by RJ Gonzales
We wasted no time digging into the tempting food.
“Mmm!” Del said, licking the fork.
“What?”
“It’s been forever since I’ve eaten Mexican food!”
“Doesn’t Mark cook Mexican food sometimes?”
“Nope,” she said. “But he will now.”
I waited outside as Del paid the bill—her treat. I insisted on paying, but she just scolded me and shoved the money back into my purse, warning me that if I tried to pay again, she’d shove it down my throat. I checked my phone. Still no response from Jett, so I sent another text.
You (1:03pm): Jett?
My phone rang in my hands. It’s probably him! “Hello?” I snatched it open within the second ring.
“Hey bestie!” Sarah burst into the phone, causing me to move it a few inches away from my ringing ear. For a moment, my heart broke. It wasn’t him. Either way, it was nice to hear from Sarah.
“What’s up?” I said, just a little disappointed.
“Taking my break at work. In other news,” Sarah continued, mimicking a news anchor. “Guess who’s gone missing?”
“Who?”
“Vera Hill. It’s all over the news. She’s been missing for like two days.”
“Whoa.”
“I know! I overheard a couple here at the restaurant saying that she probably ran away with a boy.”
Running away with a boy? Yep, that sounds like something stupid she would do. “Well, whatever it is, I’m sure she’s just trying to cause a scene and get attention.” I thought about the body in the forest that the Mundahlian was eating. It looked feminine, but could it have been her?—Nah!
“True. It’s what she does best after all,” Sarah said. There was a loud clash of what seemed like dishes breaking on the other end. A man in the background yelled a curse word. “Ugh! Sorry Rini, my dad just dropped a crap load of dishes on the floor and I have to help clean it up, but I’ll text you later! Bye!” Click.
Jett
22
“So I hear you got a girlfriend,” Nicolas said. Holding out a plastic cup of coffee for me. He looked up with a confused smile when I didn’t answer him. “The human.”
We had met him and his clan halfway at a small diner off the interstate. They’d found the girl last night. Wandering around the woods, alone—afraid. The rest were still interrogating Vienna as though she were a murder suspect and this was a scene out of a drama movie. She was a sweet girl—attractive and well-educated. A smile so sweet, and eyes like sapphire. Her hair was dark, almost similar to Rini’s, except her’s didn’t quite grasp the seductive gentle curl that Rini so perfectly donned on a daily base. She looked terrified, surrounded by all those people asking her questions at the same time at a booth in the back. However, when she caught sight of me, she flashed a smile and waved. Perfect teeth, that’s what I noticed.
“Yeah, I do.” I said, suddenly remembering he was asking about Rini. I had seen both her text but I was too busy to respond. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind. I took the cup and tipped it to him, “Thanks.”
“Ah, wasn’t my idea. The girl wanted to buy us a cup while we waited.” He pointed over to Vienna. “It’s a nice gesture,” he said, then sipped. “She said you’d like that one better since it’s already sweetened.”
“Oh,” I said, looking over to the girl. I raised the cup and nodded once she caught my gaze another time. She smiled again and then went back to answering a question.
“What’s your girlfriend’s name?” Nicolas shook a hand through his lengthy curly golden hair that resembled a small mane, and leant over the banister I was propped up against. He looked like the Mundahlian clan member he belonged to, in simple terms—a lion. He took his own cup of coffee to his lips, surrounded by a well-groomed goatee that matched his hair color. We were both facing the group from a distance, watching their interrogation.
“Rini,” I said.
“Nice name. What’s she like, sport?” I could tell he was just as uninterested in the interrogation as I was.
I paused for an unknown reason. “Friendly, thoughtful—sweet. She has the most gorgeous eyes I’ve ever seen. Her smile alone is infectious for me, and her personality is just, indescribable. She makes me feel like I’ve never felt before, you know? For once I feel—complete.”
