Bruno groaned deeply as he just stood. And watched the old woman in front of him muttering a series of chants and drawing a cross in the air with her finger…

Right in front of him…. Not a care in the world if he could see it. She just did it.

Then finally Bruno spoke again. "Can I have a bag of potatoes please!" he asked.

Indeed. Separating the two was a stand….. filled with potatoes, corn cobs, and tomatoes.

It had been supposed to be the easiest job in the world… Fetch some potatoes for Julieta. But of course. He was Bruno Madrigal and even the most simple tasks always had to become needlessly complicated.

The old woman looked up at Bruno as she huffed. As if he had been the one insulting her. And she picked up a bag of potatoes. Then basically threw them at him and held out a hand in demand.

So yeah… She still wanted his money at least and Bruno grumbled as he found the pesos required for the bloody potatoes. Then as Bruno thought this was over and done with the woman had turned around and just threw a fist full of salt right over her shoulder hitting Bruno right in the face.

"Pffff!" Bruno splurted at the salt. Then groaned annoyed as he turned around and walked away with the potatoes... All of this. All of this for stupid potatoes! His life was honestly starting to get unbearable. He couldn't just stay at home because Mama would glare at him and reprimand him for being an adult who didn't do anything. And even when Alma wasn't saying anything. Bruno could still feel her disappointed glare.

And it made him feel beyond terrible! His Mama only wanted him to be his best self. He knew that! She believed he could do a lot of good. But Bruno didn't see it himself. And he hated himself for it. So being at home was… Hard.

He couldn't even hide in his room because of dinner times. Someone would climb the stairs to get him. Whether it was Pepa, Julieta, or Agustin when he was around. They would do it.

And he couldn't go outside because of… Stuff like this! People didn't even bother to hide it anymore. He just happened to walk by and someone would throw salt over their shoulders. And some would even laugh as if it was some kind of inside joke.

Well… At least Bruno had Sofia he supposed. Who was currently comfortable sitting on his shoulder and Bruno offered her a little crumb of bread. Then petted her on the head with a finger.

Finally, Bruno slumped down on a bench and sighed deeply as he pulled out one of Julieta's Talames to nip on it in silence. Stretching out the time until he had to go home and face his Mama's disappointed looks.

He glanced up and looked across the plaza at the dancing troupe that had arrived the other day to perform at the tavern.

…. Outsiders. They could travel anywhere they wanted. For a brief moment, Bruno fantasized about going with them. Leave… Just leave all of this behind! Start fresh somewhere where no one knew him.

But then Bruno thought of Julieta, Pepa, and his Mama. And how incredibly sad they would be… And he knew he just couldn't. He couldn't let them down even more than he already had.

Just then… a wind picked up by Bruno's feet. Above him, dark clouds were pulling together at an incredible speed and thunder seemed to rumble making Bruno blink as his Tamale into his mouth. What had Pepa so upset all of a sudden?

Then Bruno looked around to see if he could see his sister anywhere so he could figure it out and help with whatever was wrong.

And suddenly she stepped into the plaza and she looked to be a fury of anger as she yelled. "AAAAARGH! Stupido carulo este."

Bruno's eyes widened as the hurricane picked up and a thunder strike stroke down… Then he stood up. "Pepa!" he gasped reaching a hand for her. Only for hail to come from the sky and Bruno had to cover his face with his arms. "Auw! PEPA!" he screamed.

A few feet next to him a man was gaping as he was wide-eyed looking at Pepa. It was one of the outsiders from the dancing troupe and he gasped. "Who is that!?"

"Senorita Madrigal!" A local townswoman informed. "She blesses us with fortunate weather. But when she's upset."

And the man gasped. "She's doing all of this!" and he beamed. "HOW ABSOLUTELY MARVELOUS! How incredible."

Wide-eyed Bruno looked at the man who seemed to be all smiles and eagerness. He was a short guy. Even shorter than Bruno. Dark coffee skin and black curly hair. And his eyes were shining.

"She's incredible!" The man gasped and then he laughed as he took a step right into the heavy rain and he… Danced?

