Due to the last chapter's shortness I decided to go ahead and upload a second one. :)

Chapter 10

Paco

After mi flor's touch I couldn't stop thinking about her. That night I dreamed of her, and when I woke up my dreams continued. Here I am in school just watching the clock until chemistry starts and I can see her again. When the bell rings I fly out before anyone else is even in the hall and practically sprint to meet her and Julianna coming out of their classroom. "Hey!" I pant happily, grinning stupidly because I just can't help it. Julianna gives me a knowing smirk before sauntering off to leave me alone with Violet.

"Hi, Paco," she says. I'm glad to see she isn't too bashful after what happened. Losing control like that hadn't been my plan, but neither of us seems to regret it.

We start walking toward chemistry and I make sure to keep close so I can guide her with a nudge when she needs it. "So we're still on for Saturday, right? The Valentine Dance?"

"Yeah."

"Great! Um, are your parents okay with it?"

She chuckles. "They really aren't that bad. They just get a little overprotective sometimes."

"Try having a Mexican for a dad," I joke. She smiles and my heart jumps, making me feel lightheaded for a second. "Speaking of family, my cousins are coming over before the dance. Mi papá and his hermanos like to use any excuse to get together so their having a little party before the dance. I'd like for you to meet them, if you're comfortable with that."

"If they're anything like the rest of your family I'd love that."

O.o.O

Tío Carlos and tía Kiara come early in the morning with my cousins, Cecilia, Josefina, and Kelsie. Kelsie and Josefina are closer to Maribel's age so they scamper off with the ferrets to play. Cecilia is just like Fiona—stubborn and feisty—so they don't really get along, but today they are sitting close together discussing something, and I'm pretty sure I caught a guy's name. So with all the estrogen in the house I opt to play a game with Raul until Papá comes in to growl at us to stop being antisocial. Tío Carlos interrupts him with a punch to the arm before dropping onto the couch next to us.

"Relax, man. Let them play their game. There's never much for them to do before Luis and Nikki bring the boys," he says, ending with a big yawn. "Besides I could use a little siesta before the party gets started."

Papá rolls his eyes and smacks Carlos's head before dancing back to avoid his rebuke. They both have wide smiles on their faces, and I can't help laughing, too until I realize that while I was distracted Raul had killed me in the game. Tossing the controller on the coffee table I tell Raul I'm done playing and head to my room. It's quiet there, though I can still hear the girls squealing and laughing, and Mamá and tía Kiara clanging dishes in the kitchen. Crawling onto my bed I lie on my stomach and pull my phone out of my pocket. I stare at Violet's name in my phone—which is actually my nickname for her, mi flor. I flip through the photos we've taken together and that I've secretly taken of her. My favorite is one where she's sitting cross-legged in my living room, facing to the side and laughing at something. She isn't wearing anything particularly special, just jeans and a sweatshirt with her hair pulled up in a ponytail like always. But she looks so happy. Her nose is scrunched up and her eyes are smiling just as much as her mouth. Staring at her I think I love her…

Uh...

Putting the phone away now.

My feelings are moving way too fast than I need them to. If mi flor knew how crazy I am getting she'd head for the hills. Hell, I want to head for the hills after thinking that. Love is great but when it hits you like a wrecking ball out of nowhere, you feel a little panicked.

I lie there for a while with my eyes closed, thinking about nothing—well, Violet, but I can't help that. Then I hear feet thudding up the stairs. It sounds like a herd of sheep so I know it is Maribel and my cousins. And just like always I hear the telltale skittering of tiny claws on hardwood followed by Maribel's quiet warning. Sitting up I look just in time to find Zorro and Petal, the pests—sorry, ferrets—loping into my room. My youngest sister's silhouette fills the doorframe, or a portion of it anyway, a moment later. "Sorry. But if you don't close your door they always run in here," she apologizes.

"It's okay, Maribelita," I say, gesturing her in. Josefina and Kelsie follow her and start snooping around my messy room. Petal, Maribel's albino ferret scrambles into my lap and I stroke her little head. They aren't my favorite animals, but I can be nice sometimes. I still don't know why my room is their favorite though. Maybe because they can tunnel through all the debris on my floor? Who knows? "So what are you guys doing?" I ask.

"We're bored waiting for Juan," Josefina answers distractedly as she picks through the things on my dresser. Juan, our other cousin, is the favorite of the girls. He is funny, charming, and prefers playing with them than with the rest of us chicos. I wonder sometimes if he is gay, but I have never seen any decisive evidence of it.

"Well," interrupts Fiona's voice, "you're in luck because they just pulled up outside." She leans against my doorframe, arms crossed. As Maribel rushes past with Josefina and Kelsie, Fiona ruffles her head affectionately. Fiona isn't very good at being much of a girl so she isn't very close with Maribel, but they have their moments. "So," she huffs, dropping down onto my bed, "thinking you might get some tonight?"

