it all started at carla's wedding

by notmik

Summary:

i just found this fanfic i started writing last summer and decided to finish it (but not correct it jeje).

please be kind =), english is not my first language, hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 1: the wedding

It was a beautiful, calm, summer day in Washington Heights, well, “calm”, as calm as New York can be, as calm as the barrio can be while preparing a wedding. Because it all started at Carla’s wedding. Carlita just graduated High School, 

 

They knew each other for their whole lives, but it all started at 18 years old Carla’s wedding.

 

• I can’t believe you are getting married, nena.
• I know Dani, I can’t believe it either!

 

Daniela, her friend and boss was getting her ready for what should be Carlita’s greatest day, she was marrying her High School love and Best Friend, Ángel.

Cuca was ready to be the baddest Maid of Honor New York has ever seem, so she was helping little Vanessa with her hair, the flower girl had a very important role in Carla’s dream wedding, she spent all high school thinking about this day, although Angelito didn’t propose until his valedictorian speech at the graduation.

 

• It’s more like renewing your vows, you know.
• Renewing their vows? You already borracha Cuca?
• OH MY GOD! How could I forget!! We ARE married!
• Now I’m lost. ¿De qué hablan, Dani? - asked Vanessa.
• Nada mija, Cuca is a little cucú.
• No Dani, tiene razón Cuca. It was a beautiful wedding.
• Locas! Rodeada de locas estoy.
• They are talking about Carla and Ito’s First grade wedding, don’t worry no hace falta llamar al loquero Dani.

 

And there he was, 15 year old Usnavi making an entrance.

• Ay, mírate! ¡Qué guapo all suit up Usnavi! - Daniela took a moment to fix Usnavi’s suit.
• ¿Ah que sí? We should do this more often.
• ¿Getting married? ¿Aren’t you too young for that?
• And Dani is too - the oldest one interrupted young Usnavi before he made a mistake.
• Loquito you should shut up or get running. I have Chancleta rights over you.
• Chillax you know I was joking! I meant that we should get all dressed up and celebrate stuff more often.
• Like your mustache “growing”?
• Shut up Vanessa, it IS growing!
• Todo un hombrecito el Usnavi.
• Dani! Tell them something!!!
• Cuca tu tas ya vieja para esas tonterías, y Vanessa you wanna eat cake right? - the kid nodded - then shut up, deja al bigotudo en paz. 

 

And they all laughed, even Usnavi. It was one of the prettiest day New York has ever seen, half of Queens and half of Washington Heights were preparing for the big day, The Rosarios prepared the fanciest car they had, el Piragüero fixed up his carro, Abuela Claudia filled her purse with tissues and cookies, Sonny was with Nina running around, Daniela prepared her house for the sleepover she was going to have with Vanessa after the wedding and Benny had his camera ready to upstage the official wedding filmmaker. 

 

• Dani, why aren’t you married?
• Carlita no creo que tu quieras preguntarme eso while I’m doing your hair, just saying.
• No but for real, you are pretty, you had boys coming to the salon to court you…
• Being pretty and a boy chasing me is not love or marriage material.
• But have you been in love? Like in love love? How do you know that? - that was curious Usnavi.
• I had many loves, the ones you understand as love just two, but I loved for one night, I loved for years, I loved for just a glance in the A Train. And those loves were de verdad, intensos, those loves were written in songs and watched in movies. And I thought of marrying them loves but I knew they weren’t the ones. I dreamt too much, I idealized what I wanted so much that I didn’t wanna settle for less, I didn’t wanna rush it. Pero ahora, a puntito de cumplir los 30 I  just wanna flow with love. So yes I’ve been in loved, maybe twice, maybe everyday, and I wanna get married, but who knows, maybe it happens, maybe not.
• Dani tu crees que I’m rushing into it?
• ¿Qué? No Carlita no, you wanted a wedding, you got it, my mami got married even younger than you! You’re 18, legally you can do almost whatever you want, if deep in your heart you know this is right, then you are not rushing into nothing.
• Tiene razón, tu tas solo aprovechando el tiempo.

 

And just when Carla was going to respond to Cuca, Abuela Claudia came over

• Vengo a traerme a los niños, you have like two hours to finish and they’ll distract you. - Claudia and the kids left, but José, Angelito’s brother, came running.
• Carlita, my brother needs to speak to you.
• Ah, no, no dile al hermano tuyo que eso da mala suerte. 
• Dani I know, I told him but he insists, he’s outside.
• ITO, WHATEVER YOU WANNA TELL ME YOU CAN SAY IT FROM THERE. - Carla screamed so he could hear her.
• No I really can’t, Dani, Cuca, Josito please leave us alone. - He said entering the room.

Carla tried to argue that he could say it in front of Dani, Cuca and his own brother, but he didn’t budge. The three who just been kicked off had their ears glued to the door trying to hear something, but between Dani complaining about the bad luck and the lack of time, and Cuca whispering about them cancelling the wedding, José gave up unglued his ear, and went to the grooms room.

Minutes later they heard Carla crying so Dani opened the door they stormed in, Angelito being shocked ran.

 

• ¿Qué pasó? ¿Carlita? - Dani and Cuca ran to console their friend.
• I’m not getting married. It’s not happening.
• But what happened? - Carla calmed down and tried to say something but the words couldn’t come out.
• Nena tranquila, breathe, just breathe.
• He's gay. - She starts laughing. - He doesnt wanna get married because he’s gay, because I don’t give him butterflies, because he knows this isn’t it.
• ¿What?
• My now ex fiancé is gay and I ruined my make up.
• Carla, mi amor.
• Nope, nada de mi amor Cuca, not now. Go make a suitcase.
• Suitcase? Where are you going Carlita?
• We are getting out of here, before I get more humiliated.
• Carlita…
• No Dani, I’ve been fine with being a little bit dumb and innocent, but I’m not fine with being humiliated. You too, go make a suitcase.
• Carla, I need to know where are we going? What should I pack?
• Ay Cuca no te vas pa ningún lado.
• No Dani, sí nos vamos, we are going to Miami. I won’t have a wedding but I’m going to my honeymoon.

