A/N: This is where Maria meets the Sharks, although she doesn't know they're called that way, and of course, Chino.

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CHAPTER III: A Sea of Sharks

"Anita, I just remembered,"

"Hm?"

Anita didn't look up at me from her sewing. She just raised her eyebrows and waited for me to continue. She was halfway through with mending my pillowcases. We'd been in my bedroom all day, chatting and getting to know each other all over again when Bernardo came in and asked her if she would fix the torn cases. Anita had been at them for over an hour. I was stuck thinking to myself as Anita rarely liked to be interrupted when she was sewing.

"What is that silly black band my brother wears on his wrist?" I asked. "I don't think I remember him wearing one back home,"

"Oh," Anita said, still not looking at me. "When did you see it?"

"Last night,"

"Have you asked him about it?"

"Yes," I replied, taking a seat on my bed. I watched as she worked. Anita was a fine seamstress.

"What did he say?"

"That it was nothing,"

"Well then there you go," Finally, Anita looked up, her eyebrows raised. "If he said it's nothing then it's nothing, isn't it?"

"I suppose…it looks silly though," I shrugged.

Anita snorted as she turned the pillowcase over and over to see where else it had been torn.

"You know Bernardo…he always has these crazy ideas…" she frowned at the case she was holding and clucked her tongue. "Jesu Cristo, Maria, what did you do to these pillowcases? They were brand-new the last time I remember seeing them!"

I giggled. "It's Iargo's fault. We had a little pillow fight last night,"

"Pillows stuffed with what? Bricks?" Anita sighed noisily. "That Bernardo…ay yay yay…still very much like a child,"

"Oh Anita, haven't you gotten used to him yet? You've known each other since forever. You should know how he's like," I said, grinning.

"If I did, then I wouldn't have such a wild ape for a boyfriend, would I? I would know how to reel him back in when he gets too far out. But por dios, the trouble he can get into from all those ideas he gets…it's crazy!" She raised her hands in false despair. "Sometimes I don't know what to do with that brother of yours,"

"How about saying 'yes' when he asks you to marry him?"

We both jumped, startled, and Anita turned around to look behind her. Bernardo was by the door, dressed in his outdoor clothes and smiling widely at her. Anita smacked his leg at the very discovery that it had been him who'd surprised her.

"Scare me like that again and I will poke you with this needle," she threatened. My brother didn't seem so worried with what she said. He bent over and gave her a kiss.

"Well?"

"Well, what?" replied Anita hotly.

"Will you marry me when I ask you to?" Bernardo said, grinning. Anita rolled her eyes.

"Once you grow up, do your chores and can look after yourself then I'll think about it," she said. I laughed.

"Oh you are quite amusing," Bernardo said. "That is why I love you,"

He sat down beside her but Anita pushed him away.

"Behave, little boy. I am not in the best of moods especially since you're having me fix these pillowcases you've torn," she told him. Bernardo laughed.

"You can do that later. Come, you must join me in introducing the boys to Maria," Nardo gave her a kiss and got to his feet. "After that we can talk about Maria's schooling,"

"Boys, Iargo?" I asked, feeling confused. What was he talking about?

"My friends," he explained. He helped Anita up.

"You brought them here, Nardo?" she said, looking slightly alarmed. "Wouldn't your parents mind?" Bernardo waved her away.

"No, of course they wouldn't mind. They are good men. Puerto Ricans. Some I met on the boat on the way here," he told both Anita and me. "I brought them over so Maria and Mama and Papa can all meet them. They did help us while we were new here, querida,"

"Correction, we helped each other out. We are all immigrants, Nardo," Anita said.

"Exactly, and that's why they should meet them. Come, Mika," Bernardo held out his hand for me to take. After I did, he led Anita and I out of my bedroom.

Once we were outside, I could hardly recognize our small living room. It seemed as if every inch of it was occupied by boys, all who looked older or of the same age as my brother's. I noticed also that we all shared the same heritage: the sunburned skin, the dark hair, the wiry frame. They were all undoubtedly Puerto Ricans. Mama and Papa were already mingling with some of them. When Bernardo appeared with Anita and I, majority of the boys turned to look.

"Muchachos," my brother said, as soon as we were out in the open with them, "you have all met my girlfriend, Anita, this is mi hermana hermosa, Maria. She is my little sister,"

Almost at the same time, all the boys replied with a rough but welcoming "Buenos tardes, Maria". Some simply satisfied themselves with a friendly smile or a nod. I smiled back.

