Chapter 8. Who is She?
Rio De Janeiro, Abandon Wearhouse
"So, Dom, Who exactly was that chick?" He looked up at Tej, who had just finished setting up his computers. After Severa left, everyone started to set up different stations. Tej computers, and a space for the car but now it seems everyone was ready for him to explain - which he didn't want to do.
"She's an old friend." he turned back towards his car in hopes they would take that for an answer, and of course, they didn't. "Just an old friend, huh?" Brian threw his arm around Roman. "I sure as hell never seen someone hug an 'old friend' like that."
Dom sighed, feeling the weight of their curious stares. He leaned against the hood of his car, trying to find the right words without revealing too much.
"Yeah, well, some friendships are... complicated," he finally replied, hoping it would be enough to satisfy their curiosity. But again, Roman wasn't about to let it go that easily.
"Complicated? That's a new one, Dom. Care to elaborate?" Roman prodded, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. Dom could feel the pressure mounting, his friends closing in on him like a pack of wolves sensing weakness.
"She's from my past, okay? A part of my life I'd rather keep buried," Dom confessed, his voice low and guarded. He hoped they would respect his boundaries, but knowing his crew, that was wishful thinking.
"Ah, a blast from the past," Tej chimed in, nodding knowingly. "Those are the ones that always come back to bite you in the ass."
Dom couldn't help but nod in agreement, knowing all too well the truth in Tej's words. Severa's unexpected appearance had stirred up memories he'd rather forget, but now it seemed they were determined to resurface whether he liked it or not.
"Just don't let her mess with your head, Dom," Brian said, his tone serious. "We got enough to deal with without adding more complications."
Dom nodded, appreciating Brian's concern when Mia suddenly slammed a tool onto the table, her frustration palpable as she approached him, pointing accusingly at his chest.
"Dom, why are you acting like she's unwanted? You should be happy she's finally back," Mia demanded, her voice laced with emotion.
Dom understood Mia's frustration all too well. Severa was like the sister she never had, in a house full of boys. Dom remembered how whenever he brought Severa over, Mia would eagerly whisk Severa away to play, leaving him feeling somewhat abandoned in their wake.
Their move to L.A. was hard on them all. Dom lost Severa, his best friend and the only person who could read him like a book. And Mia lost the only person she could look up to, the only girl she knew would always be there for her.
But Dom never told Mia that he was writing letters to Severa, which was good as severa never wrote back. So he did what anyone would do: he shoved those memories into the back of his mind and moved on. She was history, but now she's making a comeback.
"It's not that simple, Mia," Dom said, trying to keep it cool, but Mia wasn't having any of it. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she laid it on thick.
"I lost her once, Dom, and I won't let it happen again just 'cause you're acting careless," Mia declared, her frustration hitting him like a ton of bricks.
Dom winced, knowing she had a point. He reached out to give her a hug, but Brian beat him to it. Feeling somewhat defeated, Dom sank back into a nearby chair, letting his head fall into his hands.
Brian pulled Mia into a comforting embrace, his silent support echoing through the room. Dom watched them for a moment, grateful for his friend's intervention. Leaning back in the chair, he let out a heavy sigh, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on him.
The room fell into a tense silence, broken only by the faint hum of Tej's computers. Dom closed his eyes, trying to make sense of the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside him. Severa's sudden reappearance had stirred up memories he'd long tried to forget, forcing him to confront a past he'd buried deep within himself.
He knew he couldn't keep avoiding the truth, no matter how painful it might be.
"I'm starting to think she was a hell of a lot more than an 'old friend'". He looked up at Han- who just shrugged and popped another chip in his mouth. "What? I'm just saying it how I see it." he popped another chip in his mouth. "plus, I'm pretty sure everyone here wants to know the truth."
Dom sighed, feeling the weight of Han's words hanging in the air like a heavy fog. He looked around the room, meeting the expectant gazes of his friends. The truth was, he couldn't keep avoiding the inevitable conversation any longer.
"Fine," he conceded, his voice resigned. "Severa... she was more than just an old friend."
The room fell into a hushed silence as everyone leaned in, eager to hear what Dom had to say. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for the difficult conversation ahead.
"We were... close," he began, choosing his words carefully. "But things got complicated, and I had to let her go."
Gisele's eyes widened in surprise, while Brian and Roman exchanged knowing glances. Tej raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued by Dom's revelation. Even Han seemed intrigued, setting aside his bag of chips to listen intently.
"She was my... best friend," Dom continued, his voice tinged with regret. "But then we had to move, and I never saw her again."
The words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken sadness. Dom could feel the weight of his confession pressing down on him, the memories of his lost friendship flooding back with painful clarity.
"I thought I could leave it all behind," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "But Severa... she's always been a part of me, no matter how hard I tried to forget."
His friends listened in solemn silence, their expressions mirroring his own mix of sorrow and longing. Mia reached out, gently squeezing his hand as Roman piped up. "Does she know Letty?" The mention of Letty's name sent a jolt through Dom. Letty... Letty...
He froze, his mind swirling with memories of his lost love. Severa had never met Letty, and now that Letty was gone, they never would. The weight of his grief washed over him, leaving him speechless and lost for words.
He didn't know how to reply. How could he explain the complex web of emotions that tied together his past and present? How could he reconcile the memory of Letty with the presence of Severa?
In the end, all he could do was shake his head and let Mia answer for him. "Severa was before Letty," she said, her voice soft but firm.
Dom felt a mix of relief and guilt wash over him as Mia spoke the truth he couldn't bring himself to say. Severa had been a part of his life long before Letty entered the picture, but that didn't make the pain any less real.
"So, This Severa was the Letty before Letty?"
"No," he replied, his voice distant as he stared straight ahead. "She was different. She was... She was everything."
Severa Was His Everything