The change of tempo in the next song left the room in a rowdy mood as some of the guests whipped their hair and banged their heads along with the powerful guitar riffs. The lights moved in an almost erratic way and it seemed to mirror the wild nature of Valentina, which was evident when she had once again claimed his mouth without so much as a peep. He only had a moment to react and Caleb pushed back to return the kiss before the woman pulled away to decline his offer of a drink. It was hard to pin her down, one moment she was angry and before he knew it, she was swiping her tongue across his lip.
“No?” he echoed, the man’s voice drowned out by music; Caleb ran his tongue across where she had hers moments ago as he motioned for a refill on his glass, switching his vodka for whiskey which was his staple. He was dumbfounded, the mixed signals were throwing him off as he attempted to make sense of her words and actions; Valentina’s attention was nowhere near him now as she focused on the dancing lights, and the man was left to watch her for a bit as James Hetfield’s signature voice boomed through the planetarium.
“What the hell was that for?” Caleb finally managed to say though he wasn’t even sure if she could hear him. His drink had arrived and the male glanced at it before looking back again at the blonde; he wasn’t sure what else to say, can’t really admonish her for something he clearly enjoyed, so, shaking his head, Caleb grabbed the glass and emptied it again in one go before he straightened his back and moved towards Valentina.
Pinning her back against the bar counter, one hand reached to grab her face as blue eyes stared intently into green ones. The multicolored lights reflected on Valentina’s features, and, keeping her steady, Caleb leaned in before stopping just as their lips touched.
“You just take whatever you want huh?” this time he didn’t bother to raise his voice, the futile attempt of making himself heard already overshadowed by his need to reconnect their mouths once more.
The lights flashed in bright spontaneous bursts across the room. Red, green, and blue lasers cast shadows over the crowd, and lit up other portions with a wild rhythm to match the Metallica song. Valentina could still feel the pressure of his mouth against hers, and the woman bit down on her lip before taking a large drink from the gin and tonic. It was cold and smooth, and Valentina could only hope it’d dampen the maddening urge to move closer to him again. Her hips swayed gently to the heavy music, and Valentina watched as people began to move as well, no doubt their limbs were loosened by the flow of alcohol.
Valentina waited for what Caleb would do next, what his next move would be, and she could feel her body humming in anticipation. The woman felt challenged by him, by the nature of their interactions, and by the buzz he left lingering on her lips. He tasted of trouble, and whiskey, and the woman found herself craving the whisper of danger. She couldn’t hear him over the music, and with her attention on the striking lasers, she missed the question that he’d asked the air. And she wouldn’t have had an answer anyhow-- there was no answer to that question for Valentina Falcone.
It happened suddenly, and she had only noticed his movement a moment before she was pinned to the edge of the bar, feeling it dig into her back. Her breath escaped quickly as he grabbed her face, and Valentina was left to hold her breath; her heart jumped in her chest, as Caleb stood pressed against her, and she held his gaze steady, noticing a enticing darkness in his blue eyes. He leaned in, and her gaze dropped to his lips, and though she couldn’t hear the words, her eyes followed their movements, and Valentina caught every word.
She opened her mouth to his kiss immediately, and found the belt loops on his jeans to pull his hips closer. She forgot the crowd, forgot the lights, and as the music thrummed in her chest, Valentina kissed him back, prolonging the feeling of his tongue against her own.
She pulled back first, and spoke loud enough for him to hear as her eyes shifted up to his own. “I do,” she stated clearly, unabashed, “That must mean I want you.” Valentina winked at him, leaned forward to snag his lip between her teeth before pushing him away, and joining the small group that was beginning to dance to the music, tossing her hair and swaying her hips as she moved.
Turn around or wait - those were the two options that ran through Margo’s head. She couldn’t keep going on her path because that would mean the two people in a slightly heated conversation would see her for sure. If Margo tried to leave though, there was a chance they would see her too. Waiting, and hiding, at this point was looking like the best option for her.
Margo couldn’t just sit there and not listen though. It was in her nature to be nosey and she could just hear the two figures from where she was hiding behind the bush. Guns… A stolen shipment… money… They were definitely having a sketchy conversation. This was stuff she could take to Ms. Cooper and the Sheriff. Margo just needed to see who was talking.
