Collision Course – 4.07

Rosita and Carmen

            “Ro?” asked Carmen softly, padding into the kitchen in bare feet, wearing an old jersey and a pair of boxers.  They were in the second floor of what was once Rosita’s father’s garage.  Now, an ex-gang banger named Juan worked downstairs and Rosita and Carmen lived in the two levels above. 

            “Si…,” muttered Rosita, her left hand moving over the paper, sketching something that Carmen couldn’t see.  Leaning over Ro’s shoulder, Carmen saw a sketch of what was more than likely going to be a tattoo, or a design for a car, either one.

            “Can you drive me to Bette’s?  I have some money to give to Helena,” said Carmen in a pleading voice.

            Rosita said nothing, chewing on the carrot in her mouth, concentrating on what she was doing.  Carmen moved over to her, yanking the carrot from Rosita’s mouth.

            “HEY!” growled Rosita, grabbing the carrot back playfully.  “I’ll drive you, Si.  I don’t know why are repaying Helena, that should be the heartbreakers debt to pay, it’s enough you sold your car,” added Rosita.

            Carmen sighed, rubbing her eyes, feeling the tears threatening at the mention of Shane, “Because of us, both Shane and I, Helena lost everything.  Whatever I can do to help her out, I will, ok?”

            “Si,” answered Rosita.  Rosita understood about responsibility.  At 18, her best friend had died, and Rosita had retreated into the Army, where things were structured, where she excelled.  She knew about guns, having been a sharp shooter for her gang, she knew about following orders, and giving them.  Then, four years into her tour, on an evening in Australia, she’d ended up in bed with woman and her boyfriend. 

            Rosita had been going to school, her stint in Australia was, more or less, a political assignment.  Her ambition, was to be a JAG lawyer, but after the realization that she had been more into the woman, than the man in the threesome, she knew her time in service was going to be limited.

            The crux had been, the Army had given her four years of education, she had to give the Army four years back.  Eight years of service, four of which Rosita had been taking classes via the internet to apply to law school, and eighteen months of which she’d spent at war, she’d come home.  Her responsibility to her country now over, and the responsibility to be herself, was what was important.  That, and her responsibility to Carmen.