18 Chapter 18: Brothers (1/2)
”Yo, Ricky! You came to party huh?”
”Nah, looking for Carlos. You seen him?”
”Try the porch.”
I push past the crowd and walk outside. Carlos is sitting in a rocking chair drinking a beer.
”Hey man, party's inside.”
He looks at me with a blank stare on his face,
”Don't feel like partying, hombre.”
I sit on the chair next to his.
”Can we talk?”
He lets out a loud burp,
”Bout what?”
”She told me what you said.”
He throws his empty can behind him.
”I...”
”I'm so sorry Ricky,”
His voice breaks and his eyes are wet,
”You could've died because of me.”
”Don't do that man,”
I can feel heat rise in my chest,
”It wasn't your fault. You can't control people's actions,”
”But you can control how you react to those actions.”
He finishes my sentence.
I pat his back,
”Exactly. You wanna head back inside now?”
He pulls out another beer from under his chair,
”Nah, i'd rather stay out here. It's nice out tonight.”
He tosses me a drink and we sit in silence. Even though he didn't say it, I know it's there. I can hear it.
”I love you too, Carlos.”
He jerks his head at me,
”Jódete, Ricky.”
(Fuck you, Ricky)
We look at each other and laugh.
***
”Ah shit,”
I rub my head,
”How the hell am I hung over from one drink?!”
Carlos is passed out on the chair.
”Wake up bro.”
I smack his arm,
”When the hell did we fall asleep out here?”
”Dunno,”
He helps me off the floor and we walk inside.
”Holy hell.”
”It's a shit fest in here.”
The room is covered in trash and people are sleeping on the floor.
”No way man,”
I walk to the elevator,
”No way i'm dealing with this shit right now.”
”Suit yourself, there's still some booze left!”
The doors to the elevator close and I press the third floor.
”Way do hallways have to be so long?!”
I drag my hand along the walls until I get to Kaz's room.
”Yo Kaz, sorry I didn't come back last night,”
I open the door and she's not in bed. I check the tub, the terrace. No use.
”What the hell?”
There's a small note stuck on the tv.
'Ran out to handle some personal things. Sorry I didn't take you back upstairs, I definitely saw you and Carlos knocked out on the porch. -Kaz'
”She left me on the porch? Hm, can't really say i'm surprised.”
There's a loud yell downstairs,
”¿Qué demonios es todo esto?!”