Hi guys, I don't know how soon I can update any of my stories and I can't tell how long my stories will be. It all depends on my imagination and how much time I have. So I hope you're not too disappointed. I'm almost done with this story. But I don't know what the next one will be. Right now I'm overwhelmed with work and the rest of the holidays (Chinese New Year). But I was thinking of a story that will be my first rated M for mature themes… no lemons, sorry. But it's a drama with Six and Holiday with the Numbers thrown in. Don't know when that will start but keep an eye out for it.
I do not own.
Circe yawned. "Do we have to get up this early to make tamales?"
"I guess." Beverly said with a shrug.
"I'm a morning person. So I'm usually up at this time." Annie said cheerfully.
"Ugh, I'm totally not." Beverly complained. "I wonder if Caesar is."
"Why? You think it would matter someday?" Circe teased.
"No! I… was just wondering, is all." Beverly blushed. She then decided to change the subject. "And how about Rex?"
"Everyone knows he's a night owl." Circe shook her head. "But Six has him so well- trained that he's up by 6 whether he wants to or not."
Beverly's eyes went wide. "And you know this because…"
"Not what you're thinking." Circe said rather scandalized. "I know because he told me. He went on endlessly one day about his messed up circadian rhythm."
"Federico is definitely a night owl too!" Annie said oblivious to the nature of the conversation. "I think it was all the time he spent as a werewolf."
"Ah, mis queridas, thank you for meeting me so early this morning. But where is the boy?" Abuela looked around for Noah.
Just then the blond boy burst into the kitchen. "Sorry, I'm late. I overslept because Rex pranked me at 4 in the morning and I went back to sleep."
"Rex pranked you?" Circe asked narrowing her eyes. "I guess I'll have a talk with him later."
"Thanks." Noah said. "I would hate to have this escalate."
"Oh, he won't listen to me. It'll probably get worse. But at least when it's over I could say I told him so." Circe shrugged.
"Oh great." Noah groaned.
"I'm sure you've already have a prank planned." Circe smirked.
"Well, maybe." Noah hedged.
"Noah," Abuela called him over. "I would like you to start grinding the maza." She pointed him to a large black rock on the floor. "This is a metate, grindstone, to make maza." She sat on the stool and took a handful of the already treated maize and placed it on the metate. She then took what looked like a roller and began pushing it back and forth on the metate. Abuela got up and gave the roller to Noah. Noah took over. When Abuela was satisfied that the maza was being made correctly, she turned her attention to the girls. "We make the filling." She announced.
They set off to the table where a host of meats and vegetables greeted them. They were soon cutting and talking.
"You know my parents never let me use a knife." Annie said happily as she chopped her onion.
Beverly slowly moved away from her. "So do you know how to use a knife?" She asked cautiously.
"Hmmm? Oh, I watch a lot of cooking shows." Annie said. "See, I'm supposed to hold my fingers like this so I don't cut them." She swung her knife back so she could show them her fingers but the knife slipped and embedded itself in the apple Rex was holding to his mouth. Rex who had walked in quietly to grab a snack, put the apple down.
"Okay, okay, I'll wait for breakfast. No need to get defensive." He backed out of the room.
"You know Annie," Beverly cleared her throat. "You should probably be more careful."
"Oh, I know." Annie said crestfallen. "But I have the worst luck."
"Well, the luck seems to affect Rex the most." Circe noted. "Nothing has ever happened to Federico."
"You're right." Annie nodded. "Federico even says I'm his good luck charm."
"You know, there is a legend that says that werewolf can ward off bad luck." Abuela said in a storytelling voice.
"Really? I never heard of that before." Annie said excitedly.
"Yes, legend has it that since werewolves are already cursed, they can not be harmed by another curse." Abuela continued.
Everyone had stopped working and was looking at Abuela.
"The curse of werewolf is so powerful that it renders all other powers impotent." Abuela said in hushed tones.
"But Federico isn't a werewolf anymore." Noah pointed out.
"So I've been told." Abuela said cheerfully going back to her work. Everyone looked at each other before turning their attention back to their jobs. Then Abuela abruptly said in an ominous voice, "But once you are marked, it stays with you… for… the…rest…of your…life." Everyone stopped and was gaping at her. Then just as abruptly she said jubilantly, "Who wants to make tamales?"
o0o
A few hours later, Noah walked into the living area. Caesar and Rex were hanging out on the couch. Caesar was reading a magazine and Rex was playing on his phone.
"Finish with the tamales?" Rex asked Noah.
"Yup, boy, was it a lot of work. My arms are sore from all that grinding. I think I'll buy my tamales at the store from now on." Noah laughed.
"Or you could buy the pre-ground maza from a tortilla factory and fill it by yourself." Caesar said off-handedly.
