To Love at all is to Love Entirely

by alex the bordercollie

"Cada parte de mí está equivocada. My mind, my heart, even my gift, it's all wrong." Bruno spat bitterly as he hugged his knees. Tears were streaming down his face now. "I know it feels like the world has no place for you. Por favor, Te lo ruego, don't ever give up looking for one. If you can't find a place then makeone, pero nunca te rindas."

22. Coven

︵‿୨ - March 30 1951 - ୧‿︵

Do it again she says. You missed a spot she says. The tile's still dirty she says. It wasn't even tile, it was cobblestone. Of course, it was going to be dirty, it's made of dirt. They were outside, dirt was unavoidable. Jacqueline was left grumbling under her breath as she scrubbed the bar yet again. Her hands growing raw and cracked from the lye they'd spent all day soaking in. Gabriela came to hover over Jacqueline's shoulder. Watching her in silence for several awkward seconds. Her eyes burning holes into Jacqueline's back.

"Can Te puedo ayudar?" Jacqueline sassed as her scrubbing hand slowly came to a stop. Still bent over the counter to reach the far end. She lingered in that position as she waited for Gabriela to give her some new pointless task to do.

Gabriela pouted and glared down at the counter. Resting her hip against the bar. Her arms crossed over her chest. She pointed to the countertop with her thin mauve lips. "You missed a spot." She critiqued.

Jacqueline sighed and righted herself. Limply turning and resting her elbow on the counter to see what Gabriela was on about. Jacqueline looked down waiting to spot something that might have been the source of Gabriela's complaint. Nothing. The counter was so clean Jacqueline could see her reflection in the polished wood.

"Where?" Jacqueline finally asked. Exasperated by Gabriela's game.

"Right there pendeja." Gabriela tapped the counter with her finger next to a thin brown line.

Jaqueline narrowed her eyes and leaned in to see what Gabriela was pointing at. "That's a paint scratch." She snapped. Tossing her rag down on the counter. Ever since the affair with Duilio came out Gabriela had made a habit of making up redundant and arbitrary work for Jacqueline whenever they had a shift together. She had already cleaned every inch of the bar and the store room. Reorganizing the alcohol repeatedly and recounting. She'd moved the television three times today.

"Clean it again." Gabriela insisted.

"You can't clean scratched paint." Jacqueline stated the obvious. "Unless you want me to go get a whole can of pain for one-" Jacqueline cut herself off and made a move to walk around Gabriela. Jacqueline figured the woman probably would delight in giving her the run around over a single paint scratch. Not to mention the errand would give her a convenient excuse to escape her bitching for a while. Thankfully she knew a family in town who made paint and she could easily kill time chatting the ear off the gossip-mongering abuelita of the house with her stories.

Just as Jacqueline was about to leave her head was jerked back by her ponytail.

"Where do you think you're going?" Gabriela threatened.

"To get paint, perra!" Jacqueline snapped back. Reaching for her hair. Coiling around trying to yank her ponytail free from Gabriela's grip. Jacqueline was a few seconds away from punching Gabriela in the teeth before a sharp whistle knocked the wind out of both of them.

"Oooooh pelea de gatas!" Marcello cheered.

"Ay señoritas gonna give us drinks and a show?" Pablo laughed.

Gabriela dropped Jacqueline. Seemingly just as disgusted and annoyed with the men as Jacqueline was. Groaning in response to their catcalling. The boys only laughed from across the bar at their shared frustration.

"Aw, over so soon?" The drunkards whined collectively.

"Keep it in your pants or I'll rip it off." Jacqueline threatened. Massaging her tender scalp and fixing the scarf she kept tied around her ponytail.

"Ay no, por favor amiga don't threaten me with a good time." Marcello teased.

"Aw, look at her cheeks. She gets so red when she's angry." Pablo cooed. Leaning over the bar to point playfully at Jacqueline's face. "I love the way her nose scrunches up, es tan preciosa."

Jacqueline felt a sick feeling bubble up in her throat as the two men condescended to her. She was about to try and shake it off with a joke when Gabriela chimed in first.

"Shut your mouths or I'll have Dante shut them for you." Gabriela threatened.

Her husband. That's what it took to get respect. The two regulars backed off and held up their hands in surrender.

"Ay, amiga, es sólo una broma." Marcello argued.

"Chitón!" Gabriela shushed. Snapping her fingers at them.

That shut them up. Jacqueline could wreak havoc on those men if she wanted and she full well knew it. That didn't matter. It didn't matter that Dante was barely a fighter anyway. Jacqueline had met the man. Worked alongside him in the distillery before. He was a quiet man, though more by virtue of having very few thoughts rattling around in his empty head than any brooding stoicism. Hardly the person to start a fight. All that mattered was that he was a man who owned this woman, and those men were disrespecting another man's property by insulting Gabriela.

Duilio's words burned in the back of Jacqueline's mind. She could feel his hot breath on her neck. Feel the cold stone against her back. Public property. That's what she was. What every man saw when they looked at her. She didn't have a husband to belong to and she didn't want one. She was free. No matter what people saw when they looked at her, freedom was worth it.

Jacqueline rolled her eyes and went to go refill her bucket with fresh water and soap. Too annoyed by the interjection to keep arguing with Gabriela. She walked around to the back of the building and dumped the bucket out in the grass. The gate to the courtyard the bar shared with the neighboring building creaked as it swung open. The large wooden bucket hitting the stone slab in front of the water pump with a clatter as Jacqueline dropped it down. She pulled her flask from her blouse and took a swig. Her liquor was warm at this point but far from her to care. It didn't make a difference how it tasted, it was all going to the same place. The rim of her flask was stained red from one too many visits to painted lips.

"Jacqueline!" Gabriela called from out front.

"Me vengo!" Jacqueline called back with a groan. She tucked her flask back into her blouse and turned her attention to the well. Most of the houses had running water but these rickety old pumps were from when the town was still in its early days. It was easier to fill her bucket back here than in the sink in the store room. Easier, and she had an excuse to be away from Gabriela for a minute or two. Once the bucket was full Jacqueline came back around to the front to resume her pointless task. "Estoy en ello, alteza." Jacqueline snarked as she dropped the heavy bucket down on the counter. A bit of water splashed Marcello in the process.

"Ay, watch what you're doing." Marcello griped.

"Watch where you're sitting." Jacqueline sneered back at him.

Gabriela was watching Jacqueline like a hawk. Arms crossed. She looked like she was considering resuming their spat when a low voice called out to her.

"Eh Gabi!"

Gabriela looked up from Jacqueline. Shifting her attention to something that wasn't a complete waste of her time and energy. "Sí papá?" She called back.

"How are we on brandy and red wine?" Rocco asked as he approached. Gabriela's father was a short, wide, man. Built a bit like Felix though much fatter, older, and with far less hair. The simple sun pattern tattoo on his bald head was the only one Jacqueline ever saw in this town.

"I'll go check." Gabriela replied obediently as she returned to the store room.

Jacqueline started another lackluster round of scrubbing the perfectly clean countertop and noticed the Madrigal girls standing behind Rocco. Isabela whispered something into Dolore's ear that made her squeak and shove her prima.

"Stop!" Dolores whined playfully.

"Anything else you want mija?" Rocco asked. "It's not every day we have a Madrigal wedding." He chuckled. A deep warm belly laugh that reminded Jacqueline of her abuelo. The nice one, not the angry jackass. Though she was always acutely aware Abuelo Gabriel kept more than a few skeletons in his closet. She wondered if Rocco did too. If his tattoo was any sort of indication. Nevertheless, Rocco was a friendly man at heart despite his gruff exterior. Everyone in this town was friendly. A bit too friendly. Bruno still seemed intimidated by him. Jacqueline never minded him. Even after the affair, Rocco didn't seem to take what Jacqueline did very seriously. Much to his daughter's chagrin. Jacqueline got the feeling the half-senile old man was pretty checked out on the gossip and drama of the younger generations.

"Just sangria is plenty." Dolores waved him off.

"A wedding huh? Already?" Jacqueline teased. Leaning over the counter and resting her chin in her hand. "Someone moves fast."

"It's just an engagement party." Dolores dismissed. "Pero si, the waiting's been mostly a formality." She chirped. "I wanted to make sure we courted properly and didn't skip any steps. Wouldn't want to jinx it." The girl spoke with baffling confidence. As if love and commitment were simple math equations to be solved with proper procedure. Jacquelin prayed to god Dolores was lucky, for her sake. She'd seen too many good women ruined by bad men. Dolores had a subtle edge to her that was easily hidden by her wide doe-eyes. Jacquelin could tell she was smart about a great many things, but in this one respect, Dolores was too naive for her own good. Mariano better treat her right .

"That's where you messed up mija. No better way to jinx a relationship than to get married." Jacqueline snarked. A bit more fatigue sinking into her words than she'd intended to let slip.

Rocco gave Jaqueline a hearty slap on the back like he would any boy. "No better way to jinx a marriage than to be friends with you." He laughed.

