Thank you for beta'ing, A Star In My Universe! Happy Valentine's Day! Love you all! xoxo
una semana-one week
espere-wait
Warning: catcalling and references to scary situations
After Flaca receives the message from P, she slides her phone into her pocket. "Yo...we gotta talk to Daya about this. She was a witness to the whole thing!" She lets herself, Maritza, and Michelle into her apartment with her key and then closes and locks the door behind them.
"We can if you want, but she might be sleeping now...and whatever happened, we ain't gonna tell Duardo and his pack of beasts!" Maritza whispers, and Michelle nods in agreement. "I don't wanna get nobody in trouble."
"Of course not, but ain't y'all curious?" Flaca wants to know.
"Mm-hm, but look, my cousin knows this dude who's dating Pidge's sister, and he's a gang member. He and his crew could take those fools down easily!" Michelle informs them. "Lemme call her, my cuz, I mean."
"Alright, good luck," Maritza says.
"Yeah, what she said," Flaca mumbles.
"Thanks."
"Marisol!" Theresa exclaims in surprise when the girls walk into the living room on their way upstairs, and they jump. "¡Pensé que estabas en Maritza's!"
I thought you were at Maritza's!
"Nah, queríamos venir aquí. ¿Cómo es que todavía estás despierto?" Flaca wonders aloud. She glances at Theresa in concern.
Nah, we wanted to come here. How come you're still up?
Theresa holds up an article of half-finished clothing. "Trabajando."
Working.
"¿No estás cansado? ¡Lo ves!"
Ain't you tired? You look it!
"Sí, pero tengo una fecha límite. ¡La Señora Ramirez quiere esto mañana por la mañana!"
Yeah, but I got a deadline. Mrs. Ramirez wants this tomorrow morning!
Flaca hugs her mother. She's so happy to be home and safe, but she feels bad that Theresa has to work so much. She wonders how Theresa has time to have a boyfriend. "Ah, vale. Espero que esté bien que Michelle duerma."
Oh, okay. I hope it's cool that Michelle sleeps over.
Theresa smiles and pats Flaca's cheek while kissing the top of her head. "Está bien."
It's fine.
"Kubra todavía está en el bar?" Flaca wonders aloud.
Kubra still at the bar?
"Sí, pero debería estar en casa pronto. ¡Buenas noches, muchachas! Lots of love to you, Marisol!"
"Yeah, but he should be home soon. Good night, girls!
Flaca grins. "Noche, mamá, yo también te amo!"
Night, Mama, I love you too!
"Buenas noches," Maritza and Michelle chime in.
Good night
Theresa waves at them with a pleasant expression on her features as they head up the stairs. Michelle starts dialing a number on her phone and she, along with Maritza, go into the bathroom for her call while Flaca rings up Daya in her bedroom. She also gets Alex and Lorna on the line and waits for them all to pick up.
"Hello, girls!" Lorna answers.
"I'm here, too," Nicky chimes in. "Vause, can you talk?"
"Hey back! Yeah, for a minute. Charles is gonna be home soon and I don't wanna disappoint him by staying up too much longer!"
"Yo...what's up?" Daya asks tiredly.
"Oh, sorry, were you asleep?" Flaca wants to know.
"Sorta, but it's cool...P said I was in trouble with y'all? I'm sure they're just trying to start shit!"
"They are, but they told us that you were aware of the whole story, when Cesar got arrested, like who turned him in. Is that true?" Lorna wants to know.
"Yeah, silly, I was there! Why is this being brought up all over again? It was a long-ass time ago!"
"At first, we thought Gloria got him thrown in prison, like after you guys went outside with the kids, dragging Aleida out, too, the way you explained it to us, but while we were on the bus going home from our triple date, Cesar's band of douchebags tried to spook us into admitting that she narced on him...we protected her, of course, by saying we didn't know shit. They told us that Aleida explained there was a random drug bust, but they don't buy it!" Alex reports. "They literally have gang tattoos on their bodies, about wanting Gloria dead! They've been stalking us all! They didn't yell or pull out guns on us, but it was still scary as fuck!"
"Nobody picked up, so I left a voicemail," Michelle tells Flaca in a hushed voice as she and Maritza come into Flaca's bedroom. They sit on either side of Flaca.
"What'd you find out?" Maritza wants to know.
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry! Duardo thinks it was Gloria who snitched, he's terrorizing all of Gloria's people, it seems, not just my mom. He confronted her outside her school, until Leon stopped him in his tracks and that was the reason for the alarm system. It was me," Daya admits weakly, and everyone gasps softly. Maritza's eyes widen in horror and she and Michelle exchange frightened glances. Flaca's heart slows at the thought of one of her best friends being found out somehow. She can sense the fear and anguish in Daya's voice. "I...I caused everyone so many problems...but I was only protecting Gloria and the kids and I never wanted to see him again!" Daya tells them tearfully.
"Oh my goodness," Lorna says quietly. "I understand that, completely!"
"Jesus..." Nicky mutters. "Charles is working on finding 'em, but your whole family needs witness protection at this moment! I swear to God, we put some pieces of shit away, but more assholes are showing up. It's like a fucked up game of Pokémon." Nicky scoffs. "Gotta catch 'em all!"
"It's all my fault they bothered you..." Daya mumbles and then hiccups. "I'm such an idiot! People at school are right...my family is full of criminals!"
"Nah, they ain't your fam, Daya!" Flaca insists. "Don't blame yourself, okay? You did somethin' dangerous, but it was for the good of your familia. Getting Cesar outta y'all's lives was the most awesome thing that ever happened! Aleida's much better, she's got a great man who's like your dad now, basically, and you...well, we never seen you so happy at home after that night."
"They didn't do nothin' to us, so you don't gotta worry about our safety...we were just wondering, and now we know," Maritza pipes up. "Charles is taking care of it."
"Yeah, or my cousin's friend can get his gang to wipe 'em out!" Michelle chimes in. "By the way...how did Cesar end somebody and not get caught, even when cops discovered he had the gun on him?"
"He got off on a technicality, and they did somethin' wrong in the investigation, probably mishandled evidence...I have no idea, really," Daya mutters.
"If Duardo and his buddies wanted to kill you guys, they would've done it already, like with a bomb or fire! It's been a bit over a month!" Alex points out.
