Loving a Stranger
Chapter eleven: I Swear, I'm Only Tolerating You
We ate dinner at the Fort, and I honestly can't tell you what we ate because Antonio insisted on continuously holding my hand or touching my knee or keeping some stupid physical contact between the two of us and it made my stomach knot up so bad I couldn't eat. That Tomato Bastard is so lucky I didn't hurl all over him in front of his army friends- although it would have served him right.
Antonio joyously informed us that he had gotten permission to stay the night with us at our hotel- something about his mother being present- so after the others ate we bid farewell to the two Portuguese men while a certain friendly Spanish woman promised to meet up at the graduation ceremony the next day, then we piled into the rental car.
"I have an idea!" Ms. Carriedo announced as she started the car. "Who votes for some homemade churros?"
"Ooh! I do!" Francis shouted without thinking- and without contemplating the fact that he had just eaten. Gilbert was chanting, "Churros! Churros!" And even Antonio was bouncing in his seat like a child. "¡Sí por favor! It's been so long since I've had your sabrosos churros!" He exclaimed, his obvious excitement causing his English and Spanish to mix.
I allowed a small smile in the darkness of my corner of the car. It's kinda cute actually. I suddenly blinked, shaking the thoughts out of my head. Stop it right this second, Lovino Vargas! I ordered myself. Don't even think like that!
"What about you, Lovino?" A laughing feminine voice broke into my thoughts. "Do you want churros?"
What kind of question was that anyway? That was like asking if we needed air! "Hell yeah!" I said, forgetting all about being dignified. I don't think she really cared, seeing Gilbert didn't have the cleanest mouth either and she never got on his case.
"Well then," she said happily, "We'll stop by the store to get some supplies, okay?" We all agreed, and she pointed the car in the necessary direction and took off.
Allow me to point something out: Ms. Carriedo's churros were practically world famous- at least they had been the biggest hit in our school. Apparently, she had made a batch of them for Antonio's tenth birthday and brought them to school- where they immediately became loved by everyone. Kids literally went to his house just to eat the delicacy.
My first exposure to them had been during lunch one day. I had been having a hard time getting to our usual table because, much to my surprise, there was a crowd of people around. Even though I hated large groups of people I was eager to get to my food so I shamelessly pushed and cursed at the majority of the idiots who were in my way.
I had finally neared the center when I heard Gilbert's loud, "Kesesese! Anton, if you would just sell those awesome things, you'd make a whole crap-ton of money! Then you wouldn't be so broke all the time!"
Antonio laughed, then announced to everyone else that he was out of whatever it was they had gathered around for, causing them to groan in disappointment and slowly wander back to their food.
I finally plopped into my seat and glared at the three of them. "What the hell was that all about?"
Antonio smiled at me and pulled a strange-looking pastry out of its hiding place. "Here," he said, offering it to me. "I saved the last one for you."
I eyed it suspiciously; I wasn't prone to trying new foods, not after Gilbert had tricked me into eating a bite of wurst. "What the fuck is that?" I questioned, raising an eyebrow at it.
Francis stopped flirting with a group of girls who were passing and let out a loud gasp. "Have you never eaten a churro?" He asked in shock. I shook my head slowly.
If I remembered correctly, the previous year(before I knew the Bad Touch Trio) Feliciano had waltzed up to me one day and told me that this Spanish guy named Antonio had given him a churro, but I had had no fucking clue what that was and simply lectured my stupid brother on not taking food from random strangers.
So this weirdly-shaped fried thing was a churro, huh? Interesting.
"You have to try it!" Gilbert ordered. "Mutter Josefa makes the most awesome churros the world has ever known!" That Potato honestly didn't know shit about food, so he really should have stayed quiet; I didn't trust his input at all. But, the others kids had snatched them up like they were fresh zeppoles, and it was Antonio who was offering it to me. He wouldn't try to give me food poisoning, right?
I decided to take a chance and hesitantly reached for the churro and grumbled a "grazie." I stared at it for a moment before I finally had the guts to take a small nibble. Damn, these were good! It was a little cold, but other than that, it was fantastic! I took another bite, a larger and less graceful one, and successfully managed to get sugar all over my face.
"You seem to be enjoying that, ohhonhonhon!" Francis laughed with a wink.
I nearly choked. Only I would end up overzealously eating awkwardly shaped foods around a bunch of perverts. I hid my messy face behind my hand and shot him a glare that could've killed him right then and there if only looks held that power. "Perverted Snail Bastard!" I growled in humiliation.
"Don't worry about Francis," Antonio encouraged. "Do you like the churro?"
It was his turn to receive a death glare, as I was somewhat convinced that he was going to twist my words and actions into a sexual innuendo just like his friends. "It's alright," I muttered.
The Spaniard pursed his lips as his smile fell slightly. "I know it was kinda cold- I tried to set it aside for you and that backfired...they're better fresh though."
Oh, so he was being genuine... "Then you'll have to get me a fresh one sometime, Bastard," I retorted, a small smile on my face.
He brightened immediately. "Oh yes! Definitely! When do you want to come over? Sometime this week? My mom wouldn't mind..." His eyes seemed to dance as he rambled happily, carelessly slipping into his native language to convey just how excited he was by the thought of me going to his house.
"Toni," Gilbert laughed. "You're doing it again."
"¿Qué?"
"Spanish," Francis elaborated.
"Lo siento," Antonio said quickly, oblivious to the fact that he hadn't corrected himself. I couldn't help but smile: it was an interesting quirk...
