Barbara wakes up before Eddie starts drumming his iron pan, a familiar feeling of a soreness on her back. She reaches with her hand, able to differentiate her current muscle aching from the pulling sensation her sabs provoke. She gets up, raising her elbows to shoulder-height, she twists her spine, then leaning forward to stretch her legs, her elbows nearly touching the ground.

“Wakey Wakey.” Begins Eddie’s call to action. “Good to see you up.” He says to Barbara.

“This is inhumane.” Complains Pepito, wiping off crust from his eyes.

Barbara turns back at her extended couch-bed, having shared the space with Ruth, she’s surprised the fiery-eyed blonde is nowhere to be found.

“She already left.” Answers Eddie, before she can ask.

Just like yesterday, Barbara sets off to distribute tortillas to twelve local shops, no longer needing to rely on the hand drawn map Alex had provided, she makes an effort to take mental note of as many identifiers around this part of town. She returns to the tortilla shop, gets another batch loaded into her wicker backpack and sets off again.

A hop in her step, she’s relieved to have not run into any police. The hope that the attention she had drawn to herself has washed away settles in, getting confident enough to nod her head in salutation to an officer passing by. Once the final shop has its second delivery taken care of, she takes her time to walk back home, stopping at a bulletin board at the plaza closest to the tortilla shop. Missing posters for a woman, a girl about her age, and a boy around Pepito or Azucena’s age. Not recognizing any of the names or faces, she dismisses the notices and continues walking back home.

Her heart skips a beat upon entering the shop, at the counter, talking to Eddie, stands an officer in uniform, a scar running down the left side of his jaw down to his neck, the same officer that had tailed Ruth through the alleys, yesterday. He turns to see who else entered the tortilla shop, quickly dismissing Barbara’s presence on the account that he never got a look at her, he turns his attention back to Eddie.

“Go upstairs and get something to eat, kid.” Instructs Eddie, a calm demeanor about him.

She simply nods her head, slowly making her way up the creaky stairs. Once she enters the living quarters, she’s met with the alert looks on Alex and Pepito’s faces. Alex puts his finger over his lips, offering her a seat next to them at the dinner table.

“What’s going on?” She whispers.

“I don’t know. I was taking care of some customers when he came in asking for Eddie.” Answers Alex.

“Should we sneak out?” She suggests.

“Eddie said not to make any hasy moves. If he said he could handle it, we should trust him.” He affirms.

This doesn’t ease Barbara’s anxiety. She gets up, reaching over the kitchen cupboard next to the stove for her sword.

“Don’t let him see it.” Says Pepito, clenching a cutting knife in his hand under the table.

Barbara takes a seat, her left shoulder pointing at the stairs, she takes a cloth used to wrap tortillas, and covers her sword, her hand on the hilt. They all wait patiently, beads of sweat running down their heads. Pepito and Alex struggle to keep their breathing under control, Barbara’s is much smoother, despite not feeling any more relaxed. The three of them tense up as they hear heavy stomps go up the stairs.

“Police! Put your hands in the air.”

They freeze, waiting for the officer’s next move. Eddie pops his head out, bursting out in laughter. “Look at you three.” He wheezes.

“Asshole.” Curses Pepito, stabbing the table with the kitchen knife.

The tension in the room quickly dissipates as Barbara and Alex let out a deep sigh of relief. Eddie makes his way to the top of the stairs, still laughing.

Herlinda and Azucena open the door, concluding that the coast is clear.

“I don’t know if my old heart can handle that kind of stress.” Says Herlinda, walking towards the kitchen.

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“What happened?” Asks Alex.

“The man’s name is Steve Roberts. He’s an old acquaintance.” Answers Eddie, regaining his composure as he takes a seat on the table.

“You know him?” Asks Barbara.

Eddie looks over at her, dismissing the question as obvious.

“I think Ruth knows him too.” She adds.

“Steve and I know each other thanks to Ruth’s old man.”

Wanting to inquire further, Barbara’s questioning is stopped by Pepito tugging her sleeve.

“Ruth’s dad was an army man, remember?” He says in a low voice.

While Alex and Eddie change the subject and chat amongst themselves.

“Where is Ruth?” She asks.