Then there was snow and the already drenched man laughed amused as he twirled. As the wind send a basket flying directly towards him the man easily dodged in a dancing bow and he jumped up as he playfully worked his way towards Pepa and then finally managed to grab her hand.

Pepa was so surprised that she stiffened in shock and in one second all the winds just stopped.

"Forgive me por favor." The stranger man smiled at her. "But please… Will you tell me your name?" he asked.

Pepa looked stunned at him. "My.. My name?" she asked.

"Please!" The man asked.

"I'm… Pepita Madrigal. But people just call me Pepa." Pepa informed still looking just as stunned.

"Pepa! What a wonderful name for a wonderful woman." The man smiled as he kissed her hand and let go. "Felix Juarez!" he made a bow for her and smiled.

Wide-eyed Pepa looked at him. "Did you just… dance through the storm?" she asked.

"Si si." Felix beamed as he nodded. "It was incredible. Rain, snow, thunder, and sunshine at the same time! How extraordinary!"

Pepa's eyes widened and then… her eyes grew extra wide and she turned her head to suddenly see Bruno still sitting at the bench.

By the sight of Bruno her mouth opened wide as something seemed to occur to her.

Then she turned back to Felix and she blushed deeply. "I'm erh… Sorry about getting you wet."

"Don't ever apologize for that!" Felix laughed. "It was amazing! But wow… Not quite as amazing as what I found at the center of the storm." he said as he looked at her.

Pepa's eyes were wide and then she blushed as she looked down.

"Ahem." Felix coughed into his hand. "Senorita Madgrial. Could I… Offer you a cup of coffee?" he asked. "I have never been at this Encanto before. Perhaps you could tell me about it."

"Oh… OH!" Pepa shouted loudly. "Of course Senor Juarez. That would be my… Uttermost pleasure." she smiled.

"I hope it's not too personal to ask," Felix said. "But… What may have had you so upset?" he asked.

At that Pepa side-glanced at Bruno again and looked at Felix. "It… Doesn't matter. Some people were just talking about… My brother."

Bruno's eyes widened and then he glanced away.

"Sorry! Just a minute! Stay there. I'll be right back!" Pepa said.

"Sure." Felix smiled at her and Pepa rushed towards Bruno who was still sitting on his bench.

Now ruffled up from the wind and completely wet. Sofia was fine though as she had taken refuge in the pocket of his rurana.

"I'm so sorry." Pepa started to brush dirt off him. "Are you alright Hermano? I didn't even see you."

"I'm fine," Bruno assured in a well rehearsed smile. Then he silenced. "So…. You got mad… because of me?" he asked.

"Urgh! People are just… So stupid sometimes you know." Pepa huffed as a small cloud was already forming over her head again. "My brother letting the devil into the Encanto? Can you believe that nonsense!"

Bruno elected not to answer… yeah he could believe it… he heard…. Probably a lot more than Pepa.

"Are you okay?" Pepa asked as she was all over him.

"I'm fine," Bruno said and then finally grabbed Pepa's hands to make her stop. "Pepa… I'm fine!" he said. "Don't let me ruin your day. There's a guy over there who clearly really wants to learn to know you."

Pepa's eyes widened and she turned to see the dark skinned man waiting at the same spot. With that same big smile on his face.

Pepa gasped. "He… He liked the storm," she whispered. "He was dancing through it. Did you see that?" she asked.

"I did," Bruno said and Pepa blushed as she looked down. "Go have a nice afternoon with him," he asked. "For my sake…. Please."

And Pepa turned to Bruno. And then she smiled as she quickly hugged him. "I'll see you tonight alright?"

And Bruno smiled as he padded her on the back. "Of course," he whispered as Pepa let go and rushed right back to the man who beamed happily by the mere sight of him and Bruno sighed.

Though…. As the two left the plaza Bruno couldn't deny that he felt… Just a little alone.

Julieta was out with Agustin and now Pepa was walking away with this new guy….

He was happy for his sisters of course but…. Things were changing. It was just how it was Bruno supposed as he glanced down.