<span style="font-size: 18px"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#bfbfbf"><div style="text-align: center"><i>
<div class="bbImageWrapper lazyload js-lbImage" data-lb-caption-extra-html="" data-lb-sidebar-href="" data-single-image="1" data-src="/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Ffotos.fotoflexer.com%2F5102740add113f92df7213591b4750a1.jpg&amp;hash=f52b9e6b2b3da7cf506d151849814878" title="5102740add113f92df7213591b4750a1.jpg">
<img alt="5102740add113f92df7213591b4750a1.jpg" class="bbImage lazyload" data-src="/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Ffotos.fotoflexer.com%2F5102740add113f92df7213591b4750a1.jpg&amp;hash=f52b9e6b2b3da7cf506d151849814878" data-url="http://fotos.fotoflexer.com/5102740add113f92df7213591b4750a1.jpg" data-zoom-target="1" height="" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" style="" title="" width=""/>
<noscript><img alt="5102740add113f92df7213591b4750a1.jpg" class="bbImage" data-url="http://fotos.fotoflexer.com/5102740add113f92df7213591b4750a1.jpg" data-zoom-target="1" height="" src="/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Ffotos.fotoflexer.com%2F5102740add113f92df7213591b4750a1.jpg&amp;hash=f52b9e6b2b3da7cf506d151849814878" style="" title="" width=""/></noscript>
</div>
</i>​</div><i><br/>
"Gay,</i><b> you mean? Yeah, I am,"</b> Gabriel answered honestly.<br/>
<br/>
<b>"I hope that my being gay doesn't turn you off. I mean, um</b><i>. Jesús Cristo</i>. <b>I don't want to turn you away from getting to know me as a person. People around here don't like gays much."</b><br/>
<br/>
Gabriel could finally see the light through the tunnel now that he'd broken free of the shackles his ex-boyfriend's abuse had trapped him in. His dark eyes were full of memories, both good and bad ones. <b>"It wasn't always that way with him. He just changed and got mean. You're right, I do deserve better than Slater Conway. It's taken me this long to realize that I'm better for leaving him, and pressing charges against him for hurting me."</b><br/>
<br/>
Not even an animal deserved to be treated the way Gabriel Alcantara was treated. The constant humiliation in front of his friends, ignoring their pleas to make Gabriel change his mind about continuing a relationship with his abuser, minimizing the situation, being alienated from everyone because of Slater's need to control his every move, and the violence that came as a consequence for a perceived slight against him. Somehow, this was right. He needed to break away and have the freedom he deserved.<br/>
<br/>
Smiling back at Jaxon, he didn't know what the man's thoughts were about homosexuals and he didn't want to judge either.<br/>
<br/>
<b>"Well, you haven't been inside my place yet. You can stop by the casita whenever you'd like. I'm usually there when I'm not working. I just finished helping my uncle remodel it. I love everything about it really, and guess what I found out?"</b> Gabriel asked with a huge grin, knowing that Jaxon wouldn't possibly guess.<br/>
<br/>
So Gabe answered for him. <b>"I found out that I'm actually pretty good with a hammer and nails! I did the new cabinets all by myself and they're completely flush. You can check for yourself!"</b> he proudly announced.<br/>
<br/>
So much for the stereotypical gay male mentality.  Gabe wasn't a simpering, effeminate gay man that was only interested in fashion, was hypervigilant about his appearance, or kept a meticulously clean apartment. He enjoyed classic rock, and wasn't a Madonna, Cher or Lady Gaga groupie. Gabriel liked to build things, and even knew how to play an electric guitar which was one of his talents.<br/>
<br/>
He loved to go to karaoke bars, and he enjoyed dancing the Texas two step in country clubs around Horizon City. He liked to cook, and enjoyed<i> manly man</i> outdoor pursuits like hiking, camping, fishing, and canoeing. On weekends, he'd go off alone to the woods, and take photographs of the landscape and the west Texas wildlife.<br/>