“Across the street, at the gym.” Answers Pepito.

Barbara gets up, placing her sword back at the top of the cupboard next to the stove. Herlinda reacts with a face as Barbara raises her arms, taking a step back.

“When was the last time you bathed?” Asks Herlinda.

Barbara’s face turns beet red, unsure of the answer, herself.

“We should go to a bathhouse.” Suggests Pepito.

“No need, just go to the well for some water. You can bathe here.” Says Herlinda, lighting the stove. “Why don’t you and the moody girl go?”

Pepito chuckles at the description of Ruth, Barbara nods, making her way downstairs and across the street. She peers through the dirty window of the old wrestling gym, unable to see anything behind the smear ridden glass, she walks in to find Ruth practicing the same move Barbara taught her yesterday.

“How many are you up to?” Asks Barbara.

Ruth wipes sweat off her forehead. “Three thousand, closer to four than three.”

Barbara looks at her, unsure of how to react, unsure if there is hostility in her tone or not.

“What?” Asks Ruth.

Barbara shrugs her shoulders. “I don’t know, Ruth, you tell me.”

“Tell you what?” Says Ruth, raising her voice.

Barbara lets out a sigh. “I don’t know. Since we met, I feel you’ve been hostile towards me.”

Ruth lets out a sigh, continuing her routine.

“Nothing?” Asks Barbara.

“Look, maybe I don’t like you, but that doesn’t mean I don’t trust you.”

“So you trust me?” Asks Barbara.

“That is so beyond the point.” Says Ruth.

“What is the point? Why do you antagonize me so much? I just want to get along. Once the mercenary company comes around town, and they let me join, I’m out of your hair. You won’t have to deal with me anymore.”

Ruth drops her wooden practice sword, dramatically.

“What?” Demands Barbara.

“I don’t have to explain myself to you. Alex, Pepito, and Azucena might have warmed up to you, but that doesn’t mean I have to.”

“I don’t expect you to, I just want to get along with everyone I’m living with, at least until I leave.”

“You don’t have to get along with everyone.” States Ruth, picking her practice sword back up.

Barbara lets out a sigh, defeated. She begins to make her way back out of the gym.

“I’m sorry, okay?” Ruth says, stopping her in her tracks.

Barbara turns her head back, hoping she continues.

“I have a tough time trusting strangers. I know I shouldn’t be as hostile to you as I am.” Ruth pauses. “I don’t know, there’s something about you that gives me a bad feeling.”

“Like I said, I’ll be gone in a matter of weeks. You will never have to deal with me again.” Says Barbara, turning back around.

Ruth takes another swing of her sword, and stops, catching her breath. “I used to be the one that stood up for everyone. Whenever my friends were in trouble, I would be the one to take a stand.” She shakes her head. “You came and changed everything, I know I can’t explain it, but there is something about you that makes me feel uneasy.”

“What?”

“I don’t know. Maybe it’s the fact that before you came, no one could step up to me.” Ruth swings the wooden sword clumsily. “Maybe I don’t like the fact that there’s someone that knows how to fight better than me. Maybe the fact that I have to reduce myself to take lessons from you bothers me.”

There’s a brief silence. Barbara lets the uncomfortable feeling between them thicken, saying nothing.

“I used to be the one that stood up for my friends. I’m no good at anything other than fighting. You came here, got everyone to fall in love with you, and-” Ruth turns away, unsure if she should continue. “Maybe I feel like I’ve been replaced in the group. I know I’m difficult to get along with, the only saving grace I had was that I wasn’t afraid to do what was necessary to look out for my friends.” Her voice cracks.

Barbara bows her head, not expecting this level of vulnerability from Ruth.

“I’m sorry.” Says Barbara, finally. “I never meant to replace you, or usurp your place. I just-” Now, Barbara hesitates. “I was in need of help. You guys opened your arms, and I just felt I had to do my part for the group. My intention was never to replace anyone, I just wanted to show my gratitude.”

“I know, stupid.” Admits Ruth, tears beginning to well in her eyes.

“You stink.” Says Barbara, after an uncomfortable silence.

Ruth raises an eyebrow, unsure of what Barbara means.

“Herlinda said we should go get water from the well to clean ourselves off.”