Jacqueline stuck her tongue out at the old man. Gabriela growled. Jacquelin could just see the woman's grit teeth in her periphery. Clearly offended by her father's insensitive joke. "She's supposed to be cleaning.

"I am!" Jacqueline waved her wet rag around. Gesturing Rocco's attention to all the work she had done.

Rocco blinked a few times. Unconsciously following Jacqueline's hand about the immaculately clean stall. "This place is spotless. Don't be a bully Gabi." He scolded. "Let the poor woman have a break."

Gabriela glared at her father as she plopped down the crates of liquor and wine with a jiggling thud.

Her father walked around the counter and gestured her to the back room. "Vamos, hablamos." He instructed.

Jacqueline watched them leave. The air was thick where Gabriela had been standing.

"Vaya, that was awkward." Isabela stated bluntly. She reached out to grab the crate off the top of the stack and Dolores watched it fall a foot or two once the dead weight landed in Isabela's arms.

"Are you sure you don't need Luisa's help?" Dolores asked.

"No!" Isabela snapped as she struggled to lift the crate above her waist. "No, I mean, no, I've got it." She corrected through unflattering strained grunts. With a flick of her finger vines sprouted from the ground to support the crate from beneath her. She sighed as a bit of the weight was relieved and set about constructing some sort of sling that would help her carry the load.

"Eh chicas, I can help you carry all that home if you don't wanna bother tu hermanita about it." Jacqueline offered. Tossing her rag back into the bucket of water and lye.

"Aren't you supposed to be working?" Dolores replied cooly.

Jacqueline waved her off. "I've been working all afternoon." She dismissed. "Let's get these to that casa embrujada of yours." She instructed as she scooped up the second crate with ease.

"I'm telling Gabi." Marcello warned as he took another swig from his bottle.

"Go on and tell her." Jacqueline replied confidently. "See if I care." She sauntered around the counter and coaxed the girls to follow her. "Vamos, before Gabriela comes back."

︵‿୨ -❇- ୧‿︵

The walk to Casita was pleasant enough. A nice break from being nagged all afternoon. Isabela and Dolores were such adorable girls. The way they gossiped and laughed and teased each other reminded Jacqueline of her own primas.

Jacqueline never had any sisters. Her mother nearly died giving birth to her and the doctors said she could never bear another child. Her parents never told her directly, but Jacqueline always suspected Padre was disappointed Madre couldn't give him another boy. While Wilfredo was often more fond of cooking and dolls than Jacqueline ever was as a child, more fond of such things than Padre ever thought proper, to call him a sister would be a joke. She still remembered Wilfredo painstakingly cleaning paint from one of her little china doll's faces and making them a fresh head of ginger hair from alpaca yarn. Scolding Jacqueline for trying to make a soldier out of the poor thing. Jacqueline used to drag him out on her little adventures. When Wilfredo left for boarding school Jacqueline was all alone.

She never attended any formal schooling. Not even primary school where she would watch her brother leave in the morning and wait for him to return in the evening. Her father believed there was nothing a woman needed to know that a good mother couldn't teach, and teach Madre tried. Wilfredo would leave for class and Jacqueline would spend the day with her mother learning how to walk, how to sit, how to play piano. Read and write sure, basic math, but nothing more than the basics. She didn't need that. Lessons on how never to flash her skirt or offend a man were far more important. She was training to be a good wife. That was the best she could ever hope to be. The ultimate goal of any woman.

Visits from her primas were a breath of fresh air. The other girls were raised in similar ways. Those on her mother's side of the family were usually a bit freer. Padre's side of the family was much stricter. Nevertheless, she formed a guild of her own makeshift sisters who would make believe they were heroes and pirates and kings whenever the grown-ups weren't around. As they grew older the games gradually faded away. Replaced with gossip and more domestic mischief, though Jacqueline still had a fun time with her primas.

Wilfredo went to boarding school for his teen years and was only seen on holidays and birthdays. Not that birthdays were ever very fun. Birthdays were time to show off to the rest of the family and potential suitors, just how much they had learned that year. Jacqueline and Wilfredo always felt like prized cattle on their birthdays.

Having her primas in her life helped keep Jacqueline sane. Gave her something to enjoy. Though eventually, she lost them one by one as well. It started with crushes, then dates. Next, she was meeting novios, then eventually, watching them walk down the aisle. One by one. Her mother kept trying to pair her off with potential suitors though Jacqueline would scare each of them off in time. It was rarely the boy's fault. There were some she even liked a fair bit, but... She would think about that aisle, picture herself at the altar, and she couldn't imagine a life after that. It was always the point where she lost her hermanas. Always too busy with their new husbands, busy making and rearing their children. When they did make time for her it was never the same. All the joy and innocence of girlhood had been stripped away. Replaced with the dry obligations of womanhood.

Even looking into the eyes of a boy she loved. Of a boy she touched and kissed in the back garden late at night when her parents were asleep… Even loving his body, his face, the smell of him, the shimmer in his eyes… She couldn't see a life with him that didn't cost her what she was. Love hardly seemed worth it, if she couldn't be a person. It took a lot to scare that one off. He probably still hated her to this day for what she did. Jacqueline felt a pain in her chest when she thought about that boy. A pain that drove her to drink. She didn't regret many things. Even very spiteful things she knew, in hindsight, she probably shouldn't have done. She didn't regret giving him up. She did regret hurting him.

"Ay, You throwing your prima a good hen party?" Jacqueline asked. Nudging Isabela in the rib with her elbow.

Isabela stumbled. Still struggling with her crate as they made their way uphill towards Castia. Jacqueline suspected Isabela could have used her gift to do all the work for her but she seemed tired. Jacqueline had seen this girl pull off some impressive tricks before but the stress of that corn plague seemed to be wearing on the poor kid. "Fiesta de gallinas?" Isabela asked skeptically. Furrowing her brow at Jacqueline as she adjusted her grip on the crate of wine.

"Oh, cierto. Ustedes pobrecitas have been living under a rock the last half-century." Jacqueline laughed. She shuffled the crate under one arm and waved a hand as she explained. "It's an American thing." Or maybe an English thing. Jacqueline couldn't remember exactly when she first heard about hen parties. Only that the thought of a party to celebrate a woman's last night of freedom struck a chord with her. It resonated so strongly she made it a tradition among her primas. "A get-together with las chicas to celebrate your last night as an independent woman."

"Sounds like fun." Dolores replied innocently. If some subtle hesitancy in her tone. She was onto Jacqueline's games. Suspicious of her motives.

If only the poor girl knew. If only she knew the raucous nights Jacqueline spent drinking and scaling the world with her primas. Tearing up the streets of Bogotá and making an absolute menace of themselves. Savoring her last intimate moments with her loved ones before mediocre men ripped them from Jacqueline's life. She never understood how her primas could become so absorbed in their husbands. Why it was always so hard to find friendship in them after. She wondered if perhaps men possessed some manner of mind control. Her primas all seemed happy, but marriage changed them. These parties were a way for Jacqueline to show her love one last time before she lost the girls they used to be.

"I don't know. Don't weddings already have enough parties as is?" Isabela grumbled. "The proposal, the engagement party, the bachelor party, the wedding itself, the after party-"

So Isabela didn't like parties. Interesting. Not that Jacqueline was terribly surprised to learn that. Wilfredo rather hated parties despite attending every one he was invited to. A plastic smile plastered on his face. He was their parent's golden boy. Every party was an opportunity to show off and put their family's best foot forward. He would spend such affairs always on his feet and entertaining. It was a bit easier for Jacqueline who was outgoing by nature, but she knew her brother didn't actually care for loud noises and would always prefer a quiet book to a crowded room.

Isabela seemed sociable enough, though Jacqueline suspected it was similar for her. That she was expected to be the face of the family at parties. To be effortlessly beautiful and charming. Sometime before Jacqueline came here something happened to change in the Madrigal family. From what Jacqueline understood, Isabela had only recently changed jobs and much of the town was still gossiping about the shift in her behavior. It seemed a bit of a scandal that the girl was finally starting to have fun in her own skin. Jacqueline remembered what that felt like. The rumors from her family's peers whenever she broke from the mold that was made for her.

"Bah!" Jacqueline interrupted. "Nothing like any of that boring cosa." She reassured playfully. Leaning in to meet Isabela's eyes when she tried to look away. "You trust me chica? I promise it'll be a blast." She wrapped her free arm around Dolores' shoulder and pulled her in close. "Solo tú, la chica del momento, y las amigas." She cheered. "No men in sight. No rules."

"And then what?" Dolores laughed skeptically.

"Whatever you want mija." Jacqueline replied confidently. Patting her shoulder. "It's your special night."

Isabela rolled her eyes. "Why in the world should we trust you? Everyone knows you're a snake."

