Thank you for beta'ing, A Star In My Universe! Warning, talks of being held hostage and animal abuse.
"Get the fuck out!" Lorna screams hysterically, clutching the curtain in her hands. She sounds as fragile and broken as she looks, and it cracks Nicky's heart inside.
"What the hell...who gave you those, Humps?" she asks quietly, referring to the harsh bruises around Lorna's upper thighs.
"No...just give me privacy...please, I'm begging you!" Her brown eyes shimmer with tears and then they roll down her cheeks.
"I can't leave you alone, Lorna...not when you're falling apart." Nicky takes slow steps closer to her, but the brunette turns away and hides herself even more. "Hey...I know what sexual assault looks like on someone, so you don't need to say much...just allow me to hold you, same as always, yeah? You've been limping and flinching at any sudden moves people make ever since Monday night...those are obvious signs. Besides, now that I think about it...I've heard shit around school...that you were...violated. I'm ashamed of myself, really, that I never wondered before...I just assumed it was the usual...the three monsters harassing you."
"Don't force me to tell you..."
"It wasn't Humps?" Lorna shakes her head no. "Dickman?"
"Not him either...although, he...he did it...anally."
Nicky slams her hand on the wall so hard that her palm stings. "What the fuck?! That's still horrible-"
"Shh, Nicky, please...don't...don't get angry..." Lorna whimpers and faces her while biting her trembling bottom lip. Streaks of mascara are littered under her eyes and on her cheeks, and it hurts Nicky so much.
"I'm not...I ain't mad at ya, kid, I promise. Come on, I'm not a victim-blamer here. I'm just so...furious at the whole goddamn situation! Ya know, the predicaments you were put in. Since Monday, you've been...bullied...and it's so nauseating, what they're doing to you!"
"It was only 'cause he wasn't part of the...the gang rape."
"The what?" Nicky demands. It's becoming increasingly harder for her to keep her cool. "Come here, baby...I'll help you get dressed and you can talk to me about it, only if you're comfortable. Bits and pieces or every single detail, I don't care...I just wanna know who to tell CO Ford about. I won't mention you, if that's what you want...I only need those perps in prison, or better yet, dead and gone! I'll beat 'em up, every single one of 'em!"
Lorna glances up at the ceiling while blinking a few times. "It was my fault...if I hadn't-"
"Uh-uh!" Nicky interrupts her sharply, but softly, too. "Don't say that...you're not to blame." With the curtain still wrapped around her, Lorna picks the pink dress up off the floor. She steps into it and almost collapses, but Nicky grabs her before she can crash to the ground and puts the rest of it on her. "I got you, babe."
"Thanks...but yes, I am." Nicky starts to protest, but Lorna shushes her. "Christopher lured me into a trap...he asked me out on Monday night, and I stupidly believed him! He and Joey planned the whole thing...I never saw Christopher, but Joey was there with a fuckin' camcorder, trailing after me, Eric, and like, nine of his friends...as they all..." Lorna breaks off sobbing and sinks to the floor while hugging her knees to her chest. Nicky goes down with her. She collects the other girl in her arms and kisses her temple and then her cheek, right where a tear is falling, and strokes her hair soothingly. "I can point 'em all out to you in school...but not Eric, he's...he's dead...P killed him, but that night...Flaritza and Maria saved me...Flaca rolled right over that fuckin' asshole...the others had left, he was the only one there, so they think it was just him who..." Lorna trails off and gasps shakily. "I'm...I'm so sorry I believed him...Christopher, I mean...I thought...I thought we were just gonna have a normal date!" She lets out a high-pitched hiccup and wails a few times.
"He's not that kind of guy. All he wanted was for you to get tortured. That's what he lives for."
"I know that now," she blubbers.
Nicky takes the small brunette's hand in hers and rubs circles on it, and she seems to relax. "I love you, Lorna."
"I know," she breathes.
"For real...I would do anything for ya. Those dick-fuckers are getting their necks slashed...you're not gonna be traumatized by seeing 'em every day anymore."
"They were under Christopher's rule...and if I didn't bother him, he woulda never found a reason to...to have 'em terrorize me! You don't gotta slay these dragons, I ain't some damsel in distress in this case. I brought it upon myself."
"I literally give no fucks about that. Those jackasses still did it, and that's a crime! If they flat-out refused, they'd be good people, but they didn't...they're rapists, pure and simple. As for Christopher...well, he's a snake! You did nothing to him..."
"I almost killed Angela...so I deserved what I got...I did feel like dying when I was...ya know...just like her."
"Don't compare it to that! You have erotomania, and they got revenge on you...they don't have mental illnesses! Those pieces of shit were well aware of what they were doing! I'm sure Angela has no clue of this...it would probably turn her off if she knew her boyfriend plotted the multiple rapes of another girl! I'm gonna tell her-"
"No! Don't...she won't believe you! It's pointless."
"Okay, I guess you're right...so...wanna just stay here?"
"Mm-hm." Lorna nods her head yes and buries herself further into Nicky's embrace. She continues quivering, and Nicky rubs her back in calming, circular motions.
While picking through family movies that Gloria had rented from Netflix for them all to see tonight, a lump grows in Daya's throat and only gets bigger as she watches Leon making special treats for her and the younger kids, which consist of brownies, vanilla and mint ice cream, strawberry syrup whipped cream, and rainbow and chocolate sprinkles; the little ones pull out blankets from the cabinet bigger than themselves with Aleida's help, and Gloria pours wine for the adults. Daya gulps down her Coke as she reads the summary for The Haunted Mansion. "This one sounds good!" She tries to keep the thickness out of her voice.
"Oh, fantastic, thank you!" Gloria says and smiles at her.
"Yummy!" Benny exclaims when Leon passes out the desserts, which will go on trays he built to prevent spills on the couch. He shakes a can of whipped cream and sprays it into the little boy's mouth. "Mmm!"
