March 16

  -At st, you're here, - said Melissa to her sister, Alice, who looked pletely ented. Today, she had her hair down just the way Billy liked it. She wore makeup with a soft toud her favorite lotion.

  -So that's why you came here, for Billy. Your beau is ing to visit us. We haven't seen him in two years -" said Alice's sister, Melissa Davis, a w graduate who retly started w.

  Alice blushed. -I don't think it matters, - said the girl, somewhat offended by the undeserved hatred her family had for Billy.

  -It does matter. Your boyfriend is quite popur. In his first year, half the uy knew him. He has that vibe of 'I don't care about anyone else but what I have to do, - said Melissa.

  -Well, that's my boy. I have to go, - said Alice, walking towards the exit, not wanting to spend more time talking with her sister.

  -Oh, this cold war 't st any longer, Alice. I think it's time to end this struggle with Dad, Mom, and me, - said Melissa.

  -Well, wheop critig Billy for who he is, they have to stop ag like persecutors. Everything bothers them. He's just intense and dominant, but that doesn't make him a bad person, - said Alice, walking towards the exit. Her mother was in the living room reading a book, but she wasn't reading it—just listening to Alice's words, closing the book as soon as her daughter left.

  Alice walked to Jessica's house, who, after a year of modeling, decided to start dental school. With some quick details, she got herself a boyfriend with a lot of mohe son of a politi who had retly ehe political arena.

  -Ali, darling, it's been a long time since you came to greet me. I thought you were w as an intern at the hospital, - said Jessica.

  -I have today off and the m. I'm gd to see you too, Jess, - said Alice.

  -Although I feel sad that you use me for camping, - said Jessica.

  -Well, Billy is ing to pick me up. I could have mentioned I'd be here to avoid zero tact with my parents. You know about the st fiasco, and that's why I adore you. I always t on you, - said Alice, twirling her fingers.

  -How exg to be told lies. e on, I was about to take a nap by the pool. It's cool, - said Jessica.

  -You're wicked. You didn't finish telling me about that time he took you to the Swiss Alps to visit his maternal family, said Alice.

  **********************************************************

  -Thanks for pig me up, Raimon, - said Billy.

  -No problem, but my dear boy, we have to stop at T-box Burgers to celebrate that you're finally here. How long has it been? Almost a month. You know, I thought of making Craig my best friend. He's not a chick mag, - said Raimon.

  -How's your crush, the powerful Ukrainian? - asked Billy.

  -I said hi to her two days ago, - said Raimon, deadly serious.

  -Hahahaha. -

  -Don't ugh, you bastard. I had to prepare for quite some time, - said Raimon, attempting to punch Billy but failing as he was driving on the highway, almost skidding.

  -Eyes on the road. You almost killed us, - said Billy.

  -Well, if you stop ughing, I would, - said Raimon, fog his gaze on Billy instead of the road.

  Billy could only look at the road and ighe reckless behavior.

  -How's everything at the pany? - asked Billy, gng at the stack of i the back seat of Raimon's car. There were titles of Star Wars, Lux ics, and some strange ones from Meteor.

  Same as always, the days are long, Anne leaves a lot of work, but there's much to do, and you have too many employees. Every day, ued things e up.

  Raimon turhe car, two quick streets to get to the restaurant. About twenty steps away, they arrived at T-box Burger. Memories of the first time they came to the restaurant fshed back—a quick opening in the rush to create multiple businesses.

  -The best burgers in San Jose. We have the approval of a rge part of the popution, - said Raimon.

  They ehe pce, skipping the lio greet the doorman, and headed to the office where Jaon, the twenty-seven-year-old, more experienow, with a hint of a strong beard, and a denim fashion style, was seated.

  -Raimon, here are the reports, - said Jack.

  He looked up. - Billy Carson, the big boss has e to visit us, - said Jack, getting up from his seat to shake hands.

  -e, we have all kinds of burgers. Walter and Samuel have improved the menu. Now we have better sides, and the pink sauce is made for those who 't drink milk. It has gained us some extra ers, - said Jack.

  -Sounds good, Jack. The pce is impressive,- said Billy.

  -Well, I have a very demanding reviewer, - said Jack, winking at Billy. "Do you want your usual, Raimon?"

  -I do. Make it a double portion, - asked Raimon.

  -I see, I'll order a double portion for the boss," said Jack.

  -See, I cim the quarterly ating, and I get delicious burgers without waiting in line. Hey, do you have 15? I fot, extra cash, and I had to spend it at the gas station," said Raimon.

  -Here, take 20. But, first things first, I want you to take me to buy a gift for Alice. You stop at San Jose ter, - said Billy.

  -Sure, we , if you know what to buy, - said Raimon.

  -Don't worry, a plush toy. You know, she could have mentiohat she likes a little yellow Wihe Pooh bear, - said Billy.

  -Let's go to the Disore; there's one nearby. We'll buy maybe some chocotes and flowers to plete the cliché. You 't lose your charm, Carson, - said Raimon.

  -Your tongue has grown in my absence, - said Billy. The powerful look he gave made Raimon swallow hard. He had only seen sutensity in his father, a businessman.

  -Let me py tough. I've watched the entire 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' series without screaming, - said Raimon, stopping at the ben front of San Jose Uy.

