Thank you for beta'ing, A Star In My Universe, HannahMiley1fan, and nnicholsnlyonne! Warning: Sexist, homophobic language, and sexual assault.
I'll give you a clue about P: This person has been in the story-not just mentioned, but they've also said stuff. Also, their texts are very telling :) any guesses to who it could be?
An hour later, when Aleida has just finished impressing Daya's art teacher, Ms. Fischer, about how Daya started to express an interest in drawing during camp at age six, the parents and guardians stand in line for dinner. Four ladies are serving them, and the Latina one directly in front of Aleida says, "Your man has a wandering eye! He got his hands on your hips, but he be lookin' elsewhere!"
The nosy woman's words strike envy in Aleida. "I'm about to smack a bitch down now that you said that!"
"Why don't you talk to him instead?" She snaps her fingers in front of Cesar's face a few times. "You're holding everybody up, sir! Move your ass!"
"How come you're giving me advice and doing all this work when your face is so battered?"
"I'm like Wonder Woman!"
Aleida decides she likes this lady's sassiness and is interested in her friendship. "My name's Aleida Diaz," she introduces herself.
"Gloria Mendoza." They exchange a smile and shake hands. "Diaz, huh? Are you Daya's older sister?"
"No...su madre! Fifteen years ago, I fucked up!"
"Holy shit!"
"I had a really fun time tonight, Sylvie," Alex tells the girl she's been flirting back and forth with for a while now. "Is it okay if I call you that?"
"Yeah, it's fine." Sylvie holds Alex's hand and leads her inside the mall's photo booth. "Let's take pictures. I'll pay. It's the least I can do, especially after you bought both of our dinners!"
"Thank you."
They set it up and do cool poses. On the last one, they end up making out, and Alex has butterflies dancing in her stomach.
"Sorry..." Sylvie murmurs as they pull away from each other. "I couldn't just not kiss you...you're so pretty! Glasses look hot on you!"
Alex blushes and runs her hands through Sylvie's hair. "Thanks! You don't need to apologize. I'd been waiting for that, but I was shy to make the first move. I wasn't sure if you felt the same."
"Or were you afraid to love after losing Piper?"
"No...I knew I could move on..."
"You're lucky that your mom's accepting. I have no idea how to come out...my parents may not be as open-minded. I can't introduce you as my girlfriend yet."
"Well, we only shared one smooch, so it's too early anyway. My mom thinks we're friends...but she'll figure it out soon."
"I'm sure she will."
When they exit the photo booth, the pictures aren't in the slot. "Shit..." Alex mutters. She feels her phone vibrate in her pocket, so she checks her new message and closes it before Sylvie notices. She's now disappointed, but not surprised.
Thanks, you girls are super cute! You'll get 'em back right when you confess to Mommy about gettin' trippy! xo, P
"I thought for sure this idiot machine printed them!" Sylvie yells and kicks it.
"Maybe someone stole it!" Alex panics. "What a waste of money!"
Sylvie shrugs. "Oh well. Wanna take another one?"
"Nope...sorry, I'm kind of in a bad mood...with these stupid rules in place and Nicky getting arrested...let's just call it a night."
"Um...okay," Sylvie says uncertainly.
"I'm not mad at you, I promise." Alex brushes her knuckles against Sylvie's cheek. "How about we go to the movies tomorrow, though? It's dark and quiet...perfect place to lock lips...and I'll make sure no one takes our tickets or popcorn. We'll split the cost, is that cool with you?"
"Totally!"
Daya's phone lights up with three missed calls and a few texts. They're not from P, but rather, a private number that she knows as Mr. Bennett's. "You tell 'em...I need to use the little girl's room." She escapes the kitchen while dialing his number.
"Daya, I've been trying to reach you for an hour!"
"Hey, John, sorry, I was working on our book report," she says when she goes into the bathroom. "What's the urgent emergency?"
"I don't think this is going to work out. They know everything about us! Why would you tell them?"
Daya's heart skips a few beats and she pinches her top lip. "I warned you that my mom was coming and she could be crass and crude...I didn't know she'd bring Cesar! I never said anything about you being my boyfriend!"
"They got every detail correct. They wanted me to confess that I was...fucking you! Cesar talked about your breast size and your mother...she exposed...her frontal view! I should've called the cops! Do you actually live with these people? Is this a joke?"
"Unfortunately yes, and no, they weren't pranking you...they're just inappropriate like that. Were they loud?"
"Extremely."
Daya's cheeks burn with humiliation. "Was anyone else there...like other parents?"
"They came in late, so no. I was alone with them for two whole minutes. It was just too much for me. I love you, but I can only deal with their impolite comments when I have to, like at school events like parent teacher conferences, back-to-school nights, and open houses. I'm not going to listen to them at say, family gatherings at dinner or on the weekends. If you're just gonna blab to them-"
"I didn't!" Daya protests and claps her hand over her forehead. Her eyes become watery and it's like a baseball is stuck in her throat. "So, you're gonna dump me just because of Aleida and Cesar, right after we've had sex?"
"This was a hard choice to make. I had no idea you came from such a messed up life...your mother's boyfriend has seen your...and she's okay with that!"
"Actually, she hates it, but not for the reason you'd think. Please don't leave me, John..."
"I'm sorry, but I have to walk away. It's best I do this now, rather than marrying you ten years later and getting a divorce when you're on baby number three."
