Thank you for beta'ing, MsSchneeheide!

"Holy shit, that's a dead body!" Katie exclaims, her hand over her mouth in shock as they pass a smoky alley. She, half her friends, and Debbie, have split from the rest of their group in order to find Maritza. They wanted to do it in teams.

"Are you sure?" Taystee asks.

"'Course I am!"

"Nah, just saw her move. Like a little twitch under that blanket," Daisy notices aloud as they get closer.

"She's horribly mangled, poor girl," Debbie murmurs. "We oughta get her some help." She pulls her cell out of her purse and prepares to dial.

Doggett comes around the corner, biting her fingernails. Poussey nudges Taystee. "Isn't that the-"

"Yep."

"Oh my god!" Katie freaks out, inhaling and exhaling rapidly. She hopes she doesn't have an asthma attack. "Who did this?!" She's never seen someone with a black eye, split lip, and bruises everywhere in person and so close up before.

"Calm down, ladies, she's alive! Barely hangin' on, but...I've got an ambulance comin', so don't worry about it," the pipsqueak of a sex worker says.

Taystee crouches down beside the Asian woman to inspect her. "You right." She takes her pulse and blows on one of her eyes. "She ain't gone to the Lord yet," she determines. "Hang on, she was my rival in that math competition...I called her Maya Angelou...I didn't like her, but damn..."

"Somebody fucked her up good." Poussey eyes Doggett suspiciously.

She rakes her fingers through her hair. "It wasn't me, I swear!"

"You better have a story to tell the cops when they show up at the hospital, then," Debbie says sharply.

"I don't wanna talk to no police, I didn't think they'd be there..."

"Oh yeah, they will." Daisy sets her hands on her hips and scrutinizes the lady.

"When she comes to, she can give a statement. I need to get back to my job. My boss is gonna be pissed!" Doggett turns and runs.

"Wish we had Janae with us!" Poussey shouts as Taystee zooms after her. "Tackle that bitch to the ground!"

Taystee returns a few seconds later and she appears to be defeated. "She was too fast!"

"Did you see where she was goin'?" Katie asks.

"Some bar...Indigo."

"You think we should investigate?" Daisy wonders aloud.

"No, let's just tell the police and have 'em check things out. It could be too dangerous," Debbie says.

"Where am I?"

The small voice is coming from the lady on the ground. Her panicked eyes travel around the group. She struggles to sit, and Debbie ever so gently helps her. "You're safe, honey, you're in an alley in New York City, but you'll be okay...you were attacked, help is arriving soon. Can you tell me your name?"

"Brook. Who are you?" she slurs.

"I'm Debbie."

The rest of them introduce themselves.

"Taystee."

"Poussey."

"Katie."

"Daisy."

"Do you have someone we can call, like parents?" Poussey asks.

Brook shakes her head no and winces. "Ow...I don't...nowhere to go. My mom and sister would never let me back into their lives after this...a prostitute named Leanne was urged by Humps, a pimp, to beat me up."

They gaze at her sadly. "Oh, I'm real sorry to hear that! We know this nun, Sister Ingalls...she can take care of you until you get back on your feet, okay?" Katie soothes her.

"Thank you...I'm thinking of just telling the cops that I took the Greyhound home from work at Hot Topic and was just getting off, when I was attacked from behind by some drunkard, who then stole my things and left via the subway."

"You shouldn't lie to the pigs, that can get you in huge trouble," Taystee murmurs. "Don't you want justice for what this bitch did to you?"

"I can't be arrested for prostitution, and I don't want it to happen to some of my more innocent co-workers, we're like, a sisterhood!" Brook snaps. "That's so unfair!"

"Just don't say anything at all, then. Refuse to answer their questions," Debbie recommends.

"Yeah, they leave you alone if you're uncooperative. There's nothing they can do," Daisy puts in.

"Okay…"

The ambulance siren wails as it comes to a stop in front of them. EMTs lift Brook onto a stretcher and at the hospital, Debbie talks to the cops. Later, in her frail tone, Brook refuses to give the police any information, except for a fabricated story about being mugged and not knowing who the assailant was. No one contradicts her false tale since they don't want to get her or her friends arrested. They stay with Brook for an hour or so and everyone eats from the hospital cafeteria.

