Isa Garcia

“Oh. I’m sorry thank you. I probably don’t deserve your kindness but I appreciate it. I’ve been too upset to eat. I don’t know if I’ll be very talkative but you can stay if you’d like. I don’t mind.” She didn’t mind the company but she knew that she’d be a horrible conversationalist. 

“Don’t worry about it. I know I’d hope someone would do the same for me if things were the other way around and why would you say that? Of course you do. You’ve always been sweet to me at least. And that’s okay. I’m not typically the most talkative myself, so who am I to judge? Just let me know if you do, want to talk about it? I’m here. But, in the meantime, we can just eat some good food and talk about something good like I don’t maybe the Summer Shows or something?”

“Well take me back, was that night your first encounter with The Revolationists?” she asked. “No, you’re not under arrest. I’m just trying to find any clues and helpful information that will best help us keep the studio safe. Tell me, do you know any of the people from the studio that were listed as apart of the group?” 

“Which night do you mean? Do you mean the warehouse party? Because I- I’d rather not, if that’s okay? It just- I try not to remember it? And oh yes. I mean I know all of them? I work at Craft Services, so it’s hard not to know everyone on set. But, the people from the studio on that list are all good people? Some of the kindest people on the set are on that list.”

“So which part of that actually had you confused? Because I said a couple of things was it the metal straw part?” Grant burst into laughter when she asked him about his heart beating. “Yeah, it’s starting to kick in. Calm down. Breathe. It’s normal no need to panic.” Of course he could feel her emotions and know that she was panicking. He reached out and touched her shoulder, transferring some calm over to her. “So how do you feel now? Calm? It takes a minute but the fun sets in at some point. Unless you get paranoid and panicky which I hope not because that’s not fun.” 

“Yes it was the metal straw,” Isa mumbled under her breath. “But, telling me to be calm only makes me feel the need to panic even more,” She gasped. But, when his hand touched her shoulder, she instantly felt a relief wash over her. “Better. How did you do that? And oh! I’m ready for the fun? Which reminds me, is everything suppose to be this bright? Because the colors look brighter and- have your eyes always been that blue?”

“Who said I wasn’t in love with you? Or at least on my way there? We got drunkenly married yes, but you were cool from the moment I met you. Incredibly beautiful. You were fun, and you got me, and the best roommate, and we had that damn greek gods thing and were mid sex when we were ourselves again and all I wanted was to stay in that moment with you. I got jealous when you and ol’ boy went on a date. And when Grace was missing who was there? You. Even in my most devastating moments, you were like this damn ray of sunshine. This…what we have? It’s everything to me. I married my best friend. And then that best friend of mine not only is my wife but the mother of our baby girl. Yep, this is the love I wanted.” Toni nodded when she mentioned needing a fence. “Yeah, we definitely will need one.” He wrapped his arms around her, leading her inside. “So we have to decorate, but I’m kind of excited about that because before it was already decorated now we get to decorate, and I’ve got some ideas about getting distracted and painting you. Instead of the walls.” 

“You were in love with me? Then why- why didn’t you say anything? And we did. We even did karaoke in our underwear. Remember that? Wait- when you picked the song Lucky- was that not just a song? You were jealous? Of Alex? But, you never asked me out? This is everything to me too, AJ. You’re the man of my dreams, but you knew that already,” She smiled, nuzzling into his side as she leaned forwards and pressed a happy kiss against his cheek. “Aren’t you suppose to paint the walls and not- oh. I see what you did there,” She giggled. “But, you know, if you decide to start a paint war, you better plan on finishing it, because I won’t be going easy on you.”

“Oh hell no. A friend stole their personal artifact which meant I got a free wish. I would have never sold my soul for a wish. When I die, I’d rather just go. Nah, I like my version where my parents are slow dancing in hell. I don’t want to believe that either of them are on any kind of plane I can ask someone to communicate with them for me. Otherwise i’d probably go crazy wanting to ask questions and speak to them. That we are.” 

“Oh, thank goodness. I mean, that’s smart of you?” Isa said with an innocent smile. “I get it. Then slow dancing it is. But, you know, if you do ever want to know for sure, you do have a few different mediums around here you could probably ask to find out for you.”

