Disclaimer: I do not own anything that does not have my name written next to it in pretty pink pen. I only own my own fictional characters, this include my OFC Nicola Andrews and her family. I also do not own any of the songs used to write this story…except on CD.
Reviews etc. are always appreciated and adored.
Summary: "Do you remember that time I fell out your window and you came jumping out after me?" There was a twinge of humour to her husky voice and Leon smiled for her benefit. For three years he let himself believe that he would always save her from everything, until he was the reason she was in that ambulance, a broken back and their baby was gone.
Ava- Haha It's alright I know what you meant when you said OKAY lol. I love how excited you were about it! Thanks for the awesome review and sorry I didn't update at lunchtime but the blacksmith was dragging me around fixing horses so I didn't really get a lunchbreak! Anyways let me know what you think and thanks for the list of how fabulous this is lol.
Mrz Letty Ortiz-Toretto – I think I will cry when I finish it! I'm really enjoying writing it so an honest opinion is always appreciated (hint hint) slash the pony seems a bit happier now so all is well! Thanks so much for your faithful reviews and hope this one is just as good!
Gingermegs- I plan on relaxing loads but we'll see how long that lasts lol. Nicola has such bad luck but I'm glad you liked it! Thank-you for your awesome review!
Playlist:
All the Small Things – Blink 182
Never Liked You – Rouge Traders
Delicate – Damien Rice
June 1999 – Alleyways and Payphone calls
Hitting the play button on the CD player Nicola walked out into the middle of the small dance studio. Blink 182 blasted through the speakers. She smiled at the thought of Jesse mixing the CD for her. After a few stretches she just let the music flow through her and she started to move. Forgetting that Leon hadn't spoken to her in five days even if they still shared the same bed, the lack of touching, the lack of anything.
Her mind went blank as she spun and landed with as much grace as she could. Suddenly all the tension with Leon for the last week filled her body, their fight replaying over and over, watching him walk out and she realised the music had stopped. Turning around to look at the CD player her eyes narrowed at the sight of the petite short haired brunette standing there watching her, Nicola couldn't help but notice her uncanny timing. Putting her hand on her hip and raising an eyebrow, Nicola was the first to speak.
"I thought you would have heard me the first time I said I would kill you if you came back. And now you're on my turf I have to wonder why so game little Toretto?" She cocked her head slightly and bit the side of her mouth to stop her saying anything more.
"I'm a Toretto, I don't really like threats." The brunette replied and Nicola allowed herself to smile. At least the kid had some balls.
"Fair enough, so Bella what brings you here?" Nicola sat down and unlaced her shoes, wriggling her toes as her feet relaxed.
"I want back in to my cousins house." Bella replied and Nicola nodded.
"Not a chance."
"They're my family!" Bella said, her voice getting slightly louder.
"They're mine too in case you didn't notice." Nicola replied as she stood up and pulled the bottoms of her shorts down slightly and saw Bellas eyes go to her hands.
"What's that?" She hissed when she saw the ring.
"It's a ring." Nicola replied as she stuffed the shoes in her bag, realising it had been a waste of time going there in the first place and walking past Bella.
"An engagement ring? Why would he want to marry you?" Bella replied, not a hint of snideness in her voice but Nicola still spun around and Bella stopped centimetres from Nicola.
"You really want to go there with me, now Bella? Again?" Nicola asked, her breath hissing through her teeth as she looked down at the girl who was a few inches shorter.
"We haven't been here before." Bella replied.
"Look, Bella, I won last time, you try to take me on again and I will kick your ass girl. Same goes if you touch my boyfriend again. Face it Leon doesn't want you. He never wanted you- because he was just filling the void with you while I was in New York. So you can just add yourself to that little list I like to call the nameless skanks." Nicola remained cool as the last words rolled off her tongue.
She could see the anger boiling on the surface of Bellas face though and she smirked slightly. She'd really pissed the girl off this time.
"Leon and I had something." Bella shouted in Nicolas face, finally losing her cool resolve.
"Well it sure wasn't sex." Nicola replied and crossed her arms across her chest.
"You're a fucking bitch." A small chuckle left Nicolas mouth but was cut short when a sharp slap connected with her cheek. She tasted blood in her mouth and wondered how such a small girl could slap so damn hard.
"Really? You're going to bitch slap me?" Sighing Nicola dropped her bag and turned back to the girl who threw a right jab at her but Nicola moved out of the way in time. Bella was backing up as Nicola stepped forward but suddenly seemed to have her bearings jumped forward and pushed Nicola back. "Fine have it your way."
Nicola swung out wide and her fist connected with Bellas jaw, splitting her lip. She saw tears spring to the younger girls eyes as she wiped at her lip before lunging at Nicola again knocking her down to the ground.
