S2/02. Bad Blood

2.6 Alejandro Gonzales

Spring 1998, Mountaver Records studio, San Myshuno

Fine, Alejandro couldn't deny that Francesco wasn't completely wrong.
It was kinda hard to keep up consistency when they were dependent on supports for their concerts because there was no way they'd do playback. Adding a new member or two would improve their music's quality, no doubt.

Once they actually were four in the band.
When Raj left, they'd looked for a replacement, but even though there were enough competent drummers around, none had clicked with them.
There was the rub: you couldn't just pick up new band members on the street – Francesco had been a lucky coincidence.

Alejandro would talk to Joanne so she'd look for options. Francesco obsessed over a bass player; likely thanks to his new man, but Alejandro wouldn't limit their search to that.

His ex-wife picked up the phone.

"Rita darling, what can I do for you? Do you miss me already?"

Her calling him had been a surprise. Their divorce was done and dusted, Rita kept the house, the kids and all her money and Alejandro was glad to be rid of it all.

"Cut the crap, Alejandro."
How rude. She could at least pretend a little.
"You know Sofia is getting married," she said.

"Yeah, you told me." He had no idea if Rita had ever talked about it or not. Anyway, he couldn't care less, Sofia wasn't his daughter.

"You'll have to come and walk her down the aisle."

Okay.
Rita always had a crude sense of humor, but this was just plain crude.

"Yeah... Seriously, what do you want?"

"I am serious. Get your sleazy butt here and walk her down the aisle. You're the closest to a father the poor girl has, and you're not gonna ruin her big day."

"I'm pretty sure she'd prefer to walk without me."
The spoiled brat hated his guts since the moment they met. Not that it wasn't mutual, but Alejandro once had tried at least.

Sofia acted all well-behaved whenever her mother was near but she was insufferable every time Rita'd turned her back. And so spiteful! First it was only Alejandro, then her poor baby brother too whom she'd never miss an oportunity to hit or pinch; just because she wanted to be the only one that got her mother's attention.
Needless to say, Alejandro refused to ever stay with the kids alone, if that little demon did something to Fernandez it wouldn't be on his watch!

Sofia was selfish, disrespectful and dumb as a door knob – and she hadn't changed the slightest while she grew up.

"Not at all," Rita said. "How would that look like if she's going all by herself?"

"There's no way I'll come down to play pretend happy family for her show," Alejandro said, then another thought crossed his mind. "Wait, isn't she still too young? Isn't she still in high school?"

"She is almost nineteen!"

"Wow, about time she'd get married."

"Save your wisdom," Rita spat, "you know how she is! I am grateful that she didn't come home pregnant before she finished school. She better get married as soon as possible."

In that regard she did better than her mother. Maybe it was the guy who had some brains, though it couldn't be too much if he chose to marry Sofia.

Rita sighed dramatically. "Oh, Alejandro... seeing my eldest daughter being a happy bride I can't help but think of us... I know we didn't end well, but do you remember our beginnings? We were so young, so hopeful!"

Alejandro did remember, though he'd say Rita may have been the only hopeful one – he'd been just young. Way too young.

Not quite eighteen yet and freshly dropped out of high school, he'd been without a solid future and certainly without hope. She was a few years older, a beautiful widow, lonely and terribly bored.

She'd looked for a thrill and found it by seducing him while he absolutely hadn't minded being seduced to escape his own problems.

Their little affair had taken a blow when she'd been too sloppy with contraception and he too inexperienced. He'd tried to do the right thing and she'd been quite desperate, she'd rather taken his offer than having a baby out of wedlock, those were the times.
And if he were honest, he could've done only worse than marry a filthy rich and pretty widow, and with love he was done anyway.
It'd turned out better than he'd expected. She couldn't stand having a loser husband and she knew people that knew other people that could make use of his only talent – playing the guitar.

He made a band; got his old school band mate Nico on board and two more guys from the label, and his career with Deep Rift took off.

He could've been content, maybe, but then Rita'd started popping out babies. First it had to be a sibling for Fernandez. Alejandro hadn't quite objected, his son could use a buddy to fight off that rotten brat of Rita's, and it was Rita who'd wanted to take care of the kids anyway, so he'd let her.
Then there was another "accident".
At that time Alejandro mostly avoided her for various reasons already, but she was his wife, after all. Occasionally more "accidents" happened. Alejandro wasn't sure if it'd happened twice, three times?

He cursed his lack of determination.

He'd dove deeper into the rock star life where he eventually found his true calling. Hard work, fame and groupies included. All the while, some sort of a bad conscience kept tying him down to stay married to Rita.
It was a relief when she'd ended it all.