Jacqueline pulled away from Dolores and shifted the weight of her crate across both arms again. "That cuts deep niña. You've wounded me, con sinceridad." She replied flatly. A bit of light-hearted sarcasm. Jacqueline knew full well how other people saw her. "Qué lástima." Jacqueline sighed as she walked up ahead. Swinging her feet and turning her nose up. "I was going to invite you to bring las chicas around tonight and show you all a fun time, but I guess I'm just a snake."

"Oh don't try that on us." Isabela scolded. "It's not going to work."

Jacqueline shrugged. "Try what? I wasn't trying anything." She replied sweetly.

Dolores giggled and Jacqueline could practically hear the look Isabela gave her.

"I suppose we could go out for some drinks tonight." Dolores mused.

"En serio?" Isabela replied, utterly bewildered. "You can get drunk tomorrow Lolo. We've got work to do in the morning. Setting up decorations and helping Mamá with the food."

"Sí, but you hate parties." Dolores countered.

Called it.

"All the loud music hurts my ears anyway. Maybe it would be nice to have our own kind of fun for a change." Dolores reasoned.

Jacqueline turned to look back at the girls and couldn't help the giddy little grin on her face. "And…?"

Isabela sighed. "Okey. No tricks?" She challenged.

"No tricks. Just good clean fun." Jacqueline replied confidently.

︵‿୨ -❇- ୧‿︵

The wait was dull and frustrating. Jacqueline got a polite thank you from Alma when they arrived at the house with the booze though the old lady was still giving Jacqueline side-eye whenever they ran into each other. Gabriela didn't forget to give Jacqueline grief when she got back for leaving her post, though apparently, Rocco had ok'd her running the errand when Marcello taddled on her. Not like it mattered. Once Rocco was gone Gabriela was back to the same old shit. Jacqueline just waited out the clock till the end of her shift. After the regulars had tapped out for the night Gabriella lost her bullying privileges for the day. Jacqueline passed the hours by reminiscing over old misadventures. Over dragging one of her unconscious primas to Nonna's house drunk out of their skulls, missing a shoe, and soaking wet. Nonna always kept them out of trouble when they came to her. She was safe.

Jacqueline was slightly tipsy when the girls finally arrived. She'd usually be drunker by this point but she'd decided to try and cut back a bit today to save her best for the girls. She perked up as soon as she spotted a gaggle of them twittering quietly in the dark like a flock of shy birds. Dolores and Isabela had brought Mirabela, Luisa, and a few friends. That one cute girl who dressed like a boy was shaking her head exasperated.

"Ay! Took you long enough!" Jacqueline called out playfully as she pulled herself up on the bar and swung her legs over the front to face them. The night air was cool and the town square lit with starlight and the yellow glow of the lantern over Jacqueline's head. The one Bruno liked to stare at like a moth when he was drunk.

"Qué tal, perra!" A familiar voice called back. "You better not be drunk already!" Mirabel groaned and reached out as a freckled curly-haired girl bolted out ahead of the group.

"Not so loud Laura." Mirabel scolded.

Laura ignored her and ran up to the bar to greet Jacqueline. "Who me? Never!" Jacqueline replied in mocking shock and indignation. She hopped off the bar in time for Laura to reach out and slap her hand. They grabbed each other's forearm and Jacqueline pulled the girl in to kiss her cheek.

"How's mi señorita caos doing?" Jacqueline asked playfully.

"Better than you." Laura snarked back with a cheeky smile. Leaning back on her heels and tucking her hands into the pockets of the vest she wore over her loose baby blue drop dress. "You've got the whole town talking about you. Elías has been fueming." She reported. "Say's he'll beat you off with the stick the next time you come around."

Jacqueline laughed. Propping her hands up on her hips. "As if he could scare me." She ruffled Laura's brown curls. "Chico's just trying to be un buen hermano mayor." She reassured. "No hard feelings between us right?"

Laura shook her head enthusiastically. "Nos diablas gotta stay together." She chirped.

"You're not una diabla." Mirabel whined. "You need to stop putting yourself down like that."

"Quien dijo que yo era menospreciado?" Laura replied. She was one of Elonzo's girls. Real feisty little critter. Jacqueline saw a lot of herself in Laura from when she was young. While Jacqueline usually skulked around to sneak time with Elonzo she was no stranger to killing a few hours playing games with his daughters. Yenny was a perfect little sweet bun who could do nothing wrong. Luna was a bit witchy and strange. Laura was a rebel at heart, much to her mother's dismay.

"I don't know why you invited her." Isabela groaned. Crossing her arms and giving her baby sister the stink eye.

"Oh, she didn't invite me." Laura corrected before Mirabel could answer. "I overheard her talking to Luisa about your plans tonight and knew I had to drop in. The Madrigal girls having a secret party in the middle of the night? Esta mierda es gonna be hilarious." She teased. "Can't wait to see what totally wild schemes you come up with."

"Perdón, we can't all be feral animals." Isabela snapped back.

"Isa por favor…" Mirabel whined. It was clear her sister wasn't a fan of the company Mirabel opted to keep. From what Jacqueline understood Mirabel did tend to gravitate towards the misfits.

"Es tu amiga." Isabela scolded. "You should have told her not to come."

Jacqueline took a few paces forward and put herself between the girls. "Ay señoritas, no fighting. Todas somos hermanas esta noche." She soothed. "We're all here to have fun."

"I don't know." Luisa muttered. Fidgeting with her hands. "It's late and we need to help with the decorating in the morning. What if Aubela finds out we snuck out?" She fretted. "Esspecially with uh-" Lusia looked over at Jacqueline before looking down at her feet again and deciding not to finish the sentence.

Jacqueline wasn't offended. Merely tossed her ponytail over her shoulder and sauntered around the bar to grab drinks for the party. "Su tío and I hang out all the time and she doesn't seem to mind."

The crowd of young women all seemed to shuffle awkwardly apart from a few. Laura, who'd already hopped up on one of the barstools, the cross-dresser, and a stone-faced girl with long sleeves and a bun so tight that Jacqueline could swear must be cutting off blood flow to her brain.

"Bruno's reputation is already one of the worst in town." The girl with the tight bun reasoned. "There's not much he could do to make it any worse. Besides, I'm pretty sure su madre is just happy to see him leaving the house. Isabela and Dolores's reputations actually matter to her." She spoke with a blunt and confident monotone. A woman who knew what she knew and bore very little concern for beating around the bush.

"Un momento?!" Isabela bocked. The girl must have been one of Dolores' friends, not Isabela's. Her dry disposition and blunt observations seemed much more like something Dolores would appreciate. Jacqueline started pouring drinks while they bickered.

Laura laughed out loud and slapped the bar. "Oh don't act like you don't know. Why do you think she lets Mirabel hang out with me?" She teased.

"Oye!" Mirabela protested indignantly.

"You don't have to be so cynical Paloma." One of the other girls scolded. Her chestnut brown hair curled into soft little rolls where it landed on her shoulders. She clung to Isabela. Pulling her down slightly by her arm. "Señora Madrigal promised things would be different now."

Isabela sighed and patted her friend on her head. "Not that different." She corrected.

Luisa fidgetted again. "I don't think we should be out here." She reiterated.

"Cálmate!" A bright-faced girl with curly hair and a paint-stained dress insisted. "We came out here to have fun tonight. You're always too tense."

"Así sea hermana." Laura cheered as she scooped up one of Jacqueline's mixed drinks and nearly downed it in one go before Mirabel hurried over to take it from her.

"You shouldn't be drinking." Mirabel argued as she covered the top of Laura's cup with her hand.

Laura raised an eyebrow at her. "I've been drinking since I was twelve. Tu madre puede ser una mojigata pero mi madre no da mierda." She stated bluntly before pulling her drink back and taking another long swig.

"I was swiping from mi madres liquor cabinet when I was ten." Jacqueline laughed as she took a sip from her own drink. Propping herself back up on the bar.

Mirabel wrung her hands a moment and looked anxiously at the fruity drinks Jacqueline made for them.

"Tranquila." Jacqueline soothed as she offered Mirabel a drink. "I made you all something tasty."

"Just be careful not to overdo it." The girl in khaki shorts warned. Having mostly stuck to the back of the crowd until now. Jacqueline suspected she was new to the friend group. "We don't want to get too loud and wake up the neighbors."

The messy girl groaned. "We're supposed to be having fun." She argued as she snatched up one of the drinks from the bar. "It's a party."

"We can have fun without being pendejas." The tomboy reasoned.

"Aren't you a blast?" Jacqueline teased and offered her a drink. "She held up a hand. No, gracias. You have fun." The girl replied politely.

Dolores gingerly grabbed one of the drinks and sniffed it briefly before taking a sip. "That's really good." She praised softly.

"No dingas." Jacqueline teased. "You think I wouldn't know how to make a good cocktail?" She smirked. Lounging back on the bar against the wall and sipping on refajo. She used up the last of the colombiana soda she had in her stash but she could always get more when they went into the city at the end of the month. Soda didn't seem common in town and it was worth it to treat the girls with something sweet and bubbly.

"So is this it?" Isabela asked skeptically. Picking up her drink and swirling around the ice and fruit slices in her cup. "We just sit around and drink?"