"You don't know 'em...see, Duardo is determined to get Cesar back onto the streets with their crew, and he's gonna make sure they have the right target, so they gotta corner everyone the person, Gloria in this case, knows. They don't just murder without thinking. They ain't come to me yet since they been in hiding, but I make sure never to be alone. I got no idea why I didn't tell you, just as a warning...but maybe I thought they'd only bug me and Aleida and Gloria." Daya sighs. "We probably gotta make an announcement at school now, shit!"
"We were all together, safety in numbers, like my mother and Franny say," Lorna mumbles. "I was freakin' out, but I dunno how the others kept it together. Sure, we can do that, spread it around, so everyone's aware. Gloria pretty much associates with everyone there, since she's one of the kitchen ladies and all! Our fellow students wouldn't have a clue, anyway, but we just wanna prepare 'em."
"Maybe just tell the people who Gloria actually interacts with a lot, since Charles wants to keep my mom out of it, and quite frankly, I'd like to, as well. She'll freak out and be way too overprotective!" Alex declares.
"Oh, okay, so that's basically just Blanca, Maria, and their boyfriends," Nicky states.
"Yep!" Daya responds.
"Could I also tell my girls?" Michelle wants to know. "Pidge would find out anyway, since her sister's goin' out with my cousin's homie, and I'd rather announce it myself than her blabbing to Ouija and Zirconia without permission. If you're not okay with that, I'll tell Pidge to keep her mouth shut. Those bitches love to gab."
"Nah, it's cool, go ahead, but only them!" Daya replies.
"Uh, what about Fahri?" Alex wants to know. "Gloria talks to him quite a bit, he told me."
"Okay, that's fine. I'm havin' my mom and Leon be aware of this, too. The more adults, the better. You don't have to make it known to your moms, Red, or Franny, but Flaca, you can tell Kubra. I'm gonna let Adarsh in on this."
"We should inform Frieda, Taslitz, Norma, and Claudette, too," Nicky says.
"Fuck it!" Lorna exclaims. "We'll tell everybody and make sure Diane and Red aren't present during lunch! Here, I got an idea...Alex, you have Charles take Diane out, while Nicky, you convince Red that Tricia really needs her, and then you can go with her. You don't need to give Tricia full details, but make up something, like we're planning a huge surprise for Red in the kitchen's backroom, which we really will do since I can't think of any other excuses."
"Ahh, that sounds great!" Flaca comments excitedly.
"Yeah, it really does!" Maritza squeals.
"Alright, I'm down, babe," Nicky tells her girl.
"Me too, it's an awesome plan," Alex agrees.
"I love it," Michelle assents happily.
"So do I," Daya murmurs. "Can I make the announcement, though?"
"Sure!" Lorna allows.
"Great, thanks!"
"Well, I'mma let y'all go, since we need our beauty sleep!" Flaca says. "See you in the mornin'!"
"Bye!" the girls say to each other.
A quiet knock sounds on the outside of Flaca's door, so she goes to answer it. "Oh, hey, Kubra! We're just going to bed now! Don't tell Mom we stayed up a bit past our bedtime!"
He grins. "No need to worry, you were on the phone and I didn't want to interrupt you...and it can be our secret!"
"Thanks, dude! You're awesome!" Flaca tells him brightly. "Did you, um...hear everything, on my end, at least?"
"Just barely, how come?"
"Another thing we gotta keep from Theresa," Maritza starts out.
Michelle stands back as Flaca and Maritza have him come into Flaca's bedroom and shut the door. The girls sit on Flaca's beanbag chairs while Kubra takes a spot on her neatly made bed. They let him know of all the details about their encounter with the shady characters on the bus, and that if any of them corner him, blaming it on Gloria, he's to stick to the story that there was a random drug bust. He agrees to do this, and bids them good night.
He pokes his head in through the door about a second later. "Alex was there?"
"Yep," Michelle replies stiffly. She's closest to him since she had showed him out. "Why?"
"Just making sure I'm not going deaf!" He chuckles at himself and then leaves.
"He's getting super old!" Flaca comments, and then she and Maritza both laugh.
"I guess so!" Maritza adds, and Michelle joins in on their continuous giggling.
As soon as Daya closes her flip phone, it vibrates. Immediately, she begins shaking all over again when she reads her newest text. It'd be a shame if anything happened to your perfect little family...kisses, P
Underneath the words, is a group picture from when they took Gloria out to celebrate her freedom, and Daya had never noticed it before, but there is a looming, shadowy shape in the background, slightly behind Gloria and her sons. She was going to tell Aleida and Leon that Duardo and his cronies had returned tomorrow morning since they're currently sleeping, but she decides to do it now since she's so afraid and creeped out by P's message. It has to be someone working with Duardo that she doesn't know.
Daya gets out of her bed on trembling feet and tries to keep her balance as she makes her way to her mother's bedroom that she shares with Leon. She opens the door and it creaks. She's quiet as she tiptoes to Aleida's side of the bed. "Ma!" she whispers, gently nudging her. "Leon!" She taps him lightly. "Guys, wake up!"
"Mmm?" Aleida rubs her eyes open. "Yo, I was havin' a good dream!"
"I'm sorry, but...please, just for a second, I gotta tell ya somethin'!"
Leon grunts and rises into a seated position. "What? Why are you so frantic?"
"There's an emergency here! They came back...Duardo, Paco, and Pepe...demanding that my friends tell 'em Gloria ratted out Cesar, when she didn't! Flaca, Maritza, Lorna, Nicky, Alex, and Michelle, were all on the bus after a triple date when they saw those motherfuckers, and Charles is handling it, or Michelle's cousin's buddy will make sure they're dead. The girls were just like, quaking in their boots, literally, even though the monsters were eerily calm...and I feel so awful! I told my friends I got Cesar behind bars."
"What the fuck?" Aleida hisses. "They even goin' after your girls? I thought for sure they weren't gonna be around no more!"
"Yeah...but until they're gone for good, I'mma spread it around at school, when Diane and Red aren't present, at least, since Alex and Nicky don't want the women to worry about 'em. Gloria's gotta be with somebody at all times, wherever she goes!"
"I'm going to confront them myself with a gun in hand!" Leon proclaims. "Charles will probably figure out where exactly they spend most of their days, so we'll both get rid of 'em, and enlist Fahri's help, too!" He helps Aleida sit up, and she leans against him while patting the area beside her so Daya can join them.
"You don't even own one!" Daya whispers. She's happy that he's being protective over them, and she knows he'll only use a weapon for appropriate reasons. He's shown nothing but kindness during the time she's known him, even when the children misbehave.
