Thank you for beta'ing, A Star In My Universe! Warning: rape, victim blaming
From the moment Daya's grandmother had arrived, she'd done nothing but spoil Christina with presents. After that, she'd hugged and kissed Emiliano, Christina, Daya, and Aleida hello for a quick second, exchanged pleasantries with Leon as if she were being forced to, and barely acknowledged Gloria's sons. "I'm surprised it smells good here," she notices aloud while Christina is busy sharing her new toys with her brother and Gloria's children.
"Yeah, I got off drugs," Aleida reports proudly. "It's like I got a whole new life now."
"You don't wanna piss off your mother no more?"
Aleida ignores the comment. "I'm also studying for my GED and goin' for a cosmetology license."
Lourdes cackles. "Good one! You're a model human being for Halloween! You got a smiley face costume to go with that attitude? Where's Cesar, he'd shit himself if he heard you say that!"
"Nah, for real!"
"Yo, I had my doubts too, but Ma's really changed, Abuela!" Daya cuts in.
"You know, Ms. Diaz, people do grow and learn from their mistakes and strive to do better!" Leon adds.
"It's Mrs. Pearson now! My husband's coming over pretty soon." Aleida's mother switches her attention to Daya. "Your mother treated you just fine, but she put my life through hell ever since she started bloomin' into a pretty little flower."
"Oh, and that motherfucker's in prison," Aleida says bitterly.
"It doesn't give you the right to cheat on him..." Aleida's mother hisses. She lowers her voice as she glances at Leon. "¡Especialmente con un hombre negro! ¿Qué te he enseñado, eh? Él te frena! Idiota probablemente ni siquiera tiene un trabajo, es tan vago y estúpido...y probablemente va a apestar el apartamento en cualquier momento ¡Dios mío, es peor que Cesar!"
Especially with a black man! What have I taught you, huh? He'll hold you back! Idiot probably doesn't even have a job, he's so lazy and stupid...and he's probably gonna stink up the apartment any second now! My god, he's worse than Cesar!
Aleida puts her hand up in her mother's face. "¡Amo a Leon, y puedes detenerte antes de abofetearte o patear tu culo fuera de mi apartamento!"
I love Leon, and you can stop yourself before I slap you or kick your ass out of my apartment!
"Son solo hechos."
It's just facts.
Daya folds her arms across her chest. She hates how racist her grandmother can be, which is the reason she's never brought up her liberal views in front of the older woman, but now she has to. "¡Abuela...es...rude...y no...don't say it. ¡Él está allí!"
Grandma, that's rude, and you shouldn't say it! Besides, he's right there!
"¡Estamos susurrando, y él no puede entender el español!"
We're whispering, and he can't understand Spanish!
"Me ofende porque es increíble y lo respeto...y mamá y el resto de nosotros estamos felices con él. Él es un trabajador de la construcción, por cierto."
It offends me since he's awesome and I respect him...and Ma and the rest of us are happy with him. He's a construction worker, by the way.
"Don't try to argue with Mama Lourdes, Dayanara, her heart is cold like ice and hard as stone," Aleida mutters.
After Red had dropped Nicky and Lorna off at the Morello house, she brings Tricia to the store and has her pick out a bike, and Tricia just loves it. She had learned how to ride a bike from her stepdad while he was grooming her at the tender age of seven, and she's hoping that Red doesn't have bad intentions. Right away, she tells Red she knows how to ride a bike and thanks her Russian matriarch while hugging her.
"You're welcome, sweetheart," Red answers.
"What do I owe you?" Tricia mumbles nervously.
Red appears to be shocked. "Nothing at all! Why would you ask me that?"
"I...I just thought you coulda been expecting me to do you a favor...like a chore. I've been forced into..shit...before."
"No!" Red sits on her couch and Tricia does the same while keeping her eyes fixed on the floor. "Tricia, will you look at me, please?"
Tricia glances up and Red twirls a lock of her blonde hair around her red fingernail. "Hm?"
"I bought you a bike just because...for the same reason I bailed Nicky out of juvy. Call it motherly love. I will never do anything to cause you pain. You and your sister are my daughters...my pride and joy. I just haven't adopted you girls yet. If anything I do or someone else does makes you feel uncomfortable, you can let me know."
"Oh...okay. Thanks, if you're really being honest, I'm holding you to it. I've never...I never heard that in my life. Means a lot, yo."
"I promise, honey." Red puts her hands on either sides of Tricia's face and kisses her forehead. "Cross my heart and hope to die."
"You don't have to be that dramatic!"
"It's just a saying, kid." Red smiles at her and Tricia grins back. "Have fun with your girlfriend."
"Cool. Uh, we're probably gonna hang out with the whole gang, so..."
"Sounds good!"
They hug and Tricia loves Red's arms around her. It makes her feel safe and warm. Then, she takes herself all the way to Mercy's house, enjoying how the wind whips through her hair. It's much different than her first experience, with that child molester prodding her from behind and promising to give her something special that night if she didn't fall once while he was teaching her. Tricia and Mercy greet each other with a hug and kiss, and then, they gather all of their friends together and make an afternoon out of coasting along on their bikes through their neighborhoods. About thirty minutes later, they come to a small yellow house in the woods, since there were rumors at Marie Curie Middle, that it was abandoned and haunted with the ghosts of people who used to live there.
"Here it is, guys!" Cal announces as they brake their bikes and lay them down.
"Totally cool!" Neri exclaims.
"Yeah, perfect for Halloween!" Mercy points out.
"Nicky told me about this cottage," Tricia reports while gazing at it in wonder. "She warned me not to go near it, but whatever. It's October, and I'm in that mood."
"They say the spirits come out on All Hallows Eve at midnight," Allie mutters.
"I dunno, guys," Grace says warily. "This place gives me the creeps and I'm already cold! I get enough weirdness living with my sister."
Brad places his arm around her waist. "I'll protect you while we explore."