"No..." Daya sobs while sliding down to the floor on her hands and knees.
"Goodbye."
Her heart thuds against her chest and she realizes she hasn't taken a breath yet. Her tears drip down her cheeks, off her jaw, and land on her phone. She uses a few minutes to collect herself and then go back out with the rest of the girls. She tries to smile and keep the sniffling to a minimum.
"They're totally down with the idea!" Flaca exclaims as Daya sits back down. It takes a second for her to remember what's going on at this moment in time. She just can't believe how quickly her world has turned upside down-and she's the only one who knows about it, except P.
"Oh, really? That's great!" Her voice comes out sort of squeaky, so she clears her throat.
"Were you just crying?" Maritza asks her.
"Yeah, I'm so happy! It's all about women empowerment, and that shit makes me emotional!"
"Aw, you're a sensitive one!" Maria comments.
"I know a lot about cars...my mom used to be a mechanic and I learned from her. While I'm skipping Geometry, I'll steal Humps' car and crash it somewhere outside of the school and then run off as the alarm rings," Maritza says.
The others look uncertain. "Awesome revenge plot, but you can't drive and it shouldn't be done in broad daylight where people could walk in the parking lot any time...what if you get hurt? People could connect it to you," Flaca tells her. "Don't commit grand theft auto unless you know for sure you won't get caught."
"Aww, I'm such a sucky criminal!" Maritza complains.
"Maybe you can learn from my mom," Daya suggests sourly.
"How about you steal the keys, put a brick on the gas pedal, and crash it into something? Wait until it's dark, after midnight, and quietly take it from his curb or wherever he keeps it, and drive it into a lake! By the time he hears it and gets up, you and his car will be gone. Go with someone who has a license, though, so you can get back home faster," Maria advises Maritza. "I'll take you, if you want...Yadriel, my boyfriend, taught me how to drive, and now I have my learner's permit. He can take us. I actually don't have to be there, but after being sexually assaulted by a man, I don't think you'd wanna be alone with another one. He won't do anything, but I don't want you to be scared."
Maritza beams. "Thanks, you're so thoughtful!"
"Yeah, and really smart, too!" Flaca adds.
"Thank you!" Maria smiles at them proudly. "I'm no amateur, you know?"
Maritza gets a phone call. "Oh, this is my mami! Excuse me." She leaves the room momentarily.
"Where should we meet next time?" Maria asks. "We gotta alternate between each other's houses."
"Maybe yours?" Daya suggests.
"It's unavailable. Her dad's weird and embarrassing," Blanca says.
"Mm-hm, one time after school, I brought my friend Sirena over, but he flirted with her," Maria explains.
The girls make grossed-out faces. "Ew!" they exclaim in unison.
"Well, what about when you're home alone?" Flaca wonders out loud.
"I never am...in fact, I spend most of my life at Blanca's house or Yadriel's."
"Maria and I are like two peas in a pod, but when we're not together, I'm with Diablo. My place would be too distracting...my father, Chad, is busy making deals in the living room with his friends, or my cousin, Antoni, is visiting...and if I'm by myself, I'm reading and don't wanna be bothered," Blanca tells them.
"We could always go to Flaca's, work in the library, or at a coffee shop if you don't wanna always come here," Daya lets them know.
"No, not right now...things at home are complicated," Flaca murmurs while propping up her chin with her fist. "One of my estranged relatives came over and he and my mom were always arguing when they were younger. Nothing's changed."
The girls nod in understanding. "I'm sorry, Flaca," Daya says.
"Really? That sucks," Maria answers.
"You should tell your mom to kick him out," Blanca advises her.
"He doesn't listen."
Maritza returns to the kitchen. "Flaca, we gotta go, my mom's about to pick us up!"
"Okay, great!" Flaca gets up and both she and Maritza hug Daya goodbye.
"Time for us to leave, too," Maria announces, gesturing to herself and Blanca. They wave at Daya as they follow Flaca and Maritza out the door. Just then, Aleida and Cesar come in.
"The frisking was great!" Aleida exclaims.
"I know! I got no idea why the students hate it!" Cesar mutters. "Women do the guys, men do the girls...now if it was the other way around...I mean, don't get me wrong, lesbians are hot, but I don't want some dude squeezing my dick!"
"You guys are unbelievable and revolting!" Daya says through gritted teeth. "I fucking hate you both!"
"That's a lovely way to greet your mommy."
"Shut up, Aleida!"
"Hey!" Cesar yells. "You want me to get out the gun again?"
Daya puts her hands up in surrender, takes the children to her bedroom, and slams and locks the door. She sits down on the floor, pulls her knees to her chest, and tucks them under her chin firmly. She wants to tell someone about this so badly, but she can't, because all of her friends are busy, Gloria has her own kids to take care of, and Red really needs her sleep. She's not about to bother them with something as stupid as heartbreak over someone she should've never fallen for in the first place, when they've got bigger issues. Daya starts sobbing hysterically beneath her palms and her siblings hug her, one on each side.
"No, he didn't!"
"Oh, Lorna, he was asking every single mother or female guardian there to go on a date with him this weekend! Red and Gloria warned us all, but I thought they were over-exaggerating! This guy's a douchebag and twice my age...and he made several passes at Maritza's ma, trying to get her to go home with him...she told him she was a lawyer and very busy. He was also persistent with me...but I just kept saying I had a boyfriend and showed him a picture of my ex."
