A/N: Hey everyone, this is my first F&F story and I know I have like 3 other stories but I am stuck so I decided to let my fingers wander a bit. I am however really feeling this story and should update within the week. This happens before any of the movies occur. I have big plans for this and any feedback would be as good as a Dodge Charger in my garage. Oh yeah FYI I know mostly nothing about cars because much to my annoyance my uncle will not let me into the Boy's Club Thanks ~HHG

Tread Marks

Chapter One: Unveiled

It was still dark when the alarm blared in the otherwise quiet house. It took a moment but soon Mary Kane lunged towards the green night stand. Quickly silencing the screaming phone before it woke the two other residents of the house. With her head pressed into the black pillow she groaned before pulling herself up on to all fours and stretching her back. A couple of blinks later and Mary was all the way out of her bed. As conscious though formed in her mind the reason for the early wakeup call was remembered and she began her normal morning routine with unusual speed.

Mary's ponytail bounced with a spring rarely seen as she bound down the front steps of the house plugging her head phones in. The morning air was surprisingly chilly but expecting the warm LA weather and her impending workout she didn't bother pull on the long sleeved black shirt that hung off her messenger bag.

Heading past the covered car Mary opened the garage reveling haphazardly stacked but labeled boxes and new unmarked box sitting in the chaotic mess. After some grunting and panting Mary had the package right where she wanted it and made quick work of removing the car cover to reveal a black 1970 Chevelle. Tearing into the package and popping the hood Mary began installing the transmission unfazed by the task ahead.

Two hours later found Mary lying under the Chevelle back resting on her creeper with her headphones and determined intent drowning out everything around her. This explained why she didn't notice the opening door across the street. Not that either of the two people exiting the house noticed her as they were drawn to the unveiled car. The taller of the two merely raised an eyebrow as the woman next to him voiced his intrigue.

"Hey Vince, whose car is that?" she asked as they moved towards the Maxima.

"Dunno, Mia, doubt it's anyone we know. They know better than to park in the neighbor's driveway," he said as they got in the car. "Nice car though." Soon the pair raced down the street and out of view.

Feeling the roar of a car peeling down the street Mary peeked out from under the car but by that time the Maxima had already turned the corner. Sparing a moment to survey the house across the street with veiled skepticism and awe she moved back under the car. This break in the monotony reminded Mary that she couldn't spend the whole day working on the car and set to finishing what she could for the morning. When the Maxima rounded the corner at a high velocity Mary was out from under her car was as tightening the last bolt.

When Vince rounded the corner he got an even bigger surprise then he had earlier this morning. Standing in front of the Chevelle was a teenage girl working under the hood. Vince didn't know if it was because Dom was finally out of Lompoc allowing a spare thought for something other than the household or if it was the superb specimen of an American muscle car that made him notice the new resident across the street but notice her he did . Or maybe it was the fine body that had bent itself over the car. However, Vince was sure he would have noted how off limits she was had he ever noticed her before. Backing his car into his driveway he watched as she absentmindedly wiped her hand off on her flattering jeans leaving an oil stain in its wake. She didn't seem to notice, Vince noted, as she closed the hood and begun cleaning up.

Don't turn. Don't turn around. Don't turn around had become Mary's mantra as she felt the purr of a powerful car approach it must have been one of the residents of that all to interesting car oriented house across the street. She was pretty sure that none of the people who routinely went in and out of that house had noticed that someone had moved in across the street. Not that she hadn't paid them any attention because their cars, parties, and the man whom she had labeled Mr. Maxima had been excuse enough to cause interest and bit of intimidation. She knew unveiling the Chevelle might bring her into their realm of acknowledgement but when her uncle's package had arrived late last night she hadn't been able to wait any long than necessary.

Closing the hood she gathered the car cover and replaced it on the Chevelle to protect it because she wasn't allowed to put it in the garage, not that there was room for it. Due to the distraction that cleaning provided she had hardly thought of the car that had parked across the street as she tossed her headphones into her bag and trudged on the long sleeve shirt effectively covering her grease stained black cami. Moving down her drive way she stopped in her tracks as she noticed Mr. Maxima leaning against the front of his Maxima watching her.

"Hey," he said his voice easily making its way across the street to her. Mary made her way down the rest of her driveway before relying.

"Hi."

"Nice car you got there."

"Thanks." She took the time to look at him because she'd never really gotten such nice view of him before what with all the running around he had done and not wanting to bring attention to herself from anyone in that house. He was dressed haphazardly wearing loose fitting jeans and a wrinkled black tee shirt looking a little haggard with his beard and rumpled hair. Her eyes tried not to linger on the numerous tattoos or muscles that covered his arms but failed miserably. Gulping she brought her eyes back up to his. He was still watching her. "You too."

"When did you move in?"

"Who says I just moved in?" she asked. She had been unable to stop the retort as his question rubbed against her ego. His grunt in reply only served to irritate her even more. As he waited for an answer she attempted to hold her ground. Keeping her back straight and head held up she stayed steadfast in her silence. He chuckled darkly.

"I would have noticed."

Mary glowered inside as she felt her eyes widen to doe like proportions at his comment.

"Six months." Grasping at straws she threw it at him quasi-triumphal way before turning and making her way to school. Don't turn around. Don't turn around. Don't turn around. Don't turn around, she sighed. Her mantra and the blush which had risen up from her cheat was enough to keep her from turning around to catch a glimpse of him. Blinking in surprise she wondered where that attitude had come from as she was usually more timid around strangers.

The young woman walked away from him a little more quickly that he had expected a normal person to do. Turning his attention to the covered Chevelle as she disappeared from view he tried to remember when it had first appeared and his memory didn't go back all that far. Thinking he usually had more of a memory for cars rather than woman his gaze turned more suspicious. Dom had just gotten out and the police were keeping their attention on the group for any signs that their shop was less than legal. The timing of her arrival while fuzzy was also suspicious. Thinking over the state of his frayed mind of the last two years and the light blush she worn pushed that thought from his head. What was she like 17? Dom and his foray into illegal street racing was making him paranoid. But, he thought as he moved into the house to catch a couple more hours of sleep, his memory remembered her a little better than it did her car