"Daddy, I'm starving!" Laronne whines.

"I know, buddy, I am too. I'll get us something to eat, okay? First, though, I need gas, I'm runnin' on empty."

This is beginning to turn into an all-day affair, which Diablo has been expecting. He pulls into a gas station and fills his tank. There's only one other car around and it's parked in front of a convenience store.

"Mister Diablo!" a little girl shrieks, and he turns immediately at the sound of Raiza's voice, hope building in his chest once again. She runs toward him in a purple snow jacket over a brown dress. Pink leggings and blue shoes that light up every time her feet hit the ground, complete her outfit. Her tangled locks peek out from her hood. Squatting, he reaches his arms out for Blanca's youngest daughter and she jumps into them. He scoops her up and snuggles her close as he stands. Tears come to his eyes as she clings onto him like a monkey. He sees a bald, hard-faced man and a black woman coming out of the small shop. They quickly get into their van and take off before he can even think about following them or punching the guy out in defense of Raiza.

"Ay, Raizita...I'm so happy to see you!" He notices Blanca and Maritza aren't with her. "Where are your mami y tu hermana?"

"I dunno," she mumbles and buries her face into his shoulder. "The bad people took me and my sissy. She's at work."

"Do you know the place?"

Raiza shakes her head no.

"Okay...are you hungry?"

"Yeah! I want a hot dog and pasketti and meatballs and ice cream and cookies and cake!"

He chuckles. "You can have all of that, nena."

Finally glancing up from the Harry Potter book he's brought with him, Laronne knocks on the window. "Hi, Raiza!"

She waves back at him excitedly. Diablo puts her in the backseat with Laronne and drives to Gray's Papaya. He's glad that he has recently bought a booster seat for her.

"We lost the kid. Some spic got her," Hellman complains as he and Vee enter the brothel.

Maritza's stomach drops to her knees. "Wait...what did they look like?"

"I'll tell you for a blow job. Deep dick. If I feel teeth, I'll kick your cunt 'til it bleeds."

She nods slightly and kneels down before him. "Whatever you want."

"Not now! I'm in the mood for Little Miss Anime, not some beaner. Eri!" he shouts. Maritza flinches at his loud voice and gets back up.

"Madam Vee, what happened to Raiza? She's mi hermanita, por favor, dime..." Maritza pleads.

Vee shrugs as the pimps huddle in a circle. "Some guy she called Mister Diablo took her...I couldn't give a fuck less."

Maritza gasps happily. "My mami's novio..."

"What the fuck happened here? You should all be ashamed of yourselves!" Hellman bellows at the other pimps when he returns. "I don't see Mulan anywhere! All I spotted was a few crimson stains on the hardwood floor!"

Leanne guffaws. "Pocahontas, actually."

"She's off with Milton Mouse," Angie tells him.

Hellman points at them. "I'm not talking to you, nitwits."

Pennsatucky snickers. "In yo face, potatoes with eyes!"

Vee throws her a stern look. "Don't be childish and make me have second thoughts about you going up in the ranks, running the business alongside me, and taking over when I pass on." She clears her throat and returns her attention to the men. "Anyway, I got your voicemail, George, thank you. I'll fix up her wounds if it's not too late."

"You're welcome." Pornstache winks at her and she actually blushes. It makes Maritza shudder. He passes Nicky and grabs her butt cheek momentarily. She squirms uncomfortably and Shani wedges herself in between them, holding Nicky from behind.

"Jesus," Nicky whispers uneasily as she leans back against Shani.

"Hey, you let Julieta leave, why you so mad that Eri did?" Daddy wonders aloud as Vee exits the brothel.

"She was our only Asian," Hellman hisses through gritted teeth. "We got Lolita, we don't need Julieta. Now who's gonna fulfill my schoolgirl fetish?"

"We'll have Charlene Teng and Shruti Chambal for our latest exotic whores, but we'll need to give 'em new names," Humps says.

"Oh, right...Madison Murphy's hot friends."

Coates scratches the back of his neck, appearing nervous. "Uh...Megan here beat the shit out of Eri."

Leanne pouts and sticks her tongue out at him. "Tattletale!"

