Thank you for beta'ing, A Star In My Universe! This chapter is for CoffeeWritingAddiction since I'm gonna write more Nichorello in it! Happy Pride!
mis hijos-my kids
"Hey, check it!" Alana shows the girls a small tattoo of a skull on her left hand, just below her thumb. "I got it brand new for the band." They're at Flaca's apartment for a sleepover. Half-eaten bags of Hot Cheetos and Takis are spread around Flaca's bedroom floor, along with a plateful of snickerdoodles and peanut butter cookies with M&Ms baked inside, which is what Lorna had supplied. She made them and everyone thinks they're delicious.
"Yes, girl!" Flaca cheers.
"Aw, it's so cute!" Maritza coos.
"It's cool, too!" Pennsatucky continues.
Maria examines Alana's hand and squeals. "That goes with the band's theme, definitely!"
"I just love it!" Alex exclaims.
"Me, too," Michelle chimes in.
"So do I, holy shit!" Nicky adds.
"Whoa, nice," Ouija comments.
"Mm-hm," Pidge continues. "How you gonna hide it from your tía, though?"
"I'll wear gloves, it's easy! If she ever notices it, I'll tell her I drew on myself. It's no big deal."
Taystee grins. "That's our rebel!"
"Hey, why do you look so tired and have bite marks all over your neck?" Nicky asks Alex once the taller girl takes off her knitted purple scarf she'd borrowed from Lorna.
"Oh, haven't you heard? Vampires have invaded Queens, and they came for me last night!" Alex beams, and they all snicker.
Nicky can see through her lie. "More like Michelle came for you and you both got fucked within an inch of your lives!" At once, everyone wolf-whistles and cackles hysterically.
"My goodness, Nicky!" Lorna squeals through her cracking up. "Ain't nobody can hide shit from you!"
"Nope!" the blonde agrees with a smirk.
"Wow..." Blanca murmurs.
Alex and Michelle glance at each other and giggle together. "Okay, fine, Heroin Barbie, you caught us," Alex mutters, and both girls blush deeply.
"Not anymore!" Lorna points out. "Nicky stopped doing drugs!"
"Oh, no, it's okay, babe. It's just mine and Alex's inside joke." Nicky turns to the rest of the girls. "I happen to know she's gotten her pubes braided before!"
"That was a dare!" Alex defends herself off their disgusted looks.
"As much as I adore you, Zandra, I'm glad I didn't see that shit!" Michelle lets her know.
"Trust me, how I dressed in the fifth grade was a lot worse." Alex folds her arms across her chest and gives her girlfriend a pointed, but playful glare. "I stunk to high heaven and I wore tan pants with different colored patches covering the holes and a blue and white jacket with silver duct tapes covering the rips on it. I'm glad they were ruined in the flood. My white beanie with the red stripes was kind of cute, though."
"Yeah, but you couldn't help being in serious poverty. Your mama did the best she could, buying you clothes at hella cheap prices," Flaca tells her while squeezing her hand in support.
"Those bitches were poor people-phobic," Michelle throws in.
Alex nods and winces. "I know."
The past week has been busy, and Nicky hasn't checked Facebook in a long time. She had started communicating with Pavel on Tuesday, and he was planning to come tonight. She had gotten some messages from him yesterday, so when her phone vibrates with his latest one, she opens it and scrolls through it.
Where is your mother right now? I just flew into New York City, and I want to surprise her. I am going to stay in a motel, as I don't want her to feel pressured to invite me into her home.
Nicky grins cheekily at her phone and lets out a quiet chuckle under her breath. Sorry for the late reply, dude. She'll be at a restaurant in Queens-Red's Russian Market at one-thirty in the afternoon, to be exact. Her piroshkis are divine, you gotta try at least one before reconnecting fully with her. She types out the address and sends the completed message to him.
"Who you textin'?" Poussey wants to know.
"Red's ex, who will hopefully be her lover again soon!" Lorna responds while peering over Nicky's shoulder, with her chin resting on it.
"Shit, Nichols, I never thought of you as the hopeless romantic hooking up people type," Taystee murmurs.
"I'm not, really! Lorna talked me into it, though, and I wanted my mom to be happy and in love with someone who treats her with the utmost respect, she deserves that," Nicky tells her.
"Aww, you softie," Alex teases her, but Nicky merely beams.
"What can I say, man? I'll do anything for my girl, my sis, and Ma...and even my best friend in the entire world, if you're nice."
Alex chuckles and rolls her eyes. "I'm always nice!"
"Yeah, you are," Michelle agrees and leans up to kiss Alex's cheek.
"Aww!" Lorna, Alex, Flaca, and Maritza coo in unison.
After the adults' evening out, Diane takes Gloria and Aleida to where their children are currently staying so the women can pick them up. She'd had a drink, but it wore off after an hour, so she was okay to be behind the wheel. First, she drives to Dylan's house, since she would be dropping Gloria off at Allison's. Daya and Allison had made a plan to go to Flaca's slumber party together, even though it's late, nearing midnight. Allison would drive them, but Gloria needs to be in the passenger seat with her, as Allison had just gotten her license. Aleida wants to know how Daya's time was right away, but Gloria doesn't plan on pressing the girl for details until she's willing to give them. Dylan's mother opens the door after Gloria and Aleida had taken turns knocking on it and ringing the bell.
"Oh, hi, Gloria, Aleida!" Dawn greets them pleasantly. "Before you ask, they were great, some of the sweetest kids ever!" She takes a step back to let the ladies inside. "They all dozed off around half past nine, except Christina. She couldn't sleep since my husband is here and she doesn't like strange men, Benny said, so I had her stay up with me and watch The Hunchback of Notre Dame."
"Thank you for letting me know, and taking care of our babies! Oh well, we were gonna pick 'em all up, but I guess we'll just bring Christina home," Gloria responds, peeking around Dawn at Christina, who's eyes are glued on the screen. "My baby's first sleepover..." Her heart melts at this. "So, how much we owe ya?" she wants to know as she pulls her wallet out of her purse.
"Don't worry about it! Dylan considers Benny his friend, as much as he does Michael, so this wasn't really a job. It was enjoyable, actually. So, you can't pay me. Put that money away, Gloria!"
"Okay, fine," Gloria mutters while doing as Dawn has told her.
"Well, Christina ain't spendin' the night, and she's my daughter, so here..." Aleida plucks three twenties out of her wallet and hands them to Dawn. "Ten bucks an hour."
"Thanks!"
