by Zoe Glez
As I step off the last step, I notice everyone is waiting for me near the door. They all look exasperated, as if they’ve been waiting forever. I’m only like five minutes late, I don’t know what the big deal is.
“Finally!” Mary snaps as soon as she sees me.
“Whoa!” Mickey and Chino both say as soon as they spot me.
“What the hell is that?” Kevin snaps at me. “Hell no! No, no, no! You’re not going out like that!” he says, scolding me.
“Really, Kev? Really?” I say with a raised eyebrow and a bored tone. “I’m not twelve anymore, I can wear whatever the hell I want. Plus, it could be worse,” I say pointing out Mary’s outfit. She’s wearing an extremely short red dress with long sleeves and a barely there back.
“Hey!” she snaps at me.
“Sorry, but you have to admit, your dress is shorter than mine,” I comment. She just shrugs.
“Come on, Kevin, let it be. You’re just prolonging our stay here by trying to convince her to change, which we both know she won’t. She’s as hard headed as you are,” Mario says, completely exasperated with my brother. He throws me a wink and smiles.
“All right, I give up. You win this one,” Kevin finally relents, through his face still says differently.
“Ugh! I’ll put the stupid jacket on if it makes you happy.” Kevin lays out a full grin on his stupid, manipulative face and we all head out the door.
Mickey decides to drive his Tahoe so we can all ride together, offering himself to be the designated driver. He’s more of an occasional beer kind of guy, anyway. I’m not a big drinker, either. I’ve seen what it does to people, and I see my Uncle Junior every time he gets drunk. We both have our occasional beer but it’s not much, we know when to stop. The idea of being drunk just isn’t that attractive. Puking and killer headaches? Yeah, I don’t think so.
I’ve been drunk once and it isn’t something I want to repeat. The same goes for Mario. I know that it’s because he doesn’t want to end up like his father. He’s witnessed the effect first hand and has spent countless nights cleaning up after his father. Because of this, Mario doesn’t drink at all. He enjoys himself quite enough without it. I think we all do.
Mickey parks the car on the corner in front of the club. I notice the really long line of people in front of the club. Luckily, Mickey knows the bouncer so he lets us in right away. Due to security measures, we have to leave our jackets up front. This makes my brother crazy. After all, the only reason I got out of the house was because I was wearing it in the first place. We spot an empty booth in a corner and head toward it, Kevin and Chino stay at the bar ordering a pitcher of beer to share between the two of them and an Acapulco Zombie for Mary.
“You sure you don’t want one?” Chino shouts at me over the loud music as he hands Mary her drink. I just shake my head in rejection.
“Stop trying to get my sister drunk, douche bag,” I hear my brother scold. I can’t help but smile at his over protectiveness.
We are all sitting in the booth attempting to talk. I can barely hear anyone over the music. I’m sitting on one side of the booth between my brother and Mario. I sort of feel like they’re my bodyguards. On the other side, Mickey sits right in front of me, between Mary and Chino. We sneak a glance at each other every chance we get.
“Do you want to dance?” Mary asks Mickey as she stands up.
“No, thanks.” He shakes his head.
“Oh, come on!” she insists, pouting.
“I’m not really that much of a dancer,” he says to her in a annoyed tone. On the inside, I can’t help but laugh. Mickey dances, but only because I make him do it.
“I’ll dance with you,” Chino tells her and they head to the dance floor. One of Pitbull’s songs begins to blare through the speakers. The DJ has made it a techno remix which is extremely catchy and makes me want to dance.
“Excuse me, ladies, I just spotted something sweet,” my brother says with a grin as he practically undresses some girl at the bar with his eyes. She’s tall and blonde, wearing a tiny black strapless dress that pushes her boobs half way out of it.
“Ugh…disgusting,” I whisper to myself. Mickey laughs. Either he heard me or we’re thinking the same thing. I catch his gaze and smile at him. He smiles back, melting my body and soul with his beautiful dimples.
