Chapter 40: Chapter 40

We walked into a different type of atmosphere. The palace was hopping and full of people. I didn’t bother to look around and scope the place. The girls quickly went to the bar and bought us some beer. Melba quickly handed me one. “Let’s see who’s here.” She said as she entwined her arm around mine. I accepted it and off we went to see who we could find. The place was not large, anyone who entered through the door would find the bar right away and tables aligned in that area. The dance floor was in the center and all around in a square area were tables set around it. The DJ was stationed at the right side of the dance floor where he could see everyone. We would often try to get up there to see a bit but we knew that wouldn’t be possible with the immense amount of people. We could see that the DJ had new equipment that meant it was for the Karaoke. I saw people lining up to sign up. I guess we were in for a treat. I wasn’t about to add my name to the list. I was just going to hang back for tonight. We looked toward the center where the dance floor was stationed. It was packed with people dancing with Reggaetón music. As I turned to the left of the area, I stopped in my track. They're sitting with a man and two women were Diego. By the look of it, he was on a double date. Melba tugged at me but I didn’t move. I was hypnotized looking at him. I guess he had already moved on. Melba looked to see where I was staring. “That fucker!” She said. “And look who the fuck he's with, isn’t that one of your student's mother.” That woke me up from my trance. “What?” “Look Fio” “Oh, shit you’re right.” I could see Diego in deep conversation with the woman. He hadn’t seen me which was good. I needed to get out of there. I couldn’t take it knowing that this woman would be getting the orgasms that I would often get. I started to panic and started to pull my arm away from hers. I knew Melba felt me. “Fio! don’t, you can’t let him win. Didn’t you think he would be out here too? He’s a man Fio.” I took a deep breath. She was right, I was the one that broke it off. I was the one who didn’t want to know anything more about Diego. If anything should happen to him, I wouldn’t care so why should I care who he was with. I felt something in my stomach and my heart but I pushed it down not wanting to know. I couldn’t feel anything for Diego. I wouldn’t allow myself. But I remembered his words. “We are not done, Fio.” But looking at him here with another woman he was done with me. I closed my eyes and opened them again. “You’re right, Melba let’s get drunk.” We turned around and went to get more beer. I was glad that the club was packed. I steered away from his eyes as I possibly could. The girls were already seated at a table with some guys and I was thankful. I joined them and we began to talk and dance. I began to drink more than I should and the thought of working the next day would definitely be tough, but right now I wanted to drink. I wanted to forget Diego was here with another woman and to top it off a mother of one of my students. By midnight I was defiantly drunk. The alcohol had done its trick. The thought of Diego had subsided. I could my composure offbeat and was thankful I hadn’t come across Diego. I knew I’d probably do something that I didn’t want to. The karaoke began right at midnight just as announced. The people that had signed up to sing went up the stage to sing. The girls and I were enjoying the cheering, booing, and laughter. It was a shame that I had to miss some of them, for my bladder needed a release and so I headed to the bathroom. I excused myself from my crew and went to get my business done. I hadn’t bothered to check to hide from anyone, my body had other things in mind so I threw caution to the wind. As I walked out from the restroom and was getting my belt on correctly, I bumped into someone. “Oh, God I’ am sorry!” I said to the person. He took a hold of me and that made me lookup. I hadn’t realized it was him. I pushed back away from him and went back into the wall and stumbled. He quickly took a hold of my arm. “Fio, are you okay?” He asked with concern in his voice. “Yes,” I whispered trying to regain my composure. My instinct told me to walk away as quickly as possible. At that moment, the door to the restroom opened again and made me turn to look and saw the woman Diego had been talking to. It was an awkward feeling and that made me turn around to get ready to leave, but luck was not with me. She called my name and made me stop. “Miss Pena” I closed my eyes and thought should I walk away and pretend I didn’t hear