-Present-
As soon as I entered Bottle Ground, I felt nostalgic. I keep thinking back to the first time Carter and I had some time together without CJ. I instinctively made my way to the massive bar's basement level, where I found Caroline right away. Like stranded lovers, we rushed to each other. I saw how much she had changed when I gave her a hug. Due to her Mexican ancestry, her hair was cut in a bob with thick red streaks that complemented her naturally tanned skin. She was dressed in a black uniform shirt and slacks.
"Caroline!!!" I screamed.
"Katy!!!" She returned the favor. "Oh my gosh, Katy, you look so good!"
"So do you," I gushed.
"I look the same. You look amazing. I almost didn't recognize you!"
We chuckled as we went to the bar. I said hello to everyone I knew from my prior employment here. I even gave my former assistant general manager a hug before sitting down with Caroline. She filled me in on her family, her career, and her apartment. I even informed her of my plan for a job interview and apartment search. We intended to reunite the previous crew, at least those who were within driving distance.
"You think Josiah will come?" She asked, slyly.
I moaned. Before I left for Boston, Josiah, and Caroline began dating. I'm not sure how serious things became. While I was in California, Josiah and I didn't talk much, and we never discussed relationships. I had no idea what had transpired or the reason why they had stopped dating. I'll be honest; I didn't care to know.
"I don't know, but I definitely will be inviting him," I answered honestly.
"Okay. I'm fine with that. Just wanted a heads up."
"Caroline! I need you at the bar!" A young woman yelled from across the room.
"Urgh," Caroline sighed, "You do know if that job doesn't come through, you have one here, right?"
I laughed at her. "I'll keep that in mind."
We shared a few more words, but barely, as I stayed to observe her work. In the meantime, I got to see the Warriors' series defeat. I bid everyone adieu and left after the game was over.
*****
Although my mother is mostly Hispanic, it is unknown who my biological father is. Who knows, maybe my father is Mexican, given that I was raised on Mexican food and was born in California. Whatever the case, I was honoring Cinco de Mayo and giving thanks to my new roommates by having dinner ready for them when they got home.
Roxanna got off around five in the evening every day. Leon was an executive at the Jamison family business, so his hours varied, but he opened this morning so he would be home around four.
I headed to the grocery store. I bought all the ingredients for Molé Poblano, the fixings for queso, chilaquiles, pico de gallo, guacamole, and chips. The last stop before heading home was the liquor store, where I bought a margarita mixer and tequila.
After hauling in all my groceries, I got started on dinner. I was putting the enchiladas in the oven and singing and dancing when Leon entered the kitchen.
"Hola! Como Estas?! [Hello! How are you?!]," I greeted him warmly.
"Mas o menos. Y tu? [More or less. And you?]," Leon said, sitting down at the table in the breakfast nook.
"Muy bien! Tienes hambre? [Very good! Are you hungry?]," I asked, pulling out two beers.
"Nope… That is the entirety of my Spanish, except for swear words and 'bend over'." He admitted, grinning, as I peered at him sliding a lime on top of his beer bottle.
"Ay, Papi! Eso es demasiado. [Oh daddy! That is too much]," I groaned, shaking my head and handing him a beer.
"Just kidding. I'm starving"
I gave him a swift tap on the head before arranging the chips, pico, queso, and guacamole in front of him. He started shooting pictures of the food with his phone once he pulled it out.
"Seriously, dig in. Enchiladas and margaritas will be served as soon as Roxanna gets home," I smiled.
"Where did you get the enchiladas from?" He asked, excitedly, filling a plate with chips and dip.
"I made them," I said, proudly. I ignored the odd look he gave me.
When Roxanna got home, she was nowhere near as subtle.
"I adore you, Katy. Although everything smells wonderful, I must avoid missing any work due to food poisoning," she murmured, casting a wary glance my way. Leon erupted into laughter.
"Fine, I'll eat," I rolled my eyes and heaped two enchiladas and pico on a plate. I went and got a margarita and sat down. Every time I took a bite, I gasped and groaned. Leon caved in first and made his plate. Roxanna ultimately followed Leon's example and made her plate. Roxanna mouthed a remarked, 'Ask me in a few hours,' as Leon raved after eating.
I giggled and cleaned the kitchen while turning down their assistance. I started to receive new Facebook alerts when I finally finished and I checked my phone. I'm not an avid Facebook user. Even in college, I didn't post much. In part because I seldom have anything particularly spectacular to discuss and I don't want my dad to be privy to everything I do. I did use it to stay in touch with my pals. I discovered that Leon tagged Roxanna and me in a post a few hours earlier. He had images of the meals, margaritas, and alcohol I had set out for him.
It read:
Happy Cinco de Mayo! I returned home to this! #CincodeMayo! #Muy Bueno! #MyFriends
When I saw how many likes and comments it had already received, I grinned to myself. The majority of them wished him luck and wished him a happy Cinco de Mayo. Then, I noticed that Carter had made a remark.
Carter: It looks delicious. Roxanna performed admirably.
Leon instantly corrected him.
Leon: Well, Katy made dinner today
Josiah remarked, right after,
Josiah: Is everyone okay? Zero fires? Or trips to the emergency room?
Roxanna replied only seconds later.
Roxanna: No. Because I wanted to make sure the enchiladas were okay, I ate a lot of chips. I'm going back a few seconds.
I immediately typed a reply.
Me: You people have cold blood. I'm here cleaning the kitchen while you were sitting here chatting about me.
Leon: Haha. Not me. The best roommate ever, you! #RoomyLove
Me: What did I say about being referred to as your "roomy"? We are NOT sharing a room.
Leon: Let's put it into action! #MyGirlGottaGirlfriend
After he said that, the responses came flying right in.
Josiah says: LOL
Roxanna: Not taking place
Me: Disgusting
Marcus: Without a movie, I won't be able to believe it.
I touched Marcus' icon to see who he was. Apparently, he was Leon's associate. A buddy of his?
Caroline: Oh, dear. My eyes.
Disgruntled, I put my phone down and went to my room. I got ready to go for a jog by changing into some fitness attire. The evening was young, and I could really enjoy the evening breeze against my skin.
I was rummaging with my headset to put it on when I heard Roxanna giggling as I entered the living room, and Leon was shaking his head.
"What's up?" I asked her.
"Check your Facebook," Roxanna said, between laughs. I picked up my phone and scrolled and saw Leon's and Carter's dad responding to the post.
Oscar Carter: What about that is odd or gross? Your mother goes on dates with her girlfriends.
I stared back at Roxanna and we both instantly laughed.
Leon then replied to his father.
Leon: Cheers, dad. Just now, you killed it.
Oscar Carter: Good. The next time, consider what you want to publish for everyone to see.
While making fun of Leon, Roxanna and I both found Oscar's reply amusing and liked it.
I felt warm and happy like there was an additional dimension of time colliding together. Putting things in their proper places, in the desired way they should be in the first place. I stood there for a moment, wondering if I could locate the button that would time travel from the past to the present just so I could see how I had been in this situation before I did what I did. I wanted to know—even the slightest change may or may not be truthful if Carter had been here with me.
I bite my lips, fastened my headset to my ears, and placed my phone on my waistband. I gestured to Roxanna I was leaving for my run, and she waved back with a smile. Whatever actually exists in this lifetime has the air of the past. I wanted to stay and perhaps have a future of what I might like it to be. I finally had a sense of being at home.