MAJOR/minor Chapter 4: A minor/Excursion

Izzellah woke with a pounding headache. Her brain seemed to throb inside her skull with such intensity she could literally feel the veins on her temple. What happened? Why was she so out of it? She saw an image of a girl with red hair. The face was lost to her, blurred like a reflection in rippling water. Izzellah had to wonder if this is what a hangover was. She groaned as she dragged herself out of bed. She turned to her clock to silence the alarm before it went off. They way she felt the noise would split her skull in half. She looked at her clock and it read 9:24am. She’d slept through her alarm?! She was over an hour late for class! Why hadn’t her dad woken her?! Bah! He was probably still sleeping in himself!

“Papa!” she shouted as she jumped out of bed. She lost her balance and fell face first into the carpet. A few tears started to leak more from frustration then pain. She picked herself up and scrambled toward her closet to get dressed. In a few minutes she was in her uniform from yesterday, not washed and wrinkled but it would have to do. She grabbed her backpack and rushed out the door and toward her papa’s room.

“Papa get up!” She said as she burst through the door, but the room was empty. He wasn’t there. She pressed an ear against the bathroom door. She couldn’t hear the shower running. She gave a few test knocks then opened the door prepared to see the horror show that might be her father on the toilet. He wasn’t there either. Where was he? He didn’t actually get up a decent hour did he?

She exited his room to head toward the stairs. Her nose tingled with the smell of something meaty in the air. Bacon? She heard the tv on. Was he? Was he actually making breakfast? She headed down the stairs and rounded the corner towards the kitchen. What she saw made her jaw drop to the floor. It was Gloria Rodriguez at their stove cooking away. In her underwear, except for the top which was what Izzellah recognized as one of her father’s shirts. It had a cartoon wiener dog on it wearing shades. He’d won it in a hot dog eating contest at the boardwalk last year. It was stretched tight over Gloria’s matronly rack. She shook her butt and gyrated her huge hips as she hummed some 80’s song. She turned toward the kitchen table and locked eyes with the minor gawking at her from beyond it. She stepped back in surprise and her eye’s seemed like they’d pop out. She put on a smile in an attempt to recover. “H-hungry?” she asked.

“What are you doing in my home?!” Izzellah shrieked. “Where’s Papa?!”

“Ummm, well you see he-”

“Get out!” Izzellah screamed. “Get out before I call the cops!”

Just then the door opened and her papa walked in with a grin on his face. One that immediately faded when he witnessed his teenage daughter screaming at his new girlfriend. His new girlfriend who was still here, in his kitchen, cooking, half naked.

“Gloria what are you still doing here?” He asked while screaming to himself inside his brain.

“That’s what I’d like to know?!” Izzellah bellowed. She knew why the mother Rodriguez was here. She just wanted to here him say it.

“I-I was going to surprise you with breakfast before you went to work. I thought Izzellah would still be sleeping.”

“So what? You think that just because you’re fucking my dad you can do whatever you want?” Izzellah accused. “You own the house now? Is that it?!” Izzellah knew she might be overreacting but the headache was fueling her rage.

Ignacio facepalmed. This was the absolute worst situation. Gloria was not making a good first impression on his daughter. “Izzy, please calm down.”

“No!” Izzellah seethed. “I want her out of our home!”

“Izzy, just relax.” Ignacio said. He went to his daughter and picked her up in a hug. “She just made a mistake that’s all. We both did. I’m sorry.”

Izzellah’s angered fizzled a little. She couldn’t be angry at her dad. He obviously had it bad for the giant succubus. “Fine.” She relented. “I don’t have time for this anyway. We have to leave now!”

“What’s the hurry?” Ignacio asked.

“School, papa!” Izzellah exclaimed. “I slept in! I’m so late!”

Ignacio chuckled and placed his daughter back down. He shuffled her hair and watched her straighten it back into place. “No school for you today superstar.”

“What?! Why not?”

“Yesterday was just a test drive.” Ignacio revealed.  

“But it worked!” izzellah insisted. “At least let me go to the minor class!”

“Minor classes are only three days a week kiddo.”

“I can still sit in on Sabrina’s.”

Ignacio laughed out loud. He knew his daughter would say that. “I know you’re excited Izzellah.” He leaned down to be more even with his daughter. She was a tiny thing at 5’7. He was nearly 12 feet tall and over twice her size. “Me and Gloria have to go hash things out with the principal today. Make this whole guardian thing official. Get you all set up for classes so you can have your own desk and everything!”

