Thank you for beta'ing, A Star In My Universe! Just to clear it up for the first two scenes: they happen at the exact same time, which is why I switched back and forth between them. Plus, whatever I write in Spanish, I have the English translation right below it! If I don't write the bolded translation under it, that means it's being translated in the actual dialogue, rather than an author's note thing. Like in Orange is the New Black, when someone's translating, they don't bother to put the English subtitles over the spoken Spanish.Warning: self-harm and use of the R-word, not meant to offend anyone-it's just the joke in Orange is the New Black, which I don't own! Also, from here on out, imagine the actress Constance Marie (the mom on George Lopez and Switched at Birth) as Juliana :)
coño-cunt
sí-yes
abuela-grandmother
corazón-sweetheart
"So I was like, 'I don't wanna be here, and the teacher don't wanna be here either, so why are we even here?'" Maritza, Blanca, and Maria laugh at what Flaca's just said.
"Detention's pointless, Flaca, it don't teach you nothin'!" Maritza comments.
"Mind if I join y'all?" a curly-haired girl with cheeky cheeks asks.
"Like that's even a question!" Maria exclaims and pats the empty space between her and Flaca. "You're always invited to hang with us, Ouija. Alright, so you know Blanca, but these two are Flaca and Maritza."
"Hi," Flaca and Maritza say in unison, and Ouija waves back at them while sitting down.
Ouija grins at Flaca. "Who'd you kill?" she whispers. "Don't worry, I won't tell."
Flaca has to put down her drink before she spills it in shock. "What? Nobody..."
"Oh, well I was just wonderin'...you got teardrop tats like mine." Ouija points to the ones below her right eye. "Why are they on both sides, though?"
"It's just my style," Flaca mutters, scooting away from her and impossibly closer to Maritza. What if this girl killed Piper?
"Mine too, girl. I know what you're thinking, you were friends with that dead white yuppie, but she ain't worth my time!"
"She's right," Blanca says. "Maria, Ouija, and I were chilling together that whole night. We may not have liked that gringa...but we ain't gonna end up in jail because of her sorry ass."
The ladies made sure to get dressed up tonight for a good time. Aleida's cousin Jazmina is taking care of the children, so she and Gloria had no problem finding someone. The women are already a bit tipsy and it's only ten-thirty. The night is still young. Diane, Theresa, and Juliana are scoping out random guys, Gloria and Aleida are dancing together and twirling each other around while giggling, and Red, Norma, and Claudette talk to the bartender, who is Franny. They're not as drunk as the others. When the song ends, the single ladies all sit back down. They clink their full glasses of alcohol and yell, "Cheers!" all together.
"How many shots was that?" Red asks them jokingly, and Norma smiles widely.
"I dunno," Juliana mumbles.
"Too many to count," Diane slurs.
"None of your motherfucking business!" Aleida hollers, and then she cackles while doubling over.
"I think you had seven," Claudette mutters.
"This was exactly what I needed!" Gloria exclaims. Her eyes go every which way and she puts her arms around Aleida and Diane.
"Yeah, me too! I tried to bail out Cesar, but this Margarita tramp already did it! You try to do a nice thing for somebody...I knew he was seeing her!" Aleida shakes her head and beckons Franny for another shot of tequila.
"If they're going out behind your back, fuck 'em! You got your girls, and there's always other fish in the sea!" Franny tells her while handing her the full cup. "Let's look at the facts. Men suck, big time! Always cheatin' or usin' us...my last one hit on my sister...actually, they all did."
Red nods in agreement. "Dmitiri's weak and stupid...in bed, in life...too bad he's not mean enough for me to do what Norma did-kill my husband." At this, Norma smirks.
"It took Baptiste twenty years and a dead wife to realize he loved me," Claudette puts in bitterly.
"Lee walked out once I showed him the plus sign on my pregnancy test," Diane adds while resting her chin on her fist. "At least your husband got smart."
"I barely remember my former man," Theresa murmurs. "I must have liked him at one point..."
"Same," Juliana says.
"You bitches got no idea...I mean, I already told Aleida and Red, but...ya'll gotta know...I'mma need to take another swig for this." Gloria holds out her glass toward Franny, who pours her more wine, and she guzzles it down and slams her glass on the counter. "I'm finished with him...my ex-boyfriend! He's...he's scary...he treated me like shit and laid his cruel hand on Benny. They locked him up...but who knows if he'll break out or get released." She blows her hair out from in front of her face and tucks it behind her ear. "If that happens, it'll be a nightmare!" she cries, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. Her voice breaks and she grips the counter's edge. "I need help!"
Diane gasps and squeezes Gloria's hand supportively. "The bee sting...that was a cover story? He did that to you?"
"Yep, and the black eye, too. I can't believe you bought it!"
"What's his name, so we can keep him away from you if he gets out somehow?" Franny asks.
"Arturo," Gloria whispers shakily. "I...I don't want to say it too loud, in case someone here knows him."
"We got your back," Theresa says.
"If you want to testify against him, I'll be your lawyer," Juliana puts in.
"I just need a friend...no trial, please. It's unnecessary."
Norma makes a stabbing motion and raises her eyebrow. "Yeah, do it!" Claudette encourages Gloria.
The Latina shakes her head. "I'm not powerful or fast enough like you two. He'd murder me instead...he's already threatened to, numerous times. I...I despise him for doing this to me! He turned me into someone I'm not!" Gloria tries to grit her teeth, but her bottom lip quivers and she crumbles into sobs while laying her head down on the table. The women wrap her in a group hug.
Aleida's heart shatters at Gloria's words. Although she barely knows this lady, she feels a connection to her, and therefore, wants her to always be happy.