And just like that, It all started at Carla’s wedding

Chapter 2: the honeymoon

Daniela talked to the Rosarios and left Vanessa with them. She knew the kid had a mother, but she also knew the mother. She also talked with Abuela Claudia, and asked her to pray for Carlita, and to put a candle for her and for Angelito, God knows he was going to need it. 

The three of them went to Miami, to live their best lives, to forget about love for a while, to have fun.

But after the countless party nights, the shopping sprees, the talks under the moonlight and the hangovers paired with sunbathing, only two of them went back home.

• ¿Cómo que te quedas aquí? ¡Carla!
• Dani I thought a lot about it, I even called my mami and papi, they know.
• ¿Pero por qué? I thought we were having fun! We can still have fun in the Heights!
• Carla if you are staying I’m staying too, sí señor.
• Cuca just cállate, you may have forgotten but you are still underage.
• Just for a couple of months Dani!
• Under-Age, now shush. Tú, Carlita, what are you going to do here? You can’t just decide that and not know.
• I didn’t rush anything! I’ll stay with my mami’s tía and I’ll study Cosmetology here, just like you Dani.
• But you can do that in the barrio! In New York! I can still teach you!
• Dani I need to be on my own, I was obsessed with the wedding, and the life that I would have, I was so obsessed I didn’t have time to do all this. I’m staying because of you two. 
• Ah vale, pero amiga eso no se lo digas a tus papás, que mine will be real mad.
• Cuca, I meant it in a good way. I’ll be an 18 year old in Miami, you know, having fun, going dancing, notrdrinkingbeacuseI’mnot21 - she said quickly side eyeing Dani. - I’ll be okay. By the way Dani, I quit.

 

And she was okay. Dani and Cuca returned to the barrio and a week later Carla came back to say goodbye and to take some stuff with her, she also went to the liquor store to forgive and forget her ex fiancé. While in Miami she asked herself What would Jesus do? So she decided that Jesus would forgive him, he might have been her fiancé but she knew that he wasn’t it, deep down she knew that the life she imagined having with him wasn't what she wanted. They've always been together, so she settled for the comfort that loving him brought her. She settled for the idea of working at the salon and coming home to her husband and kids, she didn't even question if she wanted that future, she didn't even have time to fantasize with another life, but Angelito did, Angelito realized that he wouldn't be able to live like that, maybe he could've figured it out sooner, but Carlita decided not to hold ill feelings towards him. Part of her was happy for him, and also proud for the bravery he had, the other part was hurt, like maybe he just used her as a cover, but Angelito ereased that thought as soon as he saw her.

Angelito did love her, but with time, with age, even though he was 19, he realized that he loved her, but not like that, that he didn't see himself living the american dream life, at least not with a woman. They had a long, intense chat, and ended up as besties, they would always be each others first love, and who knows, maybe if they are still single at 40 they can marry each other just for the sake of it.

 

Carlita finished her unfinished bussineses, had a last meal with her family and friends, and got ready to leave her home, to go and be a wild young adult and try to figure out what was life about.

The barrio was sad but excited for her, everybody knew she was going to be okay, she was one of the best employees at Daniela’s salon, and Carla was basically an angel, nothing can go wrong to angels.

 

They talked every week, Cuca and Carla might be miles apart but they talked every week, in the beginning Daniela did too, but the salon was going too well to have breaks, they still talked, but much less. Dani was training Vanessa, and fun fact, when Carla’s family moved to Washington Heights, she just celebrated her Quinceañera, and Dani was showing her around, they had some friends in common, suddenly a little girl came running to hug Dani and Carla thought she was her daughter.

 

• ¡Ay como! No, no, she’s not my kid.
• Pero have you seen how she looks at you? it’s like how I look at my mami, and my mami at her mami, and her mami at her mami, and
• Ay ya nena, ya sé ya sé. She’s not mine.
• Not by blood..
• Ya Carlita, ya. C’mon i’ll take you to the bodega, you better write this down, imma test you later. You’ll come here at least once a day.

 

 

Once she got her own salon, Daniela started following the steps of her mamita Claudia, and “adopted” the kids and teens in her own way, if you improved your grades, Dani would give you a haircut for free, she knew not everybody was a A+ student, like Nina, so her only requirement was to just better themselves, also a free haircut meant someone who would listen to whatever you wanted to say, and Dani wasn’t as… wise as Abuela Claudia, but she had some advice too.

 

Daniela knew how tough was to grow up in the Heights, so she always had little jobs for the kids if they needed money: the little kids ran errands for her, like going to la bodega or buy her food, pre-teens and teens worked at the salon, her papi was a barber so he came twice a month to teach  and to reclute, and she taught to whoever wanted to learn how to do hair, makeup and nails, whether it was to work for her or to just get ready and go dancing. She also taught some of them how to drive, so they could get their license and teach the other kids. 

 

She helped the adults in the community too, but everybody knew she had a soft spot for kids and Abuela Claudia, although for her she was Mamita Claudia.

Dani knew she might never have kids of her own, so she decided to be like Claudia and take care of the youth in her barrio, that would be their legacy.

Everybody had their own theories on why Daniela was always the solterona como la Abuela Claudia, some of them came close to the truth but only a handful of people knew it, los Rosario, los de la Vega, el Piragüero y Mamita Claudia, pero nadie ganaba a Dani con el chisme so nobody said anything about it, because they knew Daniela knows everything about everyone.

Chapter 3: the first dance

Time passed and at first it was weird not having Carla in the salon, being all talky talky and affectionate, all vivid and cheerful, but days, and weeks, and months passed and they got used to it, they got used to call Carlita at least once a week, even though Cuca called her almost everyday, Dani got used to the quietness on Cuca’s day off, (it really wasn’t quiet at all, but compared to having dos cotorras dale dale it was), Cuca got used to going to the club alone, although sometimes she dragged Dani with her, they got used to her absence, but not to the feeling of missing her.