“Well, if it’s anything that I know—it’s that, if you feel that she is perfect, then you have to try your best not to let her go. Love is a beautiful thing, Jett. You have to hold on to it, because as long as you have love for someone and they love you back—” his eyes trailed to Martin, off in the distance, sitting grumpily in the booth. “You can never truly have a bad day.” Nicolas was definitely the pants-wearer in the secretive yet totally obvious relationship with Martin that’s been going on since I was small back in Mundahlia. Sure at home Martin is a hard-ass, but as soon as Nicolas is in his presence he becomes a big softy. But Nicolas’ story doesn’t come as easy. He too has shared the pain.
The lion and panther clan islands were right next to ours back in Mundahlia. Growing up, Martin always referred to Nicolas as his special friend, when he came to visit. He would bring his two children along, a boy and a girl, to play with Mark and I. Unfortunately, his children were taken and supposedly killed—they never found the bodies, but with the King, the worst is always correct—some years later by one of the King’s men, causing him to go raving mad and attempt to kill the King that very night. Martin told him—begged him not to go, and he didn’t. Because, he couldn’t bare losing him too. Martin became his everything after that. He even left our clan to go live with Nicolas for a while. Until, one gloomy night, from within the fog, Fredrick, Nina, and Vicktor—newly orphaned panthers, ventured onto grieving Nicolas’ lonesome island, in search of food and shelter. They were the last of their dying clan, and were running away from the huntsmen who’d set out to find them and kill off their kind for good. Nicolas had no problem taking them in, lying to the hunters when they’d ask if he’d seen them. He had a thought in his mind that he’d raised them as his own, but even so, they could never replace the children he lost. At that time, Nicolas tried desperately to love these new little faces, praying everyday that instead of “Nick” they’d call him “Papa”, just to be able to hear that word again. The word he cherished so. The very word he knew as he watched the King’s men break down the door and drag his children away—changing his life forever—that he would never hear again.
When we came to Texas, Martin wanted to build a whole set of cabins—all surrounding the lake, to make our own little settlement of Mundahlian refugees. Of course, he wanted Nicolas and his clan’s cabin to be next to ours. The plans were never fulfilled, and so they had to end up living with a human couple that passed not too long ago. Old friends that Nicolas had met back in the Sixties in another state that had moved to Texas as well. A middle-aged hippie couple that lived in a small home and thought that Mundahlians were “cool cats” and “groovy” beings. The only other humans besides Rini to know of our secret. I’d only seen them once in the late eighties when they were already older and gray. Martin told us a few years back that they recently passed. Nicolas took it hard, and for a while, Martin disappeared. Staying with him to comfort him for a while—again. But, like the other time, he returned once things were settled.
“Nick, maybe we should go for a walk?” Martin came over, he seemed bored or irritated for some reason. “You know, to talk about this newcomer—alone.” Clearly a lie.
“Oh, sure.” He followed Martin out of the building, like a businessman heading outside to have a meeting with another businessman. Although. I could have sworn that just before the door closed behind them, their hands intertwined. In Mundahlia, there are no prejudices or hate, like there are here. Some humans let some things play way too much of a role in there daily lives and they end up losing sight of what’s really important—the things that make you happy. I’m not saying Mundahlia is perfect—seriously, we have a power hungry cannibalisti
c royal family ruling. But I mean, as long as a person is productive in their society, then what does it matter who or what they are? Right?
I waited in the SUV for the others to finish their “meeting” and sent Rini a text telling her I was busy and that I would talk to her soon. It wasn’t my business to question the girl, I was just the driver. Ray was nosy and chose to be near her. More than likely developing a little crush. The air was chilly, seeping in through the cracked window and floating amongst the vehicle. I wanted to turn the keys—dangling from the ignition, and start the heater—but it would more than likely waste the gas. And then I’d get yelled at, especially because it is pretty pricey per gallon these days. Next to me, a car blasting a heavy bass-filled rap song pulled away. At that moment, the group came out of the diner and waited outside for Martin and Nicolas—just coming around the corner. Vienna spotted me in the SUV, and came around to the passenger side.
“Brr. It’s cold outside!” she said, climbing in. “Mind if I sit in here with you?” she was rubbing her hands together for warmth.