<br/>
<b>"Do you like Florence + The Machine? They're pretty mellow sounding. I love their lyrics. Hopefully they'll come to El Paso soon, because I want to see them in concert. If I can get tickets,"</b> he replied.<br/>
<br/>
The band playing inside <i>Picaduras</i>, was called <a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D9Y_y0Dgbx9o&amp;hash=e1e9cbaf7fabae184a9baa645e32ebca" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Y_y0Dgbx9o" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">Mariachi Cobre</a> and they played traditional Mexican<i> abajeñas </i>music from the Jalisco region of Mexico. The strains of the male vocalist, trumpets, violins, and accordions were upbeat and happy although Jaxon probably didn't understand what the lyrics meant in Spanish.<br/>
<br/>
So Gabriel translated the song for Jaxon.<br/>
<b><br/>
"This is traditional Mariachi music from the region my family is from, called</b> <i>Jalisco.</i><b> The indigenous people of Jalisco call this</b><i> abajeñas.</i> <b>The band uses vocals and a lot of guitar, trumpet, violin and accordion when playing to give people an upbeat, happy feeling. It makes everyone want to celebrate. Right now they're singing a song called </b><i>El Mariachi Loco. </i><b>Or the crazy Mariachi. The words of the song go like this in English."</b><br/>
<br/>
Gabriel translated as the vocalist sang in Spanish. "T<i>o the mariachi of my land , of my land. I'm going to give you my singing. Lulled by her song, my cradle rocked. became my musical soul. Your violins and guitars in the still hours , are a sweet awakening.  Virgin soul of the mariachi , when I listen to your songs I feel like crying .The mariachi sounds with joyful song. Hey, how happy! Sing my song. The old harp sounds (ay ay ay ay!) The guitar sounds (ay! Ay! Ay!)  The violin complains (ay! Ay! Ay!) the same as me."</i> Gabriel replied with a smile.<br/>
<b><br/>
"Trust me, it sounds better in Spanish."</b><br/>
<br/>
Gabriel spooned some piping hot steak into one of his warmed flour tortillas, and began to gnaw hungrily on it in order to give Jaxon some time to absorb what he just translated and for Gabriel to hear what Jaxon was saying about the music he liked to listen to.<br/>
<b><br/>
"I like a lot of different music styles, and I also enjoy dancing too. We have the same interests it seems,"</b> remarked Gabriel.<br/>
<br/>
There was always music and dancing in his home, and it was so much a part of Gabriel's existence that the only time he didn't have a radio playing was when he was sound asleep or when he was deathly ill and didn't have the energy to crawl out of bed.  Glancing over at Jaxon, he really seemed to be enjoying the good food. No sooner than he could ask if he liked the meal so far, the door to the patio opened with the sound of the Mariachi blaring, and Gabriel turned slightly to look behind him.<br/>
<br/>
He expected to see his cousin,who was waiting their table, but was surprised to see his mother, <a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Fs-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com%2F564x%2F8d%2Fd7%2F47%2F8dd7475ab18590bc21a1d8871f8b4c4a.jpg&amp;hash=4bd6d716750f47f21d418b66c7c34f78" href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/8d/d7/47/8dd7475ab18590bc21a1d8871f8b4c4a.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">Marisol,</a> instead. Gabriel smiled, and waved her over to introduce her to Jaxon, <i>"Hola, Mami!</i> <b>I'd like you to meet a friend of mine, Jaxon Pierce. Jaxon this is my mom, Marisol Alcantara. His service dog Kiv is under the table, isn't he pretty?"</b><br/>
<i><br/>
"Hola mi hijo."</i> Marisol leaned over and pressed a kiss to Gabriel's forehead, and saw Kiv peeking out from under the table. <i>"Sí que es un perro hermoso. ¿No muerde?"</i><br/>
<br/>
<div class="bbCodeSpoiler">