 

Time passed, and almost nothing changed, the barrio was almost the same and everything aged except for Daniela and Abuela Claudia, Camila and the De la Vegas passed away, that hit the community hard, and Daniela took upon herself to be always available fir Usnavi and Nina, and Kevin too, he was the to care for Usnavi, but when Camila died, the man was left broken, to loose your best friends and the love of his life was hard, but he knew that there were two kids who needed them, so he broke but he came back stronger. so Usnavi was in charge of the bodega, the kid had a heart of gold and was too mature for his age, they really raised a fine young man, and Abuela Claudia was left with his custody and if something happened to her, toquemos madera , Daniela was ready to take care of him, Benny started working for the Rosarios, Sonny started working with Usnavi, Cuca was kicking ass at work and at the club, and Nina and Vanessa were giving white hairs to their parents every night, that was a new thing, Kevin and Daniela waiting for their girls on their stoops, talking about life, having their own little parents club, even tho some cotillas thought it was something else, also news! Dani didn’t have custody of Vanessa, but the kid went from sleeping a day or two at Dani’s to having her own room, Dani took a little vacation only to get her Foster License and take care of the kid, because she knew her parents wouldn’t do shit, and Vanessa, and all the kids, were too special to be left like that.

 

Time passed, and Usnavi was turning 21, the family was having dinner at Abuela Claudia’s house, and the birthday man was asking Daniela to go dancing with him and the girls, it had been years since she stepped onto the dance floor.

 

 

• Dale Daniela por favor, ¡será mi regalo!
• Ay Usnavi, no seas pesado I’m too old for that shit.
• Mamita qué hablas? There 's no thing as being too old to dance! Díselo abuelita Claudia!
• Mija tienen razón, you should go and have fun! Kevin and I are gonna take care of these two - she said pointing to Vanessa and Nina
• ¿Cómo que taking care of us? We are going too!
• Ay no Vanessa, you don’t wanna come. What if your mami finds a special friend? Hah?
• Ay Cuca cállate, I’m not looking for special friends, but anyway you are not coming.
• But you are Danielita? - asked a hopeful Usnavi.
• Sí, sí Usnavi I’ll come, now pass me la ropa vieja.

 

Cuca and Dani were at the salon getting ready, Vanessa was with Nina deciding which movie they were going to watch.

• So Dani…
• So Cuca?
• When was the last time you went dancing?
• Ay no sé Cuca, hace mucho.
• Yo sí sé.
• ¿Y pa qué preguntas? Va Cuca, we’re gonna be late.
• We can’t be late to the club, like being late it’s not a thing.
• Cuca!
• Bueno, if you wanna know, the last time you went to the club was when Carlita visited us!
• Eso no puede ser verdad, Carla came last year!
• Exactly! In your defense, you didn’t wanna come.
• That’s true, but who can say no to Carla? I’m a cold heart bitch pero no tanto.
• I know, she was your favorite.
• Ay no me seas celosa Cuquita!
• It’s not jelousy, I’m just stating the facts.
• Stating the facts? Cuca are you okay? Besides, how could she be my favorite, if you are the salon’s supervisor.
• So I’m your favorite?
• No seas tonta you know I don’t have favorites.
• Uhuh, sure, I’ll tell that to Vanessa.
• Ah no, that’s so different. She’s not my daughter, but I’m her mami.
• I know, I know I was just teasing you, c’mon Usnavi and Benny are waiting for us.

They just arrived and Cuca was already dancing not with one, not two, but three boys, she’s always been the Queen of the Club.

A couple of hours had passed and Dani was ready to go, she was a little too happy Usnavi was giving it all on the dance floor with Cuca, the boy was a natural, Benny was also ready to leave, the next day he had to go early to work. Suddenly someone tapped Dani’s shoulders.

 

• Hola bonita, ¿bailamos? - that voice sounded familiar.

 

• Ay bueno, invítame a una copa primero, ¿no? - she turned.

 

• ¿Daniela?

• ¿Carlita?

 

 

 

Carlita was hitting on her? Well not her a woman who she didn’t know it was her, since when was Carla hitting on women? Daniela needed to get her gaydar checked.

 

• ¿Qué haces tú aquí Carlita?
• I just got here! How are you? Gorgeous as always I see.

This Carlita was different

• Are you drunk mija?
• No, no Dani, ¡nunca!
• C’mon I’ll take you home.
• Ay Dani, I didn’t know you liked women!
• Ay Dios mío, you are so drunk, let’s go.
• No. no, YOU are drunk! Let’s dance Daniela!
• Yo Daniela, you leaving?- that was the birthday boy – IS that Carla? Carla! ¿Qué haces tu aquí?
• I’m back Usnavi!!! Happy Birthday!!!
• I’m taking her home
• I’m coming with you.
• No, no Usnavi, es tu cumpleaños you stay here and have fun.
• Okay, okay you tell me when you get home alright?

It was a fun walk, for Carla, not so much for Daniela, drunk Carla was a flirty girl, and although it seemed impossible she make Daniela the ice queen blush, she never blushed, so might as well blame it on the alcohol. Once they got home, Daniela left Carla in her bed, "I'm too old for this shit", she thought, it was going to be an eventful morning, she laughed, glanced at the bella durmiente she had on her bed, and fell asleep on the couch.

Chapter 4: the salon

She woke up with the smell of café. Daniela woke up happy and sad, sad because she left behind a beautiful dream she can’t remember, happy because it smelled like coffee, she was too happy to wake up, until she started thinking, why would her house smell like coffee? Was she at her home? With whom did she leave last night? And suddenly it all clicked.

• ¡Buenos días Daniela!
• ¡Carla! What are you doing here?
• Well, you took me here? 
• No, no I mean what are you doing in the barrio?
• I missed you!!! I missed the barrio! I got tired of traveling around.
• So you broke.
• NO, no, I really missed you… You got me.
• When did you get here?
• Yesterday! I arrived, had dinner with my parents and went clubbing
• Does Cuca know you are here?
• Oh no, it’s a surprise!
• Cute. SO tell me? What have you been up to?
• You know everything already Dani.
• Yes I know, but I want you to tell me!

Dani loved seeing people's faces when they explained things that excite them, that’s why she wanted to listen to Carla’s adventures for the bijilion time.

