Disclaimer: How can it be that I don't own anything?

A.N.: I know it's been a while since I've put the first chapter out, but life got in the way of things. I apologize. The reason I am continuing this is because of the great reviews that I was happy to receive. I hope you guys have fun with this. The next chapter will probably take a while since I have so much work at the moment, so please be patient. Thanks for hanging on. Tell me what you think, Janine.

You Need to Feel the Music

It had been three weeks and just as Katey had expected, Puerto Rico hadn't been able to arouse her the way Cuba had done. Sure, it was better than at home, life was less dreadful here, but it wasn't perfect. To be honest it was far from being that. Suzie and her parents had quickly adjusted to their new home. As it turned round this time they were to live in a house for themselves, not a 5-star hotel again, but still they had a maid and a driver who'd pretty much took care of all the household. Like anticipated Katey's father didn't have to spend as much time at work because there simply wasn't as much to do as back at the branch in the States. Everything went slower, less complicated and more relaxed.

Of course Katey liked that. People weren't as hectic, they did not put work first, took their time with everything, were open to the pleasures that life offered them and simply enjoyed being. They enjoyed going to the beach, spending time with their families after going to church on Sundays. They rarely complained, always wore a friendly smile, were open to strangers and at nights all the streets of San José were filled with content people about to enjoy themselves and have a nice evening.

They were much more like Javier and many other Cubans, than Americans ever would be, and Katey sensed that even though it wasn't Cuba in some way she had already warmed up to this island and its people. It sounded harsh, but to her they had more heart. Of course some of them were poor, many of them had hard times, but they wouldn't let the worry take all of their heart. When they went out in the evenings they forgot about their worries and merely celebrated the fact of being alive. They sang, they danced, they talked and laughed, old and young, strangers and friends. They had so much love for life itself that Katey simply had to love them for it.

However their joy would not reflect upon Katey. She was hard to stir these days. Even though she was more comfortable here, even though her environment wasn't tearing her down anymore, she couldn't return to being happy or content for that matter. Puerto Rico to her was like a medicine that could only treat the symptoms but could do nothing against the real illness which was still lingering in her chest unwilling to let her go. And maybe she was unwilling to let it go as well. After all, being happy again felt like betraying herself for she knew that nothing could make her truly happy but Javier. Maybe it was possible for her to be content, to live life without waking up in the morning not knowing how to make it through the day. She would never be entirely happy though. Possibly it was self pity which was playing along with it, Katey wouldn't allow herself to stop pining at least for hours or so. Deep down she knew that she kept pining in this manner because she was afraid, that if she did stop she'd lose part of Javier. After all everything left of him were her memories. She was afraid she'd lose them if she didn't concentrate on them. That was the last part of him that she had left of him and she wouldn't let go of it if her life depended on it.

Therefore on this evening Katey was again to be seen alone, strolling the inner city bounds of San José. Unaware that she caught people's eyes she went strolling to the streets, letting her feet lead the way her mind entirely occupied with thoughts of Javier and Cuba. The people she passed looked at her in wonder. Not only was a blond and pretty girl like this rarely to be seen on Puerto Rican streets, but she had an air of sadness and despair about her, that wouldn't go unnoticed by the warm-hearted people. They could sense hopelessness when they saw it and were silently mourning with her, some even praying for her, that she might find a way to be joyful again. One could say that her view was touching, however Katey was totally unaware of that.

She didn't pay attention to anyone around her, caught up in thoughts, memories and feelings. Tonight was one of the worse nights. No matter what she did, who she was with or where she was, her mind wouldn't go anywhere else. On nights like these she felt overwhelmed with emotions. All of what she had felt in Cuba came flooding back to her, all the good and the bad mingling with each other. On the one hand there was joy, rhythm, hope and love on the other hand there was despair, pain, fear. Katey was drawn back and forth to a point where she couldn't distinguish anymore what she really felt this moment. Was she caught up in happy memories, in dreams of the past? Or was she like most of the time simply mourning for what she had lost? The answer wasn't clear to Katey, but she suspected it was something in between. She was mourning for what she had and what she couldn't have anymore. It felt bad, because Katey was happy that she got to experience all these feelings and happy moments, but on the other hand she was mad at destiny for taking it away from her. It wasn't fair. Why show her the life she wanted to lead and take the opportunity to do so away from her so quickly?

Katey was somewhat disgusted with herself and with her self-pity. If Javier could see her like that he would probably scold her for only looking at the bad sides. He'd probably tell her to get lost and live in the present, enjoy all the things life had to offer her, not go on about stuff she couldn't change. Take what life gives you and deal with it. Katey felt like she should do it. After all Puerto Rico was a whole new opportunity, a gift. She should take it, be happy with what she got and not constantly mourn for what had truly been on her wish-list. She had a chance here and she should take it. The problem was she didn't know how to.

As she had walked through the inner part of the city she had arrived at what could be called center of amusement, the part of town where most clubs and bars were located. Katey stopped dead in her tracks realizing where she was and how far she had walked from home. She had never actually gone to this part of town knowing it was merely a Puerto Rican hang-out and Americans simply didn't go there. The thought saddened her, just like I Cuba, Americans weren't interested in the locals. They enjoyed the pleasantries of the island but never mingled with the people. They had no interest but they knew all about it. Prejudice had become something Katey could hardly stand.

For a few moments Katey considered going home, knowing she had already been out long, but she decided against it. She'd probably be the only white girl in this part of town and people would look at her, but she didn't mind. The music she was hearing were already to much, the smell and the head coming from this part of town were too overpowering. She couldn't just turn back here. She had to hear and feel the music, the rhythm the passion.

Somewhere in the commotion of it all, she could distinguish the sound of salsa music maybe a little bit of mambo. She was drawn there and couldn't resist it.

She slowly started walking towards where she thought, she had heard the music.