Alex: A couple weeks.

Shane: Wow, kind of early.

Alex: Yeah, they want to get the team up and roaring as soon as possible. Hey, are you alright you and Madre seem to be umm, arguing quite often.

Shane: Yeah, I think sometimes she just makes things up to get made at me about.

Alex: Maybe she’s PMSing?

Shane: That’s what I thought when it started!

Alex: I think she might need a vacation, I mean cooking, cleaning, me!

Shane: No, no way, never think you’re a hassle!

Alex: Yeah but, it has to be stressful, I mean seeing a child you gave up years ago, not have been able to watch them grow. It has to be stressful.

Shane: I never thought of that. Maybe she does need a vacation.

Alex: Why don’t we start by making her dinner?

Shane: Sounds good to me.

Carmen sat in her room, an hour later. She was pissed beyond belief and had her iPod turned up all the way. She was making notes for a new mix.

Shane and Alex had just finished setting the table and putting all the food out.

Alex: I’ll finish up here, right now, go get your woman! Ok, wait, no, go get my Madre

Shane laughed.

Shane: I owe you.

Alex: You owe me nothing! I’ll get repaid by a good night’s sleep with no yelling tonight.

Shane smiled and walked to her bedroom door, gently knocking on it. She stuck her head in.

Shane: Hey.

Carmen didn’t look up.

Carmen: I’m busy.

Shane: Well, Alex and I made dinner If you want to join.

Shane turned on her heels and walked out. She came face to face with Alex.

Alex: Didn’t work?

Shane shook her head “no” and the two walked over to the table. They took a seat.

Alex: Maybe something else is bugging her. I know that Jess cried forever and used to get really mad at me when we first got together.

Shane: Really?

Alex: Yeah, her last boyfriend had done some things to her. I spent nights awake with her, just trying to keep her calm. At one point, she even had gotten cervical cancer, but the doctors were able to clear it up.