by RJ Gonzales
“What?” I heard from their room in the back.
“Could you come here a sec? I think your husband is spontaneously combusting.”
“What happened?” she paced to the kitchen and spotted him. “Babe? What’s the matter?”
“That girl, that-that creature criticized my cooking!”
“Oh, honey!” Del sounded somewhat relieved. “You’re still worked up over that?” I guess she thought it was something more serious. “Do you want me to kick her ass?” She wrapped her arms around him. “I will,” for you my love.” She kissed his cheek, “And you are not a good cook—” for a second he looked irate. “—you are a great cook!”
“It’s true,” I added. “I’ve only eaten here a few times, but your food is amazing! Definitely better than a restaurant. That girl doesn’t know what she’s saying.”
He seemed to relax a bit and dropped his shoulders, “And that is why you are getting this cake!” he said.
“Cake?”
“Remember when you told me about your birthday being today?” Del said. “I told Mark to make you a cake so you can celebrate it with us. I even had Max invite Sarah.”
“You shouldn’t have!” I blushed. “Really.”
Mark was twisting a bag of lime green icing as he decorated the borders of the cake in a neat little shell pattern. “Oh, it’s the least we could do Rini.” He looked pleased and stuck his tongue out as he carefully rounded the bottom and top of the deep-purple frosted cake with a border.
“I don’t really like green, though,” I stated, jokingly.
Pop!
Both Del and I looked over to Mark. He had squeezed the bag of icing so hard that it burst and splattered onto his apron and arms. He was ticked—and growling. The last straw had been broken, and I was the klutz that broke it. I broke, so I had to buy.
“I’m kidding! I’m kidding!” I said. “Sorry!”
Del intervened, “Babe, you need to relax!” She took his apron off and set it on the counter, taking his hand and tugging him toward her. “Come with me so I can like all that frosting off,” she said seductively. “That’ll calm you down a bit,” This relaxed him and he smiled. If he had a tail, it’d be wagging.
“Eww,” I said.
“What?” Del sided. “It’s perfectly normal.”
“Just remember, you all already have one kid that’s young, are you sure you wanna add another so soon?”
“Maybe we do!” They were at the entrance of the hallway. “And speaking of kids, watch the one we have now, please?”
“Fine.”
I went over to Kaylee. She held her stuffed seahorse up to me and smiled. “Aww, for me?” I said taking it. But when I gripped the toy, she tugged it back and nearly cried. “Okay, okay. I’m sorry.” I set a hand on my neck then flinched. The pain was still there. Not as harsh, but still pronounced. My necklace was the only thing that didn’t disturb my neck. Every turn and every graze stung like hell!
“Martin?” I called to the lump of a man curled up on the sofa with his book.
“Yes?” he returned.
“Do you mind if I get something to drink?”
“Of course not, go right ahead. I think there is some fresh sweet tea in the fridge. But dear?—you may want to check up on Jett too. He went to pick up some lunch with the girl we’re taking in. They took off the moment we got returned from picking her up and ate lunch and haven’t been back yet.” His voice was concerned.
“Um, yeah—Mark told me, but I guess a text won’t hurt, right?” Jett was just getting food, he couldn’t be busy now. I took my phone out and typed.
You (1:34pm): Hey, where are you?
I slid the phone into my back pocket and opened the fridge. In a small container, there was some leftovers of the meal the girl named Vienna had criticized. Chicken Parmesan. Looks fine to me. I got a glass from the cupboard and pulled out a yellow pitcher of tea and poured it in the cup. I took a sip. Mmm. Refreshing.
“Help yourself to the leftovers,” Martin’s voice called. “Just a minute in the microwave and it should be ready.”
“How’d you-”
“I can smell it from over here.”
“Ah.”
There was a knock on the front door. Jett! Max, who I hadn’t noticed was laying in the corner of the living room with his computer, opened the door and let the visitor in. I turned the corner and found Sarah yielding a gift bag. My hopes were slightly crushed.