Hellman sets his fists on his hips and faces Leanne with disgust. "You what?"

She puts her hands up in surrender. "Hey, dude, don't blame me, Humps and Dixon let us brawl! Ain't my fault she's a weakling. I didn't kill her, if that's what you're concerned about."

"It was kinda hot," Felipe adds with a creepy smirk.

"I had the biggest boner of my life, man," Humps says. "Besides that time when I rammed into Lolita and then she peed in my bed, of course."

Maritza glances down shamefully at her pedicure. Nicky and Shani surround her and they each rest a supportive hand on her back. "He forced me to..."

"Sick, sadistic bastard," Shani mutters.

Nicky tucks a lock of hair behind Maritza's hair and chucks her chin. "He sure is."

"Yeah, if she dies out there, it's because of the cold, not from bleeding out," Lee puts in nonchalantly.

"She's gone!" Vee announces as she comes through the doors, panting hard. "Not physically there, to be exact, but I went all the way around this area, far enough that I couldn't even see this place any longer...I swear, the older I get..." She doesn't finish her sentence. "Just burn all her shit, she ain't comin' back for it."

"Don't sweat it, Vee, it ain't your fault," Daddy says.

"Yeah, this wouldn't have happened if Humps wasn't an irresponsible prick," Hellman mutters. "Man, you're lucky another ting tong can replace her, otherwise, you would've been outta here. Dead fuckin' meat, bro."

Humps scoffs. "You can't kick me to the curb, you're not my superior, Vee is."

"That's right," Vee snaps.

"Well, what say you, Madam?" Mendez wants to know.

"If she squeaks one word about this business and you all go down, I won't be here to hold your hands. Greg and I weren't even present when it happened. So, whichever one of you made sure she left in an ambulance or someone's car before we got back with the brat, you're done for...by the pigs, not me. You made your bed, lie in it!" She storms off after her rant.

At Gray's Papaya, Blanca is planning to buy some coffee because her teeth are chattering and she wants to warm up, but she first uses the bathroom. As she backs out of the restroom door, she pulls her cart along with her. She stops and adjusts her red scarf a few times. Then, she sneezes, and right away, she blows her nose and sets her tiny package of Kleenex down on top of a torn ottoman she found near an apartment complex. She wishes she could've taken the couch that was next to it, too, but it doesn't fit with all of her stuff. She hopes it's still there by the time summer comes around.

With her eyes on her things, she grabs the handle of her cart and pushes it as she strolls to the line for coffee. The wheels are slow and creaky and her arms are getting tired because it's so heavy. She can feel those around her staring, gawking, as if she's a spectacle, something they've never seen before. She lets out a ragged cough into her elbow and then pulls a wrinkled dollar bill out of her jeans pocket. A few coins clatter to the floor and she groans quietly while bending down and picking each one up. She puts what little money she has into the ancient pink wallet she'd discovered while dumpster diving. It's difficult to zipper, but it's the best she can do.

"Excuse me, ma'am, you left your...Blanca?"

The deep, strong, soft voice is music to her ears, but she can't bring herself to even glance at him after rising to her feet. She thinks she could be imagining that he's really behind her. Even if he is, she's seen her reflection and it's not a pretty sight. She looks awful. Her face is coated in vicious red scratches from tree branches because they were hanging low and she tripped over them. Her hair is a knotted mess. In the bathroom, she'd washed up as much as she could, but it's not enough. The dirt streaks are gone, though.

Blanca turns and first sees his gray sneakers, then takes notice of two pairs of kids' light-up shoes on either side of him. Her eyes travel upward and she staggers back, catching herself on her cart. She covers her mouth with both of her hands as she chokes on a sob.

"Mama!"

"Bebécita, mi Diablo, Laronne..." she murmurs. She smells, so she doesn't want to give the guys hugs. She just kneels to Raiza's level and embraces her youngest daughter. She kisses her cheek and temple. "Ay dios mío, Raiza, where...how..." She searches the area and rocks Raiza from side to side. "¿Dónde está Maritza? Ayúdame a levantarme, por favor." She knows he won't touch her without her permission. He can wash his hands if he feels the need to.