"My turn!" Julio announces while jumping up and down. Aleida's boyfriend does the same thing to him. "Duwishious!" Then, Leon gets to Christina and Emiliano, who take it happily.
Leon goes over to Aleida. "Now you, baby." She squeals as he lets a stream of it into her open mouth. "Tasty, huh?"
"Mm-hm!" she responds through a giggle while leaning her head back and pushing the rest of it in that had previously been dripping down her chin.
Gloria brings over the wine as Daya and the small children are chowing down. She hands one glass to Aleida and the other to Leon, and the couple clink their glasses and start drinking. Gloria then gets her own and takes a few small sips. She takes the whipped cream and holds it out to Daya. "Want an extra bit?"
"Sure!"
"Okay, open up!" Daya does so, and Gloria presses the nozzle to let out whipped cream into her mouth, causing her to giggle.
As soon as the toddlers are finished with their food, Aleida begins to get their dishes, but Leon does it instead and washes them. "It's fine, sweetie, go relax," he tells her.
"I believe it's time for two little boys to get into beddie-bye, right?" Daya asks in reference to the toddlers.
"Oh, I'll put 'em down for the night," Gloria offers after swallowing her wine hard.
"It's okay, Gloria, I got it."
"I wan' say nighty-night," Julio says, and he and Emiliano kiss their mothers on the cheeks. "Night, Mommy!" he calls out to Gloria as Emiliano hugs her and Aleida. "Love you!"
"I love you too, buddy! Sweet dreams!"
He tugs on Leon's pants. "Night, mister!"
"Good night, little man!" Leon ruffles his hair and they grin at each other.
Daya takes her brother and Julio by their hands and walks them to the nursery room. As she's doing so, she notices that after Leon has dried the dishes, he sits on one end of the couch with Aleida snuggled into him, and Benny on his other side. He drapes a blanket over the three of them and tosses the rest of it to Gloria. Christina is in Gloria's lap, holding her dolly, and they're next to Aleida, but there's a space in between Gloria and Aleida, which Daya assumes is reserved for her. She stands back and smiles while sniffling. It's been twenty-four hours since Arturo had been near all of them, and now, seeing them as a family, it really sinks in how lucky she and Gloria were at the bodega and Aleida, Leon, and the little kids had been at home. She breathes in and out, trying to calm down and not let out tears, but it's difficult. "Um...hold on a second...I need to...use the...the bathroom. Sorry."
"It's okay," Gloria and Aleida murmur in unison.
"Go ahead," Leon says.
Daya hurries to her bathroom and locks herself inside. She texts Alex while wiping a tissue underneath her eyes. God, I'm crying right now and I don't know what to do...help a sister out?
What's wrong? Problems at home?
No, everything is perfect here. We're all in our pajamas, about to watch The Haunted Mansion, we just had a brownie sundae, courtesy of Leon, Ma helped the kids get everyone blankets, he's spritzing whipped cream into their mouths and doing dishes like some loving husband and father who spoils his family! Gloria's giving wine to herself, my mom, and Leon, mostly. The important thing is that we're all fuckin' alive and together...and I've never felt so grateful, and I'm so close to sobbing because this is all I've ever wanted, and Arturo almost ruined that, but he wasn't able to last night! Don't get me wrong, I hate that he attacked you and scared the shit out of you, your mom, Blanca, Maria, and other customers at Friendly's, demanding to know where Gloria was! It's just...we're safe and happy.
Aw, that's great! I cried last night and slept with my mom after I got hurt, but I didn't tell you guys since I wanna be strong for you. Just relax and enjoy your time with your loved ones. Keep counting your blessings, exactly like I'm doing.
Daya beams while tears make their way down her cheeks. Thanks, girl. She returns to the living room, puts her phone into her pocket, and takes her spot between her mother and the woman who may as well be her aunt. She wraps her arms around Gloria and Christina tightly, pecks Aleida's cheek while hugging her, tousles the children's hair, and bumps fists with Leon.
"What was all that for?" Gloria questions her as she squeezes the older woman's hands and leans into her while propping her legs up and across Gloria's lap while bouncing Christina on her knees.
"Nothin'...I'm just real happy to be here...in this moment. Let's get to the film!" She lays down and rests her head on Aleida's feet.
"Yo, if these fall asleep, I'mma tickle you!" Aleida warns her playfully and skims her fingernails along the back of Daya's neck, making her giggle.
"Ma!" she complains, but she loves it. Aleida stops when Leon presses play, but then she runs her hand through Daya's hair, as far as she can reach.
"Does your mother know where you are? What did you tell her you were doing?" Fahri questions Alex after Kubra has taken them to a bus station to go back home.
Alex rolls her eyes. "She thinks I'm with friends! I hope I don't look high...because I certainly feel it."
"Jesus Christ," he mutters. "You appear to be tired, at the most."
"Oh, good...I could blame it on a long day, since it was. Fuckin' Healy the misogynistic and racist homophobe tried to rip us all away from each other, and then I found out that the girls don't even...they don't give two shits about Piper. I know she was a bitch sometimes, but she's dead, man...she's unable to do anything now!"
"I'm sorry to hear that. I can understand why you'd want to leave your body for a while...trust me, I've felt the same way. It's just...you shouldn't work with Kubra. He's dangerous as fuck and he could get you into so much trouble."
Alex snickers. "Dude, Flaca's mom is dating him. He's like the cool uncle type! You guys didn't even act like you knew each other last night. Would you stop with the telling me what to do kick? You're not even my older brother, much less, my dad!"
"He has to hide that part of himself. If Kubra does anything to you...even looks at you funny...you tell someone. Your mom, me, your friends, the cops...you understand, kid?" Fahri asks her in a serious tone, but she just shrugs off his silly warning and snorts.
