Thank you to everyone who is giving this story love and support! I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Julieta had begun to think that Bruno didn't know what being a "friend" was. Even after Pepa and Julieta told him how to talk and act around a girl, Bruno still couldn't get the courage to talk to Cassidy again. He seemed to think that it was enough to wave to her across the village square, or give her a smile as she walked by. That wasn't friendship. It was just being kind.

So, Julieta planned on a way to get them to talk.

It had been a couple of months since Bruno had agreed to be friends with Cassidy, and the Madrigal triplet's birthday was the next day. Julieta would be busy in the kitchen, and Pepa would have to focus on inviting everyone to come. Bruno was planning on staying out of the way, like he usually did for these celebrations, which was fine with him, Julieta knew. After he nearly set the whole house on fire with the decorative candles at their 13th birthday party, it was an unspoken agreement that he wouldn't do much to help out. Usually Julieta would be a bit sad for Bruno, but today she wasn't.

He was going to hang out with Cassidy. He was going to talk to her. And they were going to become real friends. And, Pepa and Julieta both hoped that they might grow into something more. They really liked Cassidy, and they could tell that she really liked Bruno.

A knock on the door broke her away from her thoughts, and she put the dough she was working on down on the kitchen counter. After quickly wiping off her hands she rushed to the door, smiling when she opened it, revealing a beaming Cassidy. She held a huge bucket in her hand with small brushes and bowls, quaking with excitement.

"Hey, Julieta! I'm so glad that you wanted me to work on the decorations for your party! I'm literally so excited!"

Julieta laughed, stepping back so Cassidy could walk in. She walked in with a spring in her step, her hair becoming messier than usual, and Julieta led her to the kitchen table.

"I'm going to be cooking in the kitchen, but you should have everything you need." The Madrigal said, gesturing to the paper and fabric that littered the table. "My Mama wants a few banners, one for each of us, plus some table decorations. Does that sound okay?"

Cassidy nodded, her smile never faltering. "Absolutely. I just need some water and I'll be good to go."

Julieta nodded and fetched some water from the kitchen, gesturing to Pepa as she walked by. Pepa's cloud, the cloud that had no doubt developed because of the pressure she faced with her tasks, soon dissipated at the sight, and made her own way to talk to Cassidy.

Julieta finished getting water and joined the two girls in the dining room, where they were both talking animatedly about the most recent sunset. Julieta set the bucket of water down and sat down across from her.

"So, are Félix and Agustín coming to your party?" Cassidy asked as she mixed a bit of the water with her colors. Pepa nodded.

"Yup! Both of them are, and I think that Félix is bringing his brother, too. It's going to be so fun!"

"Is your family coming?" Julieta asked, and Cassidy shrugged.

"I know that I'm going to, I'm not sure if my parents are planning on coming. I don't think they're really interested."

Julieta frowned. "That's a shame."

"I guess. But, they're the ones who are going to miss the party of the decade."

Pepa gave her a high-five. "Cheers to that!"

"Oh. I didn't realize we had a guest."

Julieta turned around in her seat, eyes wide, and a small bit of fog appeared over Pepa's head. Alma watched the three girls, holding a pot of flowers, seemingly deciding if this matter was one to be upset over. It was lucky that Cassidy hadn't learned to fear Alma Madrigal.

The girl smiled, breaking the awkward silence, and held up one of the banners, beaming. "Hello, Mrs. Madrigal! Julieta had asked me to do the decorations for the triplet's party coming up!"

Alma visibly relaxed. "Oh, that's great, thank you. You're one of the Lopez girls, correct?"

Cassidy nodded. "Yup! I'm their youngest, Cassidy."

"Cassidy is a strange name."

Her smile didn't falter at the comment. "I guess my parents were quite adventurous, or very creative. I haven't decided yet."

Alma laughed. "I guess so. Well, I must get ready for the guests. Pepa, Julieta, remember to do your tasks."

Julieta got to her feet. "Of course, Mama."

Cassidy got back to work when Julieta and Alma walked away, putting orange paint on a brush and then across the yellow banner. Pepa flashed a quick smile at the color scheme and ran to Bruno's room, hoping that he was awake. She knew that he had a really messed up sleeping schedule, so he slept a lot throughout the day. But, he had to be awake now.

Pepa knocked on his door loudly before trudging up the steps to where Bruno sat on a pile of sand. He was petting his rats lovingly when she burst in, and he looked up at her expectantly when she walked up to him.

"Dining room. Now."

Bruno narrowed his eyes, suspicious of his sister's orders. "Why?"