Margo started to stand so she could peek over the bush when her phone started to go off. “Shit...” she whispered to herself as she dropped to the ground again and started rummaging through her purse to quite the music ringing through the park. Margo quickly turned her phone off and just waited for a moment in complete silence, praying they hadn’t heard her.
@cal-pierce
I need money. Immediately. At this, Callum allowed his guard to fall, but only for a second. “What do you mean you need money?” He snaps, taking a step forward. While he had heard what she had just said, and understood, it annoyed him that even though he had organized and turned in all expenses just over a week ago, and here she was demanding more.
“Well, I’d hate to break it to you, but I gave you all I had–when was it–last week? Y’know, when it was due?!” He says, glaring down at her for a moment. It wasn’t normal for him to get so hot-headed like this, but with the vibe he felt she was giving off, he couldn’t help but feel himself growing anxious.
After a moment, he twists around and runs his hands over his face. He really just needed room to think, even if it was only just a few seconds. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he finally goes on, “alright, I can probably gather up what you need, but I’m going to be short by quite a bit.” Cal makes his way back towards Valentina, looking her in the eye. “Let whoever was in charge of collecting that shipment know that I’m going to kick their ass,” he lets out, semi-serious with this as he combs his fingers through his hair.
@missfalcone
Valentina held her ground, staring at Callum as he stepped closer, his voice hardening. Her chin rose in defiance, daring him to step any closer, to challenge her further. Valentina was on edge, irritated by the stolen guns, pissed off about the bullshit alliance, and looking for someone to push her any further. The woman took a breath to steady herself, wetting her lip as she listened to him vent his frustration at her sudden demand. And he certainly had a point, he’d given her all the money, to the last cent, when it was due.
“I’m aware, Cal,” she returned, her voice tight in an attempt to keep quiet and in control, “And I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.” She waited as he found room to breathe, and think, glancing around the park as she waited for his response. When Callum finally spoke again, Valentina crossed her arms over her chest, and turned her eyes to him again. His answer had her nodding, and the woman reached up to tease a hand through her hair, opening her mouth to speak when the cheery sound of a ringtone rang through the park.
Valentina tensed immediately, her eyes flying towards the bushed area in which it came from. She moved quickly, brushing past Callum, and bursting through the brush to find a woman lying on the ground, hurriedly rummaging through her purse.
“Well, well, Cal,” She stared down at the woman, her expression cold, “Come look what I found.” Valentina kneeled down, memorizing the woman’s features. “You’re so fucked.”
Her closeness made Caleb’s throat tighten in an old, familiar way, noticing that it had become a recurring thing whenever Valentina was involved, it was even more so when she was angry or upset that he had been unable to provide a sufficient response right away. By the time Caleb had opened his mouth, her middle finger was in his face and the fence was once again left to watch her hips sway away from him.
His attempt to call her back was stopped by a firm grip on his arm and Caleb tilted his head to see who it was. Recognizing the man as his contact, the pair exchanged words with the fence explaining why he had his phone turned off– I need to get a new charger –before handing over the envelope.
‘You with someone?’
“What?”
‘I saw you with the chick,’ and Caleb glanced at Valentina who was still by the bar, no doubt still upset at him. “Uh, just hitched a ride actually, she doesn’t know anything,” he explained before hurriedly ending their transaction. Less than a minute, that was his policy, thirty seconds if he could finish the whole deal, there was no need for small talk and the extra time was for any pertinent information to be passed on: police, movement in prices, the clubs, and only then would he allow for a longer communication.
‘Same time next week?’
“Same time next week,” he smirked before making his way to where the woman lingered. The light show continued while some have taken advantage of the few people asking for a refill on their drinks, Caleb flagged down the bartender, ordered a drink and immediately emptied it before even attempting to talk to Valentina.
“Let me at least buy you a drink,” he offered, “before you leave my ass here in Phoenix.”
A double shot of whisky burned a path down her throat as the woman attempted to calm the racing rhythm of her heart. There was an eternal flame in the pit of her belly, and it never took much to see it spread into an inferno, threatening to burn anything near. It had been there for as long as Valentina could remember, and as she swallowed the last of the liquor, she felt it ease bit by bit.
