FEDERICO

Just a quick check in, that's all this is.

Sure it is. You know you didn't want to leave her earlier when she barely acknowledged you were leaving.

I grumble, remembering her toneless "bye" when she shut the door behind me. While it's true I've only known her a short time, I know enough to understand she does not do well with sudden change.

I buzz the intercom outside her building for her to let me in, but she doesn't answer.

I try again and still nothing.

I try calling her and it just rings and rings.

I step to the side of the door when someone is about to leave and they hold the door for me. Normally, that would bother me knowing anyone could walk in, but right now I don't care. I make my way to the lobby desk and it appears Ruben is about to switch out posts with the old man, George.

"Ay! Rico papi, I'm so glad you came back!" Ruben rushes over to me. "Nora needs you."

"What's wrong? And stop calling me Papi, Ruben." He dismisses my request with a wave of his hand.

"Big Mike called; Nora's wasted and he doesn't think she'll be able to make it home on her own."

"Who's big Mike?" I wonder, trying not to let my mind think the worst. Perhaps this 'big Mike' is the asshole sending her flowers and shit.

"Mike's the owner of the bar next to the cafe around the corner," George tells me. "He knows to call us when this happens, but truth be told it hasn't happened for months. Anyhow, Ruben called me to come in early so he could get her, but now that you're here, you can help."

So many thoughts are running through my head. Should I worry about how much she seems to drink? Is she too far gone to go through with this? I shake my head, pushing the thoughts aside and focus on what I need to do.

"Take my number down in case anything like this happens again." George grabs a notepad and pen and I give him my number.

Ruben sighs as we step outside the building. "She seemed to be doing better. After the attack we figured it was normal for her to drink a little, you know, numb the pain and all, but then this became too frequent and then she ended up in the hospital because of her other health issues and when she was healthy enough to come home that asshat, Leo, breaks her heart."

I slow down next to him. "What attack?"

Ruben stops walking when he notices I'm not next to him."Oh, lo siento. I thought you knew, or she would have told you." His eyes skirt around, unable to meet mine. "Maybe it's not my place..." (I'm sorry)

I take slow measured steps toward him. "Ruben, what happened?"

"She was raped," Ruben says keeping his voice quiet and the air leaves my lungs.

"Almost a year ago, she was coming home from a late night at work and someone grabbed her and pulled her into the back alley of the building. The surveillance showed her fighting back and the asshole hit her, knocking her out before he violated her; sick motherfucker. Someone walking their dog the next morning found her unconscious and hurt real bad."

"She hasn't been the same since then. I mean, she's still sweet and fun, but man I tell you, the Nora that moved in over two years ago is not the same one you see today. She was bubbly and smiled all the time and was very fiery, ready to take on life on her own after leaving her parent's home." Ruben chuckles with a far away look on his face.

"I don't know if you met her family yet, she loves her sisters, even if they're all so different. She has a good relationship with her pops and her mom, too. Teresa can nitpick a little too much, if you ask me. But her abuelo, ese pinche sin verguenza. If he wasn't a geriatric son of a bitch, I'd beat his face in." (grandfather, shameless fucker)

"She's still fiery." I comment, trying to process everything.

Ruben chortles. "Oh for sure, but it's like she's holding back most of the time. She's the strongest person I've ever met. Maybe not in the best ways like today, but she doesn't stop trying. She always gets back up. You gotta admire that she lives on her own, after what happened, still going out every day working. And her work, pshh," Ruben shakes his head. "Her work gets her noticed and of course word of mouth gets around."

He stops walking and gasps. "Ay, Dios mio!" I follow his gaze inside the window of a bar. (Oh my god)

Elenora is on top of the counter dancing and singing. The crowd seems to be joining along from what I see but then I see a few people are recording her, too. Shit.

A few people rush past us to go in. "This place looks fun!" One of them says.

I follow them in and start making my way over to her, but people dancing are not making it easy as they sing along to the song, 'Love shack'. Elenora pulls a few girls up on the counter to sing and dance with her. The crowd erupts in cheers as the song ends.