"Spooky shit always happens at midnight on Halloween," Marco tells her while rolling his eyes. "It's not like anything can get us now!" He hits his brother lightly on the shoulder. "Our sister's friends smashed in those windows, and they didn't get sucked in or nothin'!"
"Yeah, you been watchin' too many white girl horror movies," Pedro goes on.
"We're not gonna be stupid...we'll go in pairs, like me and Cal; Tricia and Mercy; you and Brad; Marco and Pedro...and Allie can be with Mercy and Trish." Neri squeezes Grace's hand. "It'll be fine, you'll see. Safety in numbers, duh! Plus, it's not like we're shadowed by darkness."
"That's still breaking in!" Grace protests. "Oh, and safety in numbers? Your boyfriend's sister was murdered while at a slumber party! I'm sorry to bring that up, Cal, but really...I would've thought you'd be way less risky now."
"Come on, don't be such a pussy!" Tricia fires back. "It's fuckin' daytime, and Piper was killed in the black of night. My sister says yours probably did it."
"She was obviously manipulated, stupid!"
"That's a pretty big thing to be lured into doing...idiot!"
"Could we please stop talking about my sister's death?" Cal snaps, and Tricia and Grace apologize to him in unison. They all go quiet for a moment.
"You don't gotta go in, but you'll be all alone out here," Mercy states after a minute of awkward silence.
"I'll stay with her," Allie proclaims. "We're not as streetwise or daredevilish as the rest of y'all, so we kinda don't know where we are right now."
"We're lost?" Grace worries aloud.
"No, Cal led us here, so he can make sure we get back home safely," Tricia assures her. "Sorry for suspecting Suzanne...she was probably under Vee's rule."
"Who? Uh...she does strange stuff with nobody's help, so whatever..."
"Hello, children!" a male voice calls out. They turn to face a tall man in his mid-twenties with a mustache, who is stepping through the door with a box of cookies. "Would you like something delicious to eat?"
"Sure, dude! Thanks!" Neri answers him happily, and everyone except Grace and Allie, take a few. Brad hands one to Grace and Tricia gives half of hers to Allie. They wolf their treats down in seconds and then bike off, screaming at the top of their lungs since they've all been pent up with energy for some weird reason.
"Yahoooo! I'm on top of the world!" Tricia shrieks, and she, Mercy, Neri, Allie, and the boys start doing fancy tricks on their bikes. She's only felt like this once before. "Fuck, we're so high!" she exclaims and then giggles.
"What?!" her friends yell and then burst into uncontrollable laughter.
"Nicky's gonna kill me...but I'll worry about that later. Just say you got the flu when you start going down."
"Why did you and your friends want me to work at your school?" Fahri wants to know while he and Alex are returning from her secret job. "Some of those teachers are the worst...they don't act human!"
"I know...but it was the only way you'd meet Gloria when there was just the two of you, plus Daya, and let's be real, dude, it's your only legal job. You can always drop it if you want." Alex feels guilty for roping him into this. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay, I'll stick it out. I want to keep an eye on everything, even though they torment me, as well."
"Okay."
"Another question...I'm thankful that you girls were trying to help me get a special someone, but I'm also concerned...how come you chose Gloria if she wasn't okay with this? She seemed nervous around me."
Alex plays with the red and black skull pendant on the end of her necklace. "Well, we figured she'd be okay with Daya in the same room, we wanted her to find happiness and true love, and you're the only gentleman we know that's available and her age. Those types aren't common around here, and she sure as hell isn't gonna do online dating."
"I feel like we're in an arranged marriage."
"No, just a blind date thing, sorta. Don't you like her?"
"Yeah."
"She's cool with you, too. Maybe she was wary at first, but that's how it is when you first meet a person. You have no idea what they're all about. She might not get used to you right away, but you're awesome enough that she will, eventually."
Fahri grins and shoves his hands in his pockets. "She's already starting to. We exchanged numbers...do you think I should call her tonight? She said she had a family thing, her niece's birthday, and I don't want to bother her."
"Aw, you're asking me for girl advice," Alex teases him. "Well, it's hard to be the one to start the phone conversations, but someone has to. If it's you and she's busy and doesn't reply fast, don't take it personal, just leave her a voicemail and wait for her answer. However, if she begins it, then get back to her as soon as possible, or respond right away if you're doing nothing, or she'll think you're ignoring her."
"Thanks."
"You're welcome."
"Yo...we should go to Friendly's and have Nichorello, Blanca, and Maria join us! We can all share the biggest ice cream they have!" Flaca says excitedly as she and Maritza are relaxing on the patio outside the huge Ramos house.
"Sure!" Maritza invites the girls by text. "Nichorello's busy so it'll just be us, Blanca, and Maria!" she reports.
"Alright!"
The girls take the bus to the restaurant and Blanca and Maria meet them there. Pepa is with them, since Yadriel is working. "This'll be her first time coming here," Maria informs them while jiggling her baby girl in her arms.
"Cool!" Flaca and Maritza exclaim at the same time. The four of them, plus little Pepa, take a table near Charles. Diane and Alex are busy taking orders, but they greet Blanca, Flaca, Maritza, and Maria with hugs and poke Pepa's belly and kiss her cheek.
Flaca notices the way Charles' eyes follow Diane wherever she goes. "Ay dios mío, he's so smitten with her," she murmurs while beaming. "She's the same way every time she passes him...she lights up like a fuckin' Christmas tree."
"Yeah, they're so boyfriend and girlfriend, even though Alex denies it every time," Maritza whispers back.
"Bueno, estoy feliz por Diane...finalmente encontró un buen hombre," Blanca says.
Well, I'm happy for Diane...she finally found a good man.
"Yo también," Maria adds as she bounces Pepa on her lap.
Me, too.
"Oh, hell no!" they hear Alex shout, and right away, they see that Mr. Bennett has entered the restaurant. Maritza gets up from her seat with fire in her eyes and Alex, Blanca, Maria, and Flaca give him the same vicious glare.