“Can’t I come with you?” Izzellah pleaded.

“Do you really want to sit in the principal’s office for hours doing nothing while three boring adults talk?”

“Not really.” Izzellah huffed as she rubbed her forehead. Her head still hurt. She didn’t really want to do anything today. Maybe the day off was a blessing in disguise.

“Then enjoy the break. Have some breakfast. Recharge. Yesterday must have took a lot out of you if you’re the one sleeping in.” Ignacio teased.

“Yeah, okay.” Izzellah agreed. She walked into the kitchen and climbed into her high chair. Gloria presented her with a plate of food and earned a scowl for her efforts.

“I’ll just go get dressed.” she smiled.

“Please do.” Izzellah hissed.

“And hurry!” Ignacio said with a strained smile. He wiped his brow that had broken out into a cold sweat. He was grateful he had made it before Izzellah bit Gloria’s head off, but this little episode had taken years off his life.

Izzellah watched as her father headed out the door for a third time. He’d apparently decided to do some shopping this morning and was unloading bags filled with housewares and groceries. He was the type of guy who spent all day shopping for everything once a month. While he was busy Izzellah went to work eating the breakfast Gloria had prepared for him. They were MAJOR sized portions so Izzellah could barely finish off a corner of his pancakes or one strip of bacon and it had the nerve to be delicious. For some reason that really pissed her off! She’d hoped Gloria was just an easy lay, a fling, a loose woman her dad would bore of in time. Instead she was proving to be a woman of value. Gloria clearly knew one of her father’s weaknesses was his stomach. If she was good in the kitchen that would only extend the time she had with him.

Izzellah took a sip of cranberry juice from a straw. She felt something come behind her. Then Gloria sidled up next to her leaning her arms on the kitchen counter and resting on her shoulders. “Y’know with me around you could have meals like this ready for you every morning.” she said with a smirk.

“I think I can manage.” Izzellah replied.

“I know you hate me now, but believe this. I do love your father. He’s someone I care about very much.”

“If you care so much? If you love him like you say you do, then why am I not calling you mom instead of bitch?” izzellah seethed firing an arrow with pinpoint accuracy.

“Ouch.” Gloria said without removing that annoying smirk. “You are a lot like your mother you know that? “

“Don’t talk about her!” Izzellah snapped. “You have no right!”

“We were friends.” Gloria revealed. “I miss Sheila. You won’t believe me but she was a bigger and better woman than me, even at her size.”

‘Hrmmph.” Izzellah turned her nose up at the empty flattery. Saying good things about her mom wouldn’t win Gloria any points, but. She turned to see Gloria’s eyes turn pink in the corners. The MAJOR woman wiped her face on her sleeve. She was still smiling but it wasn’t as proud.

“She beat me once. But I’m taking my shot now.” Gloria said. “We don’t have to like each other, but I want to. I want to love you for her. And just a word to the wise, little girl. You shouldn’t insult the woman who’s about to go politic for you to have that precious school life you want so much.” Gloria stole a strip of bacon off Izzellah’s plate and took a bite. She gave the minor an unwanted peck on the cheek. “Have a nice day, Izzellah.” she said before sauntering out the door after her father.

Izzellah laid on her couch and vegged out to some mindless television. The show was called Little Housewives and it was a reality show documenting the lives of spoiled minor women. There was a minor woman on screen covered in gaudy jewelry and blonde extensions. She was whining about how some MAJOR repair workers were having trouble installing some fountain in the front of her mansion and how she had to bond two of them just to get the job done properly. Izzellah was aghast at how someone could just throw out a bond like that so frivolously? There was so much she just didn’t understand about it, and this show wasn’t helping. It was the epitome of trash tv in her opinion and it only barely served its purpose as white noise as she tried to organize her  thoughts. What happened yesterday? Why was she having such trouble remembering? It was the most important day of her life, she doubted she’d forget it. And who was that girl with the red hair she saw whenever she closed her eyes? It was all supremely aggravating! Izzellah turned back to the tv and saw the minor woman from earlier slap another minor woman with curly brown hair for implying she was a bond whore. It was “on” apparently and the new woman wouldn’t be getting an invite to the housewarming party. She turned it off and went to the kitchen.

