” Oh, my. Is that who I think it is? ” Mercedes wondered out loud while pulling Cris in for a hug, kissing her forehead and pushing the hair out of her eyes. ” Oh come in, come in. Where have you been? “

Cris smiled at the warm welcome and took a seat on a stool in the kitchen. ” Um, I have been….sort of traveling all over. But mostly I’ve been in New York. But I’ve been back in L.A. for awhile now. ” Cris answered trying to brush the hair back into her eyes.

” Oh that sounds great. Are you hungry? “Mercedes asked pulling a plate with suran wrap over it out of the fridge.

” Mm, I’m starving. ” Cris lied to make Mercedes happy.

” This was Carmen’s but she never eats here anymore. I’m sure she won’t mind. “

” Where is Carmen? ” Cris asked watching Mercedes put the plate into the microwave.

” Don’t know I havn’t seen her, we just got back a few hours ago. We were in Mexico. ” Mercedes stated happily.

” Yeah, that’s what Carmen told me. How was it? ” Cris asked trying to make conversation.

” Hot! ” Mercedes said loudly. Just then one of the kids in the backyard started crying. Mercedes quickly took the plate out of the microwave and put it in front of Cris along with a fork. ” I’ll be back. ” Mercedes exiting through the open backdoor yelling in spanish.

Cris started eating trying to sound out the noise in the back. She was halfway finished when Mercedes enterd the room again.

” Are you thirsty? ” Mercedes asked heading to the fridge ice box once agian.

” Um, sure. ” Cris answered swallowing her food.

Mercedes poured some juice into a glass and set it on the counter next to the plate.

Cris smiled and realized Mercedes was staring at her.

” You know, you treat me better than my own mom ever has. ” Cris said taking a sip of juice.

Mercedes brushed the hair out of Cris’ eyes once again. ” Don’t ever forget it. ” They both laughed but then Mercedes got serious again. ” You and Carmen were so close it was like you were sisters… ” Cris cringed at the comparison, they were nothing like sisters. But Cris didnt interrupt Mercedes. ” You were over here everyday. Why you never went to your mansion you call a house, i don’t know. You two graduate highschool and you go to college and your still here everyday. But one day Carmen came home alone….sad of course. Stayed in her room for days. “