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SLOANE CURIOUSLY SAT ON
THE APARTMENT DOOR STEPS BETWEEN USNAVI AND ABUELA CLAUDIA. WITH ALL OF THEM LOOKING AT PICTURES OF THE DESTROYED BAR BACK IN D.R.
"¿Qué es eso?" Abuela Claudia inquired, pointing to the a reddish- or yellowish-brown coating decay. "Yeah. What's all over the pipes?" Sloane asked. "Rust." Usnavi replied. "Rust?" Abuela Claudia repeated. Usnavi then switched to next picture. "Lovely!" Sloane sarcastically add, lazily rolling her eyes.
"¿Y eso?" Abuela further inquired, now pointing to a larger roughly arched tile. "That's the roof." Usnavi answered. "On the floor?!" Abuela Claudia questioned
in total shock. "Ay, Usnavi. Tu eres un workaholic." Sloane concludes, laying
her head on his shoulder.
"Sloane tiene razón. You think it will
be different in the Dominican Republic?
Just like my Mamá. Morning and night, year after year...to what end? To wake
up and scrub another floor till the day
she die." Abuela Claudia reason. "Yeah but here I work to survive." Usnavi said.
"I mean don't we all." Sloane mumbled,
as she plays with the green fabric of his thin sweater. "El Sueñito will be a labor
of love." Usnavi reasoned. "The bodega
was only supposed to be temporary, but now I'm like, almost thirty." He add.
Sloane simply cringe at the thought of their thirtieth birthday nearing. Though Usnavi was exaggerating due to them both being twenty four and having six
years left. "The plan was always to go back. Hopefully, I won't be going alone." Usnavi glance at Sloane at the end, who was already looking up at him.
Sloane looks down at her new maroon color acrylic nails. Knowing that she is bound to have a conversation about the vastly different directions they seem to
be going in life. With Sloane wanting
to own a dance studio in the barrios to Usnavi wanting to reopen his dad's bar
in Dominican Republic.
"You, Sloane, Me and Sonny?" Usnavi suggested. "Y Sonny? Is he on board?" Abuela Claudia questioned. "He's my
next ask." Usnavi said. "After Sloane."
Usnavi add. Sloane quickly remove her head from his shoulder and sat up.
"I-I don't know. I just need some time
to think about a-all this." Sloane reply.
Both Abuela Claudia and Usnavi nod
in understanding. "Oh take your time mija, but Usnavi, I'm not going without him." Abuela said. "Look I got Sonny." Usnavi assured.
"You know I can't go nowhere without you and Sloane." Usnavi adds. There
was a moment of silence between the
three as Abeula Claudia begins to get teary. "I took care of my community,
no?" She questioned.
"Hell, yes!!" The couple agree, earning
a few chuckle from sweet end caring elderly woman. "El Sueñito two point
oh. The tropical air'll keep you, young girl!!!" Usnavi laughs. "Caramba, buy
me a bikini." Abuela Claudia jokes. To which Sloane chuckle to. "Let's go!!" Usnavi jokes.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Sloane repeatedly rubs a wet towelette against her neck while standing beside
a sitting Sonny, whose holding a coke bottle against his forehead and a tiny
fan in his hand. The heat in the bodega was becoming unbearable.
But it was mostly unbearable because
of there was already heat from outside.
"I don't know man. Leave Washington Heights? I'd have to talk to my dad..."
Sonny voice trail off. Sloane know that Sonny and his dad don't have the best relationship. Which often reminds of
her and her parents, to whom she has
not talk to in three years.
"You're just a kid. You don't even know. For real. Dominican Republic's gonna blow your mind." Usnavi hype. Sloane sigh as she continues to try to cool her
self down from the heat . "Look. You do you. It's all good. But don't be roping me into your thing." Sonny dismiss.
"Yo..." Usnavi exhales before he moves being from under the fridge. "Beach. Merengue. Carnaval. Summer all year 'round." He argue. "Who's gonna greet you in D.R? Some cousin you saw two Christmases ago?" Sonny reasons.
