Maite's POV
I go to the hospital for my checkup and it's going well, and my liver has made substantial progress and the doctor says I can do more physical activity, but I have to still manage myself accordingly and make sure to not overdo it. I got a text while I was still at this doctor's, so I did not have any time to check who it was from.
I get into the elevator and wonder what I am going to do for the rest of the day. As the doors are closing a hand comes in between the doors and the woman slides in. She's wearing scrubs and has blonde hair. I give her a small smile to be polite.
"Are you new here?" I realize she was saying something to me.
"Oh umm… yes I am but I don't work in the hospital."
"Oh, my bad! You just seemed to know your way around the hospital so well, so I assumed. I apologize because I made this awkward." I just chuckle a little because yeah it is kind of embarrassing but it's whatever.
"No sweat, I am Maite." I stick my hand out to shake hers and she accepts.
"I'm Kiki, nice to meet you Maite, person saving me from looking like a complete fool."
"It's really no problem. This is probably the most interesting part of my day so far. Are you a nurse or a doctor here?"
"Oh no! I'm studying to go to med school and I'm a nurse's assistant"
"That's awesome my aunt did the same thing to get her license in Mexico. It really helps to have a good background in the hospital."
"That's one way to look at it. I am just starting to figure out what I want to do. I feel a little behind everyone."
"You shouldn't feel terrible I'm just figuring out my shit too. I came here and had a setback in my plan to further my business career in the states and now I'm teaching history at PCU. This wasn't what I was really looking to do but I'm figuring it out and it's still something I really enjoy doing. Do you like what you do?"
"Yeah I really do. I should be more grateful for this job it's a step in the right direction." I give her a shrug and she laughs.
"It will work out if you change your mindset Kiki." The elevator dings to the first floor and I go to exit.
"Hey you're so chill. We should hangout I can show you around PC if you want there's not that many people around my age here at the hospital except Amy and she is something." I pull out my phone and give it to her to put her number in it.
"I just texted my phone, so we are good to go!"
"I am going to meet some friends on Friday night, and we are going to go to a bar in Buffalo. It's lady's night so we can drink free."
"Hell yeah! It's been a while since I had fun."
"Totally. I'll text you more details later and we can coordinate." I wave to Kiki goodbye and leave the hospital. I check my phone to see who texted me before and it's my little cousin.
You need to come get me. I can't do it anymore. She's so irresponsible. She didn't show up for my parent teacher conference after she said she would. The principal was recommending for me to transfer schools because of the magnet program in PC. Please help me hermana. -Catarina
I get to my car and put in the GPS and hightail out of there. I get there in about 40 minutes and pull up to the house and I think to myself why must I deal with this woman…
I knock on the door and before I can finish the door opens. It's my cousin at the door and her face is red-rimmed.
"I can't do this anymore. She pretends to want to be responsible and then does the exact opposite. She took me from my home to only disappoint me over and over." I fucking hate her mom even before this ever happened.
"All right get as much of your stuff as you can. I'm going to call mama because we are gonna need backup at some point." Sylvia isn't here but then again, she never is. She has been gone for a week now and it's not getting better.
"I'm so glad you came for me. I didn't mean to bother you."
"First of all, Catarina you are never a bother let's get that straight! If it weren't for her you would still be in Mexico…" Sylvia is a person who is lower than low, and I don't get her rationale. I look at her and she backs down
"Thanks, what happens now?" It's not like she has thought about this long-term and why would she. She is a damn child she shouldn't have to think of these kinds of decisions.
"Do you want to live here or in Mexico?"
"I miss mama so much, but I want to go to PC High. My principal said it would be good for me to transfer there because their gifted program is top notch and she's been speaking to the principal of that school too about me. I want to try."
"We have another little genius on our hands… it's the Rodriguez way. You know he would be so proud of you Chacha."
"You think so?" She was the youngest of us and her life didn't get any better after what happened she is so unsure of herself when it comes to him. I know how hard it is to latch onto memories from when you are so young, but our father would be so proud.