“Rini!” she bursted, making her way over once she and Max had kissed and hugged. Sarah had her fake glasses on, and her hair was parted. She was wearing the purple sweater I had seen her in on my first day at school, and a white shirt with the picture of a camera on it.
I went to retrieve my drink when Ray stepped out of the hallway. He was shirtless and in his underwear and socks. He looked at us awkwardly, and backed away into the room slowly. I hadn’t even noticed him in the room when I woke up this morning.
“So, now you are officially my age,” Sarah said from a seat at the table. I smiled and sipped my glass of tea. Beep! announced the microwave. “Vera’s still missing,” Sarah continued. “Her parents were on the news last night, they’re really worried.”
I shuddered the image of Cruella out of my mind. “Really?” I said uninterested. Instead of responding further, I moved my plate to a spot next to Sarah at the table and started digging in. Vienna must have been psycho. This food is delicious!
“Where’s Jett?” Sarah asked, just as I had shoveled the largest piece of food into my mouth. I had to swish it around to keep it from burning the inside of my mouth.
Buzzzzz.
Gulp! “Hold on, my butt’s vibrating,” I said, reaching for the lively phone in my back pocket.
Jett (2:04pm): I’m busy, Rini. Just give me a few minutes, I’m almost home.
Grr. “He’s off being a dick!” I said responding to Sarah’s question as I typed. Was he really giving me that, again?
You (2:06pm): Liar. You’re just getting food. That is NOT being busy! Please don’t give me the “I’m busy” bull crap again unless you really are busy. Look where it got me yesterday.
“Why, what happened?” She asked, suddenly worried. As though I’d just told her that I’d heard life changing news.
“Oh, it’s nothing, he just took a family friend to go get something to eat, because she complained about the cooking.”
“She?” her voice was suddenly concerned as if she plucked that particular word from my sentence and threw it back into my face to make sure I had noticed what I said. “Who is she?”
I looked to Max, sitting beside her and tracing her fingers in his hand. “Care to take this one?” He shook his head. I turned back to Sarah.“She’s some girl that is going to say with the family for a while,” I said. “She is—”
“A bitch,” Max finished. So much for staying out of it.
“Aye, Rini. Be careful!” Sarah said. “I don’t want to put it in your head, but his attention should be on you. Especially since your relationship is so new. Right now it’s at its most fragile moment.”
“What? Why do I have to be careful?” The thought was never in my mind, until now.
“I just don’t like the sound of it. Jett taking her to get something to eat. He should be taking you to get something to eat.” She saw my changing expression. “Just—be careful. That’s all I’m trying to say.”
Bzzzzz.
“Sarah, it’s nothing!” I said opening my phone.
Jett (2:08pm): I said I was sorry. But seriously Rini, I’m busy.
You (2:08pm): doing?
“It’s fine. I trust him.” I said.
“I dunno…” Sarah trailed as if hinting at something she didn’t want to say directly.
I thought to myself in silence as I ate a few more forkings of food. “Sarah, it’s fine!” I finally said. Now, all I had to do was believe it.
Buzzzz.
Jett (2:12pm) : Don’t worry about it, I’m eating at a restau
rant. Just calm down, I’ll be there soon.
You (2:13pm) : Restaurant?! I thought you were just going to pick up something. You haven’t even taken me out to a restaurant by ourselves. Of all the days to take another girl out to a restaurant, Jett. Really?
I hope he doesn’t pay for her! Even on our date, I paid for myself! Okay, maybe I offered to pay for myself and he didn’t exactly protest it, but still! Grr. He’s pissing me off!
Bzzzzz.
Jett (2:20pm): Yes a restaurant, now bye! I’m busy. And, I’ll take you to one some other day, maybe next weekend.
Next weekend won’t be my birthday! I couldn’t hide my anger when I text him back.
You (2:21pm): Quit saying you’re busy! You’re pissing me off!
I sat in silence for what seemed like an eternity waiting for him to respond while Sarah and Max starting talking to each other.