"He do gotta point there, Navi." Sloane nods in agreement. "Best days of my life were there." Usnavi emphasized. Sonny then lets out a small laugh. "That's the corniest thing I've ever heard." Sonny taunts. "You came here when you was eight. You got island memories. Not me.
I was in Pampers when on that plane. NYC's my spot. I got my island, okay?
Go get yours." Sonny reason.
"Amor, don't force Sonny to go if he do not want to." Sloane shrugs. Usnavi sigh, about to go back under. "Yeah thank you Sloane and also don't forget how you got your name." Sonny tease. This now stops Usnavi from fully going under the fridge for a moment. "Yo." Usnavi began.
Sloane stifles her laughs at this scene. "Just fix the fridge." Sonny dismissed while chuckling. "Yeah, all right. Bro,
you think you're funny." Usnavi said as
he goes back under. Sloane leans down
at Sonny. "Yooo you definitely got him there." She whisper while giggling.
"What's Usnavi mean anyway?" Sedo question. "That sounds weird." Miggy remark. "No it doesn't." Cattleya argue.
In response, Miggy teasingly sticks his tongue out at her then earning a "Shut up." from Rosa. "All right. All right. All right." Usnavi began, calming all the
kids down.
"On my dad's first trip to Nueva York,
he saw a passing ship on the horizon.
And he was like, Wow that's gonna be
my son's name." Usnavi answered. The children giggled at the accent. "Usnavi." Rosa repeat. "Ohhhhhh.." The children
simultaneously said in a realization. "I
like it." Cattleya compliment with a big bright smile. "Thank you." Usnavi reply with a smile on his face.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Its the next day and two days until the unexpected black out. In her spare time, Sloane hangs out at Dani's salon. "Now, remember the block was disappearing. Exhibit A: Daniela's Salon. Moving in a week, after decades of make overs, the skin deep kind and the emotional kind." Usnavi explain.
Sloane is sitting next to Vanessa, who
is too occupied by doing a customer's nails across from them. "No one could
fill her shoes. Literally, they were like
four inches high." He adds. "Yo... Sloa
how did the sighting for the building
go yesterday?" Vanessa asked.
"They told me to reschedule it for today. Apparently a lot of people came in and want that building too. And with all this gentrification. I would not be surprised
if they just go off on who has the highest payment." Sloane admit. Vanessa nods her head in agreement."But what about you? How is the getting the apartment going so far?" Sloane asked.
"I have to submit my rental application
in a few minutes. So I will tell you how that goes soon." Vanessa answered. "I know you will get that apartment! You
definitely got this in the bag V!" Sloane encouraged. A genuine smile forms on Vanessa hopeful face. "I'm too old and
the Bronx is too far." A elderly woman complain, earning the attention of both Vanessa and Sloane. "Que voy a hacer?
I was priced out. Y yo no soy la única!" Daniela began.
"Most of my clients already up and
moved to the Grand Concourse. Hey, built in customers." Daniela stressed.
"My lunch isn't long enough for that
trip, Dani." Jessica interject. Earning
scoffs from Carla.
"Jessica...One: swipe the fare card.
Two: ride three stops. Three: arrive at
my new location! Ten minutes max!!!" Daniela instruct. "Ten minutes? Cariño. What are you riding, a time machine?" Jonathan roast. "Excuse me?!?" Carla spoke up. "Our people survived Slave ships." Daniela began.
Sloane was instantly thrown off by that, knowing good damn well that her and only a few others in the salon were the only one with that ancestry. "Now wait
a damn minute--" But she was cut off
by Daniela and the people agreeing with Daniela statement. "We survived Taino genocide. We survived conquistadores and dictators." Daniela walks closer to Jonathan before taking the very large
sunglasses off Jonathan's face.
"You're telling me we can't survive the D train to the Grand Concourse." Daniela question. "Okay. Okay. Okay." Jonathan takes back the large sunglasses. Sloane just chuckles finding this comedic in a way. And so did everyone as the Salon
fill with laughter.