"Hey, what'd I miss?" Daya interrupts them, and Flaca is glad for it. "Sorry...Lorna wanted to give Christopher a private dance, so I had to leave 'em alone."
"Listen...Flaca wants to break into the crappy teachers' rooms and put smack in their desks to get them fired...and we need to see what's up with Fig and Caputo...find out why they act so fishy all the time. It's gotta be something more than being horny and cannibals, in Humps' case, at least. Also, I could get into their computers to search for information on them," Maria lets the girls know.
Blanca snickers. "She's really good at tech stuff."
Daya raises her eyebrow. "Sneaky! I like it!"
"You know her full name means white flowers?" Maria gestures to Blanca.
"I'm well aware, but those are beautiful, so they describe the opposite of what you are because you're fucking ugly!" Piper responds, and Blanca stares angrily at the ground. The girls can barely see her face because of her massive hair. "We can't see where your hair starts and unibrow ends! You're like a gorilla!" Piper snickers at her own joke and Flaca, Daya, Lorna, and Alex just share awkward glances with each other.
"Whatever, coño," Maria snaps. She puts her arm around Blanca and walks past them. "Y'all don't say nothin', you just as bad as her!"
Piper rolls her eyes as the Dominicans leave the area. "Ignore that stupid drama queen. She's just mad because she's a slut and her only friend is part animal! I know you girls are poor and live in dirty apartments or in Alex's case, a trailer park, but you keep yourselves looking hot...and Daya's making an effort to not eat so much. Keep up the good work."
Once Gloria stops wailing and sniffling, Red announces, "Here's a fun way to cheer you up...I dare you to kiss Aleida, if you're up for it!"
Gloria plays with Aleida's hair. "You are looking extra pretty tonight..."
"Thanks, and you're hella fine, too!" Aleida replies, and then latches her lips onto Gloria's while gazing into her eyes. The women cheer them on as their smooch turns into a full makeout session with hands everywhere. Gloria and Aleida then pull back away from each other while giggling hysterically.
"That was hot!" a white man shouts, and they all flip him off.
Alex shakes Flaca back to the present. "Sorry, I spaced out...what?"
"Our girl...she blacked out...or fainted, I'm not quite sure...Nicky and Tricia are with her."
"We gotta go," Daya mutters and Alex leads them both by the hand. The others follow them and Flaca's eyes widen and a lump forms in her throat when she sees a passed out Lorna on the floor with about ten kids surrounding her. She, Alex, Daya, and Maritza force their way though their peers and kneel down beside Lorna. They gather her in their arms.
"Give us space!" Nicky hollers. "I got an ambulance coming very soon!" Continuing to stroke Lorna's hair, she murmurs, "I should be the dead one, not you..."
"What was she doing before..." Flaca wants to know.
"She was eating and swaying back and forth...I think someone spiked her drink. Why were you not with her?" Nicky demands. "Flaca has an excuse, but Alex and Daya..."
"I was, but Lorna said she wanted to be with her boyfriend," Daya answers. "I didn't see him even looking at us...he was engrossed in some other chick, and I tried telling her that, but she told me to fuck off."
"Her obsession with that dumb jock is driving me up the wall," Alex chimes in. "She was kinda being annoying."
"That white boy don't even care about her...he's making out with Angela Kuznick!" Flaca points out. She storms over to Christopher and kicks his leg hard. "You broke Lorna's heart!"
"Beat it, bitch! Your friend is nutso!" Christopher yells.
"Don't call her that!" Nicky screams.
"Fuck you, asshole!" Daya adds.
"You should've just let her down gently," Alex says.
"That freak showed up at his house last night and got herself arrested for refusing to leave when he asked her to," Angela tells them.
Nicky rolls her eyes. "I don't believe you. I don't even know you!"
Flaca scoffs. "Yeah, Lorna's harmless!"
"Why would you go out with her if you had a girlfriend?" Daya questions Christopher.
"You're a sleazebag!" Alex shouts.
"It was once...and then I started dating Angela!"
"We all gotta start telling people to leave," Maritza says.
Flaca looks over her shoulder at Taystee and Tricia, who are starting to get up and spread the message. Ian walks over to Flaca. "Hey, sugar, why is my party clearing out?"
"Are you blind, Ian? Lorna's unconscious!" Flaca shrieks.
"Relax, she's not dead...probably just really drunk or accidentally took a roofie or one too many pot brownies! This happens all the time at my parties!"
Christopher guffaws while escaping the room with Angela, and the girls show them their middle fingers. Flaca hates how nonchalant some people are being about this. Since Taystee and Tricia aren't that close to Lorna, they go home, but ask the girls for updates on her. The ambulance then soon takes Lorna and her friends to Lincoln Hospital.
Aleida takes another shot while tossing her head back, and she quickly falls backward before anyone can grab her. She lets out a short scream until she collapses into a pair of strong arms. Lust fills her entire being as she gazes up at her savior, who is a tall, handsome African American man with a buff build. She has the feeling that he could make her panties wet by just staring at his muscles.
He stands her upright and holds her upper arms when she starts to wobble on her feet. "You're lucky you didn't hit the floor! You were kinda high up there...in both senses of the word. Wow...cool tattoo."
She licks her lips seductively and winks at him. "I want you to fuck me! I haven't been this crunk since Daya's quinceñera!" She senses her friends behind her, but she ignores them for the moment.
"I won't take advantage of a lady when she's plastered."
Aleida sticks her tongue out at him. "Boooo!"
He flashes a smile at her and hands her a card with his name and phone number on it. "If you ever need construction done on your house, I'm your man."