"Buenos tardes," I greeted. Bernardo moved on to introducing each one of them. He held an arm over my shoulder as we walked around.

"Maria, this is Pepe," he said as he presented each one. "And this is Juano, Luis, Vicente, Mateo…"

I shook each hand and smiled at each face. Some, I noticed, were wearing the same black band my brother wore, but I brushed it off as nothing as I had to be focused to learn each name. By the time we were almost through, my brother had already introduced me to over ten or so people. I ran their names quickly through my head so I would not forget them.

"I have prepared a surprise for you," Bernardo smiled at me when we were finished.

"What?" I asked curiously.

"Oh, Bernardo you said it would be tomorrow," Anita said from her spot by, if I remember it correctly, Fernando.

"Yes," my brother replied, "but the surprise itself cannot wait. It has to be presented today,"

"What is it, Nardo?" I asked, growing more curious. Excitement started to stir within me.

"Close your eyes," Nardo told me. I obeyed and, almost instantly, I felt and heard as the people inside the room began to move around.

"No peeking, Mika," I heard Bernardo say, though he didn't sound quite as near.

"I'm not," I said, keeping my eyes tightly shut. "What is going on, Bernardo?"

I heard more movement, and then it was silent.

"Can I look now?" I asked, tempted to crack open an eye.

"Yes, you may look now," my brother said from somewhere. Laughter was evident in his voice.

Slowly, I opened my eyes.

"Oh!" was the first thing I could say when I saw what was before me. "Oh!"

"Is that all you can say?" the 'surprise' said, grinning at me.

"Oh, Chino!" I said, opening my arms and giving him a tight embrace. "When did you arrive? I thought…I thought I was never going to see you again!"

"Bernardo helped pay for my ticket," Chino said when I released him. "I arrived shortly before you and your family did,"

"And you were almost in tears when I told you we were leaving," I laughed. "You actor!"

"I figured I would need someone to keep an eye on you when I wasn't around," Bernardo said, approaching us and clapping his best friend on the back. "And who could do a better job than good old Chino?"

"Oh? And what would I need protecting from?" I said in a teasing manner.

"Why, the boys of America, of course!" Bernardo said spiritedly. "If they approach you, I or Chino can handle them. Chino is the only one I would allow to have your hand in anything,"

"I agree!" cried Papa from the back.

"Oh, Bernardo, Chino is like my own brother! If he fell in love with me it would be so strange!" I said, smiling. I had known Chino almost as long as I'd known Anita. He was my brother's best friend, so he was always at our house with Bernardo or doing boy things with him. I loved him, but not more than I would a friend.

I suddenly had this feeling that things weren't going to be the same as they were before. In Chino's eyes, I saw the same twinkle Bernardo had only for Anita.

"Ah, but nothing is stranger than love, querida," Bernardo smiled at me. He looked at Chino. "Chino, now that I am giving you this privilege, I expect you to protect her and love her, maybe even more than what I have already done. You understand that, don't you?"

"You have nothing to worry about, Nardo," Chino said assuredly. He took my hand, and looked up at me. "If it is all right with you, Maria?"

"Oh…" I felt my cheeks flush. "Oh, it is…it is all right, I guess,"

Chino smiled then raised my hand to his lips and then kissed it gently. My brother's friends cheered and whooped noisily. I blushed then I saw that Chino too had a black band on his wrist. The exact same kind Bernardo and the others wore! What did they mean? Did they have some sort of club? I was about to say something when the band was suddenly hidden by Chino's jacket as he stood up straight. I lost my nerve as Bernardo grinned as he patted Chino's shoulder repeatedly. Maybe it wasn't the right time to ask…

"May I just say, Maria, that you look more beautiful than ever," Chino told me gently when all the noise had died down.

"Ah ah ah, no moves yet, amigo. Remember, you have to be careful with my sister," Bernardo said good-naturedly. Clearly he was delighted at the prospect of his best friend and his sister being together. Chino looked pleased too.

I didn't say anything in return. Instead, I forced a smile as my cheeks slowly began to get redder and redder. The noise and laughter in the room had erupted again.

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A/N: Next up, Tony and the Jets are going to be featured! Everyone's gonna meet everyone else in school so stay tuned to see what'll happen! R/R please!