Disclaimer: Not mine.
:}
Trina could not remember a time when she enjoyed Church more. Maybe it was that she didn't feel like she had to prove anything, or maybe it was that it was a beautiful LA day. Maybe it was the service, about Love for our fellow man. One of the perks of going to a progressive Catholic church, less guilt. But deep down, she knew it was the fact that Scotty had come with.
Her boyfriend was so adorably helpless through the service. Even the modern, cut down mass still took a couple of hours, and involved what some comedians called the 'Catholic workout.' Kneel, stand, sit, stand, kneel, repeat, mix and repeat again. Two hours of up and down and up and down, with hymns thrown in to force you to breath. Trina had to work at not laughing her head off at her boyfriends sincere attempt. Maybe, later, she'd show mercy on him and tell him that, in their church, no one is forced to get up, or down, if they don't want to. No one would judge him for sitting through the service.
But her proudest moment came after the service. They were making their way out, and as usual they took the time to stop and shake hands with Father Luther, their pasture and senior priest. "Trina, good to see you today. And this must be that nice young man I've heard so much about. Scott, right? Pleasure to finally put a face to the myth. You're welcome in my church any time." The priest said. "Of course, we both know it's HIS church. I just mind the flock." Trina was almost walking on air.
"People call me Scotty." Scotty said, shaking the priests hand.
"And Trina told me, when you're serious, you like to be called Scott." The priest replied. Then he was on to the next in line.
"Oh Tori, lovely to see you." Father Luther continued. "When will I get to meet that girl you've been seeing? I promise, we have the holy water ready. You know, in case she bursts into flame." His joke reminded Trina that he was one of the good ones, dedicated and friendly, who never let things get too heavy. Except, of course, at funerals. His order was tolerated, since they were so progressive, but with the new Pope, it looked like they were gaining ground. Gays were actually welcomed in this church.
As the Vega family made their way out of the building, David spoke up. "Okay, next we get lunch, then home. Scott, why don't you take Trina and meet us at the restaurant. We're going to the Heathies on the corner."
She got into her boyfriends car, feeling loved. Her parents trusted her, knowing she wouldn't do anything stupid. Father Luther liked her boyfriend, always a plus. And things were going great between Scotty and her. They had their drama, but nothing so bad that they couldn't talk it out. "You told him about that?" Scott asked.
"He's my priest. And confessor. Of course I told him." Trina replied. "I'm sorry if it's a big deal to you. If I'd have know..."
"It's okay." he said. "I'm just worried about what your telling people?"
"I do kinda have a rep." Trina said sheepishly. "But I respect this relationship far too much."
"I suppose." He said. "I'm just not used to this."
"Dating a progressive Catholic?" Trina asked.
"No." He said, sucking on his lip as he thought. "Always, in the past, you could find what would kill the relationship within the first few weeks. Lying, or pride, or maybe trying to be what you're not. But this time, it's like, things I should be wazzed about, I'm not." He looked ahead, thinking as he drove.
"Like telling your priest about me. In he past, the kind of girl I'd have dated would have bragged about me, telling everyone that I was an athlete, and handsome, and all kinds of chiz." Her gave a moment for that to sink in. "You, you're busy telling them I'm a great guy, and I'm serious, and I want to be a cop to help people. I feel I should be wazzed, because your bragging, but it's not the shallow stuff." He looked over at her. "Definitely not what your rep said you'd do."
"Handsome, huh? I guess so." Trina started. "Honestly, few months ago, that's the kind of chiz I'd be telling everyone. I've changed so much in that time, and you've been a big part of that. Between you, and Jade, and Tori, and even Andre, I've become what I used to tell people I was, or maybe I'm still becoming it. I have a future, with you if I'm lucky, and I feel like everything's going so good, all I can do is keep my eyes open for signs it's going to fall apart."
Scotty reached over and held her hand, driving one handed. For several seconds, he just continued comforting her, letting her know that things were going to work out. Then, once he felt that they'd had their moment, he asked the next question. "Why do girl brag? I mean, is it some kind of contest?" He thought he was joking.
"Yep." Trina replied. "Status symbol. Kinda an 'I'm better than you' thing. We want every other girl to know how great out guy is. Or I do, and all the girls I've dealt with do. It's like, some guy gets a great car, he doesn't just leave it in his garage, he wants to take it out, show it off, let everyone else choke on their jealousy. It's part of the pecking order." Trina stifled a laugh. "It's also kinda funny. No two people are exactly alike, so sometimes you got people showing off they guy they landed, and other girls just scratch their heads wondering what she sees in that guy."
"Me, I got you, and Jade has Tori." Trina beamed. "If anything, we're showing off that we have someone wonderful, who can see us for who we really are, and that's all that matters now."