<button class="bbCodeSpoiler-button button" data-xf-click="toggle" data-xf-init="tooltip" title="Click to reveal or hide spoiler" type="button"><span class="button-text">
<span>Spoiler</span>
</span></button>
<div class="bbCodeSpoiler-content">
<div class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--spoiler">
<div class="bbCodeBlock-content">Translation: Hello my son; yes he is a beautiful dog. Does he bite?"</div>
</div>
</div>
</div><br/>
"<b>He bites bad people, and you aren't bad, </b><i>Mami."</i> Gabriel said reassuringly. Marisol smiled.<br/>
<br/>
Turning her warm gaze in Jaxon's direction, she replied, <i>"Well any friend of Gabriel's is a friend of our family. Good evening Jaxon, welcome to Picaduras. How is the service tonight? You are enjoying the food? Do you need anything else?" </i><b>she</b> asked a few rapid fire questions.<br/>
<br/>
Gabriel mixed his refried beans and yellow rice together, and started to eat them while Jaxon and his mother carried on their conversation. She was the manager of the restaurant, so she was checking on her customers to make sure they were receiving their food hot, on time, and with excellent service as well. Miguel also reappeared with a pitcher to see if Gabriel and Jaxon needed refills. Marisol canted her head and smiled when she saw Miguel.<i> "Miguel is one of my best servers, but I always like to make sure my guests are enjoying their experience."</i><br/>
<br/>
<i>"She does. All the time, " </i>Miguel and Gabe laughed because they almost said the same exact words about Marisol at the same time.<br/>
<i><br/>
"I hope to see more of you around Picaduras, Jaxon. Buenos noches," </i>she offered, ruffling Gabriel's hair gently as she turned to go back inside the restaurant. <i>"Make sure to rest Gabriel. Doctor's order's mi hijo."<br/>
<br/>
<div class="bbCodeSpoiler">
<button class="bbCodeSpoiler-button button" data-xf-click="toggle" data-xf-init="tooltip" title="Click to reveal or hide spoiler" type="button"><span class="button-text">
<span>Spoiler</span>
</span></button>
<div class="bbCodeSpoiler-content">
<div class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--spoiler">
<div class="bbCodeBlock-content">Translation: Good night</div>
</div>
</div>
</div></i><br/>
<i>"Mami!</i><b> Okay, okay. I will."</b> Gabriel grumbled, the mama's boy had his mouth still partially full of rice and beans that he was chewing.<br/>
<br/>
After Gabriel's and Jaxon's glasses were refilled by Miguel, he turned to follow his auntie inside to check on his other assigned tables.<br/>
<br/>
Gabriel's eyes shone, as they turned to look at Jaxon.<b> "Well you met my Mom. Good thing I never mentioned the spices you have in your cabinet at home! She would have driven a truck load of </b><i>sofrito, adobo and sazón</i><b> to your house just to flavor up your food,"</b> he laughed.<br/>
<br/>
Gabriel was rolling up his last steak fajita, when Jaxon mentioned the barbeque at his place.<b> "I can bring something. Is there anything in particular that you liked tonight, that you think your friends might enjoy. I hate to bring something no one will like to eat."</b> Gabriel replied, a little nervously.<br/>
<br/>
He'd been around Slater's friends, and Gabriel remembered how they mocked wetbacks and the Mexican cuisine he brought along to their barbeques. When Jaxon mentioned country boys, he grew worried even though he tried not to show it on the surface.<br/>
<br/>
Swallowing a lump of steak fajita and a world full of anxiety with it, he responded with,<b> "I'm sure your friends are nice people. What time is the barbeque again?"</b><br/>
<br/>
He wanted to attend, but at the same time, Gabe was scared shitless to be the only Mexican guy surrounded by a bunch of country boys at a backyard barbeque. Still, it was reassuring to hear Jaxon say that his eyes were opened tonight by coming to <i>Picaduras.<br/>
<br/>
Maybe the barbeque wouldn't be so bad after all.</i></span></span>