“I mean we have to plan and get two kids prepared for a trip to another country. Yeah, baby, we can go in a few weeks.” Toni lifted her gaze to his. “I have never regretted a single moment with you, let alone our wedding. I love you and every moment that we spend together. I’ve waited my whole life for a love like this. There’s not an ounce of regret anywhere.” He laughed as she asked what she was going to do with him. “Well I can think of a lot of things you can do with me. But that being said, we should probably see the house first.” He led her out to their car and the short drive to their new home, hopping out and holding the door for her. “Well here we are I’ll start the tour once we get on the inside, but baby, isn’t it nice. Look at it…we have a pool too in the backyard.” 

“It’s a plan then,” Isa was practically beaming from ear to ear as she leaned forwards and kissed her husband. “I love you too, AJ. More than anything in the whole wide world. But, I know that you weren’t in love with me when we drunkenly got married and I don’t know. Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if we had just dated and got to know each other first before tying the knot or walking up next to each other in Vegas like that? But, really?” She asked, a bright blush flushing across her cheeks as she nuzzled her nose against his. “You’ve really waited for a love like this your whole life? Baby!” Isa giggled as he told her he could think of a lot of things she could do with him. “pronto mi amor pronto,” She promised, kissing him lightly on the cheek as he held the door open for her. “Es perfecto, pero- we’re going to need to build a fence around the pool. Just until Ivy is old enough to be able to swim on her own.”

“Yeah, well depends on the vampire. I once knew a guy that carried a metal straw and stuck it in the neck of whoever he was feeding from. But for the most part I just go straight for the veins. What? Give out blood? No. Usually only if someone’s dying and they need to heal quickly. For the most part, though this is a first. Then the high is going to hit you like no other. V is fast acting and very…potent. So you are probably in for a very floaty, high, calming, generally chilled out feeling.” 

“You what?” Isa blinked as he mentioned the other vampire. “And oh... I guess that makes sense? And really because I don’t really feel much different except- wait- is that... is that your... why can I hear your heartbeat?” She asked, her eyes widening as she looked over at him in panic. The high starting to set in.

“Well there’s a way around giving up your soul. But the Genie I encountered was not happy about being stolen from. You’d already be dead, so technically your mom would just re-kill you. And my parents are probably somewhere in hell so if I ever sold my soul, it’d be like a family reunion. Now that I think about it…I kind of wonder if my mom and dad have reunited in hell.” She actually wanted to contact her dad now that she thought about it. Want to tell him about Noah. About his grandson.” Jae shrugged. “I can bring death but I wouldn’t say that’s all I am. See I had a normal gang free life. I was a well adjust popular girl. My mom wanted more for me than this even if she had a “group of friends” that did shady things and she refused to call it a gang. I knew what it was. She had high hopes and then she was murdered and the only person that wanted me. That would take me in was a man behind bars, that was a gang leader. I’m sure had my mom not died I’d have never been in a gang. But now I can’t imagine myself without it. I could get out, leave it all behind, but I want to provide for others what they provided for me. I’ve gotten so many people jobs at this studio and opportunities. Hell I practically made some people’s careers because of the gang. We protect those that may not be able to protect themselves and we take care of our own. And we do some shady things on the side, yes. But I think it’s those moments in our lives that we can pinpoint what changed our course. Your brother changed yours, and my mother changed mine.” 

“Wait- you mean that you sold your soul to a genie?” Isa asked with wide eyes. “No. Not true. You can sell yourself to a demon while you’re a human. It just means when you die, the demon will come and collect. I’ve seen scary movies. And that’s... that’s not the most uplifting of thoughts. But, you know they could be in the astral plane too and not in hell? That’s how Toni can communicate with spirits. He can see them in the astral plane. I guess that’s true. It seems like we are both products of our different circumstances in some way, huh?”

“Rubbing elbows. I mean you don’t have to rub any unless you’ve got some kind of elbow rubbing kink. I would never be secretly trying to one up you. I don’t even think that she and I are competition really. Acting is my one passion it’s the one thing I’ve been working on since I was a kid. Natalia practically disappeared for over a decade and resurfaced with a new passion. If anything I think acting is just fun for her nothing more. Even being nominated is big. Even when it’s not a win I always feel like it’s still a win just being nominated. I learned that with my very first award that I cared about. The kids choice awards. I wanted that orange blimp but at the time Natalia was my competition, and she won it. But I was happy though because I adored Tonya’s World and was even a little starstruck. So spa day for us!” 