Glancing down the bar, Valentina saw heads were tilted back, watching the lights cut vibrantly across the room as the music continued to compliment the psychedelic-like show. She was mildly surprised the museum put on events like this, and it led to the question of how Caleb had heard about it; granted, she didn’t know much about the fence who ran a low key criminal business. Another drink was ordered, a gin and tonic to slow her roll, and Valentina glanced back at her companion while her drink was made. The darkened room, and shifting crowd made it difficult for her to make him out, but as a couple moved out of the way, Valentina caught the tail end of a few exchanged words, a nod, and then the quick disappearance of a man in dark clothing. Narrowing her eyes, her gaze followed the stranger as he slipped through the exit, and only looked away when Caleb turned his attention towards the bar. The song changed, and Am I Evil began to fill the space as Valentina found her drink set in front of her on a neat little white napkin.
She was taking her first sip when Caleb materialized beside her. He downed a drink before turning, and Valentina simply stared at him as he offered to buy her a drink. She could remember buying the Garage CD when it came out, lying on her bed and listening to each song through the earphones of her walkman as she watched the fan rotate on the ceiling. Am I Evil had set her bones on fire though, and the then twelve year old had sprung from her place on the bed to jump around the room playing air guitar and thrasing her head back and forth.
It reached her favorite part, a minute and twenty-five in, and Valentina stepped towards him, closing the space. She pressed her lips against Caleb’s, swiping her tongue across his bottom lip, tasting the vodka on his mouth.
“No.” Valentina told him as the woman pulled away, fixing her attention back to the gin and tonic, and looking up to watch the lights.
It’s undeniably disappointing that the coffee isn’t the one that the other woman had ordered and part of her feels a little guilty that they hadn’t been able to do a straight swap despite knowing it was hardly her fault. It leads to a bit of awkwardness being felt when she never liked pulling people away from their own lives. “I’m sorry it wasn’t a simple fix.” If the determination in the other woman’s eyes was anything to go off Rose was convinced that she would have the whole thing resolved in no time but she felt as though she should at least offer to stick around. “If you need any help clearing it up, let me know.”
It wasn’t a big deal, and the woman had no problem stepping to the front of the line to sort out the order. She was getting the coffee at a reduced price anyway, and there were other things to occupy her irritation. “Not your problem,” Valentina responded, “I got it. Enjoy your tea.” And with that the woman walked back to the counter, leaning on the surface and waiting patiently until someone acknowledged her presence.
Marcus couldn’t help but grin at his sister. He could tell that she was aggravated, and despite the situation, he couldn’t tell but be entertained by her overall irritation. He knew she was probably as enraged and full of opinions as everyone else in town was, but for as long as he could, Marcus was just happy to see Valentina so frustrated. What kind of person didn’t like to watch their older sister get all frustrated?
“Oh, yeah,” the male lets out in a laugh. “I think that fund is a bit overdo,” he retorts, finally gathering the change that she had thrown his way. “This is going towards my dinner, by the way. Thanks for that,” he adds, speaking in more realistic terms. “I was thinking pizza? I mean, I think pizza almost every night, but especially tonight.”
“Oh, let’s get Hawaiian,” Valentina responded, her eyes cast down towards her bright purple finger nails. The polish was chipping, and the woman had begun to pick at them. She didn’t feel the need to ask if she could join, or if her younger brother had plans for that night, Valentina had no problem inviting herself.
Valentina looked back up at her brother, wetting her lips, and reaching for a sugar packet. “I dare you to snort this,” she teased, waving the packet in between them, “Double dog dare.”
His smile broadened to a grin at Valentina’s gentle rejection and he felt her fingers reach for his jacket; Caleb was almost tempted to close the distance between their lips when she finally looked away and then, just like that, the moment had passed, so the pair rode the elevator and entered the planetarium unhindered.
The place was dark but it was still easy to make out the silhouette of the other guests, and a bar by the corner provided dim illumination where a few have gathered and started drinking; he was about to head there when Valentina snapped at him leaving Caleb to blink owlishly and figure out what it was that ticked her off. Did she mean what exactly was going to happen in the planetarium? Or was she asking what his agenda was? Some of the guests have began to take notice, dismissing it as a lover’s spat but Caleb did not appreciate the attention.