Jacqueline shook her head. "Claro que no. This is just to get us started. It's up to Dolores what we do." She clarified. Jacqueline leaned forward over her knees and gestured to Dolores with her glass. "Go ahead, what's something you've always wanted to do but never could?" She asked.

"Confess to Mariano." Dolores replied innocently. Clearly joking but she was good at the naive doe eyes when she wanted to be.

Isabela laughed and took a drink as the other girls flocked to the bar. Sitting or standing and grabbing their drinks. Mirabel and Luisa were hesitant but eventually, they followed suit when their big sister grabbed a drink to try.

"Something that doesn't have anything to do with a boy." Jacqueline snarked dryly. Significantly less entertained than the rest of the group. "There's got to be some rule you've always wanted to break." She reasoned.

"No, not really." Dolores replied. Nursing her drink and suspiciously avoiding eye contact though she kept up a decent poker face otherwise.

"We could go explore outside the valley!" The messy girl suggested excitedly.

"And do what Renata?" Paloma replied dryly. "Ruin our skirts in the mud."

The cross-dresser shrugged. "Sure is nice owning pants." She teased. "Honestly I don't get why more women don't."

Isabela playfully shoved her friend's face away. "Some of us have class Luz!" She teased.

Luz chuckled as Isabela smooshed her cheek. She got the upper hand when she removed Isabela's hand from her face. Luz held Isabela's hand to her chest and grinned coyly down at her. "Are you saying you wouldn't like wearing the pants in tu familia?" She asked.

Isabela turned a deep crimson and pulled her hand away. Chugging a long drink to distract from the red on her face. Oh, so that's who that girl is. Jacqueline knew now why Luz seemed out of place in the friend circle. She was Isabela's new friend . Jacqueline smiled to herself but didn't draw any attention to the exchange.

"Ooh, we could fix Señor Cabrera's fence while he's sleeping." The sweet one suggested.

"I've already offered seven times." Luisa whined after finally taking a drink. "He says he can do it himself. He won't let anyone else touch it."

"So! That's the point. Who cares? Everyone knows how bad he is at this stuff. His toilet still doesn't work cause he won't let anyone else fix it for him." Isabela's friend insisted.

"Marisol has a point." Isabela replied. "That man chews through half Mamá's food every week nearly chopping off a finger or getting nails stuck in his feet."

Mirabel sighed sympathetically in agreement.

"Fixing a fence sounds like a real joy." Jacqueline snarked. "But, I don't know. I feel like we could aim a little higher."

Luz raised a hand. "Ídem. It's gonna just be me and Luisa doing most of the work anyway. I didn't come out here just so I could do manual labor all night."

Marisol frown into her drink. Pouting her lip with big watery puppy eyes. Disappointed to see her idea rejected.

"I suppose there is one thing…" Dolores mused.

"Sí finally!" Jacqueline shot up and leaned in close to listen. "What have you got for us chica?"

︵‿୨ -❇- ୧‿︵

Dogs. The big scandalous activity it took a solid two classes of hemming and hawing to pull out of Dolores, was domestic dog drama. Jacqueline stood there at the back of the group carrying a bag of backup booze to pass around. A few other necessities as well for a night like this. She had some water bottles, some plain snacks from home, some arepas she swiped from Julieta's cart, just in case. Laura was still drinking. Having grabbed a bottle of beer off of Jacqueline after finishing her refajo. Apparently, the baby daddy of Elías's prized bitch was a street mut. Elías hated that dog for deflowering his precious princess and couldn't let him anywhere near. Chasing him off during the day and keeping his back gate locked up at night.

"There he is!" Dolores announced excitedly as they approached the Rivera house.

Sure enough there he was. A dirty scrawny old thing with wirey grey fur. The dog was lying in a rut he'd worn in the dirt by the gate. He looked utterly pitiful. Briefly lifting his head when he heard the girls only to let it flop back down into his shallow grave. Kicking up dust as he did and sneezing.

Dolores rushed to the dog's side and flopped down in the dirt beside him to hug his neck. "Perrito pobre. We'll make sure you get to see your puppies." She vowed.

Jacqueline quirked an eyebrow seeing the utterly unimpressive mut. "Remind me again why we're here?" She challenged. Resting her hands on her hips.

"Cause it's true love!" Dolores protested. Already a little tipsy. The girl was a bit of a lightweight. Jacqueline would have to keep tabs on that. Dolores snuggled the dusty mutt's head and pet him eagerly like she'd been wanting to do it for a long time. "I hear him crying every night because he can't be with su esposa e hijos. It's so sad!" Some of the other girls seemed moved. Tearing up or rallying around the old mut. Barring Luz, Paloma and Laura.

Jacqueline sighed. "Bueno, you're up Laura. It's your house. Just run in and grab the key to the gate." She instructed.

"I could just lift him up over the fence." Luisa offered. Looking up at Jacqueline from her spot on the ground where she'd been petting the dog and trying not to cry.

Jacqueline shook her head. "We wanna make sure they can still get out on their own." She reasoned. "Just let Laura get the key."

Laura took a long swig from her bottle. "No need." She replied. She reached up and plucked a hairpin out of Jacqueline's bumper bangs.

"Ay!" Jacqueline protested and reached a hand up to hold her hair in place.

"I'll give it back." Laura replied dismissively. She never did give the pin back. She swaggered over to the gate and shooed the other girls and the dog out of the way.

Dolores gingerly led her dog friend away. Soothing him sweetly as he whined. The other girls let out sad little whimpers hearing the mut cry. Luz just chuckled and shook her head while Paloma rolled her eyes. Laura bent down and worked the little hairpin into the chunky metal lock on the gate. It only took a minute or two before she swung the gate open with a cocky smile. Hanging her whole body from the old wood and creaky iron hinges.

"Voilà!" She announced. "Now there's no proving who did it."

Jacqueline smiled back and clapped. "Magnifico!" She praised playfully.

The old mut barked and pulled against Dolores's grip. Practically bowling her over as he rushed into the yard.

"Keep it down!" Mirabel hissed at the dog as if he'd understand. They couldn't afford to wake Elías or Maria. Jacqueline especially couldn't.

The girls all rushed into the yard after the dog and Jacqueline followed suit.

Dolores sucked in a deep anxious breath as she watched the old mut rush to the dog house in the back. The mamá inside was a bit hesitant at first. Just poking her nose out a little to sniff the air. Her mate hopped around side to side excitedly. His mate retracted slightly and he got the hint. Lowering his head to the ground. His tail wagging excitedly a minute longer before he let his whole ass drop to the dirt behind him. Gazing up at his lover with the biggest shiniest puppy dog eyes an old mut could muster. Once he relaxed Elías's dog took a step out of the doghouse to lap her mate between the ears. A beautiful cimarrón uruguayo with a diluted brindle coat that might have been worth a fair price if Elías was ever in the business of selling her.

"What do ya think Lada?" Laura asked her brother's dog. "Tu novio still allowed in the dog house?"

Right. Mermelada. That was the bitch's name. Jacqueline forgot. She was a good dog far as Jacqueline could tell. She seemed like a sweet dog and she kept the livestock the Rivara's shared with Vicente's family safe. Not that Elías would let Jacqueline spend much time with her. Always sending the dog off whenever he caught Jacqueline petting her on the back patio.

"Awww." Dolores cooed as Lada came out to nuzzle her husband.

The mut hopped up to his feet and jumped around in circles as an army of fat little puppies came tumbling out. Each with feet bigger than their heads and floppy ears. They ran around yapping and exploring the new stranger. Some shied behind their mother while others took potshots at their father's tail or tried to pounce on him

"Dios mío, mira a los bebés!" Isabela squealed. Clapping her hands together.

"Tan lindo!" Between Mirabel, Isabela, Marisol, and Renata, Jacqueline was starting to worry the over-excited gaggle would break the glass in the windows with their high-pitched shrieks.

"Shhh! You don't wanna wake la perra upstairs." Jacqueline hushed.

Luisa finally broke into tears watching the puppies tackle their father to the ground. She scooped up her hermanas and prima into a big bear hug. Lifting them up off the ground as she bawled. Dolores let out a startled little squeak in the process though it quickly devolved into a case of the giggle fits.

"You know you guys can hold the puppies if you want?" Laura offered. "Elías isn't here to ruin the fun."

Luisa's lip quivered and her eyes watered. Isabela patted her shoulder. Her lips turning faintly blue as her slightly tipsy sister crushed her ribcage. "Go ahead. Just be gentle." She encouraged sweetly.

Luisa set the girls down and cautiously sat down on the ground near the dogs. Jacqueline wondered if Luisa had ever accidentally hurt a pet before. The way her sister gently coaxed her made Jacqueline suspect as much. Luisa was a sweetheart without a mean bone in her body, but that was a lot of strength for a little girl. Jacqueline knew the kind of harm she could have caused if she'd grown up with a gift like that. It was genuinely admirable just how careful Luisa was. The world must have felt like rice paper to her. She cried softly once she coaxed one of the puppies into her lap. Overwhelmed by the cuteness while she played with their velvety ears between her fingers. The other girls gathered around to join in. Each picking up a puppy to play with. Luz seemed to find it all pretty amusing but took a spot next to Isabela where she leaned against her and gave the puppy in her lap a belly rub.

