Caliente (Latricia) – 7.4: The Show

(Previous post: Regret)

There was only a mild applause coming from the gathered crowd of teenagers. Latricia didn’t expect more, not with the song she picked to end her performance with. It was a piano ballad she wrote days ago, thinking heavily of her failed relationship with her high school boyfriend Mika. She did step away from the piano and bowed to the audience avoiding to look at either her mother or her manager who were both seated in the school’s auditorium where she had performed.

She knew they had expected her to play only the songs they picked, songs that would help sell her potential future album better and imprint her image into the minds of impressionable teenager listening to her today but she wanted to play this song. For her. That is what music was supposed to be about, the soul of the performer, not the pocket of the listener.

She knew her mother would say it was too early for her to do that, that would come later once she had gathered a following. Hazel, her manager, would as usually agree. Latricia was sick of that. Sick of being the good obedient daughter who did nothing for herself.

She told her friend Chiquita as much the other day while they were at the stylist’s. Latricia had to see Luther Prentiss to help her pick an outfit for today’s performance and she was happier to go with her friend than with her mother.

“I wish my mother was more like yours…”

“Oh please.” Chiquita cut her off rolling her eyes. “You think my parents approve of all my decisions and the life I chose for myself?” When Latricia said nothing she went on. “My dear father often reminds me how I gave birth to a bastard, forgetting how I was a bastard myself because he was so busy chasing his stupid fencing, leaving me and mum to fend for ourselves… And don’t get me even started on mum and how she feels I am wasting my life working at the cash register at the supermarket when I could be so much more…” She sighed. “They were like that even as I lay in the hospital after that stupid meteor hit… Trust me Latricia, your life is a dream compared to what other people have.” Latricia knew that. Yet she still admired her friend how she bore all this and always appeared as she didn’t even care. So she told her that.

“Well it is all in the attitude my dear friend, if you let people stomp on you they will. You must learn to stand up for yourself, to go after what you want. Look at me I listen to all that and yet I still work at the supermarket, I raise my Jilly alone, for now at least and don’t give a fuck at what my parents or anyone else ever says. And I know people talk, this is a small town.”

Latricia took all this to heart. That is why she played the song she did. And that is why she called Mikha’il right before the show. Her hands were shaking and she felt like she was about to be pushed from a cliff to a raging sea. But this was her life. She had it in her hands and she alone had the power over it. Not her mother and not her fears.

Mikha’il didn’t answer after four rings. She was about to give up, take it as a sign when he finally did. “Officer Kerry speaking.” He said in a businesslike voice. It was hard to picture him in a police station, surrounded by other cops, fighting crime, but that is who he was now. That was the life he choose. She introduced herself quickly before her voice failed and at once the formalities were dropped. “Well that is a surprise.” He said. “Unless this is work related, in which case you should have called the station instead of my cell.”

“It is not work related.” There was a brief pause after that. “I actually wanted to ask you… Well I am playing at our old school later today and I wanted to know if you would come. I am not sure I can have guests but screw it… I want you to be there.” She felt better as she blurted it all out. Also a little swearing helped as well. She was feeling more like Chiqy already, bold and rebellious.

“I don’t think I could make it, not today. I have got afternoon patrols…” Mika said sounding sorry. Or so it seemed to Latricia, she couldn’t really tell anymore. Maybe it was just her hope and desperation making her see something that was not there in a blatant rejection. At least he didn’t outright laugh at me… She tried to comfort herself as they ended the conversation in the usual pleasantries.

All that however was just a little too much rebellion for Latricia so when the show ended she sneaked out to the female locker rooms, changing quickly and sneaking out of the school’s back door instead of going to face her mother and Hazel. She planned to run home before they even notice her gone, she knew she would have to face them eventually, but she had no strength left, not today.

She had barely made two steps when she notice a man watching her. He was wearing a dark police uniform and his hat partly hid his face but she knew him in a instant.

“Mika?” She said surprised as he came closer smiling weakly.

“Hi Tricia.”

“You came after all.”

