“You work for Peabody Enterprises.  At the moment, that’s Helena as much as Peggy, here…,” said Quin, reaching into her pocket for her cell phone.  “Call Helena.  I wanted out, forcing my mother to take back Helena was the only way I could come on tour.”

            Julie eyed the cell phone, then meeting the emerald green eyes of Quin, “You gave up millions for this?”

            “It’s not about the money, it never was.  It’s the passion,” smiled Quin, a cold smile, but a smile nonetheless.  “I’ll be back in LA in a month; PE can survive without me for that amount of time.  Go back, tell my mother where I am, and leave it at that.  You’ll have done your job.”

            Julie grimaced, reaching down to her boot, pulling out her knife and flicking it open.  Quin’s eyes didn’t flicker as Julie slipped the cool blade between her skin and the plastic tie, cutting it with the flick of her wrist, “I’ll deliver the message.”

            “Thank you,” said Quin, a thoughtful look on her face, her eyes washing over Julie for a quick moment, knowing she looked utterly familiar.  “Want to watch the rest of the show?”

            “Might as well…,” sighed Julie, pretending that would be the greatest sacrifice she’d ever made in her life.

            “You do listen to this type of music?” asked Quin, pulling open the door of the small room.

            “Rob Zombie is god, what do you think?” answered Julie with a scowl.

            “Hmm, there is hope for you yet.”

CC

            Yelling.

            Lots of yelling.  That was what was coming out of the small closet office at the Center where Mel worked, Oscar at her elbow, translating.

            “Why is she so pissed?” asked Melanie, throwing her hands up in the air.

            “Because Rosita knew that Shane was going to do this to Carmen, and I can’t blame Ro, when she got back Carmen was a mess,” answered Oscar, listening intently. 

            “It was Carmen’s decision,” reminded Mel.

            “Si, but Carmen’s had a bad habit of being in the wrong relationship at the wrong time, and Ro’s picked up the pieces before.  She slept with this girl once, had a gun totting angry boyfriend after her.  Ro calmed him down, after he shot her in the foot,” recounted Oscar.  Just then, a loud noise from the room, more swearing, something crashing and more loud discussion.

            “We should… back away…,” began Oscar.  A breath after Carmen came rocketing out of the room, stomping out and leaving the Center.

            “I swear to god…,” groaned Rosita, grabbing a box and going off into the other room.  “I’ve had it, I don’t care what kinna trouble she gets into next time, I’m not going to help.  No more.”

            “Ro…,” threatened Oscar.

            “No, time for me to live my life and not worry about anyone else’s!” snapped Rosita.  “I’m heading out; page me if you need me, but only if you need me.”

            Mel and Oscar watched her walking out, Mel looking up at Oscar, “Are all lesbian’s dramatic like that?” asked Oscar.

            “Only the ones in LA,” stated Mel.