In a matter of seconds, the woman at the bar disses my brother and he glances to where we are. We all laugh at him. He shrugs, so full of confidence that the next one will actually snap to his charms. Chino and Mary are still at it on the dance floor. Part of me wishes I was there too, but it wouldn’t be the same without Mickey.
“I have to take a piss,” Mario blurts, almost running to the bathroom. Somehow, my prayers have been answered and we are left alone. My brother is still hanging at the bar, Chino and Mary on the dance floor, and Mario in the bathroom. This couldn’t be more perfect. Us alone, face to face, with each other. Totally worth it, even if it would only last a few seconds.
“Finally! I never thought they would leave us alone,” Mickey says, letting out a huge breath of air. I just laugh at his overly dramatic relief. “I know it’s not much, but every second with you is worth it. Even if I can’t hear what you’re saying.”
I smile. “Do you think that if we get up and dance people would suspect something?”
“Babe, whenever we dance we get way too close without even realizing. Trust me, everyone will notice.” He’s right, we do tend to put on a show, so dancing together is definitely out of the question.
I catch him staring at me as if he’s considering something. “What’s on your mind?” I finally ask him.
“You. Me. In our bed. I miss every single inch of you,” he says with a beautifully naughty smile, his dimples winking at me.
“I miss you, too.”
“Can we claim that you’re sick and leave?”
“Are you kidding me? The second Kevin hears I’m not feeling well he will take me home himself.”
“What is his problem anyway? You’re old enough to take care of yourself. Why won’t he just let you be?”
“I don’t know. It’s suffocating,” I say with full resignation. “Hey…look!” I say to him, nodding to the dance floor where Mario is dancing with the blonde that dissed my brother.
“Damn! El gordo has game. Kevin must be pissed,” Mickey exclaims totally impressed and proud of my cousin for getting the girl my brother couldn’t. “Good for him…and for us, now we know we will be alone for a while.” I can’t help but let out my full, glowing grin. He grasps my left hand within his and caresses it under the table. “What I would do to kiss you right now…”
“Behave, Mr. Vega,” I playfully chide him.
“Honey, you know I can’t do that when it comes to you.”
“Oh come on, you can’t be that cheesy,” I say to him while giggling at the same time making it barely understandable.
“How is that cheesy?”
“I don’t know.” I shrug.
“Do you ever know? Anyway, how the hell are we gonna keep this up for over a month?”
“I don’t know, baby. I do know that it’s not going to be easy. It’s been less than a week and it’s already so difficult. Maybe we can make-up having dates.”
“I don’t know how I’m going to pull this off. I feel like I’m going to blurt something out and ruin everything.”
“So, that’s the reason you’ve been quiet.”
“I’m just afraid I’m going to say the wrong thing. It’s like they would wonder how the hell I know you so damn well for someone who hasn’t seen you in like eight years.”
“I think it just looks like you can’t stand me. Trying to stay away from me, being awkward and short in conversation; the kind of things you do when you just want someone to go away.” I shrug, laughing. “Especially to Mary. She’s trying to sink her claws in.”
“Well you more than anyone know that’s not true. As for the rest of them, fuck them.” He gazes into my eyes,
a pensive look taking over his face. “Don’t worry about Mary, she doesn’t stand a chance.” He smiles.
“I don’t. I won’t. It’s just annoying seeing her all over you like that. I mean can’t the girl take a hint?”
“I get it. It’s just like my brother with you.” He grins.
“Oh my God! What’s up with that?”
“Want me to fight him for your honor?” he ask, jokingly. I can’t help but laugh. “Have I told you how hot you look tonight?”
“You haven’t, but the expression on your face as soon as you saw me has. Thank you, by the way. You don’t look too bad yourself.”
Mickey caresses his legs with mine, causing a rush of electricity to course through my body. I want him next to me. I want his lips kissing mine. I just want him, only him.