Her papa left with “Gloria” before he could finish putting away all the shopping so she took it upon herself. She pulled out her step stool and went to work. She found a lot of hot dogs, corn dogs, frozen pizza’s, frozen vegetables. Lots of frozen things that could be reheated or microwaved. Not much in the way of real food beyond some assorted fruit and meat like steaks and ribs. Food meant for grilling; the only thing her papa was good at. As she lugged a carton of milk half her body weight into the bottom shelf of the fridge she decided her papa deserved a real meal today. Something better than anything that “Gloria” could come up with. Why did just thinking of that woman’s name boil her blood? No way she knew her mom. Why hadn’t they ever met once when her mother was alive? It didn’t matter. She had all day to create the perfect dish to shove in that huge assed slut’s face, and she knew just what to make.

Her father was a carnivore. He loved meat more than any other food out there. She would make him some ribs in the oven. She knew how to use it and could create something close if not better than what he did on the grill. Long enough in the oven at the right heat and the meat would fall off the bone. The spicier the better. She went around the kitchen acquiring the ingredients she needed to make a homemade barbecue sauce to marinate the meat. She stirred the concoction which was a simple mix of ketchup, worcestershire sauce, vinegar, and sugar, with honey and some black pepper. It tasted okay and would serve as a good base but it needed more kick. She needed some real spices like paprika, chili powder, maybe a bit of diced garlic. She searched the cabinets that she could reach. There was nothing. Not even a small shaker of cayenne. She didn’t know what was on the upper shelves but she suspected it was liquor and not what she was looking for. So much for that plan. It was times like these she really envied the MAJORS. Even now it would be so simple to get in her car and head to the nearest grocery store. She could buy what she needed as easily as any MAJOR could, but instead there were barriers she couldn’t overcome. She didn’t have a license. She didn’t know how to drive and in the five years she’d lived in this house she’d never once been out farther than down the block on her own. Why was life so unfair? She decided not to drag herself down with these thoughts. She could still make a delicious rack of ribs without them being spicy. She cut of a row with a pair of kitchen shears and placed them to marinate in her sauce. She put the bowl of cold beef in sauce to settle in the fridge for a few hours then went about cleaning up.

Izzellah took the keys and started her car. It was the afternoon and she wanted to give the machine a once over. She couldn’t drive but she could start the car and ease it into the driveway. She shifted gears and eased the car out onto the driveway before putting into park. It was clunky and unfamiliar to her. The machine wasn’t made for minors or MAJORS but was somewhere in the middle. Most classic cars were. Automobiles were invented by minors after all. Ford in the 1970’s was one of the first to start creating machines for MAJORS and her Boss 302 was one of the growing pains from that time of transition. It was a mark of pride to her. She wished she was alive in that time to see the faces of the giants as they got outpaced by the tinies in their little machines. Still she needed a special seat booster and extenders to work the pedals. This was still her dad’s car bought for him back before he grew into such a giant dork. It had a six foot minimum height requirement for the driver. Izzellah was a bit shy of that but she secretly hoped she wasn’t finished growing and she’d put on a few more inches to fit her car better. She exited the vehicle and went to get her jack. Getting under the hood and tinkering around would clear her head. Her headache was gone but the events of yesterday were still fuzzy. Like watching a tv with too much static. She remembered eating lunch with Sabrina. She had an annoying friend with her. She remembered the name Peter Silver. He was a minor wasn’t he? Izzellah couldn’t believe she’d forget meeting her first minor in years! She remembered being upset. Was he the one who had pissed her off? Couldn’t be! For some reason she thought of him as very quiet and meek. Sabrina’s friend wasn’t that at all. Who was she?

Izzellah positioned her jack so that it would press against a reinforced piece of steel in her car’s undercarriage. It was important you positioned the jack correctly so as not to damage your car horribly. You could rupture the oil bin, break the suspension, or even jack right through your floor board. Expensive damage. She suspended the car up then placed two metal holders over a piece of cardboard. They were to hold the car up. It wasn’t the safest thing to just leave your car on the jack. She lowered the car down then gave it a push to make sure it was firm in place. She wasn’t quite strong enough to give the ton of moving metal a proper shake but with effort she could usually jostle it a little. It didn’t move and she was fairly confident it was secure. She decided to pop off a tire. Mostly because it was easy and pretty non-committal as far as car maintenance went. If she opened up the hood she’d be here all day and this was more an exercise to get her suddenly lazy brain going again. Before she unscrewed the lugnuts she gave the whole wheel a shake to check the integrity of the ball joint. It didn’t move which was a good sign. Not that it had much chance to wear. The car hadn’t moved more than a meter for longer than the three years she’d been working on it. Izzellah picked up her long socket wrench and attached an extender. She fastened it to the lug and gave it a quick crank. In that moment she remembered a name. Mabel. Mabel! That was the name of Sabrina’s horrible friend! She was the girl with red hair she’d been seeing in her mind’s eye. What had she said yesterday?