"Yeah, sure, of course!"
"Do not take this lightly. I don't approve of you being in the drug business, but Kubra threatened me not to say a word, otherwise, I'll get killed. I can't even let Theresa know..."
Alex raises her eyebrows over the rims of her glasses. "That sounds a bit melodramatic. He's not a bad guy...in fact, he was so eager to have me work for him that he paid me double the usual amount!" She pats her purse. "Forty bucks in this motherfucker. I could buy us an apartment when I get up to fifty grand, but I don't want my mom to get suspicious. Everyone says that...spill my dirty little secret and I'll end you. They're not being literal...they just don't want you to blab. Obviously, he wouldn't want to be busted for his crime...but, like, everyone I know has also committed one and gotten off scot free or not much time in juvy. He should be able to do it, too."
Fahri sighs heavily. "It's not worth arguing with you or going against Kubra's rules. He's never touched you, so I have nothing to worry about."
"Yep! Really, no offense, but get over it!"
"Don't take that tone with me...I may not be your father, Alex, but you can't be rude."
"Why, because you're my elder? Okay...sorry. You were my babysitter, after all, and you helped out my mom a ton, so...fine, I'll give up the attitude. Just stop treating me like a kid. I can handle myself. I catch red flags thousands of miles away!"
"You're right. It's up to you to see Kubra for the shady character that he really is."
"Thanks."
"Five bucks says whoever pisses him off is a goner."
Alex scoffs and shakes his hand. "It's so on."
He glances at her warily. "It really scared me when that asshole knocked you into the wall at Friendly's-."
"Good thing my glasses didn't come off!" She's trying to downplay it.
"If you really value your life, please be careful around Kubra."
"Okay! I will!"
"I was kidnapped from the time I was twenty, to when you were three...so four years," Juliana begins gravely as she sits at the other end of the table from Flaca and Maritza, and they gasp softly. "I was able to escape to a hospital so I could give birth and get the certificate...but then he caught me and took me away again, with you in tow. I kept it in my pocket, then a desk drawer...until you found it. You were a preemie...one of the tiniest babies they'd ever seen." At this, Flaca puts her hand over Maritza's in support and gazes at her sadly. "He kept us both locked up in a tiny room...I had duct tape over my mouth and chains binding my wrists behind my back, so I couldn't speak to you or hold you, only have you snuggle in my lap...you never developed until we were rescued." Maritza's eyes narrow in confusion and fear, and Flaca pulls the smaller girl into her arms, practically on her lap, and rubs her back in soothing circles. "You grew physically, but you were still extremely underweight and malnourished, so thin that I could see your ribcage. Mentally, you were an infant at age three. You couldn't walk, talk, sit, stand, read, or control your bodily functions. You only had my breast milk, and in dog food bowls, water, and soggy meat. It took...extensive therapy...to grow you up a bit and get you to eat more than what you were used to. I was always your mother, though. I raised you, my sweet girl. Yes, you're seventeen...but you're always gonna be three years younger than your real age." By the end of Juliana's explanation, both Flaca and Maritza have tears sliding down their cheeks.
"Dios mío," Flaca whispers and then sniffles. "I'm real sorry..."
"Mama...why don't I remember anything that horrific? I only have happy memories of us when we used to live in Miami. I'd have like, flashbacks...of dark, dank rooms and bad, smelly food or whatever...maybe only certain things trigger it." Maritza gasps. "No wonder I had a panic attack when I was locked in that closet...long story, I'll tell ya later. Um...so, was I in kindergarten when everybody else my age was in the third grade or somethin'?" She groans. "No wonder I'm stupid...I'm special needs."
"There's nothing dumb about you or anyone else with disabilities," Juliana assures her. "You're just three years behind in school."
"Yeah," Flaca agrees. "Mari, you're super brilliant! Like...I never known anybody who knows as much about cars as you do...and you're real good at singing, dancing, and you got street smarts. Look at me, I get C's! I know a girl who once said grades are not that big of a deal." She gives her best friend a knowing smile.
"It ain't that...I'm totally fucked up now, the only thing that's changed is that I'm aware of it. I mean...did I eat fuckin' wall plaster or my own shit or piss? Was I layin' on the ground, rollin' around in vomit, both yours and mine? I wish I never discovered that damn thing! I'm just garbage...may as well 'a been thrown in the dumpster." Maritza whimpers as she buries her face into her hands.
"Come on, bebe, don't say that!" Flaca murmurs and then kisses her forehead. "You were born and had to suffer through disgusting conditions, yes, but your mom didn't want any of it for you...she wishes things were different! We don't think of you as gross! It's that evil abductor who destroyed a part of your lives!"
"I know, it ain't her fault..." Maritza raises her head and looks at her mother. "So...would I still have my quinceñera, or an eighteenth birthday bash? They're both pretty special!"
"I'd say quince. You're still my baby...I'm not ready to send you off to college or have you live alone! However, you can sign up for driving lessons."
"Okay...why you ain't never told me any of this?"
"I didn't want you to know and have it haunt you forever. It was just too disturbing!"
"Well, at least a lotta things make sense now...like why I'm afraid in small, dark spaces and the fact that my blood pressure's low...who saved us?"
"The cops...that awful man was already in trouble for some other crime, so when I heard the door open, I made lots of noise, and they found us. You were also crying of starvation...you always did, because neither of us were well fed."
"Did you know him...the perp?"
"Not one bit...I was on my way to a meeting and when I was in the back of the building, he knocked me over and took me to his basement. When we were finally free, one of the first things I taught you was stranger danger and to watch your surroundings."
"How did you feel comfortable sending me to camp or leaving me home alone all the time while you're at work?"
"Many years had passed, and you really wanted to go...and I know you won't open the door for anyone unless you fully trust them, and you're with friends all the time. There's safety in numbers."