"I'm buying one...I'll protect this family at all costs. There is no way they're ever gonna find out the real truth, Daya, I guarantee you."
"That's real nice, babe, but don't do nothin' stupid. I can't have you in jail, too," Aleida murmurs. "Too many people are loyal to Cesar and the others...even I don't know 'em all. They hide and then snitch that you killed 'em, and you don't even know how you got caught and are now serving a life sentence for murder...twenty years for self defense if you're lucky!"
"Charles is a cop...he would never let that happen, and the gun would just be used as a threat if they happen to pull one of theirs on us," Leon assures her.
"I swear to God, if they ever show their faces to people I care about again, I'mma just say it...sell myself out!"
"Dayanara, no!" Aleida snaps.
"Yeah, we won't allow it," Leon adds while shaking his head.
Aleida holds Daya's face and kisses her cheek and then grabs her hands while squeezing them gently. "You ain't gonna do that shit! I can't afford to lose you, nena...especially to those bastards! Please, promise me you won't! They are hella violent to traitors! You'll be nothin' but a bled-out corpse when they're done with you."
Daya shudders at this and gulps. "Yeah, but it'll end all the accusations and Gloria won't be in danger no more," she responds hopelessly. "I...I don't want her to die...because of somethin' that ain't even her doing! I love her too, you know."
Aleida strokes Daya's hair and sniffles. She can see a teardrop glistening in the corner of her mother's eye in the moonlight streaming through the window. "We all do...and we wanna do our best to make sure that she's safe. However, it ain't worth it to confess! Just continue to repeat that it was police bustin' people for drugs. Say it over and over, and pretty soon, they'll be finished and finally believe that. Eventually, you get tired of questioning everybody when they've all replied with the same thing."
"Oh yeah...that makes sense. Hey...why are you crying?"
"I get real emotional when I think of you getting hurt." Aleida chokes and exhales shakily. "Or worse! I love you. Girl, you're my daughter! I'm supposed to go first, okay?" She wipes her hand across her eyes and Leon rubs her back soothingly while smiling down at her and Daya. "Also...think of your baby! You wanna protect him or her, too!"
A lump grows in Daya's throat at how sweet Aleida is being. She wouldn't have recognized the woman currently across from her even two months ago. "Alright," she mumbles while blinking back tears. Aleida gathers her in her arms and Daya turns around in her mother's embrace, feeling warm and secure inside. "You got a point, Ma. Thanks for lookin' out for me. I love you, too."
Aleida rubs her upper arm softly. "Yo, it's what a motha does! No need to thank me. So...how come you're gonna tell every damn person at school? It ain't their business...they can't do nothin' about it anyway."
"I know, but the way Lorna explained it was this...basically, if you're pre-warned, you're prepared for anything. It's better than leaving people in the dark. We'll warn 'em, tell 'em not to worry."
"Oh, good idea, then!"
"Your mom and I are gonna make sure you and everyone else in this apartment are safe." Leon's protective words strike joy in Daya. She hasn't exactly hung out with Leon as much as Benny and Julio do, but he's being like the dad she's always wished for. It's why she lets go of Aleida, reaches over her, and hugs him around his neck for the first time ever. He slowly puts one arm around her and pats her shoulder.
"Thank you," Daya mumbles and then they pull back from each other.
"You're welcome," he replies sincerely.
Beaming, she slides off their bed and stands on the floor. "Night!"
"Sweet dreams!" Aleida blows her kisses.
"Good night," Leon puts in with a grin.
Daya nods and then skips off to her own room in high spirits. She'll talk to Adarsh tomorrow, since he's in bed at the moment, and her friends, Aleida, and Leon had done so well at comforting her. She can really picture Leon physically defending her against Cesar and his cronies, just as Aleida protected her from John and Mendez, and like Charles had done for Alex and Diane against Humps and Dixon, and she just smiles to herself. They're all still on edge, but good things are happening.
"No! No...oh, god, no! Don't leave me here!" Lorna is begging someone in her sleep, obviously having a nightmare. She's tossing and turning while bumping into Nicky a few times, waking her up. It's two in the morning and the blonde is dead tired, but she doesn't care in the least. She's going to comfort her girl. "Please...I need to see her! You let me the fuck outta here!" Lorna pounds her fists into the mattress beside her as Nicky moves slightly so she doesn't get hit by accident and Lorna has to feel guilty about another thing that isn't her fault.
"Lorna...baby, you're okay," Nicky tries to coax her out of her bad dream. She holds both of Lorna's hands in her own and massages them gently. "Hey..."
"Let go of me!" Lorna shrieks, flipping over, and Nicky stops her from rolling off the bed, but releases her at the same time. Instead, she puts her arm over Lorna's body, but doesn't completely touch her. She starts humming a tune while playing with Lorna's hair. Her actions stop the violent thrashing, at least, and Lorna breaks off into quiet sobs. She cuddles back into Nicky's side. "I'm real sorry, Nicky! I should've gone down there with you..."
"What? Where?"
"Nicky?" she asks incredulously. Lorna reaches up to brush her knuckles against Nicky's cheeks. "I'm not imagining shit this time?"
"No, babe, I'm right here," Nicky assures her girlfriend. "You were just having a nightmare...or was it a flashback?"
"I had a real bad dream," Lorna confirms, and Nicky combs her fingers through her brunette locks soothingly. "We were older, like in our early thirties or late twenties...separated...and we said goodbye to each other, and I...I think it was forever. You were stuck in some bunker while I was getting taken to prison. I was on a bus, alone and pregnant...searching for you, but you weren't there! I was trying to get out...banging on the window..." Lorna starts crying all over again. "You told me to go...then I left...and we never saw each other again..."
Nicky's heart breaks painfully at the mere possiblity of any of this coming true. "Fuckin' depressing. I would never tell you something like that...I don't want you to leave me...especially if you're with child and gonna have nobody watchin' out for ya!" She places her hands on either side of Lorna's face and kisses her softly.
"I know, but I had to...I just need a real long hug...as in, lasting all night."
"Oh, Lorna..." Nicky pulls the Italian into her arms and holds her close while pressing her lips into her brown hair. "Was this about the confrontation recently?"
"A whole bunch of things triggered it," Lorna mumbles. "Like...the fact that I actually did go to jail, thought I had a bun in the oven, we almost didn't fall in love, and that was one scary bus ride! How were you...not terrified?" she questions Nicky, her voice quivering. "Is it 'cause you're more street smart than anyone, you were homeless for three years, and you can fend off bad guys?"
