Chapter 2:
(Pepa POV)
I woke up the next morning stretching myself out on the bed as I looked around me. My room was filled with different ways to gage the weather, which really meant that it was there to gage my mood. I knew today was going to be a good day. I mean it was the day I turned 13, well the day Julieta, Bruno and I turned 13, but it was my birthday. I made my way downstairs and saw Julieta and Bruno were already up and at the table. I can tell from the looks on their faces they were as exhausted as I was still I smiled, "Happy Birthday!"
Julieta smiled up at me and gave over to give me a hug, "Happy Birthday." I went over to Bruno but, I could tell from the look on his face something was going on, "Bruno?" He picked up a stack of vision tablets, "I have a lot of bad news to give out today." Julieta and I exchanged a look. She picked up half the slabs and I picked up the other, "You know Bruno I don't think you had any visions last night? Do you Julieta?" She nodded her head in agreement, "Yeah. The future is just a bit of a mystery today. I sighed, "Oh well I guess we will have to wait until tomorrow." She smiled, "I guess so." We hid them away in the kitchen. He sighed, "Thank you." I shrugged, "Consider it your birthday present." I then leaned in closer and whispered, "I didn't get you anything else."
He let out an amused breath, "Yeah like we get each other gifts on our birthdays." "You mean the gift of my company isn't enough Bruno?" I asked. He shook his head, "When it is not accompanied by a rain cloud." I glared at him, "Well at least people in town aren't always mad at me for making bad things happen." He dropped his cutlery, "I don't make bad things happen. I see bad things happen and I tell them it is a very big difference." "Guys come on its' our birthday," Julieta started but we both looked at her and glared and she shrunk back in her seat. Julieta looked between the two of us and opened her mouth to say something else, before shaking her head, "I don't know why I try getting involved." She walked away.
"Where are you going?" I asked. She turned back, "I'm getting ready to go into town. I suggest you eat fast and do the same." I looked over at Bruno, "Wow she is giving up faster and faster." He smirked, "You think she is learning that we just can't be stopped once we get started?" I shrugged, "Probably. Besides she needs to get ready for a certain son of the butcher." Bruno laughed, "Please tell me what he gives her this year. And the obligatory gifts he gives us."
"Aren't you going into town today?" He smirked, "Without visions? Probably not. If I stay home the crowd, who are angry about their visions from yesterday, can't come in." "Smart thinking," I said. He shrugged, "Eh broken clock." I rolled my eyes but ate quickly, "Well I better go see you at dinner Hermano." He nodded his head, "See you at dinner. I'm going back to sleep." "Up all those stairs?" I asked as he was headed to his room he then turned, "I'm going to sleep on the couch." I laughed, "Broken clock!" I called out. "I was already right once today."
(Felix POV)
I made my way into town and saw Augustin was getting ready to go on his deliveries for the day, "Augustin!" I called out and he turned around to see me, "Felix, hey I was just about to bring these to the Gomez's." I looked at all the boxes and sighed before picking up half. "Felix," he started but I looked back at him, "The more you argue, the more I pick up." He knew I wasn't joking and picked up the other half and lead me to where he was dropping them off. He then turned to face me, "Why aren't you at work?" I shrugged, "Day off."
He gave me this look, "You don't know how to have a day off." I nodded my head, "Well maybe if I had a roommate..." He started shaking his head, "Felix you know I can't." I looked at him, "Why can't you?" He sighed and just shook his head, "You know why? Despite everything they are my family." I knew there was no convincing Augustin otherwise, didn't mean I was going to stop trying. I just wasn't going to bring it up again today.
"So what are you doing for Julieta this year?" I asked. He was focusing on the boxes, "I don't know what you mean?" I rolled my eyes, "We both know it is the Madrigals Birthdays and we both know that you have probably blown your lifesavings, again, on a gift for her and her siblings." I heard him sigh and turn to face me, "I didn't blow my life-savings this year." I inhaled sharply, "You scaled back, Augustin I'm shocked." He shoved my arm, "Yeah, yeah. I got her something small. No big deal we are best friends." "Who you vowed you would end up marrying someday," I interjected. "And you never let me forget it," He said. I rolled my eyes, "As if you could forget it." We both started laughing then.