"It wasn't all bad," Alejandro said. "But I'm glad it's over now."

Rita was quiet.
"It's rare that you're so soft," she said.
And after another short break: "You coming?"

"Nah. If she's old enough to get married she can walk on her own."
He hung up.

Broken

21.3 Alejandro Gonzales

Spring 1998, Gonzales residence

Alejandro didn't know the last time he was so disappointed. After their last encounter, Nancy had decided she didn't need any entertainment anymore.

Even though he had been doubtful at first, he had found her to be quite interesting and enjoyed spending time with her.

He opened the door, still deep in his thoughts.

"Alejandro? Sit down, I want to talk to you."

Rita was sitting on the table in the dining room, visibly angry.

"Hey, you're up Rita? You seem troubled. Did the kids worry you again?"

Alejandro definitely wasn't in the mood for Rita's complaints, but he had to show some goodwill at least.

Her face did not change. "No. This time it is you", she said.

Alejandro's face did change. She never had been angry at him.

She snorted.

"I saw you with that ...woman!" she spat at him.

"Wait - what?"

Oh damn. Apparently he had been too careless.

"Don't even dare to deny it! Look, I understand a one-time fling with one of your young and pretty fangirls here and there, but meeting a woman - constantly - that is older than me, I will not tolerate!"

Alejandro was just about to find another excuse, but Rita wasn't finished.

"Not after all I've done for you!", she yelled. "I want you to pack your stuff and leave my house in one hour!"

He slammed his hands on the table while standing up.

"Fine", he said.

Maybe it was time to end this charade, too.

Marriage is bliss

16.1 Sofia Lopez

Summer 1997, Gonzales residence

It was Saturday. Sofia had slept long after another night of partying around, and went down for breakfast, humming a tune.

She was in a very good mood.

Until her mother jumped on her.

"Sofia!! Can you explain to me why I get another letter from school that you keep missing classes?!"

Sofia was still sleepy and didn't understand first.

"Your grades are already so terrible, that you'll drop out, if you skip more!"

Ah yes.

She had skipped a lot of school lately again. It was just more interesting to hang out with Paolo and his friends instead.

"Who cares!", she said. "It's so boring, and useless!"

She had already given up to find excuses for her mother. It didn't work anyway.

"Wha... how are you talking to me! You'll have to get a job soon, how do you want to get one without a high school degree?!"

Her mother was not amused.

"From Monday you'll never skip a class again, did you understand?!"

Rita was raging.

"I don't want to go to school, and I don't need a job! I want to get married, so I can move out from this terrible house!", Sofia snapped back.

She had enough of her mother always telling her what to do!

Rita looked confused for a second.

"Married?!"

The same moment, the door shut and her stepfather came inside.

Alejandro was laughing.

"Who would marry a dumb girl like you?!", he said.

As usual he had stayed out the whole night, doing whatever.

And as usual, only his appearance alone made Sofia really angry.

"Just wait!", she gnarled. "My boyfriend will propose to me soon, you'll see!"

She turned around and went to the kitchen.

"You have a boyfriend?!", Rita asked, still confused.

Sofia must have forgotten to tell her. As if it was important to her mother, anyway.

And Alejandro still laughed.

"Yeah sure..", he called after her. "He'll just knock you up and you'll never see him again!"

Ohhhhh, how she hated them, both!

Good days

5.3 Alejandro Gonzales

Summer 1996, Basílica

The wedding was to take place in the huge old basílica in Skyward Palms.

Alejandro was surprised that his band mate wanted to get married, the more because it was so soon after he started dating that gorgeous blonde from their record label. She was some eye candy though.

But didn't Francesco see how miserable married life was?

The bride's side was about double the size than the grooms. Alejandro only knew that Francesco didn't want to invite his family, but he never bothered to ask why.

He watched the two exchange their vows.

Oh, they still looked so happy. But Alejandro knew better. In time that gorgeous blonde would turn into a house dragon with a bunch of yelling kids, and gain like at least 10 pounds.

Alejandro glimpsed at his own wife.

Somehow the thought of Francesco being as miserable as him, let a malicious smile appear on his face.

Finally the ceremony was over, and the party could start.

Alejandro joined his band mates, and left Rita chattering some romantic nonsense with the happy bride.

He had more important things to talk over, Deep Rift's new album was about to come out, and they still couldn't agree on the song list.

When the music started to get louder, most of the guests went to dance.

Alejandro looked around a little. Rosa - that was the bride's name after all - definitely had some hot girl friends.