her, but the better of me got me. I turned around. “Hello, Mrs. Gonzalez.” I said to her. “It’s Miss Martinez, now.” “Oh, I’ am sorry to hear it.” I said. “Don’t be as you can see I’ am doing fine.” She said as she looked at Diego. “Yes, I am sure you are.” Not showing whether it hurt. “Oh, where are my manners, this is Mr. Bolatrez.” She motioned with her hand to introduce him. Diego looked at me and I at him. I took out my hand to shake it. “Hello, Mr. Bolatrez, as she just mentioned I am Ms. Pena.” I said to him Diego didn’t shake my hand. “Fio,” he said. He stepped up to me and I stepped back. “Sorry, I have to get back to my friends, well it was nice seeing you Miss Martinez, right, and Mr. Boltarez.” I turned around and heard her say. “Yes, goodbye Miss Pena” I walked quickly but the alcohol inside me made me hold the wall for support. I was drunk that much I knew, but my heart needed more to stop it from hurting. I was glad that I reached the table and quickly sat down. I needed to take in what had just happened. The guys that were with us bought another round of beers and I quickly took one. I gulped it and waited for my nerves to die down. Melba looked my way and lifted her hands and motioned with her chin. In an instant, I knew she was asking what was up. I nodded a nothing to her. The weirdness didn’t dissipate, something inside me wouldn't go away and made me look around. My eyes came to meet his. Diego was staring at me. I tried to move around to avoid his stare, but anywhere I went I could feel him. The announcer made me listen and took me away from that feeling. He kept asking for someone to come to sing. I looked to see who it was, but they wouldn't show up. Once again the announcer began to call someone and finally realize it was my name he was saying. All my friends then looked at me and I at them. . “Fio, they are calling your name.” “No, they are not.” I was in denial it wasn't me. Then once again my name was called. “Fio Pena, you are up!” the DJ announced. Then I realize it was me. I looked at my friends and asked “Who the hell put my name in!” saying it out loud. I looked at them and they all nodded but Sara wouldn’t look at me. At that moment I knew this was her payback for our heated conversation from last time. “Sara why did you do it?” yelling at her. Not once did she turn. I had a feeling she too had seen Diego here and she probably knew he was with someone else. It only confirmed when I followed her stare. Once again the announcer said. “Fio Pena, please come up!” I got up but instead of heading to the stage, I started to walk to the door, but I was stopped by Carlos. “Carlos what are you doing.” “I want to hear you sing, Fio.” He took my hand and began to guide me toward the stage. I protested but to no avail, He grabbed me by the waist and hoisted me up. I didn’t know what I was most embarrassed about him grabbing me in that way or feeling drunk. The DJ gave me the mic, I took it with shaking hands. “Are you okay, the DJ asked.” Was I okay, I felt butterflies in my stomach but I didn’t feel the need to throw up. I was holding it well. “Yes” and nodded. Looking out into the crowd I could still feel uneasiness and turned to look to see Diego staring right at me. I quickly looked at the way. “What is the song I am going to sing. “Someone suggested Over You is that okay.” The DJ asked. “Yeah, that’s fine.” The song began with the instrumental chorus I listened to it and I closed my eyes. I blocked everyone in the room I was alone, remembering the hot breeze I had felt early today. I imagined myself at the spot where my nephew was buried. My voice began to sing for him. I was in a trance, not realizing where I was until the song ended, and heard absolutely nothing. The crowd had gone quiet. I awoke and looked about and saw everyone just staring. I didn't know what it was they stared. Then all of a sudden the crowd began to whistle, clap and scream. I was overwhelmed with the shouting and didn't allow me to think. I didn’t know what to do next. I quickly gave the mic back to the DJ and began to stroll down. I wanted so much to leave. Everyone else started to yell “One more! One more!” I wasn’t sure I could give them one more. I just wanted to leave. I saw my friends and Carlos waiting at the bottom of the stairs but the yell of the people began to increase. Their motion of the hands to go back and I knew I couldn't leave the way I had hoped. I stopped turned around and went up again hoping to find an escape, but the DJ gave me once again the mic. I took it not realizing that I needed to sing another song. My mind went