"Ay mijo estas bien? Dios mio no puedo creer que esto paso. Que pena me da, y que coraje! (Son are you OK? My god I can't believe this happened. I'm so embarrassed and pissed!)" said Doña Cecilia having pulled Sammy back from the event. Tears of frustration and anger were smudging her cheap masquara.

"Oh Doña no se preocupe. Todo esta bien. No passa nada (Don't worry mam. Everything is fine. Nothing happened)," said Claudia embracing Doña Cecilia.

"Si Doña. Lla los sacamos como ratas del basurero! (Yes Doña. We kicked them out like rats from the dump)" said Cheeto jubilant, mimicking a sweeping motion with his hands.

"Ay muchas gracias! Que bueno que vinieron. No se que hubiera hecho (Thank you so much! It's so good that you all came. I don't know what I would have done)," said the Dona to the three of them.

Cheeto and Cluadia continued to comfort and reassure Doña Cecilia who now tended to the Quinceañera Nicole. David inspected the scene and realized there was nothing left for him to do there.

"I'm going to get going," said David.

"No you can't leave!" exclaimed Claudia and Doña Cecilia.

"What if they are waiting for you, no the police said they would be over and that we should wait," Claudia said matter of fact.

"I really doubt they'll be waiting for me. By the look of it they'll need a few days to recover."

"Still I don't think it's a good idea and I think you should be worried, and I can't let you go, "Claudia said firmly.

"Man you better listen to her. She's serious," said Cheeto with a joking tone but sincerely. He knew Claudia well and realized when it was time to concede defeat.

David grinned. It was the first time they had seen him crack anything close to a smile.

"Are you laughing at me!? Don't think I won't keep you here," said Claudia with a playful smile but still serious.

"I don't doubt it," David replied.

Maybe he found it humorous that she would think she could stop him, or maybe it was someone being so concerned for his safety that they would be so forceful or maybe he just respected her more for standing so firm on her ground, whatever the reason he stayed to be in their company a little longer.

"Ok, fine I'll stay, but I'll have to go to make sure Grandma and Liz are fine," he said.

It was the first time he had acknowledged their wellbeing. Claudia and others didn't notice this, but he did. He was a bit surprised but somehow it made sense.

"Oh yeah. Why didn't they come? I'm sure they would be welcome, and that they were invited," wondered Claudia out loud.

"Grandma was invited but she said she needed to rest. She usually sleeps early," David replied. "Liz, I didn't see her all day. I'm not sure why she wouldn't show up," he continued.

"Hmm, that's interesting. As far as I know the girls are good friends. Not super close but at least enough to show up. Honestly, your sister is very reserved now. She didn't used to be so, at least that's what I heard," said Claudia.

"Yeah man, tu carnalita (your little sister) made a 180. She used to be all friendly and what not. Hablaba hasta con el perro (Would even talk with the dog), but now nothing. Must be a girl thing," said Cheeto.

"What is that supposed to mean a girl thing? Te digo no sabes nada. Mejor callate la voca (You don't anything. Just shut your mouth)," replied Claudia.

"See that's what I mean. Te digo todas las chavas estan re-locas (See that's what I'm talking about. All you chicks are nutts)..." both Cheeto and Claudia continued on with one another for a while.

Unbeknownst to everyone Liz had been out earlier with some of the same kids including T.J. She had brought up the party and was talking about how Nicole wanted this night to be special, to be asked out by Ray, and maybe even have him kiss her. T.J. then ditched Liz and the others to go to the party and make it special for Nicole.

Truth was Liz didn't want to go. She had turned fifteen a few months back and didn't get a lavish party or anything special. Her dad was still alive but working long hours and grandma too was working a lot just to get by. Grams made a cake and told Liz she could invite some people but nothing big. Liz declined. She was ashamed since everyone, no matter how strapped they were, got a big party and she couldn't even get that. She remembered even hearing an argument between her dad and grams. How he wanted to throw her a party and Grams didn't agree. In the end Grams got her way and Liz's dad died a few weeks later.

The party continued and after about 45 minutes when the police arrived. It was close to 10 PM.

"Aye mira si viniero (look they did come)," was what some of the guest stated surprised at the sight of the lights.

"Told you they'd come," said Claudia to Cheeto and whoever was near her with a bit of excitement.

"Aye, y ahora que les digo (what do I tell them now)?" asked the Doña Cecilia, clearly nervous at the prospect of having to talk to the police.

"No se preocupe, yo hablo con ellos (Don't worry, I'll talk to them)," offered Claudia.

"Gracias mija, eres muy Buena (Thank you honey, you are too good)," graciously replied Doña Cecilia.

"Come with me David. They'll probably want to talk to you too," instructed Claudia.

David groaned a bit and was noticeably bothered with the prospect as well.

"Man don't tell me you scared of the popo too!" laughed Cheeto not one to miss the discomfort in others...when it suited him.

David didn't have a very high opinion of the police. From his early experiences with the murder of his mother, and on his tours, police in his eyes had left him wanting. It may have also been an ego thing but he still didn't seem them in equal standing. Still he knew it was his civic duty to speak with them and he also didn't want to endure the wrath of Claudia.

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