"Really? Then why did Abuela make me ground all those maize?" Noah asked rubbing his arms.
"Abuela likes everything fresh." Caesar said.
"Hey, if you're done let's go play soccer with Federico." Rex said putting his phone away.
"Augh, I suck at soccer. No thanks." Noah flopped onto a wicker chair.
"Come on what's the worse that can happen?" Rex asked.
"I can fall, break my leg, have to be flown to a hospital, miss the beginning of the semester, flunk out of college, can't find a job, move into my parent's basement, and play video games till I die of a coronary because of my sedentary lifestyle." Noah replied.
"All that from playing soccer?" Rex asked incredulously.
"Do you really want me to take that chance?" Noah challenge.
"You're just scared that I'll beat the pants off you." Rex countered.
"Please, you suck at soccer as much as me... In fact, you suck at all sports." Noah scoffed.
"Not true. Remember who asked me to play on the paddle ball team." Rex reminded him.
"Ping Pong is as much a sport as Bowling." Caesar noted turning a page in his magazine.
"It's paddle ball and I am awesome at it." Rex said indignantly.
"Are you guys coming? "Federico popped his head into the room.
"I am." Rex stood up.
"I think I'm going to sit this one out." Noah waved his hand dismissively.
Claire walked in just then. "Hi guys, how was tamale making? I've been watching Federico practice all morning. He is such a talented player." She cooed.
Noah narrowed his eyes.
"You sure you don't want to play?" Federico asked Noah.
"Oh Noah, you should go. It'll be fun." Claire urged him.
"Well…" Noah said uncertainly.
"I'm sure you'll do great on the field." Claire smiled at him.
"Sure." Noah squeaked before following them out.
Rex looked in surprise. "That's all it takes?"
"People do dumb things for love." Caesar shrugged.
Beverly stuck her head in. "Come on Caesar, we need another player on our team."
"Coming." Caesar jumped from his seat. Dropping the magazine, he disappeared from the room before Rex could say a word.
Rex was alone in the room. "Dumb, huh?" He muttered.
0o0
Several humiliating hours later the group sat around exhausted.
"He's not human. He's a soccer playing android sent from the future." Noah groaned as he adjusted the ice pack on his knee which was elevated on the coffee table.
"No, silly, he was a werewolf." Annie giggled as she dribbled a soccer ball.
Glancing at Annie before turning his glare at Rex, Noah snarled. "I better not miss the first day of class."
"Chill, I'll carry you to class if I have too." Rex rolled his eyes.
"Here's some aspirin. Do you need anything else?" Beverly walked in and handed Caesar some pills with a glass of water.
"Gracias. Maybe another pillow?" Caesar accepted the medicine.
"Sure." Beverly went to find another pillow.
Rex eyed him. "You don't have a bad back."
"I do now." Caesar smirked.
"You're faking it." Rex accused him.
"I have injured myself and if Beverly wants to take care of me who am I to stop her." He leaned back leisurely.
Circe looked at Rex. "Don't expect me to do that."
"Aww, don't you want to wait on me hand and foot." Rex teased.
"Only if you mean a hand across the face and foot up your..." Circe began.
"Here's the pillow. How's that?" Beverly walked in and inserted a pillow behind Caesar.
"Bueno. Gracias." Caesar smiled. Beverly sat next to him. He put his arm around her.
Claire and Federico walked in with Abuela from one of the many hallways connecting the living area to the rest of the compound. Noah immediately threw his ice pack behind him and put his knee down. He tried to look like he was not in pain.
"How are you all doing? Good?" She inquired the group.
After answering in the affirmative, Abuela nodded with a smile.
"Bueno, tonight will be the Christmas dinner. The whole family will be here. We will sample those tamales you've made as well as some other specialties. I hope you all are hungry." Abuela looked around the room.
"Always." Rex piped up.
"Then rest up. Dinner is in an hour." Abuela walked out.
"Ugh, I'm still stuffed from lunch." Circe put her hand on her stomach.
"I can eat for both of us." Rex offered.
"Hmm, I'm sure you could." Circe said. "But I'm pretty sure it's not healthy."
"I'm healthy." Rex pounded his chest but then coughed.
"Sure you are." Circe patted his face and got up.
"Hey, I'm the picture of health." Rex protested getting up as well. Just then a soccer ball bounced off his head. He fell over.
"Rex, are you okay?" Circe bent over him.
"Oh, I'm so sorry." Annie gasped. "The ball got away from me."
"I figured." Rex grumbled.
"He's fine." Circe assured her. "Come on you big strong hero. You can handle a ball to the head." Claire and Circe pulled him off the floor. Everyone walked out the door that connected their rooms to the living area. They laughed and joked as they went.
Abuela stood in a different doorway listening to their laughter. When their footsteps faded away, she smiled to herself. She must make sure tonight was special.