She excelled in Cosmetology, she was a star at house callings and events, she was smart and grew a quick platform on instagram, and thanks to that she got a job in LA. She had fun, but she also had a lot of work, that meant a lot of money too, enough to save up an decide she wanted a gap year, she went back to Miami for a couple weeks, then to Las Vegas, then she spent a couple of months in the South just her and a cheap car, she also went to NY a between trips, to say hi or celebrate with the fam, she also spent some time with her family in DR, Chile, Cuba and PR and from there she went back to Miami and now she was here. Her family moved back to Queens a couple of years ago, but Carlita was in the Heights.

• Now, I know about all that, so tell me, any boyfriends? Girlfriends? I didn’t know you liked girls Carlita!
• I didn’t know that about you either!
• There’s a lot of things you don’t know about me.
• Oh, but I know.
• You know?
• I know you had two great loves.
• Who told you?
• You did! At my almost wedding!
• Oh shit, true. Crazy huh?
• Yes, yes, I almost got married to Angelito, now tell me about your great loves!
• Okay, okay, but you have to tell me about your love tour.

• So, my first love was also my first great love, we knew each other since we were kids, best friends in middle school and high school sweethearts, in secret. She was nervous about coming out, and so was I, but we loved each other a lot. It was crazy and intense. She was really beautiful and I was so in love, at first I thought she didn’t want me, she had Prom Queen written all over her, but turns out she loved me too.
• What happened? 
• Her parents found out about us, I think some teacher knew or just realized, it was a secret, but if you spent 5 minutes with us you knew. Her parents found out and sent her to Austin with her grandma.
• I’m so sorry.
• Oh no, don’t worry. Turns out her grandma was super pro LGBT, and now she’s living her best life. She just got married!
• That’s nice to know! What about the other love?
• Cotilla.
• Cotilla no, I’m invested.
• In my love life?
• How could I not!

• Longstory short, he loved me, I loved him, we were together for 6 months and he died.

• Dani!!!
• What? I’ll tell you about him another day. Now get ready, I have to open the salon!
• Okay, okay. Wait, does Abuela Claudia know about them?
• Oh yes, she met them and got her aproval, our familia knows I’m bisexual, I’m pretty sure all the barrio knows, if they’ve seen me in the club, they know.
• How Come I didn’t know?
• I was pretty sneaky with my love life around you and Cuca, I was still your boss.
• That make sense. 
• Now, get ready I’ll cut your hair and you’ll tell me all about you being a Miami Bi Icon, and When did you learn to make coffee. 
• It 's not like that!

They went to the bodega and got a second round of coffee, said hi to Usnavi and to abuela Claudia, then they got to the salon and Carla spilled all the tea.

• Turns out gayness is contagious! 
• Carla, that’s not how it works! 
• I know, I know, I’m not stupid, BUT! My fiancé was gay, I spent years with him and turns out was gay too! It’s science! 
• So did you “science” a lot? 
• Well not really, I mean I had a great love and all but not really.
• A great love? CARLA! 
• What?! She was my great love, but I wasn’t hers, it’s okay.
• I’m so sorry Carlita. 
• Ah no, it’s okay, her great love’s love wasn’t her so, karma! 
• Karma is a bitch.
• Speaking of karma! I noticed the kids' things at your place.
• What’s that have to do with karma?
• I don’t know, you finally got what you deserve? Your daughter?
• She’s not my daughter, but I’m her foster mami.
• Congratulations! Now you are officially a MILF!
• Ya te gustaría nena.
• Sí, sí ya me gusta. - A miracle happened and a speechless Dani existed for  a brief moment-
• I have a hot iron in your head Carlita.
• I  wasn’t lying tho.

Daniela turned to unplug the iron and finally Cuca arrived.

• DANIELA CREO QUE VEO FANTASMAS
• Qué estás diciendo loca?
• I SEE CARLA THERE SITTING!
• IT’S ME!! HERMANA!! - They screamed and hugged. - I missed you cabrona.
• Missed you too! What the hell are you doing here? When did you arrived?
• Yesterday! I spent the night at Daniela’s.
• Ay mami I thought you went with some lady friend and got some!
• I mean she didn’t get any because she didn’t want to, because i’m a pretty good lady friend!
• Ay ay ay Carlita y Daniela, sitting in a tree.
• Nenas enough.
• She definitely needs to get some.
• For real.
• Y’all want me to get the broom and bust y’all’s asses? - they said no with their heads
• Now, Cuca get ready for your appointment, and you Carlita, what are you doing now?
• Well I was hoping if…
• I’m getting old and deaf because I can’t hear you, loud and clear niña
• I was hoping if I could work for you again, I saw the sign outside and you and I know I’m qualified and as you know I’m broke, and I really really
• Mi Vida, of course you can have the job.
• I really missed you guys.
• C’mon, we’ll split our appointments so maybe we can close earlier and go have dinner at Claudia’s.

 

Dani was amazed at how quickly they all fell into the old routine, the three of them working together, it didn’t feel like 6 years had gone by without Carlita, well it kinda did feel like that, since all the clients wanted to update Carla on all the In The Heights chismes.

 

Dani was happy, she found herself just glancing at her girls working, and talking, so much talking, and laughing. 

 

It was a beautiful, calm, summer day in Washington Heights, well, “calm”, as calm as New York can be having Carla back in town.

Chapter 5: the dinner

Notes:

hey! idk if there's someone out there still interested in reading this!
but i'm so sorry for the lack of chapters! it0s just that life gets busy jeje
also, sorry for the writing quality! it's like 3am in here and i'm in no mode of rewriting and rereading, maybe one day!
maybe one day it'll be decent.
anywayssss i hope you enjoy this!

They were two floors away and they were already smelling Abuela Claudia’s beautiful cooking, Carlas was very excited to go and surprise her dear Claudia, and all her chosen family, the girls were already teens, Benny and Usnavi were 21, already clubbing and drinking, she missed on a lot of stuff, not big stuff like quinces , weddings or funerals, but small big things, like firsts loves, first kisses.

