CARLOS & KATRINA

A Novel by Charles Adrian Trevino

Katrina was smiling as she walked down Main Street in her home town of Westview. It was a pleasant, not too hot afternoon and she was enjoying her one day off from work that week, window shopping but not stopping to buy anything. Somebody had just whistled at her from a passing car, and she had gotten mildly annoyed for a second, like she always did whenever someone embarrassed her like that; but lately it hadn't been bothering her that much. The movie she had been working on so hard for months was finally nearing completion, and the previews she had seen were great; it was going to be another Miguel Goldmann classic, and she was going to be a big part of it, in a major role! She couldn't wait to see the finished product -- she felt confident that it would match her expectations, and make all her efforts worthwhile; all the blood, sweat and toil that went into the making of a high-quality theatre production.

Katrina couldn't make herself stop smiling. She had never experienced this kind of satisfaction in any other endeavour she'd ever undertaken before. Miguel had become her good friend and adviser, and was one of the few film-makers whose movies had been approved by her very discriminating late father as being acceptable for her to watch. She loved Miguel's movies, and was proud to be in his stable of starlets; there was absolutely nothing in them that offended her, and Katrina had become very sensitive to anything indecorous that would offend anyone else... especially Carlos Fontanta.

Katrina stopped smiling as her thoughts turned to Carlos again. She couldn't stop herself from obsessing over what had become of him; where was he right now, and what was he doing? It had been many months since she had last seen Carlos. She had stopped calling his mother's house trying to reach him since the woman obviously didn't like her, for some mysterious reason which she couldn't fathom; Katrina had never met her or done anything to make her angry. It didn't matter; Katrina had decided that whatever mental demons plagued the poor woman had obviously not been passed on to her brilliant son, who had endured for so long under her cold, negligent hands. It was so sad; Carlos was the last person who deserved such treatment, and with all the enemies he had made in his short life, he was the first person who should have had strong maternal support.

She had stopped worrying that she might have done something wrong to drive Carlos away. She hadn't been insensitive or angry with him when he had unwillingly vented his troubles to her that night at the beach, or so she thought. She now felt that she should have been more sympathetic, but she hadn't given him any sign that she wanted to end their relationship, the friendship that had taken months to build. Carlos had simply gone off with David Slasher on some misguided adventure, probably to try to make some money and impress her, and she felt certain that he would be back soon, after learning the hard way that most rock and roll hopefuls never realize their dream of making it big. When he did get back, he would surely contact her and apologize for leaving without even saying goodbye. She felt confident that he would; she had come to know the real Carlos Fontana, and very well too. He was just like her; he was her spiritual partner-in-arms.

She had been periodically calling Steve Allen, who had been her father's partner in their very successful long-running law firm, to get his advice on the multiple-action lawsuit she was planning to bring against Jacob Rosenberg on Carlos' behalf, just as soon as she got his permission. Allen was very experienced in these sort of things, and had obtained large settlements for many of his clients in cases that involved slander, libel, defamation of character, and mental distress; he was very close to her mother and would be extremely discreet in this matter out of deference to Katrina, whom he was quite fond of. He had refused to accept any payment from her in this matter for himself, other than the necessary costs associated with bringing a case to court.

Katrina was feeling really good today; she had been walking for a few hours, just looking at the items displayed in storefront windows. But as she approached a record store, Katrina looked away across the street; she did this without really thinking, still subconsciously observing her father's strict rules, even though he had passed away. Katrina had loved and respected her father enormously; he had been everything to her. But then, inexplicably, something made her look back to the record store's large display window -- perhaps she was beginning to come out of her father's protective shell at last.

Katrina stopped walking; something in the shop's window had caught her eye. She frowned as she focused her attention on the posters of idiotic rage-rockers making contorted faces and obscene gestures with their middle fingers; absolutely disgusting. But suddenly Katrina caught her breath; there, nestled among the absurd clowns and posers was a poster of David Slasher and Carlos Fontana, with their two other band members standing behind them. Katrina stepped closer to the window and stared at the picture. The good-looking David was up front, giving his raised index finger number one sign, his confident grin lighting up his features. To his right and slightly behind him stood Carlos, holding an expensive looking electric guitar. He wasn't smiling.