“Not in time for it all… I heard just the last song. It was… Beautiful… And very powerful. It has been a while I guess, since I last heard you play the piano.” He added and she smiled.

“I wrote it for you.” She said softly. It was not a time or a place for holding anything back. He was there, Mika was actually there, he heard her song. And that should have been enough. The song was her heart laid bare. It was regret and sorrow, and it was love.

“For me?” He asked trying to smile but failing. He must have been afraid she thought, afraid of her breaking his heart again, like she did last time. But then the roles were reversed, he was the one giving out his heart and she was the one afraid.

“Well yes. Who else would it be for? You were always the one who made my hear sing…” She stepped closer to him. When he did this he got on his knee. He also had a ring. She had only her intent, and it was a strong one. She would not falter. “I made mistakes in the past, we all do, I have been stupid, and selfish, and I hurt you. I can’t promise I won’t make any more mistakes, but I promise to try to be a little less stupid, and a little less selfish.” Another step closer. “I know now that I love you, I know that I made a mistake, and that you have every right to hate me for that.” Another step brought her so close that they were almost touching, oh how she yearned for that. But she was not done yet. “I want to promise that I won’t ever stop making up for what I did. I want to spend my life doing just that. If you say yes, if you say you’ll marry me.”

His eyes widened and he opened his mouth as to say something but failed. The sun was setting in the background, the sky was a lovely shade of pink. Yet Latricia hadn’t seen it. She was on edge waiting for just one word. Whatever it was, she just wanted to hear it. Mika however seemed speechless. He closed his eyes and leaned closer to her. She didn’t waste a single moment.

She leaned in as well and they kissed. It was a sweet kiss. Sweeter than any they had ever shared. And Latricia wanted it to last forever. They eventually parted however and when she looked at him he appeared to have tears in his eyes.

“Was that a yes?” She asked quietly.

“You know I loath to admit it… But you did the whole proposal thing slightly better.” He said breaking into a smile. Latricia did too. “And yes. This was a definite yes.”

Caliente (Latricia) -7.3: Regret

(Previous post: The police station)

Being robbed and then running into her ex-boyfriend all at the same day took its toll on Latricia. She spend more time in her home gym (yes her big new house even had its own gym) blowing off steam trying to put it all behind her only to find she couldn’t.

And it wasn’t the robbery that plagued her the most. Sure it gave her a few sleepless nights but she believed in her cousin, lieutenant Sara Caliente and the SVPD. They would catch that bad guy and end the terror of crime that had plagued their small town. It was only a matter of time.

Her brother called every night to check up on her. He was a scrawny teenager who worked part time at the grocery store but his voice was that of a man and he worried about his big sister. Every night he would ask if she needed him to come over. Latrica find it extremely sweet, even though Bran couldn’t fight of a burglar any more then she could, the two of them were always close like that. He would have done anything for her.

With all that it was easy to feel safe again. But the worry that nagged at her the most was of a different variety. It was a question everyone faces at least once in their lives: “Had I made the wrong choice?”. The choice Latricia’s thoughts referred to was the one she made the day Mikha’il Kerrie asked her to marry him. At that point Latrica was sure she didn’t want to marry. She wanted to finish her studies, travel, search for the meaning of life, inspiration for her music… For something bigger then herself.

But now here she was. Back at home, pushed by her mother into a career that was different from what she envisioned, all alone and vulnerable. And Mika was so close, still handsome and somehow both the same and so different from when they were dating. He grew up Latricia figured. And deep down she knew she had never stopped loving him…

She didn’t expect for him to break up with her when she rejected his proposal, she hoped he would wait… He didn’t. But now that she had seen him again all she wanted was to call him and meet up, to say some words of apology that might bring them back together… Yet she couldn’t find those words. She doubted they existed.

