in front of her face.

"Oh really?" Vince asked, approaching her slowly. Matty nodded her head and removed the shirt away from her face. He grabbed on to her chin softly, tilting her head towards the light. He secretly felt bad about what had happened, his pride not letting him show that he cared too much. Vince pinched her nose together slightly and waited. "Fuck," she whispered, feeling the warm blood that was slowly falling from her nose. "Matty, it could be broken and if it is, you should get it looked at," he said, pushing her towards the door.

He went into her room and began digging through the clutter that lined her desk and dresser. "What are you looking for?" She asked, sitting on the edge of the bed, her head tilted back. "Car keys," he said, yelling victory at the sight of them on her night table. "Let's go before I change my mind," he said, picking her up and flinging her over his shoulder.

"Vince, I really hate hospitals," she said, smacking him on the ass, as they walked up the basement stairs. "So does everyone else, but if your nose is broken, I think you would like to get it fixed, rather than look like a linebacker when it heals all fugly," he said. Matty reached under the hem of his shirt and began rubbing on his love handles, eliciting a purr from him.

"Keep doing what you doing girl," he said, walking out of the house. Vince made his way towards her car, turning off the alarm with the touch of button. "I'm going to put you down now," he said, hunching over slightly. Matty smiled evilly, nodding. As her feet touched the ground, she reached the band of his boxers and pulled on them- all the way up.

Vince froze, taking in a deep breath. He blinked rapidly, trying to figure out the pain that he was feeling in his lower half. "What's the matter Vince?" She asked, a cocky smile on her face. "Get into the damn car," he muttered through clenched teeth, getting into the driver's side of her Skyline.

Matty climbed into the car, leaning the passenger seat all the way back, covering her nose again with Vince's wet wifebeaters. The ride to the hospital was quiet and quick, partly because Vince was still fuming about the amount of material that was between his ass cheeks.

As he shifted the car into park and turned it off, Matty sat up. "Vince," she whispered. He turned and looked at her, fear evident in her eyes. "I'm sorry for the whole wedgie incident," she said, batting her eyes softly. Vince nodded and tugged painfully on his pants. "You're still going," he said, opening the car door and getting out.

Matty followed suit and walked around the car, finding him trying to fix himself. "Here, hold my nose," she said, standing in front of him. Vince did as he was told and Matty looked around the parking garage, trying to see if anyone was looking.

When she was sure no one was, she unbuttoned his pants, lowering them slightly. She pressed her body against his, sliding her hands down his pants, towards his thighs and fixing his boxers. "See all better," she said, buttoning his pants up. She faced him, removing his hand from her face and applying pressure to her nose.

Vince blushed and shook his head. "I've never had a girl go down on me like that, but you're still going," he said, walking towards the hospital entrance. Matty shook her head and stood her ground. "VINCE! I AM NOT GOING, PERIOD!" She yelled, leaning against the car.

He doubled back to her, clearly pissed off. "I really don't understand you. You claim to be independent and grown, but look at you! You won't even go to get yourself checked out. One minute you're happy, the next you are the biggest bitch on the planet. I really don't understand," he said, his arms flailing about.

"They'll stick me with needles, Vince. They'll try to feed me all those drugs and then you'll really meet the bitch within me," she whispered, her head hanging low. "What?" Vince said, stepping closer to her. Matty shook her head slowly and shifted his shirt on her nose.

Vince stepped closer to her, his knee between her legs, his head next to her, and a hand on her waist. "Something you want to share?" He whispered, leaning his head against hers. "Manic depressive, bipolar or some shit, Vince. They'll start talking, asking questions and it'll piss me off. Then they'll get the meds and if I don't take them they'll chain me to the bed like last time, Vince. You can't let them hurt me anymore, please Vince promise," she said, grabbing on to his shoulder.

Vince took a step back and stared at the mess in front of him. Matty's face was dirty from all the dried blood, her mascara was running from the tears she was shedding, and her hair was all messed up.

He placed his hands in hers and they began their walk towards the hospital's emergency room entrance.

--

"Oh my god, I can't believe it," Mia said, staring at the piece of paper Dom had just handed her. "I heard stories about Hector's life before he hit the strip with us but I never imagined some shit like that," Dom said, running a hand over his head. "That explains everything. Hector never having a last name and Matty's attitude," Letty said, taking a seat in Dom's lap.

The team, minus Vince, was sitting around the living room, contemplating what they had just read. "She's always writing in that journal of hers. She probably feels like she can't share her story with any us. We all seem normal compared to all the hell she's been through," Jess whispered, passing the piece of paper to Leon.

"Jess, I want you to do a background check on homegirl. I have to see what else we don't know about her," Dom said. Mia stood up from the couch, a frown on her face. "Dom, this girl has been through enough, the last thing she needs is us digging through her past," she said.

Dom held up a hand to silence her. "One day, digging through other people's past may save you," he said. Mia scoffed and headed to the kitchen, before delivering her response.

"Or it may damn you."

--

Matty's vice grip on Vince's hand never wavered. The doctor came back into the room, holding an x-ray in his hand, a smile on his face. "Well seems to me that nothing is broken. All you'll need is put some cotton up that nose and some ice to help control the swelling. Anything after that should come naturally," he said, writing in her chart.

At the sound that everything was okay, Matty jumped up from the bed and was out the door. The doctor gave Vince an understanding smile and shrugged. "Thanks doc," Vince said, heading for the door. "Wait one minute," the doctor said, holding up a hand. He shut the door and crossed his arms over his chest.

"She's been here many times for various broken bones. Now did you do this to her? As a doctor it's my responsibility to say something if I think there is any chance of domestic abuse," the doctor.

"Listen here, doctor, she's my friend. Maybe something more in the future, but I sure as hell ain't no woman-beater, so shut it," he said, backing the doctor into the wall. "Hmmm… I thought so. I see the way you look at her and it shows your true feelings. I know you'll take care of her and help her fix all those things that went wrong for her," the doctor said, opening the door for Vince.

The two men nodded at each other and Vince exited the hospital in search of Matty. When he found her, she was pacing the area around the car, her head tilted back and her mouth open. "Matty," he whispered. She turned and faced him, a small smile on her face. "Thanks, V, I mean it," she replied. He walked up to her, taking her hand in his and giving it a small squeeze.

"When you're ready, I'll be here."