"Wanna play, Ceci?"
Ceci looks up at Héctor, who is holding his toys in his hands.
Ceci shakes her head and snorts. "I can't believe Imelda kept them for you."
"I know. Nice of her, right?"
Ceci sighs.
Héctor smiles. "Do you want to?"
Ceci stares at him, and the silence in between saddens Héctor more than usual.
He would've asked Imelda if she wanted to play instead, but she seemed too upset. And he'd never, ever been one to do it by himself. It's not nearly as fun alone. It's more exciting when you have more people.
Ceci's look turns pitiful. "I'm busy right now, okay?"
Héctor stiffens. "I'm not a child anymore, Ceci."
"I know."
Héctor sits down next to her. "What are you writing?"
Ceci covers it with her arm. "Nothing."
"C'mon. Let me see."
"No!"
He reaches for it, trying to pull the paper from her hand when she grips it.
When sucessful, he widens his eyes, frowning as he sets his toys down. "What is this?"
"Give it back!" Ceci reaches from behind him.
Héctor holds up his hand, walking as he speaks. "I thought I told you not to do this."
He hears Ceci suck in her breath, but he pays no mind.
The paper reads:
Ways to make Héctor more mature:
1. No more childhood activities.
2. Avoid him more than I used to.
3. Find a way to get rid of his stupid toys; they seem to be the main cause of his craziness.
4.
She hadn't written the fourth reason yet, but Héctor got the idea. He crumples up the paper and throws it against the wall.
"I did not mean for you to see that," Ceci tells him, her voice wavering.
Héctor turns to face her. "Have you learned nothing from the last time you tried to do this?"
Ceci nods, probably remembering how he'd shunned her for days after she'd tried to reshape his personality.
Héctor had been so mad at her, not just for what she did, but also the fact that amigos don't try to change each other.
Héctor falls backward a little before Ceci pushes him upright again.
"I'm sorry, alright?" Ceci guides him to sit down.
He glares at her. "That's what you said last time."
Ceci shrugs. "At least I didn't succeed, right?" She half smiles at him.
"I guess, but why did you even try to do it anyway?" Héctor narrows his eyes as he waits for an answer.
Ceci squeezes his hand. "I used want a different amigo, that's why." Ceci grabs a superhero toy from behind her. "You still want to play?"
Héctor stares.
Ceci gives one toy to him. He takes it and glances down at it before turning back to her.
"It's funny how I called Ernesto Superhero," Héctor laughs, "when he wouldn't even play with superhero toys with me."
Ceci rolls her eyes smirks. "Give it."
"No way!"
Ceci tackles him, laughing. "Give it back."
"No!"
It's not long before the two of them are in hysterics, starting to play woth the toys together. Ceci giggles and says, "forgot how fun this used to be."
Héctor snickers. "Maybe you should've played with me more, instead of trying to change me."