“I need a ride back,” was his effortless response, “I’m not gonna let you leave my ass in Phoenix.” Caleb looked at the woman as though she was being unreasonable, and when she continued to glare at him, he felt compelled to say more.
Lime and limpid green, a second scene
A fight between the blue you once knew.
Floating down, the sound resounds
Around the icy waters underground.
But all the lights were suddenly cut off and people were left standing in the dark as Astronomy Domine played from the speakers. Various shades of green and white lights signaled the start of the laser show and everyone else’s attention was glued to the ceiling save for Caleb who briefly glanced at the spectacle of colors before turning to face Valentina.
“…Did you think it was a date, is that what this is about?” though his question was stated plainly, a hint of amusement could be detected on his face.
Valentina didn’t care who was looking at them, what they thought, or anything else about the people attached to the nosy pairs of eyes watching the woman raise her voice. It had happened suddenly, but Valentina felt as though there was something he wasn’t telling her; suspicion coagulated in her veins, and Valentina had the intuition to question his motives. “And how exactly do you plan to keep me from leaving your ass in Phoenix?” She challenged, taking a step closer, her chin raised as she looked up at him, “Because I have half a mind to leave you right here and now.” It wasn’t the fact that she didn’t really know anything about him that bothered her, it was the fact that he might have known much more about her than she knew. This excitement, this curiosity, this sense of wonderful trouble... it made her uneasy, and he was only encouraging it with each moment.
What little light was available was cut off completely, leaving the room in total, encompassing darkness for a few short seconds. It was the kind of darkness that felt thick, and when colored lights cut through the black, it was shocking, riveting. Green eyes were also cast towards the ceiling as they begun, unable to help the alluring attraction. The music started slow, before building, and it was only once the words began, that Valentina looked back to Caleb.
Her laugh was only heard by him, the music drowning out all other sound of it, and even so the gesture was hardly sincere. Stepping closer still, Valentina stared at him, her irritation rolling like a slow boil.
“No I didn’t think this was a fucking date. But it’s nice to hear you state so clearly that it isn’t” She said, speaking over the music. “Jesus fucking Christ,” Valentina mumbled, “Eat me.” And with her middle finger displayed in his face, the woman pushed past and making her way towards the bar.
Bringing his arm that held the nearly-empty bottle down to brush over his mouth, he sent her almost a playful glare. Once his hands were free, he found himself leaning over the pool table, his fingers tapping along the wood as he watched her effortlessly make another shot. Somehow, this made him smile. He’d known Valentina for what felt like ever. As fun as it was to bug her, it was just as nice to have moments like this. Moments like these were the reason he had wanted to join a club in the first place. However, as much as he loved these kinds of times… he also loved to ruin them. But seriously, I do appreciate all you do for the club. I could just kiss you. “I would kiss me, too,” he retorts, standing upright abruptly and grabbing a hold of his beer, finishing it off. Maybe thanks would have been a better way to go, but Cal was never good at expressing thanks.
Her expertise at the game of pool was owed to too much time spent in dive bars, ordering beer after beer and learning to play while drunk. But the game was strangely romanticized, and one tended to glide over the facts that it hid. The woman rolled her eyes while rounding the table. After taking a drink of her own rather cheap beer, Valentina sighed, shaking her head. “You really are my least favorite person on earth,” she teased, setting down the bottle and lining up for the next shot. “God damn unbelievable.” The amusement danced in her voice, as she pushed the pool cue against the white ball, nearly missing her shot. When she stood up, green eyes were cast towards Callum, a faint smile on her lips. “Wanna make a bet on this game?”
It had been a long day, the café had been busier than normal. Mia had just finished cleaning the espresso machine and was cleaning her hands in the sink when she heard the door open. “Sorry pal, we’re actually close,” she said without turning around.
@missfalcone
“Damn, pal, I was really hoping to snag a cup of coffee,” Valentina replied, hopping up onto the counter, and sliding around to face her sister. “But I guess I’ll just have to come back tomorrow,” Valentina held a smile on her face as she swung her legs.
“Light beer. Less calories. I've tried to pick out a new bed but have you ever been to the Sit and Sleep lately? Yuck. I suppose I'll just have to order somethin' from New York.”