Where is Maritza? Help me up, please.

"No sé, pero tenemos que encontrarla." Diablo answers as he helps Blanca stand to her full height with Raiza's hands gripping her shoulders with all their might and the little girl's legs wrapped tight around her waist. She's holding her with both arms. He hands her the necklace that he'd given her on her birthday. She's worn it every day since and it's never fallen off, until now, apparently. "Here, you dropped this."

I don't know, but we have to find her.

She nods and strokes his beard as she balances her baby girl on her hip. "Gracias. Mira, you haven't shaven in days...but look who's talking." Blanca gestures to herself, forcing out a girlish giggle.

"Never had the energy to."

"Don't worry, it's sexy."

He gazes at her lovingly while putting the necklace back on her. "We've been apart for three weeks. I've missed you, mi amor."

"Much too long, lo siento..."

"Está bien, sé por qué tuviste que correr. ¿Sabes dónde trabaja Maritza?"

It's okay, I know why you had to run. Do you know where Maritza works?

Blanca shakes her head no sadly. "I've looked for her and Raizita since Officer Mendez took them last night at three in the morning...all I know is that she's a maid for Vee Parker. Not sure of the woman's number..."

"Okay...¿qué le pasó a tu cara?" He appears to be deeply concerned.

What happened to your face?

"Nada tan malo, simplemente tropecé con la rama del árbol que colgaba baja."

Nothing too bad, I just tripped over a low-hanging tree branch.

"Oh, pobrecita..." He reaches his hand towards her cheek hesitantly. "¿Está bien si yo-?"

Is it okay if I-?

Blanca nods eagerly. "Sí, puedes tocarme. De hecho, hazlo. Lo he estado anhelando..."

Yes, you can touch me. In fact, do it. I've been longing for it...

Raiza is squeezed in between them when they embrace.

"Mommy, I want my dolly!" she says sleepily. "Quiero mi muñeca," she repeats in Spanish.

"Okay..." Blanca sets Raiza down, pulls her Dora plushie out of the cart, and hands it to her.

"Gracias, Mama."

"De nada."

He cups her face with both his hands and they lean in for their first kiss in forever. It's long and relentless. They hold one another's bodies close, their arms wrapped around each other's waists, and she melts into his embrace as she moves one of her hands upward to thread her fingers through his mass of curly hair. Her center tingles with yearning. Diablo buries his head in Blanca's neck and presses his lips there a few times too. They can't make out right now, but Blanca feels like they will once they get a moment alone. She's relieved he doesn't care that she smells like garbage and also, that her teeth are brushed.

"Bums!"

Diablo glares at the offender as he and Blanca separate. "Hey, you wanna say that again to my fists? I got a triple six on one of 'em."

"Freak show," the idiot mutters, but then leaves them alone.

It's then that she realizes she's next up to get her coffee, so she orders some. Diablo goes after her and buys hot dogs for all four of them, and Maritza too, in case they find her. When she receives her drink and her arm gets too tired from holding Raiza, Diablo takes her. Laronne skips alongside them and Raiza's falling asleep on Diablo's shoulder.

In the parking lot, Laronne crawls into the backseat of his father's vehicle and Diablo throws a towel over his son's lap to catch the crumbs from his meal and any ketchup and mustard stains.

"You good?"

"Yeah, Daddy!"

He settles Raiza into a booster seat next to Laronne and gives her a towel, too. She's alert again. The children start chowing down their food right away.

Diablo, bless his soul, lifts Blanca's cart into his truck bed, which she's thankful for. Once he helps her into his vehicle, she almost cries at how good it feels to no longer be traveling on foot and wandering aimlessly until she finds someplace for her and her kids to sleep at night.

"¡Oh, muchas gracias, baby!"

"De nada, princesa." They exchange a grin.

"Lo siento for stinking up your car..."

"You aren't," he assures her. His eyes suck her to a warm place, somewhere she doesn't smell; somewhere he truly doesn't care if she does.

"We should get my daughter. The stench will go away eventually." Fingers quavering with the buckle, she looks away.

"Let me help you." Breath sharp on her shoulder, he buckles the seat belt. Why does he have to wear that cologne? It melts her, gets her weak in the knees. "Hey, like I said before, no hueles. I'll always remember the second time we reunited."