Too fast for Bella, Nicola had the girl beneath her and held her there by the shoulders as Bella slapped at her.
"Stop it Bella." Nicola said calmly but the girl grabbed Nicolas ponytail and yanked it hard making Nicola shriek.
Bella got the upper hand and knocked Nicola back, straddling her as she hit at Nicola who managed to fight off most of the blows one fist hitting her eye and the other her cheek. Finally when both hands were away from her face, Nicola hit Bella again making her fall off her and start to cry as she clutched at her nose. Stumbling up Nicola looked down at her left hand and saw her ring finger stained with blood and a small smile formed on her face- at least it was good for something.
"Like I said, we've been through this before. I always win." Without looking back Nicola picked up her bag and slung it over her shoulder and walked barefoot out to the parking lot where she leant against the wall and waited for a taxi.
When she finally got to the Echo park house she stepped out of the cab and felt so weak. The tears sprang to her eyes as she walked up the pathway and quietly slipped her way into the house.
"Hey where've you- What the fuck happened to your face?" Vince said loudly looking up from his magazine in the kitchen and Nicola gingerly touched her eye and felt it throb. That girl could sure pack a slap.
"Is that a black eye?" Mia stared at her in disbelief.
"You should see the other guy." Nicola laughed as Vince jumped up and walked over to inspect her face while Mia went towards the freezer and passed her a bag of frozen peas.
"Put this on your face Lala." Nicola took a seat, ignoring Vinces attempts to get a look at the bruises. She held the peas to the side of her face and winced as it stung.
"Who the hell did this to you, La?" Vince growled still looking down at her and Nicola looked up at him sheepishly.
"Would you believe me if I said I tripped."
"Usually, yes. But usually the ground doesn't hit you back." Vince replied and shifted her hand to hold it against the slowly forming bruise.
"You know how many times I've hit someone and this is the first time I've been really hit back. I think I'm out of practice." She lifted the peas up and put them on her cheek.
"Who hit you La?" Vince said, "and where the hell was Leon?" This made Nicola laugh.
"Does it matter? Like I said- you should see the other guy." Mia shook her head as she looked down at her friend.
"Seems like you're getting into a lot of trouble these days Lala."
"Too much trouble, who did this?" Vince interrupted Mia and Nicola rolled her eyes.
"Just leave it Vince." Nicola snapped and he saw the tears in her eyes, making him shift awkwardly before going and sitting back down at the table across from her. "I'm sorry V, I know you're worried. This is my problem okay?" Vince nodded and went back to reading his magazine.
"Thanks for the peas Mia, I just need a lie down." She stood up and put the peas back in the freezer before making her way to the basement stairs, not getting interrupted on her way.
She lay there for a good half an hour before she started to drift to sleep but was suddenly awoken when a door slammed and she lifted her head from the pillow to see Leon standing at the end of the bed, his boots still on as he strode across the carpet.
"What the fuck happened, and don't give me any of your shit, La." He demanded as he stood over her and Nicola dropped her head back on the pillow.
"Does it look that bad?" She asked.
"You look like you went three rounds with Ali. What happened?" Leon knelt down beside the bed, his fingers grazing the skin beside the bruise on her eye.
"You're crazy ex or whatever she is. I don't even know how she found me but she was not impressed with me." Nicola replied as she let Leons fingers run along the side of her face.
"Who?"
"Bella." Nicola replied.
"What the fuck?" Leon pulled his hand away from her and growled.
"Beats me. She just appeared and went all girlfight on me. It hurts to be hit." She mumbled and Leon kicked off his boots and climbed into the bed with her. Wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close to his chest. "You're all dirty, you'll stain the sheets." Nicola mumbled as she buried her face in his chest, ignoring the ache.
"I'll wash them. Tell me from the start." She told him the whole story as he lay there nursing her and she clung to his shirt.
"And then I broke her nose."
"I always knew you were a fighter." Leon chuckled and when Nicola didn't laugh he looked down at her. "La?"
"I don't like fighting with you." She mumbled and he nodded.
"Me neither baby." He kissed her hair and she sighed.
"I can't believe the little skank gave me a black eye. I think I deserved it though. I was a complete bitch to you about the whole tattoo thing, then the car thing and possibly the New York thing. I think she could smell the fact that we were having a fight." Nicola looked up at him through long lashes, the swelling slowly starting to hurt.
"La, you never deserved to be hit, ever. And I'm going to find Bella and sort this out. I promise. I'm so sorry." Leon brushed her hair from her face and Nicola smiled, wincing at the movement.
"It's not your fault sweetie. I'm pretty sure I provoked her. And don't worry about going after her. She's not worth it. And besides she'll still be having a cry about her broken nose." There was a knock on the door and Leon looked around to the door and told them to come in.