Katrina felt her heart begin to beat faster, as she stared at the poster in disbelief; they had done it. She knew that this particular record store would not have devoted such a large space to the band if they weren't likely to sell a lot of records... they had actually done it! She could hardly believe her eyes, which were beginning to tear up with happiness. Carlos had made it... he had realized his dream. It seemed unbelievable to her, but there it was staring her straight in the face. He had done it.

But there was something melancholy in his expression... considering what he had just achieved, she would have thought that he would look much happier than he did in the poster. With a sudden pang of guilt she realized that she had never once asked to hear any of the Cool Bandito's formative songs; they weren't finished, Carlos had told her, and since she was always very busy she hadn't pursued the matter. Now she was beginning to wish she had.

After awhile Katrina took her eyes off of Carlos, and read the large print at the bottom of the poster: Coming soon: The Cool Banditos -- their new debut album, featuring the smash-hit Cobalt Dream.

Katrina suddenly felt like singing. Smash hit... this meant that Carlos would be back soon! He had made some money... probably a lot of money. And that portended good things; Katrina intuitively knew that lack of money was probably one of the things that had made Carlos run away from her, and now he wouldn't have that problem hampering him. As she stared happily at the words "smash hit," she felt sure about it. He had gotten his foot in the door, and with his tremendous talents he would carry his band along with him; maybe they would go all the way, to the very top!

As Katrina stood there quietly smiling, holding back tears, two young girls walked up behind her talking excitedly. "There! That's him!" one of the girls exclaimed loudly to the other as they stopped and stood beside Katrina, looking in the window.

"Which one? The blonde?" the other girl asked.

"No, the Mayinkan to his left... that's my Carlos! I love him!"

Katrina turned her head slightly to look at the two girls. They were quite attractive -- in spite of herself, she began to feel slightly annoyed. She continued to listen to them prattle on.

"Ugh... he's ugly!" one of them exclaimed, making a grimace.

"No, he isn't... he's beautiful! And he's so good!" the other one gushed.

"You're crazy! You're just like my sister... she absolutely adores him! Honestly, I don't know what you two see in him..." the girls turned and began walking away down the street, still arguing about Carlos' looks.

"Don't you have any musical taste, Sharon? Or are you still listening to your rage-rockers... I can't believe you sometimes..."

"You crack me up, Kim..." Their voices receded in the distance as Katrina stood there alone, glaring at their backs. If looks could kill, they would have both been dead before they reached the corner.

Suddenly the bright daylight faded away fast as clouds moved across the sun, covering its rays; Katrina looked up at the darkening sky, and felt a shiver run down her spine. She wasn't superstitious, but the sky seemed to be telling her something... something troubling. The two pretty young girls had made her snap out of her reverie and come back down to reality.

Rock stars... groupies. There would be lots and lots of female fans, all hoping for the same thing: to meet their favorite musicians and offer themselves to them, throw themselves at them... it was something to be expected when a rock band made it to the top. And it looked as if The Cool Banditos were going to go far, judging from the poster in the window and it's words.

Katrina wasn't one to worry about competition, not under normal circumstances -- but this was different. There was going to be plenty of competition now. Suddenly she realized that she had been taking certain things for granted, things like Carlos' feelings for her, and his seeming lack of interest in the things that drove most boys to distraction... sexual gratification, "making it" with chicks, proving themselves. She had simply assumed that Carlos was like her, waiting in patient, lonely celibacy for something really good to come along... but now she realized that she had been indulging herself. Carlos had never told her he loved her; he had never even told her he liked her a lot! Maybe he had never liked her at all, had only been politely humoring her as she hounded him relentlessly. The fact that he hadn't called her in months suddenly fell on her head like a bombshell.

Katrina felt her spirits plummeting as dark, jealous thoughts began circulating through her mind. Nothing was certain. She had been assuming all along... she had been deceiving herself, deluding herself. There was absolutely nothing that assured her that Carlos was being faithful to her... it had all been in her mind. She had drawn conclusions that she wanted to believe, not things that were based on facts; now everything was starting to get clearer. She had been foolish, and now she was going to pay heavily for her foolishness.