But when words deserted  Latricia she turned to music. It was the one thing that never failed her. While Latricia’s usual performances were just her singing with her guitar in her spare time she liked to compose piano pieces. As a house warming present her mother bought her a Schnadahupfl. It was the most expensive instrument there was and everyone who knew anything about music, including Hazel Brown, Latricia’s manager would stare at it in envy every time they came to Latricia’s home. And they had every right to be envious, it was not only beautiful but its keys were so light, producing such a lovely sound when ever they were pressed. It was such a joy to play it, to compose on it…

The robbers had taken her TV but if they were just a little smarter and more prepared they could have scored a jackpot with the Schnadahupfl, and that would have really broken Latricia’s heart…

On one Sunday morning Latrica had finally finished a piece that had spoken from her, a piece she put all the pain and sorrow she had been feeling for the past weeks, a piece that in her head was titled “Sorry Mika” but if she ever played it anywhere she would have simply called it “Regret” since she believed that to be the driving emotion for it.

She was just thinking how sadly Mika would probably never hear it and how she would given all she had, even the Schnadahupfl for him to hear it and feel the strength of the feelings she still had for him when her phone rang. He heart jumped. Mika. She thought, her heart filling with hope she jumped upwards and picked it up without even checking, she was so sure it was him….

“Hello Latricia.” Her mother said sinking all of her hopes with one word.

“Hi mum.” Latrica said trying to hide her disappointment and failing.

“You sound unwell.”

“I am fine mum.”

“Good.” Her mother said sharply. “There is a Llama game today.” She added. Latrica’s eyes widened at that. She had completely forgotten. It had never happened to her before. She was a rabid fan of the local sports team, ever since she was a kid and she used to drag her former best friend Vanessa to the stadium with her. No one in her family shared her love for sports. They all loved music of course but apart from that her big sister Rosie had her computer games, Bran had his books and mum had her parties and men. It was a surprise her mother even knew about the game since it was an away game and would not be played here in Sunset Valley.

“I completely forgot.” She said honestly.

“Well since you have yet to buy a new TV I thought we could go to a sports bar and watch it together. I don’t think our TV here at home even has those channels…”

“Sure mum.” Latricia said checking her watch. “Meet you there at three?”

She rushed to get ready still wondering what the hell all that was about.  Her mother had never showed any interest in watching sports with her. She sighed and protested every time she would find herself in the same room with Latricia when she watched it on TV back when they all lived in the same house. Still Latricia rarely said no to her mother. And who else was left to go with? Her friend Walter might be interested but he was a fireman and he was almost always busy these days. There were a lot of new trainees that signed up after the meteor hit and Walter was one of the older guys assigned as their mentors.

She wondered how her mother would dress for this occasion. Nina Caliente loved to be the center of attention. And even in her golden years she never failed at that mission. Her clothes were all expensive designer stuff, her skirts were always a bit too short to be completely decent and her graying hair she dyed a bright orange, close to her natural color neither Latrica or her sister had inherited.

She had been late of course. Another way to get all eyes to turn on her, Latrica knew that but it annoyed her when she did it when she was supposed to meet her, not some man, and in a sports bar, not a party. She had surprised her when she saw she was wearing, what seemed to be a plain sweatshirt and sweatpants in a matching light teal color. She did however have a pair of large sunglasses on, even when she stepped inside. They were expensive looking, and probably cost more than an average person makes in a month. Her long orange hair was braided and colored a shade lighter then usual.

“I don’t think I have ever visited this establishment before.” She told Latrica when she joined her at the bar. “I hope they make decent cocktails. I am not sure I can watch that whole thing sober.”

Latricia had ordered them a plate of nachos and two “Bad Cheerleaders”, her mother liked the sound of that name. The game was just about to begin, and the two of them were seated on a comfy couch just in front of the TV when her mother spoke:

“I am donating a big check to the school, the one you and Bran went to.” Latricia nodded politely. There wasn’t any other school in town. “They are up for renovation and are collecting funds. That Hoves girl contacted me herself. She is up for mayor you know. She talked with principal Borders and they came up with the budget plan. Your aunt Dina says it’s a good one.” Latricia nodded again. The game would start any moment. And right now it was pretty clear her mother didn’t come here to watch it with her. Latricia was usually a patient person but she wished her mother would get to her point just a bit faster… “Well anyway, like I said it is a big check and they are throwing a party in my honor or something like this… Well it is not a party actually it is one of those things for the children, a recital or something… I asked them if you could perform there.” She turned her head to Latricia and while she could not see her eyes behind the sunglasses she knew she was daring her to say no. Latricia surprised her by agreeing almost instantly. Her mother smiled.

