Pulling the door open, Ivaleigh hopped back with surprise as Julio's parents, Sara and Diego, nearly fell over into the room, stumbling to catch their balance; behind them stood the rest of the immediate family: Elena; her parents, Pilar and Juan; and Enrique.
Julio's response was to retreat back to the sliding doors on the other side of the room, his arms folded, his eyes regarding them all carefully. He held his breath.
"Daniela, Sofia, venid aquí, ahora." Pilar commanded, and the twins obeyed, moving to position themselves beside their parents, Sofia looking confused and reluctant.
There was long, choking silence, before Diego began in a clipped, heavy tone, the words coming out in broken English, "All right, Julio, se acabó la risa. You're going to come home … y créanme cuando les digo que vamos a discutir esto muy a fondo. Estuvo extraordinariamente mal por su parte gastar una broma tan repugnante y pervertida a su madre y a mí, y a usted ..." He looked like he'd been yanking at what little hair he had, the top of his head balding and sweat-sheened.
He kept talking, but Julio's mind shut him, all of them, out; he closed his eyes – I could – I could say –
No. Tadeo would never forgive me.
No. I would never forgive myself?
I feel sick. Please stop talking. Just –
Julio's eyes flashed open wide, his skin paling on a tsunami of emotion. "Stop, stop, STOP!"
"Julio – " Sara began angrily, tremulously, after a short but even more choked silence.
"Don't! Esto no es una broma. Te he mentido y me he mentido a mí mismo. Esperar hasta la graduación no hubiera facilitado las cosas ni cambiado nada, abrí la boca porque no soy la única aquí que sufre el silencio, Elena – "
"I AM NOT!" Elena shrieked, red-faced, pointedly glancing twice at her parents.
"Ain't what I heard." Ivaleigh said, a laughingly vindictive smile curving her mouth. "But then, it don't matter much t' me. Ya ain't my type."
"Because I don't have a dick." Elena sneered viciously, eyes flashing, her teeth bared. "How many have you fucked for the money, I wonder." Anything to take away that disgusted, disappointed look on her parents' faces. I'm a good girl.
Ivaleigh didn't even blink, while Rafael stiffened. "Porque no tienes columna vertebral. Da vueltas, meando por todos lados porque eres tan miserable. Al menos Julio es honesto consigo mismo."
Sara and Diego blinked, staring, their senses finally catching up to them, leaving them mildly stunned by what a grasp of their language Ivaleigh had, funny as it sounded with her accent.
Elena glared at Michael next, rigid, furious that Ivaleigh had managed to impress her parents, even if only a little. "How the hell can you stand to be friends with something like her?" she hissed.
Michael gazed back at her for a moment, then gave a minute shake of his head. "Because it quickly became easier and more enjoyable than being friends with someone like you. You're too vindictive for my liking, miss."
"Julio, you are not – "
"Yes, I am! ¡Soy homosexual! I like to sleep with men!" Julio closed his mouth there, watching his parents with a pained, pinched expression (which they returned), waiting for the explosion. No going back, can't change my mind, no going back, can't change my mind, no changing …
"Julio, stop being stupid and – " See, I'm on the right side of things. The good girl.
"Shut up, Elena." Rafael bit out.
"You knew about this." Sara accused in a shrill whisper, staring narrow-eyed at Rafael, her chest tight, the air coming in small gasps. This isn't happening. He can't be a freak.
"Let me guess," Elena continued, "The slut here fucked you into keeping your mouth shut?"
Not two heartbeats later, Lailea's right hand was slamming triple-time across Elena's face, nearly knocking her over, leaving a bright, stinging red mark and one rather thick drop of blood to form at the corner of her mouth, compliments of Lailea's onyx ring. "One for havin' my sister arrested, one for callin' her a slut, an' one for bein' such a pious bitch. Who the hell d'ya think you are, lesbian or not, t' look down your damn nose at anyone?!"
"Hey – " Pilar began, but Lailea cut her off with a loud, "I don't care what you think of it! But what would ya do if someone called your girl a whore?!"