Elenora waves at the crowd and then talks into the microphone. "What a great crowd!" She laughs, smiling at the people. "But, let's bring it down a little...get a little personal." She lowers her voice so it sounds deep into the microphone and a few chuckles ripple through the crowd.

"This next song is dedicated to all my girls who've ever been dumped, hurt, or ghosted. All those who weren't the ones. All my stand-in girls, where you at?" The ladies in the bar cheer and whistle. "You know what? This applies to men, too, because why not? Am I right?" The men in the room also cheer or pound their fists on the tables. "Yo! Big Mike, you know the one."

I look to where she's pointing and a huge guy with a long beard going past his large belly gives her a thumbs up and hits a button on the jukebox.

She closes her eyes, dancing as the song begins and starts out with the opening line. "There's a fire starting in my heart." All the women cheer and whoop, encouraging her. I'm surprised she sounds good and carries the tune well because she's so sloshed. She begins dancing across the counter and beckons the crowd to join her when she gets to the chorus.

"Ruben." The large bartender approaches us. "It's been a while, brother." They shake hands and clap each other's shoulders in a hug. "If I knew she wasn't sad about something, I'd enjoy watching her have fun, she always liked singing to the crowds," Mike says, watching Elenora. "Any idea what's up?"

"Not a damn clue," Ruben answers. "But I'm sure I'll hear all about it on the way home."

"She saw Leo today...with his fiancé." They both look back at me while I continue to watch Elenora sing and dance.

Mike growls. "That son of bitch is getting married? He's got some balls; stringing Nora along for what? A year and a half?"

Ruben sighs. "Two years."

"Two years and then some awful shit happens—and he can't stick it out and leaves?!" Mike punches the wall behind us; the drywall cracks. "If I ever see his pencil neck around here, I won't be responsible for what happens."

When the song ends Elenora falls back into the crowd and they catch her, setting her down. If I didn't know what I know now, I'd think she was the happiest person I've ever seen. She smiles and high fives everyone she walks by. Even takes pictures with a few people and their cell phones, throwing up peace signs.

"Ruby Tuesday!" She giggles and runs towards us, jumping on Ruben.

He staggers back laughing. "Norita, why are you having all this fun without me?"

"You were working, remember?" She says as he sets her down. "But you're here now, that's what counts. But why'd you have to bring Mr. Grumpy pants with you?" She thinks she's whispering leaning in towards Ruben, but she's talking at a normal level.

"I came to check on you and I heard you were here."

"I'm fine, see? I'm with all my friends." She gives me a lopsided smile.

"Yeah? And who are your friends?"

"Let's see, we've got Bill but we all call him coach, because he loves and knows everything about football. Then there's John-John, Sally, Bullseye-bobby—do not play darts with him, Mona she used to be a rockette, Jimmy, Casey, Dylan—"

"Okay, I get it, you know everyone," I cut her off. "Let's get you home."

"Why? The fun's just beginning." She tries to lean up against the counter but she's not as close as she thinks and starts falling, but I move in to catch her.

"My hero!" She smiles up at me and hugs me. "Mmm, you always smell so good."

I shift her in my arms. "You've got a photo shoot tomorrow, remember?" She mumbles, but then begins sniffing at my neck. I look over at the bartender. "How much does she owe?"

"She's good, man. She does me favors with photos and other marketing for the bar." Big Mike tells me; I nod in return and start leading her out.

Ruben lifts her other arm over his shoulders. "Let's head home, girl."

The walk takes longer than I'd like because she claims to know everyone who passes by and insists on talking to them; asking about their family and work. Most ignore her while others answer her out of pity, I think.

She's now singing as we walk into the building. "Nobody knows the trouble I've seen...nobody knows my sorrows.....sometimes I'm up sometimes I'm down—Hey, Georgie boy, how the heck are ya?"

George walks around the desk. "I'm good Miss Nora, are you alright, dear?"

"Me? Oh yeah." She continues singing. "Nobody knows the trouble I've seen..."

"I've got her Ruben." I shift my arms and hold her around the waist. "Thanks for helping."

"At least let me open her door for you, papi." He offers as we walk into the elevator.