“Nah, it’s cool,” I said. “Thanks for the coffee, it was good.” I’d chugged it down a while back and tossed the empty cup in the trashcan by the diner doors. It was a bit too sweet for my taste. It gave it an odd flavor that made my mouth pucker. But, I didn’t want her to feel bad so I just said it was good.
“I’m Vienna,” she greeted with a hand out. “And it’s no problem.” She sounded cheery.
“Jett,” I introduced myself. Her hand was cold when I shook it. Almost icy.
She shifted around in the seat and tossed a few strands of hair over her shoulder. “Does the heater work?” she asked.
“Yeah, but it usually works better when the car is on,” I joked.
She laughed, “Funny!” and gazed out of the window, her smile—gone. Vienna rubbed her hand over her arms, her shaking rocked the SUV.
I sighed. “I guess I could turn it on if you want.”
I turned the keys and heard the vehicle roar to life. The heater blew air colder than the breeze outside. It took a few minutes for it to warm, but once it did, I rolled the windows up to keep the air from escaping.
“Thank you!” she squealed. “You are a lifesaver!” Her hand touched my knee. When she didn’t move it, I searched her face for an answer, but she was staring out of the window at the group as though she didn’t realize that she was touching me. I didn’t want to be rude and move it forcibly, so I just shifted my knee away and watched it drop.
Finally, the group said goodbye and broke up. Ray trudged around to the driver’s window. He tapped on the window. “Get out, I’m driving,” He said, muffled behind the glass.
“What?” I was the driver.
“I said, ‘get the fuck out’, I’m driving.” I saw his eyes gear toward Vienna. Oh, he wants to sit next to her. I get it.
“Fine.” I stepped down from the vehicle and entered the back seat. Ray hopped in and adjusted the seat forward.
Martin opened the back seat door and paused when he found me sitting at the other end. “I thought you were driving?” He asked with a blank stare.
“No, Ray is—apparently.”
“Oh, Martin!” Vienna exclaimed. “You look cold! Here, why don’t you sit up front so you can be closer to the vents. I’ll go to the back with Jett, I don’t mind.”
Before she even finished the sentence, Vienna was already sliding in next to me. Martin stood outside, watching through the window for a while. He shook it off and sat in the empty passenger seat. Even though he didn’t show it, I could feel Ray tense up as he looked into the rearview mirror at me—shaking his head at me.
On the road, Vienna thought it would be cute to ask the three of us questions to get to know us better. Most of them were geared toward me.
“Your eyes are very pretty,” she smiled. “So brown.”
“Thank you, yours too.” I smiled in return. “So blue.”
“Sorry, it’s just that when I’m nervous I say the most random things.”
“It’s cool. There’s nothing to be nervous about though, we are the nicest clan you will ever meet.” I said.
She stated, “I know, you all are so sweet to take me in on a whim. I hope it’s not a bother.”
Martin lifted his eyes from a magazine he’d been reading and said, “Sweetheart, tonight you’ll be staying with Nicolas and his children at their home. Just until we get things settled over at our cabin. You know, clear a room.”
“Oh,” she said, a little disappointed. “Really?”
“Mhm. We’re going to drop you off and pick you up in the morning, all right?”
“Oh,” She said again, equally disappointed like the first time. “I guess that’s fine.” She turned to me and raised her lips into a smile. “So, what do you do for fun here?”
“Well, the lake by our house is nice. It’s too cold for a swim this week, but it looks amazing. I’ll show you tomorrow.”
“Yeah? I’d like that. I’d like that a lot. Ugh! You’re so sweet Jett, it’s unbelievable!” she said it as though she were verbally pinching my cheeks as she spoke.
“Have you heard from Rini?” Martin broke in. “I’m sure she’s tried to get a hold of you by now.”
For some reason, I didn’t want to hear it. I’d began to feel weird. That breakfast taco must’ve been rancid. “No, I haven’t. She and Del must be having a good time.” I wanted to keep talking to Vienna to get to know her better. I lied to Martin, telling him I didn’t hear from Rini when I did. He nodded his head and returned his gaze to the magazine—a thought set heavy on his mind as he started biting his nails.