"Gross!" Lorna shrieks while throwing her orange comforter over her head and realizing that he did this just so that he could see her regularly. "Don't tell me no more, Franny, I believe you!" She can't even stand seeing Humps teach her and her class biology. She doesn't want to picture him as her sister's boyfriend and being in the house all the time, and she's thankful that Franny was smart enough to say no. She shows herself again and looks up at Franny while laying on her side. "Did he say anything about my performance in the class?"
"Just that he wants you to grow a stronger stomach because apparently, you're going to be learning about the insides of...bigger animals." This seems like it's really hard for Franny to report.
"No!" Lorna cries. "Eeew! That's worse than cleaning up after Ma!"
"Hey, kid, I know he's a jerk, but that's what biology is. Everyone's gotta do it. You wear gloves so you don't actually touch it with your bare hands...and think of it as science, nothing else but that. It's like...working with raw meat. We make hamburgers all the time!"
"You gotta cut through the animal and lay it on its back...and sometimes, it's not all the way dead...so he just stabs it and tells us to get to work. He's a disgusting creature!" She doesn't want to mention that he's attracted to her or that there's talk at the school that he's a cannibal, because she's feeling sick enough.
Franny makes a repulsed face. "I'm really sorry!"
Lorna groans. "I guess I have to deal with it..." She won't need to on Monday, because she's not going there then. "Did you get patted down? It happens at the beginning of each class except Diane's 'cause she's awesome and extremely trusting...she also knows that I've never been interested in narcotics. My lady teachers barely touch us, or rather, they search us appropriately, but not the men...it ain't very pleasant."
"They separated us by race and gender, and they did it before we started goin' through the rooms. Dixon made all kinds of vulgar comments about our bodies and he and Mr. Stratman were tellin' sexist jokes, like listen to this one...how many women does it take to fix a lightbulb? None, they're all in the kitchen! Then, they pointed to where Red, Gloria, Norma, and Claudette were cooking dinner. They asked if we got it, and then sniggered while pushing us away."
"Ugh!" Lorna exclaims and shakes her head in frustration. "Did you get molested?"
"No, but only because they don't like pregnant women. I should consider that a good thing, huh?"
"Yep..." Lorna puts her hand on her sister's belly and grins.
"¡Ew, Mamá, ni siquiera vayas allí! ¡Es realmente una mala noticia!"
Ew, Mom, don't even go there! He's really bad news!
"Lo sé, las mujeres que trabajaban en la cafetería me advirtieron...así que rechacé su invitación, educadamente, por supuesto. Tengo un horario agitado de todos modos." Flaca can hear the eyeroll in Ms. Ramos' voice as she says, "Me dio una línea de recogida muy cursi en español."
I know. The women working in the cafeteria warned me...so I declined his invitation, politely, of course. I've got a hectic schedule anyway. He gave me a really cheesy pickup line in Spanish.
"Bueno, él ni siquiera es mi maestro ...¿cómo te gustó Señorita Vause y Señorita McCollough? ¡Tienen que ser mis favoritos!"
"Well, he's not even my teacher...how did you like Ms. Vause and Ms. McCollough? They've gotta be my favorites!"
"Parece que son los mejores, sí...y estás aprendiendo cosas interesantes en sus clases, igual con Señorita. Bell y el Señor Stratman...pero no puedo decir quién es peor entre el Sr. Piscatella y el señor Dixon!"
It sounds like they're the nicest, yes...and you're learning about interesting things in their classes, same with Ms. Bell and Mr. Stratman's...but I can't tell who's worse between Mr. Piscatella and Mr. Dixon!
"¡Los dos son horribles! ¿Qué te hicieron?"
They're both awful! What did they do to you?
"Bueno, nada ... pero Gloria y Red me contaron todo lo que han hecho hasta ahora, como comentarios sugestivos acerca de sus cuerpos. Me ofrecí a ser sus abogados, pero no quieren empezar nada ... dijeron que lo manejaron y que los protegerían a ustedes. Si empeora, quiero que me lo digas. Voy a demandar a sus culos tan rápido que sus cabezas girarán ... y luego estarán en la cárcel."
Well, nothing...but Gloria and Red told me all about what they've done so far, like suggestive comments about their bodies. I offered to be their lawyers, but they don't want to start anything...they said they've got it handled and that they'd protect you girls. If it gets worse, though, I want you to tell me. I'll sue their asses so fast their heads will spin...and then they'll be in jail.
Flaca gives Maritza a meaningful stare, but the shorter Latina ignores her. "Te lo haré saber, Mamá. No te preocupes."
I'll let you know, Mom. Don't worry.
"Gracias, dulce niña."
Thank you, sweet girl.
Juliana pulls up to a large black gate and then she presses a remote control, which opens it to let them into their circular driveway. Flaca tries not to show her amazement at the fact that Maritza is actually quite rich. Her fancy designer clothes should've been a dead giveaway, but Flaca was thinking that maybe her bestie got really good deals at the mall, like her and her other poor friends. The girls and Maritza's mom get out of the etruscan onyx GranCabrio.
"Best car ever, right?" Maritza gushes. "I can't wait to drive it someday! I always tell her that!"
"It was a thrilling ride!" Flaca agrees, and they both giggle.