“Excellent news! I am sure this would be great for your record sales… Those kids like more pop-y stuff but I am sure your music could get trough to them… We’ll have a session, the two of us and Hazel, figure out what songs you’ll play… If we have time maybe do some new stuff… Something kids love…” Her mother went on but Latricia already knew what song she wanted to play. And who she wanted to invite to listen as he did.

 

Rosie’s Emails – 6

Hi Tricia,

I can’t believe there is nothing interesting going on in your life… You are a young adult, living alone, single and trying to break into the music industry. You are probably just not going out enough. I get it, Sunset Valley may be boring on times but if that is the case please come over! Bridgeport is the place to be!

Ha ha ha. Who am I kidding? We are the same little sis. Just an hour ago I got back from the hair dressers, I have a new haircut and I know I look smoking hot but what am I doing? Sitting and watching the news in my undies. Such glamorous lives of the Caliente sisters!

All the best from your lame sis

Rosie

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Hi Tricia,

Two emails in  one night! This must be a record! I felt really bad and alone after that last email so I got up, got dressed and phoned Wayne. Do you remember me telling you about Wayne? He is the guy I have met online. We have been chatting for a while now so I decided it is time to move on it. If he wouldn’t do that, than I would! I checked up all the events in town and invited him to the theater, I even gave him a chance to pick what we would be seeing. 

He said no.  “He is not interested right now.” Isn’t that lame? I mean what was the point of it all if he is just going to refuse to see me… But enough on that. I wouldn’t be discouraged. I went out to this bar called Eugi’s. Jeffrey Cook was there, just playing darts. Do you remember me telling you about him? Did I tell you about him? He is a local politician that had been know to hire me on occasions. Anyways he is too  famous for me just to come up to him and chat.

I had a few Stomach Churners. I must admit. So I am a little tipsy, just for the record. I looked around and saw a handsome guy, a vampire in dark clothes. I come up to him and we talk and he is so very smart, he hates the outdoors but is a bit of a daredevil. And he is married…. And so we come up to this, me sitting in a bar alone writing you an email. 

But the important thing is, I went out. I had an interesting evening and an adventure. I regret nothing!

Wishing you the same,

Rosie

Caliente (Latricia) – 7.2: The police station

(Previous post: A disrupt routine)

She saw him before he saw her. He walked trough the door his head buried in a folder he held in his hand. He didn’t lift his gaze up until he sat in a wooden chair across the table from Latricia. By that time her mind had gone completely blank and she wished that she had listened to her mother for once and let her call her cousin Sara. Outside of that cramped little room in the police station life went on. There were voices and noise and phones ringing but for Latricia time stopped.

And then his eyes met hers and she tried to smile, look apologetic, something… But she doubted she succeeded in anything apart from looking stupid. The still growing unease and discomfort prevented her from even uttering a single word. It was as if her lips were sealed shut and she felt more self-aware then she ever did in her whole life.

The young man on the other end of the table didn’t seem to be affected with the same affliction because he managed his recognizable half smile-half smirk before speaking:

“Well hello Tricia. It has been a long time.” Hearing him use her nickname was like a stab right to the heart. She wished he had been formal and professional, referred to her as Miss Caliente or maybe that he even left sending another officer her way. That would have hurt too but somehow this was even worse.

“Hi Mika.” She said softly thinking how much the dark color of his uniform suited him. He had contacts on so his lovely eyes came in focus. Even the goatee was a nice addition. But she could not say any of those things. Her right to comment his appearance was forfeited the day she rejected his proposal. That had been the last time she saw him, in truth she had been avoiding running into him ever since she got back to Sunset Valley.  She had no idea he was a policeman now, he dropped out of the Conservatorium the semester after they broke up and she had no idea what happened to him, apart that he was back home too.