"Alright, then..."
Where'd you go? I haven't heard from you in a while...
Lorna opens the notification with a smile. Oh, sorry, I was out shopping!
What'd you buy?
A dress. Lorna quickly turns off her phone when Nicky walks up to her with her purchase. "Who were you just talking to?"
"Um, just a friend!" She has to think fast, since there's no way Nicky would be fine with her talking to someone she barely knows.
"Who's still up at this late hour?"
"We are..."
"Touché."
"Ma...can you sleep with me tonight?" Daya asks.
Aleida is puzzled as to why Daya would want this. "You think you gonna have nightmares? We're safe, nena." She pats her daughter's cheek and smiles at her. "I promise."
"Well, I kinda broke down in the bathroom...Arturo could've found me and Gloria at the bodega, and you guys at home...Alex told me she did the same thing that night and she had to sleep with her mom."
"Okay...I'll comfort ya. I'll just tell Leon that you and I are spending the night together."
"Cool, thanks...I'll set up the bed!"
Aleida goes into her room which she shares with Leon. "Hey...my daughter needs me, on account of being freaked out about Arturo being so close to us. It's understandable...if he'd gone into the convenience store, I would've lost my best friend and quite possibly, Daya. I'd be hella devastated! I gotta hold her tight and all that. If he'd come here, at least we'd have you for protection. He didn't have a gun or nothin', so you'd take him down easily!"
"Yeah, of course I'd defend you and your family, to the end! Go ahead, honey, you're being a great mother in taking care of Daya!" Leon praises her.
"Thank you."
"First, though, come here." He opens his arms and gestures for her to come forward, so she does. They kiss good night passionately.
Then, Aleida goes back to Daya's room. She crawls in bed with her daughter and hugs her while kissing the top of her head. "Night, baby, I love you."
"I love you too, Ma!"
She doesn't toss and turn as much as Aleida thought she would, most likely because they're together. She simply nestles into Aleida's arms and grins cheerfully.
Leon makes deviled eggs, toast with cinnamon and honey, and a strawberry and banana smoothie for breakfast the next morning, and the meal is scrumptious. Aleida loves a man who can cook and everyone gobbles it down fast. They let Gloria sleep in, and she gets downstairs last. "It's officially been a month since you moved in! This calls for a celebration!" Daya says to Gloria excitedly as Leon hands her a plate full of food.
"Oh, that long? I haven't really been counting! What should we do?" Gloria asks.
"Your choice, girl," Aleida responds.
"Hmm...you guys could take me out to lunch or dinner...and we can drive through New York City, maybe go to a street fair!"
"That sounds fun!" Leon tells her.
"Family road trip!" Daya announces and does a few fist pumps. "Fuck yesss!"
"Road trip, road trip, road trip!" Benny chants happily.
Christina jumps up and down while giggling. "I'm gettin' my sillies out!" she shrieks at Daya.
"Yaaaay!" Julio and Emiliano shout.
The children are very shrill, but Aleida tries hard not to let it get to her. They're allowed to be enthusiastic about this.
"Oh, get that one!" Lorna urges Red when they, along with Nicky and Tricia, are at the pet store. "It's yellow and fluffy, like an animal version of Nicky!" She pokes Nicky's side playfully, and the blonde rolls her eyes. "What a cute kitty!"
"Yeah, you're right!" Tricia says. "It does resemble you, Nicky!"
"You guys are weird," Nicky mutters, but she chuckles anyway.
Red peers closer at the cat. "Well, it's the most adorable thing I've seen so far! I'll get it."
About fifteen minutes later, it's determined that the cat is female. Red chooses to name her Melanie Rose on the way home, and the girls squeal about how much they love that decision.
"Aww, I'm gonna call her Melly-belly!" Lorna gushes.
"I'll sneak her into school to attack those clowns, the asinine teachers and students," Nicky murmurs.
"How, if they check everything?" Tricia wonders aloud.
"Don't kill my buzz, dude," Nicky mutters while punching her shoulder teasingly.
"Now, you won't be doing that...they'd confiscate Melanie and throw her out on the street!" Red exclaims.
Nicky sighs in disappointment. "I know. Cats are just great at protecting you! They can hiss at an enemy and totally kick the person's ass!"
"That's part of why I bought one!"
"She's faking it, making my job even harder!" Charles complains to Diane while they drive to the train station, and she frowns. "No offense, I know Lorna is your daughter's best friend, but now we have to search her house, her room, especially, because we got an anonymous call that she was Piper's killer!"
"She can't have murdered one of her friends...there must be a mistake! She really does have erotomania! It affects her romantic relationships and potential ones, too!" Diane tells him off angrily. She has no idea how he can't understand such a simple thing as mental illness.
"I don't...what even is that? Some lousy excuse for an unrequited crush going haywire?"
"No, not at all! It's fuckin' real, she has it, but now, she's taking medication to manage it!" She raises her voice with each word.
"Oh...I'm sorry, then," he says, seeming to be embarrassed.
"Good!"
Once they're maneuvering through the crowds, Diane sees a homeless guy laying on the dirty ground with a comforter covering him and he's holding up a sign that reads I was a drummer in the band called Death Maiden; I have now lost all my money because of a debt that I owed to my drug dealer. Need to shoot up...will drum for cash. She just bursts out laughing at her pathetic ex. "Fuckin' has-been loser!"
"Is that really Lee Burley?" Charles asks.
"Oh, yeah! I always wished he'd hit rock bottom!" Diane kicks his sign and he looks up at her, appearing to be slightly bewildered. "How's it feel, asshole? You got nothin' now!" She doesn't let him answer, and then, she and Charles just get onto their train to Manhattan, where they are going to visit the Empire State Building. Diane wishes Alex could've come with them, but she's occupied with washing cars along with the cheerleaders, then she has a school project and her band club has to practice for the upcoming game on Friday.