“You’ve forgotten what paradise is!” That pond scum! Yet somehow her mind was resisting her anger. She wanted to see Mabel again. Mabel made her….happy. Impossible! She’d insulted her and her papa right? But then why did she remember apologizing to Mabel yesterday? They were square. She had felt happy yesterday. Happy after……? She couldn’t remember quite yet. She unscrewed one of the nuts and went to the next. Once she’d undone all but one she remembered the name Darren Winton.

How could she forget that glorious asshole? He was so arrogant...and so good looking. He also had great taste in pizza and a voice that would drive her insane. The bad kind of insane. He called her “Bunny” and “Doll” and a few other things that weren’t her name. How had she gotten him to fuck off? It was a the girl with red hair. Mabel right? Yes Mabel and some other girl with huge knockers. Another of Sabrina’s friends maybe? She remembered being happy after that. Feeling super gushy over Mabel which was strange considering she’d never had feelings for anyone other than her parents. Why had they connected?

“Only think good things.” She recalled. Hmmph. More condescending babble most likely. Typical MAJOR thinking they know what’s best. It still didn’t make sense. She decided long ago not to give people like Mabel the time of day. She removed her tire and gave the whole suspension a once over. It was all more than immaculate. She looked at the tie rod. It still shined with fresh black metal untarnished by road miles. Why? Why? Why? She could feel it now. Such a drastic change of emotions. She remembered starting that day scared and anxious. Worried she wouldn’t meet anyone or that the school would swallow her whole. She ended that day happy and carefree. Had she said Sabrina could drive her car?! WHY? Then it struck her…….she had been bonded.

That should be impossible! She knew that much! But it perfectly explained why she’d left such a lasting imprint on her mind. Mabel had tried to bond her! That sudden wave of happiness, the warmth she hadn’t felt since childhood, what paradise felt like! That girl….Sabrina’s friend! She’d tried to bond her just to prove a point! Izzellah felt her hands shake and her eyes moisten. She felt violated. Such a gross invasion of her privacy and personal space. And worst of all Sabrina let her! She was supposed to be her “guardian” or whatever this imbecilic agreement her father was making. It was clear now he had been thinking with his dick and not his brain. None of them could be trusted! She gripped her socket wrench so hard her knuckles turned white. She wanted nothing more than to shove this hard, cold, metal, piece of steel right up Mabel’s-.

“Working on the old Stang again?” she heard in from the voice of someone she didn’t want to see. Or maybe she did. Sabrina would make a good substitute for Mabel at the moment.

“Fuck off!” Izzellah bellowed.

“Whoa!” Sabrina walked around the car to see an absolutely livid minor brandishing a long piece of stainless steel. “What’s got you all pissy?”

“You do!” Izzellah seethed. “Go away before I bust one of your kneecaps!”

Sabrina was bewildered by this agitated minor. Her face was alive with the intensity of a supernova. What had happened. Yesterday it seemed like she might have started to warm up to her. “What’s gotten into you?”

“Your little friend apparently!” Izzellah bellowed.

“What?”

“Don’t play dumb! You let your shit for brains friend Mabel try to bond me!” Izzellah accused.

“Oh shit!” Sabrina’s eyes went wide.

“Yeah, oh shit!” Izzellah took a swig at Sabrina with her wrench but the MAJOR side stepped her easily. “What you thought I wouldn’t remember?!”

“No, Izzy! It wasn’t Mabel!” Sabrina insisted just barely stepping back from another swing at her legs. This infuriated minor could be quick when she wanted to be.

“Of course it was her!” Izzellah lunged and hit nothing causing her to stumble into the lawn. She picked herself up and was full on crying. “You forgot what paradise is! Think only good things!” Izzellah quoted.

“It wasn’t Mabel!”

“Red hair! Annoying attitude. Don’t bullshit me!” Izzy weeped. “Just when I thought I might be able to trust you! You just offer me up to your friend for a laugh!”

“It was her sister! Izzellah!” Sabrina raged. “It was Brenda, her sister! She’s a tier 3!”

“What the fuck’s a tier 3?!”