As an unseasonable light drizzle began to fall, Katrina just stood there, not moving. She didn't know what to think now... she had been telling herself that everything was going to work out just fine. She had been deluding herself, in denial... and only now was she admitting the truth to herself. Carlos had not called her in months, not because he was afraid to... but because he just didn't need her anymore in his new life.

A cold rain began falling, hard on the heels of the light drizzle. Katrina put her hand up to her mouth for a second as the rain came down, quickly drenching her bare head. She realized that she was crying now, and was grateful that the rain was coming down so hard, mixing with her falling tears... hiding her tears.

As happy chattering couples hurried by her on the sidewalk, heading for shelter from the unexpected downpour, Katrina turned and walked away with her head down. She had to get home and be alone. She didn't even want to see her mother; she didn't want to see anyone. All she wanted to do now was forget.

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

The light outside had completely faded, and the moon and streetlights were illuminating the lush verdant lawn and rosebushes just outside the large picture window. Katrina sat in her dark living room staring out at the street, watching the cars that periodically passed by. She had no desire to get up and turn on the lights; the darkness was comforting her. Neither did she want to go and prepare her dinner, even though she hadn't eaten anything since her breakfast early that morning.

She had lost Carlos; now she was finally able to admit it to herself. She hadn't been sympathetic enough when he had had his cathartic breakdown in her car that night, as they sat in the beach parking lot; she had been a fool. As Katrina thought about that fateful evening, without realizing that she was only hurting herself she began to relive it in her mind; how happy she had been just sitting there watching the distant moonlit waves crumbling through her windshield, holding her silly beer bottle and talking with Carlos about her movie... until she had persuaded him to talk about his life, his strange, troubled, mysterious life.

Carlos must have thought that she was a mean, heartless bitch; she knew it now. Why had she told him she needed time to think about things, when she should have taken him in her arms and comforted him, supported him? She had made a big mistake, and now she was afraid she had made the mistake of her life. Carlos was a sensitive, intelligent person with a very keen perception; he wasn't like anyone else she had ever met before. He was like her, and he definitely would not settle for a mean bitch. He wouldn't forgive such heartlessness...

And there were other things preying on her mind now... Carlos had left her for good, but his enemies hadn't. She was still under attack, just like he was, and now that she had lost her fellow soldier in arms she was going to have to face them all alone. The thought of having to fight on all by herself against insane people, people who saw absolutely nothing wrong about crawling on their bellies like maggots and who were watching her every move, almost completely drained her will to go on. But she would have to. Katrina was grateful her mother had called and told her she was staying over with relatives and wouldn't be home that night. All she wanted was to be alone, sit in the dark and brood over her troubles, which had now taken on an ominous new weight. She wasn't even sure if she could still muster the strength to keep fighting on, without Carlos there to help her.

She suddenly remembered that she had to meet with Miguel the next morning to wrap up some final details concerning their film's production. The thought of getting up early and doing it again, in her present condition, absolutely filled her with dread. She was going to have to call Miguel and cancel out; she was feeling absolutely defeated. And she was beginning to feel afraid again.

As Katrina sat slumped in her chair looking forlornly out the front window, a yellow taxicab suddenly pulled up and stopped across the street from her house. She watched disinterestedly as an immaculately dressed man in an off-white suit got out of the cab and handed a wad of bills to the driver, who grinned appreciatively and shook his passenger's hand. The man stood with his back to her, talking to the driver for a little while; she continued to look at them absent-mindedly, her mind brooding. She wished they would hurry up.

The dandily-dressed man turned and began to walk across the street in the direction of her house, as the taxi driver drove away honking his horn. Katrina watched him with increasing curiosity as he got closer, finally stepping onto the sidewalk as the streetlight illuminated his features. Katrina gasped and straightened up in her chair as she realized who it was... Carlos had come back.