"Mommy!" Christina squeals excitedly and runs up to Aleida, hugging her tight. "I had a lot of fun and Dylan's mama is really nice! Me and the boys were really silly! We had Spaghetti-Os and av-cado and tomato for dinner and then s'mores for a treat, and they was so yummy! We played with trucks and I put my Barbies in them and we danced to the Hippy Hippy Shake! Then, we sang 'We're Goin' On A Bear Hunt' and built a house out of soft blocks." Christina's eyes widen and light up. She jumps up and down, the skirt of her pink dress bouncing around with her. "Ooooh, can Mister Leon make my dollies a house? Benny said he could, 'cause he's a con-tuckin' worker." The ladies smile at her cute speech impediment.
"That's great, nena!" Aleida murmurs while scooping her up and kissing her cheek a few times. "I'm glad. Of course, he'd probably love to! He was plannin' to, anyway."
"Yaaay! Can I finish the movie? Esmeralda is my faaaavorite!"
Gloria taps Christina's dimple and pecks the top of her head. "I'm sorry, sweetheart, but Diane is waitin' for us outside, so we gotta go! You can see it again tomorrow, okay?"
"Okay!"
"Yo, where's your Barbies?" Aleida wonders aloud. "Don't forget 'em!"
"Oh yeah, they're in the living room!" Aleida sets Christina down and the little girl runs off to retrieve her dolls. She comes back with them and then, they're ready to go. She winds her arms around Dawn's legs and then skips out the door, with Aleida and Gloria behind her.
"Huntin' a bear, now what kinda idiot motherfuckers would do that?"
Christina giggles. "It's just a silly song, Mommy!"
Next, they get Julio and Emiliano. Once they arrive at Allison's, the teenager swings the door open since Gloria had already texted her to let her know they were on their way. "Heeeyyyy!" Allison greets them happily and winds her arms around Gloria, who returns the gesture.
"Hey!" Gloria and Aleida reply at the same time. "So, how'd it go?" Aleida asks her eagerly.
"Your children were no trouble at all." Allison tells them with a grin. She sighs and then chortles. "It took them a while to close their eyes and rest, though, because they kept giggling with my baby girl. You should've seen 'em, they were hella cute and sweet. I had to sit between Julio and Emiliano and cuddle Farah in my lap, since they all couldn't stop having staring contests and repeating each other's names. Check it out, I took pictures!" Allison pulls out her phone and shows the women. The toddlers are indeed, adorable, with the way they appear to be so cheerful.
"Aw...I'm sorry, though," Gloria apologizes, though she's overjoyed that her normally quiet child, was playful and entertaining himself with Emiliano and their new friend, and she feels that way about Benny, too. Her kids deserve a normal childhood, and the only pain they should know is tiny scrapes or bumps on the playground. Gloria beams and blinks back happy tears.
"Yeah, me, too," Aleida concurs. "Even if they did look cute."
"It was alright, I promise! I made sure they eventually got some shut-eye. My mom helped, and around ten, I went out with friends, so she took over," she admits with a shrug. "You can give her the cash instead."
"Alright, this is for her, then," Gloria informs Allison while handing over sixty dollars. "What else they do together?"
"Dinner was cheese and rice enchiladas with carrots, for health reasons, and then for dessert, an ice cream sundae. Uh, well, my mom and I sang songs from their preschool and they danced to those, and also they played with magna tiles and Farah's dolls, they took turns dressing them up and takin' em around in strollers, and when it was still light outside, the little ones rode in toy cars and on pretend scooters to various places...the city, the bodega, Hawaii, and Disneyland were most common," Allison reports. "They had such a fantastic time, and I don't think they're gonna wanna leave!"
"Wow, that's wonderful!" Aleida comments and Gloria smiles while nodding in agreement.
"Mm-hm, I know! We can try gettin' 'em without wakin' 'em up...and Allison, would you mind if we took Farah with us so she can still be with our boys? I gotta make it fair since I let my older son stay with his friends overnight."
"No, not at all, go ahead!" Allison allows.
They tiptoe into Allison's room where Farah is lying in her crib and the other kids are snuggled in blankets on rubber mats with their tiny heads on pillows, small chests going up and down, and their eyes closed. The sight the women and Allison are gazing over is extremely innocent, and both Gloria and Aleida put their hands on their hearts. Gloria swallows a lump in her throat. She'd seen her babies asleep before, but to always remember the two months of comfortable peace they had while drifting off that was stolen from them, was gut-wrenching, and she's relieved that they'll never have to go through it again. She bends down and lightly kisses her son's forehead and skims her knuckles down his soft cheek. "Mama's here, mijo," she whispers and gently lifts him up. Aleida and Allison do the same with their kids.
"Our babies are so innocent, aren't they?" Allison murmurs.
Aleida nods. "Yeah, and little...even though Emiliano wasn't my first child and I wasn't like, all shocked at how small he was, the feeling of having someone so tiny in your arms...it just gives me a hopeful sensation. Each time, I felt that way."
"I'd done this giving birth and being blessed with a newborn thing three times before Julio, but I was still elated and crying tears of happiness because he was finally out and with me."
"I remember the first time I held Farah. She stared up at me, her eyes huge and trusting and full of wonder. I suddenly got the need to protect her at all costs." Allison pecks her daughter's cheek lightly.
"I promised all my babies the day they were born, that I would go through hell before it could touch them," Gloria says.
"When my children were infants, I'd tell my boyfriends the same thing...nothin' could go wrong, because my daughters or my son just came into the world, with their help." Aleida sighs sadly. "Little did I know, they were all useless sons of bitches and it made me bitter and hateful, especially towards mis hijos. They didn't deserve it, and there's nothin' I regret more than that."
"Your babies were all you needed," Gloria lets her know.
"I'm aware of that now." Aleida swallows hard and holds her son even closer to her and a tear glistens in the corner of her eye. "Come on...we should go. Christina and the others are waiting for us."
They tiptoe and move slowly so they don't cause their little ones to stir, and they're successful in getting the boys into Diane's backseat where two carseats are installed, and then Gloria hugs Diane, Aleida, and Leon good night and tells them all, including Charles, that she'll see them later. She walks to Allison's car with her and Farah, and helps Allison strap Farah into her carseat nice and tight, but not so much that it's uncomfortable for the little girl.