Valentina stared at the television, entirely uninterested in the moving pictures that lit up the room in a digital glow. Late night tv was chock-full of old movies, home tv shopping, bad television, and rentable porn, so the lesser of the many evils was found in the form of Sweet Home Alabama, a movie Valentina had never bothered to watch. She’d started about fifteen minutes in, and it soon became obvious that those scenes were crucial to the basis of the plot, and thus the woman laid on the couch, staring with heavy lids at the screen, while hot lemon water cooled on the side table. Her head felt like a bowling ball, she hadn’t smelled or tasted anything in two days, and her muscles ached with every movement. Valentina had never been one to find comfort in laying on the couch for hours on end, but it that was what she had been reduced to, and no amount of irritation about it would cure a nasty head cold.
Green eyes rolled away from Reese Witherspoon towards the clock, watching as the seconds ticked by. It was nearly midnight, nearly a new day, and the thought brought a strange wave of relief over Valentina, as though she was almost there. With every bedridden day crawling by, it was an achievement to move forward, to hope that maybe the stupid sickness would see itself out, finally. Glancing back at the screen, she watched as the characters denied their feelings for the seventeenth time in the hour, and groaned, shutting her eyes against the light, and pressing her palms against them, enjoying the dull pressure. Her phone buzzed, a text from Vinny, and peeved that nearly the whole club was at the hangout while she was stuck on the couch watching selfish characters bicker about their lack of self awareness, Valentina barely glanced at it. Instead, she sat up, shedding the quilt, and pushed herself away from the couch to reheat the untouched lemon water.
“Motherfucker...” Valentina cursed, stopping short as sharp pain shot through the bottom of her foot. Crimson smeared across the tile floor, a bloodied piece of glass from a previously broken cup the culprit. Setting the mug on the counter, the woman hopped towards the bathroom, flicking the switch to flood the space with harsh white light. Droplets of blood led a trail to the toilet where Valentina sat with the first aid kit. Rubbing alcohol cleaned the wound with nothing but the hiss of air between her teeth as it burned, and making quick work, Valentina pressed gauze against the cut and wrapped her foot in medical tape. Careful not to look at her own ghastly reflection in the mirror, Valentina washed her hands of blood, and went back towards the kitchen, forgetting to turn off the bathroom light.
Her phone was vibrating from the couch, but Valentina ignored it, uninterested in hearing the sound of Vinny, Callum, and Marcus’ voices over speaker phone, lamenting about how she should be there, laughter in their teasing tones. This was entertaining for everyone, seeing her confined and annoyed. But Roberto had made it an order, and there she was, heeding her father’s words and heating up the same cup of lemon water for the third time.
“Jesus, we get it,” Valentina mumbled as the microwave beeped insistently. She pulled the steaming mug out, taking a sip of the hot liquid almost immediately. It burned down her throat in the most satisfying way, and she took another gulp, thankful for the relieving pain. She could hear her phone vibrating again, and she glanced towards the couch. Her attention was shifted by a kiss on the television, and the woman leaned against the counter as she watched the scene unfold, sipping on the lemon water. It ended anticlimactically, and Valentina pushed away from her spot; she’d decided to rent a porno by the time she was back to the couch, and sat down, remote already in hand when her phone began to vibrate once again. When she looked down at the lit screen, Valentina expected to see one of maybe five names, those who would call her on a night like this, those who weren’t wary of her wrath, but the contact was of an entirely different nature. It was a member of the club, an old member who had been around since its founding. Doug had been at every family birthday party she could remember, her mother’s funeral, barbeques, graduations. He’d never called her. Not once in her entire life.
Valentina stared at the screen as the phone continued to buzz, speaking to her as machines did so well, telling her something was done, something was finished. Each second was composed of a mounting weight in the pit of her stomach. She felt it, heavy and black, sticky, and hot like tar consuming her insides. She just stared, emerald eyes reflecting the blue light; her body was frozen, gripped in fear of what the voice on the other end would say. If it were Vinny, Marcus would call. If it was Marcus, their father would call. If it was Roberto, Vinny would call. If it was any combination of the three, Doug would call. The buzzing stopped, the screen reverted to the locked image, and the call was added to a notification that stated she’d missed three calls from Doug. There was no air in her lungs, there was no air in the room, there was no air in all of Arizona. The cicadas had hushed, the moon stopped tilting across the sky, and the desert stood still. Hand shaking, Valentina reached for her phone, but before she could feel the cool object against her skin, the vibrating started again, and Doug’s contact flashed onto the screen.