Elenora is leaning into me once we reach her floor, so I lift her into my arms, knowing she's not going to be able to walk. "Whoa! Guys look at me, I'm flying! I believe I can fly, I believe I can touch the sky..."

"Ay, Nora girl. Keep it down you don't want Mrs. J–"

Mrs. Jones peeks her head out of her door. "Oh, dear. It's been months since I've seen her like this. What happened? Is she okay?"

"She saw Leo and he's engaged," Rueben whispers, sharing the gossip.

"What? With who?" Mrs. Jones exclaims.

"Excuse me, do you mind waiting until I get her inside to gossip about her?" My tone is terse. Elenora is quiet now; she's burying her head into my chest, crying.

Ruben mutters an apology, embarrassed and unlocks her door. They say goodnight and ask me to let them know if she needs anything. I lay her down on her couch as she weeps.

I head to the kitchen and set a pot of coffee and then look through her cabinets looking for a glass to fill with water. I set it in front of her but then head to her bathroom to grab a box of tissues.

I move in front of her. "Here, drink some water, Elenora."

She doesn't look at me, her eyes are focused on the glass. "He's getting married." Her voice sounds toneless.

I look around unsure of what I could do or say to make her feel better. I clear my throat. "You're better off without him."

She scoffs. "Do I look better without him?"

"You were starting to get your groove back, remember?"

"He said he'd love me forever." She chokes out a sob as tears roll down her face.

"Nothing is forever, Elenora."

"He looks so good, older; more mature." She continues as she sniffles.

"He looked tired and bloated."

She turns her head towards me, chuckling through her tears. "Shut up, he did not."

The coffee pot signals it's done and I pour her a cup of coffee. She sits up when I hand it to her.

"Why didn't you tell me about the attack?"

Her eyes shoot up to mine. "Ruben told me."

She sighs, setting the mug down. "It's not something I feel like announcing to the world. And I'm sure you think I'm a liar or a hypocrite now, too."

"Why would I think that?"

"Because I told you I never slept with anyone."

I don't like that she assumes I would count that. "That doesn't count, Elenora. But I just assumed you and Leo had or with previous boyfriends."

She takes a sip of the coffee and shakes her head. She lays down on the couch again. "My high school boyfriend broke up with me because he was gay, but he wanted to see if it was just all in his head or not. I was the trial run for him. We never made it past kissing. I met Leo my first year in college but didn't keep in touch and then we ran into each other a year later."

"And after the experience with Adrian, my first boyfriend, I didn't want to rush into having sex with anyone. I wanted to be sure I was ready and Leo respected that. We were together a year and a half before I...before I...I was raped." She swallows and wipes at her endless tears. "I think it affected Leo knowing I did something with someone else that I've never done with him." A shuddered breath passes her lips before she sniffles.

"I don't blame him though. I was not myself; I had nightmares—I still do— that would keep him up. But as time went on, I thought things were okay with us, considering. I was starting to train and yeah, I did end up in the hospital from drinking too much one night, but I wasn't doing it every day. It was more frequent than it should have been though. I just liked forgetting the thoughts and sounds that would trigger the memories, well, what I could remember about it anyway."

"Then one day Leo said he couldn't do it anymore and even though he loved me, he said it wasn't enough to stay in the relationship when we both deserved better." She blows her nose but then begins uncontrollably sobbing.

I resist the urge to hold her at first, but then I pull her up and sit down next to her, bringing her into my arms as she continues to cry. "I learned a long time ago that nothing lasts forever. Romance—true love doesn't exist. Love is fleeting."

She cries harder before she sputters out. "You really suck at this, you know?"

I chuckle as I hold her tighter and stroke her hair. "Yeah, I know. But...I also know Leo is not the last man you will ever love."

"How do you know?"

I take a deep breath. "Because we weren't meant to be with just one person, the human race would have died off a long time ago if that was the case."

She simultaneously laughs and cries. "You are the worst person to go through a heartbreak with, just FYI."

******

A/N: I mean there's some truth in what Rico is saying but his delivery needs some work, hahaha