Katrina didn't know what to think... she had only a second before been immersed in complete despair, unable to get up out of her chair; now she sprang up like a cat and ran towards the alcove of the living room, completely forgetting that she couldn't see anything in the dark. As she neared the exit she tripped over the big soft ottoman sitting near the alcove, forgetting in her haste that it was always there. Tumbling to the plush carpet, her body pushed the ottoman against the little table standing beside it, knocking over a long ornate vase full of wilting but still fragrant red roses that was perched perilously close to the edge. A cold stream of water from the flower vase poured off of the table and onto her head, followed by a shower of roses and loosened rosebuds that rained down onto her hair and shoulders.

Quickly brushing off some of the rose petals, Katrina jumped back up to her feet. She stood there for a second, regaining her aplomb and composure... then she ran full speed down the hall to the front door, throwing it open. Carlos stood in the lamplight a few yards away from her, holding a small gift-wrapped box tied with a blue bow in his hand. For a few moments they both just stood there, staring at each other and saying nothing.

As Carlos looked at Katrina standing in the wide doorway of her elegant mansion, rose petals still gracing her dampened, disheveled hair and shoulders, he had to fight off an almost overwhelming urge to burst into laughter. Catching himself, he instead raised one eyebrow, regarding her with an expression an aristocratic gentleman might give to an unmannerly girl selling flowers on the corner who had gotten too fresh with him.

It didn't work; Katrina just stood there staring at him with her mouth slightly open, unable to say anything. Dropping his clown mask, Carlos simply gazed back at her, marveling at her beauty -- as he always did. The street behind him was completely empty, majestically quiet and serene in the moonlight.

"Hi Katrina... " Carlos' voice was humble and soft, as if he thought she would be angry with him. "I bought...," He swallowed, then spoke again. "I brought you a little something." As he stepped towards her, he clumsily dropped the little gift-wrapped box onto the wide, fancily-tiled pathway that led up to the doorway. He started to bend down to pick it up.

Katrina bounded down the steps and ran to Carlos, throwing her arms around him and hugging him tightly to her. Holding Katrina in his arms for the first time, Carlos' breath left him, as he felt all the pain and frustration he had felt over the past few months melting away. They stood there clinging to each other, under the brilliant light of a beautifully full moon in the eucalyptus-scented dusk, neither one saying a word for a long time.

Finally Katrina spoke. "Carlos... where have you been? I've... I missed you...," she said, gently stroking his hair.

Remembering where he was, Carlos suddenly felt self-conscious; he could imagine incensed eyes peering out through huge picture windows all up and down the imperious block, observing them with disdain. He slowly disengaged himself from Katrina's arms as she drew slightly back, smiling joyfully at him.

"Oh my god... you wouldn't believe what happened...," Carlos laughed softly, looking down at the pathway. "You are not going to believe this, Katrina..."

"I know! I saw the poster in the window! In the record store, I mean... Carlos... you did it! You really did it!! Oh Carlos, I'm so proud of... I mean, I'm so happy for you... I didn't..." Katrina stumbled on her words; then, giving up, she just stood there in the lamp and moonlight beaming at him radiantly.

"Katrina... can we go inside and talk for a little bit? I have to tell you something... something really important...". Carlos looked into her eyes, a very serious expression coming over his face.

Katrina grabbed Carlos' hand and began to pull him towards the front door, oblivious to anything or anyone who might be watching. "Of course, Carlos! I'm sorry... come in! Are you hungry? I can cook you up some seafood..."

Carlos laughed, remembering the last time he had seen Katrina, when they had enjoyed an inexpensive but delicious seafood dinner. "Oh yeah, I forgot... you just love seafood, don't you? Actually I'm not that hungry, Katrina. I just had dinner a little while ago... with Slasher!"

Katrina laughed along with Carlos at the mention of David Slasher -- he must be feeling absolutely unstoppable this evening, she thought to herself. She still couldn't quite believe that the odd couple had actually pulled it off; for a brief second she imagined David speeding down the highway in his fast sports car, his triumphant grin in full extension as he schemed about how he was going to spend his new bankroll. Then her thoughts returned to Carlos.