"Maritza told me you girls ate at Daya's, so you can just go up to her room and hang out for a couple hours, but please get ready for bed so you can just drop in at eleven and have plenty of rest before school tomorrow. Does that sound good?" Ms. Ramos asks as she and the girls walk into the mansion.
"Yeah, but is it okay if we explore?" Maritza wonders out loud. "I'm still getting used to this place, and Flaca's never been."
"Sure. Would you want to drink or eat anything like a dessert?"
"Maybe just water, Ms. Ramos...thank you," Flaca murmurs.
"I'll make an ice cream sundae for us both!" Maritza exclaims happily.
"Yay!" Flaca responds. "I just got hungry again!"
After eating their delicious treat, Maritza shows Flaca the lit-up swimming pool and tennis court outside, and all of the rooms inside the huge house. It's like a castle, but Flaca knows it isn't.
"This is where I sleep," Maritza says as they go into her bedroom. Flaca sets her big black purse down on a purple beanbag chair. Maritza opens her closet to reveal hundreds of beautiful dresses. "These are what I'm considering for my quinceañera and the homecoming dance. One day, I'll have you all over so you can help me pick. You could even borrow one."
"Sure, princesa, I'd probably choose the black one with the halter straps or the royal blue strapless," Flaca says with a smirk while getting up on top of Maritza's pink queen-sized bed. "You're filthy rich...but also so generous! My mom's a seamstress, so she'd sew most of my outfits for that fancy shit...and when Piper was alive, her mom would treat us to all kinds of clothes and outings. I can't wear your things because I'm too tall. The only one of us who would fit into those is Lorna."
Maritza smiles widely and comes over to where Flaca is. "I see." Her phone buzzes and she glances at it. Her face turns ghastly, and Flaca's afraid for a second that P has threatened her. "Eeeww! He is nauseating! I won't show you because you shouldn't be scarred with the mental image either. It's a dick pic...from Humps."
"Ugh! You gotta hand that over to your mom as evidence!" Flaca advises her.
"I'm just gonna delete it," Maritza says as she does so. "There...it's gone!"
"No! You shouldn't have done that!"
"Well, I did, because I don't want my mom to think moving here was a mistake...she's already so busy...please don't tell her!" Maritza begs. "I don't wanna be her client...I'm her daughter!"
"You can be both. Look, as I said before, my mom makes my clothes, Diane taught Alex English last year, and Lorna's sister serves her drinks on the house!"
"Those are all different. I'm supposed to be transforming into a lovely lady for my quinceañera...not a victim that my mom is helping. There's people who need her more."
Flaca rolls her eyes. "You're already pretty, Mari. Okay, well, what if he hurts someone else? You gotta step forward."
"It's not a big enough crime," Maritza grumbles. "The cops will brush it off as a joke...some dumb kid wasting their time."
"Your mom won't."
"Can we just do something else?"
Maritza clearly doesn't want to discuss this any further, so Flaca won't press her on it again. She also knows that she's being a hypocrite by not talking about what happened to her. "How about...making my mom an online dating profile so she'll be unavailable if Humps asks her out?"
"Oh yeah, that's a brilliant idea!" Maritza says excitedly. She takes her laptop out from between two pillows and hands it to Flaca, who balances it on both of her knees. The laptop is already on, so Flaca opens Google and types in single men over forty. Photos of unattractive men come up on the screen, some being in their fifties and sixties and looking way too old and gross for Theresa.
They both snicker. "No wonder these dudes are single! Half of 'em are bald with gray hair," Flaca points out. "I'll just create an account for her on...eHarmony!"
"Okay! How would she find it, though?"
"I've seen her browsing the site sometimes because she gets lonely. Also, I'll eventually tell her. If she's upset about this, I'll just say I want her to go out and have fun...because it's the truth!" Flaca directs her attention back to creating her mom's profile. "Oh...I need to update a photo of her...hold on." Flaca scrolls through Theresa's Facebook account until she finds a picture that's suitable.
"She looks good there!" Maritza exclaims.
"Yeah, I know, right?" Flaca begins typing in Theresa's interests, which are sewing, cooking, and salsa dancing. "Occupation...seamstress...age, forty...height, five feet eight inches...kids at home, yes, two are twelve, one is fifteen...ethnicity is Mexican...religion, Christian...she does drink, but doesn't smoke...and I'm done! Phew!"
"Her username could be mamacita," Maritza recommends, and Flaca pushes her to the side teasingly.
"It stops there! I just needed her real name."
"Now what?"
"We just wait!"
"Hey, someone texted you! I felt it vibrate."
Flaca grabs her phone out of her jeans pocket and checks the message. You should let Gloria know it was you who turned in Arturo before she finds out from someone else. Piper was wrong, you know. Keeping secrets can be harmful. Make sure you do it before your boo's party! xox, P
"Wrong number, I guess," she mutters.
"You want me to accompany you on a date tonight with Ian and Baxter Bayley?" Daya questions Flaca. She doesn't like the idea of being near that douchebag Baxter and she certainly doesn't want to go out with one guy when she's too into another.
Flaca nods eagerly. "I'd love you to. You don't gotta kiss him or nothin...but the boys are going out and I wanna be with my man. Besides, you're single, you're one of my besties, and you liked him when Piper took us all to his eighteenth birthday bash!"