You don't smell

Blanca swoons at his statement and sighs, shaky as an earthquake. She offers him a tearful, thankful smile and he returns it. He goes around his truck, sits behind the wheel, and they both close their respective doors. Right away, he cranks up the heat and then steps on the gas pedal. While eating his hot dog with one hand, Diablo drives them around the dark, busy streets, scouring each sidewalk for Maritza.

"¿Puedo tomar tu mano?" he asks when he's finished.

Can I hold your hand?

She beams. "Sí..."

He slides his fingers through hers as he coasts along the highway. Blanca sips her coffee while looking worriedly out the window. She's not very hungry; she's just eaten. Diablo holding her hand and skimming his thumb over her knuckles calms her immensely, but she can't stop the panic from rising in her chest. Occasionally, they call out Maritza's name, but nobody answers to it, except to tell them to shut up.

The search for Maritza continues. Thankfully, Diablo has found Blanca and little Raiza. Flaca, half her clique, and one out of their two chaperones are having burritos in the car, as it's nearing nine-thirty and they're famished. They seem to be driving around for hours before Flaca frantically taps Elena and nudges Ceci awake as the stoplight turns from green to yellow. "Espera, Nita...¡mirad!" She's gasping, trying to catch her breath. "Creo...es esa...?"

I think...is that...?

For a city that never sleeps, this area is pretty quiet. There's barely anyone around, but at the opening of an abandoned warehouse, Flaca spots a lone figure hanging onto a pole and spinning around it. She's petite in stature and illuminated by the lights coming from both the street lamp and the moon, and she's also glowing red from the stoplight. She has on a worn-out black leather jacket over a long-sleeved, very thin, sheer red shirt with a few holes and rips in the material. It shows her matching push-up bra underneath. The garment appears to be three sizes too small for her. Her extremely short gray leopard print miniskirt, stained with something blue, hangs low on her waist and her belly is exposed. She's also wearing nude fishnet stockings that look as if they itch her legs, high heeled white boots, and large gold hoop earrings. Her face is covered with makeup and her hair teased to perfection.

The sight of her sends Flaca's heart into overdrive. She would normally comment that she looks like a hot tamale, but now is not the time. She's breathing heavily, gasping, speechless for a moment.

Daya yawns. "She's dressed like my mom!"

"In Miranda Hobbes' words, go get our girl," Elena murmurs as Ceci rubs her eyes open while groaning.

"It can't be her, she's not-"

"Pull over!" Flaca interrupts Cat. "Por favor, Nita, ay dios mío."

The woman finds a part of the curb to park at that's not red and stops the car. Flaca gets out straightaway, prepared to take Maritza with them when suddenly, a creepy blonde guy rounds the corner and grabs the poor girl, crushing her against the wall, making her scream in horror. He slaps her and she collapses to the ground, sobbing. He grabs her up and the protective fire within Flaca rages.

"You're mine, Lolita! You and your little friends belong to us, do you understand?"

"Flaca, don't!"

Her heart beating frantically against her ribcage, she does her best to pull him away from her best friend, not giving a shit if she breaks a nail or two. "Get the fuck off her, pendejo!" The fear in Maritza's eyes rips at her soul.

"Oh, you wanna be next, sugar?" he snarls and turns on her. She's trapped and doesn't know how she's still standing. He covers Maritza's mouth with his hand and glares at Flaca. "You say a word about this to anyone, and you're dead, spic."

"My lips are sealed, just let us be..." Flaca and Maritza grab each other's hands, interlocking their fingers, but he rips them apart. They both cry out in unison with their arms outstretched toward one another.

"Flaca!"

"Maritza!"

Car doors open and slam shut behind them. "Watch out, he's got hella dangerous weapons!" Maritza yelps as he whips a knife out of his back pocket and holds it to Flaca's throat. The edge barely grazes her chin, possibly nicking it, and he smirks evilly.

"Mari..." Flaca pants heavily, struggling against him and trying to break free of his grip around both of her thin wrists that he has over her head. "Go with them."