Laura sat down at the dining table on the back patio. Her own chair. Duilio made furniture for all his friends. Elonzo's family had a dining set with a custom chair for each family member. Each with their own colors and engraved designs. Laura's chair was baby blue with dark blue accents and a dragonfly carved into the back. Her sister Luna's chair had the phases of the moon, Elías had dogs on his, Yenny had a rainbow. Maria's chair was red with a black panther design while her husband's was turquoise with a little vignette carved into it. Elonzo had once tried to explain the picture to Jacqueline but apparently, it was some kind of in-joke between the two childhood friends. The story sluffed off her brain as soon as she heard it.

Jacqueline leaned against the wall and took a swig from whatever bottle she currently had in her hand. The bag slung over her shoulder rattling slightly when she let her body swing back. She didn't feel like sitting down. Not in those chairs.

Paloma who seemed less interested in the puppies looked over at the back door and noticed the drawings scribbled on it and paint cans. Resting on top of the stained metal buckets was a note that simply read. Get it done . In bold ominous letters. She leaned over to examine the door when Renata looked up from the puppies to call her over. "Ay, Paloma! Come pet one of the puppies-" She stopped when she noticed what Paloma was looking at. "Aw, what cute little drawings." She cooed.

Renata got up to come over and inspect them and Marisol followed suit with a squirming puppy in her arms. "You have a hermanita right?" Marisol asked Laura.

Mirabel sucked a sharp sympathetic breath through her teeth like she knew something the other girls didn't.

"Sí, Yenny likes to draw." Laura replied. "Ma wants those painted over yesterday but Papi's been dragging his feet."

Right. This old argument again. Judging by the look on Mirabel's face she knew about it too.

"Why would she want to paint over it?!" Renata replied indignantly. "Es tan lindo, look the whole familia's here." She gestured to the little stick figures in their scribbled-on clothes. Elonzo could be recognized by his turquoise shirt with little flowers. Elias was the biggest. Laura and Luna were hard to tell apart but Luna had long black hair as opposed to Laura's short brown hair. Yenny drew lots of extra sparkles around herself and her mother was drawn on the far side opposite Elonzo. Maria was drawn much bigger than she actually was. The woman was a tiny thing. Jacquelin would almost think the unusually long frog mouth Yenny drew her mother with was some kind of pot shot but she knew Yenny was too nice for that.

"Why's tu mamá's face look like that?" Marisol asked.

Laura let out a loud cackle. Entirely too amused with the answer. "Yenny said she had to give her a big mouth to match her big voice." She laughed.

Mirabel got up and dusted off her skirt. "Bueno, this was fun but maybe we should go do something else." She suggested.

"You should have seen the look on Ma's face when she heard that answer." Laura jeered between drinks. Completely ignoring Mirabel. "She called a family meeting and everything. Took hours to calm her down from that one." She pointed across the way to the neighbor's house they shared a paddock with. "Clemencia even came out to see what all the fuss was about. Ma's sure someone must have been talking about her behind her back. No, Yenny just has working ears." Laura snickered and let out a loud burp.

Jacqueline watched as all the Madrigal girls went uncomfortably quiet. Dolores fidgeted with her skirt as Laura thoughtlessly rambled.

"Yenny draws on stuff all the time. Ma hates it, but she's seven. Of course, her drawing are mierda. Just another reason to yell at Papi if you ask me-"

Jacqueline held up a hand to stop Laura. "I think that's enough chica." She told her. Jacqueline looked over at Dolores and snapped her fingers to get her attention. Dolores looked up from the ground and jumped slightly. Squaring her shoulders and straightening out the creases in her skirt. Jacqueline pointed back towards the door with her thumb. "You hear them fight often?" She asked.

Dolores twiddled her fingers and looked down again. "Sometimes." She muttered.

"Only sometimes? Wow, your gift must suck then." Laura laughed.

"That's enough Laura." Mirabel scolded her friend. Reaching across the table to pinch her ear.

"Ay! I'm just saying-"

"Shush!" Mirabel insisted. Mirabel was more open about difficult topics than the rest of her family, but she still had some sense of propriety. That was more than could be said for Laura. Or maybe Laura just cared less. Either way, Mirabel could see her prima was uncomfortable and that was enough to want to reign Laura in.

Jacqueline tucked her bottle away and approached Dolores. She was still seated on the ground next to Luisa, Isabela, and Luz. She had already dropped the puppy she was holding. Most of them had. The dogs were off wrestling in the yard. Jacqueline leaned down and propped her hands up on her knees. "What all do you hear mija?" She asked her softly.

Dolores avoided eye contact. "It doesn't matter." She told her. "Abuela says it's none of our business.

Isabela raked her fingers irritably through her long hair. She knew about this too and knew how much it weighed on Dolores. "It's never anybody's business as long they don't fight in public."

"Long as she doesn't hit him in public." Luz rolled her eyes.

"Elozno you mean? She hits her husband?" Jacqueline asked calmly.

"All the time!" Laura laughed again. An uncomfortable crack in her voice she dorwned with another swig from her bottle. Mirabel let out an exasperated sigh. Like a breath, she'd been holding.

"It's not like it's a secret." Luz replied. "All the farmers know about it. It's all just one big joke. Maria's tiny, she can't do any real harm. I don't think anyone takes her seriously."

"Obviously," Paloma interjected in a dull monotone. "If it was a real problem Señor Rivera would have put a stop to it himself by now."

"Mh,hm…" Laura hummed dryly. Swirling the bottle lazily in her hand.

"You don't think he actually likes it do you?" Marisol naively suggested. "I heard some men like when women are mean to them. It's so creepy." The girl shuttered at the thought. She didn't have any idea what she was talking about. Jacqueline was well acquainted with those sorts of men and Elonzo was very much not one of them.

"PUAJ! Estos son mis padres!" Luara protested.

"Shh, not so loud!" Mirabel hushed.

Laura shot daggers at Marisol. "Don't be gross Mari." She half threatened.

"Sí, Señor Rivera's just a coward, not a pervert." Renata reasoned.

"Ay, ay, chicas." Jacqueline soothed. Stepping between the two groups of girls and pulling her bottle back out of her bag to take another sip. "Let's stay focused." She pointed back to the drawings on the door. "Una chiquita inocente is about to have her beautiful drawings ruined. That sounds like as good a reason as any for some real mischief." She reasoned.

"Oh no, we can't." Laura protested anxiously. "Mamá can't take a joke to save her life. Besides she'll just blame me."

"No, she won't." Jacqueline plopped down on the table and turned to offer Laura a confident grin. "Cause I'm going to take all the blame." She leaned in and held up her bottle to Laura. "Tonight you get a free pass to get away with whatever you want." She promised her.

"I don't know." Dolores muttered. She got back up and dusted off her skirt. "I think we should just go."

"Are you sure?" Jacqueline challenged. She crossed one leg over the other and leaned forward. Resting her elbows on her knees. Pointing with the bottle at the woman of the hour. "How many things do you hear every day that you're just expected to ignore because getting involved isn't appropriate ?" She asked.

Dolores looked down at the bottle as she considered what Jacqueline was offering.

"Just this once," Jacqueline reasoned. "It's your night. You don't have to be appropriate tonight."

There was a pregnant pause. The party waiting for the guest of honor to make the call.

Finally, the hesitancy was broken like a seal when Dolores reached out and grabbed the bottle for a deep swig.

︵‿୨ -❇- ୧‿︵

"Shhh, shhh, you're gonna wake her up." Laura hissed as Renata and Isabela's snickering.

It took a few more swigs of liquid courage and a bit of hyping up to get everyone on board but there they were, sneaking into Maria and Elonzo's bedroom in the middle of the night. Thankfully, according to Laura, Maria was a heavy sleeper. The door and wooden floorboards were painfully creaky and Dolores jumped at every tiny sound they made as they worked. Luisa followed in the back of the group with the buckets of paint while Laura took point. It was her home after all. Once Laura peered into the room and confirmed they were in the clear she nudged to door open and invited the girls inside. Maria was snoring loudly in her bed with a lacy blindfold on. Elozno was out camping with his friends tonight so Maria had the bed to herself. That said looking around the room Jacqueline could barely see any hint of the man of the house. This room was Maria's space from the rug to the bedding to the art on the walls.

Her room was decorated with oddly modernist paintings and the red shag rug looked like an import from the city. Maria owned a lot of things that weren't easy to come by in El Encanto. Lots of little symbols of wealth that no one in this town would care about. It was a tacky attempt to look like a woman of status from the wife of a farmer. The whole room was mostly black and red. Her bed surrounded by a canopy of sheer red drapery and black beads.