"He should be out of school by now, Flaca. I'm way too mature for him. You'll see Ian tomorrow...why not just let him hang with Baxter?"
"Nah, come on, please?" Flaca widens her eyes innocently and pouts. "I never been on a double date before! I'd ask Maritza, but she's already gonna chill with some dude from her phys ed class named Potato Chip at Pizza Hut. We could go to Friendly's..."
"We'll go, if you'd like," Blanca cuts in and rests her elbow on Maria's shoulder.
"Sure! Look at that, Daya, a whole gang's going now!"
"It's just not a good time. I'm sorry. I'll think about it."
"Okay...thanks."
It's so difficult to concentrate on Mr. Bennett's lecture, especially since Daya can't even look at him without thinking back to the last thing he'd said and done to her before she'd run off to meet up with her friends.
"Can't we just try to work this out?"
"I told you...I don't feel comfortable around them! Do you understand that?" Bennett grabs Daya's arm and slams her against the wall. "I don't want you here right now."
Later on at lunch, she lags behind her friends and tells them she'll catch up with them in a minute and to find a table. She chokes up when she overhears Gloria telling Red, Norma, and Claudette all about her sons and how proud she is of them. Daya wishes that her own mom would give her this much love. Gloria puts a veggie burrito on her tray. "How are you doing, honey?" she asks warmly.
"Aleida and Cesar ruin everything!" she responds bitterly. "I'm sorry to bother you, but I just needed to get that out."
"You mean your mother and her boyfriend?"
Daya scowls. "Yes."
"I met Aleida last night and we're gonna hang out this evening. What happened? We'll talk in here." Gloria waves Daya into the backroom and gestures for the other women to take over.
Once they're both seated on the counter, Daya starts to explain. "Well, I had this guy, right? We hit it off right away...and we'd been...dating...for a few days." She takes a trembling intake of air and sniffles. "My mom and Cesar introduced themselves to him...and he doesn't wanna commit to me because of them." She blinks her eyes a few times, letting tears soak her lashes and trickle down the sides of her face.
"That sounds like his problem," Gloria says sharply. She gently strokes Daya's jaw and brushes a tear off of it. "If he can't accept where you come from, what family you were born into, no matter how fucked up it may seem...then he ain't the one for you, kid. Another thing, never trust anyone who acts like he's diggin' you when y'all first saw each other. Fairytales only exist in movies. True love isn't for everyone."
"I haven't told you the rest...Aleida hates me because I...I had sex...with her...her, um...Cesar," Daya lets Gloria know in a tiny voice. She doesn't want to see Gloria's reaction to this. "She kept accusing me of doing it with him, when I hadn't...he's just a dirty, rotten cheater with all kinds of whores, and I just...snapped! I couldn't take it anymore...and it was my first time, and I wasted it with him!" she cries.
"I'll talk to her tonight. This isn't okay at all. I'm so sorry, sweetheart," Gloria says sympathetically.
"You don't gotta be my fairy godmother or nothin'...but I just need a hug..." Daya trails off as Gloria's arms wrap around her. "I shouldn't annoy you like this...it looks like you've been through hell, too..."
"There, there," Gloria murmurs soothingly into her hair. "Don't worry about me. I'm fine. You're gonna be okay as well. Has he done anything else to you? I could get him arrested!"
"No, it was just a hookup...and I instigated it, so..."
"It doesn't matter! He should've stopped you!"
"Please don't call the cops...he's in charge of income!"
Gloria sighs. "I won't, then, but if anything else happens, I'm just a phone call or text away."
Daya nestles in the older woman's embrace. "Thank you, Gloria. I'm here for you, too."
"Gracias, mija."
Right after the bell signals that school is finished for the day, she sprints out of the locker room and avoids Piscatella on her way to the local cupcake shop near Martin Van Buren High. Her phone vibrates as she takes it out of her purse. No one is texting around her.
All twelve-your usual, then make like Lorna and choke yourself until it's all out of you. I'll be watching. Xoxo, P
Daya wonders why this bitch would insinuate that Lorna is bulimic. "A dozen mini cupcakes, please," she tells the woman at the front. When she gets the pink box filled with vanilla cupcakes topped with chocolate frosting and rainbow sprinkles, she carries it outside to a table, sits down, and begins eating. She licks her fingers and lips clean and free of frosting and crumbs after each bite.
"How do you think you'll get a boyfriend if you're like this?" Piper asks Daya, who burps in response to the rude question. She picks up Daya's personal empty ice cream carton. "Please don't tell me you ate all this in one sitting! Holy shit, you're farting! Go to the bathroom! Fuckin' dinosaur...at least Lorna's skinny so she can afford to binge-but not you!"
Daya feels embarrassed as she runs out of the room. She comes back in five minutes and Piper's still sitting on her couch. "I think I feel better now," she says tearfully.
"It doesn't really look it." Piper stands up and hugs Daya while stroking her hair. "Everything will be alright. You'll diet and exercise that weight off of you, okay?" she says comfortingly.
Daya sniffles. "You really think I can?"
"I know it."
Unfortunately, on cupcake number nine, she's full and a group of football players take their seats near her and start making pig jokes and sniggering while pointing in her direction.
"She's trying to make herself as big as a dinosaur again!"
"It's so nasty when chicks eat messily and more than what they should."
"Why don't you roll around in the mud while you're at it, piggy?"
