Dom walked up to one of the old bedrooms where he could hear his daughter sobbing on the other side of the door. He did not bother knocking, but instead made his way inside. He closed the door softly behind him and stared at her. Mazda was curled up on the made bed crying her eyes out. She had not realized her father had come in. Dom cleared his throat to catch her attention. It was an awkward moment for him, and definitely a conversation he did not want to have. However, he was going to try to keep his cool despite his unwavering anger.
"I want to talk to you." He told her calmly.
"Well that's a miracle." She responded without looking at him.
"This isn't the time to get smart." Mazda sat up and turned to him. She wiped her face off with her sleeves, and took a deep breath before speaking.
"You obviously haven't wanted to speak to me all day. Apparently I'm worthless now."
"Can you blame me?"
"You don't have to be so mean." She accused.
"Well you shouldn't have let me down."
"We can't all be perfect Papi. No matter how hard I try, I'm just not."
"That's no excuse. I expected more from you!" His voice boomed all through the room. Mazda could have sworn that if a frame had been hanging on the wall it would have fallen.
"That's not fair!" She spat back angrily. The young girl was so frustrated and had so many emotions running through her that she was not thinking as the words spilled out of her mouth. "What did I do that was so bad? I wasn't out doing drugs. I wasn't even drinking. I just wanted to be with my friends instead of being in a hell hole!"
"What was so bad? Are you kidding me?"
"It's not fair that you treat me different from them."
"You want you're ass kicked? Because that's what they got."
"You never get this mad at them!" She accused mid-sob.
"Bullshit! If anything you usually get away with everything. You got home a little later than you were supposed to, we look the other way. You spent a little too much money on your credit card, and we don't even mention it. You got into a fight at school, you got a couple extra chores. You got a B- in chemistry last quarter, we let it go."
"It was a B-! You're acting like I failed!"
"That's basically a C, and you know we don't accept anything less than an A- in our house!"
"I can't be the perfectly behaved angel you want to be. There's no teenager in the world that doesn't make mistakes. I've heard of all the things you used to get up to. I don't even come close, so why are you acting like I'm such a terrible person?"
"Are you comparing yourself to me?" Dom asked in disbelief. His anger was boiling over. "Did your mother die when you were 15? Did you have to help your parents pay bills around the house? Have you ever gone without a thing in your god damn life?" He yelled making an indent in the wall that caused the young girl to wince. "When you've actually gone through some real shit then you can compare yourself to me. What have you ever had to work for other than school? We came from nothing. We built all this for you. You've been given everything! Absolutely everything!"
"I'm starting to think it may not have been a good idea to have him talk to her." Alexus said at the foot of the stairs.
"I wonder if he's gonna hit her?" Jensen pondered.
"Nah, he wouldn't...would he?"
"He'll calm down soon enough." Tony said walking passed them to his recliner chair. "Why don't you stop ease dropping and one of you make me some coffee? I'm in the mood for something sweet." The boys looked at each other.
"Do we have to? It was just getting good." Jensen complained. "I'm pretty sure he's doing some damage to the house."
"You're gonna make a frail old man ask twice?" Tony asked.
"Papá you may be old, but you're not frail." Alexus said still staring up the stairs as he continued to hear his father yell at his little sister.
"You're not even that old." Jensen said taking exactly one step upward.
"Why is no one making coffee?" Tony responded rolling his eyes. "I'm going to count to ten, and when I'm done I better smell a pot brewing."
Back upstairs the shouting match continued. "I work hard!" Mazda argued. "But it's never good enough for either of you."
"You don't know what it means to work hard."
"Do you know the amount of pressure you put on us? Do you have any idea what rich teenagers get up to? Do you know the crazy things Shiloh Pitt does? You're lucky I'm not in the tabloids."
"Is she my daughter? No, you are. I expect excellence. I've always made that clear. You're lucky your mother isn't here to slap the taste out of your mouth."
"Why don't you just do it?" Dom feigned as if he was going to hit her, and Mazda panicked. "Papi no! Please no! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" She said flying to the other end of the room. She moved faster than Dom had ever seen her move.
"Watch your mouth with me." The young girl vigorously shook her head as she continued to sob in fear. She had suddenly become mute. "That right there just cost you another week."
"It doesn't even matter how long I'm punished any way. It's not going to change what you think of me. You've already made your mind up, right?"
"Come again?"
"You already think I'm a failure, so it doesn't matter how long I'm punished for or if I follow rules. It not gonna change anything."
"I'm your father. I don't have a choice about how I feel about you."
"You hate me." She sobbed.
"I don't hate you." Dom said attempting to calm himself down.
"Yes, you do!" Mazda accused from her corner. "You've never yelled at me before."
"You've never disappointed me before. I guess it's a first for both of us. I'm angry with you. I'm actually very, very angry with you; probably angrier than I've been in a very long time. That being said, I still love you."