Chino and Mary are still on the dance floor and it appears that they’ve found different partners. Mario is at the bar in full conversation with the blonde and Kevin, well I don’t know where he is. I look around the club, trying to spot him.
“Oh God!” Mickey exclaims, suddenly interrupting my search. “What an idiot.” I look to where he’s looking and notice that a fight has just broke out. There’s a bunch of guys in the fight pit and it’s then that I realize that my brother is one of the guys fighting. “Fuck!” Mickey exclaims as he sees one of them punch my brother.
Fuck, indeed.
Chapter Four
“H
ey! Get off of from him,” Mickey yells to the guys fighting my brother as he tries to stop the fight. Seriously, I don’t know what the hell Kevin is thinking fighting these idiots. Even worse, fighting these idiots alone. Out of nowhere one of the guys sucker punches Mickey, grabs him, and throws him to the floor. “Get away, Laylah. Go!” he yells over to me as soon as he sees me get closer to them. A part of me just wants to help him, both of them. I want to save them.
Mickey gets up and returns the punch to the douche bag who hit him. I don’t know why, but my brother does nothing to defend himself. It’s like someone has him tied up. No one is stopping him, yet he does nothing. Mickey is taking on the four idiots by himself. After a few minutes, the entire club is aware of the situation. In that exact moment, Chino comes over and helps Mickey.
I see Kevin on the floor and head over to him. He seems to be in pretty bad shape. When I look up by my side, I notice Mary also heading toward him. Taking advantage of the fact that Kevin has crawled away from the fight, we manage to get him up into a standing position. His mouth and nose are covered in blood and there’s a pretty big possibility that he’ll have a black eye by tomorrow. To be honest, I don’t know how the hell I can help him. Even more, why the hell he didn’t defend himself? It’s official, my brother’s an idiot.
Security eventually comes over and stops the fight. By that point, no one even knows what they were fighting about and Kev won’t talk about it. Somehow, we are the ones who end up getting kicked out of the place and not the four morons. I go looking for Mario and find him near the door waiting for us. Mickey and Chino are a mess. Mickey has a cut on the lip from where he was punched the first time and a swollen cheek from the second blow. Chino got lucky, making it out with only a cut on his eyebrow. A cut that seems to be bleeding a lot. We get my coat and head out of the club.
“What the hell was that all about?” Mickey screams at Kevin as we head to the car.
“Shut up, Vega! I don’t wanna talk about that shit,” my brother yells back, barely able to stand because he’s in so much pain.
“The hell you are! I just got my ass kicked in there and your sister almost got hit, too. All because of you. How can you be such an irresponsible idiot?” Mickey seems pretty steamed, especially since Kevin doesn’t seem to realize how fucked up the whole situation was.
“What? Laylah, are you ok?” Kevin asks. Just like that, my brother is back.
“I’m fine, I’m fine. I’m just worried about you. Thankfully, Mickey stopped it from becoming worse,” I say smiling to both of them.
“God! You’re an idiot. Are you going to talk or what, Torres?” Mickey asks my brother as he tries to calm down.
“I was talking to this really hot chick. That was her boyfriend…or ex-boyfriend, I don’t know. He’s apparently either extremely jealous or extremely…” He shakes his head, as if getting rid of a bad image. “I don’t know, man. It all just happened so quick. Let’s just leave it at that, okay?” he says as he lets out a huge breath of air.
“I have a question,” Mary says with her ‘I know it all’ face. “Why didn’t you defend yourself? Why let them beat you? I’ve seen you in other fights, you could of have taken them all, Kevin,” she accuses.
“I don’t want to talk about it!” Kevin snaps, continuing to walk alone toward the car.
I find myself driving us back home in Mickey’s Tahoe. As soon as we got to the vehicle he claimed he didn’t feel well and handed me the keys. Everyone looked confused by the exchange. He shook them off, telling them that he had a major headache and he knew I hadn’t been drinking. Really, I’m the only one who he trusts with his second love. He worked hard for it, so it’s understandable.
