You'd think being blown up would be the worst thing to happen to me, but after the week I'd had, I could chalk the events of the week to be almost as worse. The one thing that I valued above all else, was family, and my family was small, a group of about 7, including me, who I would lay down my life for. So, dressed in acid-wash denim shorts, combat boots and one of my brother's white t-shirts that hung off my shoulder, I raced with my crew through the streets of LA, tearing up rubber with every sharp turn I made in my prized car, a black Ford Mustang Cobra II in black with gold 'go faster' stripes. I pulled up next to Letty's magenta 1997 Nissan 240SX, tucking my keys into the back pocket of my shorts as the rest of the crew pulled up. Letty's arm slid around my waist as Leon got out of his yellow R33-generation Nissan Skyline GT-R.

"Talk to me, Jesse." Vince called as he got out of his blue 1999 Nissan Maxima. "This ain't working, brother." He popped his hood for us to inspect the engine.

"It's your fuel map." Jesse told him, closing the door on his white 1995 Volkswagen Jetta A3 once he was out. "It's got a nasty hole. That's why you're unloading in third."

"Told you it was third." Leon said.

"I lengthen the injector pulse another millisecond, just tune the NOS timer, you'll run nines." Vince then grabbed Jesse's head, turning it toward a bright red truck that was parked across the road from us. I turned to look inside the cafe, watching as Mia spoke with the blonde boy who had been hanging around us.

"What's up with this fool?" Vince asked. "What is he sandwich-crazy?"

"No, V, he ain't here for the food, dog." Leon told him as I closed the hood to Vince's car.

"Chill out, bro." Letty said. "He's just slinging parts for Harry, man"

"I know what he's slinging." Vince almost snapped as we headed into the cafe.

"He's trying to get in Mia's pants, dog." Leon added.

"Shut up." I scolded, my heavy English accent a stark contrast to the American of my family.

"What's up, guys?" Mia greeted.

"How you doing, Mia?" Jesse asked.

"How you living girl?" Letty wondered. I slipped out of Letty's hold, rounding the counter to give my sister a quick squeeze of a hug. I gently knocked on the door of the back office as the boys started to mess with the products. Dom was sitting with his back to the world, working on the books.

"Dom?" I wondered. "Did you want a drink?" Dom responded by lifting his can of Corona beer. I nodded as I walked around behind the counter. Letty slid over a bottle of water, the cap already unscrewed and a straw. I gripped the bottle with both hands to lift it and bring it up to my lips to drink. I watched as Vince slid into a seat down from Harry's boy, flicking the seasoning bowl down to knock into his hand and glaring at the blonde. He looked up at Vince with a blank stare.

"Ah, he's beautiful." Jesse commented.

"I like his haircut." Leon added through a mouthful of food.

"Vince." Mia called. "Vince!" Our old friend turned to look at her.

"What?" He wondered softly.

"Can I get you anything?" Mia asked, exasperated. Vince nodded a little.

"You look good." The blonde turned to look at Vicne for a second before standing and pulling out his wallet. He grabbed a couple of bills and set them on the table to pay for his food.

"Thanks a lot, Mia." He said. "See you tomorrow."

"Sure." Mia replied. As the blonde walked away, Vince started to look angry. He banged his fist on the counter a couple of times before springing to his feet.

"Yo!" He shouted as he followed the blonde out of the cafe to his truck. "Try Fatburger from now on, get yourself a double cheese with fries for two-ninety-five, pussy."

"I like the tuna here." The blonde called back.

"Bullshit asshole, no one likes the tuna here."

"Yeah, well I do." Vince then shoved the blonde into his truck, causing him to turn and deck Vince. The two then started to fight. I put my drink down and stood a little straighter.

"Shit." Mia cursed. She turned and approached the back room. "Jesus Christ, Dom, would you get out there? I'm sick of this shit!" I quickly vaulted the counter, jogging up to the fighting men. Vince had the blonde pinned against Leon's car.

"Vince you pinhead!" I muttered as I grabbed his arm before he could land another punch, but that was a bad idea, when as he tried to shake me off, his fist met my cheek. I let out a cry of pain as I stumbled back, the blonde getting Vince to the floor. The blonde landed another punch to Vince before Dom grabbed his shirt and yanked him off Vince, throwing him onto the hood of Vince's car.

"Hey man, he was in my face." The blonde protested, lifting his hands.

"I'm in your face." Dom stated. Vince went to attack him again but Dom, Leon and Jesse managed to pull him back. "Relax! Don't push it! You embarrass me!" Dom almost roared the last line at Vince, shoving a finger at him. Leon shoved Vince back.

"Get over there!" He ordered.

"You ok baby?" Letty asked softly, her hands on my hips as she turned me toward her. Letty gently moved my hand to inspect my cheek.

"Jesse, give me the wallet.' Dom said. Jesse handed Dom the wallet that he had picked off the floor. Dom opened and checked it over. " 'Brian Earl Spilner'." He read. "Sounds like a serial killer name. Is that what you are?" Dom shoved the wallet in Brian's face.

"No man." Brian replied.

"Don't come around her again." Brian took his wallet back as Dom started to approach me.

"Hey man, you know this is bullshit." Brian called. Dom turned on his heel and stalked up to Brian.

"You work for Harry, right?" Dom asked.

"Yeah, I just started.

"You were just fired." Dom walked up to me again, putting his hand on my shoulder. "Let me see." He muttered. Letty stepped aside so Dom could see the red blossoming on my cheek. "Let's get some ice on that." Dom gently wrapped his arm around me as he led me back into the cafe.