"How are your pills working for you so far?" Ms. Rogers asks Lorna.
"I ain't sure...I'm upset because I don't have as much power while I'm on 'em...but on the other hand, at least I'm not unleashing my inner monster."
"It sounds like you're very conflicted."
"Yeah...when I'm stressed out, it just bubbles at the surface...but I can't do nothin' about it! It feels as if...I have two people inside of me. When I'm in my erotomania mode, like when I was yelling at Vinnie, I felt like he deserved it...but when things are somber, or basically when I wasn't talking or thinking about Vinnie or Christopher, I feel like I may have gone a little far. Like at Piper's funeral, right, I was calm until I mentioned that she helped me get a boyfriend- so I tensed up-but as soon as I went into the next thing Piper helped me with, friendship, Good Lorna replaced Evil Lorna."
"I see, and is it more controllable when you're taking your medicine?"
Lorna nods her head yes. "Mm-hm."
"What do you do to calm yourself down when you have thoughts of jealousy or anger?"
"I squeeze a stress ball, count to ten, breathe in and out until the tremors stop...I get shaky when I'm real mad...or punch the palm of my hand, or if I'm at home, scream into my pillow."
"Those are excellent solutions. Have you considered getting a punching bag?"
"Yeah...I was also thinking of doing yoga with my sister, my friend, Alex, and her ma, Diane."
"That will definitely relax you! Sometimes, talking to a friend could help you, or having a good cry, and someone could also take you somewhere like an empty place and you can scream as loud as you can, because you can't just let rage bubble up inside you or you'll blow up, and that's the last thing anyone wants you to do."
"I don't wish to, either! If I feel it in class, I'll have to leave the room."
"True...and also, dancing, jogging, any sport with a ball could work...it uses up a lot of energy!"
"If I'm using a tennis racket or a baseball, though, I'd need to be alone so I don't accidentally hit the other person with the ball."
"There's an idea! Holding babies can be helpful, too."
"Hmm...like, my nephew, Tommy, when he's born. My sister's pregnant...but I'm thinking that Franny would be worried that I'm too furious to have her son in my arms and squeeze him accidentally!"
"You would focus on not hurting him or her, or you could ask Franny to watch you carefully and take him at any time."
"Okay, but I'm so afraid I'll forget what I'm doing. I'm...I'm scared of myself."
"Just let everyone know if you're gonna hold an infant or toddler, then, alright?" Nicky murmurs to Lorna while soothingly rubbing her thumbs along the brunette's hands.
"I will," Lorna replies.
"Something else is bothering you," Nicky points out when they get home.
Lorna closes her eyes and then opens them. "P...they're thinking I actually killed Piper, and they're getting the police here to search the house. I thought...I didn't do nothin'! Nicky, I swear...I never..."
"I know you didn't." Nicky pulls Lorna in for a hug and kisses the top of her head. "It's gonna be okay, kid. I mean, sure, they'll look around, but they're not gonna find a single thing that links you to her murder!"
"Yeah, they will..."
Nicky appears to be confused. "Huh?" Lorna gulps and pulls the package out from beneath her bed. Nicky's eyes grow wide. "Holy shit! Did you really-"
"No! It came from her...not me! There would be bruises on my knuckles and stuff...and there weren't, the girls would've said something." She sighs exasperatedly and buries her face into her hands while whimpering and shaking. "I actually dunno anymore! Would you stop being my friend if I...caused her death?"
"Absolutely not! I never knew her, and from what I've heard about her, she seemed like an asshole. I think P is only trying to frame you like the bitch they are, and you, having a mental illness, are the perfect target. Just throw this out!"
"No..."
"Why?"
"I can't walk through here with bloody clothes! What if Franny came through the door as I was taking it out to a random dumpster, because you know the cops will rifle through ours!"
"You can always hide 'em in a pile of garbage when taking the trash out...I'll retrieve a bag from the kitchen."
"Uh...I can't...P's gonna spill one of my secrets otherwise...to the other girls, that um, Franny had sex with that fuckin' Pornstache to prevent me from landing in juvy when I smashed up Vinnie's car with my baseball bat! It's gonna be so humiliating if they find out...Nicky, I gotta take the fall for this."
"No! Lorna, come on, they're not gonna judge you for that...they know Pornstache is disgusting, and you were having an erotomaniac episode, but it hadn't been discovered yet. They'd understand."
"Okay..."
Nicky walks out of the room and returns with a plastic trash bag already filled with some garbage. Lorna watches in awe as the blonde dumps Piper's clothes into it, shakes it up, and continues emptying trash bins in the other rooms, like she's doing a regular chore. The front door closes and then opens after a minute. Nicky comes back upstairs and Lorna hears her washing her hands. "All done!"
"Whoa, you're amazing! Thank you!"
"No problem!"
Five officers comb through Lorna's room and her whole house for evidence, but they don't ransack either place. CO Ford controls them. He's the most respectful of them all, and only does the bare minimum he has to. Thankfully, Nicky had done such a wonderful job fixing the situation, that they don't suspect her anymore.
"I'm sorry, Miss Morello," CO Ford apologizes. "I should've seen this before, that you really did need help."
"Thanks…I'm taking pills and going to therapy now, so that should stop my outbursts. I'm not completely cured…I know that, but it's being managed."
"That's great! Have a good day!"
"Thanks, you too! Bye!"
"Goodbye."
When he and his co-workers leave, Nicky shuts the front door. "See, kid? Easy as pie!"
"I'm best friends with the right girl!"
"Mm-hm!"
Lorna's Saturday becomes busy all of a sudden, so she has to cancel her plans to hang out with Juan. She sends him a message on MySpace that she won't be able to do anything until next Friday, and he replies instantly. He's disappointed, but he understands.
"Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O…" the kids sing happily in the van while also teasing Leon, since his last name is McDonald, which is very close. He's driving, Aleida's in the passenger seat, Gloria and Daya are in the middle seats, and the small children are in the back, in carseats, except for Benny, who's using a booster. Everyone laughs as they continue the song. Gloria had pushed Julio in his stroller as Aleida and Leon swung Benny back and forth between them, and Daya took hold of each of her brother and sister's hands, as they all explored and then walked to Carmine's Italian Restaurant for lunch. They'd taken many pictures in New York City and at the restaurant. Gloria had tried to pay, but Aleida and Leon hadn't let her, since it's her day and they're treating her. Daya beams fondly at the Polaroid that their waitress had taken of the eight of them.
"Such a nice, blended family," she'd said, and then they'd toasted to Gloria being free for an entire thirty days now. Leon's arms are wrapped around Aleida's waist, Gloria is on the other side of Aleida and carrying Julio with her free hand on top of Benny's head as he looks up at her in childish wonder, and he's hugging her legs, and Daya is in front of her mother and psuedo aunt, kneeling down just enough so that she doesn't appear to be taller than them, and holding Christina and Emiliano close to her. Meanwhile, Aleida is flipping through the cute photos that are on Leon's EOS Kiss Digital camera, when they'd visited Times Square. She shows the others which she comments are her favorite pictures, ones of only the women, Daya, and Christina-with the little girl in Daya's arms and the two of them between Gloria and Aleida; then just Leon with Benny on his shoulders and Emiliano and Julio with their arms around each other in front of Leon and Benny; and finally all eight of them, Leon, Aleida, Daya, and Gloria, standing next to each other in that order, with a little tyke sitting atop each of their shoulders and holding hands. Leon had Benny, unsurprisingly so, Aleida took Christina, Daya with Emilio, and Gloria scooped up Julio and put him up there.
"Twinkle twinkle traffic light, around the corner, shining bright, red means stop, green means go, and yellow means go very slow!" Benny and Christina belt out in unison.
"Very good!" Aleida praises them.
"What's the baby's name?" Christina asks while brushing her Barbie doll's hair.
"I don't even know if it'll be a boy or girl yet!" Daya responds, handing the photo to Gloria for her to look at. She turns around to face the children.
"I want a girl!" her younger sister exclaims, bouncing up and down in her seat.
"No way! Boys are better!" Emiliano insists, and Christina sticks her tongue out at him.
"I'd say the same, 'cept Chrissy's the nicest girl I ever met!"
Christina grins shyly. "Thanks, Benny. You're the only boy in Miss Stacy's class who doesn't have cooties! So...I like you."
"I like you, too. We could...share my banana!" He breaks it in two and offers her half.
She eats it. "Thank you," she mumbles while chewing.
"Welcome!"
"Aww, you guys are adorable," Gloria tells them, and everyone else beams.
"I've never lived alone before, my roommate in college was my good friend, Nadezhda, then Dimitri and the boys...it's quite nice, actually," Red lets everyone know. She's invited the girls and her friends to her new place for dinner and to pick out songs they want to hear at her housewarming party next weekend. Lorna, Nicky, Tricia, Alex, Theresa, Flaca, and Maritza are the first to arrive. They're in wonder of her apartment and squeal over Melanie right away.
"I'm happy for you, then!" Nicky answers her.
"Yeah, same...and oh my goodness, I love your kitty, she's so adorable!" Lorna gushes while petting her. The others follow suit, but then Melanie gets sick of the attention and runs into another room, only to come back and curl around Red's legs.
"Aww, she's super timid!" Maritza comments.
"Yeah, maybe let her get used to you all!" Red advises them. "Oh, I have an idea...why don't you girls just have Gloria and Fahri meet at my housewarming party?" she asks.
"Thank you for the offer, Red, but we wanna stick with the original plan!" Lorna replies.
"Yeah, it's more fun!" Flaca agrees.
"One little problem, guys...I got into a small argument with Fahri and it was my fault," Alex confesses. "I was being a bit snappy...so I feel kinda guilty asking him for a favor like giving me a ride now...I apologized, but...I dunno if it was sincere enough."
Flaca is insulted that Alex would risk ruining things by being a brat, something she could do any other week of the year. "Dude, why the fuck would you go and spoil shit like that?"
"Sorry!"
"Damn it, Vause," Nicky mutters. "Lorna and Flaritza mapped it out perfectly, you had one job!"
"Chill out, I can fix this! How about...you write him an apology note from your favorite actress?" Lorna suggests. "Instead of signing your name, use Cate Blanchett's. He'll find it cute and endearing!"
Alex grins. "That's clever, I'll try it!"
"I hope to hell it works," Maritza grumbles.
When Blanca, Maria, Diane, Charles, Leon, Aleida, Gloria, Daya, and the small children arrive, Alex pulls Nicky, Flaca, and Daya aside. The adults are busy talking, Lorna is playing with Melanie and the kids, Tricia is helping Red in the kitchen, and Maritza is explaining to everyone that her mother isn't here because of another case. When Diane, Charles, Leon, Aleida, Gloria, Daya, and the small children arrive, Flaca greets Aleida and Leon with, "What up, McDiaz?" She and Maritza giggle and hi-five.
They get confused stares until Maritza quickly explains, "We just combined your last names, Diaz and McDonald," and laughter ensues.
Alex pulls Nicky, Flaca, and Daya aside. The adults are busy talking, Lorna is playing with Melanie and the kids, Tricia is helping Red in the kitchen, and Maritza is explaining to everyone that her mother isn't here because of another case.
"I hate myself for asking or even thinking this, but do you think that possibly...Lorna could be, you know?" Alex questions Nicky when Lorna isn't in hearing distance. "P or Piper's-"
"She has a mental disorder! Leave her alone!" Nicky interrupts her.