Nauseated and badly rattled, Elena stiffened, licking the blood away forcefully, her mouth trembling with defiance, rage, heartbreak – I – AM – NOT – She erupted, her voice cracking, the tears swimming. "You think I'm going to listen to you, you had a baby at fourteen!"
Rafael had to physically restrain Ivaleigh from attacking, pulling her arms tight behind her back, yanking her away, closer to where Julio was standing, not answering her violent snarling of, "Let me go, I'll scratch that double-crossin' bitch's eyes out!"
Elena looked unnerved again, but quickly folded her arms tightly together, sneering defiantly.
"Ivaleigh, don't, things are complicated enough without another first-degree murder charge being tossed in." Bastian stated, admiring her temper (and Lailea's even more), moving to position himself between Ivaleigh and Elena.
Gwyneth, Stanton, Bastian, and Caitríona (who had rejoined the conversation following Elena's blistering remark, still holding a now-sleeping Diamond), each put their foot down, with Gwyneth saying tautly, "I think you should leave.", while Stanton guided Lailea backwards, saying loudly, "Ivaleigh, calm down, please. She's hardly worth the trouble."
"Miss Hernández, do you know that I'm a lawyer?" Bastian asked, quite calmly, his eyes coolly mocking. "Allow me to assure you, that if you keep running your mouth with such insults towards either of my clients, Lailea and Ivaleigh, I'll have you brought up on charges of harassment and malicious slander."
"¡Silencio, Elena!" Pilar hissed pleadingly.
"Go, now. None of you, aside from Rafael and Julio, are welcome here." Caitríona said, and the room was now divided, with her, Diamond, Stanton, Gwyneth, Ivaleigh, Rafael, Lailea, Bastian, Michael, and Julio on one side, and Elena, (a fidgeting) Sofia, Daniela, Pilar, Juan, Benita, Guillermo, Sara, Diego, and Enrique on the other.
Sara and Diego stared at Julio, and all he could do was look back with a low, flat, heavy, "This isn't a lie or a joke or whatever you're thinking. Just me. I've been seeing Tadeo romantically for eight months, sleeping with him for the last four – "
Sara and Diego flinched, paling, shrinking back, all shaking frowns, tears, and nauseated expressions, while Enrique suddenly found it extremely necessary to stare at the ground – what the hell am I supposed to say when someone asks about him?
"Do you realize what a mistake you're making? Are you really this clueless?" Elena pressed coldly, heatedly. "You're throwing away your family and future for some dyke – "
"Dyke significa lesbiana, niñita, say it right or shut the hell up." Ivaleigh hissed at her, as Julio crumbled; he looked at Ivaleigh and Rafael. "I'd like to leave now. I need to go talk to Tadeo."
"I'll drive you to Cooper's Do – "
"Rafael, this is the final line that you don't want to cross." Guillermo declared coldly. "If you help him after the way he's turned his back on us and God, then I will renounce you as my son."
Rafael paled. Benita kicked Guillermo's leg.
"Ivaleigh and I can take Julio to Cooper's D – " Michael began, squinting at Guillermo.
Rafael cut him off. Wounded and defiant. "No, cos if you do that, Dad'll send me packing back to Cinco Esquinas the first chance he gets."
"No." Benita said. "I won't allow that. But, Rafael, you can't help Julio. I'll make permissions for Ivaleigh because she means so much to you, but not for this. Julio will just have to look after himself."
Rafael saw the wily glint in his father's eyes. No. Rafael took one very deep, deep breath, wondering if all of this was one very backwards dream, and looked his parents in the eyes. His voice was surprisingly steady while he said, "I don't trust Dad not to do his finest to keep me and Ivaleigh apart. Espec – "
"Ella no es buena para ti, hay muchas otras chicas, de buenas familias costarricenses, que son mucho más respetables. Los localizaré personalmente para usted, si es necesario."
Rafael continued as though Guillermo wasn't there. "Especially after last night. So, no, I'm not going back with you. I'm going to help my cousin, even if it means I have to move out, and I don't give a damn if either of you don't like it. I've got a thing called a conscience. I would hate myself if I didn't listen to it right now." He looked at his father, steeling his nerves further. "And why the hell would I want you to find a Tica for me, when there's Ivaleigh? I love her, she's good for me. Shut it, Elena. You wanna be a coward and lie to yourself about who you are, that's for – "
"You think my so-called denial is a cowardice?" Elena snarled icily, fingers curving into claws.