Gloria drives them to her apartment, and Allison is in the back with Farah, looking down at her with nothing but love. She'd been introduced to motherhood so early in her life and had to learn quickly, but she seems like a natural already-much better than Gloria had been. She doesn't know how Allison can handle it. Sure, the teenager has her boyfriend and her parents, especially her mother, to help her, but Gloria had Lourdes, and she still was incapable, wanting to focus more on her schoolwork than being a mom. A sharp pain drives through her heart because she imagines what things would be like if she hadn't left her girls with their father. She would check in often, but then he told her to stop and leave them alone, because it wasn't fair to them, and he was right. She'd reminded him that he'd poked holes in the condom, and he quickly shut her up by telling her she was a deadbeat, that she didn't love them because they were accidents to her, and that she needed to be cut off from them completely.
"What's wrong, Gloria?" Allison wonders aloud, interrupting her thoughts.
"Nothin', honey."
"It's just that you haven't said much...and don't you usually play music anytime you can?"
Gloria's hands tighten around the steering wheel and then she releases it. "I...I gotta pay attention to the road, okay?" She adjusts her rearview mirror so it doesn't show Allison and Farah in the backseat. She can't choke up now, not while she's driving. "When you're in charge of getting your peeps somewhere, you can't be yappin' with 'em all the time. That can cause accidents." She hates how harsh she sounds. "I didn't mean to offend you...I apologize."
"Right...I'm sorry, that's fine. I'll shut up."
"You...you can still talk to Farah," Gloria tells her guiltily.
"I will."
Gloria moves to the passenger seat when they get to her and Aleida's place. Allison leaves the car, carrying her one-year-old, and knocks on the door. Daya opens it for her and the two girls hug. Daya fawns over Farah silently, and is probably showing Allison where to put her. On the way to Flaca's apartment, Daya cheerfully tells Allison and Gloria all about her date. It brightens Gloria's mood a bit and reminds her of her own night out.
"What'd we miss?" Allison is asking once she and Daya are let into Flaca's apartment by Kubra and meet up with their friends in Flaca's bedroom. She plucks a bag of Takis off Flaca's magenta pink comforter and fans Daya with it before digging into it. "Girl, you're sweating again."
"Don't I know it," Daya murmurs under her breath, and Allison just smirks. Daya quickly picks up a package filled with Hot Cheetos, pops it open, and starts chomping.
"Well, first, Alex and Michelle fucked like rabbits last night," Blanca reports, gesturing between the two mentioned.
"Congratulations!" Allison gives them both hi-fives while sitting cross-legged beside them as they all snigger.
"Yeah, and Red and Pavel are gonna see each other tomorrow afternoon at her work for the first time in twenty-odd years," Alana informs Daya and Allison. "It'll be such a cute reunion," she gushes. "Nicky's gonna secretly record it on her necklace so the rest of us can watch it, too!"
"Oh, wow, that's great news," Daya mumbles and then grins. She's happy for Alex and Michelle, and Red possibly getting back together with the man she loved in her college years, but she can't stop thinking about Adarsh. She sinks to the floor against the wall, in a daze, almost crushing a purple package of Takis, before Maritza grabs it out from under her and rips it open. At first, Daya hadn't wanted to make a big deal about it, but now, she wants to spill everything. Her snack drops out of her hands and she licks her red-dusted fingers semi-clean.
"Hey, I know that look!" a very excited pixie pipes up, surprising her. "You're in love!" Lorna sits down next to her. "So, how was it? Did he kiss you? Did you kiss him? Did you guys grind each other? Did you-"
Daya chortles at her perkiness and holds her hands up for Lorna to shut up. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, girl! Calm down! We didn't kiss. I don't wanna rush things, and I'm sure he don't either. We had some laughs, some great food, some exercise, some stargazing, it was real fun. The table he got for us was real romantic, too. We didn't dance, you're getting me mixed up with Gloria!"
"I know, sorry, I'm just real in love with love, and when one of my best friends just had the best date of her life, I can't help but be enthusiastic about it!" Lorna squeals. "So...what's next for you and your boy?" Their other friends are watching and listening to their conversation in piqued interest with pleasant expressions on their faces.
"I dunno if he's mine yet, exactly, but he wants a second date! He's coming over to my place next time!" Daya informs her giddily. "Like, not just for five minutes after working with Leon on the backyard or watching baseball or whatever with Leon there with us, but us two, alone on the couch and I'm choosing the movie or series! We'll be couch potatoes together, which I'm totally fine with! Then, he'll stay for dinner!"
Lorna claps her hands. "Yay! Your family likes him?"
"Yeah, they do."
"That's so awesome!" Lorna gives Daya two thumbs up and embraces her. Daya hugs Lorna back and grins even wider than she had been before. "He don't think they're too much of a big clan and all, right?"
'Nah, he's cool with 'em!"
"As he should be, 'cause they're one of the most amazing families to exist!" Ouija exclaims.
Michelle leans into Alex's side. "Yeah, I wish I had a family like the rest of yours." She beams at Alex. "Your mom hugged me and I almost cried."
Alex beams sadly. "Aw...well, she does have that effect on people, I suppose. I guess I'm too used to it."
"Mm-hm." Michelle clears her throat. "I'm super happy for you, though, Daya!"
"I am, too!" Alex agrees.
"Me, three!" Flaca concurs.
"Me, four!" Nicky chimes in.
"Same here!" the rest of them cheer and envelop Daya while giggling.
Then, Daya and Lorna teach the others how to play MASH, which they'd discussed with Piper during that one time when Flaca was given the boot and Alex wouldn't talk to their leader. Piper had thought it was stupid and insisted that she wasn't twelve or younger anymore. "The title, MASH, stands for Mansion, Apartment, Shack, House," Daya explains. "It predicts your future."
"Oh, wow, that's so interesting!" Maritza comments.
"Well, I never did it...I already lived in a shack, why would I need some stupid pencil drawings reminding me of that?" Alex mutters, and Michelle squeezes her hand supportively.
Daya gives Alex an understanding smile. "I got the shack all the time. It was annoying after a while, but now that my family life is a lot better and we're more financially supported, I'm okay with doing it again."
"Same here," Lorna agrees. "It lets you know three facts-your spouse, your vehicle, and the number of children you'll be blessed with. You make a spiral, count the lines, then you get a magic number, and bam! Your fortune is foretold."
"Cool!" Nicky exclaims.
"We let Piper in on it, and we wanted her to join us in the game, but she refused to participate since she was apparently too grown up. She didn't wanna do it after age twelve. We were just like, whatever, bitch! She'd just tell us she didn't have a mansion, but that ho be talkin' nonsense, 'cause we counted five bathrooms when we went over there, actually saw the half bath and the playroom, and met the housekeeper, who was Spanish," Daya continues. "Her only complaint was that she was a lonely child."