"¿Qué le da derecho a entrar aquí?" Blanca asks.
What gives him the right to come in here?
"Él no pertenece," Maria grumbles.
He doesn't belong.
"Yo, John!" Maritza yells at him, and she and Alex storm up to him. "Mm-hm, we know you by your first name, and we just wanna talk to you, buddy." They fold their arms across their chests and their faces darken with sheer anger.
"You're a bit too loud," he says, glancing around the room like a scaredy-cat.
"Yeah? Well, you're a bit too much of a loser!" Alex snaps back at him.
"Oooh, you go, girls," Flaca cheers. She turns on her video camera and hands it to Blanca. "Can you film this for our channel? We'll edit later."
Blanca smirks. "Gladly."
Flaca joins Maritza and Alex. Maria and Blanca stay behind with the three-month-old, but they're listening to every word. Diane and the other customers are, as well. She grins craftily at her former English teacher. "Whatcha gotta say for yourself, douchey?"
"I told Daya not to say anything, why would she-"
"Oh, please, we're her homegirls, and besides, Flac saw you guys kissing in your car. You really messed things up with her!" Maritza shouts. "How stupid can you get?"
"Knocking up a girl and leaving her...that doesn't sit well with us!" Alex chimes in furiously.
"Where are you living now?" Flaca demands. "We'll let Daya know, and she'll go over there with her mom and Gloria. They're gonna give you so much hell."
John frowns at them and wags his finger in their faces. "You three need to shut up. She refused-hey! Are you videotaping this?" he asks Blanca angrily, and proceeds to make Pepa shriek bloody murder and start wailing. Charles gets up and stands in front of their table protectively, but not in the way of the video camera. Maria soothes Pepa by rocking her back and forth in a soothing motion until the child is only letting out whimpers and sucking her thumb while hiding herself in her mother's shirt.
Diane blocks John from getting to Blanca. "Yes, she is, so the whole world can see what a fuckin' asshole you are." She glares at him darkly. "I had an ex just like you. I'm so embarrassed that you were once my co-worker."
"You're scaring my daughter, she's shaking," Maria snaps. "Just walk away, white boy."
"I'll have you arrested!" John yells.
"Oh, really, you will?" Maritza asks snidely. "I hope that means you'll also confess that you were a teacher when you had sex with a student, who is also a minor."
"She began the relationship-"
"See, that's still a crime..." Alex puts in. "Not only are we pissed with you for breaking our girl's heart, you also broke the law." She folds her arms across her chest. "So, what was it? You were only in it for the fucking?"
"No...we used a condom, and it broke. I told her to get an abortion, or we'd have to split. She chose teen motherhood. That's not my problem. She hurt me, too."
"If you really loved her, you would support her decision and be there for her," Blanca tells him.
"I'm done here. I will not be interrogated by-"
Charles walks towards him. "Mr. Bennett, I am a police officer, and you committed statutory rape. You are under arrest."
Flaca and Maritza hi-five each other and flip their hair while returning to Blanca. Alex and Diane go back to working, and Flaca takes her video camera from Blanca. She aims it at herself and Maritza. "So, that was dramatic!"
"Yeah, and fun!" Maritza chimes in. "You gotta go through us before screwing with our friends, you know?"
"Mm-hm, we're sooo satisfied now!" Flaca replies. "Everyone can learn from this shit."
"We end our vlog with a super cute infant all dressed in pink!" Maritza announces while pointing the video camera at Pepa. "Say bye, mini Maria," she coos.
Maria waves Pepa's small hand at the camera. "Bye!" Maria says in a baby voice, and they all giggle while Flaca switches off her camera.
There's a knock on the door and Aleida is desperate to answer it and eager to get away from her mother and the comments. "I'll get it," she snaps bitterly. She's expecting to see Gloria and starts smiling. When she opens it, though, her joyful expression falls and she's filled with despair, because staring back at her, is her mother's boyfriend and the bane of her existence, Jack. He's a white old man with hair matching the color of his wrinkled skin, and he'd been in and out of her life during her childhood and early teenage years. Aleida can feel the color draining from her face and she takes a few steps back when he comes inside. She wishes she could scream and sob out loud, but she doesn't want Leon or Daya to think she's overreacting like her mother had accused her of doing when she last encountered Jack.
"You haven't changed one bit, dearie."
His ugly voice is nauseating, and she can't even stand to look at him. She quickly bolts, but then trips over one of the kids' toys. "Ow! Who the fuck left their shit here? Stupid brats! Get it outta my way before I throw it in the garbage!" she yells, and Lourdes and Jack glare at her. Leon seems to be stunned and puzzled by her behavior. The children start crying and scooting away from her.
Daya is at her side in an instant. "Settle down, Ma! You okay?"
"I'm fine," Aleida grumbles and shoves past her daughter. Daya hurriedly picks up the Barbie motorhome and train tracks with tiny cars. Immediately, Aleida regrets her outburst, but she'd just wanted to get out as fast as possible. She continues running to her room and then, she slams the door shut behind her.
Her mother swings it open not a second later. She jumps onto her bed and curls into herself. "¡Aleida Díaz, sal con tu familia y deja de ser una mocosa!"
Aleida Diaz, get out here with your family and stop being a brat!
"Sigues presionando mis botones, ¡y odio ese lloriqueo! ¿Por qué lo mantienes cerca?"
You keep pushing my buttons, and I hate that creep! Why did you keep him around?
"¡Terminé esta discusión, pequeña perra!" the older lady growls.
I'm done with this discussion, you little bitch!
"Hey...can I step in?" Leon asks as he pokes his head in the room.
"Have at it, but she's a stubborn one, like a mule!" Aleida's mother goes out as Leon makes his way to the bed and sits beside Aleida.
"Come on, baby, hang out with us, please?" he tries to coax her, but she just stares at the door blankly through her hair that's covering half her face. "We're having appetizers, nachos and salsa!"
"No thanks."