 

 

• Mami, please put one more plate.- Dani screamed coming in.
• Ay, mija did you finally convince Penélope to come? I told you to tell me before! I have to go change now
• ¿Penélope? ¿Quién es Penélope, Abuelita?- Asked a curious Carlita.
• Carla! What are you doing here, nena.
• I missed New York! I missed you guys, my family..
• So you broke? - said Kevin from the living room
• Señor Kevin! How are you doing?
• I’m fine mija, now, look at you all grown up!
• Well thank you thank you, eso sí, para vosotros no pasa el tiempo, eh!
• Bueno Carlita ya tu sabes, mami’s food is like magic.
• Yes! To the important stuff! Food! And also, who is Penélope?
• Is Penélope here? Mami? - That was Vanessa coming to the corridor -  Oh! Carla! You’re here!!!
• Vanessa! How are you so tall?? Now, do I have to ask again?
• Who is Penélope? - asked everybody laughing.
• Well, Penélope is mami’s girlfriend.
• She’s not my girlfriend!
• Mírala Daniela, all red.
• Kevin, te juro por dios imma kick your ass.
• Ya Dani, ya she 's not your girlfriend… just your special friend. NOW  vamos a comer que se me va a enfriar el arroz.

 

 

• Special friend, huh. - says Carla under her breath.

 

She didn’t know why, but that whole Penélope conversation left a strange after taste in her mouth, that not even Abuela Claudia’s food could change.

 

Don’t get me wrong, she enjoyed that night, just as she enjoyed being back with her family, but when silence reigned at the table, or when she spaced out, all she could feel was that strange taste in her mouth.

 

Luckily the kids were sparing here of that bitterness, telling her all about their lives, how the two almost 16 years old are going through high school, how Usnavi is keeping the bodega afloat, how little Sonny had his first kiss, and how Benny started working at Kevin’s dispatch.

 

Once the kids were gone, Carla felt weird being “with the adults”, she had been part of their wine talks when she went back just to visit for a couple of days, but it still felt weird.

 

Kevin talked about how he’s struggling with life, with life without his wife,, how the priest recommended him to go to therapy, and how he’s considering it but nows that he can’t afford it, at least not now, he has to save up for Nina, Dani takes his hand assuring him that everything will be okay, telling him that he has them, that maybe there’s something similar to therapy that he can join and won’t cost a kidney, that Nina was a smart girl, Dani and Claudia were pretty sure Nina was gonna get a scholarship, that was their Nina.

 

Dani started explaining how teenage Vanesa was very teenage-y , how the “ Te odio” are too easy to say for her, how teenagers think that they are grown, but don’t get that their words have a huge meaning. How sometimes she thinks she failed the kid, but how she will always be her biggest accomplishment in life, she was an artist, strong, woman.

 

And the “ Te odio ” might be too easy to say for her, but Vanesa’s “ Te quiero” , were hard to get, and Dani was blessed with at least one a day. That made it worth it.

 

Claudia was just amazed with Cuca’s and Carlita’s also amazed faces, the two youngsters were just so in the conversation, and supporting the “adults” while they were venting.

 

A couple of glasses later, the conversation lightened up, and Carla got to tell them everything about her trips, and Cuca got to explain how the night scene had changed, but it was still their jam.

 

She spent the night at Cuca’s place, hearing all about her love life, how the barrio changed over the years, how the kids are all grown ups, and how that sucks.

They talked about how their parents at their age had jobs, and families and a place of their own, that maybe they should aspire to something bigger than that, because that’s why they came to America, that being 24 is having the same dreams that you had at 16 but knowing that they would always be that, dreams.

 

A spouse, a couple of kids, white picket fence house, and a dog, a big one, with lots of hair.

 

She was supposed to have that by now, with Angelito, she wasn’t mad or sad, maybe she felt nostalgia over what she should’ve had, and she was still young, 24 is nothing, 24 is not the age when you should be worrying about this things, that’s 30, that’s Daniela in her wedding with Angel.

 

Daniela.

 

Carlita asked Cuca about this Penélope and how she came into their lives.

 

• I mean Cuca usually it’s more like, you know Penélope the daughter of the cousin of the girlfriend of the daughter of the ex-wife of the neighbor that fixed the Computer of the priest that’s the cousin of Marisa not just “it’s Dani’s girlfriend”.
• I’ve been reading-
• Reading? You?
• Okay, okay, I’ve been watching a lot of tiktoks about vibes and I sense a weird one right now, you wanna tell me something?
• No, no, it’s just Vanesa, the Kid was so excited to meet Penélope, and you know me, i’m just a sucker for chismes.

 

And the chisme started.

 

Turns out Penélope was from the Bronx and went to the Heights looking for new spaces to open her Hair Salon, at first they clashed, they clashed so hard, Dani kind of driven by the fear of the economic catastrophe that another salon opening could cause, but also driven by her self esteem and how she didn’t want no one just barging in her barrio turning it all upside down.

 

• Oh but Penélope turned HER upside down.
• Cuca!!
• Sorry, sorry, I’ll continue.

 

They had a couple of meetings, although some might call it dates, since all they did was getting to know each other and flirt, but flirt, flirt, like they’ve never flirted before, like they invented the word flirting.

• And when was that?
• Six months? Eight? Ay no! Almost a year now!!
• A year??
• But I’ve been here before! Why didn’t you tell me??
• I don’t know, it didn't come up!
• Daniela has a girlfriend and it isn’t the first thing you tell me?
• Amiga chill the fuck down, we’ve barely seen them together even now, maybe that’s why it didn’t come up! Are you sure you are okay?
• Yeah yeah, i don’t know, maybe I’m just tired, long day. So you don’t know her?
• Barely, I mean she comes by the salon to take Dani out, but she hasn’t come to Abuelita Claudia’s dinner yet, which is a little bit of a nono.
• Huh.
• Bueno Carla, enough chisme, tomorrow you have to open the salon, so…
• Wait, what about you?
• It’s my me day! It’ll be only you and Dani at the salon.

Chapter 6: the chair

Dani knew that was gonna be a slow day, she only had a couple of appointments in the afternoon, and it was Carla's turn to open the salon, so she took Vanesa to school and had a little walk before going to work.