She was quick to snatch it up this time, as though the tension in her body had been released, shooting her hand across the remaining space and bringing the phone to her ear in a single second. She didn’t speak, she couldn’t speak, but Doug didn’t ask for reassurance that she was listening, that she was there on the other end. He had watched her grow up, watched the quiet, sharp-eyed child listen without feeling the need to speak, to add something. He didn’t need to verify that she was listening.
“Valentina, there was a shootout.” She could hear the sound of sirens in the background, she could imagine the hangout washed in red in blue, the faces of her friends and family washed in that forbidding light-- discoloring them, “Roberto and Vinny were shot, Val, they were both shot. You need to-- Fuck... baby girl you need to get down here now.” He wasn’t saying it but she knew. He wouldn’t say it over the phone but her heart knew, and she could feel it quiver in her chest, she could feel it begging, begging, begging for more time. But God was cruel, she knew that already from the absence of her mother, by the pictures that hung on the walls of her childhood home, showing the face of a woman she’d never truly know, a ghost who’s womb had grown her. God held nothing and no one sacred. Her dread was slow to melt into panic, and as tears blurred her vision, reducing Reese Witherspoon to a hazy figure in cutoff jeans, Valentina slowly began to realize there was no breath to be had, no air to suck down after the punch had been administered to her gut with a force she could have never imagined.
When Valentina was twenty-five, she went on a bender in Phoenix. She and Mia had gotten in a fight about the club, about how worrisome it was, and it’d spiraled out of control quickly, leaving them both wounded by hurtful words neither truly meant. Valentina hopped on her bike, and headed to the city, looked to get fucked up, and fucked. But she’d gotten roped into tequila shots with a group of lowlifes, and before she knew it Valentina was behind the bar, fists swinging with a woman who had led a life much tougher than Valentina would ever know. She ended up on the ground, and with a small crowd of encouragement, the Falcone was kicked repeatedly in the stomach, before a final blow to the head brought sweet relief in the form of darkness. She woke up in the same place, hours later, cold and alone in the empty lot, looking up the stars. Moving proved excruciating as a concussion protested from her skull, and bruised ribs screamed from her abdomen. It was the worst pain she’d ever endured, and Valentina had laid there nearly the entire night, attempting to pretend the pain was a concept. But she was left to scream as she sat up, and walked towards her bike, before finally the woman was left no choice but to call for help. The physical pain had wracked her body for weeks, but she could have laughed at it now, and Valentina would have traded the all encompassing pain that shot through to her core for the pain of that night in a moment.
Doug’s final words reached her ears, and when the phone went silent, the woman shot up from her place on the couch, cheeks wet with tears, and an urgency that left her shaking. Wild panic clutched every muscle as Valentina grabbed her keys and ran out the door. She was dressed in pajamas, and barefoot but she didn’t to stop to consider any of that as she hopped onto her old bike, forwent a helmet, and sped from the garage. She pushed eighty on a residential road, garnering the attention of a sitting cop car. He hit his lights, punched the siren a few times, and once it became apparent that she wouldn’t stop, he set off in pursuit. Valentina hardly noticed, and she leaned low against the wind, relentless on the throttle. Her heart wasn’t beating in her chest any longer, and it seemed as though the muscle had paused, unsure of whether it would beat again or remain still.
She arrived within minutes, hopping off her bike, and leaving it to fall against the concrete. The police who had followed some distance behind, pulled in, sirens blaring. He called out to her, words she didn’t even hear, because as the scene began to reveal itself before her eyes, no sound reached her senses. It was silent. She would think back to that day and hear nothing at all for a suspended minute as she ran towards the taped off area. The cut on her foot was bleeding through the gauze, leaving a smudge of red with every other footfall.
“Dad!” She screamed, “Dad!” She wanted so desperately to hear him call back in his gruff, calming voice, telling her it was alright, that everything was going to turn out alright. But no voice came. Instead, Doug materialized in the path between her and the swarm of officers.