  -Just let's have lunch, - said Billy, opening their burgers.

  -Yht the BBQ, - said Raimon.

  -I ordered extra packages, - said Billy.

  -Ahhh, this is life, - said Raimon, dev his ba-chopped burger with pink sauce.

  Both fell silent, in a state of mutuality as they calmly ate. - you pass me those fries? - asked Raimon.

  Billy just hahem over.

  The sound of a beep. The phone.

  **********************************************

  -Billy's here, - said Jessica from the pool chair.

  -He took a bit lohan expected. My God, I have to check, - said Alice.

  -Now you're talking nonsense. Don't get nervous; he's your boyfriend. You have to stop ag like a schoolgirl, - said Jessica, smiling at her friend's blushes.

  -Leave me alone, - said Alice, with a smile on her face. She fixed her hair in front of the mirror. Everything was iail, from her eyebrows to her long dress. Everything was as she arra, just a stray hair, a cheerful curl.

  -You look beautiful, dear, -- said Jessica, hugging her friend. --I expect a long chat; you've been apart for a month, and it seems like you've been separated for a long time. Luckily, he didn't go to war, -- the other blonde joked.

  -Goodbye, - said Alice, bidding farewell to Jessica.

  There was her handsome boyfriend, not wearing a suit, which was strange, but casual clothes made him look more his age. That serious trait she loved was repced by a pyful attribute. Alice walked up to Billy and buried her head in his chest.

  -Did you miss me? - said Billy, embrag her tightly with his arms.

  -Yes, - said Alice.

  -e, we'll spend the whole afternoon together. Tomorrow, I have a lot of work to do, but today, I have something pnned, - said Billy.

  -I like that, - said Alice.

  -e o in, - said Billy, opening the passenger door. Alitered and saw a rge Wihe Pooh plush toy. Her heart melted, as if thousands of stars were ing back together. Her handsome young man always gave her details. She hugged the plush with affe and sat down; there was a note saying 'open me' in the glove partment.

  Ihere was a small package of chocotes, her favorites, and she melted for the sed time that night. Billy entered with a smile. He approached to kiss his little girlfriend on the lips.

  -A few days ago, I didn't know how much I would miss you, but now, ten minutes before seeing you, I khat the distaween us is regrettable, - said Billy.

  Anne's eyes shone like stars, like big stars. She could only look straight ahead, but her heartbeats pouhrough her entire body as if the vibration of a stopwatch were the case, and her ears were ringing. Like red stars, they kissed in the car for a while.

  -Where are you taking me? - said Alice.

  The Sainte Cire loomed into view, and as soon as they arrived, they were warmly weled.

  -Bring me a special wine, Merlot, from '81 to '85 at the test. For me, bring a main course of 'Sug Lamb with Rosemary and Lavender Honey Sauce,' and for the dy, a Greek sad without dressing. I want two special house appetizers and some crackers with pate, - said Billy.

  -Perfect, sir, - replied the waiter.

  -I want mb, - - said Alice, with a pout. -- Because your dish sounds better than mine. -

  -I'll give you some mb, my dear, but the sad is delicious; that's why I ordered it, darling. Although I wouldn't mind feeding you, only if you promise to keep the secret between you and me, - said Billy.

  -I'll keep it, only if you promise to give me kisses every day to reinforce the secret, - said Alice.

  -I n myself, I n myself to be the guardian of your secrets, - said Billy, giving her a gentle kiss.

  The enjoyment of a cherished evening is an unoail.

  -This mb is exquisite, - said Alice.

  Billy pted another dish and fed another bite of mb to Alice.

  -Tonight is perfect, - said Alice.

  -I'm gd it is. e, we have to finish the meal. You'll e home with me, and we'll sleep embraced, - said Billy.

  Wiping Alice's lips with a napkin.

  -It sounds like a lovely pn, but I only stay until midnight. My father set a curfew for me, and it's been that way since we started dating, - said Alice.

  -lenty of time. We use the projector and wate of those movies we like, - said Billy.

  The few hours were romantients for the couple. They arrived at the entrance ughing, exging long and short kisses. It felt like ay before they reached the house, and the couple eogether.

  -Son, how are you? - said Thomas, from the living room, reading.

  -Father, - said Billy, approag to hug his father. The reserved style of the Carsons only surfaces in specifients, very special moments.

  -I see you came with yirlfriend; however, I have something to discuss first, and the issues we might face could gee some fri between us, - said Thomas.

  A cold shower hit Billy, who decided to sit at the table. His father is not a man of games, not someone who says, -We o act. - He sat across from his father, and Alice excused herself and decided to go upstairs.

  Unfortunately, she would enter someone who was not to her liking.

  -Well, son, I think you should know that some time ago, I started seeing a woman, and I may have proposed to her. I've decided to get married. You accept or reject it, - said Thomas.

  -Who is she? - asked Billy.

  In a few mihey desded—Alid Cudia!? The unfortable look from Alice, along with Cudia's i gaze seemed to ighe evident disfort.

  -Now, I think we'll be calling each other siblings, - said Cudia, with a mog look. She had ged, and grown, and her body looked more slender, but she still had that tough girl posture, that indepe girl.

  -I think we o talk. But not today, tomorrow m, - said Billy, taking Alice's hand and going up to their room.

  ...