"Really?" She asked in disbelief.
"Of course, but things are going to change. You made a mistake that I can't look passed."
"So you're never going to forgive me?"
"You need to earn you're privileges back. I honestly don't know if you can earn trust back, but you're gonna have to work for that too."
"I'll never do it again."
"Was this the only time you ever snuck out?" Dom asked knowing the answer.
"No", she confessed.
"Good, you didn't lie."
"It was only three times."
"Only three?" Dom asked sarcastically. "That's three to many. Why?"
"I don't know." Mazda answered as she continued to wipe her face. "Being at home sucks lately. I never wanted to leave before."
"What's making you want to leave?"
"It's lonely. We used to do stuff together, and now we don't. I try to get everyone to do things, but no one cares enough to do it."
"Like what?"
"Like movie night? Or game night? I don't know, or even just going out. I can only do so much with a six year old." Mazda complained.
"I admit that things have not been easy."
"That's the understatement of the year." Dom gave her a warning look, and she quickly turned away.
"Things are getting better. I'm not going to get into the details of it, but just know that it is. However, things are not going continue to get any better if we have to worry about you running off doing God knows what. When your mother told me she caught you sneaking in, my first thought was, 'That's not my daughter. My daughter wouldn't do that.' But I was wrong. In a lot of ways your actions hurt my feelings. I didn't raise you to be that way, and the things you do are a reflection of me."
"I'm sorry Papi."
"You can say sorry all you want, but I'm never going to accept that type of behavior. I want to be very clear about that. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir." She answered immediately. Dom stood to leave, but she called him before he reached the door. "Papi wait. Can I get hug?" She asked shyly.
"I'm not ready yet." Dom told her.
"I understand." Mazda replied bowing her heard.
"Why don't you go to the bathroom and get yourself together. We'll be leaving in a few minutes." Dom suggested as he left his saddened daughter alone.
Back at her retreat, Letty dined with several of her group mates around a small table. "So you're famous right?" Mark asked her.
"To some people, but there are plenty of people who don't know who I am."
"Yeah, but you're friends with SLS. I've seen you photographed with her." The man asked about Mercedes by her stage name.
"She's an old friend."
"Wow", the man said awestruck. "I'm a big fan. She's like a sexier Beyoncé."
"I'll be sure to tell her."
"Mark if you don't have anything relevant to talk about then I think it may be best to keep your thoughts to yourself. This isn't the place for those types of questions." Amy told him noting Letty's discomfort. "Don't worry about him honey. He's just a has been blogger."
"I'm sorry. I never thought I'd meet a celebrity here. Old habits die hard."
"Just like your drug addiction. Moving on, how was your call home hun?" Amy asked her.
"I'm worried. I may leave early." Letty confessed.
"No! I'm sure your husband is handling it very well."
"My daughter has a lot of feelings, and my husband doesn't do well with emotions. It's just not his thing."
"Most men are that way honey. Don't worry about it."
"I can't help it."
"You're a mother. You're always going to worry, but it's only two more days. I'm sure you've been gone longer than that before."
"I have, but this time it's different. I want to just hold my baby the way I would when she was little, but something tells me she'd push me away."
"She's at the age. I already told you."
"It's not just her. My son has been going through a couple of personal issues as well. I'm worried about him too. I don't like not seeing them. I just feel like everything is just going to get worse."
"She's a teenager. She doesn't know what she wants, but after this weekend, you'll be clear on what she needs, and what they all need."
"I guess you're right."
"Do you know what you're in need of?"
"What?"
"The best deep tissue massage you're ever going to get, followed by two hours of some hardcore meditation."
"I can't meditate. I've tried before when my best friend would drag me to her natal yoga classes."
"It just takes practice. It's amazing what clearing your mind can do. It's almost like time slows down, and then you can actually make decisions instead of being overwhelmed by them." Amy grabbed Letty's hand and lead her to the massage parlor. About two hours later she found herself in the meditation room pondering on anything and everything. Every time she got rid of one thought another just followed right behind it. 'Stop thinking!' She mentally reprimanded herself. 'Maybe counting will help. 1,2,3,4,5,6…I'm bored. I wonder if Dom put Axel to sleep on time. Sweet, sweet Axel. Shit! I forgot to take him to the puppet theater like he asked. He must be so upset. Well nice going Letty. Maybe Dom can take him. He's home for the weekend…at least I hope. How do I not know my husband's schedule…'
"Urg!" This isn't working Letty voiced out loud.
"Shh!" Several people hushed her.
"Sorry", she mouthed. Amy leaned over to her.
"Give yourself more time."
"It's been an hour."
"It can take a life time." Letty took a deep breath and attempted to clear her head once again. 'Here we go. No thoughts. No thoughts. No thoughts. I wonder if Vince has talked to Jensen yet. It's been like two days. What's he waiting for? I should call Mercedes and see. Hopefully Jensen isn't taking his anger out on Mazda. Shit, he's probably taking his anger out on Mazda. I should go home. We need to redecorate Axel's room. No thoughts…No thoughts…I can't stop thinking!'