"What is it?" Leon moves her long bangs out of her eyes and strokes her cheek gently. "Hm?"
"Nothin'...me and Mama sometimes fight, but I guess we'll put our differences aside for one night. Sorry I got furious. I overreacted."
"It's okay." He presses a soft, swoon-worthy kiss to her lips. "Everyone has off days."
Aleida chooses to bottle up her emotions and she stays by Leon's side the whole time they're waiting for Gloria. She clings to him and holds his hand tighter when Jack speaks to her. Jack offers her a chip, and she shakes her head no while waving it away.
"I ain't hungry!" Aleida snaps. She doesn't want to eat anything that he's touched.
"You don't gotta be rude, Ma," Daya tells her. "You love nachos."
"Sí, escucha a tu hija," her mother chides her, but Aleida just scowls at them.
Yeah, listen to your daughter.
"Oysters are better."
"Do you believe in angels?" Lorna asks while staring up at the sky. The clouds glow pink, making her think of Heaven. She and Nicky are laying side-by-side, holding hands, on a red and white checkered picnic blanket to watch the sunset before their dinner in front of the glittering ocean.
"Nah, just the one next to me." Nicky's lips mold onto hers and they stay like that, taking Lorna's breath away. She has to collect herself after swooning.
Lorna beams and her cheeks heat up at Nicky's compliment and body warmth. "You're cute."
"You're so adorable when you smile and scrunch up your nose like that." Nicky imitates the action and it makes Lorna giggle.
"Oh, you! Hey...lemme show ya somethin' before the sun goes down completely." Lorna bends her right leg and rests her foot on her left knee. She leans her cheek in the palm of her hand and her other arm is outstretched. It's how she'd attempted seducing Christopher, and she's seeing if Nicky's reaction will be different. "You like a good view, right?"
"Hell yeah, madame. You're the perfect mix of beautiful, cute, and hot, and you're makin' me wanna take you now, but you can be on top this time. I could just eat you up!"
"Let's do it in the tent while we're camping."
"Sure!"
Nicky puts her beanie on Lorna's head and it fits her snugly. "That looks great on you, Lorna."
"Thank you."
"Anytime. By the way, don't hate me, but I'm skipping my meeting tonight. Tricia's chillin' with friends, Aleida's celebrating her kid's birthday, and Alex is working with her mom. I can miss once, eh? I don't wanna be bored there!"
"Yeah, and I could never hate you, Nicky! Spending time with you is one of my favorite things to do."
"I love us hangin' out together, too." Nicky grins as she pulls out hers and Lorna's macaroni salads. "Who would've thought, huh, kid? Like, one month ago or whatever, we were at odds, but not anymore!"
"Mm-hm. The beach is so pretty at night, isn't it?"
"For sure, but under this moonlight, you are so exquisite, baby."
Lorna's heart melts at Nicky's compliment and general sweetness. "Why, thank you, darling."
Nicky pecks her cheek and then they lock lips. "It was my pleasure." Her kisses trail from Lorna's lips back up to her cheek, then down to her neck. Lorna's heart is beating so fast that she thinks it might fall out of her chest. Nicky is stroking Lorna's hair as she kisses her. "You taste so good, Lorna," the blonde says against her neck. Then, she kisses Lorna on the lips again.
"I've never felt so loved and desired before!"
Nicky runs her thumbs up and down Lorna's cheeks. "I promise to show you this kind of affection every day."
Lorna presses her hand to her heart as it skips a beat. "Oh, honey, I'm blessed to have you in my life!"
"I'm lucky I got you, too, doll!" Nicky kisses Lorna's hand and they cuddle while continuing to eat.
After dinner, they get a fire going and roast s'mores, which are delicious upon gobbling them. "Yummy! I haven't had these in so long!" Lorna exclaims.
"Me, neither!" They touch their marshmallow and chocolate filled graham crackers together and then continue eating.
Gloria comes home and Aleida stands back while Daya introduces Lourdes and Jack to her. They take a liking to her right away and compliment her mothering skills after she greets her sons with smiles, hugs, and hellos. Aleida knows they're just putting on a show, since they couldn't care less about Gloria's children. She hugs her best friend and then they separate.
"We're going to Roberto's for dinner," Aleida's mother announces.
"We don't need to spend that kinda money on a kid," Aleida responds bitterly.
"Honey, we just wanna spoil Christina, it's her fifth birthday!" Leon insists. "That's a special age for a child."
"It's too fuckin' expensive, I ain't payin'."
"Ma! Would you stop being so difficult?" Daya asks sharply.
"Aleida, what's with you, huh?" Gloria questions her. "You turnin' back to your old self, and ain't nobody around here likes it!"
"I'm over it."
During the drive there, it's silent. Her mother takes her, Daya, Christina, Emiliano, and Jack, while Gloria, her boys, and Leon are in a separate car. Jack gets them a huge square table, and Aleida sits between Leon and Gloria. Immediately, though, her bitch of a mom starts a conversation with Gloria and Daya at the same time, and the children start horsing around with Leon and Jack, and the men talk about the project. Aleida has never felt so alone since she was thirteen.
"Entonces, ¿por qué no tienes un hombre para que tus hijos admiren?" Aleida's mother asks Gloria. "Las madres solteras no pueden hacerlo por sí solas...solo estoy hablando de mi experiencia, cariño."
So, why don't you have a man for your sons to look up to? Single mothers can't do it all on their own...I'm just speaking from my experience, darling.
"Si bien ese puede ser el caso para usted, no fue para mí. No me siento cómodo compartiendo por qué, pero estoy bien sin un compañero. No pretendo presumir, pero me considero un gran modelo para mis hijos. Esto no es los años cincuenta, Lourdes. Las mujeres son independientes hoy en día."
While that may be the case for you, it wasn't for me. I'm not comfortable sharing why, but I'm okay without a partner. I don't mean to brag, but I consider myself a great role model for my sons. This isn't the fifties, Lourdes. Women are independent nowadays.