Poussey scoffs. "Get the fuck outta here!"
"I felt so bad that I couldn't speak the language with her," Daya puts in.
"It's a good thing I did...it made Carol and Bill uncomfortable as fuck!" Flaca states, and all the girls snicker.
"We play MASH a lot, too," Ouija informs them while gesturing to herself and Pidge.
"Yeah, but about people we can't stand, not ourselves," Pidge chimes in.
They have fun with this for a while, and then get their pajamas on with their backs to each other, for privacy. Most of them are wearing camisoles or loose shirts with shorts, but Daya, Taystee, Allison, Ouija, and Pidge are wearing tight sweatpants and a long-sleeved top. "Wow, I never saw pink on you, especially not on the bottom! Those are cute, where did you get 'em?" Lorna asks Allison while gesturing to her pants.
"Oh, thanks! Macy's! Yeah, I never really saw myself in the color, but I decided to try these on for fun!" Allison checks herself out in Flaca's mirror and does a fancy pose. "They show off my ass good?"
"Damn, girl, you be bangin'!" Taystee murmurs.
"Hell yeah, chica," Blanca adds and then playfully hits Allison's butt with the back of her hand. "Hassan's gonna be like, baby, you smokin'! Diablo always tells me that!"
"Mmm-hmm!" Maria agrees, and everyone giggles. Allison blushes while smiling. Pretty soon, they're all playfully smacking each other's rear ends while cracking up hysterically.
When they get tired, they settle into their sleeping bags, but Alex needs to use the bathroom. Before walking out of Flaca's bedroom, she pulls down the hem of her black shorts and yanks up her thin red tank top so it covers her huge cleavage, which she's been self-conscious of ever since that creeper who called himself her birth father made such an awful comment about her body. She then begins to walk down the stairs and moves to the side so Kubra can pass her. "Oh...hi," she mumbles awkwardly. Her boss has never seen her in this kind of outfit. She doesn't even have socks on, and she never wears anything with spaghetti straps in front of him, since it would look inappropriate.
"Hey, Alex," he greets her back in a friendly tone. "I, uh...I like this on you for the job," he says in a low voice.
She glances around nervously, not wanting anyone to hear their budding conversation. "What?" she hisses. "It's totally unprofessional, wouldn't customers think I'm a tramp or just rolled outta bed? These clothes are literally cotton material! I can't sell drugs like this!" Neither can you, with your red Stanford sweatshirt and gray athletic pants, she thinks to herself, since that's what he's currently wearing.
"Only if they were sexist assholes! Of course, I'd recommend you add fishnet tights and heels and a form-fitting shirt...and your whole outfit needs to be leather or jean with chains...lots of 'em, and always remember to smile. They're like tight panties, they make your cheeks rise." He grins at her with his full set of teeth showing. "Frowny faces are never attractive. Well, I shouldn't bother you when you're with your friends. See you later!"
"Okay!" They wave goodbye at each other and Alex tries to brush off the weirdness she'd felt at interacting with her boss when she hadn't been working. She hadn't realized how full her bladder was since she'd closed her urethra since talking to him, but now, she has to run to the toilet. She sits down and does her business.
All of a sudden, the door creaks open and she jumps while letting out a short squeak. Upon seeing Kubra, she hugs herself around her middle and bends down so he can't see anything except for her bare legs with her shorts and underwear around her ankles. She can barely look at him. "Oh, shit, sorry, you forgot to lock this!"
"Just go!" She attempts not to raise her voice, since he's above her in every sense of the word, and it was an accident, after all. "Please?" To her relief, he's gone. She brushes it off like it's nothing.
Alex returns to Flaca's room with her mind reeling. She's so embarrassed, and she hopes Kubra will let her live that moment down and never tell anyone. She'll definitely keep it to herself and probably have a chuckle about it maybe a few years later.
Michelle pulls her aside. "Zandra...what the fuck was he doing, standing so close to you like that and lookin' at you up and down? It was like, weird staring."
"Who, Kubra?"
"Mm-hm!" Michelle folds her arms across her chest and sets her mouth in a thin line. She appears to be deeply concerned.
"We were just talking! I can't just squeeze by him and not say anything!"
"Excuse me and a polite smile are the only words needed there. None of us know him that well, except Flaca. What were you guys chatting about, anyway?"
Alex racks her brain, trying to think of a good lie. "He was seeing what Flaca's favorite band was, so I told him The Smiths, and he said he'd get their family tickets to a concert if he can save up enough money in time, or if Morrisey doesn't cancel again. It's supposed to be a surprise."
Michelle's facial expression softens. "Oh, well, that was nice. She'll love that!"
"Yeah, I know!"
Once the doorbell rings the next morning and Dawn announces that Gloria is here to pick the boys up, Benny, Dylan, and Michael rush into the closet and close it while giggling together. "We aren't here, we went to Hawaii!" Dylan calls out.
"Yeah, so I can't go home, Mommy!" Benny calls out.
"Bye, Ms. Mendoza!" Michael adds.
Gloria opens the door, despite their protests. She shakes her head and smiles.
Dylan pouts. "Aw, man!"
"No fair," Michael grumbles.
"We're going to Disneyland now!" Benny insists, even though he's happy to see her.
"Nice try, boys! Michael, I'm taking you to your moms' house! You get to spend a little more time with Benny in my car. Y'all are gonna see each other tomorrow in class! I'm glad y'all had fun!" Upon seeing his mother, Benny gets excited. He enjoys the company of his friends, but he loves to hang out with her, too, as well as the rest of his family. After he and Michael hug Dylan goodbye, he runs into Gloria's arms, and she scoops him up and kisses his cheek. "Mmm, I've missed you so much!"
"Me too, Mama!"
"Come on, cariño," Gloria puts Benny down and leads him and Michael out the front door. She waves goodbye to Dylan and his mommy.
They take turns telling her all about their sleepover and then Gloria and Benny walk Michael to his door. Sophia opens it and envelops Michael in her arms. "Thank you for taking him home, Gloria!"
"No problem! See you later!"
"See you!" Way above Benny, Gloria and Sophia exchange a friendly smile.
By noon, most of the girls have left Flaca's apartment after they'd all agreed to see Shall We Dance in theaters on Monday night, and only Maritza remains. They go to Maritza's guesthouse for more privacy and they're making out in bed when Flaca's phone buzzes beside them. Out of the corner of her eye, Maritza sees an unknown number displayed on the screen with a message under it.