“She didn’t mean it.” Sabrina insisted. “She can’t control her power yet. It’s too strong.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about and I still don’t give a shit!” Izzellah picked herself up and pressed a finger into Sabrina’s chest. “Mabel. Brenda. Tier 3. It doesn’t matter! You were supposed to protect me and you didn’t! I thought maybe you’d have my back if for nothing else than to score a bond yourself! Guess not!” Izzellah picked up her wrench and went back to her car to start reattaching her tire.

“Izzy, come on.” Sabrina pleaded.

“You don’t get to call me Izzy.” Izzellah. “And I refer you to this.” She lifted her middle finger at Sabrina before sliding her tire into place.

“Izzellah be reasonable.”

“Reasonable?! You get your mind violated then talk to me about reasonable!” She attached a lug nut and started cranking.

“You were the one just walking around unguarded.” Sabrina argued. “You set your own self up!”

“Unguarded?!” Izzellah fake gasped. “And that’s my fault somehow? Not having my shields up in case some crazy “Tier 3” walks by? I’ve haven’t been bonded in over ten years you fuck!” Izzellah screwed in another lug. “You’re the almighty MAJOR! You’re supposed to know about this shit!”

“Well I don’t!” Sabrina roared. “I haven’t been bonded at all ever! This shit’s newer to me than it is you. I spent hours last night researching what a tier 3 is.”

“And what is it?” Izzellah spat as she asked the million dollar question. “What’s the excuse for why I shouldn’t be plotting to run Brenda over with my car right now?! What’s this oh so powerful tier 3?”

Sabrina picked up the last lug nut and handed it to Izzellah. The minor just glared at her and stepped away to sit on the ground and rest. “It’s kind of new.” Sabrina said as she screwed it in by hand. “I only had a vague idea of what it was before.”

“So you’re an idiot. I already knew that.” Izzellah shot. She took a swig of water from a nearby metal thermos.

“This is serious Izzellah.” Sabrina snapped. “She’s alway emitting her emotions empathically. She’s always searching for a bond. She’s always on! It’s a survival technique because you minors are so rare now.”  

“What’s the big deal with you guys and the bond anyway?”

“I don’t know.” Sabrina said meekly. “I’ve never had the opportunity and people seem to have trouble describing it. It’s….a link. A pathway between two minds a-”

“Union of two imperfect beings to create a whole?” Izzellah finished. “Yeah I read that bullshit wikipedia article too.”

“There are all these books written on it too, but I didn’t really understand what I could find. I watched some videos and people all say different things. Some describe it as being like sex. Other’s say it’s the exact opposite. Like it’s a mental chess match between two like minded opponents. I kind of think it’s overhyped.”

“Yeah right.” Izzellah dismissed. “You do realize a MAJOR saying that is an oxymoron?”

“I mean I do want one.” Sabrina admitted. “But I could live without it. It’s hard to truly desire something you’ve never had.”

“Tch.’ izzellah bit her bottom lip as she absorbed the information. Being angry was really tiring. Especially since Sabrina wasn’t the one she was really upset with. “Whatever. Just fuck off okay. I didn’t need you before and I don’t need you now.” She waved her hand behind her hoping Sabrina got the message.

“I am sorry Izzy-Izzellah.” Sabrina mumbled. “I did let you down. I know I can never make it up to you but i hope one day you’ll let me try.”

Izzellah grumbled to herself. This was all too much. Maybe she should just stay home and let her father run her life for her. Her father. Had he even noticed her change yesterday? Probably too busy fucking Sabrina’s mom “Glori-”... An idea snapped in her head.

Sabrina turned to walk away since Izzellah didn’t seem to want her around. She took a step and heard a jingling sound. She turned to see a set of keys on the ground.

“You really want to make it up to me?” izzellah asked.

“Yes!” Sabrina uttered with more excitement than she intended.

“You have a license right?” Izzellah asked with a wicked smile.

“You sure this is a good idea?” Sabrina asked.

“Are you arguing with me, Ms. Fuck up?” Izzellah asked. “Yes I’m sure!”

“But?”

“It’s simple. I have a working car but can’t drive. You can! Take me to the fucking store or get out and I’ll hate you forever.” Izzellah said from the passenger seat of her Mustang.

“I still can’t believe you have a car and I don’t.” Sabrina said as she put the key in the ignition and the engine roared to life.

“That makes two of us. Ms. I should of had my license at ten. You can drive a stick right?”