“Valentina, wait.” He was a big man, and as he neared, he took hold of her arms, keeping her in place, “Valentina, just wait.” It was the first thing she truly heard since arriving, but she wasn’t listening.
“Doug, let me go, I need to see my dad.” Her voice was hard, unwavering, surprisingly level, but he was talking over her, speaking just as firmly, though his tone hinted sorrow, pity.
“I can’t let you do that, Val, you need to calm down.”
“Fuck you, let go,” She struggled, breathing hard, “I need to see him,” She was yelling now, yanking her arms away from him, and slipping past the man. Just as she rounded his body, an officer moved, and washed in those ominous lights was the lifeless body of her father. He was on the cement, blood forming a pool around him, and in that moment an anvil crushed her heart, leaving it a messy pulp in the cavity of her chest.
“Oh my god,” she breathed, “Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god,” She moved forward to go closer, but a pair of arms grabbed her from behind, keeping her in place. Hot tears splashed over the rim of her eyes as the woman struggled against aged strength.
“Let me go!” She screamed, slicing the air as her voice cracked painfully, “I just need to see him. Fuck! GOD DAMMIT! I just need to see him.” She had gathered the attention of more policemen, and the the cop who had chased her there, caught up, unsure of what to do. She finally burst free, but Valentina hadn’t taken four steps before another body was between her and Roberto, and arms once again encircled her waist, lifting her up. “Get off me,” She wailed, “Get the fuck off me.”
“Ma’am this is the scene of a homicide, you cannot go over there!” The cop between her and her father informed her, “You cannot--” Homicide. She screamed, no words, just screamed to shut him up.
“I need to say goodbye, I need to touch his face, just let go of me! Please, just...” Valentina choked down a sob, “Please let me say goodbye.” She was kicking, writhing, pushing away from whomever was holding her now, but more cops gathered to subdue her.
“Ma’am--” Valentina spit in his face, and the man, with a look of disgust, nodded to another officer, “Cuff her.”
Someone read her the Miranda Rights while another officer held her, and another still clamped handcuffs around her wrists. She was being dragged away now, towards a cop car, but her eyes remained focused on her father’s form lying so still on the ground. People sometimes say death looks like sleep, but that was not true. He looked unnatural, he looked hollow, a shell. Her father was gone and that’s what was left.
“Please,” she pleaded once more, but the men weren’t listening anymore, and she was guided into the back of a cop car, the door clicked shut behind her. The lights continued, though the sirens had stopped. The car was silent, hushed, private, and Valentina allowed herself to sob against the plastic seats as her father laid out on the street, and God sneered down on His scene. Nothing and no one was sacred.
Little details, harmless questions that won’t really give away much, but given the proper attention, one could get a glimpse of what they were both hiding behind their masks. Like his question about cilantro and how, based on Valentina’s answer, Caleb could imagine that she probably had strict parents, or that she loved them too much to make a fuss.
The usher passed them by, oblivious to the pair huddled together as they tried to avoid making any noise. Valentina looked up at him, that glint of challenge in her eyes, and as they stood facing each other, dangerously close, he began to wonder if he was actually trying to find reasons to be near enough to touch her.
“I thought we already had our seven minutes in heaven?” Caleb asked innocently, his voice low, “how many times is one allowed to go anyway?”
With the floor clear, he continued to hold Valentina by the wrist until they reached the elevator; Caleb looked up and had to laugh, remembering too late the various cameras installed in the building and he pointed it out to her as they stepped out of the lift. He half-expected security to be waiting for them once the elevator doors opened but found no one to be there, and so they got inside the planetarium and blended with the other guests.
Valentina bit her lip, taking time to contemplate his question, “I suppose that depends on how good one’s been,” she answered, reaching forward to toy with his jacket, “So I’d reckon we’re fresh out of luck.” She could feel her heart speeding up, racing to keep up with the simmering excitement under her skin. Valentina held his gaze for a few suspended moments, before green eyes flickered towards his lips, and finally past him. “Looks like the coast is clear,” the woman informed him, smiling faintly.