Jett (2:46pm): Oh, I’m pissing you off? How do you think I feel with you interrupting me every damn minute? Seriously, just leave me alone right now, okay! I said I’ll be there soon. Drop it Rini. And don’t bother texting back, I’m turning my phone off!
Ouch. I felt a lump growing in my throat, and tears beginning to well in my eyes. I didn’t know who Vienna was, but I already hated her like the rest of the family did. Except Jett, of course. He loved her, apparently.
“Rini?” Sarah said, noticing my sudden change in expression again. “You all right?” I’d just had my first fight in a relationship—and I had no clue what do next.
I couldn’t eat anymore. “Yeah,” I said holding back a tear as I pushed the plate aside. “I’ll be fine.” I hope so.
I excused myself to the bathroom and dialed his number. Sure enough, I got his voicemail. Feeling both scared of losing what I was trying to build and just feeling like this was somehow all my fault, I left him an apology voicemail, in hopes that when he does decide to turn his cellphone back one, he’ll know that I was only doing it to make sure he was okay. But just before I finished my message, I uttered a word that I wasn’t too sure I should have, and it was too late to take it back. Somehow, I didn’t feel bad for saying it. I thought it was right of me to do so. But there was still a small part of me that felt that maybe I should have just kept it to myself—for now.
Jett
24
I felt really bad after I had sent the text. It was the kind of feeling I knew I was going to regret, like last night. I had reacted in the heat of the moment. But in all fairness, it was her fault for being too damn attached. Today wasn’t any special day, so why should I give her all of my attention, especially when I was trying to help Vienna settle in and get to know her better. This was Vienna’s day, not hers. And she needed to respect that. But no, here was my girlfriend, annoying me with her persistent texts. Sure I felt bad for what happened yesterday, but she had no right leaving our cabin anyway, like Vienna had said when I’d told her about it on the car ride to the restaurant. She said Rini should have been the one to apologize, and once she explained her reasoning, I began to feel it too. I specifically told Del not to let her go out on her own, but Rini did anyway. I just needed to go on a walk, like I usually do when I’m stressed or thinking heavily of something. I just needed me time for a little while. Since yesterday, I’ve started noticing how little things Rini does now are starting to try my nerves. Especially her persistent texts.
“Maybe entering a relationship so soon was a bad idea,” Vienna smiled once I’d returned from the bathroom. She had finished eating an expensive meal in a flashy restaurant, but it was what she wanted. “I mean come on, she seems a little too—I dunno—attached.”
“Exactly! Thank you!” I agreed. It was the truth. I mean, who does that, especially after barely starting to date.
I took a sip of my drink and cringed. It was too sweet. “Uh, excuse me,” I said to our passing waiter. “Are you sure this is sweet tea?”
“Yes sir.” He said. “Why? Would you like me to bring you another drink.”
“Um, Yea—”
“Oh, Jett!” Vienna laughed. “Don’t tell me you’re turning into one of those people who can’t tolerate sweet things anymore.”
I looked to her and smiled awkwardly.
“Another drink, sir?” The waiter asked again.
I looked down at the drink. “Uh, no thank you. I guess I’m fine.”
“Anyway,” Vienna continued once the waiter excused himself. “I’m sure she’s a nice girl, Jett—but you have to keep your options open. You’re still so young and full of energy to be settling down now. And plus, she’s not like us. She’ll die off much faster than someone like you—or me.”
“Yeah.” On the ride yesterday, and today—here at the restaurant, I got to fully understand her. She was nicer than I expected. I don’t know why the rest of my family didn’t warm up to her—she is an angel. She just gets me in ways no one could, not even Rini. It’s like she knows everything I’m thinking, and knows exactly what to say. There was something about her that messed with my head and made me feel funny.
“All I’m saying—,” she moved her hand on top of mine. “—is that you deserve better. You’re handsome, you’re a gentleman. You deserve more than what you have and you are never going to get it if you keep settling for what you are given. Why settle for fast food when you can have fine cuisine?”