Daya attempts to ignore them by keeping her eyes on the sweets. She starts getting queasy around the eleventh cupcake, and she hiccups, but she keeps going. The lump in her throat is about to explode and that's when she'll start tearing up. She wants to leave, but her stomach hurts so much that she can't breathe well, let alone move.
On her last one, she hears Lorna yell, "You're an embarrassment to boys, you know! How dare you pick on my bestie? Are you sure you're in high school because you're acting as immature as kindergarteners!" As the boys leave the area, Lorna shouts after them, "That's right! Get the fuck outta here!"
Daya sighs in relief. "Thank you," she says quietly.
"Anytime. I was just on my way to get cupcakes for Christopher, but I gotta talk with you for a minute." Lorna wipes some food out of Daya's hair. "How you doin', hon? Your color's not too good."
"P's a motherfucking sick cunt," Daya mutters. "They made me binge, and they expect me to throw it all up, just like they said you did."
"Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry...please don't do that. It can really mess up your tummy...I learned that from Piper when she caught me puttin' my toothbrush too far back on my tongue after eating a ton of mac 'n' cheese."
"You've stopped?"
"Yeah, I did."
"When I was eating all those cupcakes just now, I remembered when Piper was mean about me putting so much in my body...and then she turned nice and actually helped me..."
"She was two-faced...real manipulative."
"Uh-huh...I'm glad I realize that now."
Lorna helps Daya up and keeps a supportive arm around her. They go into the restroom and Daya washes her hands. She takes out a paper towel and the note on it reads, Good job! I've returned some of it...
Daya crumples it up and stuffs it deep inside the trash can. She isn't able to look at food for a while, so she closes her eyes while Lorna gets it for her boyfriend. They sit down at the bus stop outside and she just lets her momentary illness pass.
Amongst the crowds of teenagers who mill about Friendly's, looking at the menu for something to eat, Diane spots Theresa. Flaca's mother has a worried look on her features as she approaches Diane.
"Hi...any chance you've seen Marisol? I mean, of course you have in school, but has she hung out here lately?"
"No, why do you ask?"
"She doesn't seem to wanna come home...she calls me and says she gonna be out with friends all day. I know it's what teenagers do, but two days in a row and a sleepover on a weeknight? That just isn't Marisol. I know my baby. She never misses dinner or our telenovela. She's got band practice and that's it."
"Theresa, I'm sure she's around, but maybe she wants some independence. She's calling you to let you know that she's safe, which is a good thing. She'll probably be back by tonight."
"Her favorite uncle's visiting, and she never goes out when we got family over."
"Huh...that is puzzling. Is she aware of this?"
"Yes, last time she was home, was his first night at our house."
"I think you should talk to her," Diane advises Theresa.
"Thank you, I'll certainly do that."
"I understand why you'd panic. There's not a day that goes by when I don't think about Piper being here one minute and gone the next...I can only imagine what could happen to our daughters with the killer possibly out there...but as long as they're with each other and their friends, and they're in a protected area, they should be okay. Alex always tells me exactly where she is. Maybe you could ask Marisol to do the same."
"Of course, yes."
At lunch, Diane had overheard from Flaca that her mother now has a dating profile on eHarmony, and she wonders if Theresa has met someone yet. "By the way...do you have any special nights coming up or at least some admirers?"
Theresa appears confused. "What do you mean?"
"You have an eHarmony account..."
"No, I just check it out sometimes."
"She never told you...she must have made it herself. Why don't you look it up?"
Theresa shakes her head and chuckles. "That girl's gonna be the death of me."
Diane nudges her playfully. "Ay, mamí, get it! Consider this a blessing in disguise. Something sweet could come out of this."
"Why, you try it before?"
"A few times...but I'm not big on serious dating. Alex is all I need. However, if the right guy comes along and makes my heart beat just a little bit faster, I'd be in heaven. It's not every day that a man over forty with good intentions wants to date a woman his age. Most of 'em in this city are assholes or going out with twenty-somethings."
"Yeah...and it's nice having a man around sometimes. Fernando's been here one and a half days and he's fixed everything in our house."
"Alex's former babysitter was a dude. He helped me with so much shit...he made being a new single mother in a filthy apartment with fucked-up appliances just that much easier. We drifted apart from him when she was old enough to stay home alone and he was Alex's age when we met-I was twenty-four-so nothing came out of it."
"There's other fish in the sea."
Diane winks at Theresa. "Exactly! Oh...can I make you anything?"
"Coffee, please...decaf."
"I need one, too, actually." Diane pokes her head into the backroom. "Two decaf coffees, please!" She turns back to Theresa. "We should meet up for drinks at the Sparrow Tavern when we're both free, and Gloria could maybe join us since she's also single. Hot mamas like us need a night out, too!"
"Good plan!"
After Gloria and Aleida drop their children off at Red's house, they go to the Sparrow Tavern to smoke outside. Gloria doesn't think it's a good idea to stay in her house for too long since Dixon could show up at any moment. She could move in with her aunt, but Lourdes lives all the way in Florida, too far from where Gloria's friends and the younger girls are. She and Aleida hold the cigars between their index and middle fingers as they talk and occasionally smoke. Out here, with another woman by her side and away from the leering teachers at school and her abusive boyfriend, she feels free. She even almost forgets that Aleida packs heroin and probably has some in her system right now.