"I ain't leavin' you." Maritza shoves him, making him drop his knife, but he elbows her to the pavement and picks it back up as he blocks her from moving with his foot against her side. "Don't hurt her, please!" She's hyperventilating and Flaca wishes so badly that she can comfort her.

While he's retrieving his knife, he lets go of Flaca and she takes this chance to kick him so he just about topples over, but he ends up keeping his balance. He jumps to his full height, and angrily pushes Flaca into the wall. He's squashing her now with his entire body weight, rendering her immobile. She notices the others gradually closing in on him and exchanging worried looks. Even though everything is happening so fast, it feels like time is slowing down.

"Why's that strange cunt calling you Maritza, huh, you whore?" He only slashes Flaca once before a shock goes through her and she's hit with the sharpest pain she's ever felt. Now completely dizzy and wounded, she starts shaking and her vision goes black. White dots dance in front of her eyes. The last thing she hears is collective shrieking, and then the powerful boom of a gun going off.

She wakes up moments later to her favorite girl weeping in her arms. "I'm okay..."

Maritza sniffles, wipes her hand across her eyes, and kisses Flaca's forehead while using her beige scarf to apply pressure on the side of her face where she's injured. "Ay, you fuckin' tonta..."

"I had to save you, chiquita, lo siento..." She can hardly keep her eyes open as she gasps in pain. "Maritza..."

"Shhh..." Maritza puts a freezer pack on Flaca's eye.

"Your scarf's ruined now..."

"It's old and ugly anyway. I needed to stop the bleeding."

"You should be a nurse." Flaca gazes up at her in admiration.

"I want to be a vlogger, remember?"

Flaca tries to smile, but it hurts. "Sí..."

"Daya got him good," Ceci murmurs.

Flaca strokes Maritza's hair and peers at Daya curiously. "Wha...how?"

"Shot him in the dick with his own gun," Daya explains. "I just pulled it out of his duty belt while he was focusing on assaulting you. His blood spurted out from his crotch!"

"Damn, ¡muchas gracias!" Maritza exclaims.

"¡Sí, muy bien!" Flaca agrees. Her eyes widen when she sees him lying flat on the concrete in a pool of crimson. "Wow..."

Daya smirks proudly.

"Okay, girls, we should take her to the hospital right now. Like I told Daya, when they ask about what happened to you, Flaca, we'll just inform the doctors and nurses that you were using a kitchen knife to get something off a top shelf by sliding it close to the edge and accidentally dropping the knife, with it cutting you on the way down. The moment your cheek was sliced, you fainted. The stool you were standing on, slipped right out from under you, and you banged your face into the counter, giving yourself a black eye. Your wrists are bruised from landing so hard on the floor. Nothing about this son of a bitch getting a bullet put through his crotch," Nita says.

They nod in understanding.

"Can you stand, querida?" Maritza asks softly, caressing Flaca's unscathed cheek and creating butterflies in her belly. Her jacket is zipped up.

"Sí..." She stumbles a bit as she gets up, but Maritza quickly loops her arm through Flaca's, and Elena is on her other side. The other girls and Nita gather around them as they lead Flaca to the car. Then, they buckle their seatbelts, and Nita steps on the gas. They leave the dead asshole in the dust.

"You smell like cheap tobacco," Flaca murmurs as she sits up and Maritza joins her on her hospital bed while they wait for a doctor to come in. Their eye makeup is smeared from crying and Maritza's lipstick has faded. Their friends and Nita are going to stay in the lobby until Flaca's mother responds to the voicemail she'd left. Theresa is probably sleeping; it's practically midnight.

"Ay, cállate. So I tried pot, what's the big deal? You smoke too, bitch."

Flaca rolls her eyes but then winces and touches her reddened one gently. "Ow! Dios, that stings." She pulls Maritza in close and puts her bag of ice on it to reduce swelling. The bruises on her wrists are red; she's lucky he didn't leave a handprint mark around them, otherwise she'd be caught in a lie. There's a temporary gauze bandage taped to her face to contain any extra bleeding. She's taken Advil for the immense pain. "Only after I read a novella, loca. Are you physically damaged anywhere?"

"No te preocupes, I'm good. I should've tried harder to fight him off you, like knock the leg he was restraining me with, out from under him, but I was frozen with terror and a panic attack overtook me. Suddenly, it was like Mami being abused all over again."