"Yessss, you are...Leon McDonald," Aleida moans through her drunken haze while gripping his purple shirt. "I'll put this in my pocket!" She takes it and then remembers that her green dress doesn't have one. "Ooopsies!" It falls to the floor, so Gloria picks it up and puts it into her purse while everyone snickers.
"Good way to give a girl your number...hope she remembers you in the morning!" Gloria points out. Despite Aleida's groaning about being torn away from Leon, Gloria and Diane lead her to a couch. They give her water and a plate of nachos so she can sober up.
"Oh my god! I'll be right there!" Franny says into her phone, her voice tearful and frantic. "Ladies! We need to go to the hospital! My sister...she's been badly hurt."
"Shit!" Diane swears, and Aleida groans. Her head's pounding with all this noise.
"We gotta carry her," Gloria mutters, starting to help Aleida up while Diane is on her opposite side, also holding her steady. "Even though Lorna isn't our daughter, we'll comfort our girls because their friend is injured...and I'm also worried about Lorna."
"Let's take a cab," Red suggests anxiously. "I call shotgun!"
"Caucasian female, mid teens, possible drug overdose..."
"See?" Lorna shows Christopher her self-inflicted tattoo on her forearm, which is a heart with their initials inside. "I bleed for you!" She'd done the same thing with Vinnie, and both of them had said she was crazy.
She thinks that patting her injuries dry with towels will stop the bleeding, but it doesn't.
Lorna opens her eyes slowly and sees doctors and nurses above her, along with her friends. The fluorescent lights quickly pass by her on the white ceiling and they remind her of the strobe lights at the party, but instead of music, she can hear people chattering about medical stuff she can't really understand. It's too bright, so she closes her eyes again. Her friends keep asking if she'll be okay, and she wants to assure them that she's fine, but the blood loss made her too frail to talk very loud. She moves her hand slightly and touches Nicky's fingers. The blonde wraps her hand around Lorna's.
"I need...blood transplant..." Lorna whispers, and she hears the girls sigh with relief. "Where's...where's Christopher?"
"He's not here, kid...but we are. We've called Franny, and she's coming soon, along with her gang of women she was with," Nicky answers.
"Hey, doc...she's bleeding somewhere, like from a really bad wound!" Flaca tells Dr. Brooks as the red liquid starts seeping through her sleeves.
They go into a room and her friends help the doctor lift Lorna from the stretcher to a cot. Dr. Brooks instructs Lorna to remove her dress all the way, so she does. She whimpers in pain as the fabric rubs across her wounds, and the girls gasp. The doctor wraps Lorna's forearms in thick white bandages and has her lay there until she can find a match for a blood transfusion, since Franny is pregnant and can't donate her blood. Lorna's friends crowd her in a group hug.
"Why would you cut yourself?" Maritza asks.
"What does that say..." Nicky gently holds both of Lorna's wrists in her own.
Daya peers closer. "You still love Christopher and Vinnie? Newsflash, Lorna, they don't feel the same way."
"Seriously, Lorna?" Alex hisses.
"Honestly, you could've bled out!" Flaca cries.
"I just wanted to show how deep my love for them is!" Lorna protests in a tiny whisper. Tears swim in her eyes. "You girls...you don't understand..."
"You're right, we don't! You hurt yourself for some guys who don't give a shit about you!" Nicky yells. "What the fuck?! Are you out of your damn mind?"
"Vinnie wants me back...he's jealous of Christopher! They're fighting over me!" Lorna insists weakly.
"Ay dios mio..."Flaca holds her head in her hands. "That's so wrong..."
"Stop fucking lying," Alex grumbles. "You're being dumb right now!"
"I'm not!" Lorna growls. "Quit trying to steal my happiness!"
"Your precious Christopher had his hands all over Angela Kuznick! We all saw them, and they were trash-talking you!" Daya informs her, but Lorna won't hear it.
"Shut up with that nonsense!" she screams as loud as she can. "You're all just jealous because you don't have two handsome older people who want you!"
"It's true! Why don't you believe us?" Maritza asks. "We're your friends!"
Lorna breathes in and out shakily. "Well, I'll discuss that with him, but please stay out of our relationship...I don't intrude when you and Ian are arguing, do I, Flaca? I don't know Sylvie that well, Alex, but I wouldn't just barge in on a quarrel you two were having!"
"Oh, if he's cheating on me with some slut, you better tell me," Flaca murmurs.
"Yeah, same about Sylvie," Alex puts in.
"Just drink your fuckin' water, it'll make you feel better," Nicky grumbles, handing Lorna a bottle of the clear liquid. Lorna takes a few gulps of it until her big sister rushes in, along with Red, Gloria, Aleida, Diane, Theresa, Juliana, Claudette, and Norma.
Franny wraps Lorna in a bone-crushing hug and kisses her temple while tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. "Oh, Lorn, I'm so glad you're okay! I'm sorry I can't give blood, but I'll be with you the whole time. The surgery should take one to four hours."
"Thanks, Franny," Lorna mumbles with a small smile. "Sorry for making you panic."
"I'm not gonna say it's fine...you did give me a big scare! Jesus...all this over your ex and your current boyfriend who I haven't even met yet?" At this, Red frowns and folds her arms across her chest. "What were you thinking?"
Lorna glares at Franny. "Don't start!"
The other women look slightly buzzed, but unimpressed with what Franny's just said. Still, they give Lorna sympathetic looks, except for Claudette, who mutters, "You have no time for this foolishness!" Diane, Theresa, and Juliana encircle their daughters in comforting embraces, while Gloria leads Aleida to Daya and hugs the girl.