Maritza, Yessica, who knows her real identity? You got no idea who your girlfriend is! That's funny. She's a total con artist, and you fell right for it! Xo, P
Maritza's lips pause on Flaca's and she grabs the phone before Flaca can while rolling off her girlfriend. "What the fuck is this? You been tellin' people my fake name for when I rip off creepy or pathetic old white dudes in the future and spreading it around that I'm a scammer?"
"No! Look, it ain't nobody important...people make shit up all the time! Somebody probably overheard you talkin' to me...everyone's aware of what you wanna do, even Gloria!"
"Yeah, but not Yessica, that's between the two of us! I trusted you with a secret, and you really let me down, Flac. Like, every time you get some weird text, you're all like, 'oh, it's nothin'!" Maritza glares at her. "Really?"
"That's because it is!"
"Quit lyin' to me! It's like you're keepin' things from me, and I ain't vibin' it! Either you can let me in on the big secret, or you can leave my house!"
Flaca shakes her head slowly and sighs. She yanks her phone out of Maritza's hands, throws it into her purse, and walks out. Maritza presses her lips together to keep from sobbing until the door slams shut.
"Look, she's probably trying to protect you," Nicky tells Maritza over the phone after she'd heard from Flaca that Maritza now knows about P, but not everything. She's on her way to Maritza's guesthouse.
Maritza sniffles. "From what? Why did Lorna tell you?"
"She was worried that she was Piper's friends' anonymous stalker, ya know, P."
"Why would she torture herself? That don't make no sense."
"Well, to take suspicion off of her...but I really doubt she's P. None of us know who it is."
"Have you gotten anything from this P bitch?"
"No, which is strange...since I know about 'em, but they helped Lorna in getting her arrested for the Christopher bullshit, ran under Flaca, locked Alex in a dryer, and forced Daya to eat an abundance of cupcakes, and douchebags made fun of her for her weight." Nicky scoffs. "They gave the girls worms instead of Chinese food one lovely evening," she continues sarcastically.
"Ay dios mío, this cunt almost killed my girl and put her in a fuckin' wheelchair?! Eeew, worms...how disgusting!"
"Yeah, and encouraged mine to stalk that idiot and make a complete fool of herself and become the target of horrible bullying! Uh, by the way, I'm outside, could I come in?"
"Sure, but why...?" Maritza opens the door and both girls close their phones with a grin. They exchange a hug and Maritza lets her through the doorway.
"It sounded urgent. We significant others of the girls in Piper's clique gotta support each other, right?"
"Yeah. Hey...you think Michelle knows about this?" Maritza wonders aloud.
"Nah, Alex would've told us she found out. You got any suspects?"
"Well, based on all the history I've learned thus far, ummm, Leanne, Stephanie, Ouija, Pidge, Zirconia, Maria, and Blanca seem likely, and it could be one of the hateful former teachers, but the one I saw on Flaca's phone didn't sound like a straight white man. It could be Piss-cuntella, though...but he uses his own bare hands as weapons! He don't seem like he'd write petty texts."
"I agree with you. Leanne and Angie actually sent them a text about kidnapping Ratman, but they were both in the video...I dunno who likes 'em enough to film it for 'em!" Nicky shrugs. "Everyone and their mother thinks they're dumbasses!"
"Maybe Stephanie, then, or Zirconia, 'cause the others hang out with us like whatever went down between them and Piper had nothin' to do with her friends!"
"They could be just chilling with us to get inside scoop...that's why I don't spill any secrets I don't mind being repeated to others."
Maritza's eyes widen. "You could be right! Still...we can't narrow it down to more than seven...eight, if you count Piss-cuntella."
"Shit," Nicky grumbles. "It might be multiple people. I'd get Taystee to track the number, she's good at that, but P might know some stuff about her, too, and use it against her."
"Like what?"
Nicky mentally slaps herself for raising Maritza's curiosity, because she'd promised RJ that Taystee wouldn't ever know about him until Vee was long gone. "Oh, things that could incriminate her, and she's eighteen now, so she'd go to adult prison. It's personal."
"That's okay, I won't press you for details."
"Thank you." Nicky breathes out a sigh of relief. She stares out the window and sees a couple locking lips on the sidewalk. They pull away from each other, and Nicky gasps while grabbing Maritza's arm, getting her attention. "That your ma? You never told us she had a boyfriend."
"She doesn't..." Maritza turns her head and her pupils grow as big as saucers again. "Fuckin' Christ. Come on, we're investigating. They're probably tryin' to get some alone time."
"Time for a rude awakening," Nicky mutters.
"Nah, it's okay, I'm glad she's happy, but I wish she introduced us. They better have just met!"
They walk back onto the porch silently and tiptoe down the steps as Juliana and the man hold hands while facing each other. He slaps the woman's ass and she beams while giggling loudly.
"Ugh, I'm never gonna be able to unsee that!" Nicky complains in a hushed voice while wrinkling her nose.
"¿Mamá?" Maritza asks as they walk closer to the adults. The guy and Juliana suddenly glance at them like deer caught in headlights.
Nicky sees that the guy Juliana is with looks awfully familiar. "Oh my fuckin' god! Uncle Ray?"
"The one who fucked your mom?" Maritza whispers.
"Yup," Nicky mutters.
"When did this start?" Maritza demands.
"Um, about two weeks ago," Juliana admits sheepishly. "I just thought it was a bit soon for us to go public. This ain't an affair or nothin'! I promise, baby." She pats her daughter's cheek fondly.
"It sure seems like it," Nicky tells her, but stares at her uncle plainly.
"Nicole, I have so much I need to explain, but we need to sit down, just the two of us-"
"It's Nicky!" she snaps. "You've been with that goddamn Marka for too long!"
"I know, and I'm sorry. I...I forgot," Ray stammers. "I'm done with her for good, though, I swear! Nicky. I'll remember that from now on."
"You better," Nicky grumbles while folding her arms across her chest.
Ray nods. "Is two this afternoon at Central Park okay?"
"Well, I need some time to process this...but sure. I can only talk for like, fifteen minutes, though. My girlfriend and I are going to the Wildwood Ferris Wheel in New Jersey, and it takes us almost three hours to get there by cab without stopping! The sunset is at six-oh-four this evening, so we gotta start on the road about two-thirty, go on the Ferris wheel, then return home after having dinner about half past seven." Nicky was planning on taking Lorna there yesterday, but the brunette Italian had wanted to watch Gloria and Fahri together instead, so they're going tonight.
"You planned it out well, but it's a school night...is your guardian fine with this?"