"It is when you're bein' a hypocrite." Lailea answered. "Condemnin' Julio for what ya can't, or won't, face 'bout your own self."
"It's common sense! Do you think I would ever want to get spit on, cos you know, Julio, that's what's gonna happen! No one's going to ever forgive you for being this much of a sick freak, you'll get your ass beat, six ways from Sunday for certain, you're already homeless, and for what? Some fairy who – "
"Go to hell, Elena." Julio interrupted, hate, apprehension, and sorrow flashing in his eyes. "Take your misery with you."
Ivaleigh looked at Michael, at once smirking wickedly. "Ya ought t' introduce Mouth-Almighty here t' your sister an' her girlfriend." she suggested flippantly, and Caitríona and Bastian both snorted, envisioning it.
"That would be some kind of a conversation." Michael answered, smiling himself. "Genevieve and Logan are very outspoken about their preferences. I doubt very much that they would get along with Elena."
"Logan?"
"Never you mind, Daniela." Caitríona answered.
"Julio ... if this is the despicable, Godless path you're going to take, then don't bother coming home. We don't want this rubbing off on Enrique. Just keep away."
"I need ... " Julio let out small sob, as Enrique continued staring at the floor, ears burning.
"He'll need his clothes an' personals." Ivaleigh said with a harsh, biting look, laying a hand gently on Julio's shoulder. "Caitríona, I'm gonna need t' talk with you 'bout a few things, money-wise."
Caitríona didn't even have to ask. "The money will be yours and Lailea's to do what you want."
"What money?" Julio asked thinly, and Ivaleigh shook her head. "Tell ya 'bout it later."
The Hernández's, the Jimenez's, and Julio's parents and brother had all left. Rafael and Julio had stayed behind. Rafael had refused to be moved. Juan and Diego had each had to drag a crying, protesting Benita away, telling her loudly that her son had made his bed, let him sleep in it. Guillermo had looked beside himself with betrayal and rage.
Sara and Diego reluctantly agreed to let Julio return to the house a final time the following day, during which he would have exactly two hours to take whatever he could, swearing that neither they nor Enrique would be there to help.
Julio's answer had been a nod. There was nothing left to say. I'm free. I'm in deep shit. I can't change my mind I wish I had kept my mouth shut I thought Elena would help be understanding I'm free I can't change my mind.
Driving Julio up to Los Angeles a short time later, with Ivaleigh in the passenger seat, twisted sideways and talking with Julio, Rafael couldn't stop wondering what was going to happen next.
It was going on four o'clock, and Tadeo – tall and thin all over with dark red hair, blue eyes, and a black diamond stud in his right ear – was just getting home from work (he was co-owner of an auto detailing shop on Sunset Blvd) when they arrived. Hearing the whole story, he was impressed, amused, and vibrantly outraged ... but still ...
"I don't know that I want you moving in with me, Julio, I like my space. Couch surf til Ivaleigh can get you some of that money, and we'll go from there."
"I've noticed how you stare when she's otherwise occupied, Bastian." Caitríona began without preamble (at about the same time that Julio, Rafael, Tadeo, and Ivaleigh were discussing things, with Rafael offering up a different proposal for where the money could come from), sitting across from him at the table in his kitchen, and he didn't have to ask to know who she was talking about. He shook his head, frowning, his gut twisting as he continued putting the right pages into the right files – there was still so much to do. "I would prefer you didn't." she continued.
"Save the lecture and the looks, Mum, nothing is all that's going to happen. I know the timing is shit." he said (sighed) heavily, just barely glancing up. "I've seen how you look at Diamond. How many times have I heard you say you wouldn't mind a daughter?"
Caitríona took a sip of her coffee. "Tricky situations."
"What's the trick? Diamond likes you. I doubt Lailea would argue with you on it."
Caitríona crossed herself and hoped.