"Love hurts, don't it?"
"That's not love, Aleida," Gloria says. "What Lorna did to her body is entirely different."
Quick introductions are made between Nicky and all of the women except Red, and Maritza and Franny, Diane, Aleida, and Theresa, before the doctors kick everyone out except Franny because they aren't Lorna's family.
"Nicky, are you going to stay in the waiting room?" Red is asking as Gloria eats her Snickers bar.
"Yeah...I have to, you know?" Nicky clutches her purse tightly. "I wanna be there when Lorna wakes up."
Red smiles at her sadly. "Okay. I'm glad you two are getting along better these days. Would you like me to join you?"
"Nah, I'll be fine."
"I'll sit with you anyway." Red groans quietly when taking a seat next to Nicky. "Ah, my back...it likes to act up at times."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Nicky mutters.
"We're gonna go." Juliana gestures to herself and Maritza. "Flaca, what about you?"
"I gotta spend time with my mom here," Flaca says while hugging Maritza, Alex, Daya, Gloria, and then her mother. "I haven't seen her in a while." Theresa holds her daughter close and kisses the top of her head.
"Actually, Mama, can I stay?" Maritza asks.
"Sure, honey." Juliana gives Maritza's knee a squeeze and then waves goodbye at the others before leaving.
Alex and Daya wrap their arms around each other, and Daya walks out of the waiting room beside Gloria and Aleida, and Norma, and Claudette follow them. Nicky and Alex embrace each other goodbye and then bump fists. Diane looks over her shoulder at Nicky as she and Alex exit the place, and then she stops suddenly.
"What, Mom?"
"I'm trying to think of where I've seen Nicky. She looks awfully familiar, with that blonde, frizzy hair and thick mascara and eyeliner. How do you know her?"
"Uh, we kinda met on the bus on day one of school, and we always hang out-we're best friends. Why do you ask?"
"I recognize her from when I served food at Thanksgiving...there was a teenage girl who came every year, discreetly picked up a dinner and a slice of pumpkin pie, and then left-and it was Nicky! We've crossed paths!"
"Wow! Well, she isn't homeless anymore, so I try not to worry too much about her."
"You should have her sleep over."
"Okay, I will. I have so much fun with her!"
"Excellent!"
Alex gets a chance to peek at her phone once she gets into the back of the cab with Diane, and she's filled with disdain almost immediately. You wanna share a bed with way too many girls, Al...well, maybe Mommy's job as a slut kinda rubbed off on you? Hope they're giving you money while you're at it! Xoxo, P
"¡Lo siento, mamá, no puedo volver a casa!"
I'm sorry, Mom, I can't come home!
"¿Por qué? No entiendo..." Theresa murmurs, and Flaca wants to tell her when she's sober.
Why? I don't understand...
"Por favor, no me hagas. ¡No quiero quedarme solo con tío Fernando!"
Please, don't make me...I don't wanna be left alone with Uncle Fernando!
"Te echa de menos, cariño, y francamente, yo también."
He misses you, honey, and quite frankly, so do I.
"You can do this...she's not that out of it," Maritza whispers into Flaca's ear.
"¡Yo también, mamá!" Flaca squeezes Maritza's hand tightly and takes a deep, shaky breath. A warm teardrop trickles down Flaca's cheek and Theresa swipes it away, gently strokes her hair, and rubs her back. Flaca squeezes her wet eyes shut and chews on her bottom lip while whimpering.
I do too, Mom!
"Oh, mi nena...entonces por qué..."
Oh, my baby...then why...
Flaca hides her face in her mother's purple and yellow floral blouse. "Es que...¡nunca más quiero volver a verlo! Él...él...hizo un pase a mí y luego me violó...mientras todos los demás estaban durmiendo...¡Ya no quiero volver a casa! No quiero ir..." Her voice cracks and then she breaks off into loud sobs.
It's just...I never want to see him again! He...he...made a pass at me and then raped me...while everyone else was sleeping...I don't wanna go home anymore! I don't wanna go...
Theresa gasps sharply. "¡Voy a matar a ese bastardo!" She starts to stand up, but Flaca pulls her back down.
I'm going to kill that bastard!
"Todavía no, mamá...quiero que solo nos quedemos tres por un tiempo. Le dije a Maritza anoche y planeaba contarle mañana por la mañana por teléfono después de dormir en la casa de Ian, pero ahora las cosas son diferentes...estoy tan feliz de estar juntos otra vez."
Not yet, Mom...I want it to be just us three for a while. I told Maritza last night and was planning on telling you tomorrow morning over the phone after we slept over at Ian's house, but things are different now...I'm just so happy we're together again.
"Okay, dulzura. Yo también. Sólo tienes que poner tu cabeza en mi regazo y llorar. Lo tan siento, cariño. No merecías que eso te sucediera," Theresa murmurs into Flaca's hair and starts crying a little herself while patting Flaca's back softly.
Okay, sweetie. So am I. You just lay your head on my lap and cry. I'm so sorry, honey. You didn't deserve to have this happen to you.
"Will you help me get your motha into bed, please, Daya?" Gloria asks while dragging a half-asleep Aleida through the front door. She giggles as she trips over the threshold and Daya narrows her eyes at the older Diaz. "Watch your step, woman!" Gloria scolds her.
"Fine," Daya says reluctantly. She loops her arm through Aleida's and walks with Gloria, who's leading Aleida by the hand. "Just so you know, Gloria, this kind of person shouldn't have kids!"
"She can have fun once in a while. I agree, she had too much, but at least it's not heroin and she's not an alcoholic. I can't believe Jazmina disappeared right when we came home...she couldn't even answer how the boys were...just took my money and left as I was thanking her."