 

Dani was still a workaholic, but since she gained custody of Vanesa she took life a little bit slowly, she understood that she had to take time to process and live life, that Vanesa was going up too fast, and she didn't wanna miss a thing.

She might've not been her kid, but they way she loved her was magical, unreal, of course Vanesa had a mom, and despite their differences, Dani cares for her, they were friends for a very long time, until life brought them to differents paths, Dani didn't want Vanesa to resent her mother, so she tried hard to help her understand her mom. It was hard, for all three of them, but Dani made it work taking it one day at a time.

 

During her walks, Dani liked to walk around the blocks, to say hi to her neighbors, not only for the chisme, but because she cared deeply about her community, she also visits Usnavi anytime she can, the kid was already a man, but adjusting to the adult life was hard, specially whithout his parents there to guide him.

The first months were very hard, the kid tried to make it on he's own:

• I gotta be my own man, Dani, I can, I have to do it.

But it wasn't that easy, after a big mental breakdown, Usnavi went to live with Abuela Claudia, living in his home hurt. To walk in the same living room where his parents danced, to eat where his dad made the most delicious sancocho, to sleep in the same bed where his mom kissed him good night when she got off work at 2 am. That was the hardest part, sleeping, he just couldn't, he couldn't bring himself to close his eyes and sleep, he was scared to see them in his dreams, to feel their presence only there and never again. 

Working at the bodega was hard too, every morning when he went to work, there was a little part of him that hoped to see his papá there, already with the bodega opened and serving coffee, and maybe cracking a couple of jokes with Kevin. 

To see the once jolly Usnavi like that broke many hearts, so Claudia took care of him and the bodega, he wasn't alone, his family had his back, Kevin forced him to go with him a grief group, and spent almost every saturday with him and Nina, Dani had him from Sunday to tuesday in her salon working, weather it be cutting some hair, cleaning or taking the phone, and Abuela Claudia took care of him 24/7, that arrengement went on for months, until Usnavi had the strength of taking care of the bodega, he still went to grief group with Kevin, and still helped out Dani whenever he could, and every day he had dinner with abuela Claudia, he wasn't okay, but he was gonna be.

 

To loose Camila and los de la Vega hurt the comminity pretty bad, but to Daniela was heartbreaking, she loved them like siblings, she was there for their vows renewals, she was there for every couple troubles they had, she was there to take care of the kids when they had to go back to take care of their parents. They say that it takes a village to raise a kid, and both families formed that village, and named Dani and Claudia the mayors. 

 

Abuela Claudia, Dani and Kevin spent almost every night together taking care of all three kids, and when Claudia went to sleep, Kevin and Daniela talked, and talked and reminisce the good ol' days where the five of them were the ones going out and having fun.

Some people of the barrio con la mente sucia thought that they were together, they dropped the kids together, picked them up, they had some weekends outings together, they could see why it would look like that, but it was really sibling love, and grieving together what was happening between them.

 

Daniela finally got to her salon, and there she found Carla sweeping the floor and dancing, and she remembered how Carlita came back everytime something happened, how she also took care of the salon with Cuca when Camila passed away, because she was too hurt. Camila, Isabel and her spent afternoons in there just chatting and chismeando and for Dani it was hard to get back to work when she lost them.

• Buenos días Dani! Come sit!
• Como que  sit? We have work to do Carla.
• I know I know, but we have a slow day, I thought maybe I could wash your hair and have a chill day!
• While that sounds great I don't know, what if someone comes?
• Ay Dani por favor, tu eres la reina del multitasking.
• Okay, okay..

So she sat on the chair and let Carla take care of her. She wasn't used to do that, to be taken care of, at least not since she went to the good olf US of A, so being a little bit spoiled like that made her so happy.

• So Daniela...
• Yes Carlita?
• Don'tkillme but, when am I gonna have the pleasure of meeting this special friend of yours?
• Ay Carla, please not you... I have enough with mami, and Vanesa, and oh my god fucking Kevin, this man really loves to tease me about it.
• But I mean, it makes sense you've been dating for a year or so, it's normal to be curious.
• I'm gonna kill Cuca, and I'm gonna cut your tongue if you don't drop it.
• Okay, Okay I'll leave it, but
• Carla!
• Hear me out, I'm here for you, okay? If you ever wanna talk, or vent, or scream or anything, I'm here. I know our family can be overwhelming, but hey, soy una tumba.
• Thank you bonita, I appreciate it. 
• You are very welcome. And please know, that I'm not a teenager anymore? I've grown, and I get that you are a freacking superwoman, but you have to talk about stuff, and I now not having Cami and Isa here is hard, so I'm here. I mean you also have Cuca? And Abuelita.
• I know, I know, but Cuca has been my employee for a long time, I love her like a daughter and Mami is my mami, so, It feels weird.
• I get it.
• You wanna know why they haven't met Pé yet?
• Yes please?
• Okay but if I find out you told anyone
• Dani, soy una tumba.

And Dani went on to rant about her girlfriend, how she loves her, but Penélope wasn't ready to meet anyone, to commint, how they've had issues about it, and how it hurted Dani. Family was a huge part for her, and Penélope got it, but for her family was a hurtful subject. 

• You kinda remind me of her, you know?
• Me? Why?
• Well, she ran off to Miamia when she couldn't take her parents attitude towards her. 
• Oh.

Dani was ready to settle down, she never knew she wanted that, the family, white picked fenced house and the dog, but having Vanesa made her realize that she wanted to settle down, grow a big family with someone, but she didn't know id Penélope was the one. She loved her, cared deeply for her, but it was getting harder.

• And how did you get together?
• You know this chair is like magic. Because I'm gonna tell you, and I know i wouldn't if you weren't doing a great work washing this hair.
• Oh you might be superwoman, but I too have superpowers honey.
• Well Carlita we got togethere after we slept together a few times, there you go.
• Ah ah, no no I need more chisme, like how is she, why do you love her, I'm here for it.
• Well I don't know Carla.
• You don't know?
• I mean I know, but I don't know. She's great, she's there for me, and loves me.
• But...
• What do you  mean but?
• Well you said you don't know, so there must be a but!
• Carla!
• Dani, you always say that when you know, you know.
• Okay, enough now. You can't come back and mendle stuff around, that doesn't work like that.
• You know if Abuela Claudia knew she would mendle the shit out of it.
• But she already does!
• Because she loves you.
• I know.