"Yeah, we're aware of that, but even with that condition, you could've still hurt someone without meaning to or you can't remember if you did," Flaca says.
"Ladies...she's innocent, alright? She's just got a mental illness, and as her friends, we need to always make sure she takes her antipsychotics."
"We just don't understand why Lorna would beat up Piper over a guy...it's really no big deal that she was flirting a bit. It's not like he went for her!" Daya replies.
"I get it...Piper was pushing Lorna's buttons, probably knowing full well about her mental state. Even if she's not in love with a boy, she can still show it by displaying mood swings, like getting angry over something small or acting very offended!"
"Ohh..." they murmur altogether. Nicky, Alex, Daya, and Flaca rejoin the rest of the group.
"How'd therapy go?" Maritza is asking Lorna.
"Ms. Rogers said I have something called erotomania! You can Google it if you'd like. I'd never heard about it until she told me, but it sounds like me, so...I'm taking pills for it!" Lorna announces, and Nicky moves to be next to her and rubs her shoulders in support. "It's where the person who has it, believes that someone of a higher power like a celebrity, or tycoon, or a popular classmate, like Christopher, is deeply in love with them. I wanted to tell y'all at once so I don't gotta explain it to each person individually."
They seem to accept this, and the girls, Red, Diane, Gloria, and Aleida give her hugs.
"We'll help you with whatever, yo," Tricia says, and the others agree.
"Thanks," Lorna responds.
Then, Maritza waves Flaca over and pats the area beside her. Flaca sits there, and then Maritza speaks out about the traumatic event she hadn't ever known about up to today. Everyone but Flaca gasps in horror and the women and girls wrap their arms around her.
"How awful!" Nicky comments.
"What a nightmare!" Lorna chimes in.
"I can't even imagine!" Daya adds.
"I'm so sorry you and your motha had to go through that, mija," Gloria tells Maritza.
"Yeah, it makes my heart hurt," Aleida says.
"Mine, too," Diane agrees.
"I'm with you on that," Alex puts in.
"We won't judge you or Lorna any differently!" Blanca lets Maritza know.
"I appreciate it!" Maritza chirps.
"Hey, Fahri, you've got mail," Alex lets him know as he lets her into his apartment on Sunday morning. She gives him the letter she'd written and watches him open it with interest. "You can read it out loud."
"Okay...Dear Fahri...Alex is genuinely sorry for being rude to you. She knows you're just looking out for her. You're an excellent male role model in her life, and way better than her own father was. She hopes you can forgive her. Sincerely...Cate Blanchett?"
"Yeah, she handed that to me, to give to you," Alex says with a straight face.
He laughs and pulls her in for a hug while also giving her a noogie. "Of course I forgive you, kiddo!"
"I'm glad! I really mean it...I was on drugs, but it doesn't excuse nasty behavior. You're like an uncle, and I respect you a lot! I only say that because you're my mom's friend, so..."
"I get it."
"That's settled...so do you mind giving me a ride to Friendly's after school tomorrow? I usually meet my mom at Friendly's by taking the bus, but I wanna save money. Besides, if you're looking to work at Martin Van Buren High, you should see it."
"Sure, Al. I'm actually touched...I'd love to!"
"Thank you!" she squeals, almost too loudly, but she makes sure not to blow her cover.
"Anytime."
Clouds of cream swirl in Red's coffee as she lifts the cup to her lips, preparing to take a sip. Melanie starts meowing. "What is it?" she asks her cat after downing some coffee. "I already gave you food...and you graciously took a dump twice on the carpet. Thanks for that hour of cleanup time! It's a good thing you're cute, or I'd throw you out!"
The meowing grows more intense, and Melanie claws at the front door while hissing and arching her back, as if she's in attack mode, so Red sets down the hot beverage. She peers out the window, but sees nothing threatening except for a few pigeons perched on the grass. "I'm not going to let you out to eat birds and bring them back in here! It's just not happening, Melly."
Right after she says this, though, there's a thumping at her front door. Red looks through the peephole and nearly has a stroke. "Let me in, Reznikov!" the gruff voice commands. "Do it, or you'll be in more trouble!"
"I have a knife!" Red informs Piscatella. She grabs the biggest and sharpest one she owns and grips it so hard that her fingernails dig into her palm, and opens the door. As soon as he stomps in and punches her to the ground while stepping on her knife, Melanie lunges at him with her hair raised, claws at his cheeks, and not even five seconds later, he rips her off him and throws her across the room. "Your fucking feline scratched me, Reznikov!" he bellows. "Get me bandages, I'm bleeding!"
"Don't touch her!" Red growls and then gasps for breath. Melanie whimpers, but then, gets herself up from behind the couch, jumps over it, and stretches before jumping on Piscatella again and digging her claws into his eyes. He makes another attempt to escape her, but she's not letting him go this time. She makes more bloody lines down his neck and all over his face as he stumbles around the room, banging into the walls, counter, and finally, tripping over the coffee table. Red stands up shakily. "Is that how you want to go? Frankly, I've always imagined your death being a little...neater...but this works for me!" She finishes him off by stabbing him in the back of the neck, and then, just like Claudette after a successful murder, she cleans her knife and puts it away.
"It's October eleventh, which was the date of the twins' birthday in The Parent Trap, and the exact same day we're setting up Gloria and Fahri!" Lorna says excitedly when school is over. Since Piscatella wasn't here, she and Nicky were finally able to skip Biology class. The students are still being rude, but it's not as bad as it was when Piscatella was around. Things are really looking up for her.
"That's like, such a neat coincidence!" Flaca points out.
"Yeah…it's perfect!" Maritza squeals.