"Well, first, Duardo and his pack were unknown to me, so I had no reaction to their names or faces. Uh...I...I suppose I was, a little nervous, but I tried not to show it," Nicky clarifies. "I was trying to act calm about it and be strong for you girls. Besides, uhhh...I kinda knew they wouldn't do anything on a bus with the driver there to hear us screaming."
Lorna exhales shakily. "The driver didn't seem to give a fuck."
"That's 'cause they never even raised their voices or took out any weapons! It was creepy...but we're all okay. I promise."
"I'll take your word for it!"
"That's like, super sad, you were apart from your one true love!" Flaca tells Lorna after she explains her terrible dream the following morning at school, and Alex and Michelle agree. Alex feels sorry for Lorna, since what they had experienced had really traumatized the smallest girl in their clique.
"Yeah, I can't imagine losing you, Flaca," Maritza chimes in and then squeezes the taller girl's hand.
Flaca turns to Maritza. "Me neither...I'd miss you way too much!"
"I'd be so devastated," Alex murmurs.
"Luckily, it isn't real!" Nicky swings her arm around Lorna as they walk with their hair bouncing.
"True dat, homie!" Michelle says. She turns to Alex. "Hey, your tattoos are da bomb! Your pain tolerance must be super high, though, how many you got?"
"I'll show you later," Alex whispers since she can feel her friends' eyes on her, even though she and Michelle are strolling along way ahead of them. "Come to Maritza's guesthouse after school? That's where my friends and I go if we wanna be alone."
"Sure! Is Fahri back today?"
"Mm-hm. I'm gonna go say hi!"
"Cool. I'll hang out with my other crew in the meantime!"
"Have fun!" They embrace for a few seconds, and then disperse in different directions.
"Thanks!" Michelle calls out with a bright smile, and Alex returns it. She goes to the backroom where Red, Claudette, and Norma are setting up for breakfast and waves hello, and they greet her back with grins.
"Is Fahri here yet?" Alex wonders aloud.
"He should be almost done cleaning toilets," Red answers as she breaks some eggs and scrambles them. Norma puts oil in the pan and turns on the burner.
"Awesome! Daya isn't here yet, so neither are Gloria and Aleida, clearly."
"We know, they always show up last!" Claudette mutters while cutting the ham, and Norma shrugs.
"They've got all their kids to take to their various schools, that's why!" Fahri reminds the elder woman while taking off his rubber gloves, throwing them away, and coming out of the bathroom. "Alex, is that you?" he asks teasingly.
"Hey, Fahri!" Alex says excitedly and then they exchange a quick hug. "How was your-" She cuts herself off when she notices a shiny ring on a particular finger that signifies that he's actually wearing a wedding band. "What the fuck is that on your hand?!" she practically shouts, all traces of cheerfulness gone. She really is hoping it's all a joke and he'll take it off while laughing at her that she fell for it. The older women stare at them in confusion.
"Oh, shit," Red mutters while rolling her eyes. "Men are stupid!"
Claudette grits her teeth. "Should we get Frieda now?"
A wicked expression crosses Norma's face as she nods her head yes. Alex's eyes widen as they start to leave. She blocks the exit. "Hey! No need for dramatics...he and Gloria aren't even dating. Let him answer my question."
"I have a good explanation, I swear! Just hear me out, please!" Sheer panic is written all over his features.
Alex raises an eyebrow and purses her lips while folding her arms tightly across her chest. "You better put that in your pocket before Gloria and Aleida arrive." She's satisfied that he's already doing it. "I'm waiting for you to talk, man."
"I was...I was gonna tell you in private. I freaked out...I wouldn't ever want to hurt Gloria, but this partner I had, she was forcing herself on me, even tricking me into getting engaged to her. She asked, and I said no, but then, she told me she was pregnant...and I have to support her. We didn't have sex at all, the baby isn't mine, but her husband left her, so I felt bad for her. I want to be there for her and the baby."
"You're a good guy," Alex grumbles. This still doesn't feel right, but she doesn't have much time to dwell on it since Gloria and Aleida are just coming in.
"Okay, ladies and gents, we are gonna start reading Holes today!" Diane announces and gives out the copies of the book to the students in the first row. "Pass those back, please! The main character is fourteen, just like most of you guys!" She has her wavy hair all the way down and it's shiny and full of volume, more so than usual, and she's in a casual purple dress with a floral pattern. She can't stop smiling. It's the happiest Lorna has ever seen Alex's mother.
"Oh my goodness, yes!" Lorna squeaks. "I adored the movie! Katherine and Sam's love story was so beautiful! She had her peaches, he gave her onions...I cried when he was always tellin' her he could fix stuff that was broken. You know, Piper showed it to me and Daya 'cause we're such hopeless romantics, and Alex just watched it 'cause of Sigourney Weaver...I mean, she is pretty, but I was more focused on the love that transcended racism in the eighteen-eighties. They were gonna lynch him, he was African American, and, well, I know she murdered the men she smooched when he was shot in the lake and she was saved, of course, because she was white, but really, all she wanted to do was die, because he did. They even tried to run away together. I was sobbing, like I could hardly watch it through my tears!" Lorna fans herself and beams when she receives the paperback novel. "Oh, and Stanley and Hector's friendship was so heartwarming!" Her reaction causes a small smile to dance across Maritza's lips. The beautiful pink, white, and red roses in a vase on Diane's desk also play a factor in why Maritza and Lorna are so happy. Lorna suspects that Diane and Charles have finally taken the next step in their relationship, by the way Diane is talking, beaming, and not being able to take her eyes off the flowers he'd probably gotten for her without blushing. Judging by the side-eye and grin Maritza gives Lorna, the Latina is presumably thinking the exact same thing.
"Kissin' Kate Barlow is my fuckin' hero," Diane murmurs. "I'd name my kid after her, if I had another one. It's part of why I picked this book. Let's start on chapter one."
"Oh yeah, you kinda remind me of her, except that she's blonde and she taught elementary schoolers!" Maritza points out.
"Exactly."
"Okay, so Charles definitely bought Diane that lovely bouquet!" Lorna begins as she and Maritza are halfway down the hall to meeting Alex. They squeal happily while linking arms.
"For sure!" Maritza agrees and then squeaks. "It's super cute! You think they lip-locked yet? I bet they did!"
"Yes! Oh my goodness, I just know she's staying in for lunch with him!" Lorna gasps. "There's Alex now! Come on, we gotta tell her!" They both run up to their taller friend.