She allowed him to lead her along, following behind him in mild confusion, curiosity, and the familiar rush that came along with causing trouble. Valentina glanced behind her ever so often, eyes peeled for a security guard, or janitor, but they met no obstacles, and filed into the elevator. Valentina hadn’t noticed the cameras, or perhaps she hadn’t cared to look for them, and it only served to bother her when Caleb pointed them out. “Goddammit,” she muttered, dipping her head to look at the ground as they continued into the planetarium.
Valentina was shocked to find it full of people, and woman couldn’t help but let out a small laugh as her and Caleb joined the crowd. The hum of chatter filled the darkened space as everyone stood, seemingly waiting for something to start, and Valentina was suddenly gripped with suspicion. Coming up short, she pulled her wrist from Caleb’s hand, and stared at him hard. “What the fuck is going on?” She asked, glancing past him, “Why are you...” What words did she want to use-- taking me out? Wining and dining? “Why are we here?”
“Well now you’re just one-upping the science center,” Caleb pretended to frown before breaking into an amused grin. Following Valentina through the rest of the exhibit, families with their little ones began to head to for the exit as it neared closing time. “So which one is it for you?” he was one of the many who had no problem ingesting cilantro without worrying about it tasting like soap, nor had the man ever experienced having any allergic reaction to any food or substance that someone he used to work with jokingly concluded that he’d die by the gun or by the knife.
When staff members began making their rounds, Caleb grabbed Valentina by her wrist and pulled her aside to hide behind some of the displays. “Ever played hide-and-seek in a science center?” he asked as the man remembered the times he used to play the same game with McKenna. He would watch her try and look for him whenever they went to a new place and when she was about to cry, he would emerge, a toothy grin and an apology prepared for her.
“I’m just kidding, we’re not gonna play that, we’re grown-ups, grown-ups don’t play hide-and-seek in the science center.” Caleb intended for them to reach the planetarium and sneak inside; an event was happening in a little bit, a laser show and some music, and all the alcohol one can have. “But we are gonna go to the planetarium.”
“We took a field trip here in seventh grade, there was a somewhat similar exhibit about the body and I learned a bunch of useless shit... Just doing my part to pass it on,” She glanced over at him as she spoke, playing with a plasma ball. The electrical currents followed her finger as she slid it around the glass ball, and Valentina focused on the crackling lights as she answered his question. “Cilantro is good,” she replied, stepping away from the gadget, and passing by him, “and I think it tastes like soap.” She wasn’t a picky eater, her father wouldn’t allow it. If any of them didn’t like what was prepared for dinner they could make a PB&J or go to bed hungry. For awhile her diet consisted of peanut butter and jelly until eventually she caved.
Valentina was caught by surprise when Caleb pulled her behind a display of a life sized dinosaur, pinning her between the wall, the man, and a stegosaurus. She laughed quietly at his question, shaking her head, as she looked up at him with a curious expression. There was no doubt he piqued her interest, and the blue eyes looking down at her in amusement held secrets, and something enthralling.
“Grown-ups don’t play hide and seek, no... I think a round of seven minutes in heaven would be much more our speed,” Valentina responded, her voice low as a group of people passed by their hiding place. She was standing close enough to feel the heat of his body, and the faint smell of whiskey on his breath, and Valentina, shifted slightly, though she was unsure if she wanted to step away, or closer. “Lead the way.”
It was a moment of relief to know that she hadn’t bothered the wrong stranger when keeping a low profile was very much something that she still endeavoured to do. It’s not something Rose dwells on when practicality kicks in again and she’s looking to solve the problem as quickly as possible. “Well hopefully we can fix it then.” Giving a little shake of her head she gives the best answer that she can, hoping that the woman before her was a coffee drinker and there wasn’t another person wrapped up in their confusion. “I haven’t tried it but judging by the smell I would hazard a guess that it’s coffee.”
“Let me see,” Valentina said, holding her hand out for the cup. She was trying really hard not to take her irritation out on the woman who was by all standards agreeable, but it slipped through her tone in a harsh matter. Reaching forward to grab the cup, Valentina took a drink from it, and made a face. It was black, and strong, and entirely too heavy for her liking. She was a latte kind of person, mostly milk, some added flavoring, and anything to take the edge off the bitter liquid. “Not mine at all,” she replied, green eyes focusing on the woman once again, “I’ll take care of it.”
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