"Would I ever lie to you? Tell me where to find this principal. I'm getting you into this magnet program if that's what you want. We will figure out the rest of it later." I need to get a lawyer who has family court experience to help me get some things done for Catarina.
We start to catch up on what's been going on in her life outside of home and I am so happy to hear she placed third at her last Mu Alpha Theta competition. I park at the school and make my way up to the admin office for this meeting.
"How can I assist you today?" The security guard has some sign-in log thing and asks for my ID. I guess they don't just let anyone into the school which is a good sign. He gives me a pass and Catarina shows her school ID and she tells him we are here for the parent- teacher conference. He looks from her to me a couple times and I raise my eyebrow and he dares not say a word.
"How can I assist you today?" She briefly looks at my visitor's pass and Catarina's ID
"I'm here for the parent-teacher conference with the principal and a Dr. Gupta."
"Oh, I was not expecting someone so young excuse me I was not judging."
"She's not my mother… she's my sister." The woman looks relieved to be saved from her word vomit. I love her sass so much.
"Of course, yes this makes a lot of sense… yes it does. Let me take you to the principal's office." We follow her to the principal, and I assume it's one of her teachers in there with the principal.
"Hello Catarina, and you must be…" I have never made contact with the principal before, but I wonder if they ever saw Sylvia.
"This is my sister Maria…" I shake their hands and we sit down. They discuss with me Catarina's grades and how outstanding she is doing and how she might be better served at another school. They have recommendations on what schools might best be suited for her needs.
"This school in Port Charles is one of them and they are allowing mid-year transfers…" She looks me in the eyes with desperation like I might say no but at this point what other choice is there. This school will be good for her education and she could be away from Sylvia.
"I would like the information on all of the schools please so I can make an informed decision after Catarina and I discuss her future. I am honestly thankful for your belief in her. I'm sure you know that her circumstance is somewhat chaotic, but I wish to change that."
"We only want what's best for her. She is one of the brightest pupils I have ever taught, and she tests the highest in every measurable standardized test she has taken here so far. She's already taking some classes with upperclassmen. She would be best served in a school with a better funded gifted program." It brightens my ears to see her exceling so well here. Her life has not been the easiest, but she doesn't let her circumstances rule her life.
"Thank you for all this information. I will make a decision and discuss the next steps on what the best course of action will be." I shake their hands and we leave.
"I'm so proud of you… I always have been…" We start walking back to my car and I set the GPS for my apartment. I just realized I will need to get a new apartment because we won't have enough room in a one bedroom with a teenager who wants her privacy and another teenager coming back and forth from University.
"Thanks, I really want to go to PCH. I know there's other schools but some of them are boarding schools and I don't want to go to any boarding school."
"I doubt mama will even let me consider that option. We have a lot of things to plan for if we are going to choose PCH."
"So, it's decided I am going to go to PCH. This is so awesome we get to live together and stuff. It won't be the same as it was before, but I get to be somewhere like home."
"I am going to do whatever I can to make it your home. I want you to rock the shit out of PCH. No pressure but you could show everyone up with your grades and talents." I just keep driving and realize I have to do a lot of shit like get a whole new apartment for space and pick somewhere ultra-safe to make sure nothing can happen to her. I ask her about the going ons in her life and goodness I wonder if I had so much going in my life when I was a teenager because Catarina sure likes to talk.
We make it back in PC in less time it took me to get to Buffalo and I'm all the more grateful for it. The last thing I want to do is carry a sleepy 14-year-old.
"So, I only have a one-bedroom, so you get to sleep with yours truly. The first thing tomorrow will be for us to look for apartments." The last thing I wanted to do is ask for my mother's help but sometimes there's nothing wrong with asking for help.
"Fine with me… I don't mind putting my cold feet on you." What a little diabla! I grab her stuff and go to the elevator. I think to myself it's kind of selfish how happy I am that circumstance has led to me having some family with me here.