"Your mom got flowers from Charles!" Maritza blurts out.
"Really?" Alex quirks up a perfectly shaped eyebrow over her glasses.
"We never lie about romantic things, Alex!" Lorna insists, but then backtracks. "I don't anymore."
"He's given her pink roses before, at the triple date, remember?" Alex braids one of her blue tips.
"It wouldn't hurt to go in at lunch and check to see if they've already become more than friends," Maritza advises Alex.
"Mm-hm, there were more colors, like red and white. She was practically fingering them, with how close she was standing by the petals!" Lorna piles on giddily while bouncing on the balls of her feet.
"Also, she's having us read Holes, and in it, the couple is Katherine, a white teacher and Sam, an African American man, just like her and Charles, and, one last thing...she loves Katherine!" Maritza lets Alex know. "She'd even call her next child after that character."
"She chose the book because it's about her role model in an interracial relationship, which she can totally relate to!" Lorna stresses.
"Okay, I'll ask her," Alex tells them, and they both let out short shrieks of joy while hugging her.
"Man, you're such a MILF!" Joey comments as he gets some food from Gloria. It creeps her out tremendously, but she ignores it and attempts silencing him with a glare, but he just snickers. Aleida gives him the finger, and he still doesn't stop with his jeers towards Gloria. "Hey, Pete, Chris, I was served by Hot Pants today!" he hollers, and then his stupid friends start guffawing, hooting, and hollering wildly.
"Don't pay those idiots any mind," Red mutters while leading her away from the unwanted attention.
Gloria sighs and wipes her sweaty forehead. "Yo, I gotta serve, though!"
"Look at her wide ass!" Pete shouts, and then a bunch of guys around them start sniggering boisterously.
"It's so round!" Joey wolf-whistles. "Shake it for us, you MILF! I wanna smack that ass!"
Pete doubles over cackling. "No wonder Mr. Dixon called her Hot Pants!"
"You motherfuckers best be careful, or I'mma put my knee in you where it really hurts!" Aleida threatens them while slamming a tray down on the counter.
"That's right, we are motherfuckers, because Hot Pants is a mother we'd love to fuck!" Joey declares while thrusting his hips toward where Gloria and Aleida are working. The girls aren't here yet, and Gloria is relieved that they don't have to see this or hear the assholes' remarks.
"Shut the fuck up!" Gloria yells. Unfortunately, it's way too noisy. Her voice grows hoarse when she repeats what she's just commanded them to do at a higher volume. "Stop it!"
A thunderous boom sounds on one of the tables, and Gloria jumps and sees that Fahri has just banged it with his two bare hands. Surprisingly, everyone is now quiet, even the students who weren't being crude. At this moment, Daya and her posse come in. "One more lewd word about Gloria, and I'll be speaking to your parents, each and every one of them!" he announces sternly, but sends Gloria a friendly, apologetic smile, and she beams gratefully. Everyone except the douchebags cheer-Daya, Gloria, and their friends the loudest.
"Thank you," Gloria tells Fahri as he returns to the backroom and she's continuing to slop food on students' trays.
"No problem!"
"So, Fahri...La Rica's is my favorite restaurant for salsa...they got the best in New York! You wanna go there with me sometime soon?" Gloria wonders aloud when the line becomes sparse, now a little more confident around him, since he'd just stood up for her, something none of her exes had cared to do. "We can go with our crew."
He grins at her pleasantly. "Sure, that'd be fun."
Gloria nods, pleased. "Okay, cool!"
"Oh my, that was so romantic!" Lorna gushes as she, Nicky, Alex, Michelle, Daya, Adarsh, Maritza, Flaca, Blanca, Maria, and their boyfriends sit down.
"I know! Eeek!" Maritza agrees cheerfully, and she and Flaca both clap while grinning widely.
"I seriously thought his next move was to do that Officer and a Gentleman scene with her," Flaca says and then giggles.
Lorna fans herself. "That would've been...wow!"
"He would have to ask for her permission to carry her away, and she wouldn't feel comfortable with contact for like, a while from now," Daya reminds them.
"It's been one week, people!" Nicky chimes in.
"Yeah...come on, welcome to reality!" Alex states.
Michelle gestures to her. "Mm-hm!"
"Una semana," Blanca repeats in Spanish while holding up her index finger and then wagging it at the hyped-up girls.
"Y'all gotta espere," Maria adds.
Flaca pouts. "Waiting's no fun."
Maritza rolls her eyes. "Ain't nobody likes doin' that!"
The guys have a vague idea of what the girls are talking about, but they don't seem to be as in tune with the conversation, since they're having one of their own about some video game. Daya has implied that Adarsh doesn't have any guy friends, so it's great that he's making some out of Diablo and Yadriel.
"I need to tell you all something," Alex announces in a low voice. "Don't say this to Gloria...but Fahri is engaged."
"What?!" Lorna screeches. "Who is this whore?" The fire in her eyes is so intense and she appears as if she's about to burst with anger. Flaca and Maritza look just as horrified and furious. Daya scoffs and shakes her head while chuckling sarcastically. The others are neutral.
"I knew he was too good to be true," Daya mutters.
"You couldn't have checked for that before, you know, as like a warning?" Flaca wants to know.
"Maybe something's wrong with your prescription," Maritza grumbles. "Can you see okay with your glasses?"
"Hey! Don't shoot the messenger! My eyesight is fine through these, thank you very much!" Alex snaps.
"Yeah, there's no need to be rude," Michelle scolds Maritza.
Flaca hits Maritza's shoulder lightly. "Not to mention, ableist! You know she half blind, maybe she didn't notice at first!"
"Actually, I did," Alex contradicts Flaca.
Nicky gives Maritza a pointed glare. "I expected better from you, Ramos."
"I mean, really!" Lorna adds.
"The rich making fun of the poor is never good, and it's inhumane," Blanca chimes in.
"Piper would always do that," Maria points out.
"I'm sorry, Al, I wasn't tryin' to hurt your feelings or nothin'...I'm just pissed at the situation. I dunno how you could've missed it, though," Maritza says.
"It just happened this morning!" Alex hisses and pulls on a chunk of her hair in frustration at how quickly her friends reacted and didn't give her a chance to explain. "This weekend, he and this...this chick he became acquainted with, I don't know her name...they were starting to be pals, but then she came on too strong, even asking him to marry her, and they never fucked, since he refused her advances. She told him she was pregnant with someone else's baby, and that sealed the deal...he wants to take care of her, and she said it would need to be for their whole lives. I don't think he really loves her romantically, but it could happen, that he finds bliss with this fuckin' bitch."