"You gotta get a job," Gloria recommends. "I could get you an interview at Martin Van Buren High, working in the cafeteria."
"Cesar brings home the bacon, and I help him."
"There's another thing. Imma just get right to the point...why the fuck do you hate your own daughter?"
"She's a puta...she fucked my boyfriend, Cesar!"
Gloria acts surprised. "Hold on a second. I'm finding something really wrong with what you just said...do you realize you slut-shamed your little girl?"
Aleida chuckles sourly. "Oh, she ain't no little girl!"
"No, because you know why? You up in the kitchen getting high while she plays the mother to your children! She was acting out! She's not attracted to some old guy!"
"Yes, she is! She likes her teacher, Mr. Bennett, and they-"
"Don't you dare tell me that Cesar and Mr. Bennett are the same age...they aren't! She wouldn't have to get with your boyfriend if you were a better mama! Also, think about it...what kind of man do you have if he cheats on you, especially with your own flesh and blood daughter! That is sick!" Gloria says furiously.
Aleida shuts her eyes and places her hand on her forehead. "Ay caramba..."
"Here's what I'm gonna do. You and Daya obviously need support, and Cesar is no good to either of you-"
"He is!"
"I didn't ask you to interrupt me! I'm moving in and bringing my sons with me. I'll take care of the children so Daya can go out and enjoy herself. I have the money to share rent. Cesar had sexual intercourse with a minor, so he should be in jail. You don't need him in your life. You gotta step up, lose the heroin, and become a productive member in society, and maybe then, you'll see why you should've always taken Daya's side over Cesar's. She's already starting to think of me as her mother and you as her estranged tia. You want that?"
Aleida quickly bounces on the balls of her feet a few times. "No..."
Gloria points her cigarette at Aleida. "Well, then, come on, mama! Make things right with your kid."
"It's just hard!"
"I'll help you."
"¿Estás durmiendo en la casa de Maritza...otra vez?"
You're sleeping over at Maritza's house...again?
"Sí."
Yes
"Está bien, entonces." Flaca can hear the dissappointment in her mother's voice. "¿Por qué? El tío Fernando está de visita, y siempre pasas tiempo con él."
Okay, then. Why? Your uncle Fernando is visiting, and you always spend time with him.
Flaca gulps when she hears his name and she chooses her words carefully. "Ya no estoy cerca de él. No tenemos mucho en común. Apenas dijimos una palabra el uno al otro después de que te fuiste a la cama. Se sentía incómodo. Cuanto tiempo se queda?"
I'm just not close to him anymore. We don't have a lot in common. We barely said a word to each other after you went to bed. It felt awkward. How long is he staying?
"Un mes...lo siento. Antes de ir, ¿por qué me hiciste un perfil de citas en eHarmony?"
A month...I'm sorry. Before you go, why did you make me a dating profile on eHarmony?
"Sólo quería que se soltasen y se diviertan. Espero que esté bien." She doesn't bother mentioning Humps.
I just wanted you to let loose and have fun. I hope that's okay.
"Está bien, es solo que...no he salido desde que nacieron tus hermanos. ¿Y si, por algún milagro, algún hombre me invita a salir en el sitio, y yo chupar...o son horribles?"
It's fine, it's just...I haven't dated since your brothers were born. What if, by some miracle, some man asks me out on the site, and I suck...or they're awful?
"Mamá, eres hermosa, divertida y dulce, y tan linda...no hay razón para que una persona no te caiga bien. No elimines tu cuenta todavía...inténtalo para ambos, por favor?"
Mama, you're beautiful and funny and sweet, and so nice...there's no reason why a person shouldn't like you. Don't delete your account just yet...give it a try for both of us, please?
"Gracias, cariña. La próxima vez, sin embargo, usted debe preguntar."
Thank you, honey. Next time, though, you should ask.
"Lo siento, lo haré."
Sorry, I will.
"Bueno, te dejaré ir. ¡Te amo!"
Well, I'll let you go. I love you!
"¡Adiós, yo también te amo!"
Bye, I love you too!
"¡Adiós!"
Bye!
Thirty-one days without seeing her mother would be too much to bear. She'd even miss her brothers, and not returning to her house at all for an entire month could make anyone think she's trying to run away from home and that she's being very disrespectful to her family since they didn't do anything terribly wrong to her-except one of them did. She wants to invite her mom to do things out and about with her at times, but she's afraid Theresa will bring that dreaded monster.
"I was going to ask you to call your mother because she was worried, but you did already, so good!" Diane notes, and Flaca gives her a tight-lipped smile.
"I always do!"
"Somethin' the matter?"
Flaca shakes her head no. "I'm alright."
"Hey, it's the Grease Club!" Diane whispers, and Flaca sees what she means when her friends and Ian come in through the door. Daya is behind them, and Flaca hugs her after kissing Ian hello.
"I'm glad you decided to come after all!" Flaca tells Daya happily. "You look like you could use a good time!"
"Yeah...I wanted to do this for you, girl."
They push two small tables together and Flaca, Daya, Maria, and Blanca sit across from Ian, Baxter, Yadriel, and Diablo. They order cheeseburgers and large fries and for dessert, they have a caramel fudge brownie sundae. They catch each other up on their lives and laugh at Baxter's funny jokes and pranks he wants to pull on people. Of course, they discuss the movement going on at their school and Flaca tells them that Maritza at first, hid in one of the cabinets of the kitchen's backroom, but since the bad teachers go there at times, the lunch ladies told her to run to Starbucks and ask for Franny since she's their friend Lorna's older sister, knows about this, and works at the coffee shop.