Pepa kneeled over and whispered in his ear. "Cassidy's here."

"What?"

Pepa smirked, grabbing his hand and pulling him to his feet. "She's here doing the decorations for our party tomorrow. And you're going to talk to her."

Bruno's curls fell in front of his face, and he pushed them away, the rat on his hair streaking at the movement.

"I…I can't talk to her! What do I say? What…what do I do?"

"Well, you're friends now, aren't you? It shouldn't be too hard."

Bruno sighed, closing his eyes and grabbed his ruana, muttering under his breath.

"Come on , Bruno! This will be really good for you."

Bruno sighed, beginning to pace his sand-covered floor. "What if she hates me?"

"She already said that she doesn't hate you."

"But…"

Pepa gripped his hands, her eyes shining alight with eagerness. "Bruno! Listen to yourself right now! You know that you like her, you know that you want to talk to her, but you're making up these silly excuses!"

Bruno ripped his hands out of hers. "I…I…it's different."

She wasn't amused. "Just listen to your heart, hermanito ."

"Fine! And, if Mama sees us一"

"She already knows that Cassidy is here. It won't be a problem. If anything, it will make her more happy to see you interacting with a townsfolk."

"She's more than just a townswoman." Bruno whispered, and Pepa smiled knowingly.

"Let's go."

Bruno followed Pepa down his stairs and into the halls of the Casita. Pepa had a halo of sunshine around her head and she gestured to the dining room, where Cassidy had already managed to get some paint on her face. She was smiling despite how messy she was, and seemed as if she didn't even realize how she looked. Bruno didn't need any more pushing, he made his way toward her with a shaky smile. Pepa gave a small laugh and walked away.

"Hey, Cassidy." Bruno said softly, sitting on a chair across from her, and she glanced up, her smile growing even bigger.

"Bruno! I was wondering if I would see you today! How are you?"

Bruno became a little more at ease, picking at his frayed clothes. "Fine…thanks."

She smiled. "And the rats?"

"Good, I think they're hungry, but I'll sneak them an arepa later."

Cassidy laughed, a bright, cheery sound that rang in Bruno's ears. He grinned at her response.

The young woman gestured to the green banner, gently pushing it towards him. Bruno took it, studying the fancy lettering of his name displayed across it in dark green paint. There were small hourglass symbols on the corners and gray rats scattered around his name.

"This looks amazing." He muttered, and she blushed, the pick scattered on her cheeks contrasting sharply with the green paint.

"Thanks. I tried."

Bruno got up and looked at Pepa's banner, the sun and clouds painted on, fully capturing the beautiful weather Pepa made, no matter how she was feeling. The tiny raindrops that fell on her name made the artwork more sophisticated, yet held so much meaning that Bruno could barely understand it. It reminded of Bruno when he and Pepa would play in her rain, Julieta joining them when she was done with her cooking.

He opened his mouth to say something, what he would say he didn't know, but at that moment a rat, Elroy, jumped out of his sleeve and landed directly in a bowl full of green paint, protesting loudly. Bruno desperately reached across the table to grab the loose rat. In doing so, his foot slipped where he stood, sending him crashing down onto the table. Bruno felt paint splatter on his face when he made impact, and the rat scurried on top of him, running across his ruana, the green banner and onto the floor. Bruno's whole body collapsed on the table, and he knew that he was now covered in green paint.

Bruno groaned, unwilling to get up and face Cassidy's angry face. He did it. He made the only person in town who cared about him hate him. He probably ruined her banners. He ruined everything.

A small giggle came from in front of him, and Bruno allowed a glance up to her, seeing her looking at him, hands covering her mouth, her body shaking with suppressed laughter.

"Are…are you okay?" She whispered, another giggle escaping.

Bruno got off of the table and tried to rub the paint off of his face, unsuccessful. He only spread it around even more.

"I…ugh…are the banners..?"

Cassidy picked up Bruno's banner with a smile. Small rat footprints colored green were on it, apparently from where Elroy ran across it.

"It's even better now."

Bruno smiled, feeling the stress of the accident leave him, and tried to clean his face again, chuckling.

"Here, let me get a wet towel!" Cassidy exclaimed, but Bruno gripped her hand, shushing her when he saw the rat in the corner of the room. Elroy was covered ear to foot in green paint.

Neither of them could contain the howls of laughter that escaped them at the sight, the two of them leaning on each other for support as Elroy watched them with a curious expression, wet paint dripping from his whiskers.

Alma Madrigal watched the interaction, too, her lips in a tight line of disapproval. Bruno was already messed up enough, he didn't need this girl making him even worse, that she knew.