"Another man's child is not his problem, though...why didn't he just...flat-out refuse?" Daya wonders aloud. "The word no is not that hard to say! For fuck's sake...John left his own kid!"
"He must be too much of a gentleman," Lorna mumbles. "I bet she's a huge slut, and he's wasting his time!"
Alex gestures to the brunette Italian. "Exactly."
"He literally just met her, they don't even know each other...this is fuckin' strange!" Nicky exclaims.
"We should hold off on the trying to get him and Gloria together until it really gets weird, or Gloria is into him and he seems equally interested in her!" Blanca recommends.
"Yeah...and why wouldn't we inform Gloria of this?" Maria wants to know. "I feel like we're all leading her on to believe she has a chance."
"I think she does," Flaca says optimistically.
"Me, too," Maritza agrees. "He's only known this piece of trash for what, two and a half days? He and Gloria have already gone out with the other adults, and been chatting over the phone for like, almost a week now."
"This puta's gonna flop somehow," Michelle predicts, and everyone smirks.
"Alright, we'll just wait it out," Alex decides.
"You like your roses?" Charles asks as he comes into Diane's classroom.
"I love them! Thank you," Diane murmurs as he wraps her in his arms. She leans up on her tiptoes and peppers his lips with short pecks, and it's amazing since it leaves them both breathless. They need this closeness, but they need air, too. They're smiling and panting heavily between their kisses. They're gasping for the sole purpose of their lips being able to connect again.
"It was my pleasure, baby." They step back from each other, but still hold hands. "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate."
She blushes and presses her lips together. "Keep going, Shakespeare."
"That's all I can remember," he admits.
"You're dating an English teacher, so you should kinda practice your sonnets," she teases him.
"I will! The first two lines are truly how I feel about you, though. Wow...you're so pretty and you look amazing. The sun is hitting your hair just right, and I've gotta take a picture. Stay there, please don't move!"
Diane giggles. "Yes, sir." She beams as he snaps a photo of her on his digital camera. Charles shows her how it came out while pecking her temple. "Oh, nice!" She swoons at the way he's treating her like a princess and sweeping her off her feet right and left. "I really appreciate you being so sweet!" She gestures to one of the front row desks that is covered in plates full of pesto pasta while smiling. "You even bought me lunch that you made!"
"You deserve the best, honey." He helps her to her seat and he takes his place across from her. "I'd bring Pinot Grigio, but you can't drink while you're working!"
She puts her hand on her heart as it skips a beat. "Aww, Charlie! This looks delicious! You're so awesome at spoiling me."
"Thanks, Princess Di."
They eat for a while, and then lean over the table to share a heated, open-mouthed kiss. Diane isn't even aware that the door has opened and they have company until the slightly raspy voice of her daughter makes itself known. "Whoa, Mom..."
Diane and Charles quickly stop making out and she turns around to face Alex, blushing deeply because of being caught. "Oh, sorry, sweetheart, I didn't see you standing there!"
"Yeah, I know." Alex smirks and shakes her head slightly. "Hi, Charles."
He waves at her. "Alex, hey. Uh...I cooked lunch...you want some?"
"Sure, I'll have a few bites. Thanks!" Alex smiles politely, despite most likely feeling awkward. She grabs a napkin, stabs a bunch of noodles with her fork, and stuffs them into her mouth. "Mmm!"
"It's yummy, huh?" Diane asks.
Alex nods. "Certainly. Well...congratulations!"
"Thanks!" the couple responds in unison.
A bit later, they leave Diane's classroom and Alex goes back to her friends.
"What are you guys doing?" Tricia asks as she passes Nicky and Lorna, who are on the Morellos' shared computer, browsing the internet for Pavel after school.
"We're searching for Red's former lover," Nicky answers cheekily. "She finally told me his last name, which made our job a hundred times easier."
"I think that's him!" Lorna squeaks as Nicky pauses on his Facebook page that displays his picture. "Hmm...silver fox! Perfect for Red! She deserves to find her long lost love and reignite that epic romance!"
Nicky leafs through Red's photo albums that the woman had given her. "We gotta check and double check he's the right guy."
"He is!" Lorna points out cheerfully, and she and Nicky slap palms.
Tricia stuffs her hands in her pockets and chuckles. "Oh, damn, I hope it works!"
"Lorna's a walking sappy romance novel." Nicky gestures to her girlfriend. "She can make this happen, dude. By the way...you wouldn't believe it, but yesterday, we saw RJ at my NA meeting."
"RJ? Vee's RJ?"
"Ew, don't say it like that," Nicky complains while wrinkling her nose in disgust, "but yes."
"No fuckin' way! He had a bullet put in his chest two times!"
"Trish, it's true, and you can't blab it to Taystee, who would excitedly report back to Vee that he's still alive and kicking!" Lorna exclaims. "He faked his death, sorta...and was in a coma for a while, up until sometime last week, I suppose. He's already enrolled in school with Aleida and is hooking up with her number one enemy, but hopefully, that won't cause too much drama. He has to change his appearance whenever he's out and everything!"
"Whoa. Holy shit, man." Tricia plops down on Lorna's bed. "This is...this is a lot to take in."
"I know," Nicky sympathizes with her. "I was stunned, too...but it's good he survived, huh?"
"Yeah, for sure. Where would we chill with him, and when? I never had a bro."
Nicky lays her hand on Tricia's back and rubs it in a circular pattern. "Me neither."
"I've always thought big brothers were better than little ones...more protective and mature!" Lorna says.
"Well, yeah, of course!" Nicky agrees.
"Yours sucks, Lorna," Tricia grumbles.
"Ugh, I get what you mean," Lorna tells her. "I'm sorry you always gotta deal with him at school."
"We always flip that punk off anyway!"
The girls laugh and then continue surfing Pavel's Facebook profile.
"I've always loved your room!" Maritza jumps on Flaca's bed next to her favorite girl and they lay side-by-side, snuggling and smiling happily at each other. "It's so bright...and dark pink...and it's my second home!"
"So is yours, to me!" Flaca runs her fingertips along Maritza's flat tummy, and the shorter of the two giggles. "Oh, you're ticklish!"
Maritza smirks. "Yeah, but I like you touching me. How do you think a diamond belly button ring on me would look?"