I looked around at the weather today and it was all sunshine and rainbows. Pepa must have been really happy or at least she was trying really hard to be happy. Rainbows always confused me with her. They would show up when she was acting really, really happy but I swear sometimes it seemed so forced.
I turned to Augustin, "Well let's see what you got?" He pulled out three small cupcakes from town each decorated with different icing I figured for each person. He really did scale back this year I mused to myself. "Yeah I was going to go to her stand after I finished my deliveries and give Pepa and Bruno theirs when I saw them." I looked over my shoulder and saw Pepa and Julieta were making their way into town but, no Bruno. "Well here is your shot," I said pointing at them.
(Pepa POV)
Clear skies. It was a good day. Clear skies. Sunshine. Rainbows. Don't get too happy, but don't get upset.
The constant mantra was repeated in my head as Julieta and I walked into town. Suddenly I saw Augustin and Felix making their way over to us. "Happy Birthday," Augustin said. Felix nodded his head as well, "Happy Birthday." Augustin then handed us each a cupcake. "Thank you Augustin," Felix then gestured his head to the side and I took the hint as we both walked away. "When are they going to admit they like each other?" I asked Felix. He just flashed me a smile, "But then we would lose the yearly entertainment." He gestured over to them and we watched as Augustin literally tripped over himself.
We both let out a short laugh, "Should we laugh at him? He is one of our best friends." Felix looked back at me, "He laughs about it to we are good." I laughed a little harder, "Good." He then lifted up a list, "I took this from Augustin. Want to help me give them the day alone" I thought about it for a moment, "I mean I did give Bruno a present this year, I should probably give one to Julieta too." "It is only fair, "Felix said. We began walking over to the shops in town and picked up and delivered the items for Augustin. Flowers, Baked Goods, Jewelry, and more. Augustin was working for pretty much every store in Encanto.
As we finished up I looked over at Felix, "Why aren't you at work today?" He smiled, "Day off. You?" I smiled at him, "Birthday." He nodded his head as he let out a breath, "Well I don't have the money or time to get all your siblings a gift but here." He handed me a small box and I opened it up and looked at this wood carving of a sun. "How did you?" He shrugged, "Augustin cuts wood in town and got me some scraps. It is nothing big and please don't tell your siblings." I nodded my head, "Yeah thanks."
"Pepa Madrigal," I looked up and saw, "Hernando, what are you doing over here?" He smirked, "I was looking for you. Señorita Madrigal" Felix stood up, "I'm going to go find Augustin. Let him know all his work was done. See you around Pepa Happy Birthday. Hernando." I watched as he went off and I wondered what happened. We seemed to be having a nice time. "Happy Birthday Pepa," Hernando said bringing my attention back to him, "Thank you." We talked for a little while longer before I went back to Casita.
(Felix POV)
I found Augustin and Julieta at her stand. He saw me coming and held out his hand, "Taking my list." I nodded my head, "Yeah I got them all done." "You do not know how to take a day off," he said. I just shook my head, "It wasn't that bad anyway." I handed him the money from today but he held his hand up, "Hey you earned it today not me." "Yeah, but its your job." I put the money in his hand before turning to Julieta, "Happy Birthday again." She smiled, "Thank you. Have you seen Pepa? I nodded my head, "Um yeah she was talking to Hernando Santiago again." She rolled her eyes, "Why Pepa? I have to go." She went off to look for Pepa and I looked back at Augustin.
"Sorry," but he shoved my arm, "You kidding me I spent the entire day with her. Thanks hombre." I nodded my head, "Hey you know it wasn't that big of a deal. I'll see you tomorrow." "See you tomorrow," He said as he gave me a side arm hug. I walked off and went back to my shack.
I went inside and went to the kitchen area before pulling out a bag of rice and some bread. I looked everything else I had over. This would be enough for now. I noticed something fall and then saw that it was money. I looked on my shoulder and saw a few other bills sticking off my suspenders. "Augustin." I put the money with my savings and sat down letting out a long breath before smiling to myself. "It was a pretty good day off," I said to myself.
I just wished Hernando hadn't come.