The same waiter came over holding a black tablet with the receipt tucked in it. “The bill,” he said. “I’ll be your cashier when you’re ready.”
“Oh, I’ll get it,” Vienna said, getting her purse from the back of her chair. “Nicolas gave me some human money this morning.”
“Oh no,” I protested, reaching in my pocket for my wallet. “I got it. We should probably get going anyway. I think I made Rini mad or something.”
“Oh my goodness! Thank you so much! See what I mean by how you are a gentleman? We are definitely going to be the best of friends.”
“Oh, it’s nothing.” Guilt began to consume me. I hadn’t even offered to pay for Rini on our date. I wanted to kick myself now. I didn’t even bother to stop her when she set her money down. I was having such a great time, I guess I didn’t know what to do. Maybe that’s why Rini had a faint smile when we left the restaurant. As if she was only saying that she would pay for herself to be nice and make the offer, but half-expecting me to ask her not to, like I’d done just now with Vienna. Shit!
Yet again, I didn’t feel right. It felt as though my stomach was acting up like it’d done yesterday when I kept burping up the bad taco I’d had for breakfast. But just as quickly as the stomach pain came, it was gone, and I felt much better.
“It most certainly is something. It shows how you truly are an exceptional man. Rini must be the luckiest girl in the world to have you. A girl would do anything to get a guy like you.” She smiled at me, twirling a strand of her dark hair, and I couldn’t help but smile back. There was something about her that just made me feel—different. All day she’d been telling me what a great guy I was. It felt nice to be appreciated. Really nice.
“Oh, yeah!” she exclaimed as though a lightbulb had flickered on over her head. “You still have to show me the lake!”
“I will, I promise,” I said as the waiter carried the money off. “It’ll be the first thing when we get back.”
Rini
25
“I am pissed off! He is so going to get it as soon as he gets home. Here I am worrying about him, trying to make sure that he was safe and didn’t get into a car accident or get killed some other way, and he tells me to leave him alone! Ugh!” I was pacing furiously around the living room after going through every emotional cycle there was. I just finished the depressed cycle and was now burning through the rage cycle.
“Why are you storming around the room like you’re going to throw something?” said Sarah.
“Because I am!”
She took a step away, “Hopefully it’s not me. Just chill, Rini.” Word of advice people—when a person is furious, do
not tell them to “calm down” or “chill” it only enrages them more.
My hands and teeth were clenched. Mark and Del were in the kitchen finishing the cake and Martin was bouncing Kaylee in his arms. Max was glued to Sarah’s side, and Ray was—Ah, who gives an eff, I’m mad!
Sarah strode over and shoved me down onto a seat. “Good. Now that you are sitting—breath in and out.”
I did as ordered. I took a deep breath, held it and then exhaled.
“Good,” she said. “In-and-out.”
It seemed to work, my hands and teeth unclenched and I opened my eyes. God, I’m making a scene! I don’t like that.
Then I heard two small thuds of a car doors closing. It was them, I knew it. I could here his voice from behind the screen door. The voices trailed to the side of the house and disappeared around the corner.
“Rini,” Sarah said, holding my shoulders down. “Remember, it’s nothing. It is absolutely nothing.”
“Nothing, my ass!” I stormed out of the cabin and down the steps. A trail of footsteps followed behind me. I guess Sarah and Max wanted to see the show. I turned the corner and spotted them standing at the edge, their faces turned toward the water as Jett motioned his hand in the air, explaining the scenery to her. The abnormally skinny girl let out a laugh—it was eerily familiar. She was too close to Jett, and at the moments sight of her hand brushing his arm I hastened my stride into nearly a sprint. The footsteps behind me stopped as though getting the hint that I was about to tackle someone if there wasn’t a proper explanation why she was all over my man.
As I approached and got within feet away from them, they both turned. That was when I got struck by the face of someone sinister and foul. Vera. She’d dyed her hair dark, like mine. And she wore less fashionable clothes than she usually wears.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I asked her in an affirmative voice. Keep your cool Rini, no reason to gouge her eyes out—yet.