Flaca pulls Maritza closer so she's practically on top of the other, and she feels a thousand times warmer with their combined body heat. "Sexy," Flaca whispers into Maritza's ear and her breath is so sweet and hot against Maritza's neck. "I'd kiss my way around it and then down your hips, your legs...teasing you until you begged me to fingerbang you."
A soft moan escapes Maritza's lips as she imagines Flaca going anywhere near her clit. "Oh, god...please...you're makin' me super horny. I wanna get laid." Maritza snickers beneath her palm and Flaca joins in. "Like, now...before your mom gets home!"
"There's no rush, she ain't gonna be here 'til five. We got a couple hours. I'mma get you so wet that you don't even know what to do with yourself, baby." Flaca peppers Maritza's chin and neck with gentle pecks and takes her straps of her purple cami down to the middle of her shoulders. "This is okay, right? I wanna be respectful and shit."
"Yeah, it's just that it's my first time, so like...slow and steady wins the race," Maritza tells Flaca shyly.
"Of course. I never done this with a girl before either, just boys, so lemme know if I suck, and I'll try to do it better. I really wanna please you." Flaca twirls Maritza's hair around her finger.
"Alright, but I'm sure you're perfect." Maritza leans her head back as Flaca slides her well-moisturized hands down her arms.
"Your skin's so smooth," Flaca murmurs as she reaches her hands up and under Maritza's shirt in order to play with her breasts, lightly pinch her perky nipples, and nibble and suck on them. Maritza's heart rate speeds up as she removes her bra and Flaca helps her take off her shirt for easier access.
"So's yours...it's satin, practically! I'm getting the best massage ever," Maritza tells her softly. "Mmm, you're so good..."
Flaca's hands move down Maritza's petite figure to her waist and her fingers skim under the top of Maritza's jeans. She unzips them, and Maritza wiggles out of her jeans and undies. Flaca slides her long fingers into Maritza's already soaking wet folds. It doesn't take long for Flaca to find Maritza's clit and as she pumps her fingers in and out, rubbing Maritza's g-spot, a loud series of gasps and breathy sighs escape Maritza as her orgasm crashes through her in waves after she reaches her climax. Maritza's whole body clenches up, her legs slam together on Flaca's arm, and she bounces up and down. She moans again and again as Flaca's fingers curl deep into her pussy and her knuckles brush against her pleasure zone. "Yeah, you like me fucking you?" Flaca whispers seductively.
"Ohh-ho-ho-ho! Ohhhhh!" is Maritza's response as lust takes over her. "Más rápido!"
Faster
Maritza beams as Flaca's tempo quickens. "That's it! No pares..."
Don't stop...
Flaca doesn't stop, she keeps making love to Maritza. "¡Más fuerte!" Maritza screams shrilly and arches her back as her toes curl up and her eyes roll back inside her head. "Yes! Yes! Ohhhh, siiiii..."
Harder
Maritza is panting as she comes down from her high. She's blown away. "Oh my god...sweetheart, that was hella good! I'm super amazed!"
"Aww, I'm so glad, Mari!" Flaca appears to be proud of herself. She skims her thumbs up and down Maritza's cheeks as she gazes at her with pure devotion swimming in her chocolate brown eyes. "I did it because te amo."
"I'm sorry for not telling you my feelings sooner," Maritza apologizes.
"Hey, it's cool. Better late than never!"
Maritza nods. She scans Flaca's lithe figure and bites her bottom lip. "You want me to do you?"
Flaca beams widely and licks her lower lip. "Yeah! I'd love it!"
Maritza explores every inch of Flaca with her mouth and hands and ends up making her fall apart completely, and in an extremely good way, too. Flaca's vagina is like heaven, filled with her sweet juices, and her nipples are hard, and Maritza is sure to press loving kisses to Flaca's scars. They're both sweaty and glowing after the passionate sex they'd just had. Their hungry kisses turn slow with limbs pressed together, chests heaving, fingers trailing down each other's backs and tracing lazy patterns. Maritza trails her lips down Flaca's neck, kissing her shoulder, her chest, anywhere she can think of, memorizing her.
She adores Flaca much more than just simple words can say.
"Look at 'em, working so hard out there!" Aleida says. Daya follows her mother's gaze to the window, where Leon and Adarsh are remodeling the backyard together in hard hats and green construction vests. Adarsh had originally come to their house to study, but after he and Daya were finished, he had decided to help Leon with the project. It's awfully nice of him.
"I know, right?" Daya splays her fingers out on the table as Aleida prepares to do her nails. "Hey...I think Adarsh likes me, in a he-wants-to-be-my-boyfriend way, but I ain't gonna assume anything."
"Yeah, good idea. What makes you think that?" Aleida bends down close to Daya's hands while shaking a bottle of bright pink polish and untwisting the top.
"I asked if I should wear jeans or a skirt to our hangout, and he replied with, 'a skirt, BFF!' His flirting game was hard, man!" Daya beams.
"Girl, you are blushin' tomato red...oooh!" Aleida teases her, which only causes Daya's cheeks to heat up even more. She works on Daya's left hand slowly and carefully. "Yo, but a skirt at night while basically hiking...are you comfortable doin' that? It could be cold...and you gotta wear good shoes!"
"No shit, Ma! I'mma wear sheer leggings and sturdy boots...and a pretty long sleeved shirt and puffy jacket, or a cardigan, scarf, and gloves...maybe even a beanie."
"Smart girl you are. I feel like you're going on your first real date, and you don't gotta be all secretive this time!" Aleida squeals and they both giggle.
"Nah...I don't think of him as more than a friend. He's cute, but I've learned the hard way to not jump into a dude's arms and let him get between my legs so fast. I should just...fall in love with ease."
"Mm-hm." Aleida switches to Daya's right hand. "I'm terrible at that."
"I am, too." Daya blows on her wet nails and keeps them still. "Ma?"
"What's up?"
"Leon's a great guy for you...and I've never thought of somebody you've dated as a future stepdad...except for him."
"I got that vibe from you." Aleida caps up the bottle. "You really like him for me?"
Daya nods. "So much better than anyone you been with."
"Well, it's been five weeks since we known each other. I ain't ready to commit, maybe I'll wait another month or two and see...and that would mean I'd have to give up my other boyfriend of three years." Aleida sighs heavily and glances outside at her man. "Please don't make me decide right now, Dayanara."