"Yeah, she's kind of a bitch," Daya mutters. "At least someone was watching them."
Aleida hiccups. "I gotta blow chunks," she mumbles, and Gloria and Daya rush her to the bathroom. A bit of puke has dribbled out of her mouth and down her chin, but Gloria wipes it off to stop it from staining her nice dress. Daya looks grossed out, and Gloria thinks it's disgusting, too, but she wants to support her best friend. They get her down to a kneeling position over the toilet and Gloria gathers Aleida's messy hair in her hand as Aleida vomits into the bowl.
"It's alright, mama, let it out," Gloria murmurs. "Get all that out of you."
After she finishes throwing up, Daya grabs some Kleenex and pats Aleida's sweaty face dry. When they take her to bed and Gloria tucks her in, Aleida begins trembling and bawling. Daya rolls her eyes, not buying her woe is me act. "I bet she's fuckin' him right now!"
"Don't you worry about that...I told you he ain't good for you," Gloria says while untangling Aleida's hair and moving it out of her eyes. "You gonna find someone else who isn't a drug dealer...you're a sexy, badass chick...and that man is gonna treat you and your kids with respect...and you gonna go to Narcotics Anonymous meetings and turn your life around..."
"She's already asleep," Daya points out.
"Good night," Gloria whispers and gives Aleida a quick kiss on her forehead. As she and Daya exit Aleida's room and go into Daya's, she asks, "Cesar ever do that for your motha?"
Daya scoffs. "I doubt it...but I don't equate having a bad boyfriend with being an awful mom...look at you. You're fantastic, and you had your ex, who beat you."
"That's true, and I'm not making excuses for her. What we don't have in common, though, is I'm not a junkie like her, and I don't have low self-esteem issues, nor am I needy for love. I got it, you know, from you girls, my sons, and my tia. People like Aleida...somethin' real shitty must've happened to screw her up. No one is born evil."
"Yeah, she had me." Daya sits on the bed glumly. Gloria joins her and puts her arm around her shoulders.
"You are not the problem, baby. It's...how a person is raised, and education is also a part of it...also, a support system, such as a mentor, or friends outside the family to teach them better...and then they have to choose to be good once they learn the right way to be."
"I just know that her mom...my abuela Lourdes, even Aleida thinks she's super mean. Uh...she was pregnant in high school and right after he graduated college or something, my biological dad left us. I was two. Two other men, including Cesar, knocked her up on different occasions, and they've all been drug dealers."
Gloria shakes her head while pursing her lips. "There you go."
A hopeful expression crosses Daya's face. "You really think you can change her, Gloria?"
"That would be her choice to want to follow my advice and get to know you as her daughter, rather than her rival for Cesar."
"Sometimes, it's like we're friends, though. It's rare, but-"
"She's not supposed to be your buddy...she needs to be your motha."
Daya nibbles on her bottom lip. "I know. Do you mind if we have a sleepover here...in this room?"
Gloria taps Daya's nose playfully. "Of course not. I'd love to."
"Hey, what's wrong over there?" Nicky wonders out loud.
"Stay out of this," Maritza snaps.
"Excuse me for being concerned!"
"It's not about you."
Red turns to Nicky. "Why don't you just talk to me?"
"About what?"
"Anything. I'll start. I have three boys-Yuri, Vasily, and Maxsim, who are all in college now. We grew up in one of the worst areas...full of crime."
"I bet they never got in trouble with you at the helm, though," Nicky mutters.
"You're right. When they were kids, I occupied them with board games, pillow forts, chores, music, sports, outings...whatever I could do to keep them from going to the wrong side of the tracks. I'd always take them to Coney Island!"
"Nice!"
"We don't live there anymore...and I work not only as a cafeteria lady at Martin Van Buren High, but I also own a family restaurant in Queens called Dmitri's Russian Market with my husband-though I am seriously considering to change it to Reznikovs' Russian Market because we share the place."
"That's not a bad idea. Wait...you drive almost a half hour to your job?"
Red shrugs. "It's what pays most of the bills. Have you ever taken the N train to Queens? That's how you get there."
"I dunno...probably, but I've never really seen it."
"Okay, well I think you'd like the food. I make the most wonderful pirozhkis-they're stuffed buns...think of them like meat pies."
"Are they your specialty?"
"Yes. I could take you there one day and have you try one, and then after, go to Coney Island. We'd have a little road trip. The other girls, including your sisters, could come along too, if they'd like. Gloria, Norma, and Claudette have all been there. Sunday is the most popular day, so if you wanted to be really spontaneous, you could go with me tomorrow."
Nicky twists her hair around her index finger a few times. "Sure, maybe not tomorrow, but one day, if I'm feeling adventurous. I don't mind long car rides. Just play cool music, and I'm set."
"Okay, that's fine, too. Would you like to hear a joke? It might cheer us both up."
"Sure. What else are we gonna do besides wait around?"
"So, a penguin and a farmer walk into a bar. The farmer is very angry because his penguin broke his umbrella while they were fighting out in the rain. They order drinks to loosen up and everyone is surprised that the penguin can talk. The bartender says, 'Your friend there...is he an eggplant? He's very bulbous and purple...' The farmer slams his drink down and says 'I'm not a fuckin' eggplant!'. The penguin mutters, 'Not enough alcohol in you, buddy...you're still extremely purple-which means you haven't stopped being mad at me and you can't take someone teasing you!' and the farmer snarls back at him, 'I'm only purple because you punched me in the face, you dick!'. The farmer's wife comes up to him and she says, 'Now, calm down, dear...perhaps we can live it up under the sheets tonight?' and the farmer replies with, 'Yeah, only if our penguin doesn't interfere again! What are you doing here?'. She says, 'I thought you were cheating on me, but it turns out that you were only hanging out with a damn talking penguin...that's kinda dumb!' The bartender cuts in with, 'Are you sure he isn't an eggplant? He has the personality of one!' The farmer stands up and throws his drink on the man before his wife can stop him. So the third time, same thing happens, and the farmer looks at his wife, then back at the penguin, and finally, the penguin goes, 'He's not an eggplant, man, he's retarded!'"
