Chapter 9: Graduation Day
Dom's PoV
"Come on boys lets go." Dad yelled from the living room. I tuck one last look in the mirror, running my hand through my short hair glad that I had remembered to trim it the night before to remove any trace of curls.
"Coming Pops." I yelled back. Ducking into my room I grabbed the black gown and cap covered in their plastic and ran down the stairs.
"V let's go!" Letty yelled down to the basement, "nothing you do is going to make you look good."
"you know Letty I'm actually starting to feel bad for Tran, dating a smart ass like you." Vince growled as he ran past her.
"Come on kids, into the car." Pops said ushering us all out of the house.
Letty's PoV
I fidgeted next to Mia in the school gym as we waited for the ceremony to begin. I had let her dress me again, wanting to look nice for both my two best friends and my boyfriend on such a big day. She had put me in a dark purple sundress that hung around my knees and had cinched the waist with a wide black belt. I had let her line my eyes in black drawing the lines out just a little at the ends and had readily agreed to the neutral lip gloss she had handed me. She had curled my hair into ringlets and pinned one side back with a large flower the same color as the dress. Against my better judgement I had let her talk me into wearing a pair of black three inch heels that strapped over my toes and around my ankles. Even though I knew I would ruin it with the next day I had allowed her to paint the tips of my nails in a purple that matched the dress.
"Will you calm down, you're going to wrinkle the dress." Mia hissed at me.
"I feel awkward." I mumbled giving the bottom of the dress another tug.
"well you look amazing." Papa Tony said with a smile. "now both of you relax, they should be calling them in soon.
As always Papa Tony was right and within a few moments the boys' class was walked in and led to their seats. The ceremony to drag on forever with speeches from the Principle, a couple school board members, and a hand full of students divided by performances from the bands and choirs. Finally they began to start calling the students up to receive their diplomas. When Vince walked across the stage first we call called and hollered in celebration, Leon letting out a whistle, Vince walked to the end of the stage before holding his diploma up in triumph and jumping down the stage steps. Then here was another string of students called up before finally we heard Dom's name me and Mia jumped out of our chairs and hollered as loudly as we could grinning from ear to ear.
"That's my boy!" Papa shouted as he brushed tears from both eyes.
"He did it Daddy!" Mia squealed. On stage I could see Dom duck his head as his cheeks turned bright red in embarrassment.
"Of course he did it." I said with a grin as Dom held his diploma up.
Dom's PoV
When I crossed the stage I could hear Mia and Letty's voices fill the air and my father's proud proclamation. I couldn't help the heat that rose to my face as I ducked my head as I took the diploma from the principles hand. I turned to look at the audience and immediately I saw Mia and my dad hugging with Letty net to them clapping and smiling up at me. Without thinking I grinned back and held up my diploma. Soon Mr. Hernandez was asking us to stand before announcing us as the graduating class of 1994. I let out a loud yell with the rest of my class and quickly made our way out to the cafeteria where our families were waiting.
Letty's PoV
Quickly we merged with the flood of other families to the cafeteria, Mia and I jumping up to try to see over the heads of people.
"you know it must really suck to be short." I heard a voice say from behind me. Quickly I turned to find Johnny smiling down at me.
"congratulations." I said with a smile, "and I'm not that short."
"short enough." He replied before pulling me in and kissing me, "so you're coming to my graduation party tonight right?"
"of course." I replied leaning back to look up at him.
"great lets get going then."
"can you grab me in like two hours? Wanna make an appearance at Dom and Vince's party first so I can just hang at yours for the rest of the night." I said with a smile.
"I'll see you then." I could tell his smile was strained but I wouldn't let him come between me and my familia.
"great." I gave him one more kiss before turning to try and find the rest of the family.
Dom's PoV
Quickly Vince and I found the rest of the group.
"Congrats big brother." Mia squealed jumping onto my back.
"Thanks squirt." I said with a grin reaching to ruffle her hair. Quickly I realized the group was short one and that Letty was the one missing. Just as I was about to ask where she was I saw her just over Dad's shoulder, wrapped in Tran's arms with his lips to hers. I couldn't help but frown even as she pulled away and started heading toward us.
"you would think we could have one day without the douche." I growled.
"chill man, don't let him ruin the buzz." Leon said nudging my shoulder.
"you're right, so pops what's the plan?" I asked forcing a smile onto my face.
"yeah Papa T what plan you have up your sleeve this time?" Vince said as he tossed his cap onto Mia's head where it slipped over her eyes causing her to glare at him.
"Why do you assume that Pops planned it all?" Letty asked as she joined the group, "you guys ready to go for a celebration none of us ever thought you would get?"
"you're so not funny Chica." Vince said hooking his arm around her neck and pulling her towards him.
"please you find me hilarious Coyote." She replied grinning as we all started to head through the exit.
"yeah funny looking." I grinned at her, before darting off.
"oh your so going to get it Dom." She laughed as she ran after me. As we hit the parking lot I felt a weight hit my back as she jumped me. Quickly I grabbed her behind the knees and hoisted her up so she wouldn't fall.
"All right everyone, into the car." Dad called laughing.