 

“It is good to see you.” He said. There was no sense of sarcasm in those words Latrica noted. He sounded warm, pleasant even… As if she hadn’t shattered his heart in a million pieces when she refused to take that ring. “Well… Maybe not considering the circumstances… I see you have been robbed?” Latricia nodded weakly. I am sorry Mika… I was not ready… Things were… What? She asked herself. She had no explanation, not even now. So she said nothing. All she could think of was their parting kiss, the softness of his lips on hers, the wet tears on her face, the music playing on the old gramophone…

What if she could go back to that moment… Would she have done things differently? She believed she would… But things don’t quite run that way and besides it seemed Mikha’il had gotten over her. Something she knew she should be happy about but she really wasn’t….

“Unfortunately robberies have been common in the town recently.” Mikha’il continued blissfully unaware of Latrica’s troubled thoughts. “And since Officer Hoves retired our forensics department had gone to shit. We will of course send a pair of CSI’s to sweep your home but I don’t hope for much…” He sighed. “I recommend you invest in home security, I am sure your mother can pay for that… I wish I could do more but that is the brutal truth. We have a new lieutenant, your cousin and I believe she might change things, I believe we can finally put an end to all of this but we shall see…” Latrica just stared at him still regretting coming here. “If you are uncomfortable staying home you should go to your mum’s or… a friend’s house.”

“I’ll be fine.” Latrica said.

“I am sure you will.” Her ex boyfriend replied smiling. Latrica still could not respond in kind. “Well I have your statement here… And your contact information. If there is anything you could do, or if we find anything someone from the department will contact you….”

“Not you?” She asked with maybe a tad too much hope.

“Well due to our personal history it might be best to give this case to someone else… Since you are a Caliente it might go directly to your cousin…” He smiled again. “Seriously though, you were doomed the moment you got here, you could have gotten either me or Vanessa.”

“Vanessa works here as well?” Latrica asked surprised. Seeing her former high school best friend on the other end of the table might not have been as uncomfortable but it would have probably made Latrica feel bad. She missed Vanessa although they haven’t spoken in years. Almost as much as she missed Mika.

“Small world huh? Well anyway that is all from me. You are free to go.” Latrica slowly got up. For a moment there she wasn’t sure she wanted to go.

“I did mean it. Really.” Mikha’il said noticing her lingering. “It was nice to see you. You look good.”

“You too.” She said managing a smile at last. “Police work suits you.” He laughed getting up.

“Well when our class voted me most likely to be a millionaire they probably didn’t imagine me here. It would be hard earning those six figures on a state pay. But it is a good job, I might make a difference. Take care Tricia.” He said touching her arm lightly. Latricia felt if a surge of electricity rushed trough her whole body at that touch. She wondered if Mika felt it but if he did his face didn’t betray a thing.

“Goodbye Mika.” She blurted out and rushed trough the door back to the real world overwhelmed with emotions she thought were long gone…

Rosie’s Emails – 5

Dear Tricia,

You were robbed?? I can hardly believe it. And they say cities are dangerous… By the looks of things we in Bridgeport have it good. My building has great security, and I am so up high here no one can just break my window and sneak in… Well mum is right, you should get an alarm or something, it sounds pretty scary what happened. Luckily it is just your TV and some broken glass… I hope lieutenant Sara will fix all that. It is so hard for me to believe it… Our cousin a police officer, who would have thought seeing us grow up, she a policewoman, me a PI… Strange times. Strange things.

As for what is been going on in my life… Well don’t tell mum, or anyone… I fainted in the street the other day. I was with Lola we were talking and then BAM! I woke up on the street holding my head, my whole back aching and Lola staring at me panicking. Not a nice experience I must say…

She helped me up, we got to the ER the doctors checked me up and they called this morning with the results…. To say I was freaking out would be an understatement. 

It turns out it is just my vampirisim acting up. I had spent too much time in the sun. They warned me time and time again how dangerous this can be…. Doctors here have much more experience with vampires so I am sure they can patch me up! Don’t worry. All is well.

DON’T TELL MUM!