The Salon door opens and Nina walks
in the crowded Salon with a smile on
her face. "OH MY GOSH NINI!" Sloane excitedly squeals. She got up from her seat and ran over to Nina, before giving her a bear hug. "SLOA! OH MY GOSH!
I MISSED YOU!" Nina instantly hugs
her Best friend back.
The long time friends pull away. "OH GUYS! Look who's back home!" Sloane announce. Everyone else who was still
in their own conversation looks over at the front. "Hello, hello. How long's the wait?" Nina jokingly question. "For you, mamita, front of the line! Oye!" Daniela exclaimed. The Salon filled with excited cheers from both of the customers and the workers.
"Emergency coming through!" Sloane jokes loudly. Nina hugs the Salon ladies before being seated at one of the chairs. Carla and Daniela then spins the chair forward ❝Gorgeous!❞ ❝Linda!❞ They then spin it back. ❝Tell me something
I don't know!❞
❝Vieja!❞
❝Sucia!❞
❝Cabrona!❞
❝Tell me something I don't know!❞
Nina stood up with the girls guiding
her to the back to wash her hair.
❝A little off the top-❞
❝A little on the side-❞
❝A little bit of news you've heard
around the barrio!❞ Nina takes a seat
at the Shampoo sink station. ❝Tell me something I don't know!❞ Sloane stood beside the Salon ladies as they work on the customers and gossip.
❝Bueno. You didn't hear this from me! But some little birdie told me Usnavi
is planning to put a very special ring
on Sloane's finger.❞ Sloane instantly
turn her head to Daniela's direction.
❝No me diga!❞
❝Ay, no! Dani stop getting my hopes
up like that! I mean he's probably just getting a promise ring. Please tell me
your joking!❞ Sloane loves and wants
the idea of marriage but she also didn't want to force Usnavi into that if he felt that they weren't on that level yet.
Even if they've been together for nine years. ❝Okay! Just wanted to see what you'd say!❞ Though its unbeknownst
to everyone except Sonny, Benny, and Abuela Claudia that Usnavi is actually planning to propose.
Daniela teasingly spray Sloane with the hair spray. Laughs fill the Salon. ❝Tell
me something I don't know! Mmm-hm mmm...❞ Sloane playfully roll her eyes.
"Ugh!! Whatever but just stop messing with me like that." Sloane whines. ❝Ay,
bendito!❞
❝So, Nina, I hear you been talking to Benny.❞ They were now at the waxing station in the back with Sloane standing beside Dani. ❝And what do you hear?❞
❝I hear plenty. They say he's got quite a big..." Daniela rips off the waxing paper off Nina's eyebrows. ❝...Taxi!❞
❝No me diga!❞ If the rumor is true then Sloane cannot help but feel some what impressed. ❝Okay! I don't wanna know where you heard all that!❞ Sloane stifle
a laugh at Nina's disgust. ❝I don't think
I know what you mean...❞
Carla moves the light pink curtain in
total confusion. ❝Carla! He's packing a stretch limousine!❞ Daniela sways her hips in reference. ❝Tell me something
I don't know!❞
❝Long as he keeps it clean!❞ Sloane face palms at Carla's obliviousness. ❝Ay dios mio...❞ Carla rips the waxing paper off
a customer eyebrow.
❝Nina, seriously, we knew you'd be the
one to make it out!❞ Carla and Daniela strolled Nina's chair as Vanessa did her nails, Cuca and Sloane began to walk beside them.
The chair stop strolling and Cuca sat
Nina up as Vanessa and Sloane crouch down to Nina. ❝I'll bet you impressed them all out west-❞
❝You were always the best, no doubt!❞ Sloane and Vanessa turns Nina's seat towards Carla, Daniela and Cuca.
❝We want front row seats to your graduation-❞
❝They'll call you name-❞
❝And we'll scream and shout!❞
Nina couldn't deal with holding in the secret anymore, so she stood up from
her seat. "You guys, I....dropped out."
Nina hastily informed. "No me diga?!" The Salon ladies including Sloane said
in unison.
"Yeah. I should go." Nina excused. "Oh
N-Neens wait!" Sloane sympathetically
calls out but Nina already left the Salon out of embarrassment. "Well, That's a shitty piece of news." Daniela remark.