I checked my phone again. New Text Message.
Rini (2:06pm): Busy? What are you all up to that makes you so busy???
I flipped the keypad open and sent the same message I’d sent earlier.
You (2:07pm): I’m busy, I’ll talk to you later.
Message Sent! I slid the phone back in my pocket and turned to Vienna.
“Who’s Rini?” she asked almost defensively.
Martin answered for me, “His girlfriend, dear.”
“Girlfriend?” she questioned, sounding surprised. It was almost a snort.
“Yeah,” I said, a little less enthusiastic than I should of for some reason.
“Huh. I wouldn’t of expected a hot guy like you to be tied down to a girl already,” she said. My cheeks blushed. “What’s she like?”
Buzzzzzzz. My phone went off—of course, it’s the loudest vibrate ever.
Rini (2:08pm): ?;l come on, please talk to me! I’m bored. I want to see you.
I typed again.
You(2:09pm): Busy, Rini. I’ll see you soon.
Message Sent! “Uh, she’s nice. You’ll like her. She’s very down-to-earth,” I said. “You can meet her tomorrow.”
“Aww, I’m sure we’ll get along just fi—”
Buzzzzz.
Rini (2:09pm): Come on! How’s the new girl…is she a bitch? :P Del doesn’t like her, so something has to be wrong with her.
You(2:10pm): Rini, stop it! I said I’m busy. I’ll talk to you later. Bye.
Vienna looked upset. She hid it with another smile as she said, “Like I was trying to say—I’m sure we’ll get along just fine.”
Rini
23
I stayed looking at his text for a few minutes. I was sitting on a bench as Del shopped for clothes around a store we had driven to. I didn’t really know how to take it. The way it was written could be interpreted in different ways. There was the “Rini-I’m-busy-getting-important-information-from-Nicolas-and-I-need-to-give-it-my-full-attention-but-I-promise-I’ll-talk-to-you-later” way. And then there was the “Ugh!-I-don’t-want-to-talk-to-you-right-now-so-I’ll-just-pretend-I’m-busy-so-I-don’t-have-to-talk-to-you” way. I really wish he would have written more so I could get a clearer picture. I shrugged it away and went to find Del.
I found her scouring the clearance section. Her cart was already full of cloth
es of different styles. I tried to pick out the ones that were for each family member. The novelty T-shirts must be for Max. The dad looking clothes for Martin and Mark. Everything sleeveless—Ray. A small set of little outfits for Kaylee. A blouse and more tanks for Del. And the last of the pile—Jett’s. A big pile of whatever.
“When’s Jett’s birthday?” I asked, leaning on the cart. As his girlfriend, I felt I should know these things.
“March nineteenth,” Del said not even looking away from the rack. “As the only female in the clan, I have to remember these things. Why do you ask?”
“That’s this week!” I said. “He was born in the same week as me?”
“Looks that way. Wait, what?”
“My birthday is tomorrow—the fifteenth, and his is on Saturday. I need to get him a gift! What does Jett like?” I asked her.
“Well, happy pre-birthday, Rini. Why didn’t you tell us?”
“I sort of forgot about it. Finding out the family secret sorta blindsided me and threw off my mind for a while.”
Del laughed, then continued to tell me of something Jett might like, “I’m not too sure, but there was this time where he was going through this leather jacket, bad-boy phase.” Del laughed at a sprung up memory, “He even tried to grow facial hair. You should have seen him, he looked ridiculous.”
I laughed at the image of him with a mustache or goatee. “And then?”
“He and Ray got into a fight and Ray ended up tearing it. He was so pissed off. It was his favorite jacket and he hates people touching his things. It kinda looked like that one over there,” Del pointed to a single black leather jacket hanging on a rack a few feet away from us. It was the last one left.
“Hmm,” I said, suddenly interested. “What’s his size.”
“Why?” Del looked up from the racks and saw me inspecting the jacket. “Oh Rini, don’t spend your money! Get him something from the heart, like a kiss.”