Love,

Rosie

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Hi Latricia,

Yes I am listening to the doctors. Don’t worry… I stay indoors. Lola comes over. She was very concerned after what happened but it sometimes annoys me how she coddles me like a fragile little flower or a little child. Then I remember how she is still recovering from her loss and I feel bad… 

I am not such a good friend am I? You know more then most how selfish I can be… I am trying to change though… Be better. After our last fight I called Lola over, I made dinner, well mac and cheese but that is something right? At least I didn’t burn them, they were edible I promise…

Small steps right? Dinner might help things between me and Lola but I hope one day I will find a way to repay you and mum and Bran and Sara and everyone…. I promise!

Love,

Your sorry sister Rosie

Caliente (Latrica) – 7.1: A disrupt routine

The day started the way most of Latricia’s days started. She would wake up in her big bed, in her big house she now lived alone with. It was a beautiful house, spacious, modern, just wonderful. And Latricia’s alone. Well it was he mother who paid for it but it was a graduation gift and it was Latricia Caliente’s name on all the owner’s papers.

She hadn’t yet gotten used to it, none of it, to owning her house, to living alone to this big bed, so much grander than the bunk bed she used to share, first with Rosie, her big sister and later with Bran, her brother.

But she was slowly getting into some routine. She slipped quietly out of her bed, gotten on her warm slippers and headed downstairs planning to make herself waffles and her favorite caramel cappuccino.

She was looking forward to her first coffee of the day, she was still fighting off sleep from her head, she was out pretty late last night, she was at a party, yet another her manager insisted her to attend. This one was at Mortimer Goth’s mansion where she spoke with Lucky Hoves, a girl barely older than Latricia herself, Latricia went to school with Lucky’s younger sister Irene and she knew Lucky because she dated her ex boyfriend’s brother and now Lucky was running for mayor. It was strange how far some people had gotten with their careers and their lives Latrica thought as she descended the stairs. She was about to step into the kitchen area when she saw something was off.

Her big screen TV, the one she watched all the Llamas games was gone. Just like that. She stared at the empty space feeling unreal. Things, big things don’t just disappear. She lifted her eyes from the carpet taking in her whole room. She then saw the glass scattered all over the floor and the broken window over it. Realization hit then. Someone had been inside her house.

Someone broke her window. Someone or multiple someones crept around her home while she slept. Someone took her TV. She slumped in the dining chair feeling weak and helpless. There had been an crease in robberies all over town, someone had even tried to rob her mother’s house a while ago but somehow Latrica never expected it could happen to her. Bad things never happened to her. She felt her dinner coming up as a strong sense of horror threatened to overwhelm her. At least my piano is still there. She thought to herself looking at her prized possession on the other side of the room. It was probably to big for the burglars to take away, or maybe they didn’t realize how much it was worth….

Once she calmed down a bit she called her mother. Once she assured her she was fine and that she really didn’t hear anything Nina Caliente went into her usual ramblings her daughter knew to expect.

“Well we should have installed the alarm system we have here in your house too… I just never thought… The police is just useless I was sure they would have gotten around to stop this by now… Or better yet you should find a man. No one like sleeping alone, Tricia darling, I know that. So what if you broke up with that Kerry guy… You were right to do so, it is too early to commit to anything.  You are both so young… It is the time of your lives when you should be having fun…” Once she realized Latrica wasn’t saying anything Nina stopped abruptly taking in a deep breath. “I’ll call Sara.”

Sara was Latricia’s older cousin, her aunt Dina’s eldest daughter. Causing large disapproval of her family Sara joined the police force some years ago. “No. You don’t have to call Sara mum.” Latrica said. If her cousin was brave enough to take charge of her life not her mother meddle in her life so should Latrica. She was a grown woman.  “I will go to the station myself and report this.”

Her mother sigh was so loud and so laced with disappointment that Latrica could picture her face so easily as if she was standing right in front of her. She was well used to seeing that face after all.

“Fine. Do as you want Tricia.” Her mother said coldly but not without adding. “Call me if you need anything more.”

