Chapter 6-Salsa
Amber's dad arrived on the 8:00 flight from Los Angeles. Amber brought him to the girls favorite restaurant, Loco Lupe's, so he could see her friends again.
"Wow, you girls have grown," he said as his favorite line with his fake grin. "Look at you, Hayden. When did you put red streaks in your hair?"
"I got tired of blonde," retorted Hayden.
"And Lauren, you haven't changed except for that you're almost as tall as me now."
Hayden smirked at Lauren, "And to think I've been taller than him since seventh grade." She liked to pick on Lauren for her height.
"So, what's good here?" Steve looked at the Mexican menu in Spanish puzzled.
"You should try the enchiladas."
They were soon approached by the waiter, who had a hard time understanding their English. Lauren made a huge mess trying to explain to him that she wanted cheese sauce on her enchiladas instead of the tomato sauce. Things got even worse when Hayden changed her order and made him bring her another drink, because he gave her regular Coke instead of Diet. Finally their meals arrived.
"This is good." Steve said pointlessly, because he had already cleaned his plate. He leaned back and gave a sigh of satisfaction.
"How long are you staying, Dad?"
"Umm…I was going to wait to tell you but I'm staying here. I'm having my stuff sent over. I bought a house on the other side of town."
Amber dropped her fork at her surprise, and when she bent down to pick it up, banged her head on the table. Lauren sat staring with her mouth open as her rice slowly dropped out. Hayden drank the rest of her drink in a period of a few seconds.
"Well, what do you think?"
"U-uh, that's great Dad." Amber held her hand on her head where it began to swell.
Lauren finally breathed in and choked on the little rice left in her mouth. Hayden continued to try and drink her ice, but all that happened was a loud slurping sound.
"Come on, I'll take you girls home."
The girls stood up slowly and just looked at each other.
Amber looked down remembering she was wearing The Pants. "Crap, I got salsa on them."
The girls went to the bathroom to try and get it out before it stained.
"Do you think this is against the rules?" Hayden scrubbed The Pants with a wet paper towel.
"I can't believe he's staying." Amber looked in the mirror.
"I don't think it's against the rules, we aren't technically washing them." Lauren ignored Amber. She didn't know what to say, and by the look on her face, neither did Hayden.
"Ok, all better. Let's go." Hayden got off her knees and walked out with the other two following behind her.
Steve dropped the two girls off at Lauren's house. Hayden's parents where out of town, so she was staying with them for the week end.
"What did she say that woman's name was at the audition?" Hayden said randomly on their way up the sidewalk.
"Terri Vreeland, I think."