"Pareces muy educado y maduro, y eres encantador también...los hombres deben caer sobre tus pies por ti," Lourdes praises Gloria, and Aleida rolls her eyes inwardly and snorts. Of course, Gloria drinks in the compliment, since she blushes and grins widely.
You seem so polite and mature, and you're lovely, too...men must be falling over their feet for you.
"Gracias, pero eso no significa que los quiera!"
Thanks, but it doesn't mean I want them!
"Gloria acaba de escapar de una relación abusiva, por lo que no estaría buscando un hombre pronto!" Aleida blurts out.
Gloria has just escaped an abusive relationship, so she wouldn't be seeking a man anytime soon!
"Aleida, what the fuck?" Gloria hisses. "That's my call if I wanna tell people!"
"Don't you want your second motha to know?" Aleida asks enviously.
"Huh?"
"Oh, don't act stupid. She's real sweet to you."
"Bueno, me alegra que me haya informado de esto," Lourdes says kindly while glaring at Aleida. She hugs Gloria. "Lamento haberte presionado."
Well, I'm glad she did inform me of this. I'm sorry for pressuring you.
"Está bien, no tenías idea," Gloria mutters.
It's okay, you had no idea.
"Creo que tú y Leon estarían mejor el uno para el otro ya que Aleida puede ser un puñado." Gloria frowns at Lourdes' statement and then shrugs.
I think you and Leon would be better suited for each other since Aleida can be a handful.
Aleida gasps as a piece of her heart chips away at the possibility of Gloria and Leon hooking up behind her back. It makes her absolutely sick. "You're such a mean bitch!" she growls before Gloria can get a word in. "Why would you plant the idea of my best friend gettin' with my man into her head, especially now that she's mad at me?"
"Abuela, that'd be hella awkward!" Daya tells Lourdes.
"Yeah, we're just friends," Gloria says firmly.
"We wouldn't dream of doing that to Aleida," Leon adds.
"Don't let her get in the way of your happiness." Lourdes needlessly tucks a lock of hair behind Gloria's ear. "Look how good he is with your children, mija."
"Uh, eso es ofensivo! ¡Ni siquiera te gusta por el color de su piel, mamá, y no le has dicho una mierda a sus hijos!" Aleida cries.
Uh, that's offensive! You don't even like him because of the color of his skin, Mama, and you haven't said shit to her kids!
"¡También odias a los negros! No conozco a esos niños."
You hate blacks, too! I don't know those kids.
"¡Ya no tengo prejuicios!"
I ain't prejudiced no more!
"Entonces, Dayanara, ¿cómo te va en la escuela?" Lourdes questions Daya.
So, Dayanara, how are you doing in school?
"Muy bien, abuela."
Very good, Grandma."
"Oh...y Daya no es perfecta...¡está embarazada!" Aleida snaps, and Daya widens her eyes in horror.
Oh, and Daya is not perfect... she's pregnant!
"Ma, why would you spill that?" Daya covers her eyes and groans. "I didn't want her to know..."
"She does now. You are no better than I was at your age."
"Jesus Christ, Ma!"
Lourdes puts her arm around Daya and kisses the top of her head. "Está bien, cariño. No te culpo, solo a tu madre." She gives Aleida the stink eye.
It's okay, darling. I do not blame you, only your mother.
Aleida scoffs and ignores Lourdes from now on. Daya and Gloria won't even glance her way. The women and Daya eat their pizza and pasta in silence. Gloria feeds Julio while he's sitting in his high chair. The kids chatter away. Aleida catches a bit of what Leon is telling Jack. Apparently, he's bought Christina something she'll enjoy.
"You don't gotta get her shit. She's just gonna break it or take it scuba diving in the fuckin' toilet!"
"Aleida, where is all this negativity coming from?" Leon wants to know. "I've never seen you like this..."
"I'm warnin' you, dumbass! You know how those brats are!"
"Whoa, Ma!" Daya exclaims. "That's enough!"
"I gotta agree, simmer down," Gloria says.
"What am I, spaghetti sauce that's boiling over?" Aleida hollers at them, gaining attention from people nearby. She takes a huge drink of her wine, slams the glass down, grabs her purse, and storms off to the women's bathroom so she can try to relax. This is like living with Jack and Lourdes all over again, except for the fact that she has a bigger audience to humiliate herself in front of.
"You think she's bipolar?" Leon asks in concern.
"Maybe," Gloria responds.
"Nah," Daya tells them sourly. "She's just a bitch."
"You three, along with the other kids, make such an adorable family," Lourdes points out. "If things don't work out with Aleida, Leon, you could always go for Gloria, she's great."
"I know that you and Aleida don't get along, abuela, but I really can't picture Gloria with Leon, and they wouldn't betray Aleida like that!" Daya insists, and they nod in agreement.
"Gotcha, it was just a thing I been thinkin' about...since she's done nothing but give you trouble tonight, and I'm real sorry."
"We should check up on her," Leon suggests and starts to get up, but Lourdes shakes her head no.
"Give her space," she recommends. "It helped her a lot when she was growing up."
"That waitress is taking a long time to bring the bill," Jack grumbles. "Doesn't she wanna get paid? I'll go find her."
Right when she ends her shift at Friendly's, Diane leaves with Charles and Alex to get herself a dress for tomorrow evening, plus about a month's worth of clothes, shoes, and accessories. "What color are you gonna get, Mom?" Alex wants to know.
"Dark purple, if they got it."
"That sounds good."
"I used to work four jobs when I was pregnant with Alex, but now I only work three. Apparently, though, it ain't enough...you guys got any other ideas for me?"
"Well, I think you could be a dance instructor because you're amazing at it," Charles compliments her.
"Oh, come on, I am not!" Diane protests.
"I saw those fancy moves of yours a couple weeks ago! You do exceptionally well...you blew me away! I felt like I was with a professional that night."