Nicky cracks up so hard that tears come out of her eyes and she slaps her leg a few times. "Oh my god, Red, that was a good one!"
"I'm glad you have a sense of humor! You see, when I still lived in Russia, I told that same joke to a group of stuck-up ladies while we were on a walk...they were mob wives like myself. They took offense, told me I wasn't funny, and one of them made fun of my dye job, so I punched her in the chest, deflating one of her tits! It cost us sixty thousand dollars, but it was so worth it!"
Nicky chuckles and wipes her eyes while sniffling. "Trust me, I would've done the same thing. That's like, one of the best stories you've told me so far. You're, uh, cooler than I thought."
"Well, thank you."
"I've stolen a taxi, crashed it into another car, and broken into someone's home once." Nicky takes a deep breath. "I never got caught...but I did learn the hard way that I cannot drive! I don't even have a license...I'm sixteen, I should have one by now, but I'd probably be terrible!"
"You don't know that until you take driving lessons, silly girl. Now, what's in that bag?" Red goes to touch it, but Nicky pulls it away from her. "I know you're selling drugs," Red whispers. "You need to throw it out before someone else sees."
Nicky slumps in her seat and yawns. "I have to do that for money!"
"What would you spend it on?"
"Uh...my broken phone...it's four hundred dollars to repair and my broke ass can't afford it."
"I'll give you the cash. Let's go outside. Help me up?"
Nicky gets off the plastic chair and assists the older woman in standing to her full height. They both leave the room and while looking side to side for anyone who may be coming their way or passing them, they walk down the hallway to the women's bathroom. They slip inside, go into a stall, and Nicky unzips her purse. Red appears to be sick as Nicky takes out a few packages.
"Toss it!" Red hisses at her.
"I just love it so much...it's a waste!"
"No, it isn't. Your life is so much more important. I didn't pay a thousand dollars to get you out of juvy, just to watch you get sent back there!"
"You didn't have to! Who says I'll get busted next time?"
"Hurry, before people get suspicious!" Red commands.
Nicky huffs and dumps each sack of heroin into the toilet and flushes it. "That's probably about three hundred dollars worth!"
"Do you want the money in cash or check?" Red asks as they return to the room.
"Cash...thank you." Nicky is dumbfounded that Red has just unknowingly prevented her from receiving a Vee attack.
Red pulls four one hundred dollar bills out of her purse and hands them to Nicky. "Would anyone like some food or drinks from the cafeteria before I sit down again?"
"I'll have some pepperoni sausage pizza and soda," Maritza says. "Theresa, ¿a ti ya Flaca le gustaría algo de comida o bebidas de la cafetería? Red está preguntando."
"Tacos con arroz, frijoles, queso, guacamole y salsa caliente. El agua también sería genial. Dile gracias."
"She said tacos with rice, beans, cheese, guacamole, and hot salsa." Maritza translates as Theresa strokes her sleeping daughter's hair. Nicky sees that Theresa has Flaca's tear stains on her shirt since she's been cradled in her mom's arms this whole time. "Water would be great, too. Thank you so much!"
"Can I get whatever pasta is there?" Nicky requests.
"Sure! I'll be back soon."
Nicky feels awkward when Red leaves, since Flaca seems to be going through some kind of crisis that only Theresa and Maritza know about, and she doesn't want to interfere. She walks around the chairs and tries to find out where Lorna is having her surgery, but no one will tell her anything. It's the second time she's felt bad for Lorna-the first was when the little brunette was frightened being out in the big, bad world overnight. Frustrated, Nicky tugs at her hair and hisses while plopping down on her seat. Her legs jiggle and her feet can't stay flat on the floor. She rests her elbows on her knees and her face in her hands while rocking back and forth. This position stops being pleasant after a few minutes, so she swings her legs up on the row of chairs beside her until her lower back begins to hurt from being pressed into the hard arm of her chair. She scoots all the way down so she's laying on all of the chairs. Her eyes almost droop shut until Red comes in with the food.
"Thanks again," Nicky murmurs while Red hands her the food, and Red grins at her in response.
Maritza gets up and takes the tacos, pizza, water bottles, and soda off of Red's hands. "Gracias."
"It was my pleasure," Red answers while looking between Nicky and the Latinas. She's bought a salad for herself. Theresa gently wakes Flaca with a few kisses on the girl's cheek. The way she's being so sweet with her daughter brings tears to Nicky's eyes and her throat tightens. She tries not to stare or look sad or jealous. She wishes she had a mom to do those kinds of things with.
After they all finish eating and throwing their cardboard containers and plastic silverware away, Flaca rests her head on her mother's lap and both Maritza and Theresa start braiding her hair. Nicky sighs and leans back in her chair.
"What's wrong, sweetheart?" Red wonders out loud. "Besides the obvious, of course. I'm sure Lorna will be just fine-she's a strong girl. We need to be positive."
"I know that. Nothing...it's stupid."
"No, it isn't." Red folds her hands on her lap and leans toward Nicky. "You can tell me anything. I promise I won't judge you."