"Careful by the vanity, the floor squeaks." Laura warned.

Luisa was visibly shaking with nerves. "Are you sure about this?" She asked Dolores.

"It's just a joke." Isabela argued. "Maria is a nightmare. It's the least she deserves for making everyone around her miserable."

"We're not going to hurt her." Dolores reasoned. "It's just a little… attitude adjustment."

Jacqueline chuckled, took one of the buckets from Luisa, and passed it to Dolores. "Go ahead. You and Laura have at it. I'll watch the hall and make sure no one else wakes up." She offered. She took her post at the door and watched the hall while the girls took turns painting Maria's room. Covering up her ugly little drawings and giving her a taste of her own medicine.

Jacqueline did briefly hear a bit of creaking from Elías' room but on closer inspection, the sound died down quickly. It sounded like the boy was shifting in his bed. Elías was big and didn't take people's shit. If he thought there was some suspicious activity in his house he wouldn't hesitate to drive out intruders at the end of a shotgun if need be. Still, Jacqueline returned to Maria's room to warn the girls it was time to leave.

"Making too much noise chicas." Jacqueline whispered. "Time to get out before someone wakes up." She warned.

Dolores squeaked and turned to her. Eyes wide as dinner plates. Isabela stifled a laugh and pointed to the sleeping woman in bed with the biggest grin on her face. Her hair filled with bubbly pink flowers. Jacqueline took a few steps closer to look at Maria's sleeping face and stifled a laugh of her own. The girls had drawn a big red mouth on her in paint to match the one from Yenny's drawing.

"Very funny." Jacqueline praised quietly and shooed the girls out the door with her hands. "Muy bien, vamos." She ushered.

Jacqueline paused while the girls funneled out and looked up the see the word Cállate painted in bold red letters on the wall opposite the bed. The first thing Maria would see when she woke up in the morning.

Jacqueline lagged behind the girls as they left. Making sure there weren't any stragglers. Hushing the snickers rubbing reassuring little circles into Luisa's back as she fretted. She led the girls to the stairs and told them to go on ahead. "I'll be out in just a minute." She reassured them. "I just need to check something real quick."

She watched the girls leave before creeping back to Maria's room one last time. She had to admit she was impressed. The girls managed to use all the paint. The room was trashed. Maria was going to blow a gasket when she woke up. Not that Jacqueline minded too much. She wouldn't be staying in this town much longer. Maria could beat the shit out of her if she wanted Jacqueline would eat the consequences to give the girls a night of rebellion. Lord knows they'd likely never get this chance again.

No, Jacqueline was just here to check and make sure no one left anything behind that could prove they were there. She found some colorful thread that had come off of Mirabel's skirt caught on a nightstand. She tucked that into her bag. There was a large footprint in the paint that obviously belonged to Luisa, nothing Jacqueline couldn't fix by smearing the paint around. Thankfully it looked like Luisa had noticed and cleaned the paint off her shoe before leaving the room so there wasn't any trail in the hall. Isabela had left a slight smattering of flower petals. Those went in the bag too.

One thing Jacqueline found that rather surprised her was a note. A whole paper note on the nightstand. Dolores's handwriting if she had to guess. Too dainty to be Mirabel or Luisa but too light and wispy to be Isabela. A girl like that would write with more confidence. The note didn't say who it was from but Jacqueline could see Dolores pouring her heart out onto the paper. Defending Elozno, his girls, and anyone else Maria had a habit of tormenting. There was a faint plea for it to stop. The shouting… the violence.

Jacqueline couldn't leave this behind. It was too obvious who it was from. Some of the details the note included couldn't have been known to anyone but Dolores. Some of the details were things even Jacqueline didn't think she had a right to know. Things she almost wished she didn't. She felt a brief pang in her chest. She hoped Elonzo and the girls would be ok when she left. She hadn't given it a second thought before. She was going to miss them. Laura and her sisters didn't deserve this. Elonzo didn't deserve this.

Jacqueline crumpled up the note and tucked it into her bag. The room was clean of any incriminating evidence. She would take the fall in the morning. These kids needed it. Jacqueline was quiet on her feet as she snuck out down the hall. She'd already tucked her shoes into her bag before they came in so she'd make as little noise as possible. She was nearly at the stairs when a hand reached out for her. A strong hand, a man's hand. She was grabbed by the hem of her blouse and yanked back away from the stairs. Whipped around and pinned against the wall as another hand found her mouth. Before she even saw who it was a shot of adrenaline ran through her. She reached for her skirt, ready to defend herself.

"Don't make a sound." The man growled.

Jacqueline's eyes focused in the dim light and Elías' face came into few. Jacqueline's breathing relaxed as she realized who it was. Elías was about twenty. Jacqueline couldn't remember how old exactly. Despite his tiny mother, he was a stocker man than his father. He had Maria's sharp features and eyebrows that could cut glass. His defined cheekbones almost reminded Jacqueline of her father. That is if he was ever young. Jacqueline was fairly certain her father was born an irritable old man.

"What, are you doing here?" Elías moved his hand from her mouth to her throat. Not squeezing. Only holding her in place. Though his other hand on her upper arm was digging bruises into her skin.

"Who me?" Jacqueline asked innocently. "Just went for a midnight stroll and got lost." She teased.

Elías tightened his grip on Jacqueline's throat. "I heard Laura, I can tell she's drunk. What are you doing with mi hermana? You were in Mamá's room."

"Cálmese." Jacqueline soothed. Swallowing around the boy's fingers. "Just playing games, that's all. No one's hurt, no one's going to get hurt on my watch." She promised.

"And why should I trust you?" Elías challenged.

"You waited for las chicas to leave didn't you?" Jacqueline countered. "You could have put a stop to the fun any time, but you didn't."

Elías was quiet for a moment. His scary face wavering only slightly. It was just small things. A slight twitch here or there. His eyes darted away for just a moment. Elías loved his sister. Laura didn't have many friends. Whatever was going on he didn't want to ruin his hermanita's fun if he didn't have to.

A coy grin spread across Jacqueline's lips as she read him like an open book.

"Cállate!" Elías hissed when his eyes returned to her face.

"I didn't say anything." Jacqueline replied. Holding her hands up in surrender.

"You better not get Laura in trouble." Elías warned.

"Oh I fully intend to take the blame in the morning. Don't worry about su hermana, mijo." Jacqueline replied.

"Don't call me that." Elías tightened his grip again. Jacqueline swallowed and pulled a slow deep breath in through her nose. She could feel his nails against her pulse. She could hear it. Hear the blood in her veins. "Don't you dare tell Mamá you were here." He threatened. "She can't ever know you were here."

Jacqueline nodded. Unable to get more words out. Focused on getting oxygen to her brain.

Elías leaned in close and stared deep into Jacqueline. A violent intensity in those pitch-dark eyes his mother gave him. "Don't you ever come back here again." He told her. "Stay away from mi padre." He threatened.

Jacqueline couldn't help but grin. Seeing Elías so angry was adorable. Precious mama's boy didn't want Jacqueline ruining his parent's already garbage marriage. "A-h s-sí." Jacqueline choked out. "What… ever, y-you need, m-amigo…"

Elías finally let go and Jacqueline stumbled as got in a decent gulp of air. Quickly righting herself and pressing her palms to her temples to keep the room from spinning.

"Whatever Laura did I'll cover for her. Just get out of my house." Elías told her.

Jacqueline gave a quick non-verbal confirmation before slipping off down the stairs. Pulling out an arepa from her bag to heal the bruises forming on her arm. It sobered her up but that wouldn't last long. Probably for the better anyway. She had no intention of cutting ties with Elozno till she left town, but for his sake and his kids, Jacqueline would at least try to be less brazen about it. She could always find time for a chat or a game or two when Elononzo was out of the house.

︵‿୨ -❇- ୧‿︵

The night didn't end there. The girls kept going. Luisa tapped out after the second prank. It was Isabela's idea. Cutting up the dresses of a girl who regularly talked shit about Luisa behind her back. Vandalizing Maria's room was enough to leave her shaking from the adrenaline and by the second prank, she was done. As it turned out so was Marisol who was a lightweight and passed out in their victim's room. Luisa took it upon herself to carry their drunk friend home. Much to Laura's dismay. Whining that if she knew she'd get a ride home from the big strong woman she would have blacked out sooner.

Jacqueline didn't try to unpack that for the time being. There wasn't room in the night to unpack that. Laura wasn't in a home where she could afford to unpack that.

Isabela and Luz were practically joined at the hip. Even if it was mostly Luz making sure Isabela didn't hurt herself or anyone else with cacti or poisonous plants as she got drunker and drunker. Girls dropped off two by two throughout the night but Luz stayed sober all the while. Helping Jacqueline babysit and pass out water and snacks periodically. At some point, Isabela suggested vandalizing Duilio's house. Punishing the cheater. A few unintended barbs were flung at Jacqueline amdist the conversation but she directed them away from the idea and onto someone else. She knew Duilio wasn't hope tonight but the idea of being caught by him in his home made her skin crawl.