"Was she scared?" Blanca asks.
Flaca nods. "Terrified. She had to sneak around the school because they often lurk around the halls. She kept texting us and we gave her advice on how to be secretive."
"Amateur," Maria coughs.
Baxter snickers. "Yeah, we're pros!"
"Played those pigs successfully and passed it along to our girls and our buddy Baxter!" Yadriel adds while hi-fiving Diablo.
"Hey, give her a break! She's new and doesn't really know the place like we do," Flaca defends Maritza. "I shouldn't have let her go first...but she said she enjoyed the adrenaline rush."
The only one not in on the moment, but instead gloomily drawing a heart in a puddle of ketchup with a French fry, is Daya. She's barely eaten-just half her burger, a few fries, and two spoonfuls of the treat.
"Hold on," Flaca murmurs. She gets up from the table and takes Daya to another part of the restaurant. "What's up with you? You've been down in the dumps, like all day!"
Daya stares at the floor while shifting her weight from one foot to the other. "It's the P stuff and what's going on at school. You're mad, too."
"Yeah, but we got a way to fight it! I just wanna relax for a while...don't you?"
"'Course I do...but I can't forget it. It gnaws on me all the time...I feel empty. I don't have a good family, so I need friends...but since y'all are with your significant others and Gloria's with Aleida, I got nobody."
"We gotta split," Ian announces, and he, the other guys, Maria and Blanca get up out of their chairs. "Bye, girls!"
"What? Already?" Flaca groans. "Whatever, see you tomorrow. I love you!"
"You too." Ian blows Flaca a kiss and leaves with them.
"It was over anyway," Daya murmurs. "Let's just wait for Maritza to return from her date."
They sit on the swivel chairs in front of Diane, who's working hard on an Original Fribble. "Hi, girls!" she greets them. "Can I talk to you like I actually know you now?"
Flaca giggles. "Yeah, it's fine, Ms. V."
"I'm Lorna Morello...Christopher's surprise, you know, his girlfriend," Lorna tells Mrs. MacLaren while balancing the box full of cupcakes on her hip.
The blonde woman cocks her head to the side and gives her a confused look. "That's funny...he's never mentioned you before."
"Well, we just started dating, but I'm sure he'll talk about me soon! Your son is very sweet, you raised him right!" Lorna chirps, which makes his mother grin with pride.
"Thank you, dear. He's out with his pals, but he should be home soon."
"I know, he told me to hide somewhere in the house and let him find me."
"Alright, go ahead." Christopher's mother steps aside to let Lorna in, and she waits until the woman goes into the kitchen. Then, Lorna tiptoes upstairs and enters his room. She puts the box on top of his dresser and snoops through some of his clothes and breathes in his scent. She hugs one of his sweaters and falls back on his bed, sighing and squealing to herself with pleasure. He smells so good, and he isn't even here yet. She can't wait to see him.
She makes sure she's followed all of P's instructions by looking through her text. Buy him a special treat. Introduce yourself to his mother, get her to trust you-that's her little boy. Lie on his bed sexily. He'll be yours instantly.
A door slams from downstairs and she hears Christopher holler, "Mom, I'm home!" She tosses his sweater to the floor and lays across his bed in a seductive manner, with her red silky dress hiked up and showing off her lacy black thong and she allows her straps to fall off her shoulders and expose her matching bra.
As soon as he gets into his room, she licks her lips. "Hello, Christopher," she greets him in a sultry voice.
"What the fuck? You...you need to get out of my house before I call the cops, bitch!"
Lorna puts her finger to her lips and alternates between massaging her breasts and rubbing her vagina under the thin fabric with her free hand. "Shhh...I like rough boys and bein' manhandled. I'm fine with only wearing high heels..."
"I'm not kidding around!" He pulls his phone out of his pants pocket and starts dialing.
She laughs hysterically. "I'll do anything for you...even spend a night in jail. I love you way too much! I also bought you some cupcakes!"
"I don't want them." He presses his phone to his ear. "Yeah, there's this chick who won't leave my home...she refused, even when I asked her to go."
"I'm cold." Lorna tries to get under his blankets, but he pushes her off the bed so she lands on the floor. "Ow!"
"I guess you'll freeze to death, then." Christopher gives the police his address while dragging Lorna down the stairs and out to the front porch. He keeps a vice grip on her forearm as he does so. "Stay there!" he directs her. "If you love me as you claim, you'll do as I say."
"Okay, but can I be the dom sometimes?"
"Shut up. I don't want to hear you. Keep your eyes on the cement."
Lorna stays silent and puts her hands up as the police car comes into view. She sees Christopher go back inside his house. An African American officer with a name tag that reads C. Ford handcuffs her and she goes into the vehicle willingly. She'll just call Red to bail her out since she can't bug Franny about this again.
Officer Ford takes Lorna to the youth center and places her in a cell with a familiar wild-haired, baggy-clothed girl who has her elbows resting on her knees and her fingers pressing against her temples as she recites the state capitals, alphabetizing the states.
"Great way to pass the time, Nichols."
Thank you for reading and reviewing, A Star in My Universe, Tiff, HannahMiley1fan, and cornedout!