He enjoyed the view, but didn't do more.

Some things change

4.8 Alejandro Gonzales

Spring 1996, Gonzales residence / Newcrest hospital

Rita's voice yelled impatiently from the lower floor: "Alejaaaandro! I'm ready! We have to go now, the baby is about to come!"

He also thought he managed to make out some grumbling about him being late again.

"I'm coming!", he yelled back, while going down the stairs. Why did he have to go too, again?

But she didn't let him ponder too long, "Let's go!", she hissed.

Finally arriving at the hospital, the nurse greeted them friendly. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Gonzales! Is it time already?"

Of course she remembered them well, that many times they had been here already.

"Yes, our girl is coming now!", Rita beamed at her.

The nurse wasn't even pretty, Alejandro found. Such a time waste.

And it took way too long for his taste. While waiting, he started to wonder if the other baby had been born already, too. Rita seemed to never have found out about it, though. The girl with the teary face wasn't a creepy stalker after all.

He never saw her again.

He actually felt almost grateful to her.

"Alejandro!", Rita's voice pulled him out of his speculations. "We have a wonderful baby now!"

"So everything is ok?", he asked, trying to fake some interest.

"Yes, everything went well! We can go home now!"

That's what he wanted to hear.

The party is over

3.8 Alejandro Gonzales

Winter 1995, Gonzales Residence

Alejandro had a head ache. Maybe he did drink a bit too much last night.

The noise on the breakfast table didn't make it any better.

Rita tried to force their youngest daughter Gina to eat while the latter preferred to spill her sandwich all over the table. His sons Fernandez and Diego almost beat each other while arguing about some stupid kids show. Maybe he should give them a ban on watching too much TV for a while.

Nah, that was Rita's job!

Even his otherwise quiet daughter Maria kept nagging Sofia about something.

He was glad that at least one on this table had as much pain as he had,

the more because he couldn't stand his stepdaughter.

His wife turned suddenly to him: "Alejandro! I have some good news for you!! But I'll tell you when the kids are in school!", she chirped.

"What? That I can finally get a rest then?", he barked, more unfriendly than he actually intended.

She just laughed. "Oh, you're so funny!"

She was in a terribly good mood which he couldn't take at all in this moment.

But at least he didn't have to argue with her now.

When the children finally left, she burst out immediately: "Now, prepare yourself... We're gonna have a baby again!"

Now this was a surprise. And not a good one! Now additionally to the usual noise here, there would be even a baby screaming!

And somewhere in his head an image of a teary girl's face appeared. He mentally wiped it away the same second.

And he heard Francesco's laughter. Should he take that asshole's advice now even for his own wife?

"There, you're surprised now, no?", Rita laughed.

"Won't it be nice to have a little one again? Gina got so big already!", she went on.

"Yeah, awesome...", he finally managed to squeeze out.

He made a decision he didn't really consider so far.

The party is over

3.6 Alejandro Gonzales
Autumn 1995, Gonzales residence

When Alejandro returned home, he was surprised to find the lights on.

"Alejandro! I thought you will stay out the whole night again?", his wife Rita greeted him with a smile.

How convenient. He definitely needed someone to cheer him up now.

"Rita baby... you're still awake?", he purred at her, looking deep into her innocent eyes. It seems the girl from today morning had been kept quiet.

"I just got a glass of water. It's nice that you're home tonight!", she said.

He didn't really listen. Her black lace corsage was more interesting.

If only she would get rid of those fugly bunny slippers...

"Hey, how about we make use of the time when the kids are asleep?", he whispered into her ear.

"Ohhh, Alejandro! Are you drunk?", she giggled.

But he got her where he wanted.

Love is in the air

1.6 Sofia Lopez

Summer 1995, Gonzales residence

Sofia knew it was almost 1am, but hoped she could sneak in without being caught. 

"SOFIA!! Where have you been all nigth?!"

Not gonna happen.

"Damn, busted!", she thought, trying hard to find an excuse that wouldn't make her mother jump on her even more.

"Do you know what time it is?!", Rita went on.

Sofia couldn't think of any, so she just burst out: "But moooom!! I'm already sixteen! I can stay out as long as I want!"

"You dare talking to me like that?! Go to bed!"

Bad idea! Her mom just got even more furious!

... And you're grounded for the next month!"

Now this made Sofia furious too. She wouldn't be able to see Paolo too soon again...

"I cannot wait to finally move out from here...", she thought.

"Hmmm... Maybe Paolo will ask me to marry him, when I'm eighteen!" 

The thought made her giggle.

"Then we can have our own family, and my mom can suck it!"