"That girl never quit anything." Sloane exclaimed. "She probably flunked out."
The same elderly lady replied. "Or she
got a little bun in the oven, you know." Cuca jokes.
It was a terrible joke at a terrible time
in Sloane's personal opinion. "What the hell happened?" Vanessa ask. ❝I don't know...❞ Everyone in the Salon started
to put everything back the way it was originally. ❝I don't know...❞ ❝I don't know...❞
❝Tell me something I don't know!❞
❝Que se yo?❞
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
As soon as Sloane walks out the Salon with Vanessa, who got the permission
to go on a lunch break. The two barrio beauties were of course being catcalled
by two shirtless men washing their car.
"Aye Vanessa! Sloane!" One of the men calls. Sloane and Vanessa only roll their eyes continuing to walk.
"Nessa, let's just ignore them." Sloane groan earning an agreement nod from Vanessa. "Vanessa baby, eres preciosa. ¡Te adoro, mi reina, por favor! Y Sloane, mami, amo tu cuerpo especialmente tu trasero y te alabo y te trataré como a una diosa." The man continues. "¡Por favor, solo una oportunidad, mis dos reinas!
Por favor." He pleads.
His friend whistle in retaliation much
to this dismay of the girls. "Hey I got
to get to the sighting. Tell me how the apartment situation goes later okay? I
will see you soon." Sloane quickly side hugs Vanessa. "Be safe!" Vanessa calls
as she watched her Best Friend go on ahead of her and cross the street.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
"Javier what do you mean this place
has been recently sold." Sloane stress.
She began running her fingers through her shoulder blade length curls. Javier
is the owner of the spacious building he has pale skin and a blonde buzz cut.
"Yeah sorry, Sloane, you are too late. A hour before you came a couple in their late forties unexpectedly came and paid me more than twenty five thousand in cash. And you know I couldn't say no to that." Javier explained.
In despair, Sloane did not say nothing more but walk out the building that she has dreamed for it to be hers. ❝I have a
dream, a song to sing. To help me cope with anything.❞ Sloane deeply sighs as she begins to walk to clear her mind.
❝If you see the wonder of a fairy tale.
You can take the future even if you fail.
I believe in angels. Something good in everything I see. ❞ Sloane smiles at the fellow neighbors walking by. ❝I believe
in angels, when I know the time is right for me. I'll cross the stream. I have a dream.❞
❝ I have a dream, a fantasy to
help me through reality and my destination makes it worth the while. ❞
❝Pushing through the darkness
still another mile.❞ Sloane hangs
her head low as she walks to hide the incoming tears of failure. ❝I believe
in angels, something good in
every thing I see.❞
❝I believe in angels when I know
the time is right for me, I'll cross the stream. I have a dream. I'll cross the stream. I have a dream,
I have a dream, a song to sing.❞
"To help me..." Sloane croak, as more tears ran down her cheek. She finally
look up from ground and realized she subconsciously walked to the bodega,
the store she was suddenly standing
in front of.
Sloane saw an upset Vanessa walking over. At the sight of her, she wiped her tears. "Hey, How was it?" Sloane asked.
"The realtor just only took one look my application, and was like no. Well nope
on her." Vanessa replied
Due to Vanessa being upset, she didn't notice Sloane's distress manner. "Oh." Sloane mutter before hanging her head low again and walking into the bodega with Vanessa following behind her.
Sloane's hanging her low again because
she just wanted to avoid the worry and concern of Usnavi. "Yo, how'd it go for you two? Are we popping champagne?" Usnavi happily questioned.
"Fuck no." Are two words that bitterly
left Sloane's lips. Before she walk over
to the back, where she hastily open up
the fridge, grabbing a ginger ale then
leans against the fridge as she stares
at the sodas in wonder.
Sloane made it evident that she's pretty
frustrated and the real only person who could really neutralize her is Usnavi, the only person she doesn't lash out at when she's mad. Sloane was brought out of her thoughts by the sound of Usnavi placing
a can back on the shelf.