I backhand her boob and she backhands my man boob—I know it's weird, but we're close, okay? "Like I'd dare. Papá would slaughter me."

She chuckles. "He didn't slaughter me when he found out."

"Yeah, but you're his baby girl. You get let off the hook more than the first son who has to be perfect."

She points a purple painted fingernail at me. "Hey, we both know Maribel is his favorite."

"And why shouldn't she be? She's an angel." I press my hands together and look up like I'm praying to God.

Fiona backhands my chest again. "Seriously, what are doing with this girl? Are you serious? I mean, I'm all for treating her like she's normal, but you've got to know there are going to be some problems. You planning to take her to the after party?"

I lie back with her, having to spit her long hair out of my mouth when it works its way onto my face. "She said she wanted to go, so yeah."

"You know what goes on at those things. You're going to have to keep an eye on her. And what about the music? She's got sensitive hearing, right? That shit is louder than Papá'srage screaming."

I frown at her. "Since when do you care so much about mi flor?"

She raises her brow at me. "¿Tu flor?"

I choose not to feel abashed. "Yeah, so what? I'm sure she has a nickname for me."

"Oh, please tell me it's Paquito." A grin that I can only liken to the Cheshire cat's spreads across her face. "I am so telling her to call you that. Oh, yes—"

A rising sense of dread forms in my chest and I start to sit up as she does. "Oh, no, you're not." I let a warning enter my tone. "Fiona."

She giggles and darts for the door, but I'm used to this routine. I take advantage of my longer legs and grab her arm and trap her in my hold so I can work my fingers into her ribcage and tickle her. We fall together, laughing and kicking and tickling. She manages to stick a smelly bare foot in my face and push herself toward the door. I hear her cry out to somebody in the hall and look up to find Julianna smirking down at us. As usual, she takes Fiona's side and helps her to her feet so she can sprint downstairs and into the safety of the Papá zone.

"What was it this time, hm?" Julianna drawls, entering my room. "Fighting over who gets the last slice of pizza tonight? Who has the prettier accent?"

I stick my tongue out at her before getting to my feet and walking to hug her. With my arms around her I suddenly notice that she is growing thick. There is a little hard roundness to her belly that wasn't there before; it's almost imperceptible, but my mouth curls in a smile just a bit. "Fiona was just being immature," I say.

But my sister's voice from downstairs calls up and shatters my cover up. "Love you, too, Paquito!" Fiona shouts.

Julianna eyes widen and she gets a smirk incredibly similar to Fiona's. "Oh, that is adorable. That should be Vi's pet name for you."

"If your body wasn't fragile right now I'd do the same as I did to Fiona," I growl half-jokingly.

She laughs. "You've got one for her, it is only fair." Sitting on the edge of my bed she flicks her blond hair over her shoulder and gazes down at her perfectly painted red nails. "So when are we leaving for the dance?"

"Whenever Violet wants to." I pause, debating whether or not to say what I'm thinking. Ultimately I care too much not to. "Is David picking you up?"

Julianna stops fiddling with her nails and flops backward. "No. I'm still avoiding him, and he doesn't seem to care."

"Chica, he probably thinks you want some space when you don't. You're sending him some crazy ass signals, you know. David isn't the kind of guy to just drop you. He's actually loyal and responsible."

Heaving a big sigh, Julianna stares at the ceiling without saying anything. "Well, I'm sorry my love life isn't quite as pretty and perfect as yours."

That brings my thoughts back to what Fiona said. "Do you think Violet will really enjoy going to the after party?"

Julianna frowns at me. "Why wouldn't she?"

"Well, it's going to be loud and crowded."

"So will the dance. Look, I know she's not Wonder Woman, but she can take care of herself." She grins deviously. "Besides, she'll need a lot more than you to protect her."

I roll my eyes and head downstairs. Tío Luis and all the guys except for Juan are congregated in the den. When tío Carlos sees me he cheers and stands up. "There he is! Now for the commencement of our favorite tradition!" I grin, knowing he means the game Papá and his brothers invented when they were younger. The girls come out of the woodwork and Mamá holds out a pair of her pantyhose. Unlike when Papá y mis tíos played, the game is now something we all enjoy as a whole family, girls and all.

After the first couple throws, a dark blue car pulls to a stop at the curb and mi flor steps out. Julianna runs to meet her and help her with her dress.

"Hola," I say, squeezing her in a hug. She says goodbye to her mother before turning to me and smiling nervously.

"Sounds like the whole party is out here," she says, anxiety under her voice.

"Basically, yeah." She bites her lip cutely and crosses her arms. I smile and ring an arm around her shoulder. "Don't worry. They only bite a little."

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