Please note: People are alive in this story. Not dead. You'll see what I mean later on. Just making that clear. Also, Mia's not pregnant and the Toretto house wasn't blown up. Um...basically if you see something different in here than in the series, just go with it.
Additional note: This chapter has a song in it. Yes, I typed out the lyrics. No, not every chapter will have it. One three (including this one) will. I do not own any of them. This song is "Crazier Than You" by from the Addams Family Musical. I do not own that, nor do I own Fast and Furious.
As the guys left, Letty looked at the teenager in front of her. No matter how hard she tried to hide it, Letty could tell she was nervous and felt for her. It couldn't be easy going through big changes like that, and knew from her own experiences that being thrust into a world you don't know was never fun.
"So what did you want to do today?" Mia asked her as she sat down at the table with another cup of coffee.
Nora shrugged. "I don't really know. I'm usually in school right now so it's weird when I have the opportunity to do something else, I'm never really sure what to do."
Mia smiled sadly at her. "Well, everyone needs a day off of school at one time or another." She glanced at Letty. "This one was barely ever present and look how she turned out."
Letty rolled her eyes. "Oh whatever, princess."
Nora laughed at this and felt better than she had a few minutes before. "Why do I get the feeling this isn't a normal family?"
Letty nodded. "Now you're catching on."
Mia sat back in her chair and chuckled. "So you said you had a friend named Paige?"
"Yeah, we're really close. I've known her for a few years now and she's put up with everything; new families, old families, broken plans because of it. She's great." Nora told them. "When I don't show up for school today, she'll figure everything out. It's our routine now."
"She sounds really great." Letty told her. "It's nice to have friends like that."
She looked at Mia and the women smiled at each other. Nora saw the exchange and her heart lifted a little bit. It looked as though the four adults she had met so far were extremely close and always had been. If that was the case, she figured things couldn't be too bad around there and decided she would go into this situation with a better attitude than she had with any of the other ones.
"So are you in any activities at school?" Mia asked her, breaking her out of her thoughts.
Nora nodded instantly. "I'm actually participating in the musical this winter. We're in rehearsals now but it looks like it will be a good one."
"What musical are you doing?" Mia wondered. "Do you have a part in it?"
Nora grinned. "We're doing the 'Addams Family'…and I'm Wednesday Addams."
"Seriously? That's awesome." Letty exclaimed. "I didn't know it was a musical."
Nora nodded and paused.
"What is it?" Letty asked, sensing her hesitation.
"I…actually have a rehearsal for it after school. It's just my character and one other that has to be there, so it's kind of important." She paused again. "Would you guys be offended if I went to it?"
She looked up at them and Mia shook her head. "Honey, no. Of course you can" She smiled at her and laid her hand on Nora's. "Would it be okay if I, or we, came too?"
Nora paused. She had never been asked that before and had never expected anyone to be interested in it. "Uh…sure. You don't have to, really. But if you want to…sure."
"Well we do." Letty told her eagerly. "You're in a whole new world now honey. You might as well get used to it."
Nora looked between the two women and smiled. "Thank you."
Mia nodded. "You don't have to thank us. We mean everything we say."
"Now…how about before we go anywhere, we have some girl time." She glanced at Mia. "Do you want us to help you touch up your makeup?"
"That would be great." Nora let out the nerves she was holding. "I don't really have much in the bag I brought."
"Well you don't have to worry about that anymore. Let's get ready and we'll take you to get everything you need. After all, you'll be here for a while so you may as well get settled in." Mia stood. "We'll help you."
"God, I remember going here." Letty stated as they walked into the high school. "I hated it."
Nora chuckled. "I don't mind it. I have Paige and the musical and that makes everything not so bad."
They walked passed the auditorium and Nora opened the door. "This is where we are rehearsing today."
The women followed her as they walked down the aisle, and stopped when her teacher came toward them. "Nora! I wasn't sure you would be here since you missed school today."
She nodded. "I'm sorry. I was placed with a new family super late last night, so they called me in. But I wanted to practice." She turned to them. "Letty, Mia, this is Mr. Williams, my teacher. Mr. Williams these are two of my new family members. They wanted to watch us rehearse if that is okay?"
He nodded immediately with much more enthusiasm than Letty or Mia expected. "Of course! Why don't you go get ready. Nate is in the back waiting for you."
She nodded and waved, before heading backstage. Mr. Williams turned to them and sighed. "It's nice to meet you."
"I hope we're not intruding. My husband and I are new at this so I wanted to see what makes her who she is. We're sort of floundering." Mia smiled worriedly.
He shook his head. "Actually, I am very happy to see you taking an interest in her. Lord knows she needs it."
"Why do you say that?" Letty asked him curiously.
He sighed again and glanced behind him to make sure she couldn't hear them. "No other family that she's lived with has truly cared about what she does." Then he scoffed. "And her mother just sucks, honestly. That woman needs to leave her the hell alone and let her move on with her life."
Mia nodded. "She told us a bit about that. It is so sad. My husband and I are hoping to change that."
"Good. She deserves so much better than she's gotten." He said sincerely. "Now, let's sit. I think you will enjoy this."