“But, even still, doesn’t being nominated against such fierce competition make you want to work even harder? I mean it does with me? Acting is my passion too, but I just got my big break now, if I could even call it that. I’m just excited to get back into it and, who knows, maybe next year it can be my name next to yours in the Best Actress category?” Isa said with a small smile at the thought. “I always forget you’ve been doing this since you were very small. I feel like I have a lot I could learn from you and yes please. Definitely a spa day!”

“So this is probably going to gross you out but let me get me get you a cup. I don’t imagine you want the blood straight from my vein like vampires have it.” He grabbed a plastic cup from the pack he kept in his trailer. Using his teeth, he tore into the flesh of his wrist letting it drip into the cup. Not too much just enough for her to experience it. “One first time with V coming right up,” he told her as he handed her the cup. “Sean is not very emotional so he took it okay. They have this moment where he wonders if she’s with him for a reason. Of course they were kind of angry at that point. But he was very feral in his reprogrammed state. Daisy was afraid of him. Charlie was preoccupied with the new girl and he and Tina just kept getting put together. They were grumps and deep down, they just got vulnerable with each other in the midst of death day after day. Oh no it’s not too many questions I don’t mind.” 

“Like vampires... you drink straight from each other’s veins?” Isa started to ask, before letting out as gasp as Grant sunk his teeth into his own flesh. Covering her hand over her mouth as she watched him with wide eyes. Taking the cup from him and letting out a little gulp as she looked down at the blood. “This- so this is just a normal thing you do?” She asked, still trying to wrap her head around it. “Sounds like quite the love story. So I just- I just drink it now? And then what happens? Just so I know what to expect?”

“Yeah we can go to Cuba anytime you want and we can get out of work to do it. A second wedding. You know I’d marry you every day. So I’m down for whatever. Sure call Dani and we’ll go over and see the place. I’ll give you the tour like we’re on MTV Cribs.” He smirked at her words. “See now I like your line of thinking. We’ve got to break in that new ghost-less bedroom.” He smacked her bottom. His hand lingering on her ass. He leaned in to give her a kiss before he laughed. “At that point we’d all probably end up in one house because I couldn’t stay away from you for long.” He nuzzled his nose against hers. “Por siempre y para siempre.”

“Don’t do that. If you tell me anytime, I’m going to want to leave right now,” Isa admitted with a soft smile. “But, soon, please? In the few weeks? I haven’t seen them in years and I don’t know if I can wait any longer? And really? You would? Even though we got married on a whim and were very, very wasted, you’ve never regretted it, have you?” Isa asked, wondering how she had gotten so lucky to have found this incredible man before her. “Okay. Un momento por favor,” She whispered, giving Toni a draw out kiss before picking up her phone and calling Dani. After the vampire had sped over and picked up the kids, Isa returned to her handsome husband’s side. “So, you were saying something about an MTV style tour?” Isa asked with a happy smile. “I’m right behind you,” She promised, before letting out a playful laugh as he smacked her lightly across her behind. “Toni! Que voy a hacer contigo?” She asked, shaking her head over at him as she lifted herself up on her tip toes and kissed the tip of his nose that he had nuzzled against her. 

“Depends on the mood you’re in. Party mood, free swag mood, or the rubbing elbows mood. There are going to be a lot of influential people that I’ve slept with at some of these events…thank god for marriage and having an incredible husband. I can also get us pampered and a spa treatment brought to us. I did that once as a total power move when I had a rival actress I hated and I were up for some award. We had to seemingly be best coworkers but behind the scenes I hated that bitch’s guts. And we always tried to one-up each other. But then it just turned into my little calming tradition. How are you feeling about it all? Excited? Nervous?” 

“Rubbing what mood?” Isa blinked over at the other with a raised brow. “Um... I don’t know? I guess I’m up for anything? Maybe we could start with the Spa treatment as long as you aren’t secretly trying to one up me that is. Not that you’d really need to. I mean it’s not like I’m even your competition. That would be more Natalia if anything. And oh! I’m excited. This is my first real award show. How could I not be? But, no. I’m not that nervous. The chances of me winning anything are very slim. But, I guess in a way, I just get to just relax and enjoy myself which is a nice plus.”