"I want to hear all about it... right now! Come on... I'll fix you a drink, if you want... my mom keeps some margarita mix around somewhere...Carlos, why didn't you call me? Oh, never mind... I understand everything, Carlos. Don't ever think I don't understand! You don't have to say a word... c'mon, let's go inside!" She turned and led him by the hand into the huge mansion, slamming the door shut behind them.

"Wow... it's kinda' dark in here!" Carlos said, looking around. "Katrina, I missed you so much... I didn't want to call you because... because I..." he stopped talking, suddenly feeling tongue-tied.

"No, no, no, Carlos, you don't have to say a thing... I understand!" Katrina flipped a few buttons on the wall and the elegant foyer burst into light, revealing magnificent colorful paintings that hung from gleaming, austere white walls. Carlos looked up at the ceiling looming high over his head and quietly whistled to himself; he had never been in such a palatial house, not in his entire life.

"Katrina, I think I'd better try to explain a few things to you... about what I told you that night, the last time I saw you...," Carlos said seriously. "Katrina, I shouldn't have said those..."

"Carlos, I wrote a song for you! I wrote a song! I was strumming some of those chords you showed me, and it just happened! Can I play it for you?" Katrina looked at him like a child asking permission to go outside and play.

"You wrote a song? For me? Yes, yes, let's hear it... right now! I must hear it... immediamente!" Carlos grinned encouragingly at her, not expecting what happened next.

Katrina grabbed his hand again. "Come on, come up to my room! My guitar's there... I really want you to hear this song... I really think you'll like it! Oh, I hope you'll like it..." Katrina turned and began pulling the astonished Carlos down the hall, towards a large imposing staircase with ornately carved wooden rails. Being helplessly led along in this fashion, he looked around at the exquisite furnishings and wondered for a second what he was doing there, as Katrina tugged him by the hand up the stairs. As they reached the landing on the second floor and started to go down another unbelievably wide hallway, Carlos glanced back and noticed that the stairway was still going up to another level; he wondered how many stories the house actually had. He could smell the plumeria of different exotic, colorful plants resting in recessed shelves in the walls as Katrina led him down the stencil-painted, picture lined hall to a huge, closed white door.

"My room's a mess," Katrina said, opening the door. "I hope you don't mind... Oh Carlos, I can't wait to play this song for you! I really think you'll enjoy it!"

Carlos followed Katrina into her bedroom and looked around. It was exactly the kind of room he had always pictured a beautiful girl like her living in; huge, opulent yet graceful, with large bay windows looking out over an ornately-tiled patio and an enormous swimming pool surrounded by multi-colored rose bushes, a perfectly manicured lush green lawn stretching off into the tree-lined distance. The lovely warmth of the room gave him a sense of security... and of infinite possibilities. Just being in Katrina's bedroom was making him feel higher than a kite. Still, Carlos found himself feeling slightly nervous again, like he always did whenever she was with him.

Katrina sat Carlos down on her enormous bed and ran across the room to get the beautiful new guitar that was leaning on its mahogany stand in the corner. Picking it up, she hurried back to the bed and sat down beside him. She began to pluck the strings one by one as she turned the pegs, quickly tuning up. Looking up at Carlos, Katrina gave him yet another flash of one of her gorgeous made-in-heaven smiles; then looking down again, she began to pick and strum a simple but lovely chordal arrangement, which sounded remarkably good. Carlos was amazed at how skillful she had become in such a short period of time. The song flowed from a simple introduction into a more complex section, and Carlos found himself tapping his foot in time with it. Then as he sat there listening, smiling, Katrina unexpectedly began to sing.

Carlos drew in his breath; Katrina had one of the most beautiful singing voices he had ever heard. It seemed as if there were no end to the things this remarkably endowed girl could do excellently. Then as he concentrated on the words she was singing, he began to feel something heavy descending onto his chest.

