Who is Arcelia?

I did not go out to meet my mum when she came back on Sunday afternoon.

I could not look her in the eye; not after last night's revelation.

I stayed in bed all day and only snuck out to eat when I heard her in her room.

"You've been awfully quiet for the past hour, Rapunzel. Have you been this mum long before I got here?"

Oh yes. Aaron, of course.

He called, claiming he was at the church I attend and didn't see me, so he decided to check if I was up to no good alone.

'Without him', as he put it.

"Did you make yourself useful at least, today?"

"Well we need to head out. I got someone to tail that colleague of yours. It's true that she babysits Annalise. I was thinking we kidnap her and torture the truth out of her."

At my glare, he chuckles.

"Got a reaction from you at least. But seriously, Rapunzel, what's wrong?"

"My parents are fighting and I didn't notice until Lolita who is almost always away at school points it out to me."

I raise both arms. "Can you imagine that? I sat here thinking all morning and I realized she's right. I heard my mum arguing with someone on the phone. I'm pretty sure it was my dad. If I'm not mistaken, he'll be here tomorrow."

"I can imagine that quite easily, to be honest."

"What?!"

"Hey, it's true. You've never really paid much attention to anybody else when you didn't deem it necessary."

I frown and look away.

"I'm slightly upset."

He shrugs it off and begins whistling a stupid tune.

Is it true though? Do I really not pay attention to others?

"I don't do it on purpose though."

"I know, Rapunzel. Now look, it's totally normal for a married couple to have disagreements every now and then. They'll fight it out and make up, believe me. Besides, it's José and Fiona we're talking about here."

He nudges my shoulder. "Your parents are the poster for sickenly in love couples."

I nudge him back with a smile.

"Thanks, dufus." I yawn. "You said something about torturing Alicia? I'm all in, you know?"

"I was just joking, Rapunzel." Ruffling my hair, he gets up.

"Something fishy is going on. John and Sylvester are becoming buddy-buddy with Hastings Pharmaceuticals. Joshua is working for them."

That piques my interest.

"Hastings? You mean the–"

"Yes. The one and only HP. Those scumbags have something to do with Annalise if Joshua is involved. Why they are looking towards John is fishy. I don't understand it."

Hastings Pharmaceuticals is an infamous but formidable conglomerate. I first heard their name when they were sued for selling out expired drugs and lying about the safety of their factory to workers.

My father has never liked them. Says they have something sinister going on; something he wants no part in.

They have always worked alone, so extending their reach to not only Nirvana, but Sylvester Automobiles too, is indeed fishy.

A Pharmaceutical company and an Automobile company?

It could make sense if I didn't know Sylvester.

He only makes major deals when he has something large to gain. It is usually more than the other company involved.

Then that scum, Joshua Delaney too.

What's his role in all of this?

We're at a dead-end!

"Aaron!" My shout startles him.

"What?!"

"I've just come to a conclusion. We know absolutely nothing and are at a dead end."

He groans and flops to the bed.

"You're fucking dramatic!"

"Yeah well, you love me."

"Cheeky. Of course, I do." He says, pinching my cheeks.

"But seriously, what do we do now?"

"We watch. They're bound to make mistakes somehow. I'll tail Joshua myself. I need good dirt on him."

"I'll watch Alicia. She talks a whole lot when she's drunk. I now know what to ask her."

"Honest drunks are awesome. You still a clingy drunk?"

I shrug. "I wouldn't know. I haven't had a sip of alcohol since two years ago. I like to have my wits around me at all times now."

He studies me for a while, as I busy myself with braiding my hair.

"You don't want to feel vulnerable anymore. Ever? At all?"

"What kind of question is that? Of course I never want to feel vulnerable."

"Even if you're with someone who would never take advantage of that vulnerability?"

"Even then." That person could very well plunge a dagger into my back 'by mistake'.

"My God. What happened to you?"

"You guys did."

"You used to be so carefree! So trusting!"

"And look where that got me."

"Where the fuck is that? I get it–"

"I didn't ask if you do. I don't want to talk about this again, Aaron. Alicia is working today, I'll get her drunk."

I search for wearable clothes and walk to the bathroom.

"Make yourself comfy. This pig wants to take a dip in her parents' bathtub cause she stinks."

"You have no idea how true that is, Stinky." He grunts as I begin to go down the stairs.

"Fuck you!"

"Language darling!" My mum calls from her room, startling me.

I totally forgot about her.

Is this what he meant when he said I don't think of anyone else but myself unless it benefits me?

"Sorry, mum!"

My apology has dual reasons.

~•●•~

I leave the bathroom refreshed and ready to conquer the afternoon, when I hear my mother's angry voice.

"Who the fuck is she, José?"

I stop dead in my tracks.

Did mum just swear? At Dad?

Careful not to make any sound, I tiptoe to the room and place my ear on the door.

Lolita can't accuse me of not being curious about our parents anymore.

"You expect me to believe that, José? Do I look stupid to you? I'm not a dumb blonde if that's what you're thinking. I thought twenty-one years of marriage would make that clear."

His reply is muffled but I hear her sniff.

"Who is Arcelia, José, and why didn't I know you had a daughter with her?"

A soft gasp escapes me but she doesn't catch it.

"I hate you right now, José." I hear a crash and her venomous voice carries over. "Don't call me that! I'm not your anything right now. I don't know whether to laugh or cry right now. You're pathetic!"

Something drops to the floor and my tears fall when I realize it's her.

"Fuck you, José. Fuck you and your fucking lies!"

She breaks down into sobs just as a finger wipes a tear from my cheek.

Aaron has a finger to his lips as he grabs my arm and drags me up the stairs.

He skillfully dodges the steps that creak and we make it to my room without a sound.

"Dress up. We have a girl to fill with drinks tonight." He instructs as he turns around and plugs his earpiece into his phone.

I appreciate his silence on the issue.

His soft voice rouses me from my numb state and I focus on getting each piece of clothing on my body, one after the other.

"Let's go."