“You’re not gonna call me by my name are you?” Sabrina moved the car into first gear.

“I don’t know Ms. I like to ask stupid questions.” Izzellah’s heart jumped as Sabrina pulled out the driveway. The Mustang, her Mustang was moving. Three years of work finally meant something. She couldn’t hide her smile if she wanted to! She had to hold back a squeal as Sabrina came to a stop at the first light. Her brakes worked!

“This is so freakin cool!” Sabrina said. She turned to her passenger to see her beaming with excitement all the anger from before a distant memory.

‘I know right?!” Izzellah said lost in the moment herself. “I almost can’t believe it.”

“So where are we going?” Sabrina asked as she gripped the steering wheel and stepped on the gas.

“There’s a Safeway just a few blocks from here.” Izzellahinformed. Straight down two blocks and then a right.”

Sabrina knew the store she was referring to. She was still fairly new to the neighborhood but her and her mom had shopped in the outlet the store was located in a few time already. Soon enough she was in the parking lot searching for a free parking space.

“So we’re out here.” Sabrina announced. “What now?”

“I’m going to kick your mom’s ass.” Izzellah said.

Kicking her mom’s ass apparently meant trumping her in some hastily conceived cooking contest her mother wasn’t even aware she was in. Sabrina followed Izzellah through the store as the minor pushed a basket around the aisles. She had no idea what she’d gotten herself into.

“Trust me on this Izz. You won’t win this.”

“Watch the “Izz” shit, tall one. It’s dangerously close to Izzy and you haven’t re-earned that privilege yet.”

“Yet?” Sabrina smirked.

“Shut up!” Izzellah hissed as she eyed the wares. “And your mom’s the one who won’t be winning. I’ve had seventeen years to learn what my dad likes.”

“Won’t matter.” Sabrina said matter of fact.

“Why? Because she some big impressive MAJOR who’s great at everything!”

“No.” Sabrina rejected. “It’s because she’s the oldest of like twelve brothers and sisters and she’s been cooking and cleaning for them all since she was younger than I am.”

Izzellah froze for a brief moment before going back to shopping. “Experience isn’t everything. I’ve got youth and charisma! She’s probably gotten rusty in her old age.”

“She’s forgotten more about cooking than you know about cars.” Sabrina bragged.

“Bullshit.” Izzellah denied. “Just help me find the spicy stuff. I can’t believe they make these shelves so fucking high!”

Sabrina took advantage of this opening to grab Izzellah under her arms and lift her up over her head. “That better?”

“Did I say you could pick me up?!” Izzellah snapped.

“No, but how are you going to see all the stuff in the isles from down there.” Sabrina pointed out.

Izzellah huffed and picked up a bottle of crushed habanero powder. “Down, slave.”

Sabrina complied.

This back and forth continued for about twenty minutes as Izzellah travelled through the aisles pushing a basket two big for her and grabbing different things.

“And there she was just dancing half naked in my kitchen!” Izzellah exclaimed.

“You’re lucky you weren’t in the car with them!” Sabrina gagged. “They were all flirty and gross when they dropped me off and then went to who knows where.”

“They’re probably fucking right now you realize that?” Izzellah brought up.

“Don’t make me think about it!” Sabrina squealed.

Both girls laughed in the shared revulsion of their parents love life. They met eyes and both blushed to each other.

“I guess if they get together I’ll probably be around even more.” Sabrina noted. “I-I’ll try to stay out of your way.”

“It…..might not be so bad.” Izzellah looked away. “You’re useful…..as in a personal chauffeur kind of way.”

“I could keep doing that for you. Y’know until I make up for failing you yesterday.”

“That might take awhile.” Izzellah smiled.

“I’m up for it.” Sabrina smiled back. They got in line and Izzellah pulled out her debit card to pay for the groceries with the last of her allowance.

“That went surprisingly well.” Izzellah fastened her passenger seat buckle as Sabrina started the engine. “Barely anyone even glanced at me.”

“They probably thought we were bonded.” Sabrina noted. “People don’t look for it if they don’t know.”

“Hah! Could you imagine!?” Izzellah chuckled. “After yesterday I don’t think I’ll ever get a bond.” Then her expression deflated in an instant. “Shit.”

“What?” Sabrina queried.

“Nothing it’s just….I don’t know what I’m gonna do when I go back to school. I don’t know if I want to even go back.”

“Because of Brenda.”