Renata was the next to go. Paloma took her home. Then Mirabel decided to cut Laura off once she almost fell off a roof. Jacqueline caught her of course, but she was clearly too drunk to keep going despite her protests. Jacqueline continued to drink alongside the others but knew how to pace herself when she needed to. Eventually, it was just her, Isabela, Dolores, and Luz. It was getting to the point in the night where she was starting to feel it. Careful not to move her head too fast and walking barefoot to balance better. She'd be hung over tomorrow. The girls would be fine though. A bite of Julieta's cooking would fix them right up. The problem was getting them to bed.

Isabela and Dolores were getting loud and rowdy and eerily close to getting themselves caught. Thankfully Jacqueline didn't have to be the one to suggest they call it a night. Luz beat her to it on that one. Unfortunately, the girls had no interest in tapping out. Even as they were tripping over cobblestones and lacing the roads with thorny plants. Jacqueline knew she needed to wind them down and thought of the perfect way to do it.

︵‿୨ -❇- ୧‿︵

"Don't worry about it. No one's going to find us up here." Jacqueline insisted.

"Couples come out here in the middle of the night all the time." Luz argued.

"Not the night before a big party." Jacqueline reasoned. "People are getting ready for the engagement party tomorrow. No one's going to pick tonight for some grand romantic gesture." She let out a little snort of a laugh. Almost amused with the idea. Reminded her of the time Beatriz had a messy breakup with her novio in the middle of Petronila's wedding. Madre always said Tía Alba married too young. Had her first daughter out of wedlock and never seemed to know how to raise her. All for the better really. Beatriz was a blast to be around. Always was Jacqueline's favorite out of her older primas. One of the closest to her in age too. Only a year's difference.

"We're just taking a dip." Isabela chuckled. "Don't tell me you're afraid of la mujer llorosa." She teased. Making scary claw hands at Luz.

Luz merely rolled her rolled her eyes. Keeping one arm hooking in Isabela's to prevent her from stumbling on the rocks and protruding tree roots that littered the path up the mountain.

"Don't be silly. It's the wrong night for her. She needs a full moon." Dolores argued.

"Of course you would know that." Isabela chided playfully and shoved her prima. Just a bit too hard as Dolores stumbled forward. Jacqueline caught her before she ate dirt.

"I wish we came here on a full moon." Jacqueline laughed. Helping Dolores back to her feet. Looking up through the canopy at the silvery half-moon overhead. "I'd love to see a ghost. We could share our drinks with her."

She led the gaggle of giggling girls through he thick foliage that surrounded the spring. The light of the half-moon reflecting off the water as the clearing opened up to them. La cascada de cristal. The spring really was beautiful. Jacqueline would certainly give it that. The waterfall was small and not too loud. The real star was the steam rising off the pool and giving the small clearing a shimmery appearance. Especially under the moonlight.

Jacqueline let out an impressed whistle as she climbed up onto a rock overhanging the shore. "Forgot how nice this place is." She admitted.

"You've been here before?" Dolores asked.

"Sí." Jacquline replied as she tossed her bag down and began to strip.

"Oh, wow, okey." Luz's startled tone caught Jacqueline's attention.

Jacqueline looked over as she was removing her corset. Having already discarded her blouse, belt, skirt and petticoat. Down to just her bra and panties, save for the corset she was already halfway through unfastening. "What? You didn't think I was gonna swim in my clothes, did you? I'm not walking back home soaking wet. Estamos entre mujeres" She replied simply. She tossed her corset on the ground and moved on to her bra.

Luz's face turned red as she looked away. Holding a hand up by her face as a shield. "Sí… Tus chicas go ahead." She replied awkwardly.

Jacqueline felt a pair of eyes on her and looked over to Isabela. She was staring. Slack-jawed and staring. Dolores was already peeling off her dress and revealing the lacy white chemise and bloomers she wore underneath. Unsurprisingly the Madrigal women were a bit behind the times with their undergarments.

"Is that a knife?" Dolores asked.

Her innocent curiosity pulled Jacqueline's attention away from Isabela's awkward staring to the belt on her own thigh. Jacqueline reached down and pulled the small bowie knife from the leather sheath she wore under her skirt. The strap around her thigh fastened with a buckle. "This?" Jacqueline replied. Holding it up to show Dolores. "Just a little security." She replied. "You never know when you might need one." Jacqueline herself had made the mistake of leaving her knife at home. The belt on her thigh wasn't especially comfortable and El Encato had seemed like a paradise. She thought this town was safe. Thought she didn't need it… She was back to carrying it now.

"You have tattoos?" Isabela stated dumbfounded.

Jacqueline looked back at the strap on her thigh. It wrapped around a portrait she had etched into her skin. The sheath placed over the clasped hands of a skeletal woman shrouded in a red robe and prayer beads. A saint Jacqueline met through a friend in Medellin. A Mexican woman who found herself in Colombia through an unfortunate string of events involving more than a few bad men.

"Sí." Jacqueline replied. "I've got another on my back." She tapped the tattoo on her thigh with the tip of her knife. "Santa Muerta. She watches over me. Lord knows I need her." Jacqueline joked morbidly. She tucked the knife away and removed the belt from her leg. Tossing it out on the grass with the rest of her clothes.

Isabela seemed to snap from some sort of trance. Her face turning the same deep crimson her tío's did whenever he felt scandalized. Isabela slapped her cheeks before reaching to pull off her own dress over her head. Jacqueline was quick to jump into the pond. She gasped as she pulled her head back up above the water. It was hot and did a decent job waking her up a bit. She scooted back and found a flat stone in the rocky edge to sit on. Untangling her red scarf from her ponytail. Letting her hair fall around her shoulders in soggy ringlets. Next to go was the now sobbing wet hair rat from her bangs which she chucked in the grass with the remaining bobby pin she would probably never find. Not that it mattered. She had more at home.

Jacqueline sat with the water at about breast level. Obscuring her body before one of the girls popped a blood vessel. Not like she was that much to gawk at. Jacqueline was pretty, no bones about it. She wasn't stupid, she knew. She was hardly a goddess, however. Being naked often reminded her she was getting old. Seeing the years weighing down on her tits. The dimpling fat in her thighs. The little love handles that formed around her belly over the years. All covered up by cute clothes. Not that she was ashamed of any of it. Just that getting old was uncanny. She didn't want to get old.

No… that wasn't true. She imagined it would be quite fun to be a wriggly old lady. Fat and flabby and happy. Too old for anyone to care. No longer a spectacle or an object. Just a used-up slut more than content to enjoy her golden years however she saw fit without a million opinions about how she lived. It was this middle stage that bothered her dearly. The unsolicited advice of strangers telling her she was wasting her youth. Asking when she'd settle down. The answer was never, hopefully. Though no one seemed to believe her.

Dolores let out a satisfied sigh as she settled into the host spring. Her own hair tie had come undone some time ago and her tight perky curls relaxed with her as they soaked in the steam. "I should bring Mariano here more often." She purred. "It's been too long, I forgot how nice this is."

"There's no way he doesn't bring you up every chance he gets." Isabela challenged as she settled into the water beside her. "He kept trying to invite me out here but I'm not that easy."

Dolores giggled. "It's been a couple months. We've been busy planning." She opened one eye and peered coyly at her pirma. A mischievous grin on her lips. "He's not the first to invite me up here you know."

"No! You're lying!" Isabela protested in shock. Shoving Dolores again who broke out into maniacal laughter.

"I'm not lying." Dolores insisted. Playfully shoving Isabela back. "I've had other boys take interest. You weren't the only one with suitors." She teased.

Isabela sat back in the water dumbfounded. Her silky dark hair spread out across the surface of the water. Luz looked over curiously only to flush and look away again after her eyes briefly landed on Isabela's naked body in the water. She sat cross-legged on the shore. Holding her ankles as she tried to make casual conversation. "I'm sure you've been here plenty of times." She reasoned.

Isabela turned red and crossed her arms indignantly. "What's that supposed to mean?!" She snapped. Glaring up at Luz.

Luz raised her hand in surrender. "Nothing, you're pretty that's all. Everyone's made out here once or twice."

"Well I haven't." Isabela argued.

Dolores raised an eyebrow at her. "De verdad?" She questioned.

"No. I was saving myself." Isabela postured. Puffing herself up and attempting to put on an air of smug superiority to hide her painfully obvious insecurities. "Who all have you brought here?" She asked Dolores. Some mix of accusatory and sincerely, morbidly, curious.

"No beso y lo cuento." Dolores huffed.

Jacqueline slumped back in the water. Relaxing into the heat and breathing the steam in. Craning her neck back against the rocks. The warmth and pressure felt nice. Helped ease the crick in her joints she didn't notice was there until now. She didn't mind listening to the girls bicker though Isabela's insecurity was interesting.

"Qué va! You can't just tell me something like that then not even tell me who it was?" Isabela protested. "I'm just going to assume you're a liar."