Carla was surprised by her reaction towards everything that Dani told her. She was acting too weird and it was bugging her, because she tasted jelousy every time she heard the name Penélope. 

After the salon session for Dani, running a couple of errands and taking care of a couple of appointments, it was time to go and eat.

• Daniela mi amor, are you ready? - and there she was, the famous Pé. Carla was shocked.
• One second! And I'll be right there.
• Penélope?
• Carla?
• You know each other??

Chapter 7: the lunch

Oh, they really knew each other, remember when Carlita talked about having a great love when she was out there? Yep.

A Carla le gustan mayores, esas que llaman señoras. Sunny New York turned dark for Carla once she saw her there. Weird feelings were rising, strong feelings were rising, until Dani put her hand on her shoulder.

• So how you know each other?
• Oh well, from Miami you know. - said Pé, almost ereasing everything that happened between them.

Carla got that, that she didn't want Dani to know about them, to know about what was Carla's gratest love story up to that date, and that hurt, maybe more that the jelousy she tasted before. That was more bitter, that gave birth to the darkes feelings Carla ever felt, for just a second, until she remembered that wasn't a telenovela, and Daniela was right there, and they were in the salon.

• Yeah, she was my teacher at the cosmetology school! So you taking Dani out for lunch?
• Yes! We're going to this chinese restaurant that's three blocks away.
• Carlita you can come!
• Oh no, no I don't wanna bother, Dani.
• You are never a bother! Come and you tell me all about how this one taught you.
• Yes Carla, come! We should catch up. C'mon Daniela, we're gonna be late.

Carla didn't like the vibes that Penélope gave off, she didn't like how she called her Daniela. Who the fuck was Daniela, she was only Daniela when she was in trouble or people wanted to bother her, nono, not Daniela.

Carla was a little bit biased towards Penélope, since you know, she broke her heart, but broken hearts apart, she didn't like how Penélope was with Dani. yes, they've only spent two minutes together, the three of them, but Carla felt weird vibes.

 

Maybe it was the jealousy growing, she didn't know why, she already forgot about her, maybe it was the "oh well from Miami, you know" and not the "fucked, then dated, then cheated". 

 

• So what have you been up to Carla?

 

To say that the lunch was awkward was an understatement. And Dani wasn't stupid, she felt it, maybe too much, Carla was all stiff and quiet, and Pen was too formal, she couldn't put her finger on it but it was too weird, so she excused herself, went to the bathroom and started to think a plan to discover their past.

 

Meanwhile at the table

 

• So... From Miami, you know? That's all?
• Carla please baby,
• Uh no, u don't have baby rights.
• My Lita, what did you want me to say? Oh yes we used to mess around.
• Now, I know you are not insulting me and the year we spent together calling it messing around, are you? 
• Lita...
• I'm Carla to you. Lita rights are also revoked. What the actual fuck Pen? I
• Look, we can talk about this later, but Daniela and I have something here, please don't say anything that could ruin this for us, for her.
• Are you kidding me?  The audacity! I can't tell my friend that she's dating my ex? Are you literally nuts?
• Lita, I make her happy.
• This has nothing to do with you.
• Oh.
• Oh? What do you mean Oh?
• Nothing, nothing.
• I have to tell her.
• Let me do that, I'll tell her tonight.
• I don't
• You don't trust me, and hey I don't blame you, but I've changed. Truly.
• Tonight.
• Tonight.

 

The awkward lunch continued, less weird but still, 3/10 would not repeat. Then Carla and Dani went back to the salon and everything went as smooth as always, as if their awkward lunch didn't happened.

 

• So was my Pen Pen a bad teacher or what?
• What now?
• I don't know, you don't seem to like her.
• Oh no, no she was good, great teacher. It's just weird, you know how it was to see your elementary teacher at the supermarket? Kinda feels like that yeah.
• Oh Carlita, honey, you cannot lie, not to me, but hey if you don't wanna tell me.
• It ain't that.
• Don't worry Carlita, I get it! You don't have to say anything.
• Dani.
• Yes?
• Are you happy?
• I think I am, why?
• Nothing.
• Girl you are being weird today.
• I'm sorry, I guess it takes time to readjust myself you know?

 

They said their goodbyes and went back home after maybe the weirdest day ever, at least for Carla. She got to Cucas apartment, empty since Cuca was having a me day.

It was 1 am when she got a text "I'm at your door, can you come down? P."

 

• What do you want, teacher from Miami?
• I haven't told her.
• Penelope!
• I can't.
• Why?
• Because of you!
• What now?
• You know Carla, I was doing just fine in here, but you had to come back and mess shit up.
• Are you drunk? 
• I can't tell her, I can't hurt her, she's been great, I don't wanna break her heart.
• Penelope? Talk to me.
• You. Youyouyouyou.
• What about me?

And then she kissed her. Weirdest day ever. She didn't expect those feelings, she didn't know what to feel, but she didn't think her first reaction would be to push her. You see, Carla was truly, really, madly in love with Penelope, a while ago, true, but those feelings where intense, at least under the heat of Miami's Sun they where. She didn't expect to push away a kiss from the one she thought to be her greatest love. 

Carla went back inside and run to her bed, she didn't say anything, just pushed her and weck back home.

And then everything clicked. 

All the feeling she's been neglecting, all the feelings she dismissed as confusion , all the bitter jealousy she tasted, everything made sense, everything had a name, she judt didn't wanna say it, didn't wanna feel it, didn't wanna make it real, because if all of that were true, it would hurt her too much.

 

• I'm in love with Dani?

 

Notes:

this one is bad written *peace sign and kissy face* i'm so sorry, next one is gonna be better, if there's someone out there reading

Chapter 8: my pen, your pen

Summary:

the chismes fly to fast in a barrio

Notes:

hello! if anyone's still here (this fic or this fandom) i just rewatched the film and got obsessed over them all over again omg so yeah i came to finish this up, although i don't know when nor how hehe, I hope you enjoy this!

