When my toes hit the squishy sand my freckle covered nose instantly crinkled before relaxing back to normal. The salty smell of the water reached my nose I couldn't help but break into a smile. I loved the beach it was the one thing that remained the same in my life. On days like today when I was homesick I would come out here to the deserted part of the beach where the ocean floor was to rocky for boats and the current too fast for swimmers, and I would watch the waves crash onto the shore. It was quite and deserted and the perfect place to think. The salty smell of the beach is the same no matter where you are. It always let me feel connected to my home and my "family". Not the blood relatives most people have but my race family. Well what was left of my race family. From what I heard 2 of them Jesse, the kid that showed up one day and never really left, and Letty, my older cousin who was more like a big sister, had died. It had taken years but Brian had been labeled a became a crooked cop/agent and was on the run along side Mia, my best friend, and him . All because they just had to brake him out of jail. Him being the one and only Dominic Toretto. Leon and Vince on the other hand they just completely disappeared along with me. I had just turned 21 before everything went to the shitter and we all had to run. Since then I hadn't heard a thing from any of them except Mia who had called once. Closing my eyes I brush my long brown hair out of my face and for the first time I don't fight the flashback that I knew would come to me.
"Go." Dom shouted lightly shoving me toward the driveway were my car was parked. I couldn't move I felt paralyzed my eyes were stuck on Jesse and his unmoving body. Everything had happened so fast my mind had completely shut down.
"Go." This time I didn't hesitate. Numbly I turned on my heel and ran to my car. Peeling out of the driveway behind Brian. Picking up the gun that was attached to the bottom of my car seat, that Dom insisted I had in case of emergency. The target I had in mind was nowhere to be seen so I just pointed at any figure sat upon a motorcycle and shot. Not flinching once. I wasn't sure how we ended up here. Dom, Brian and I were lined up at the light and I uneasily watched Dom unsure of his next move.
"Hayden, go." Dom said slowly moving his head to look at me. I opened my mouth to object but he cut me off before I could.
"Go, I'll only be behind a couple of hours. I promise. I have some unfinished business here." Dom added gesturing towards Brian. Taking a deep breath through my nose I grabbed the steering wheel so hard my hands turned white and pressed the gas speeding away from what, I didn't know at the time, would be the last time I saw Dom.
Feeling a drop of liquid hit my cheek I hurriedly brush it off. I once again curl my toes in the grainy sand before sitting down, wrapping my arms around my legs,and resting my chin on top my knees. I remember the first time I had met Dom. I was a little scrawny 10 year old always mistaken for being 6 when my mom had decided she liked her 20 year old boyfriend more than her own child. So I was shipped off to live with my uncle, Lettys dad. It was my first day there that Letty decided to take me to the park so that I could meet some of the kids that lived in her, well our, neighborhood. I was sat on the swings when a girl came and pushed me off, and being the cliché Dom is he came to my rescue. I remember staring at him in awe. He was what all the Disney princesses had and what I wanted. That was also the day my crush on Dominic Toretto started. Although my being 10 and him 14 he showed no interest whatsoever and it was like that, me pining after him and him not noticing. Of Course that was until I turned 17 years old and Dom came to the realization that I was, in fact, filling out quite nicely and when I finally turned 18 he asked me out on a date. Soon after everything became official.
There there had been a spot that we had set up when we had first started the hijackings somewhere only me and Dom knew in case we got separated. We would meet up at the motel Dom had taken me to on our first date. When We had first arrived I remember being so angry at him I tried to walk home. Because let's be honest motels are notorious for one thing and one thing only. But he just grabbed my hand and lead me to the roof top where you could see nothing but stars in every direction, and stars were our thing.
On that day, the last day I saw Dom, I went there. I had rented the room we had agreed on renting and I sat there waiting stupidly all night I remember falling asleep sitting on the bed intensely listening out the window for the familiar sound of Dom's car engine. Instead of waking cuddled up to a warm body I woke up to an empty motel bed and a voicemail from Mias phone. I knew it was Dom right then because the thing about Mia is she never only called once. She would call your ass until you dropped whatever you were doing an answered. I had been right. Dom called and he had told me to run because by the time I got this everyone including him would already be long gone. For the second time in my life the person who I thought loved me more than anything in the world had abandoned me. I remember that I was emotional paralyzed. I hadn't felt anything at that moment no anger, no betrayal, not even any heartbreak. I was like that only a few moments though because what I found in my car crushed me. Hanging on the rear-view mirror was Dom's cross necklace and a folded up letter lying on the dashboard. It read:
"Hayden,
I want to start off by saying I'm sorry for everything. I can't tell you how long I stood in front of that door with my fist raised ready to knock but I couldn't. I realized they don't want you, baby girl. The police, they don't want you there's nothing tying you to the hijackings but the moment that I knocked on that door and you answered you would be wanted. I know it doesn't make sense because I've just told you to run. But Brian is still out there and He knows everything and right now I'm not 100% certain he won't snitch. And if you leave and leave alone it's guarantying that you won't get caught. Even after we're both out don't come looking for me. I may care for your safety but that's to insure mine. I don't want you not anymore.