"Ohhh," Flaca murmurs sympathetically. "I gotcha."

Maritza pouts as she leans her head on Flaca's shoulder and kisses her knuckles softly. "Lo siento. I'm just relieved it ain't worse. You just need stitches for your gash, it's gonna leave a nasty-ass battle scar, but you can always cover it with lotsa blush."

Don't worry

"Nah, I won't do that all the time, that mark's got an amazing story behind it."

"I'm still sorry."

"You don't gotta apologize, chiquita, you're totally worth defending, and even though I got injured being your hero, I'd do it all over again."

Maritza beams. "Gracias. That really means a lot to me."

"De nada. So..." She peers at Maritza curiously. "Why'd that gross loser call you Lolita?"

"'Cause he was a sexist pedo pig." She's not lying, but she's omitting an even bigger truth.

"Hm." Flaca purses her lips. Maritza can't tell whether or not the taller girl believes her. "Yeah, that makes a lotta sense. Hey, I meant to ask you...were you at the Indigo Club like, last week?"

"I was. ¿Por qué?"

"Oh...I knew it!" Flaca giggles lightly. "I was tellin' the girls that I saw you there, pero nadie me creyó. Not even Elena, and she was walkin' with me after we caught Ian mackin' on another chick."

but nobody believed me.

Maritza scoffs. "Lame! Lo siento he cheated on ya, though. Jerk! You didn't deserve that." She squeezes Flaca's hand in support, secretly glad the slightly younger girl is back on the market.

Flaca shrugs. "I ain't too torn up about it. I'mma throw my drink in his face the next time I see him, Samantha Jones style."

Maritza cracks up and Flaca joins in, pressing her lips together. "You go, bestie!"

"Aaaahhh..." Flaca sighs, long and loud. "Why'd they have you wearing a slutty maid uniform?"

"Ugh, I don't know."

"Lorna would be proud of you. Not all of us can look this nice while wandering the streets for days on end."

"Gracias..." Maritza pats Flaca's thigh. "Yo, we shower and dress up for work, but for one night, I wanted to feel pretty. Is that okay with you?"

"It's fine, I just..."

"What?" Maritza demands. "Spit it out, I know what I resemble."

"Huh?" Flaca stares at her, perplexed. "I was concerned that you were cold in those fishnet stockings and the see-through camisa. We're in the dead of winter. What'd you think I was gonna say?"

"I'm okay, it's nothin'." Relief courses through her. Flaca doesn't seem to have made the connection that she sells her body for quick cash, after all, but even if she's figured it out already, she's keeping her judgmental thoughts to herself. "Really. I was walkin' around a lot, lookin' for Mami or Raiza and Diablo...sweatin' and shit."

Flaca grins. "Exercising, then?"

"I guess you could say that. I didn't even need the blanket draped around me til we were halfway here...but you're keeping me plenty warm and cozy enough."

"Oh, I'm glad! Mari...my mom just texted me, she said Diablo y tu hermanita ran into your ma at some hot dog place! Diablo just called her with that info, they're on their way here, and she is, too!"

Maritza squeals. "Oh, yay! Everything's fallin' into place!" She can't wait to see her mom and sister again. She gazes warmly into Flaca's eyes and bravery floods her entire being. "You tryin' to rescue me...it made me feel...I'm much better at show than tell," she whispers, getting on her knees and putting one hand on Flaca's shoulder and the other on her non-injured cheek, rubbing her thumb up and down it. Eyes closed now, Flaca doesn't push her away as her puckered mouth lightly touches the taller girl's forehead, temple, cheek, and then finally, Flaca understands what Maritza is going on about, and they lock lips.

Their smooch is soft and uncertain, followed by a pause. Flaca gives her a dazed smile and blinks innocently. She senses her cheeks heating up and something flutters inside of her.

"My brain is a bit loopy, did you really just…"

"Sí. I like how you taste," Maritza confesses. "The cherry gloss mixed with the purple lipstick you're wearing, damn!"

They look each other in the eyes and Flaca pulls her back into a more passionate kiss.

Thank you for reading and reviewing, Juliette45!