Diane shakes her head while laughing a little bit to herself. His words of praise for her are making her fall deeper in love with him and she's finding it harder to keep her heart closed. "I dunno, I just let myself get lost in the music, and sway...I ain't sure if that's really a talent!"
"Of course it is." Charles glances over his shoulder at Alex. "Your mother can groove! You should've seen her."
"I wish I had. Mom, this would be great for you! We're flat broke, so please, take this opportunity, especially since you enjoy dancing and have the skill!"
"Well, I could use another career so I can afford an apartment! I don't wanna feel in debt of anyone. I was also thinking of working in clerical."
"Oh yeah, I'll get you a position at my office, for sure."
"Thank you." Diane wants so badly to open up to him about her background history. There are some moments where it's at the tip of her tongue, but then she gets nervous and backs out. She thinks it could be easier to do in front of Alex and when they're at his house, so she decides that she will bring it up when they return home from the mall.
While walking into Macy's, Diane passes the shoe department. "What a fuckin' ripoff! Over a hundred dollars for a pair of black embellished high heels? Look at this shit!"
"I see it! We can get those for thirty bucks at Payless!" Alex replies.
"Exactly, which is why I go shopping there frequently. It's just...I hate how things are so damn expensive." Alex nods in agreement at Diane's comment.
"I concur," Charles says.
"Yeah, but you can afford it!" Diane sighs wistfully. She knows there are many things that are way over his budget since he's middle class and not a billionaire, but he's still filthy rich to her and Alex.
"I'm sorry," he apologizes.
"You don't gotta be. Anyway...let's go to the dresses and everything else. We'll check out shoes later."
All of a sudden, someone clamps their hand over Aleida's mouth and she yelps. They drag her into a family bathroom and lock her in. She tries to scream, but it's muffled.
"Finally, I can plow into you. I've been wanting to do this since you were thirteen, but I didn't want to get arrested. You're no longer under eighteen, so I can force you to give me pleasure if I have to."
"No! Leave me alone, you creep!" Aleida shrieks and then hyperventilates as sobs rack her body. "Please, don't..." she begs him weakly, and her fear and self-hatred grow stronger. "My food is getting cold..."
"Shut up!" Jack swings his hand across her face and grabs her by her hair as she's whimpering and holding her now bloody lip in pain. "You'll have to redo your makeup when I finish my fun with you." He takes his slacks and underpants off and she shudders at his shriveled-up penis.
Aleida blinks rapidly and shrinks into the corner and away from him. "I-I got my...my period...it'll be gross."
"That's alright, I don't mind a little ketchup on my hot dog. You're my bitch now." He binds both of her wrists tightly together behind her back with his bow tie, pushes up the skirt of her dress to her waist, and rips off her underpants with his teeth while snarling like an animal. It makes sense, since he is one.
"Leon, Gloria, Daya, any of you, save me!" she calls out shrilly, but the bathroom is completely empty and it's extremely loud outside the door. He just sneers down at her and sniggers cruelly. She's helpless, and he knows it.
"Yeah, go ahead and scream pathetically all you want. Nobody's in here, you brainless cunt."
"They'll be searching for me," Aleida informs him shakily.
"I'll make it quick, then. How long do you usually take a shit for?" He digs his fingernails into her thighs as he yanks her to the ground and crushes her with all of his weight. "Three minutes, tops?"
He rams himself into her, and it triggers a past trauma.
"Él no me violaba ni me acosaba sexualmente o nada, ¡pero es posible que también lo haya hecho! Él siempre está coqueteando conmigo, como soplarme besos y seguirme cuando no miras," Aleida explains while staring anywhere but at her mother. She feels so awkward having to report this, but it's gone on for too long. Lourdes has been dating this guy for a few years now, and Aleida doesn't want him around anymore.
He didn't rape me or sexually harass me, but he may as well have! He's always flirting with me, like blowing me kisses and following me around when you're not looking.
Lourdes puts her hands on her hips and sets her mouth in a thin line. "Estás actuando demasiado amigable con él, y probablemente le esté dando una idea equivocada. Tienes trece años y te estás desarrollando, por supuesto que va a mirar tus tetas y tu trasero. Así es como son los hombres. No te atrevas a tentar a Jack de nuevo, ¿me entiendes?"
You're acting way too friendly with him, and it's probably giving him the wrong idea. You're thirteen and developing, of course he's gonna look at your tits and your ass. That's how men are. Don't you dare tempt Jack again, do you understand me?
Aleida's heart sinks and she's trembling as she uses the counter to keep herself upright. She'd just wanted a hug and kiss and a promise that everything would be okay once Lourdes kicked him out for good. "No lo hice, mamá, ¡no quiero su atención! ¡Acaba saliendo con un chico normal, por favor!"
I didn't, Mama, I don't want his attention! Just date a normal guy, please!
"Él piensa que eres lindo, eso es todo. Él nunca te ha tocado, ¿verdad?"
He thinks you're cute, that's all. He's never touched you, right?
"Nah, pero-"
Nah, but-
"Entonces superarlo. Use algo menos revelador, parezca una prostituta."
Then get over it. Wear something less revealing, you look like a prostitute.
"Mamá, no puedo! Él siempre viene a mi habitación y me mira dormir hasta que me despierto ... ¡tienes que protegerme y deshacerme de él como lo haría una verdadera mamá!" Aleida gulps in fear and flinches when she sees the fury in her mother's face.
Mama, I can't! He's always comin' in my room and watchin' me sleep 'til I wake up...you gotta protect me and get rid of him like a real mom would!
Lourdes slaps Aleida so hard that her face stings and she can't move or stop herself from collapsing to the floor because of the strong blow. She's going to need ice since she feels a black eye coming on. She doesn't cry until her mother walks out of the kitchen, and when she does, it's reduced to a quiet sniffling and heavy panting. She only scrambles to her room and hides under her bed when she hears loud footsteps enter the kitchen and sees Jack laying down on his side like she was recently.