Sonny and Vanessa were both near the
cash register with an interest into the encounter between the couple. Sloane stares at her boyfriend who's walking closer to the open fridge door.
At this, Usnavi finally saw her puffy red eyes. This made his heart break at the sight of his melancholy and frustrated girlfriend. Usnavi blows on to the fridge glass door creating a small fog. And on
to the small fog, He then draws a smiley face earning a small smile from Sloane at his attempt to cheer her up.
Usnavi places his nose against the door making it resemble the snout of a pig.
He gives Sloane a huge smile earning
the confusion and embarrassed faces
of Sonny and Vanessa. Sloane sighs as
she commends Usnavi for his attempts since it sort of made her happy seeing
her boyfriend usual goofy side.
But a major part of her was still feeling upset, so she leans closer to the fridge glass door unintentionally adding on
to the nervousness of Usnavi. "There's something on your shirt." She points
out before shutting the door close and then walking away.
Usnavi groaned in exasperation. "Just this." Sloane inform, placing the ginger ale on the counter, then swiftly sliding
the drink over to Sonny. Sloane glances
at Vanessa, whose standing beside her.
"V, aren't you supposed to get Daniela
a soda?" Sloane reminds. Vanessa eyes widen in remembrance before walking over to the drinks section, passing by Usnavi who's desperately trying to get
the stain off.
When Vanessa finally left. Sonny clears
his throat earning back the attention of Sloane, who just simply hands him two bucks seeing that the ginger ale cost one ninety - ninety. "Uhm. My cousin over there with his tongue hanging out-" In interest, when Sonny grabs the money.
Sloane glances back at Usnavi who did indeed has his tongue hanging out while still trying to take off the stain.
"-has been meaning to ask." Sloane
looks back at Sonny with a bored look. "Yes?" Sloane replied. "What a lady like yourself would be doing this weekend?" Sonny questioned with a deeper voice.
Vanessa then returns back with a coke
in her hand while Sloane has confused face. Sloane wanted to ask why couldn't Usnavu ask her this himself but out of
the fun of it she decided to play along with it. "Does your cousin dance?" She question, knowing damn well Usnavi can't dance at all. "Like a drunk Chita Rivera." Sonny referenced.
Sloane only nods knowing that's pretty accurate unlike Vanessa who's confused at the reference. Sloane looks at Usnavi with a smile on her face, but once he was caught staring at her with hopeful eyes, he goes back to wiping off the stain.
"Yoo. V, do you have like a Tide Pen or something?" Sloane ask. Vanessa nods her head before digging in her bag and then giving Sloane the Tide Pen. "Ohh Thank you Nessa." Sloane smiled. She opens the Tide Pen as she walks over
to her boyfriend.
"Stop." Sloane softly demand. Usnavi looks up at her and stops wiping onto
the stain. He gets the tissue taking out
of his hand by Sloane, who just simply throws it the small trashcan near their feet. Sloane brings the t-shirt material closer to her causing them to get more closer to each other as well.
"Tell your cousin, Fiesta in the Heights. We can hit a few clubs. Check out the fireworks." Sloane closes the Tide Pen
as she begins to look up at Usnavi, who stares at her, realizing that her eyes are no longer puffy and red.
"Keep it. I am sure V won't mind. Right V?" Sloane hands Usnavi the Tide Pen, and he hesitantly accepts it. "Uh yeah I don't mind. I barely even use that thing anyways." Vanessa replies, as she pays
for Daniela's co-cola.
Sloane begins to walking from a happy Usnavi. Sloane looks at the time on her watch seeing it was almost time for her shift at the clinic. Sonny smoothly slides her back her paid ginger ale. "Thanks." Sloane mutter, before she and Vanessa exits the bodega.
NOW USNAVI HAS A DATE WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND. EVERYTHING IS SMOOTHLY GOING AS PLAN FOR HIM. WELL, SO FAR.
angie's notes
next chapter is probably gonna be the most funnest chapter to write; one lil thing you can expect is the pool. other than that, please don't be ghost readers and vote and comment, i would love to see you guys reactions on stuffs.