Nicky shrugs. "We'll be back by ten-thirty. Look, uh...we barely know each other. I haven't seen you since I was like, twelve. Why do you care?"
"You're my niece, and I want to work on being a better uncle and more involved with your life than I was before, that is, if you're cool with it. I won't try to pressure you or anything."
She scrutinizes him and decides to give in because she was never close to her father's side of the family anyway, and he hadn't ever been horrible to her like Marka was. Whenever he'd come over, he'd watch a movie with her if Marka wasn't in the mood, or he'd give her treats or presents. The only downside to him was that he stuck up for Marka if Nicky complained about her because he was brainwashed, but Daya forgave Aleida after the woman took her awful boyfriend's side over her daughter's. Nicky thinks she should at least try to bond with her uncle, especially since Marka is gone from the picture and can't influence him badly anymore. He is, after all, the only blood family she has. "You get one chance. You fuck up, you're outta my world for good."
"Thank you, and I would ask you not to swear, but I get where your head's at." He grins and turns to Maritza. "Alright...I should go. It was great to finally meet you, Maritza, your mother has told me lovely things about you."
Maritza smiles for a second and then looks up at Juliana. "You did?"
"I always got bragging rights when it comes to my daughter!"
"Well...that was sweet. Nice meeting you too, Ray," Maritza says shyly and they shake hands.
"Alright...catch you later," Juliana murmurs and then kisses him. He gets into his car and she gazes dreamily after it as he drives away.
"Mamá, you're so cute when you're goin' gaga over somebody!" Maritza gushes.
"Yeah, you go, Ms. Ramos!" Nicky cheers Maritza's mother on, and she laughs.
Nicky's phone vibrates in her pocket and she reads her new text from Lorna. Honey, where are you? I'm ready to do this thing!
"Oh shit, sorry, you two! I gotta go! Bye!" Nicky and Maritza hug each other quickly and then runs for the train to take her to Red's store. Luckily, she arrives exactly on time. She and Tricia stand guard outside while they watch for Pavel.
"What the hell were you doing?" Tricia hisses.
"None of your concern, but Maritza needed my help for a second," Nicky answers Tricia shortly. Just then, a tall man with cropped gray hair and a matching goatee, and dressed in jeans and a dark red and white plaid button-up, strides through the parking lot, making his way toward the restaurant, and Nicky gasps. "Oh, oh, that's him! Holy shit!"
"Send it!"
"Right!" Nicky had already prepared what she wanted to tell her girlfriend, since she knew her hands would be sweaty and shaky at what she was about to make happen, with her sister and Lorna's assistance. Play the song. Now!
While squealing under her breath, Lorna hits the button on her pink iPod to begin "Time after Time" by Cyndi Lauper, so that it sounds through the whole restaurant, thanks to speakers that Nicky had hooked up earlier in the week. Red smiles to herself and starts humming while preparing a piroshki that Lorna had ordered.
Lying in my bed I hear the clock tick,
And think of you
Caught up in circles confusion-
Is nothing new
Flashback-warm nights-
Almost left behind
Suitcases of memories,
Time after-
"It's a nice one, huh, Red?" Lorna asks brightly while resting her chin on her fist and swinging her legs to the beat.
"Well, the tune is pretty, I agree, but the lyrics are a bit depressing!"
Lorna smirks while swaying. "In the music video, she has red hair...like you. The couple gets back together at the end. It turns out to be very romantic!"
Red beams. "That's true."
"Her man has long brown hair, like..." Lorna's voice trails off as Pavel walks through the doors, and Nicky and Tricia stroll in behind him, but quickly go in the opposite direction.
"Like who?" Red glances at Lorna with a curious expression on her face, but then her eyes gaze over Lorna and she narrows them in confusion.
Sometimes you picture me-
I'm walking too far ahead
You're calling to me, I can't hear
What you've said-
Then you say-go slow-
I fall behind-
The second hand unwinds...
"Galina? Eto pravda ty?"
Is that really you?
Red is rendered speechless for a second, and Lorna eagerly squeezes both Nicky and Tricia's hands under the table. "Da...no kto ty? Ty govorish' po-russki?"
Yes...but who are you? You speak Russian?
"Konechno! Galina...Mne tak zhal', chto vse eti gody nazad ya obmanyval dzhinsy. Na samom dele oni stali ochen' populyarnymi, i teper' ya ponimayu, pochemu vy reshili sdelat' bol'shiye izmeneniya posle Nadezhda. YA nikogda ne mog dvigat'sya dal'she posle tebya."
Of course! Galina...I'm so sorry for wimping out about the jeans all those years ago. They actually did become very popular, and I understand now why you wanted to make a big change after Nadhezda. I never really could move on after you.
If you're lost you can look-and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you-I'll be waiting
Time after time...
Red gasps and places a trembling hand over her mouth. Her eyes glisten with unshed tears. "Pavel? Oh...YA dazhe ne znayu, chto skazat'. Proshlo dva s polovinoy desyatiletiya!" She chews on her nails and Lorna thinks it's too adorable how flushed she is around him.
I don't even know what to say. It's been two and a half decades!
"You don't need to say anything. I'm only asking for your permission...if we could start over?" He has a thick Russian accent, but the girls can still understand him.
"No way," Nicky and Tricia whisper in unison.
"Yesss!" Lorna squeals.
He gestures to the dark blue jeans he's wearing. "Look, I'm even wearing jeans!"
Red chortles, comes out from behind the counter, and takes a few steps toward him while undoing her hair that had been previously pulled back into a ponytail, and then, spreads it around her shoulders. "Ah, yes, I see. They look very nice on you!"
"Thank you. I've always loved you in them, too," Pavel compliments her. "Democracy, empires crashing down. I liked how the world was changing, and I wanted you to enjoy it too. I'm glad you did."
"You told me that when I first started wearing them. Although, I don't have a Charlies' Angels' butt anymore."
"You're still beautiful, since the first time I saw you."
Red beams and her cheeks turn a deep scarlet. "Thank you. I never forgot your handsomeness either." It's then she realizes, that Lorna has never watched Nicky and Tricia's mother figure flirt before. The older woman is practically glowing with how happy she is. "So...you learned some English?"
"I heard excellent things about America. I came here five years ago and took many lessons at night school."
"Well, you're very good!" she praises him. "Do you ever go back to Russia?"
"Of course, for summer vacations!"
"I do, as well."
After my picture fades and darkness has
Turned to gray
Watching through windows-you're wondering
If I'm OK
Secrets stolen from deep inside
The drum beats out of time-
"Forgive me for asking, but what happened with Dmitri?"