"So one of the reasons girls are so attracted to Beck is..." Scotty started.
"Every girl wants him, cause he's so hot. And he's so cool. And he can be kinda a jerk, but does it in that cool, 'I'm above it' kinda way." Trina said. "So every girl wants him, not just cause he's so hot, but also so they can show the other girls they have this hot, cool guy. It's superficial. Kinda like Jade's relationship with Beck. As much as she loved him, she was always more concerned with their image than their being together."
"Wow." Scotty said. "I'm not sure I get that."
"Sure you do. It's like the guy who's dating the hot girl, and has to show her off. He can't just see her around the house, maybe do quiet things with her. He has to take her out, show her off." Trina said.
"Not every guys like that." Scotty said.
"I know. We can talk about that another time. Right now, it's time for brunch." She pointed to a parking place, and the two were ready to go in.
/
The two let their discussion drop, but only temporally. They joined the rest of the Vega family for the late breakfast. The place was decorated with a lot of wood, giving the restaurant a natural feel. The host showed them to their table where the rest of the family was gathering.
"So, whats this place like?" Scotty asked.
"Best health conscious brunch in the LA area." David said. "Try finding another place with whole wheat banana pancakes, and gluten free options for all their food. Plus, all organic ingredients, farm fresh eggs, fresh squeezed orange juice, the works. You pay a little more, but you can taste the quality."
"Yea, sometimes, when you can afford it, that's the way to go." Scotty said. He didn't realize what he'd said at first.
"Depends on your priorities." Holly interjected. "We've reached the point where we can afford to splurge on things like after church brunch at a restaurant like this. But some of Tori's classmates, their families don't have the luxury to eat here every Sunday. They can make their own food, have the family together time, but we pay for the luxury of not having to do any of the work ourselves. Also, their food is to dye for."
"I can see that." Scotty said. "My family couldn't afford to eat here regularly, that's for sure."
"And that's the point." Holly replied. "You're on your way to becoming a police officer, and you'll make a decent lifestyle for that. But we're a two income family, with both parents making a decent wage. Trina had us worried because she didn't know the value of money, not for the longest time." Holly gestured towards her daughter. "Her first real job tuned out to be that Spanish language show of hers, and they pay below scale. But it's better than she'd make doing a lot of other jobs, so we worried she'd get the wrong idea."
"But I spend so much time at the center, where most of the kids families can't afford to eat out all the time, and I see what can happen." Trina said, defending herself.
"Some of those kids, their families make more than Jade's family did." David says. "Gang kids stretch into the lower middle class. Jade's father was telling me, with his multiple families, they used to be living in the upper lower class level. They rented their homes, houses when they could afford them, and often used coupons to help their meal planning. It was, and is, tough. Jade's buying that new home changed what they could afford for the same rent, giving her and her mother a better life."
"Her dad knew all that?" Scotty asked.
"What, you think I'd let my daughter date someone when I didn't at least talk to the parents?" He asked.
"You spoke to my dad?" Scotty asked.
"I always wait until they've introduced my child to their family, but yea." David replied. "I was going to ask you for your parents phone number, but your dad, he's old school. He called me."
'I-I can't believe you people." Scotty said. "I mean, I thought you trusted me."
"Scott, calm down. My dad's a cop. He trusts you, or you'd never have been invited to church." Trina tried. "But he also wants to see what kind of people you come from."
"And?" Scotty asked. "What did you think?" He was still upset.
"I think you're not like either of your parents." David Vega was getting serious. "Not saying that's a good thing or not, just, they are a part of you, the one's who raised you. And it says a lot about you if you're unwilling to have people talk to them. The moment you introduced Trina to you're family, it said you were willing to have us know them. You're dad, he thinks the same way, wanted to know who I was, what kind of situation, what kind of drama, came with Trina."
"And what did you tell them?" Trina asked.
"Jade." The Vega patriarch said.
"And they didn't run?" Trina asked. Tori looked offended.
"That's my drama." She said, a little louder than she'd intended.
"But she's going to be a part of my life for a while." Trina told her sister. "She's your girlfriend, and no one is going to get in the middle of that. Just remember, in addition to being my friend, she's also my best shot at making it in the industry, and I'm planning on helping her so she can help me."
"Not to mention, you two look adorable together." Holly said. Tori glared at her mother, but the look softened as she realized what just happened.
"We do, don't we." Tori said. "I think I should start researching what kind of matching clothing we could get that she'd ware."
"See, Scotty, Tori's planning on showing off her Jade." Trina said.
"Nah." He replied. "Just labeling her."
"And what label am I giving on Jade?" Tori asked.
"Mine!" Came almost every voice at the table. Tori decided right then that the waitress didn't deserve whatever tip her father was going to leave.
:}
Thought I'd check in with the Vega family.