"I'm not a liar." Dolores told her. She held up three fingers. "Including Marianao, I've been here with three different boys. I won't tell you who." She replied. "You'll just have to be happy with that."

Isabela started pouting and Luz rubbed at the back of her neck. "It's not that much of an accomplishment. Teenagers come up here all the time. Pretty sure married couples do too. Everyone's been here."

Maybe not everyone. Jacqueline had a feeling Bruno never brought a girl here before. Not because he'd never courted a woman, just because he'd never have the confidence. It seemed like a man's job to invite a woman to the spring. Any woman waiting around on Bruno to invite them would have been waiting a long time.

Isabela's eyes darted anxiously around the water. "Have you been here before?" She asked. Not looking up at her friend .

Luz seemed to sense the tension a bit. Her features softening. She pulled one knee up to her chest and leaned against it. Staring out across the spring. "Once." She replied. "I dated Maximo for a while a few years ago."

"Puaj," Isabela wined. "You're joking, he's so gross." The way she looked up at Luz with those big brown puppy eyes. She looked so betrayed.

"He's not gross." Luz protested. She looked away again. She looked small. Like all the air had spilled out of her. All night Luz had remained confident and sober. Unbothered by much of anything. Something about the conversation struck a cord with her. "He was fine. We're still amigos just, I don't know. He wanted to kiss me, it was this big important thing, brought me out here…" Luz rubbed at the back of her neck again. "He had a whole special night set up and then when it actually happened… nothing. I just didn't feel anything." She admitted. "We broke up after that."

Jacqueline let a dry laugh escape. She didn't mean to. She knew it was serious. Knew these emotions were important to a young woman, but she couldn't help it. It was just so funny. It couldn't be more obvious what happened and why but these kids had yet to figure it out.

Luz shot a glare in Jacqueline's direction. Jacqueline waved apologetically. Splashing Dolores in the process. "Ay, it's not you. I wasn't paying attention. I just thought about something funny." She lied.

Isabela looked back at Jacqueline before looking down at the water. She collected her hair over her shoulder and combed her fingers through it. "You uhm… Have you…" Her eyes flicked up to Jacqueline's face before she looked away again. "Have you been here before, with someone…"

Jacqueline leaned back against the rocks again. Spreading her arms out across the shore behind her. "Sí, I got an invite." She replied. "Didn't realize what he was getting at till we got here though. I don't do romance, not sure how he got the wrong idea."

Duilio had no business playing romantics. Dragging Jacqueline out into the woods for what she thought was a shag only to drop sickly sweet honied words on her. She still remembered the way he held her. Jacqueline could feel Duilio's hands on her body while he whispered he loved her into her skin. She didn't love him. She never did and she thought she made that very clear. He had a whole wife at home. That man didn't care. He thought he found someone who could fix some hole in his soul. Some need he felt his wife had left unmet, that he felt only a woman could meet. He didn't hear what Jacqueline said. He believed he could make her love him. He didn't deserve to be loved. Not if this was how he would treat the woman who loved him for years. Who accepted every grimy part of him. Jacqueline had slept with married men before. Passing affairs she thought little off. Those men used her, and she used them. There was an understanding there. It was a beastial affair, not a matter of the heart. Duilio crossed a line no man should ever cross.

"No romance?" Dolores asked. "Not ever?"

"Nope." Jacqueline replied confidently

"You've never been in love?" Dolores questioned again. "Not ever?"

Jacqueline was about to reply when Isabela suddenly popped her lid. Having sat in a stunned silence apparently after Jacqueline gave her answer. "Am I seriously the only one here who's never kissed someone at la cascada de cristal?!" She blurted out.

Jacqueline, Dolores, and Luz all turned their attention to Isabela who looked red as a brick. Cupping her face in her hands while an army of little flower buds sprouted from her hair.

"It's not something to be ashamed of." Dolores soothed.

"Y-you don't get it." Isabela stammered. Tugging on her prima's shoulders pleadingly. Her eyes big and wet. The alcohol very present in her voice. "I thought everyone was just, just, uh…"

"Exaggerating?" Jacqueline finished for her.

"Sí, eso!" Isabella confirmed. She raked her fingers through her long hair and pouted. Sinking down in the water until just it was up to her nose. Blowing frustrated bubbles across the surface.

Jacqueline sighed and shook her head. "You think just because everyone else your age has done it that you're skipping a step. Like you fell behind everyone, I'll tell you right now-" As it turns out Jacqueline's life advice wasn't especially persuasive tonight. Not that he usually way, but this time around she didn't even get the words out.

Luz let out a startled grunt when Isabela suddenly jumped up out of the water to seize her by the collar. There Isabela was. Propped against the rocky shore, naked as the day she was born. Dripping wet, her jet-black hair cascading down her body. She smashed her lips against the other woman's. A wet sloppy kiss. The kind that can only come from being uniquely drunk and inexperienced. Not that Luz seemed to mind it… Her eyes fluttered closed. She let out a faint moan. The tension in her body slowly eased as she reached up a hand to hold Isabela's face. Weaving her fingers through the silky dark curtain of Isabela's hair. The only thing obscuring their faces from view.

Dolores squeaked in shock and covered her eyes only to peek out between her fingers.

Jacqueline cleared her throat. "Tus amigas done or should we just pack up and leave you chicas to it?" She asked.

Isabela pulled away clearly shocked by what she just did. She and Luz stared wide-eyed at each other. A few seconds passed between them before Isabela turned even redder and tried to stammer out an apology. Nothing coherent left her lips however as she slipped on the rocks below and fell back into the water. Gangly limbs flailing wildly as she managed to send herself flying back a few feet from the shore. Accidentally pushing off against the rocks in her clumsy attempt to right herself.

"Isabela?" Dolores called out. A few bubbles broke the surface of the water where she had been sitting.

Having had more than one experience with drunk friends and a pool Jacqueline knew not to underestimate the risk and lunged past Dolores to reach down and rip Isabela up from under the water. Isabela came up coughing and sputtering. A streak of blood pouring down her face. It was just a small cut but the warm water spread it around and made it look worse than it was.

"Isa!?" Dolores shrieked.

"Isabela?!" Luz rushed to the edge of the water to reach for Jacqueline.

Jacqueline leaned back in the water and rested Isabela's head against her chest as she inspected the wound. "Está bien." Jacqueline soothed. Pointing to her bag on the shore with her lips. "Go grab a snack from my bag." She told Dolores. "Julieta's are in the blue cloth." Dolores climbed out of the water and onto the grass to sift through Jacqueline's bag. Jacqueline vaguely registered the sound of crumpling paper but didn't pay it much mind. Instead patting Isabela's back as she coughed up the water she swallowed.

"Ahí está, estás bien." Jacqueline soothed. Isabela was shaking in her arms.

"L-lo siento." Isabela apologized timidly. "I don't know what I was thinking."

It took a moment for Luz to realize Isabela was talking to her. "Oh, me? Don't worry about it. You're drunk. Drunk people do stupid things."

Isabela let out an awkward little chuckle. "I guess I just thought, this way I'd be caught up with everyone else. Though… I guess kissing a girl doesn't count."

"Oh mija." Jacqueline sighed. She hugged Isabela close and rubbed her shoulder. "It counts mija, it counts." She whispered sweetly against the top of her head.

Dolores returned with an arepa for her cousin and Jacqueline helped Isabela up out of the water. Sitting her down on the ledge to eat her snack. Jacqueline watched the cut on her forehead heal and reached up to help wipe the blood away with her hands. "I think it's time tus chicas called it a night." She told them.

Isabela nodded meekly. "You're probably right." She replied.

"I know I'm right." Jacqueline teased. A cocky grin spread across her face.

"Ay Lucera?" Jacqueline addressed Luz. The boyish lesbian was sat beside Isabela brushing her wet hair from her face. "Can I trust you to get these two home safe?" Jacqueline asked.

"Oh, uh, sí, sí, por supuesto que puedo." Luz awkwardly stumbled out.

"Sé buena." Jacqueline praised. She pulled herself up onto the rocks and started wringing the water from her hair. "You three head home. Let me worry about the fallout in the morning."

"Gracias." Dolores replied softly. "Tonight was fun."

Isabela nodded. Curled up to hide her bare body and staring down at the arepa in her hands. "It was… gracias."

"De nada." Jacqueline replied.

As it turned out, when tomorrow rolled around. Suspiciously no one would take the blame for the sudden string of pranks. Jacqueline had done well to scrub away any clues of the girls who'd been involved. Much to her surprise, according to Dolores, the two of them had been up late talking all night. Dolores lied when her mother got her up early and could tell she hadn't slept. Saying she'd been having engagement jitters and went out for a walk. That she and Jacqueline had got caught up talking and she'd been so focused on their conversation that she didn't notice folks sneaking around at night. Jacqueline wasn't sure how Dolores convinced her mother of a lie like that but she had to respect the prowes. Maybe Dolores would do just fine. Perhaps they all would.