"Stop", Amy said leaning over once again noting the mental anguish manifesting itself on her face.
"I can't help it. This is actually making more anxious."
"What relaxes you? What normally clears your head?"
"I don't know. I nice long drive?"
"Shh!" They were hushed again.
"I'm just going to go back to my room. Thanks for trying." Letty said getting up to leave. On her way to her room, she bumped into Claude who himself appeared to be meditating on the grass. "You too!"
"Pardon?"
"Can everyone here meditate, but me?"
"I've been doing it for years. I find focusing on the breath helps."
"I give up." Claude calmly stood, and grabbed her hand.
"Would you like to go somewhere to talk privately? You seem unnerved."
"No, I'm fine." Letty dismissed.
"Are you sure? I'd hate for you to be uncomfortable here. I know it was a bit of a sacrifice for you to come."
"I think I just need a good shower and a night's sleep."
"I have a better idea. Why don't you come join me, and a couple of other guests around a very introspective bond fire?"
"I think I'm alright."
"Nonsense, come." He said pulling her arm. When they reached the bond fire, Letty noticed a crowed of people looking up to a man dressed in traditional Native American clothing. It seemed that there were a lot more guess there than she had seen in group. "That's Mah-to-he-hah. He's our medicine man. A lot of people here attribute their healing to him. I'd like for you to be apart of this ritual."
"This may be a little too weird for me." Letty told him honestly.
"Stay, observe, be with us." Claude urged. They sat within the circle of people around the campfire. The man spoke of balance and finding meaning in the mysteries of life. Letty found it to be quite theatrical, almost like something out of a movie. Mah-to-he-hah passed around a large dish full of what he referred to as 'The Way' for everyone to sip.
"What's in the tea?"
"Peyote, it's a annual ritual. You're lucky you've come on the only weekend he joins us all year."
"No, thank you." Letty skipped her turn. An existential trip was not something she had signed up for. Her mushrooms experience one night in hotel room in Germany with Vince, Dom, and Mercedes was about all she could handle in her lifetime. Short moments later, those around her began to act erratically as she had predicted. Letty had never been so glad to not be a part of something. A few people were overly self-aware and talking to themselves. Others were dancing as they stared up at the sky. Some looked like they were inwardly panicking. In observing all the madness around her, all Letty could be sure of was that she wanted to be in her room waiting for her husband's phone call.
"You're quite beautiful." Claude abruptly told Letty tucking stray piece of hair behind her ear. "You're very striking."
"Thank you. I think I'm going to go now." Letty said getting up.
"Wait" Claude said grabbing her hand.
"I don't think I'm getting much out of this."
"Perhaps tomorrow, during group."
"Yeah, maybe."
"I'll walk you." He offered.
"I think I'm all set." Letty said stepping away. She wanted to be as far away from him as possible.
"I've really enjoyed seeing you grow in the last few weeks. It's like when I help others put the pieces of their lives together, I'm also putting together the pieces of my own as well. It's rather fascinating how we're all interconnected in the strangest of ways. Don't you think?"
"I guess…" Letty said feeling a bit uncomfortable.
"I've developed quite a liking towards you. I hope that even after your treatment that we could form a lasting friendship."
"Uh…sure"
"Brilliant!" Claude said with a boyish smile coming over his face. He abruptly kissed her, and Letty reflexively pushed him away and smacked him.
"What the hell's wrong with you?" She shouted angrily.
"I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me." Claude told her with a foolish laugh. "Don't be angry."
"You're fucking high that's what's wrong with you! Don't ever fucking touch me again! I'm getting out of here." Letty yelled at him, before bolting to grab her things. She washed her mouth off four times, but she could still feel the disgust of his lips on hers no matter how hard she tried. Letty finally gave up after her sixth attempt, and made her way to the front desk.
"Checking out?" The concierge asked her as she handed him her keys.
"Yes, I need to leave this place now." She said seconds before hurriedly getting into her car. Letty grabbed her phone dialed her best friend's number as she pressed the start button on her car.
"Hello?" Simone answered.
"Simmy are you in L.A?"
"Yeah? I've been working on Vanessa's new album. Your son just unknowingly produced her next single. It's phenomenal!"
"I need a place to stay tonight."
"Is everything alright?" Simone asked, her excitement immediately dwindling.
"No, I'll tell you more when I get there. Can I come over?"
"Of course, always"
"I don't want anyone to know."
"Girl, you're scaring me."
"I just don't want Dom to find out." She told her old friend nervously. "Shit! He's calling me. Hold on a second."
A/N: There you go. Suspicions confirmed. I'm interested to read about what you guys think about Mazda and Dom. Thanks for reading! Review!