California Dreamin

13

The air in El Paso felt different, or at least that was Nina's impression. It was summer but it still didn't look much like it. Or maybe it was all in her head. She had to go have lunch at the Ramirez's, but it wasn't a normal one.
They would have been all together, Nancy included, under Richard request. They were having a thing but that was the last thing Nina was thinking about.

That lunch was a special occasion to welcome back a man that Nina described as one of the closest to evilness, she didn't care if he was insane or not. He was evil.
Miguel Ramirez, one of the ugliest person alive to Nina's eyes and not because of his appearance.

The girl's hands were shaking as she thought about what was going to happen. While walking down the street to reach the mexican family's place, she'd think about going back home and excusing a headache to avoid that event.

But as she planned all of that, her feet already walked her in front of their main door.
After knocking, Ms. Ramirez greeted her with a warm smile before hugging her. One of the sweetest woman ever.

When she went inside, he was already there, sitting on the couch, laughing with Richard and Ruth's husband Roberto. That sight made her clench her fist as the urge to protect the young Ramirez grew stronger and stronger.

"Hey." Nancy came out from the kitchen with Ruth, both hugging the girl who just arrived.
At that point Richard and Roberto noticed Nina's presence.

"Mike, do you remember Nina?" Richard asked.
As his cousin focused all of his attention to the black haired girl, she felt her blood boiling.

Given the look in Mike's eyes, Nina wondered what "fine" meant for the doctors because he seemed anything but fine in that moment.
"I sure do." He grinned, speaking with his strong spanish accent that Nina sure didn't miss.
She limited herself in faking a little smile.

And the actual lunch went even worse.
Nancy was basically acting like the most stupid girl Nina has ever met. She laughed incredibly loudly at every single word coming out of literally anyone and it was evident that she was trying too hard to fit in. She was pushing it too much.

Nina didn't mind it at first, as her friend was just trying to create a bond with her boyfriend's family. But at some point, she was exaggerating as she started interrupting Nina every single time she tried to speak, like she wanted attentions from everyone. That's when she snapped.

"Are you fucking done?" Nina asked, voice a bit too loud and the coldest tone. Everyone went quiet. Ruth widened her eyes, knowing the girl too well.
"Ohh Lord, this place's about to blow." Ruben whispered while glancing at his sister who silently gulped.

"Because you're acting like the dumbest and most pathetic bitch ever. Quit. It." Nina said the last two words gritting her teeth and clenching her fists so tight that her nails were marking her palms, almost cutting them. Her anger was getting out of control, she was her father's daughter after all.

Nancy started at her with glossy eyes and a mix of embarrassment and sadness on her face, feeling humiliated.
She whispered an "excuse me" before quickly getting up and headed to the bathroom.

The room was filled with silence. Ruth sighed heavily while running her hands over her face, like she was frustrated. Even Mike wasn't expecting that to happen. He knew that she would have grown up with her father's temper and that she'd eventually explode. Richard was speechless but he didn't dare say anything ir even look at Nina who was spacing out.

The girl felt her breath getting heavier and heavier. She had to get out and she did, without saying a word.
As soon as she was outside, tears started running down her cheeks, but not out of sadness, she just didn't know how to deal with her anger and crying was the only thing she was able to do in that moment.

She then let out a loud but short scream and started punching the wall. Right when her knuckles were about to start bleeding, someone stopped her, aggressively hugging her from behind to make her stay put.

"Hey. Hey no. Take it out on me. Take it out on me. Punch me but please don't hurt yourself."
Nina turned around and didn't hesitate as she began punching Ruben's chest, crying desperately.

Ruben let her be and endured it for her to slowly calm down. And it worked, as he felt her punches weaker and lazier until she stopped and simply hugged him.
As he caressed her back, she relaxed more and more.

"I'm sorry. I probably reminded you of your father with every action. But I just couldn't take it anymore, you know? Richard and Nancy together, Mike being back and then Nancy acting like that and even disrespecting me." She quietly explained. But everyone inside that house already knew what was going on in her mind.
"I just want to go home." She concluded.

"You should talk with Nancy first." He said, drying her tears out with his thumb.
But of course Richard had to be in front of the bathroom's door, trying to talk Nancy into coming out. And of course he had to glare at Nina as she went close to him.
"Was it really necessary?" He asked like he was scolding her. Wrong move.
"You shut the fuck up and leave." And she knocked on the door.

"Nancy, it's me, open up." And when she heard her friend unlock what was dividing them, she sighed and went inside.

"Listen I'm-" She looked around her like she was in search for the right words.

"I'm sorry Nancy, I acted like a bitch. You wanted all the attentions to yourself but you need to understand that I basically grew up in this house with those people, you can't just try to cross me because you're fucking Richard."

Nancy was sitting in the bathtub, not saying a word or looking at the girl in the middle of the room.

"I think I still have to adjust to the fact that you're dating Richard and you know I don't think he's good for you. You could tell me that I don't know him like you do but I could tell you the exact same thing. I'm your best friend and I'm worried about you because I don't see this place as the right one for you." At that point, they were both crying again.

"Also, I was so nervous because Mike is back and I'm nervous about Richard too and I don't know how to deal with all of this."

Nancy finally looked up at her friend.
"What's up with him? I really don't get it."

Nina instead looked away and started walking around the small room like a crazy person.
"Of course you don't. Nobody does as I'm the only one who knows what happened after Richard. He's not aware of me knowing the truth though." She then went to sit in the bathtub next to Nancy.

"In 1973, Mike shot his wife, in front of Richard, I'm not going to tell you all the dynamics of me finding out about it but let me tell you that I was already smart enough to understand a few things. He didn't tell a single soul about it and I never went up to him and told him I knew everything. He kept it all to himself and he was thirteen. Thirteen years old."

Nancy had a hand covering her mouth with horror in her eyes.
"Nancy you have to swear on your life that you're not telling anyone. And you can't talk about it with him, ever."
"I-I swear..."
But what none of the two knew is that Richard was still outside the door.