“Because of everything!” izzellah banged the side of her passenger door. “And yeah! Mostly because of Brenda. Part of me just wants to find a knife and introduce that bitch to a friend I call Mr. Cutty Cut Cuts!”

“Don’t go cutting Brenda.” Sabrina sighed. “Mabel would freak out and believe it or not she’s my best friend.”

“I’ll cut her too.” izzellah snickered evilly. “Sneak into their house at night and just start slashing away!” She cackled and wringed her hands together.

“Please don’t!” Sabrina snorted. “Mabel is really nice. She’s just dumb and Brenda…..”

“Brenda what?!” Izzellah snapped. “Go ahead and spew some MAJOR nonsense to try and defend her. It won’t make a difference. I’m not gonna feel sorry for her just because she’s some super MAJOR or some shit.”

“You swear a lot don’t you?” Sabrina noticed.

“Only when I’m feeling pissy.” Izzellah informed.

“It probably happened because she’s in love with you.” Sabrina stopped at the red. They were a few blocks away from home.

“Bull. Shit.” Izzellah seethed. “I don’t believe in love at first sight or any of that trashy romance.”

“I’m serious Izz-ellah. Do you realize how hot you actually are? Most minors I’ve seen which isn’t really that many mind you. Are like these thin little twig people or big balls of flub. You’re unique. I can totally understand why she’d fall for that.”

“Are you trying to get in my pants now?” Izzellah asked. “No offense but I don’t care if you’re a MAJOR with a more developed brain or whatever. You’re still barely a teenager and I’m no pedo!”

“Cool your panties little girl.” Sabrina grinned. “I’ve seen too much of you for that. You act all nice to the public but your attitude’s shit. Total turn off.”

“You wish you could have th-” Suddenly a siren went off and they both could see a flash of blue and red in the rear view mirror. Sabrina pulled over.

The patrol car came to a stop and out walked an officer in a blue and white uniform. He was clean shaven with sunglasses on.

“Do you realize you’re driving without a front bumper?” the officer said.

“Yes.” Sabrina grinned in a cold sweat. “We were just making a short trip to the-”

“License and registration please.” he said.

Sabrina reached into her pocket and handed over her license.

“Registration?” he asked again.

Sabrina just cheesed nervous.

“So you were just joy riding in a car with no bumper, no registration, no tags, and probably no insurance?”

“It seems that way officer.” Sabrina uttered mutely.

“Step out of the car please.” the officer said. That’s when Izzellah jumped into her lap.

“Please don’t send us to jail Police man!” She begged teary eyed. “It’s my fault! It’s all my fault.”

The officer’s mouth went agape when he saw her. He removed his sunglasses just to make sure she was real.

“There was no food in the house!” Izzellah continued and she started really wailing. “I-I was hungry, but there was no food!”

“Oh no! It’s okay little lady.” the officer tried to console the weeping tiny. “No one’s going to jail.”

“It was my fault! Take me!” Izzellah bellowed. “I bonded her! She said she didn’t want to leave me alone! It’s my fault! I deserve the jail!”

“I’m sorry officer.” Sabrina said calmly. “I know it was wrong but I had to do something. She needed me.”

“I totally understand.” the officer said. “I applaud you for making the right choice in an emergency situation.”

He leaned into the window to look at Izzellah. “Don’t worry little lady. She’s gonna get you home and get you something good in that tummy.”

“Really?!” Izzellah beamed.

“Really.” the officer assured.

“Thank you Police man!” she said and reached up to kiss him on the nose. The officer actually blushed.

“Just doing my duty ma’am.” He said. “Seeing as this was a unique case I can let you off with a warning. Now get this hungry girl home.”  He walked off and started his patrol car. He stopped by the window and gave them a thumbs up. Izzellah waved and returned it with one of her own. He laughed and drove off.

“Where’d did that come from?!” Sabrina looked at her passenger in astonishment.

Izzellah wiped the crocodile tears from her eyes. “You MAJORS are pretty dumb.” she said.

“And then Monica Steeps is all like “I ain’t no bond whore!” and then she slaps Lauren.” Sabrina said as she rounded the corner to their street.

“That’s who that awful woman was?” Izzellah laughed.

“Oh yeah! She’s the worst one on the show. I can’t believe YOU watch LIttle Housewives.”  Sabrina replied as she pulled up to the driveway of the Ivory household to see a large Toyota pickup truck parked outside. That wasn’t a good sign.

“”We might be in trouble.” She said.

