eyes without a face

PARTE 16

I was sitting outside in the side walk with Shelly. She was talking to me about how her dad, Robert.

"He's really close with my Tio Ricky." I nod slowly, my focus was focusing onto something else. I couldn't believe it. How did Richard's dad buy her bullshit and I couldn't say anything? They had me wait outside with Shelly. What was fucked up, was that Richard's mom wasn't even there. I didn't want to cause any trouble. I stood up, knocking on door. Rosie opens the door, "hey.. what happened?" She says. "I'm gonna go back to Robert's house.. with Shelly.. tell Richard that." I said. She nods as she closes the door. I had mixed feelings about Rosi. I walked back to Shelly and held my hand out. "Let's go home." She holds my hand. We get in the car as I start it.

Once we got to Robert's place, it was locked. Shit. "We can get inside by climbing the fence?" I nod. "Let's do it. It's gonna get cold later." I help her get over the fence. She opens the front door, I head inside. I went to the room we were staying and began packing my stuff. Shelly looks and stops me. "No! Don't go.." I look at her. "Don't leave Catalina." I sit down on the bed. She sits next to me. "I need to go back home Shelly. I can't be here." She holds my arm. "Take me with you." I hug her tightly. "I wish.. but you have school and your parents.."

The front door opened, Shelly stood up but I stopped her. We see through the door that it's Robert. She walks out and greets him. I finish packing my stuff. Robert comes in the room, "where's Richard?" he sees my stuff. "You leaving?" Shelly comes in the room. "Tio Ricky got another girl pregnant and uh.. yeah.. Catalina is going back home.. Pa.. tell her not to leave." Robert scoffs. "Shit. Let me guess.. It was the same bitch?" I nod at him. "Yeah. I'm leaving." I close my bag and walk out the room. Robert doesn't do anything but Shelly follows me. "Catalina! Please stay!" I walked outside and put my bag in the car. Robert was now outside and Shelly was hugging me. "I'm sorry Shelly.. I can't." I give her a tight hug. She goes back with Robert. I look at Robert. "Tell him.. he can call me. And thanks for letting me stay.." He hugs me. "Don't leave Richard.. por favor. That guy is madly in love with you." I pull him away slowly. "No.. he needs to get his shit straight. I can't Robert." I got in the car and began driving away from his house, not looking back.

I didn't really drive far but just got to a gas station. My telephone rings and it's my brother. Fuck. I answer it as I get in the car. "Hey.." "WHAT THE FUCK CATA?" I groan. "Beto?" "No fucking dumbass.. Where you at? You still with him?" "No.. I left. I'm on my way home." "I'm sorry cata..you'll be better without that foo."  "I guess.." "call me when you close or if you make a stop." "Yeah.. I'll call." I heard some muffling and strange noises. "Cata? It's Andrea. Your brother doesn't want me to talk to you cuz he thinks imma make you chase Richard." I sigh. "Yeah.. I'm not gonna chase him.. if he got another bitch pregnant pues I guess I wasn't really supposed to be with him.." "I guess.. should've went with you dude.. fuck. Órale pues call me when you get here. I miss you like crazy foo." "Yeah yeah.. I'll call. Bye."

I hang up. I wasn't ready for this.

It was already midnight, 2:21 am. I was already in Arizona. Had me thinking about my aunt. I couldn't visit her since she doesn't want me to visit her at all. I was tired. I stopped at a motel. I check in, going to a room and sleeping immediately.

March 24, 1981
I wake up around 8am. I check out, and quickly got in the car. I didn't want to stop and eat since I wanted to get home. I continue driving for another couple of hours till I got to Riverside. I was pretty much home already. I was driving, when my telephone rings. I ignored it and continued driving. It's 3pm when I get to my barrio.

I get home and park the car. I immediately get out and open the door. I see my brother Beto on the couch and he quickly stands up to hug me, I cried immediately. "Te extrañé." Andrea comes out of the bathroom and screams. I pull Beto away and hug Andrea. She hugged me tight. "Oww-" "I don't care.. I missed you like crazy bitch." She pulled me back as she looked at me. "He fucked up huh.." She grabbed my face and held my cheeks. "Is this where the bitch hit you?" I nod. My telephone rings and I answer it. I wiped my tears. "Hello?" I heard Richard's voice. "Catalina.." I stopped sniffling. "Richard?" "Why'd you leave?" I sniffed. "I couldn't stay there Richard. I don't think I can do this." "Do what?" "This. You clearly still have so many problems." "Catalina I need you.."

Andrea gets in front of me, "what is he saying?" I look at Andrea and I don't say anything. "I'm gonna fix this." "Okay. Then call me when you do." I said and hanged up. I was furious, I couldn't believe how fast it all happened.

Andrea looks at me with a grin. "What?" I say. She goes the table and picks up an envelope, giving it to me. "Guess who wrote back." I grab the envelope as I immediately open it. It was Andrew's letter.

March 17, 1981

Hey Cata, How you been? Missed you like crazy. I've been good, just busy with the surfing stuff. I also got an opportunity here in the city but I haven't thought about it. How's your sister? Is Beto still looking for a job? Sorry I haven't had the time to call you. Right now I'm in a van with some guys, we're actually going to LA in a few days. I think around the 25th? If I do go, I'll call you or go visit you. That's all I'm writing, you know I don't do well with letters. Te quiero.

      - Andres.

I smiled. I couldn't believe it. Andrea waits for my reaction. "He's coming in the 25th.." I say. She gasps. "That's tomorrow." She smiles. "Perfect timing." I looked at her confused. "Why?" She laughs. "He knows how to deal with your feelings." I roll my eyes as I close the letter. For a second, I forgot about Richard, then i remembered.

My telephone kept ringing but I didn't answer. I was guessing it was Richard and I really didn't want to talk to him. I was so confused with my feelings that I wasn't ready to talk to him. Beto comes to my room with his telephone. "It's Richard." I groan, standing up. "What does he want?" He passes me the telephone. "He wants to talk." I shake my head. "No. I-" He stops me as he gives me the telephone. "You need to talk to him." I grab the phone. "Hello?" "Why don't you want to talk to me?"
"Richard. You know why." "Look I'm already dealing with this shi-" He stops as he sighs. "My dad still thinks it's mine. I need to some proof that it isn't and-" I cut him off. "Look if you really want to be with me and you know that's not yours. Come back. I'm not dealing with this Richard. I seriously don't want to." He groans. "Fine. I'll try." I don't say anything else. "Pues.. Adios." "Yeah.. Bye." I hang up.

I was seriously pissed. I knew he wasn't going to come but I needed him to stop calling. My brother comes back to my room. "Don't go back with him." He says as he grabs his telephone back, leaving my room.