blank, but then I remembered a song from Rascall Flatts called Come to wake me up and so I told him to play that one for me. I motioned to the DJ to stop the music and then I spoke. Everyone stood silent “I am going to sing a song I’ve never sung before so please be compassionate if I should go astray with it. I want to sing this song because well it goes out to someone that might or might not be in this room with us and I know many of you have probably made a mistake that you wish you could try to undo. So listen to the lyrics if you can and like I said if I should go astray please forgive me I haven’t sung this song before”. The DJ began to play once again the song and I started to sing. I sang with the lyrics. I looked once or twice toward Diego and I could see he was listening to what I was singing. I was glad that my voice didn’t go astray and I was able to keep the tune and vocals right. Once it was done, I handed the mic back to the DJ and blocked out all the screams from the people. My main object was to leave the place. It was a struggle to get around the people and as I reached Melba. I told her I had to leave. I kissed her cheek and started to walk and pushed my way from the people. I heard some say how great I sang, some even wanted me to stop me, but I shrugged them off. I just needed out. I stood outside, the line was nowhere to be seen. There was darkness and danger wasn't even in my mind. In my heart, I had lost that one thing that made me different and finds myself. I knew I was starting to have feelings for Diego and it scared me. I took a deep breath and started to walk up the sidewalk. I heard my name being called by not one but others. I didn't turn for I knew it was my friends, but the more pronounced voice was from Diego. “Fio, STOP!” I heard him say. I did as he said but I didn’t give him the chance to reach me. It was my luck that I saw a guy in a motorcycle passing my way. I yelled at him to stop and he did. He stopped abruptly. “What’s wrong?” He asked looking at me. “I need to get away can I please have a ride to my truck? ” I asked not knowing how I looked or how I sounded, but it worked he agreed. In the distance, I heard my friends screaming my name and wanting me to stop what I was doing. I ignored them I even ignored the one that mattered. I jumped up to the seat and seated myself behind the guy. I held on. Once he accelerated and left the area I began to relax. “So where too?” I gave him the directions and he was able to get me there. I thanked the guy for the ride. “Are you sure you’re okay?" He asked once I climbed off. “Yes, and thanks for the ride.” He nodded and took off. I walked over to the closed gates but something made me stop. The gates were not closed but opened. I could see that my truck was still there and nothing seemed damaged. A warm breeze swept around me as before. I looked around to see if anyone else was around. I knew Ricardo wouldn’t have left it open even if he had gone somewhere and I knew he couldn’t because my truck was in his way. He had said he wouldn’t be going anywhere. I looked at the clock and saw that it was broken into. This sent chills down my spine and fear crept over me. Then the remembering Fred's voice "You haven’t been down to the Border have you Fio? Don’t go it’s not safe." Oh, Fuck he was right. It wasn’t safe. I tried to calm myself down by telling myself to just head to the truck and then call Ricardo to let him know the gate lock was broken into. Then, I stopped what if they are still here. I needed to call for help but somehow my hands were frozen and I didn’t know how to move. Calm, I kept telling myself. Get in the truck and call. I took in a deep breath and pulled out my truck keys and my cell phone. I got closer to my truck and started to dial, but my keys fell to the floor. As I bend down to grab them and took them in my hand. I accidentally pushed the button to open my truck. The lights lit up the place and I took a step back to see dripping blood from the top of the carport ceiling. I don’t know why I did I guess the saying curiosity in every human being makes that one mistake. So I began to walk up towards it. It is as if It called me. I continued to walk up the truck as it light the way. I looked down at the dripping blood and then my head just lifted to see where it was coming and that is when I saw him. Richard, he had been nailed to the top of the porch ceiling. I could see the writing of some kind but I couldn’t see it very well because my eyes had filled with water. Tears were streaming down the side of my eyes and it took me back to the prison Cereso II.