“I will. I love you mum.” She said unsure if the older woman heard her over the click of the line being disconnected. She dropped her phone on the table and got up. Her legs were still a little wobbly and she realized she had lost all her appetite but she was feeling a bit better. She got up and got dressed. She felt a little unsure, leaving her house like this but she hopped no one would dare come in during the day.

The trip to the police station was a drag. Latrica wished she had let her mother call her cousin, or at least that she had came along. They constantly pushed her from one person to another until finally they put her in a small cluttered room and told her to wait until one of the officers is free to come talk to her.

You should have used the Caliente name… Her mother’s voice whispered in her head and Latrica pushed it away. She hatted using her family name. It did give her an edge in things but that wasn’t what Latrica wanted, she wanted to be treated the same as everyone else… And then the door opened. A young man in a dark uniform came inside. Latricia froze. Suddenly she wished she had after all told someone her name.

Rosie’s Emails – 4

Dearest sister,

I am so glad to hear you got your own place! There is a certain charm in living alone, is it not? Sure you miss Bran and even mum but it is good living life the way you want it. I am so sad to hear you broke it off with Mikha’il but if you weren’t ready for marriage and commitment then it is for the best. Believe me. And I know our mother isn’t setting the best example in what monogamous life is supposed the be but I hope you find happiness, once you are ready for it. 

As for my love life… You know I went out with Big Hartley a few times and I thought things were going good but it turns out I was wrong. We have fun, talk about everything but it hasn’t been going in the right direction… We haven’t even kissed yet! So I decided to switch things up a bit. Don’t laugh… I tried online dating! I found it is the perfect thing for me, I don’t have to go out a lot, I could do it all on my laptop, wearing nothing but underwear! 

And I met a really cute guy, he is also new to Bridgeport. His name is Wayne and he came here to be a celebrity, he works at a local restaurant but his goal is to get on TV. We haven’t met in person but I hope we soon will! Keep me posted with everything new in your life! 

Lots of love

Rose

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Dear Latrica,

I didn’t want to leave the impression I am not leaving the house! I am, truly. I go to the gym at least three times a week. I also go fishing, as riddiculos as that may be I find it really therapeutic (I don’t eat what I catch of course, this is the big city we are talking about).

I still haven’t met Wayne in person but we chat and email often. Maybe one day soon… I did see a cute guy in my gym, he is a bit older but he is attractive in a rough sort of way! I saw him checking me out and I hoped he would ask for my number or something but he didn’t. Well maybe next time…

I am sad to hear that there is nothing new on the love front for you… You need to get out there more! I hope I don’t sound too much like mum or your manager.

As always lots of love

Rosie

Caliente (Latricia) – Intro

Since I am getting less time to write and play no the space between my posts is getting bigger and bigger probably making it even harder to keep track of all the characters and interwoven story lines I have decided to do this short intro posts before each new story to make it a bit easier to keep track.

The idea still is to try and make each story work on its own but still being reminded of some background and characters may be of use so here we go.

Family Tree

Latricia Caliente is the younger daughter of Nina Caliente. So far she had been appearing in the Caliente family storyline along with her mother and younger brother. This would be the first round in which she gets her own story.

Latricia is a nice, friendly girl who grew up with her mother, older sister and little brother. Her mother is Nina Caliente, the famous movie composer, known for her music and her promiscuous ways. Her father was the recently deceased rock star Riam Gradle so it is unsurprising that Latricia always had a talent for music. She plays the guitar and the piano and had graduated on the prestigious Conservatorium. Her mother is now pushing her into a career in performing, and had even gotten her a manager (Hazel Brown) but Latricia isn’t sure that the life on stage is right for her.

She loves her new house but she misses her little brother the most since they had always been very close. Latricia dated Mikha’il Kerry ever since high school and they started the Conservaturium together but then one summer he proposed and she rejected him, not being ready for the seriousness of marriage. She ran off and spent the summer meditating in the temple. Miha’il dropped out of the Conservatorium and became a cop in their hometown.

I haven’t really gotten to writing Latricia’s story yet so I have no idea how many posts it will be. I will also include the email’s from Rosie, the new section I started last round that will feature emails Latricia’s sister Rosie sends from her home in Bridgeport.