Nicky scoffs, wanting to believe her, but she can't let Red in entirely yet. "Man, how come? Why are you doing all this...for me? Like...okay, besides giving me moolah, you drove me home from...fuckin' prison...forced me to drink water and stay off drugs...told me a joke...shared parts of your life with me...you just won't give up on me, even when I was such an asshole before...you're acting like...a-a mom...my mom, or uh, how she should've been."
"I care about you, honey. I would never do anything to put you in harm's way."
There it is again-the affectionate names. Nicky folds her arms across her chest. "I'll ask again, why?"
"I met you when you were three, in preschool...and I wanted to adopt you because you were the closest thing I'd ever had to a daughter-"
"Why the fuck didn't you, then?" Nicky screeches while backing far away from Red and pushing her hands through her hair. Her outburst causes a few people, including the Latinas, to glance in her direction, but she ignores them. Red stands and puts her hands up, as if to get Nicky to stop freaking out. The Russian woman comes closer to Nicky, but this just makes Nicky storm out of the room. She walks briskly down the hall, but Red catches up to her.
"Your mother, I suppose, informed me that I was becoming too attached to you and vice versa, and needed to stop being around you! She took you right out of that school-"
Nicky sniffles and wipes her wet eyes so she can see better. "You didn't even look for me!"
"I tried to!" Red's voice wavers with emotion. "That bitch filed a restraining order against me! When I saw you thirteen years later, I...I couldn't believe it! I could never forget those unruly blonde curls or those big, brown eyes, so full of expression...or that cute little toothy smile..." Nicky's whole body shakes as she begins to sob loudly. She collapses to the floor while hugging herself and Red takes a spot next to her. "Oh, malyshka...would you like me to hold you?" the older woman offers. "You were struggling to get comfy, so..."
"Please..." Nicky whimpers, and Red pulls her in close, puts her hands on both of Nicky's cheeks, and kisses the top of her head.
"What was she like, Nicky?"
"Terrible enough that I had to leave...that's really all you need to know."
"Okay."
Nicky snuggles into Red, too tuckered out to realize she's actually letting her guard down. All that matters right now, is that someone is comforting her. She can feel Red's steady hands making a braid in her hair and she sighs with content. She's never had anyone do this for her since Paloma when she was thirteen, the morning of her middle school graduation.
Once a groggy Lorna comes out of surgery at around three in the morning gripping Franny's hand, Red, Flaca, and Maritza hug Lorna.
"Thank god you're alright," Nicky says, her eyes lighting up. "I always knew you were a tough cookie."
"No kidding!" Lorna responds.
Apparently, Lorna has been diagnosed with depression, which she continues insisting that she does not have, but nobody buys it. Her loved ones have been instructed to support her and keep her away from sharp objects so she'll stop cutting. They all go home in two separate cabs. Red, Nicky, Lorna, and Franny take one and Theresa, Flaca, and Maritza are in the other. Flaca opens her phone, which has a new message that reads This wouldn't have happened if you weren't such a whore! See, if it really wasn't your fault, you would've told your girls already. Love, P
Flaca gets a weird feeling when she sees her apartment for the first time in days. She doesn't want to go in, knowing who exactly is in there, and she's relieved that Maritza and her mother are holding her hands.
"I'm going to call Immigration, but I want to bash his head in first," Theresa says. "You girls can stay in the foyer until he's unconscious."
"No, don't! As much as I'd love to have you kick his ass, it's much easier to get him deported simply for living here illegally. He could tell the cops that you beat him up, thus also getting you arrested!"
"He needs to be punished for what he did, Flaca!" Maritza exclaims.
"I'll just slap him across the face and confront him about it. That's not a crime."
"Good enough!"
Theresa begins dialing nine-one-one. "Yes, hi...my name is Theresa Gonzales. I need to report a Mr. Fernando Gonzales...he is an illegal alien, and he also raped my daughter." She gives ICE information on where they live and then thanks them just before hanging up.
The girls tiptoe inside the apartment behind Theresa, with Flaca clinging onto Maritza, fearing that she'll fall. Theresa charges ahead of them and bursts into the guest room. A hard thump can be heard and then Fernando swears. "¿Por qué carajo hiciste eso?" he shouts. Flaca shivers at his voice, and watching him rush out of his room is even worse, especially because he has his shirt off.
What the fuck did you do that for?
Theresa roughly pushes him back into the room."¿Sabes qué, monstruo! ¡Te estoy deportando! ¡Empaca tu mierda! ¡Ahora! Si vuelves a tocar un cabello en la cabeza de mi hija, veré que nunca respiras, ¿estoy claro?"
You know what, you monster! I'm having you deported! Pack your shit! Now! If you touch one hair on my daughter's head again, I'll see to it that you never get to breathe, am I clear?
"¡Esa perra está mintiendo! ¡Ella me ama, y la amo!"
That bitch is lying! She loves me, and I love her!
"¡Cállate, jodido!" Theresa screams at him.
Shut the fuck up, you asshole!
Maritza pulls Flaca into the kitchen where they can no longer see him. "Just close your eyes, baby. Breathe in for four seconds, hold it for seven, exhale for eight, and repeat those steps once or twice more. That always calms me when I get a panic attack."
"I'm already doing it."
When ICE knocks on their door and takes Fernando away, the girls can't be more relieved. Flaca runs into Theresa's arms while crying happy tears. "Mami...gracias...te quiero."
Mommy...thank you...I love you.
"Oh, nena...de nada. Yo también te quiero." Theresa presses her lips into Flaca's hair. ¡Estás de regreso a casa, sano y salvo, y tenemos un criminal más en las calles!"