At the store, we quickly realized that Ms. Carriedo had been plotting for some time, for she handed a list to Francis, and one to me as well. "Lovino, you and Antonio are looking for flour, sugar, and things like that," she directed as I glanced over the list. "Francis and Gilbert are with fresh products. I'll grab some cooking utensils, as I am sure there aren't any in our room. We'll meet in front of registrar one in fifteen minutes. Agreed?"
"Yes ma'am!" Antonio grinned while he snapped to attention and saluted crisply as his mother laughed and attempted to swat him with her purse.
"You're too much," she complained dramatically. "¡Ahora ve! Prisa."
"So, what are we looking for, mi tomate?" Antonio questioned as we took off in the direction of the baking goods.
I looked over the list again. "I'm not your tomato, bastard. And we need all-purpose flour, vegetable oil, salt, and sug- CHIGI!" Due to my classic gracefulness, I tripped right in the middle of the aisle and fell flat on my face, hitting my lip on the hard ground.
Antonio was at my side in an instant, picking me back up. "Are you alright, Lovi?" He asked worriedly.
I glared at him, my face growing warm at my clumsiness. "Bastard! This is all your damn fault! If you hadn't told me to check the list, I wouldn't have fallen, you jerk!" I licked my lips and tasted blood. Shit.
Antonio looked so upset I actually felt bad for him as I watched him dig through his pockets for a handkerchief. "I'm so sorry," he murmured, gently wiping at my lip as I winced. "You're right, I shouldn't have done that. And now you're hurt because I was being stupid..."
I blinked up at him in shock. It had clearly been my fault- I was the idiot who hadn't been watching where I was going, not him. Yet he was going to sit there and take all the blame. Do you see how terrible I am? This is why people don't love me.
"No, it was my fault," I said softly. "I'm...sorry for yelling at you. You didn't do anything wrong." He stared back at me in surprise. I was surprised myself: I never apologized for anything. I felt a blush start to creep up my neck and quickly weaseled out of his arms, striding down the aisle in search for the salt.
Who the hell said this would be a good idea?! I wanted to scream as I buried my head in the pillow that had been sitting on the couch of our hotel room. The place smelled warm and cozy as the aroma of nearly finished churros filled the suite, but I was far from feeling at home, sitting on the couch between Antonio and Gilbert. The lights were off everywhere except the kitchen, which was behind us, so the main source of light was coming from the flickering TV, and that was the last place I wanted to look.
Spanish horror movies- I now knew why Arthur, Feli, and everyone else warned me against them so strongly. I couldn't even handle normal horror; why hadn't I said anything when I had the chance? I clutched the pillow tighter as I tried to drown out the creepy music and sound effects, sweat rolled down my face and mingled with my tears as they soaked into my comfort object. I only hoped the bastards continued being oblivious idiots and wouldn't notice how embarrassingly terrified I was.
"Woah..." Gilbert murmured as a whole shitload of muffled screaming came from the TV. "Check it out: I can see her insides!" I wanted to throw up.
"The churros are ready!" Ms. Carriedo announced, her voice becoming louder as she entered the room. On second thought, perhaps all I needed was something warm and sugary in my stomach.
I jerked my head up so suddenly my pillow was knocked onto the floor, and my eyes caught a glimpse of the bloody scene in the movie, the antagonist standing over a mutilated body. I shrieked at the sight, and shielded my face in the first thing I could find: which just so happened to be Antonio's chest.
"Lovi?" He asked in surprise as he noticed how badly I was trembling. I could feel his fingers lace through my hair comfortingly as someone paused the movie, putting a temporary end to the terrible sounds.
"Is he okay?" Ms. Carriedo asked gently.
"I think so, the movie freaked him out a little," Antonio answered.
I screwed my eyes closed and stayed quiet, listening to the comforting sound of his steady heartbeat, my ragged breaths slowing as they subconsciously matched his.
"Do you want a churro, Lovi?" He asked softly, his voice a bit muffled as he was nuzzling my hair- avoiding my curl thankfully.
I let out a shaky breath and muttered a, "Yes, Bastard." I lifted my head tentatively, avoiding eye contact with him as I grabbed one of the churros and nibbled on it.
Antonio put an arm around my shoulders and pulled me against him, but I didn't complain. Much. "Idiota," I hissed from behind my churro. "Who said I wanted to be close to you, hm?" But if I was honest with myself, he was really warm and comfortable.
"You're the one who was practically snuggling with him two seconds ago," Francis pointed out, before deep throating the poor churro, forcing me to look away before I threw up.
After we finished consuming our snacks, Gilbert started complaining about putting the movie back on. I shivered slightly, leaning into Antonio's comforting chest and hoping he would sense my discomfort. "You two can finish, I think Lovi and I are going to take a walk," he said.
I frowned. "As if I wanted to go anywhere with you, Tomato Bastard." Translation: Thanks. And judging by the knowing smile he gave me, he understood.
Translations
Sí por favor(Spanish)- Yes please
Sabrosos(Spanish)- Tasty
Mutter(German)- Mother
Grazie(Italian)- Thank you
¿Qué?(Spanish)- What?
Lo siento(Spanish)- I'm sorry
¡Ahora ve! Prisa(Spanish)- Now go! Hurry.
Mi tomate(Spanish)- My tomato
Idiota(Italian)- Idiot
A/N: Just a cute, fluffy chapter for my lovelies!
Oh! And as a note, most drill sergeants are reluctant about letting them spend the night at the hotel, but they will sometimes if they're with a parent or their spouse. Just some random facts I discovered.
Like always, enjoy and review!
I love you all!
altera vita mea