The three of them are standing watch by the cafeteria, but slightly hidden so Fahri doesn't see them as he walks in to pick up Alex, and they know Daya will keep Gloria from noticing the girls. Nicky walks by them, taps her nose, and points to where Gloria and Daya are. It's their cue that Alex has told her Fahri is on his way and that Red, Aleida, Norma, and Claudette have left. He'll arrive in about five minutes, so Lorna hurriedly goes into the kitchen's backroom, just to freshen up Gloria's appearance. She knows that slaving over a hot stove all day wearing a hairnet will make a person's hair flat and their forehead and hands sweaty. Daya and Gloria are sat down on the stools, chattering away. "Hey, Gloria! Let me just…"
"Whoa, what you doin'?" Gloria asks as Lorna digs her lipstick out of her purse.
"It's kinda faded. You can't go wrong with a little lipstick!"
"Um, okay…thanks…"
Lorna swipes a coat of red along Gloria's top and bottom lip, fluffs out her hair, and pushes her headband back further so her side bangs fall out and frame her face beautifully. "There! Doesn't she look great, Daya?"
Daya nods with a toothy grin. "Very nice."
Gloria raises an eyebrow at Lorna. "Excuse me?"
"Well, you're always pretty, but it's fun to primp yourself after a hard day of work. See?" Lorna holds up a compact mirror in front of Gloria. "I'm bein' honest, you're lookin' fab!"
"Oh yeah…wow. You certainly boosted my confidence! I never styled my hair like that before."
Lorna spritzes perfume into the air around Gloria. "I wonder why. Rub that in! Oooh, I gotta go to cheerleading! Bye, you two!"
"Bye!" Daya and Gloria call out to her.
Blanca and Maria take Lorna and Maritza's places since they don't have any after school activities.
"What are we waiting for?" Gloria claps her hands a few times rapidly. "Let's go!"
Daya glances out the backroom's window nervously, but neither Alex nor Fahri have shown up yet. "No, you can't leave..."
"Where's Aleida? I gotta pick up-"
"Leon's taking her to get the kids, so there's no hurry."
"Why would we wanna stay longer in this damn place?"
"Alright, we can go." Daya stands up, staggers over to the counter where a dish is, and purposely brushes it off. It crashes onto the floor and breaks into numerous pieces.
"Dayanara Diaz, what the fuck?!" Gloria shouts. "You gonna help me clean this up now."
"Shit, Gloria, I'm so sorry! I got clumsy."
"Nah, I don't wanna hear it! Get a broom and dustpan, and then we vacuum up the rest."
"Okay..."
By the time they finish cleaning up the mess while music plays, Daya can hear Alex and Fahri arriving. Gloria isn't able to since she hadn't been listening for them, plus, she's not close to the door like Daya is. "Here's the famous cafeteria's backroom, where we girls go to feel safe!" she's explaining to him in the entryway. "Hey, I think your tie's a bit crooked...lemme fix that."
"Thanks, but how come-"
Alex's voice gets louder. "Oh, man, I forgot something...in art, and I need to get there before Ms. Fischer goes home! Hold on, I'll be right back! Just wait in there for me, if you don't mind!" Alex rushes off, and Daya gasps sharply while holding her stomach in feigned agony.
"You got cramps or somethin', honey?" Gloria asks her in concern.
"Mm-hm," Daya groans. "They really hurt...so bad..." She rolls her eyes all the way back into her head and collapses dramatically, but Gloria prevents her from hitting her head.
"You need me to take you to the hospital?" Daya doesn't respond, but instead, writhes around on the floor, whimpering so much that she's actually able to get some tears to fall out of her eyes. "Oh, my baby!" Gloria takes Daya into her arms and holds her upright.
"What happened?" Fahri asks, alarmed.
"My niece fainted," Gloria answers him emotionally.
"Help me," Daya sobs out, clutching Gloria's hand and reaching for Fahri's. "I need...I need both of you...to stand...I'll be fine...just need water."
"Alright, that's a good sign, isn't it?" Fahri takes Daya's other hand, and together, they assist her to her feet. She makes sure to bring their hands closer together, on her stomach, acting as if she's struggling to get up and her hands are shaking.
"Yeah." Gloria flinches when she and Fahri touch hands accidentally. "Sorry, my bad. I didn't mean to..."
"It's okay, neither did I...so I'm the one who should apologize." He smiles at her while his eyes seem to travel up and down her face. She blushes at his gaze and grins shyly.
"Thanks, guys," Daya mumbles while letting go of them and wiping her eyes with her sleeves.
"You're welcome," Fahri says.
"Yeah, anytime. You sure you're okay?" Gloria wonders aloud while massaging Daya's back. She leads her to the fridge and hands her a bottle of water, which she starts drinking.
"I am now."
"Good!" Daya watches Gloria turn to Fahri while hugging herself around her waist, and probably seeing that she wants her space, he keeps his distance. "Not to be rude or nothin', but where'd you come from?"
"Oh, uh, I'm Fahri. My friend's daughter goes to this school, and she was showing me around. She left to get something from Art." He shrugs. "I'm not sure where she is now. Do you work here?"
"Yeah, I'm one of the kitchen ladies...I serve food."
"Cool! I'll be a janitor soon enough somewhere...I hope my interview with Mr. Caputo this morning went well."
Gloria waves away the thought. "Don't worry about that...he hires just about everyone."
Fahri beams. "Fantastic!"
"It isn't always...that way," Gloria mumbles.
"What do you mean?"
"He lets the worst animals get jobs," she informs him in a brisk manner. "Anyway...my name's Gloria, in case you were wondering," she introduces herself timidly. Daya beams inside at the fact that he'd let her tell him who she was instead of pressuring her for personal information.
They exchange a fast handshake. "Pleased to make your acquaintance."
"You, too."
While they're not paying attention to her, Daya sneaks out and finds her friends to tell them it had gone extremely well.
Thank you for reading and reviewing, Hannah1Mileyfan and A Star In My Universe!