Oh, baby...you're welcome. I love you, too. You're back home, safe and sound, and we have one more criminal off the streets!
Flaca smiles and nods. "Sí..."
At around ten in the morning, Daya wakes up wrapped in Gloria's loving arms. She turns to Gloria and smiles at her sleepily. "Good morning."
"Morning to you too, corazón." Gloria presses a kiss to Daya's cheek and sits up.
Daya rubs her eyes open and then stretches while yawning. She and Gloria get out of bed, go to the cribs, and gently wake up the children. "Morning, angels!" Daya sings, and Gloria widens her eyes dramatically and waves at them excitedly. Christina and Emiliano raise their arms up to Daya, and she scoops them out of their cribs and sets them down on the floor so they can run around and play before breakfast. Gloria leaves the room for a minute and returns with her cherubs.
"What do you want for breakfast, little ones?" Gloria asks sweetly.
"Eggies!" Christina squeals. She pokes Emiliano and tackles him to the ground.
"Off, sissy! I like pitha!" he can barely get out.
Daya chuckles while shaking her head and separates them. "Pizza isn't usually a breakfast food, kiddo."
"Chocwit chip pancakes, Mommy," Julio mumbles.
"Waffles, please!" Benito shouts while pumping his fist in the air. "I'm the oldest, so I get to pick!"
"Now, Benny...you have to make a compromise with your friends and your brother," Gloria reprimands him gently. "Remember what that means?"
"Yes, Mama...how 'bout eggs on chocolate chip waffles?"
Gloria and Daya look at each other with raised eyebrows. "Interesting," they say in unison.
"Let's do it," Daya says.
"Sounds delicious," Gloria agrees. "Let's see if Aleida's still passed out. I'll make her help cook again. She can stir eggs and milk together and throw them in a pan, can't she? It's easy."
"God, I hope so," Daya mutters. Her phone pings with a new text and she looks at it quickly before flipping it so the screen is facing downwards. Reminder: Make sure he has a condom and you're on the pill, or you'll be as big as a balloon, just like before! Kisses, P
They go into Aleida's room with the kids toddling after them, and both Christina and Emiliano bounce up and down on Aleida's bed. With a groan, Aleida bolts up, holding her forehead. "Ay...go away!" she commands them grumpily.
"Good morning to you too, Aleida," Gloria murmurs with a smirk while Daya pulls her siblings off of Aleida's bed. "That's being a mother of preschoolers for you."
"I have a hangover," Aleida informs them.
"You gotta participate in breakfast, Ma," Daya tells her. "You can do somethin' simple like beating eggs and combining them with milk. Just...pretend it's heroin you're mixing. You use a whisk and make sure it doesn't slosh out of the bowl...and also wash strawberries and blueberries, cut a banana into slices, and pour syrup and then orange juice. Gloria and I will make the waffles and teach you how to use the waffle iron later."
"Look at you two smarty pants!"
"I'll take that as a compliment," Gloria answers her. "Come on, we're all hungry!"
Aleida lazily picks up a business card that was previously lying on her bedside table and stares at it in confusion. "My, my, my, who is that hottie?"
Gloria laughs. "That, my dear, is Leon, the charming and handsome gentleman who rescued you from hitting the floor when you fell off the bar stool last night! He's a construction worker, so if you ever wanna hit him up, I'll purposely break a window with a rock or something and he can repair it."
Daya puts her hands on her hips. "Wow! How could you forget that dude?"
"Did I fuck him?"
"You wanted to, but he rejected your advances because you weren't all the way there, if you know what I'm sayin'," Gloria explains. "He seemed to like you, though...you just gotta be sober next time you see him. Maybe, then, you'll know if you wanna give him consent."
"This shit's funny...no one turns down Aleida," Daya comments with a giggle. "Are you sure you're remembering it correctly, Gloria?"
"I'm positive."
"Why would you brush your teeth in the shower?" Lorna asks her sister as they begin to make lunch. "That's gross!" Her eyes scan across her new message. I have a few ways to get your Christopher back, but you'll have to allow the girls to see the video of you taking down Piper! Great job, by the way! -P
"It just saves time and water. What's it to ya?"
"Nothin', just wonderin'!" Lorna shoves her phone in her pocket.
Franny shakes her head slowly and frowns as she examines Lorna's self-made tattoos. "These are gonna be scars."
"Hey...you didn't tell anyone about them, did you?"
"No."
"You don't think it's true, right...that I have depression?"
"Actually, yes. Etching your boyfriends' names into your skin with a knife...or whatever you used, that's not fuckin' normal, Lorna. That's dangerous!"
"No, it isn't! I knew what I was doing! I just lost a little too much blood, that's all. You know me, Fran...I'm almost never sad, except for when I get my heart broken or people are mean to me, just like anyone else! That stupid doctor gave me the wrong diagnosis! I ain't takin' those dumb antidepressant pills!" Lorna screams, feeling anger build up inside of her.
"I'm sorry, sweetie, but you have to-"
"No, I don't!" Lorna growls. She hurls a plate across the room and it smashes against the wall, nearly missing Franny and causing their father to yell about the racket. Her sister gets out of the way just in time, for which Lorna's thankful. "I don't have depression, I looked up the symptoms, and if you think I do, you don't know me at all!" She stomps to her room and locks herself inside.
She'll give P permission to expose her secret because even if her friends dump her over this, she still has Christopher in her life, and hopefully, they'll get why she did it.
Thank you for reading and reviewing, HannahMiley1fan, cornedout, A Star In My Universe, Celestial Vapidity, and Tiff!