-Dom."
When the man you've loved your whole life the man you've been dating for 3 years tells you he doesn't love you anymore I believe that it would crush anyone. After that I did leave L.A. not because he told me to but because I knew I couldn't handle the memories. So I took Doms advice an ended up in Rio, but it didn't last. I had caught word that Dom was headed to town. So I did what anyone would do I packed my bags and fled. I only managed to get as far as Peru finally settled down when I had received that one phone call from Mia. She wouldn't tell me how she got my number only asking that I come to Rio to help the boys with a job. My anger had gotten the best of me and I hung up without even hearing her out. I had figured they would assume I would flee so I did the exact opposite. I stayed. Surprisingly I managed to get a job teaching English to younger kids and played nice long enough to get myself a roommate.
"Excuse me." looking up startled I saw a man standing rigid in front of me. Hurriedly wiping tears that managed to escape my glistening eyes and rolled down my cheeks I bewilderedly respond to the man.
"How did you get here without me noticing?"
"Doesn't matter ma'am, what matters is you can either come with me willingly or forcefully."
"Where exactly would it be your taking me?" I question the man while I stand and brush dirt from my backside.
"Classified." The man gruffly barked.
"Well then, it appears I won't be going with you." I state calling this man's bluff. I turn on my heel to walk away but before I can take another step a woman is standing in front of me and everything goes dark.
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Slowly the world comes to again. It started off by hearing the small talk going on beside me. Then my eyes fluttered open to be hit by sharp bright lights and immediately fluttered back closed with a groan. Finally the events of what happened come back to me. Shooting up in my seat I look over to be greeted with the sight of the man from the beach and a woman I had never met before.I opened my mouth to ask where I was but the man was already answering.
"We're on an airplane, and your mouth is probably dry am I correct." I hadn't realized until he said something but my mouth was in fact dry. Looking at the man I nod my head and the women stands up.
"I'll get you a glass of water." She says smiling politely as though she hadn't just knocked me out. Not saying anything I send a forced smile back to her that I'm sure looked more like a grimace than an actual smile, but nevertheless she left to get me a drink.
"Before you even ask only those who have sworn into the CIA are allowed to know the location of where we are going. Your car has been taken into custody and is also making its way to our destination along with your things. We also left a note for your roommate and enough money to cover your rent for over a year or until she is able to find a new one." The man had rambled off the answers to questions that I hadn't even been able to form in my mind yet.
"Why do you need me?" I finally ask after a couple seconds to process what he said.
"Me, I don't need you. But my boss believes that you could help us receive the help of a man who could use all of our help." He answered simply. Confused at what he just said I scrunched my eyebrows but nodded my head anyways.
"Ma'am." The lady said handing me a glass of water.
"Thank you." I respond lifting the glass to my nose I sniff it causing both parties to roll their eyes at me I just shrug and take a sip. Taking another sip I set the glass into the cup holder of my seat and look out the window and unconsciously clutch the silver cross, that had hung on my neck every day since I had received it, only ever taking it off when I was sleeping or while showering.
"Important to you." the man questioned knocking me out of lala land.
"Huh?" I asked confused at what he meant. Slowly he tapped on his chest where the cross was laying on mine.
"The necklace, you're clutching it, most likely because you're nervous and it offers you comfort."
"Someone's been watching way too much criminal minds." I tease with a smirk. The woman giggles slightly and the man only frowns. But before he can say something I answer the question.
"Someone who I used to love very much and made me feel protected even when I was staring death in the eye gave this to me."
"Used?" the man questioned.
"I just realized, I don't know your names but I'm sure you both know mine." I say obviously trying to change the subject.
"Agent Carson Morgan, nice to officially meet you." The woman answers first. Reaching across the small isle way I shake her outstretched hand.
"Agent Derek holiday, pleasure." The man says still frowning.
"You know frowning too much can cause early onset wrinkles" I say without really meaning too. Beside me Carson let's out a snort and tries to stifle a laugh. Derek only sighs loudly deepening his frown.