Mia opened the door slowly and looked in on the couple.
"You will not believe who just turned up on the doorstep. And Lala you were right. She does not look good." Mia said and Nicola groaned.
"I'm so sorry Mia." Nicola said as she sat up slowly, her whole body starting to ache.
"It's not your fault La. Look Doms talking to her now. I just thought you should know."
"I'm coming to talk to her." Leon threw the covers back and Nicola groaned.
"Leon, leave it." Mia shrugged at Nicola as Leon pushed past her to the door.
"She crossed a line La. She should have known better." And that was the last thing Mia said as she closed the bedroom door and left. Nicola considered staying in bed but quickly jumped up and made her way up the stairs as quickly as her bruised muscles would let her.
She could hear Doms booming voice as she walked through the kitchen into the living room and stood in the doorway. Everyone was there, including Bella who now had a piece of tape across her nose, holding it together, two black eyes and a split lip. Nicola smiled a small smile of satisfaction.
"La." Someone spotted her and suddenly the whole room turned to look at her.
"Jesus." Letty said, stalking over and grabbing Nicolas chin to inspect the damage. "You look like hell, girl."
"Bite me." Nicola growled making Letty smile.
"That's my girl." She laughed and turned to stand beside Nicola as they faced the rest of them.
"Who started it La?" Dom asked.
"You've really got to ask? Would La ever start a fight?" Letty asked then stopped herself and glanced at Nicola wincing. "Oops." Nicola rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to Dom and Bella.
"Ask her." Nicola crossed her arms across her chest and tried to look as defiant as possible.
"I want you to tell me Lala." Dom replied and Nicola dropped her arms and sighed.
"Probably me. I did call her a nameless skank." Dom turned back to Bella.
"Got anything to add?" Bella glanced at Leon and Dom saw the move. "Don't Bella. Don't you even think about bringing Leon into this." He pointed his forefinger at her angrily and Bella shrunk away.
"No, she's right." Leon said and everyone turned to look at him. "Well it's my fault right." He glanced at Nicola before turning back to Bella. "We hooked up once Bella. I was missing La, and I used you. I'm sorry, but it doesn't go further than that. I love La and I'm going to marry her." He looked up at Dom. "And if she's going to stay we're going to leave." He walked over and stood next to Nicola, grabbing her hand and intertwining their fingers. Nicola threw him a grateful smile and Dom crossed his arms across his chest.
"Well its settled." He went to walk of when Bella shrieked and he turned back to her, rubbing a hand over his bald head in frustration.
"What does that even mean?" She asked and Dom shrugged.
"Well, they pay rent, they have lived here for the last few years so I'm sorry Bella, it's time for you to go home." He walked away and Bella turned on her heel and stalked out of the house.
"Hell yeah!" Jesse finally yelled and everyone burst into laughter. "La totally kicked her ass!" Dom shook his head and continued out the door but Leon called out to him.
"Look, thanks dawg, for sticking up for us." Dom nodded and Nicola added.
"We're engaged Dom."
He turned so slowly that Nicola thought he was going to kill them. But when she saw his face she was so relieved she ran forward and hugged him tightly.
"Congratulations baby girl." He said hugging her back and putting her down. "Guess we'll have to give you a piece of the garage now." He laughed and Nicola laughed.
"Thanks Dom, for everything." She said quietly and he nodded before looking over at Leon.
"You are one lucky man, Leon." He shook Leons hand and retreated as Nicola turned around to face Vince who was looking shocked.
"When did this happen?" He asked looking between his two friends and Nicola and Leon shared a look.
"Awhile ago V. We just wanted to keep it quiet." Leon said, gripping Nicolas hand tightly as they waited for Vince to react. He nodded slowly and shrugged.
"Well I guess it was always going to happen. Good work, kid." He pulled Leon into a hug and after making sure he wasn't kidding Leon gave him a manly slap on the back and stood back.
"Thanks man." Vince swooped in and pulled Nicola into a hug.
"When are you going to give me some nieces and nephews then girly?" he asked putting her down making everyone but Nicola laugh.
"Shut it V." She said trying to sound light hearted and Vince nudged her.
"Settle down, girl. I'll wait at least a year." Nicola punched him in the arm as something popped and they all turned to look at Mia and Letty standing there with bubbling bottles of champagne.
"To Mr and Mrs Palermo!" Everyone cheered and Leon wrapped an arm around Nicola shoulders and kissed her on the head, grinning from ear to ear the whole time.
A/N: So…I am officially on holidays. SO lets see how we go! Three days worth of undivided attention coming your way. Thank you so much for reading! And I hope its okay… REVIEW x