Letty and Mia sat in the row behind the teacher and watched him shuffle his papers. Then he cleared his throat. "Okay guys. We're ready."
They watched as Nora and another boy, Nate, came out on stage and stood a few feet apart from each other.
"You guys were supposed to try and memorize the lyrics, so let's try it without the scripts if you can." He told them and started the music.
[Nora]
Once, I was hopeful
Thought we were one.
Life, less than perfect
Finally begun.
But, now i wonder
Are we undone?
I wanna treasure you in death as well as life
I wanna cut you with my love and with my knife
But can I live as your tormentor and your wife?
When I am crazier than you
I'm crazier than you
And nothing up 'til now has proved me wrong
I'm crazier than you
That's just the overview
So get on board or simply move along
[Nate]
I'm not impulsive
[Nora]
And yet I truly love you
[Nate]
I'm not deranged
[Nora}
I'd never ask that of you
[Nate]
But in this moment
I feel I've changed.
I wanna climb Mt. Everest go to Mozambique
I wanna be impulsive want to be unique
Can you believe I mean it when you hear me speak
I'm crazier than you
I'm crazier than you
And now I'll prove to you exactly how
I'm crazier than you
I'll do what you can do
From here on in I give my solemn vow
[Nora]
Pluck the arrow from its quiver,
Hold it in your hand be brave.
[Nate]
Pierce the apple not the liver
Or we're dancing on my grave.
[Nora]
Place it in the bow and steady,
[Nate]
Can't you shoot that thing already!
[Nora]
I wanna demonstrate that fear is my ideal
[Nate]
Girl believe me fear is your ideal
[Nora]
Cause in the moment that you're frightened life is real
[Nate]
Then my life must be real real!
[Both]
And in a flash when i release and seal the deal
I'm crazier than you
I'm crazier than you
And nothing hurts me when i hear you say
I'm crazier than you
Psychotically into
And that is all i need to face the day
I'm crazier than you
I'm crazier than you
And live or die I'll let you have control
I'm crazier than you
So say you love me too
From here on in you're singing to my soul
My soul!
The music ended and both actors took a second to catch their breath. From the audience, both Letty and Mia sat there speechless. When Nora had told them she was in the musical, they hadn't expected much. But seeing the talent that she had made them both realize how much potential she really had and how little she had a chance to use it.
They rehearsed the song a few more times, adding little movements and inflections in different spots, but they found it very interesting to watch. Soon, it was over and they waited for Nora to come back to them.
The first thing she noticed was that they both looked impressed. "So…what did you think?"
"You were incredible!" Mia told her. "Why didn't you tell us you could sing like that?"
"She has only known us a day, Mia." Letty joked. "But she's right…that was awesome."
Nora blushed. "Thanks. It will get better by the winter performance, but I really like this musical so it is fun to do it."
"Well good." Mia said as they walked out. "Now why don't we go pick up the monster and see what the guys are up to?"
"So you own this place?" Nora asked Letty as they parked in front of the garage.
It wasn't anything big, but Nora enjoyed it all the same.
"We all do." Letty told her. "Brian, Dom, and I work here and we've owned it for a few years now."
"That's cool." She said.
The second they walked inside, they heard a scream and Jack was running for them. He hugged Nora's legs much like he had that morning, and smiled up at her. "Hi!"
"Hi!" She laughed. "What are you up to?"
"I helped Daddy and Uncle Dom fix cars!" He said with excitement and jumped up and down.
Nora looked up and saw the men watching them. Brian was smiling. Dom had no expression. She knelt down and hugged him. "I can see that!"
She stood again and held him in her arms. They walked over to Dom and Brian and Letty kissed her husband. "How was work today?"
"It was fine." He replied and Nora saw how happy they looked. She saw the love pass between them and a small smile played on her lips. "So how was your day?"
Letty gestured toward Nora. "Well apparently this one can sing pretty damn well."
Nora blushed again. "I'm okay. I just like what I do."
Mia shook her head. "Don't do that now. You are really good." She smiled. "We watched her perform a musical number at her school today. She's going to be Wednesday Addams."
Embarrassed by the compliments, Nora turned her attention to Jack. Suddenly, the side door opened and a young man came in. He looked to be about eighteen and he wore similar work clothes to Brian and Dom.
"Who's that?" He asked, gesturing to her.
Nora glared at him. "Wow. Those manners nearly knocked me over."
He grinned at her sarcasm. "You must be Nora. Jack told me about you."
"That's Dustin." Brian told her. "He's our intern."
She nodded and continued to look at him. He just grinned back and stared at her. After a moment, she shook her head and turned back to her new family. Catching Letty's glance, she rolled her eyes and they both chuckled.
"So we were thinking about having that family dinner tomorrow night." Brian told her. "That gives you time to settle in and prepare yourself."
"That's cool." She replied happily. "I kind of can't wait to meet them. It should be interesting."
They laughed. "Yeah…just you wait."
She realized then that she had spoken the truth. She couldn't wait to meet them. It was something she hadn't ever felt and she thought that maybe now she could finally settle in somewhere. Maybe this time, things wouldn't have to be so bad.