The heinous act is finally over when Jack gets off of her, but Aleida still feels so dirty as she gets her outfit back on and straightened out. She wipes the blood off her vagina from where he had violently bit into her. She'd just had a real life nightmare. Her dress looks more uneven, low cut, and open than it was before, and her hair is disheveled. She rushes to the sink and attempts to control her breathing as she wipes the smudged eye makeup off from under her eyes, washes the blood off her mouth and chin, and reapplies her lipstick. She neatens up her hair and gets all the tangles out. No matter how much she cleans herself up, though, she's still a mess. She doesn't want to see her reflection a second longer, so she quickly leaves the bathroom.
A long line of people give her annoyed looks, but she hastily limps past them and doesn't bother to apologize. They don't know her story. She ignores the pain in her sensitive areas and proceeds to walk with the best grace possible. Aleida just wants to crawl into her bed and never get out of it.
"Aleida, just in time for the cake!" Gloria announces. "You finish your breakdown in there? I hope you're gonna be nice now."
"Yep," Aleida responds shortly. She tosses everyone a fake smile and sits down. They sing Christina happy birthday and eat while the little girl opens her presents and squeals about every single one of them. Seeing her own daughter, so little and innocent, makes Aleida want to be sure nothing bad happens to her or any of her children.
She jumps when Leon reaches for her hand and moves away from him. "Don't touch me," she mutters, and he doesn't try to anymore, but he does appear to be confused and insulted.
"I'm sorry..."
When they go home at last, Aleida takes a long shower, scrubs her skin raw, and shampoos and conditions her hair clean. She holes up in her room again under the covers, and a few minutes later, Daya finds her. "Why don't you chill out and join us? You've already ruined Christina's birthday with your verbal nastiness...we don't need you giving us the cold shoulder, too."
"Just let me sleep," Aleida mumbles. "We got an early wake-up..."
Daya rips Aleida's comforter off of her. "Why were you being so bitchy at dinner?" she demands to know.
Aleida tugs it out of Daya's hands and snuggles back into it. "Get the fuck outta here! I need my rest!"
"No! I need to understand this rudeness you're displaying! I know abuela Lourdes is blunt, but she's old, she doesn't get that times have changed, and I've told her...she understands now. Jack's done nothing to you, but you've been horrible, starting with when he came here. Are you really that petty, you'd act up once you find out your ma's married a guy she adores for life?"
"Yeah, I guess I am."
In the tent, when they're both bare naked, Nicky's lips latch onto Lorna's and then the brunette moans loudly into her mouth. She sucks on the skin of Lorna's collarbone harder than a vacuum on high power, leaving behind appropriately dark purple hickeys. "I guess you'll have to wear a scarf, babe..."
"Oh, God..." Lorna's faint words make Nicky come, hard and fast.
"Damn it, Lorna, you're killing me here," Nicky hisses. She bends down to rapidly lick up and down Lorna's g spot.
"Fuck...I should say the same for you." Lorna whimpers. "For the love of all that's holy...Nicky!" A series of moans and gasps come out of her lips as her eyes roll to the back of her head and strands of hair fly across her flushed face.
"You're blushing, darling," Nicky tugs on one of her curls.
Lorna glances down and put her hand against her cheek. "Oh, dear me," she giggles. "I always blush!"
"It's adorable," Nicky insists, staring into Lorna's eyes and smiling. Lorna gazes back at Nicky lovingly. After sex, they both have their arms over their foreheads and they're sighing contentedly and giggling a few times.
As Leon puts Benny and Julio to bed, Gloria kisses Emiliano and Christina good night. "Mommy doesn't love me," Christina tells Gloria tearfully and rubs her eyes. "She pushed me away and then went to her room."
"She adores you, baby...she's just in a real bad mood tonight. I think she was having issues with your abuela. I'm so sorry it had to be on your birthday, but on Saturday, you're gonna have the best party ever. I'll make sure of it, and I'll also have a talk with her if she doesn't listen to Daya. Now...try to close your eyes and drift off into a peaceful dreamland where there's magic and rainbows and butterflies." Gloria hugs Christina and pecks her cheek a few times. "Okay?" she asks while tickling Christina's belly to make her laugh.
"Okay," Christina repeats, and then a smile appears on her cherubic face and she squeals. "Love you, tía!"
"I love you, too!" After Leon is done wishing the children sweet dreams and giving Gloria's sons bear hugs, he exits the room, and Gloria covers her kids in kisses. "Good night, babies, I love you!"
"Love you back, Mommy!" Benny replies.
"Love you, Mama!" Julio echoes.
The doorbell rings and Gloria wonders to herself who could be coming to their house this late. She opens the door and is pleasantly surprised to see her aunt Lourdes standing in front of her. They'd been talking regularly over the phone for almost two weeks, so Lourdes knows everyone's names and what Gloria and the boys have been up to so far. The only thing she hasn't discussed with Lourdes, is Fahri or the group dinner tomorrow, but she will soon. "¡Tía Lourdes!" she greets her happily. They embrace and rock back and forth after being apart for a bit over a month.
"Hola, Gloria!" Lourdes holds Gloria's face in her hands. "¡Es tan bueno verte de nuevo, cariño!"
It's so good to see you again, baby!
Gloria beams. "Mmm, ¡ha pasado tanto tiempo!" she murmurs as Lourdes kisses the top of her head. "¿Encontraste el lugar bien? ¡Espero que el tráfico no haya sido horrible!"
Mmm, it's been such a long time! You find the place okay? I hope traffic wasn't awful!
"Sí, no hay problema ... de hecho, ¡estoy viviendo en tu complejo de apartamentos! Quería visitarte y ver cómo iba todo."
Yeah, no trouble at all...in fact, I'm living in your apartment complex! I wanted to visit you and see how everything's going.
"Bien." Gloria sighs exasperatedly once she hears raised arguing voices coming from Aleida's room. "Espera, lo retiro."
Just fine. Wait, I take that back.