It’s one in the morning by the time we get home and I park the car in front of my Jeep, like usual. We all pile out of the car and head into the main house. Considering past experiences, it’s safe to say that it was quite a short night. Normally whenever Mickey and I go out to a night club we don’t get home until three in the morning, or later. But, considering everything that happened today, it’s completely understandable.
Luckily, everyone is asleep by now and we are safe from all the questions that would’ve come once they saw Kev and Mickey’s beaten up faces. Plus, the reprimands that would surely come after the constant questions. Along with some words of worry. It’s an emotional roller-coaster with this crazy family. But, through time you get used to it and learn that they do it because they care, because they love us.
The boys eventually head off to bed, beat from the events of the day. Literally. Chino was pretty drunk, my brother not so much, and Mario, well, let’s just say his bed time had already passed. Mary also decided it’s time for bed and leaves along with Mario through the recently opened backyard, heading to the respective house they are staying in. As for me, I decide to go to the kitchen and get some water. My nerves are still a little shot, so I’m hoping a quick breather will calm them. Just as I’m about to leave the kitchen, Mickey comes in.
“You look awful,” I say to him.
“I feel awful,” he whines. If you ask him, he would deny it, but he definitely whined.
“Here…let me help you.” I head over to the sink looking for the first aid kit. Finally finding it in the cabinets above, I wet a towel and move over to the breakfast bar where Mickey has taken a seat. I press the cloth against his wounds and begin to take care of him.
“I’m sorry if it stings,” I say to him, smiling in reassurance.
“Don’t worry about it, I’m a big boy.” He smiles back.
“Sure you are. Thanks, by the way,” I mutter.
“For what?” he frowns.
“For defending Kev, for preventing one of those punches to come my way. I didn’t even notice.”
“I swear, if one of those sons of a bitches laid a hand on you, I would of have killed them.”
“Well, aren’t you the knight in shining armor,” I say, proud of the amazing man I have by my side. “Is it safe for us to be here, right now? We’re practically playing with fire.”
“Yeah, Chino passed out as soon as he hit the bed and your brother is too beaten up to get up. Ouch!” He winces as I dab the cloth against his lip.
“Sorry,” I mumble.
“I’m fine,” he says, resting his beautiful face in my hands. “I’ve missed your warm touch.”
“You and me both.” We both smile and stare into each other’s eyes as I caress his face. Wanting, but not moving, not risking.
“There. All done,” I say, breathily.
“Always,” I whisper, keeping him close to me and to my heart. He lifts his head and kisses me slowly, passionately, like it’s the last kiss we’ll ever share. I could happily die this way, with him holding me in his arms.
A sudden noise pulls us out of our embrace. I had lost all sense of time and had no idea how long we’d been here. I can only pray that whoever it is hasn’t seen much.
“Dios mio! What in the heavens happen to you?” Lola asks, concern heavy in her eyes as she looks over Mickey’s face.
“Jesus, Ma’! You scared the shit out of us,” Mickey says with a scowl.
“Hey, lenguaje! And don’t give me that face. What happened Miguel? Who did this to you?” she asks, her tone authoritative, clearly coming from a woman that has had to deal with raising three boys.
“Nothing…” he says, taking a deep breath. But, one look at his mother and he spills everything that happened, down to the last detail. That’s one of the many things I admire about Lola. One firm look in the eyes and, without realizing it, you are telling her your deepest, darkest secrets.
That’s how the Vega brothers always found themselves in deep water. Also explains how she knew Mickey and I were a couple as soon as she laid eyes on us. There was no way of denying it to her.
“Dios mío! Sometimes I wonder what I’m going to do with these two boys of mine,” Lola exclaims while looking up to the ceiling.
“Oh good, you guys are up! Are you going with us?” Mom asks, heading directly to the coffee machine. The woman just can’t function without her caffeine. “What happened to your face?” she asks, noticing Mickey’s face. Her eyes land on me with a frown.