The song was about a little girl that had gone for a walk in a beautiful forest on a lovely sunny afternoon, but had strayed too far and lingered too long, absorbed in the beauty surrounding her. Before she knew it night had fallen, and evil-looking, leering creatures began to emerge from the shadows, terrifying her. They had accosted her, taunting her and mocking her innocence as they danced in an ever-tightening circle around her. The little girl cried out in fright for somebody to help her, and a handsome Indian brave had emerged out of the darkness, carrying a colorful bow and arrows. He aimed an arrow at the creatures threatening her, and they had all turned and run away. The song ended with the Indian brave leading her by the hand out of the forest and back to her house -- then he had left her standing there alone and disappeared into the darkness, as she began to cry. But she knew that he would be coming back and had dried her eyes, smiling once again.

Katrina finished up her song with a proud flourish, turning back to Carlos again for approval. He was looking down at the carpet, listening intently. When he looked up again, there were tears in his eyes.

"Oh, Katrina... that was so beautiful...," Carlos began, then fell silent again. He had never been so moved by a song in his entire life; he was completely at a loss for words. As Katrina stared into his face her own eyes began to water, but she kept smiling. "Carlos... do you really like it? Do you think you..." she stopped. A tear had fallen from his eyes and run down his cheek.

"Carlos, I..., I thought you had...," Katrina reached out and touched his cheek, feeling the wetness of his tear on her fingers. "I didn't think..." her words trailed off. As she let her guitar drop softly to the plush carpet, it gave off one last soft, resonating twang.

Carlos and Katrina came together and embraced again, holding each other close. Then Katrina began to kiss him gently on his face, coming closer and closer to his lips with each kiss. Carlos felt his heart begin to beat hard... then her lips were on his, kissing him hard and long, as her hands stroked his shoulders and neck. He suddenly felt light-headed, not quite believing what was happening as Katrina pulled him gently down, smiling like a devil and an angel at the same time. As his body descended onto hers, she reached over to her bedside table and picked up a remote gadget, clicking it twice. The lights slowly faded out, leaving them in quiet darkness as the room began to spin around Carlos, Katrina's song still ringing in his ears.

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

Federal agent Ernest Lukelew sat in his easy chair looking at the large monitor in front of him, a twisted leer on his face. He had just gotten something that he couldn't wait to show to Jacob Rosenberg.

Lukelew glanced at the clock on the wall; it said 2.53 a.m. No matter; he was going to call up that all-time hell of a guy and tell him he had just captured some excellent Fontana dirt for him... and Jacob would probably thank him for waking him up with the good news. Lukelew took another swig off of his drink and began to laugh uproariously, as he picked up the phone lying on the table besides him. Maybe he would trick Jacob into paying him before he showed him the video.

He called the number and waited patiently as it rang on and on. Finally a disgruntled voice answered curtly; "Yeah?"

"Hey Jacob... sorry to wake you, buddy. You're paying me for dirt on your Fontana account, right? Well, I just got something real dirty for you, something I think you'd better see... something you're just gonna' love. Since it's our good friend Fontana, I knew you'd want to know right away. See you tomorrow, pal!"

"Wait a minute, Lukelew... whadja' got?" Jacob grunted into the phone.

"Something that'll absolutely slay you, fella... hey, I'm really sorry about the late call there... call me first thing in the... no actually, call me around noon time. That'd be better. Right-e-o good buddy, see you manana!"

"What the fuck ya' got, Lukelew? Tell me... you already woke me up, prick!" Jacob barked into the phone in his commanding voice.

"Naw... I want you to see this with your own eyes. After you see this one, you won't want to see anymore Fontana videos!" Lukelew began to laugh insanely again.

"Wait a minute, Lukelew... I'm comin' over."

Lukelew's laughter increased tumultuously until he was nearly beside himself, almost falling out of his chair. Recovering, he took another swig from his drink. "Naw-da, buddy, it's too... oh, what the hell, the night is still young... yeah, come on over, Jacob! Come right now!" Lukelew indulged in yet another hysterical bout of laughter, which quickly grew out of control. He spilled his drink on himself and dropped the phone onto the carpet, holding his belly.

"What the fuck, Lukelew... Lukelew? Jerk! Lukelew!! Assbite... I'll be there in twenty minutes, ya' cunt..."

***************
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Copyright 2006, 2018 by Charles Adrian Trevino.