“Heh. Maybe.” Izzellah replied cooly. “This is what they wanted though isn’t it? Us hanging out. Me being a good little girl and clinging to my MAJOR friend.”

“So we’re friends now?” Sabrina asked.

“Quiet you!” Izzellah ordered the pulled into the driveway. Then stepped out and entered the house through the garage door. She opened the door and a absolutely tantalizing smell teased her old factory senses. The smell of meats and spices wafted down the hall from the kitchen. Sabrina came through the door behind her and sniffed the air.

“Did you leave something in the oven?” she asked.

Izzellah grit her teeth. She bolted down the hallway and into the kitchen and sure enough there she was. “Gloria” Rodriguez in her kitchen again.

“See, Iggy!” she shouted to the living room “I told you she was fine.”

“Izzy!?” Her father turned the corner and rushed her. She was lifted into his arms and taken into a deep hug before he pressed his lips into her temple. “Where were you?!” he asked.

“I…..went out.” Izzellah blushed. She didn’t mean to worry her father.

“Don’t get mad at her!” Sabrina came in a put the groceries on the counter. “I went along with it.”

“I-I just wanted to make you some dinner!” Izzellah said as she felt water on her cheeks. She was crying! Of course she was crying?

“Shhhhh shhh shhh.” Ignacio held his daughter in front of his face. “What’s gotten into you?”

“I just wanted to prove I could do something for you.’ Izzellah wheezed as she tried to control her breathing. “I didn’t mean to make you worry!”

“Well you did do something for me.” He said gesturing to Gloria. “You’re the one who put all the groceries away, and you prepped those ribs for dinner right?”

Izzellah wiggled in her father’s grasp to be put down. “I was the one who was supposed to make those ribs! Not.” She narrowed her eyes. “Gloria.” She rasped. She saw Sabrina’s mother pull out the rack from the oven. It smelled amazing and probably tasted even better. Damn that woman!

“You did a decent job on the sauce.” Gloria complimented. “I just added a few things to  give it a little kick. You know your papa likes it spicy.”

“Of course you did.” Izzellah whispered to herself. “Clever bitch.”

“Are you doing alright daughter?” Ignacio looked down on her with concern. “You seemed worried yesterday, but you were happy when you got home? Then you kind of conked out. Now you’re running off and not even leaving a note for your tired old man.”

“They were fine, Iggy. I told you Sabrina was with her. This is good. We wanted them to get along.”

Izzellah felt like trying to hate Sabrina for a third time just to spite her mom. Everything was just going according to her little plan wasn’t it? Not yet.

“You can tell me anything you know that right?” Ignacio said with his characteristically warm smile.

Izzellah contemplated if she should tell him what really happened. That someone attempted to bond with her, even if it was an “accident”. She still didn’t believe that. If she ever saw that Brenda again! But what would he do? He might pull her out of school! Sabrina might get in deep trouble and she didn’t have the heart to do that to her. “I’m okay papa! I was just feeling restless. I-I was a little mad I couldn’t go to school today.” That was the truth. Even if not all of it.

“Well then good news!” He beamed. “We got you all setup! You can start another full day tomorrow! Well...until 1:00 unless y’know.”

Izzellah winced at the implication. She wouldn’t see those afternoon classes until she bonded. Too dangerous or some shit. It was a coverup. Probably perpetuated by immigrants or the clergy!

“And on days I don’t have my minor class?”

“You’ll sit in on Sabrina’s fifth period homeroom.” Ignacio revealed. “It’s a class you wanted. Ms Applegate teaches math and english!”

That actually made Izzellah happy. Tomorrow  would be a fresh start. She could actually do this.

“Now let’s eat!” Ignacio said. He took a seat at the kitchen table and so did she. Sabrina slid into a chair next to her. They were both across from their parents.

“You can count on me.” Sabrina whispered to her. “I won’t mess up this time. I’ll even deck Brenda if you want me to.” She winked.

They sat down and ate what was the closest approximation to a family dinner Izzellah had experienced in a long time.

“And then Monica pushed him into the fountain!” Gloria howled. “Can you believe that bond whore?!”

“I really don’t understand the appeal of that show.” Her father said back.

Izzellah took a deep breath and relaxed, happy that the day was coming to a quiet end. She took a bite of rib and her mouth came alive with the cornucopia of spicy and unique flavors. They were amazing. She’d concede this round to Gloria but not the next one. This was only the beginning….for a lot of things.