She finally understood herself, what she didn't get was Penélope's behaviour, like alcohol doesn't help, but that was weird. Penélope was the one who cheated, the one who treated their relationship as if only it was a pastime thing, like they didn't share what for Carla was a home. Penélope was the one who took her for granted, so she didn't get the all "don't tell Daniela" and "kissing her at 1am under new york's natural stars, streetlights."

But she was going to put that aside.

Carla realized she loved Daniela. "I love, love her".

• What are you doing here? - Dani asked as she sees Carla entering the salon.
• Working? Dani? Did you forget?
• Don’t Dani me, cara dura, como te atreves a venir aquí después de anoche.
• Dani how do you know? I can explain.
• Six years gone and you forgot how a barrio and its chismes works? How dare you kiss my girlfriend?
• YOU KISSED HER GIRLFRIEND???
• Cuca not now.
• Not now and never, look I'm not firing you because I need the help. But you and I are done.
• Dani, Dani I don’t know what the chismosos told you but it’s not what you think!
• I told you about her, I told you my feelings… I'm going outside,
• Dani…
• Déjala Carla.
• Cuca, I didn’t kiss her.
• Then what happened?
• No, i can’t let Pen to fuck my life all over again, i refuse - and she run out the door looking for Dani.

Carla found her sitting in front of the Rosarios cab service looking mad, with a unlit cigarette.

• Carla I don’t wanna talk with you, leave me alone or we will regret what will happen next.
• Dani don’t say that.
• I trusted you.
• It’s not what you think.

 

• Yo fui vulnerable contigo

• Dani escuchame

 

• Shut up, shut up, SHUT UP. YA CÁLLATE
• SHE WAS MY GREAT LOVE

they both screamed at the same time, gaining the attention of the whole barrio, so much so that Kevin quickly came out, fetched them in and brought them to his office.

• What is wrong with you two? Van a pensar que estan locas!
• What do you mean she was your great love? - Dani asked, ignoring Kevin.
• I’m sorry Dani, well, not, i’m not because I haven’t done anything but - Carla started rambling
• What do you mean she was your great love, Carla?- Dani interrupted her and held her hands - Look at me and tell me. - Kevin took that as his cue to leave and left them in his office, Dani walked her to Kevin’s sofa and prompted her to sit and talk.
• Are you mad with me?
• I’m mad, but i believe you soi guess i’mnot mad at you.
• Long story short, we fucked, we dated and i got cheated and i do what i do best when i’m humiliated, i ran.

In that moment Dani understood the complexity of being a human, how can she fully believe Carla but at the same time finding it hard to believe.

• I can’t.. My Pen? Penélope?
• I’m not lying Daniela - Carla said with the darkest eyes Dani’s ever seen, that wasn’t rage, that was madness and sadness and yieldingness.
• I believe you Carlita. - The darkness went away but the sadness persisted.
• I don’t want this to happen to you Dani, i now you’re happy and I know you’ll say that people can change but
• I’ll talk to her tonight and i’ll break up with her. I mean I wanna know what happened yesterday but what did she do Carla? What could’ve she done that left you like this?
• Well first she was my mentor, the first couple of years at the school she was just my teacher but then she became my mentor and one night i went out and she was there, and i’m sure you now how she is and i ended up at her place and we went on like that for a couple of years and then we became formal like me pidió salir Dani, me llevó a su casa y me dio unas llaves and we moved together to another place together and i loved her and i thought she did too, but i knew she was cheating on me, and i still loved her and i still wanted the house, the white picket fence and a couple of kids running around. I chose to still love her despite the cheating i don't know why, maybe because her love was all I knew.
• Carlita…
• but i left her Dani. It was so stupid of me to still be with her but I left her when I found a newbie in my bed, the girl I was mentoring at the school was in my bed with my girl and I just took off, went out with a friend, came back home and saw that she was sleeping, alone, so I packed my bags and hopped on my car.
• And you went to the South
• And I went to the South, I ran, ran away from her but mostly from my feelings and from the humiliation.
• Damn  Carla, how didn’t we know? Nunca nos contaste
• Cuca knew some things but she never saw her. Whenever she would come to visit, Penelopé went and stayed with her cousin, it was crazy she didn’t wanna meet anyone else other than the people that we already knew together.
• She only wants to come to my place if no one else is there, not mami, not Vane nor Usnavi…

A silence reigned over them.

• And yesterday…
• Oh
• Yeah when she said that we knew each other from the school I, that broke me Dani, that was like a slap in the face but I don’t know how I couldn’t find my voice to tell you, like she had her powers over me back like I was still a stupid student and she promised me that she’d tell you about us at night.
• Oh we were gonna spend the night at her place but she canceled.
• I guess she spent the night at the bar because she came reeking of alcohol and told me she couldn’t tell you because of me and then kissed me and Dani i’m sorry I promise I pushed her I felt so disgusted I
• I believe you, you don’t have to be sorry you didn’t do anything

They embraced, still con las emociones a flor de piel, but understanding one another. Dani chose to close the salón for the day and reschedule the appointments,  she needed the day to precess and the girls, Cuca and Carla understood, also she didn't wanna leave Carla and Cuca working since it woudl've been hard for Carla, so she sent them home so Carla could explain this to her friend and have her support.

 

Dani got home and crashed on her bed and fell asleep, her body's response to all of this was to fall sleep, only to be waken up by a knock on her door at 18pm

• Daniela se que no has comido así que te traigo un Tupperware de mamá Claudia, also I wanted to check on you. 
• Como sabes que no comí Carlita?
• You haven't responded to anyones messeges so I guessed you took a hard nap.
• I'ts been quite the day.
• Yeah..
• Come in.

Carla came, and later Cuca joined and the three of them dined while watching a telenovela.

 

The afternoon was going smooth, as if nothing had happened in the past 24 hours until another knock on thedoor startled them.

• maybe it's vanessa?
• no, can't be, she's spending the night at kevin's.
• Daniela mi amor se que estás ahí dentro, I don't know what Carla told you but please let me explain myself and stop ignoring my texts.