The next afternoon (Wednesday), with Ivaleigh's and Rafael's help, Julio was able to gather everything that was his, shoving all of it into garbage bags; it had been decided that he would start staying with Yadira, a co-worker of Tadeo's who needed a roommate; Yadira loved all things cars, had as many tattoos as Bastian, was a chain-smoker and a party-lover, and, like Ivaleigh, had a world-wide habit of minding her own business, her philosophy being, You're nice to me, I'll be nice to you. Everything else is moot point.
Rafael went home that night, only to have Guillermo bellow at him that Benita had left to stay at the Greenwood Hotel, divorce on her mind, "This is on you, all of it, IF YOU HAD JUST KEPT AWAY FROM THAT WHORE LIKE I TOLD YOU TO, NONE OF THIS WOULD BE HAPPENING!", before slamming the door in Rafael's face and locking it.
Benita answered his knock on her hotel room half an hour later, took one look at the expression on his face, and hugged him tight.
Rafael decided to wait a few days before telling her of his plans.
The weather for Thanksgiving Day was cloudy, cool, and pleasant.
At the Nogerelli residence, two tables for food had been set out, in a buffet-style, and the guests began arriving around one in the afternoon, a few of them bringing extra dishes and desserts: Edrie, Christina, Aimee, and Jessamine; Kenickie, Rizzo, and Audra, who was bundled up and asleep in her carrier; Danny, Sandy, Frenchy, Jan, Marty, and Sonny; the current T-Birds and Ladies; Galvan, Jett, and Bryony; and Michael and Miss Mason, who had been permitted to bring a date, who turned out to be Mr. Stuart.
Andrianna was aware that some might find it strange that she and her family celebrated Thanksgiving, given that her side of the family and Duran's hadn't been in America for more than four generations combined; but Andrianna loved any excuse to cook, regardless of the origin of the holiday.
Stomping over to Michael upon seeing him walk into the backyard (Paula had dropped him off with, "Have fun.", since she and Ted didn't celebrate the day), hands full with a platter holding a non-alcoholic version of an English Trifle, Johnny snarled, "What are you doin' here?"
For a moment he contemplated smashing the dessert dish into Carrington's too-calm face, mess and consequences be damned.
Catching the look on Johnny's face, Michael side-stepped him, reminding him, "Sandy and Danny invited me.", while continuing on his way towards the buffet tables, setting the trifle down carefully next to a platter of vanilla-frosted chocolate brownies, giving an approaching Sandy a smile of hello.
"You shoulda told them no, ya ain't wanted here." Johnny growled, grabbing Michael's shoulder, yanking him around so that they were facing each other, with Johnny standing too close, poking a finger hard on Michael's chest. "I don't wa – "
"Hey, back off!" Sandy snapped, shoving herself between the two of them, whirling on Johnny, sticking her finger in his face. "I'm not going to tell you again to stay away from my cousin. You're in enough trouble as it is, quit pushing your luck, Jack."
Jett appeared seemingly out of nowhere, wrapping an arm snuggly around Johnny's neck, giving Sandy and Michael an apologetic smile. "Excuse us." he said courteously before dragging Johnny away, shoving him down onto one of the chairs, snapping at him to "Stay put and stop causing trouble!".
Michael went over and sat down next to Stephanie, ignoring Johnny's frigid, infuriated glare; Stephanie was chatting animatedly with Edrie and Christina about the aspects of being one's own boss, and Michael resumed his prior conversation with Aimee, concerning the events leading to the French Revolution, painfully aware of Stephanie's proximity, her leg occasionally grazing his, her bouquet perfume flooding his senses; Jessamine, meanwhile, was talking about several aspects of biology with Galvan, who seemed both impressed and humbled that a woman could know so much regarding the science – given his age, Jessamine found it vaguely amusing.
Half an hour later, the "meeting" began. By the time it was over, a beyond-pissed-off Johnny was swearing up and down that he would never forgive anyone involved.
Goose, Louis, and Davey kept glancing at each other, nervous and uncertain.
An elated Stephanie had to keep biting the inside of her cheek to stop herself from laughing.
And a surprised-looking Michael was now the new head T-Bird.
At least until Johnny got his act together.