"You know what he done, Cesar," Daya reminds Aleida. "It should be a real simple choice. Leon...he loves you, like it's hella romantic the way he looks at you and takes such good care of you...not to mention, he treats the rest of us with niceness and respect. Did you know that I've never hugged any of your boyfriends until him last night?"
Aleida stands up and smooths Daya's hair back from her forehead. "I'm happy that I'm dating Leon, he's a good man. I didn't know I'd get all weak in the knees, head over heels about him," she confesses. "I just can't help but wonder...what if Cesar comes outta jail somebody more improved? Like, he gives a big-ass apology to you kids and realizes he's bein' stupid about Gloria?"
"I can't see that happening. I'm sorry, Ma...I know you don't wanna throw away three years of your relationship with him, but to tell you the truth, he just ain't worth even thinkin' about no more."
"I don't wanna talk about this," Aleida mutters. "Everybody's fuckin' pressuring me...and I wish the world could go silent for just a minute so I can think."
"Alright, I'll change the subject." Daya blows her bangs out of her eyes. "So...when will I actually look pregnant? My belly's just a small bulge, and it's soft."
"You gonna start carrying in your ass like I did, and all the other Diaz women before me. It's gonna get real big. You've got that expectant mother's glow already."
Daya grins. "Well, better my butt than my tummy." Aleida kisses the top of her head and goes out the back door to join Leon as Adarsh comes in. "Hey, that was cool of you to partner up with Leon. Did he give you a hard time about Saturday?"
"Sort of. He said if I'm not a gentleman with you, he'll introduce my face to all of his tools."
"Oh, god!" Daya laughs while shaking her head. "Wow...well, you better listen to him! I got no patience for bullshit no more."
"I understand. I promised him I'd treat you well, and I really will. I can't imagine hurting someone as sweet as you." Adarsh has a sincere smile on his face.
"Aw, thanks." Daya shows him her freshly painted nails. "My mom did these, by the way."
"Nice!"
"Pregnancy is gaining my weight back...so I won't be as attractive soon. Everyone accepts me how I am now and since I'm no longer ashamed and I'm real proud of how I look in my own skin, people think it's pointless to make fun of me! I work out a lot, but I can't at the moment since I'm havin' a baby. In the very near future, I'mma be humongous." Telling him her insecurities is making her begin to cry. "I wish I went to fat camp but Ma couldn't afford it!"
Adarsh rubs Daya's back soothingly and she lays her head on his shoulder while sniffling. "You don't need it, you look amazing the way you are," he assures her.
"Yeah, for now," Daya grumbles.
"You'll always look fantastic."
His compliment makes her heart sing with joy, but she'll give him about two more months to see if he's the real deal.
"I love the rose, it's so beautiful," Michelle compliments Alex as they're sitting together on the bed in Maritza's guest house. "As are you, of course."
Alex's cheeks flush and she smiles. "Thank you, and you are, too. Would you ever wanna get a tattoo?"
"I dunno, maybe if you were there!"
"Cool. I'd hold your hand through the whole thing!"
"That's so gracious of you! What happened here?" Michelle wonders aloud as she points to the bruise near Alex's rose tattoo. "Blanca and Maria told me some asshole knocked you down at Friendly's."
"It's from that."
Michelle frowns. "Ouch! You poor girl."
Alex gives a half shrug. "I'm alright now. It doesn't really hurt anymore, but I appreciate your sympathy."
Michelle traces Alex's Love is pain tattoo with her index finger, and her light touch causes an excited shiver to race through Alex. "It doesn't have to be," she murmurs and stares up at Alex meaningfully.
"It's like there's a curse on me. The first girl I ever loved...she toyed with my heart, she acted like she was interested in me, but she had a boyfriend...the weak idiot who harasses me all the time now...and it would've been nice of her to just...not act like we were girlfriends, you know?"
"Yeah." Michelle strokes Alex's cheek with the back of her hand in a comforting motion enough to make some of the ice that's surrounding her heart, melt. "I'm sorry she hurt you like that."
Alex puts her arm around the smaller girl and squeezes her shoulder as a silent thanks. "Well, she's gone, so...and then my one and only girlfriend vanished on me, too, but by choice."
"Can I be your next?" Michelle wonders aloud shyly, and Alex gets butterflies in her stomach at the thought of someone new to give her whole heart to. She hopes Michelle won't be a flake like the others.
"Okay, sure! Hey, girl, feel my flannel. You know what it's made of?" Alex smirks. "Girlfriend material."
Michelle and Alex hold each other's gaze for a few seconds, and then they both lean in to close the gap between them. Alex's heart is beating fast in her chest. She glances down at Michelle's lips before going in for the kiss. She runs her hands up and down the smaller girl's body while they make out, eliciting small moans out of her. Their combined, passionate breaths huffing into each other's mouths steam up Alex's glasses and they giggle together. Hands are grabbing at clothing and pulling each other closer. Michelle fits just right with Alex-it's like they're two halves of a whole. Their tongues tangle and Michelle's mouth against Alex's is savory and delicious. Alex never wants this moment to end, and she's sure Michelle feels the same way.
"How long until this whole thing is finished, my handyman?" Aleida wonders aloud as she and Leon stand back to admire his work on the play structure and the beginnings of the pool. She's extremely impressed.
"Six to eight weeks for the pool, but the children can start using the swings, slides, and monkey bars by tomorrow, when the paint dries."
"You think you could make a big porch swing for us, Daya, and Gloria, and hang it off that tree branch? It's pretty strong." Aleida gestures to it. "Daya would climb it when she was younger, and then she stopped. I might let Christina start next year, she's too little right now, and Emilano...outta the question. He ain't doin' it yet. I'm sure Gloria would feel the same about her babies."
"Of course, honey." Leon takes her hand in both of his. His left covers her left, his thumb between her middle and ring fingers, his index finger resting where the ring would go, and his middle and ring fingers on top of her hand. His right thumb runs around the knuckle on her ring finger. She adores how he's holding her hand so carefully, as if it could break into pieces. She's beginning to feel that Cesar is her other boyfriend, not Leon, since the guy standing in front of her seems to play a much bigger role in her family. Everyone gets along with him, even the children. "Adarsh and I were also thinking we'd team up with Charles and Fahri and make a Ninja Warrior course for the kids."
Aleida beams. She's not used to men like him at all. "Oh, that's real sweet. They'd love it!"
Leon smiles at her and presses his lips to her hand. "I know. That was the point!"
Thank you for reading and reviewing, A Star In My Universe, CoffeeWritingAddiction, Double99, MinervaSnape394, and Johanna002!