"Oh...he was a desperate hamster." At this, the girls stifle their laughter with their fists and Pavel cracks up while Red just smirks and rolls her eyes. "Actually, a gerbil, since hamsters bite. He chatted about taking me to Odessa and Lake Chernobyl, but never followed through on his promises, and I didn't want to break up with him, otherwise, I'd be on turbine duty, like poor Yuliya Ovechkova, whose hands became wrinkled and dry at only twenty...and that was before we got married and moved to the United States. I wanted to go to Leningrad, and then Vladivostok, but too many fish were there. It wasn't fair that they let the Jewish people emigrate from Russia, but not us."
"That's right, you worked in the factory! I remember now...you looked adorable in your light blue uniform and matching hat."
Red hits his shoulder playfully and shakes her head, but she's grinning from ear to ear. Lorna can't quit fawning over their cuteness. "Stop it!"
"You did!" he insists and pulls out two chairs for them to sit in, opposite each other. "So, Dmitri's finished for good?"
"He had a plan for us to get to America-we'd have a fake wedding and I would live my own life in America. I felt bad that he pined for me so much, so I tied the knot with him for real. He was boring, and he still is now, so I divorced him. We have three sons who are all in college."
"I thought Nicky and Tricia were your daughters."
"They are, but not from him, or me, either. I think of them as mine, though. Wait...how do you know-" Her eyes travel to the blondes and Lorna, and then Pavel, and finally, back to all of the girls. "Did you three ask him to come back for me?" They nod their heads yes. Red puts her hand over her heart and beams at them. "Thank you," she mouths, and they give her smiles back.
If you're lost you can look-and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you-I'll be waiting
Time after time...
"You know, I rejected Dmitri's offer of a Georgian restaurant with chakapuli so I could go to your party. I despised those back then." Red scoffs. "Accordion music, soggy herring, and anxious men wanting me to dance with them!"
Pavel sniggers. "You must've really hated that guy!"
"Yes, but I never regretted going and meeting you. It was nice going to that speakeasy of yours. Nadhezda and I were always like, two cabbages and a soup bone!" They share a laugh. "I'm sorry...I keep thinking of you with brown curly hair just a bit past your shoulders," Red murmurs while gently touching his upper arm.
"I've always pictured you as the girl with long, red, straight hair."
"They call me Red for a reason. Although, sometimes, I think there's more purple than red in my hair dye."
Pavel scoffs. "Bah! Like you even need it."
"Smooth," Nicky murmurs and the other two girls smirk.
"What?" Red waves him off. "Oh, hush, you!"
"No, really, I mean it! Uh...so you own this place?"
"I sure do! Let me whip you up something." Quickly, Red makes another piroshki and serves it to him while rubbing her dark red lips together. "Go on, eat it!"
When he finishes the treat, he gives her a thumbs up. "You are a magnificent cook!"
"Thank you!" Red tells him while taking her place beside him.
"Galina...for old times sake, would you like to go dancing with me? We can do the Barynya and get some liquid courage, preferably vodka!"
"Of course! I'd love to!" They exchange a sweet hug with their cheeks touching and Red's chin resting on Pavel's shoulder. Under the table, Nicky, Lorna, and Tricia hi-five each other.
"I'm so sorry about how Marka treated you," Ray starts out as he and Nicky sit on a bench at Central Park, with Lorna close by. She'd told her girlfriend that her uncle had been going out with Maritza's mother for a while and she just so happened to see him again today after four years of no contact. Lorna was shocked, but also happy that Nicky's uncle was making an effort to get to know her and be somewhat of another parental figure to her. Lorna knows very well that Nicky thinks Red is more than enough of one, but it's nice when a person can have even one family member who is bonded to them by blood, be close in the heart, too. Nicky hopes Ray will turn out to be great and someone she can count on.
"Don't be," Nicky tells her uncle. "Seriously, man...she was a bitch, but you don't gotta apologize for her ass!"
"I know...I just feel terrible! I sat there and...I didn't listen to you. She was heartbroken over my cheating brother and wanted me for comfort...but she mistreated you! She ended up betraying me, too. I'm glad I have Juliana now, and I would like to reconnect with you."
"That'd be awesome."
"Who are you staying with?"
"This lady who works in a Russian market and the school cafeteria. She's the best! Her name's Galina, but she insists that people call her Red. You'll see why when you meet her."
"Oh, that's interesting! Uh...what's your favorite music nowadays? I'm thinking I could take you and your girlfriend to a concert."
"Right at this moment, I'm really loving Fiona Apple! Her song, 'Criminal', is my favorite," Nicky responds.
"Cool!"
"I have a sister, too. Uh, well, I met her on the street and we became friends, but she's eleven, so I took her under my wing. We were both really into drugs, especially H...you know, heroin...but Red got us off that shit, like, forever!" Nicky fiddles with her St. Joseph's necklace.
"That's good! I'm glad you're not going to make those kinds of choices anymore. You don't need dope to have fun. I strongly discourage it."
"Ah! You do have a point. So, how's my dad doing? I can understand why he cheated on Marka..." That cunt, she adds in her head. It's too vulgar to say in front of him, and besides, he used to date her. The wound she'd left could still be fresh. "I mean, I-I barely knew him, since he really only existed if he was fighting with Marka, but now that she's with Paolo, maybe he can focus on me?" she asks hopefully.
"Well, I wasn't sure how to approach you with this, but he died in a freak accident three years ago...while on a business trip, there was a tornado and he was hit with a flying tree," Ray answers her solemnly. "My condolences."
"Jesus! That's depressing!" Nicky doesn't know what else to say. She isn't upset, because he wasn't that much of a father to her, more like a stranger. She feels nothing, in fact.
"Yeah...I'm sorry, kiddo."
"Uh...I probably gotta go now," Nicky excuses herself.
"I could drive you girls," he offers as she stands up.
"No, it's okay. Maybe next time! Thanks anyway, though!" she calls out as she leaves. "Bye!"
"Bye!" They wave at each other and Nicky joins Lorna outside the park where she's waiting with their things and flagging down a cab.
Nicky almost wishes she'd told him yes, but she doesn't want to get too comfortable just yet. "What did you guys talk about?" Lorna wants to know as they get into the vehicle.
"He volunteered to take us both to a concert...Fiona Apple!"
"Oh, neat! What else?"
"He apologized for Marka's behavior, and I told him he didn't need to do that. Then, he told me he was sorry for not doing much to go against her when she'd be so cruel to me. He asked me who was taking care of me, and I let him know Red, and that Tricia's my sister...and I mentioned you as my girlfriend, of course!"