"¡Quienquiera que esté en la puerta, me disculpo por mi hijo de treinta en el cuerpo de un niño!" Aleida's mother shouts from the living room.
Whoever's at the door, I apologize for my thirty-year-old in a child's body!
"Aleida y Daya están peleando porque esta noche fue el cumpleaños de Christina y Aleida estaba siendo inmadura y grosero," Gloria explains tiredly while rubbing her temples. "Voy a detenerlo porque me está dando un dolor de cabeza."
Aleida and Daya are fighting because tonight was Christina's birthday and Aleida was being immature and rude. I'mma put a stop to it 'cause it's givin' me a headache.
"Buena idea. ¿Dónde están los chicos?"
Good idea. Where are the boys?
"Están durmiendo, ¡puedes verlos mañana por la mañana!"
They're sleeping, you can see them tomorrow morning!
"Yo, Leon, let's talk to your girl," Gloria tells him in the living room, where he's watching a Knicks game with Aleida's mother and Jack. "This is my aunt Lourdes, by the way. Tía, this is Aleida's boyfriend, Leon, her mother, also named Lourdes, and her stepfather, Jack."
"I doubt she wants to speak to us. I didn't want to bother her...she firmly stated that she wanted to go straight to bed when she got home, and I respect that. A peaceful night of sleep could do her good," Leon replies after handshakes and pleasantries are exchanged.
"It seems like Daya needs backup! They got fuckin' world war three goin' on in there! Thank Dios they're too far away for the children to really hear, but any louder...we gonna have cryin'!"
"Okay, then!" Leon gets off the couch. Gloria's aunt begins wandering around the apartment.
"I just got the little ones to sleep, would you keep it down?" Gloria asks harshly while opening the door. Leon is right behind her and Aleida checks twice to see if his hands are near her butt. Thankfully, they're not even that close to each other.
"This is more important," Aleida snaps.
"Alright...what's up?" Leon asks. He takes a spot next to Aleida.
"He raped me!" Aleida yells at them while sitting up.
"What? You're a liar!" Daya shouts back.
Leon's eyes flash with anger. "Who did such a thing to you? I'll make him regret it!"
"Later, just stay here," Aleida orders him and clutches his hand. "I need you guys."
"Hey, who you talkin' about?" Gloria asks. She takes a spot next to Aleida and rubs her back soothingly. Aleida leans her head on Leon's shoulder and stretches her legs across Gloria's lap. She never knew how much she was craving for their comfort until now.
"Jack, Lourdes' husband." Daya rolls her eyes. "Aleida's accusing him of this unspeakable crime, when it's clear that he didn't do shit to her."
"Yeah, he did, tonight, in a family restroom, so nobody would walk in on him doing these...unimaginable things to me. I know I said and done fucked-up shit, Daya, and I'm sorry...but what I'm tellin' you is true! We were gone at pretty much the same time."
Daya scoffs and folds her arms across her chest. "I don't believe you, 'cause you would've been sweet as pie 'til then. He went to get the waitress, she was takin' forever and a century with our bill."
"You should hear her out, Dayanara," Gloria says.
"We've only met him today," Leon puts in.
"Right, which is why we can't just make judgements," Daya argues.
"The thing is, he's lusted after me from the time I was thirteen and Mama Lourdes was just dating him...he kept making passes at me-" Aleida begins.
"Yeah right, Grandma would never let that happen to you, she would've kicked him out a long time ago!" Daya exclaims while pacing the room.
"Honey, your grandmother seems to have a mean streak, and you never realized it and now, you don't wanna believe it. This woman victim-blamed your motha when she was only a young teenager. Jack was a grown-ass man who came onto her...no wonder she's traumatized and was acting out once he came over!" Gloria replies.
"That bitch is very much like how I was back then, like, when I got pissed with you for Cesar letting you kiss him. Only thing is, I ain't never made moves on Jack...he was gross all on his own. He wanted to wait until I was legal, and I ain't never seen nor heard from him 'til now."
Daya sinks to the end of Aleida's bed. "I just don't understand..."
"This enough proof for ya?" Aleida wipes off her lipstick, revealing the cut, and shows them the harsh red handprint-shaped bruises on her thighs. Gloria's eyes widen and she gasps. Tears immediately glimmer in her eyes. Their reactions occur all at once.
"Oh my god!" Daya practically shrieks.
"I'm gonna kill that monster!" Leon decides aloud.
"Ay dios mío," Gloria says in a hushed tone. "Damn him for doin' this..."
"I'll...I'll get you something, okay?" Daya chimes in.
"You can in a minute," Aleida mumbles and then breaks down sobbing into Leon's chest while clinging onto his shirt. He wraps his arms around her and lets her cry. "I'm so sorry, baby, I was havin' a real hard time tonight, you're not a dumbass at all, that was just me spewing word vomit and bein' a bitch! I'll never call you that nasty word again, I promise!"
"I know. It's okay," he murmurs and presses his lips into her hair.
"Ma, you need ice...a-and...we gotta...we gotta call Charles on that...that asshole!" Daya is sounding choked up at this point, by the way her voice keeps cracking. "I for...forgive you...for tellin' Grandma that I'm pregnant, 'cause I-I didn't buy that this really happened to you."
"Thanks..." Aleida wiggles out of Leon's arms and allows him to go and beat up one of her abusers. She sniffles as she squeezes Gloria's and Daya's hands. "Gloria, listen...I...I only told Lourdes about your abusive relationship so she'd shut up about you taking a dive into the dating pool!"
"I appreciate you stickin' up for me, then."
"I'm really trying to be a better motha and friend, but it still takes time and effort," Aleida lets them know.
"We get it," Daya responds.
"Now help me outta bed so I can see my man pummeling the shit outta that disgusting rapist," Aleida tells Gloria. "I'd love to witness karma."
"You sure?"
"Definitely."
Thank you for reading and reviewing, A Star In My Universe, HannahMiley1fan, and a guest!