Letty's PoV
The party was in full swing when I heard Johnny's bike pull into the driveway. I looked over to where Dom was hanging with Vince, Victor and the rest of the guys with one of the neighborhood tramps hanging on him. Rolling my eyes headed over to the drive way hoping Johnny wouldn't mind hanging here a bit before we headed over to his place, I could only imagine the snore fest that his parents had planned for him.
"hey babe you ready to go?" he said as I rounded the corner.
"why don't we hang here for a bit." I said with a smile.
"yeah sure." He said sliding his arm around my hip and we headed back into the back yard.
Dom's PoV
"Chill dude." Vince said from next to me. I couldn't help the growl that slipped from my lips as I watched Tran walk into my own back yard with his arm around Letty.
"What the hell is he doing here?" Leon asked.
"Who the fuck knows, but if my dad's look is anything to go by we are going to have to play nice." I snarled.
"hey it doesn't even look like they are heading this way bro." Victor said, "what the hell does Letty even see in that poser."
"we still can't figure out why she's with him." I replied.
"yeah, no clue right Dom?" Mia said giving me one of her signature looks. I sent her a glare that she quickly returned. It had been just a little over a year from when I had found out about Letty's crush on me. I didn't see how that was still an issue as she sure had seemed to move onto Tran completely.
"Am I the only one who always fear when you two look at each other like that?" Leon asked.
"No we all do, two hot headed Torretos going at it is like a wild fire and a volcano meeting." Victor replied.
"and about as entertaining as a natural disaster too."
"shut it morons." Mia said with a glare. I watched as Letty chatted with a few of the people from the neighborhood, Tran at her side like a silent statue. I couldn't help but frown as I watched Tran lean down to whisper in Letty's ear a smirk on his face, and the frown deepened as they slipped into the garage, Letty quickly looking around to make sure no one was watching.
"what the hell are they doing?"
"It's none of your business Dom, just leave it." Mia growled from her perch on the fence. The only answer I gave her was a quick glare as I tried to tune back into my friends and forget about what I had just seen.
Letty's PoV
Johnny pulled me into the garage before pushing me against the charger and fastening his mouth over mine. I felt a heat fill my body as he slid his hands down my sides before curling them around my thighs and lifting me. Automatically I wrapped my legs around his waist, hands buried in his hair. Quickly he moved from my lips to my throat lightly dragging his teeth along my neck. I bit my lip to silence the moan that wanted to escape. As he moved to press more firmly against me I could feel how hard he was.
"john-johnny." I stuttered out as he nipped my ear lobe. "w-we should slow down."
Dom's PoV
I looked up to see Tran walking out of the garage sans Letty and I felt my stomach sink. Without a second thought I started heading toward the garage.
"Dom where are you going?" Vince asked, confused.
"I'll be right back." I said not looking back at the group.
"Dom –" Mia started.
"Shut up Mia, for once just shut up." I growled. By the time I made it across the yard to the garage my heart was pounding. Quickly I slipped inside and closed the door, immediately I heard the nearly silent whimpers from the other side of the car. Hurriedly I walked around only to stop short, Letty was huddled on the ground by the front tire her back to me; her once flawless dress was rumpled and one shoulder had fallen down her arm. Her hair was a tangled mess and I could see where the flower had slid so it clung near the bottom of her hair. Hastily I dropped to my knees next to her and pulled her into my arms with outthinking.
"get off." She whined trying to struggle away.
"Letty it's me, it's ok, it's me." I repeated over and over siting back so I could pull her fully into my lap. I was going to kill Tran if it was the last thing I did. I held her tight until she stopped fighting me and instead clung to my shirt, I held her as her sobs grew and continued to hold her until they died down again. I held her to me and stroked her hair. Once I felt her finally start to relax I tilted her chin back and looked down into her oil eyes that were still red rimmed and wet. "talk to me Letty, tell me what happened?" I asked gently.
She started to turn her head away from me but I swiftly, yet gently turned her face back to look at me, "please Dom, don't make me say it, don't make me feel any more humiliated than I already feel."
"did he force you?" I asked, I couldn't help the flash back to so many years ago when I held a twelve year old Letty in my arms, shaking as she was now, and listened to her tell my dad about her step father and his friends. Back then it had been my dad who had protected her, but if ran had hurt her like that I would kill him.
"he didn't have too," she said darkly, "as he said I'm just a filthy Latina whore, all he had to do was complement me for a few months and I rolled right over."
I felt my blood boil, he would be lucky if all I did was kill him. Before I realized what I was doing I pulled Letty against me and pressed my lips to hers, my hand cupping the back of her neck. I felt her stiffen for a moment before going lax against me. "he lied" I said pulling back and touching my forehead to hers, "he used you, he made you fall for him and used that against you. That is not your fault."
"Dom - " She started.
"Don't Let, trust me in this." I cut her off. "this wasn't your fault. This was all him, And he will pay. Now come on lets go get you inside." I said standing up with her in my arms.
"Dom?" I barely heard the whisper that was her voice.
"yeah?"
"Don't leave me."
"Never, you're stuck with me now Letty," I tilted her head back to look at me, "and if you so much as look at another guy, I'll break his face." I pressed another kiss to her bruised lips and made my way out of the Garage and into the house, quickly as to avoid the rest of the gang.