"Aww, that's sweet," Lorna tells her.
"Which part?" Nicky wonders aloud.
"All of it!"
"He informed me that my dad was killed by a tree in a tornado while I was on the run, if you can believe it!"
Lorna gasps and touches her forearm tenderly, and Nicky melts inside. "Oh my goodness! I'm real sorry, hon!"
Nicky gives a light shrug. "Ehhh...he never meant much to me anyway, so I'm not like, sad or anything. It's more like, I feel bad for Uncle Ray that he lost his brother, and he was a human being, so that's terrible in general."
"I understand." Lorna interlocks her fingers with Nicky's and squeezes her hand tightly while offering a gentle smile, and Nicky grins back at her. Their first stop once they get to New Jersey, is the Starbucks in Hoboken. "This brings back memories of when I used to go here with Franny!" Lorna says excitedly and then sips her drink.
"Aw, that's cute!" Nicky comments.
As Nicky and Lorna board the giant Ferris wheel when it's nearing sunset, Lorna is jumping up and down inside. She's wearing her favorite jean dress and her hair is in a half pony. She knows she's too bejeweled for a ride and her face is coated in makeup, but she doesn't care. She's with the love of her life, and she wants to look her best. Nicky has on a dark blue top, black skirt, nude tights, brown Uggs, and bangles around her wrists. Her eye makeup is smoky and her lips are covered in light pink gloss, whereas Lorna's are bright red.
"It's a hundred and fifty-six feet tall, one of the biggest in the East Coast!" Lorna exclaims.
"Whoa! Holy shit! This is my kinda ride! The very top is gonna be amazing!"
"I know, you love being way above ground like that!"
Nicky grins at her and it warms her heart. "Views are my thing, you do know me well, my girl."
"Mm-hm!" The ride starts and Lorna cheers as they hold hands while sitting across from each other. She wishes she could be next to Nicky, but they have to even out the weight and be safe. It can't hurt to take a picture or kiss for a few seconds, though.
"I thought me and Vinnie had a real deep connection, like I was part of him, forever. He was my manicotti, and I was his little lasagna."
"Okay, that's gross," Nicky states through a chortle. "Why are you bringin' that knucklehead up?"
Lorna scowls. "You gotta let me finish, Nicky! I was like that about Christopher too, but I was wrong! Both of them were such jerks, but not you. Third time really is the charm! Sure, Vinnie wore a gold chain and made me feel safe, and those two things go together, but not only do you have gold bling around your neck and protect me, you also are the most wonderful, understanding, patient, kindhearted and loveliest person to ever grace me with your presence." As they get closer to the top, Lorna's eyes fill with tears. "I am so glad to have you!"
Nicky sends her an emotional smile and reaches forward to place her open hand on Lorna's cheek and her thumb strokes a stray tear away in a gentle manner. "Lorna, baby...so am I. It's pretty heavy goin' for us lately, with bad things happening, but I'm lucky that you're my main squeeze!"
After confessing their undying love for each other, they share a passionate liplock and pull away just as quickly. Lorna takes her Motorola out of her purse and turns on the front facing camera while plopping down beside the blonde. She snaps a picture of the two of them holding hands and beaming brightly, faces touching, with the whole amusement park and the boardwalk, including other fun attractions such as Sea Serpent, Teacups, Ignis Fatuus, Super Scooters, and Musik Express in the background once they're at the highest point. Then, they take two more with them pecking each other's cheeks. She'll treasure the photos as long as she lives.
While Nicky is getting their dinners later, Lorna arranges to meet in the cornfield with Juan since he'd been texting her a lot and asking her why she isn't interested in a relationship. She thinks the answer should be obvious, but he might just need mental help, like she did. She tells Nicky that she's going to the bathroom, but then goes off to where Juan is.
"What happened to your best friend you beat up? Did you stop being close?" Juan wants to know as they're taking their places on the ground.
"We're girlfriends now."
"Why did you reject me? You found someone and I didn't...but I thought we would hook up, maybe, seeing that we have this in common."
Lorna plays with the tall weeds, braiding them, and then letting them go. "It'd be cheating on my girl...and not only that, we're too far apart in age...I'm talkin' a whole generation. You could be my father!"
"I always thought age was just a number, but alright, that makes sense. A Gen X'er shouldn't be with a millennial. I don't think of dating as commitment, though, never have. I didn't think you were faithful."
"Well, I am. To her, I'm a hundred percent devoted." She chuckles. "Gen X'er...that's what my besties' moms and auntie figures and their friends call themselves. You'd fit right in with them."
Juan slides closer to her and she allows herself to relax while also watching where his hand is hovering from her peripheral vision. "That's nice. You know where Vee's at right now?" He doesn't let her reply. "She's fucking another drug dealer she proposed to in Vegas! She's got pictures all over Facebook that I hope get taken down, and that's just the two I saw on her main page. I can't see them all, since she blocked me."
"That sucks." The longer she's with him in person, the weirder she feels. "Hey...can we keep this friendship online, because I had to sneak out to see you last time and it almost killed me...I had to climb out the window and I'm terrified of heights! I only came so I could tell ya face to face. I can bring Franny with me if you want to continue these visits, and I'll introduce you to the other adults I know."
"Sorry...I'm too busy for social interactions...you're a special case, but if you're more comfortable with an Internet friendship, that's okay."
"Oh...alrighty, then. We can still hug."
Juan grins and then they bid each other goodbye. He snakes his arms around her and then they separate.
"Lorna?" She jumps at the sound of Nicky's voice as the blonde approaches her. "Who were you just talking to?" The blonde has a corn dog and an Icee in each of her hands and she gives one drink to Lorna, who takes it with a thankful smile.
Juan is nowhere to be found, which Lorna is grateful for. "Uhh...just myself, I suppose. Sorry, I...I musta got distracted and wanted to explore my old hometown after using the little girl's room."
"Well, let's get outta here, this place is fuckin' creepy at night!" Nicky helps her up and they link arms while strolling to a bench beside the condiments stand. The couple watch the beautiful neon lights flash on all the rides as they drizzle ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise on their food. They proceed to eat and then drink their wild raspberry and cherry flavored Icees while occasionally grinning up at each other.
Out of the corner of her eye, though, Lorna spots Juan leaving the area while clenching his hands into fists and shaking them, but he doesn't see her.
Thank you for reviewing, CoffeeWritingAddiction, A Star In My Universe, MinervaSnape394, and Johanna-002!
