Title: Perfect Synchronization
Summary: She'll watch Naomi and Mateo dance. She'll watch Esteban flirt and flounce. She'll watch Gabe and Elena rock their babies to sleep. She'll watch Isabel grow. Little glimpses of Luisa watching her family grow up and remembering her own moments like that. Luisa and Francisco, mentions of others.
Note: The Spanish notes are back! Adelina is the name that I gave Esteban's mother.
Fandango: dance
Zampona: a south american instrument that is like a flute.
She'll watch Isabel grow and make friends.
"So then Elena tells Prince Alonso to," said Isabel as she talked to some of the visiting royal children. Amber, Sofia, and James are laughing at the ending of the story as Isabel only looks pleased at their reaction. Luisa only smiles warmly at them as she could marvel at just how tall Isabel was compared to her friends. Then at the fact that Isabel was making friends quickly with the other kids despite being from another time all together. Then finds herself drowning in a memory.
Nicola and Delma were best friends.
Urma and Emilia.
Luisa hated school as she looked around trying to make friends with someone. It was the new school year and it was the first time she would go without her brother Tito without her. Instead of just jumping from the sixth grade to seventh grade, he went to a whole new building. There was a ceremony and everything. Now as he was in something called high school all by herself. The farmer's kids were coming back after long days in the fields. Her eyes wandered around the school yard.
"Hi!" said a girl about her age. "I'm Carmen, what's yours?"
"Luisa," she said as she looked at Carmen. She looked nice with long thick hair and a teal skirt on. "Can I braid your hair?"
"Sure!" said Carmen as she turned and Luisa ran her hands across her hair. "Hey did you hear the joke about why the cookie went to the doctor?"
"No, why?" asked Luisa while dividing her hair into long parts. It had to go to her calf but it would so pretty braided up as the 10 year old started twisting. What a way to make a friend on the first day.
"Because it felt crumby," finished another girl as Luisa laughed at the punch line. Then looked over at the new person, after realizing Carmen didn't finish the joke., Both her and Carmen looked up at the girl with red hair and a solemn look on her face. She looked fancy with elaborate designs on her dress. "That's a terrible joke. The teacher wants us inside." Both girls walked slowly as she was still braiding, the girl now watching amused instead of the solemn look. "You know I'm fast at braiding."
Luisa stepped back wanting to braid her thick hair but the girl finished a lot faster, a sunny smile on her face now. "I'm Benita."
This was going to be the start of a strange friendship.
She'll watch Naomi and Mateo dance.
His dark eyes seemed to sparkle as she spun around the dance floor. Naomi's short blond hair swayed as their hands touched to just spin outward again. Giant smiles were on their faces as Luisa watches their feet move together. The beat of the music lively as they swung around until his hands were on her hips. Their smiles were contagious as everyone was smiling around them and getting in on the party. Her eyes would watch them as she remembered meeting with Francisco over a dance. She'll dance to remember.
Luisa flashed her partner a smile that could only mean, up your game, as the 15 year old flashed her eyes at him.
"You're going to have to do better than that Senor Acosta," scolded Luisa through a smile as her elder neighbor took her hand and spun her around again and again. This was so much fun as she heard the music pounding around her. A lone zampona was heard among the drums as she stomped her feet. Senor Matias Acosta spun her out as she felt her hand slip. His face went white as she landed on a pile of hay and a body next to her.
"I'm sorry," she said as the man about her age helped her up. She saw Matias come to get her but she waved him off. "I haven't seen you around the village before."
"It's my first day here. My name is Francisco Flores- Palermo, but you can call my Fri-" he said as she eyed him up and down. Oh, he was attractive with a nice lean frame and warm dark eyes. She felt herself flush as she smiled almost shyly up at him. She couldn't help but wonder what he would look like on that dance floor. An idiot or a competent dancer?
"Francisco," she said not wishing to shorten his name. "You, me, dance floor now." With that she grabbed his hand dancing back into the fandango.
She'll watch Esteban flirt and flounce around girls.
"Dona, what do you think of the new coat? Maria says it make me look fat" asked Esteban as she watched him get close to the magistar of the trading guild. Luisa only watched as he had another woman next to him. Professor Maria Mendoza was also in the conversation with him. Maria telling him that he could have done better but they needed to focus on something else. Maria and Dona laughing at something that Esteban was saying. At this Luisa could only laugh herself trying to imagine what he would be saying. Luisa finds herself remembering.
"So I told Angie that she should not be dancing my partner," said Carmen as Luisa tuned out her friends. She kept an eye out for the person she hoped would show up. She looked around the room tugging at her braid chewing on-
"Ew, Luisa quit chewing on your hair," snapped Benita before noticing her not quite there look. "Are you looking for Francisco?"
"What? Nooo," she said drawing out the no a little bit longer. Her friends shared a look before bursting into laughs. At this Luisa felt herself starting to laugh too rather than go red. She would be lying if she wasn't thinking of Francisco and his warm chocolate like eyes. She felt herself blush but she could thankfully pass off the blush from the extra heat.
"You got it bad. Just imagine what his face would be like if he saw you talking to German Calvero," giggled Carmen as Luisa furrowed her brow. German Calvero was attractive, yes, but not like Francisco. "Think about it. He'll see you with another guy and get totally jealous. That way you'll know he likes you, for sure." At this Carmen danced her way into the crowd before pulling German Calvero next to her. The 18 year old only rolled her eyes at the absurdity of her plan. At that very moment she could see Francisco come up to next to her. Her friends encouraging her to say something to German. Looking at Francisco she flipped her hair and touched German's shoulder.
"How's the dancing?" she asked as she could feel Francisco pull her onto the dance floor.
"You'll have to figure it out yourself," said Francisco as she flushed and waved good bye to her friends as Benita took over flirting with German. "You know; jealousy doesn't really work on me." Oh he was good.
She'll watch Gabe and Elena rock their babies to sleep.
"Evening is a-falling, so rest your weary head, don't cry little baby, sleep tight in your bed, the jaquins are a-nestling, way up in the trees," sang Elena as she sat in a rocking chair. In her arms lay a small bundle with a smile on her face. Next to her sat Gabe holding a baby in his arm humming his own lullaby. Luisa only smiled as she watched them put the babies to sleep without a word. Watching with her own smile as it was serene with a full moon in the sky as they kissed them to sleep. She finds herself reliving another memory.
"Come on Lucia," she said as she felt the baby becoming fussy in her arms. Adelina just crying as she found herself wishing she only had one. Where was Francisco? He was supposed to be back from taking care of Senora Nunez. There were two village doctors for a reason! He had to be home soon. "Hush, hush, don't cry."
She felt like crying herself as she couldn't handle it by herself. Her eyes kept going to do the door of their home. Her in-laws, Gregorio and Lindin, were busy visiting another town. She found herself unable to take care of an infant and a two-year-old. Maybe two kids weren't the best investment. Taking a deep breath, Luisa told herself that she could put them to sleep. She found herself humming as the door opened.
"The scent of springtime flowers floating on the breeze, the full moon is a-shining in the sky above, hush now little darling, bundled up with love," finished Francisco with happiness in his voice picking up Adelina and swinging her. Luisa was aiming for something low and warm but whatever. She gave him her best glare before paying attention to Lucia who was now a lot calmer. She smiled at the child as the fire cackled. She watched as Francisco took Adelina into her room and then at the night sky from the window. It was peaceful now.
Luisa watched her family grow and live.
