Page 14 of Wasted Oil

“Really, Al?” She turns to look at RJ and they both just bust out laughing and I can’t tell if I’m annoyed or flattered.

"Come on Mel I could not open a bookstore cafe and not have your coffee order on the menu, what kind of best friend would I be if I didn’t include you?” I look back up at it and just shake my head and smile. I’m so happy she finally turned her dream into reality, she’s always talked about owning a bookstore with a cafe and here we stand now in honestly the most exquisite hole in the wall I’ve ever come across.

Of course, I get my signature drink then me and Al head to the old Victorian style loveseat in the corner of the store while RJ helps the other customers who have come in.

"Great to see you RJ! I hope you can teach your sister to some Spanish other than the words she thinks she knows!" RJ shakes his head smiling as he helps out another customer. Alex on the other hand is glaring at me.

"I know Spanish. Watch, Estúpidestrella." I give a puzzled look .

"What?" She asks. I place my hand on her shoulder with a seldom look on my face.

"Oh babes, I love ya and thank you for trying but you just called me a stupid star."

"Well if the boot fits." She says sticking her tongue out then we all burst out in laughter.

"This place is phenomenal Al, I can't get over how perfect and so you it is. I'm so proud of you.” I go to cheers her with our coffees and as I’m taking a sip, I look at the brick wall facing me and pause with amusement at the sign hanging dead center. 'Somebody told me that this is the place where everything’s better and everything’s safe.'

"I'm glad to see some things haven’t changed.” I say nudging my coffee in the direction of the quote. She turns her head in the area I’m pointing too.

"Like I wouldn’t have that in here, you know the cafe portion of my dream was solely based around Karen’s Cafe.”

We both chuckle and fall silent for a moment before she reaches to set her drink down on the coffee table leaning back. She looks at me with the look that she’s trying to decipher why I’m back to the one place I loathe most.

"So what's going on Mel? Why are you back and don’t get me wrong I’m all for having my bestie back, lord knows it's been almost what feels like a decade since you’ve been here. What gives?” My throat starts to tighten so I try and take another sip hoping the hot brew will calm the tension building up inside. Three years ago when I lost my apartment I called her having a meltdown, in a version of rock bottom that I really had no clue how to dig my way out of. Let’s not forget the many countless one night stands I had with men who would sweet talk me after a gig because my heart was wholeheartedly left back in Texas.

I checked in on Rhett through Alex every so often to see how he is. In that same year,I stopped asking about him when she told me about this new girl he was seeing and it seemed pretty serious. She knew deep down I was dying inside but again it was all self torture and all my own doing. If I had the confidence I have now back then in high school I know for damn sure I would have made my move on Rhett Anthony Parker, even if he was clueless to my feelings .

Damn.

You know when you go through a thought in your mind you’ve thought about over and over again on how you wish so bad to go back in time and change so many things or to pick up the damn phone and call him and when you do don’t hang up when he answers because its like all the breath left your body the moment he opened his mouth.

Things started feeling normal and like I was on the right path. We picked up several gigs and I made enough to find an old beat up pick up so I wasn’t relying on my roommate or taking Ubers. Then it's like we hit another wall and it felt like finding a slot to play was impossible and if that wasn’t bad enough, the phone rang with my mothers name lighting up the screen.

"Well first my mom called me three days ago acting like something bad had happened but wouldn’t tell me anything and begged me to come home. So naturally I’m thinking the worst that someone died and now thinking about it I don’t know why I just didn’t call you to do a courtesy check. But in all seriousness something in my gut was telling me to just go. Also things are just going downhill with everything in Tennessee, so much so that I slept with my roommate. Guess I’ve hit another rock bottom.” I confess with absolute humiliationand look up to see Alex choke on her coffee.

"I'm sorry wait hold up, slept with your roommate, as in David, lead guitarist of your band. That roommate .” I look at her biting the inside of my cheek nodding then looking down to fiddle with my distressed jeans.

"Damn Mel.” She makes a fist and brings it to her mouth and inhales while fanning herself with her other hand. All I can do is rest my arm on the shoulder of the couch and bring my fingers to my temple. “Im so proud.” I pushed her hand away from her lips which caused her to laugh and grab the top of my knee.

“Was he good?” She wags her eyebrows at me and all I can do is try and hold my composer. She knows how to turn a serious moment although it’s not that serious into something you can laugh about to break the stress of it away.

"Moving on. It’s not permanent, I’m just visiting with no end date yet, until I get home to see what's going on.” Alex smiles.

"Well that’s fine by me, and to celebrate you coming back home and it just so happens to be on a Friday night. What better way to celebrate than with karaoke?” She bites the bottom of her lip and again with the eyebrow raised. Rolling my eyes I sigh.

"Fine, but only cause I know I’m going to need several drinks after a family visit to La Casa Alvarez.” I purse my lips at the realization that I’m going to be seeing my father after five years of not speaking to him. Sure I heard from my mother every so often on occasions, the only few I’ve talked to from home are mamá, Xavier and Alex.

Just as I’m about to ask about the one thing I’m more curious about, the door to the store opens fiercely with the bell to follow.

"Sorry I’m late RJ, my car wouldn’t start so I had to get a ride from my mom.” As if almighty Hades is listening or expelling my inner thoughts out into the real world I’m stunned, it's not the Parker I’m hoping to see but the youngest. Roxy Parker.

"I hired her after her graduation because she’s in this rebellious stage of her life that’s causing Mrs. Parker a bit of stress, so this way she can be grounded and not partying or getting into trouble.” I look back at her and I’m dumbfounded by how grown up she looks then the last time I saw her.

The day before my graduation party we were all at the Parker Farm gathered around the dinner table with an intense game of Uno Attack and Mrs. Parker's homemade peach and apple pie. I miss Grace. I wonder how she’s doing. Though I wonder morehow he is doing, and if I should swing by and say hello. Would he welcoming with open arms or slam the door in my face. My votes the last one.

"Just ask ,Mav.” I turn at Alex’s question seeing her tapping the lid of her cup.

"How is he?” I bite the inside of my cheek hoping by all means I don’t hear of him being happy and in love because then tonight's festivities will be more than just drunk karaoke.

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