Chapter 13:
(Felix POV)
- a week later -
Things between Pepa and I have been different since the Firefly Festival and I can't explain it. I know that her breaking up with Hernando effected her but, I didn't know why it affected our friendship. She was suddenly nervous around me almost timid. Did I do something wrong that night? I was only trying to help her but, should I have not asked her to dance. She seemed to have a really good time last night was that different now.
I knew that I was going to see her today. All of us were going to the funeral for Augustin's Papa. Still I had never been nervous to see her before. I didn't understand why I was now?
I looked over at Augustin who seemed to be moving robotically to get ready. I went over to him, "Hey we are all going to walk to the church and then I'm going to head back home, but Julieta is going to stay with you. Promise you will check in with me later." He nodded his head but didn't give more of a response than that. I patted his shoulder and heard a knock on the door to see who it was.
(Pepa POV)
I didn't know what to do anymore. Every time I saw Felix I would get nervous and the weather was clearly reflecting that. I wanted to tell him that I liked him. I wanted him to know the truth about everything, but if I told him and he didn't like me that way it would ruin everything. Not to mention that I dated Hernando for years in front of Felix and I knew that they didn't get along. I didn't want him to think that I was using him to hurt Hernando. It was so far away from that and I couldn't explain it.
Julieta was heading out to walk with Augustin to the church. We were all going to be there for him today. I met her at the door, "Mind if I come with you?" She nodded her head and we walked out to the shack. Augustin seemed to be lost in his own thoughts as Julieta took his hand as they walked into town. Felix looked at me and nodded his head at me, "Pepa." I bit my bottom lip, "We better go to the church." I turned on my heels and we walked behind Augustin and Julieta. "So what is the weather report supposed to be today?" He asked knowing that people usually asked for different things on different days, "Conflicted. I honestly don't know how I feel much less what the weather is going to end up being."
He nodded his head, "Yeah it has been a while since the town had a funeral." I nodded my head, "Yeah about 6 years ago." He shook his head, "No it couldn't have been 6 years," but I nodded my head, "Yeah. That was the last funeral at least." He shook his head, "Wow we were 12?" I nodded my head, "Yeah it feels like forever ago from when we were kids." I looked at him and shrank back into myself. Today wasn't the day to talk about this. Today we were here for Felix... I mean Augustin. AI had to shake this off and fast. At least before we reached the church.
(Felix POV)
Pepa, Bruno and I sat in the pew behind Augustin and Julieta. He seemed to barely notice that any of us were there besides Julieta but that might have been for the best. All of knew that this day was complicated for him and we didn't want to make things worse. We were just there if he needed us and that seemed to be enough. The ceremony ending and we left the church giving Augustin and Julieta a moment. I went over to talk to Pepa but she already seemed to be walking away. Bruno came up to me and sighed, "Felix please put all of us out of our misery and talk to Pepa before the weather becomes a mess." I quirked my brown, "Bruno." He pointed to the sky and I saw a rainbow. I don't know how I missed it before. She was walking out the fields and I nodded my head, "Alright yeah I'll talk to her." He nodded his head before looking around, "I'm going to sneak out before this turns into everyone asking me about visions." I nodded my head and ran after Pepa.
She was walking back and forth in a field I typically worked in. No one was working today because of the funeral so she was all alone. I felt hot and cold breezes brushing against my face as I went over to her. "Pepa?" She looked at me and her eyes widened, "Felix what are you doing here?" I pointed at the rainbow and she sighed, "Only you ever see those as a problem." I let out a half laugh, "Yeah because they usually are for you. What's going on Pepa? Was it the funeral?" She shook her head, "No." "Was it Hernando? I mean I know he was there but all of town was there." She shook her head again, "Is it me?" She opened and closed her mouth. She didn't say no. My worst insecurities were poking their way to the surface. Things that I know that Pepa would never think but things I couldn't stop thinking about, "Is this because I'm the town orphan? Do you not want me around anymore?"
She looked almost offended as the question left my lips and I knew that it was wrong. "FELIX, NEVER SAY THAT ABOUT YOURSELF EVER!" She began to yell. I was supposed to be calming her down, "Pepa, it's ok. It isn't a big deal." I went to touch her arm but she shook me off, "No it is a huge deal. You are one of the best people I know. Everyone in town loves you. My Mama likes you, do you know how hard it is to please that woman? How dare you insult my best friend. I won't stand for anyone using that against you Felix including you. I love you and I won't let you think that any part of you is not good enough for me and anyone else in town."
I stopped her, "I'm going to need you to back up a second. You what?" She mentally thought over what she said and a bright blush crossed her face. Hernando and her broke up a week ago. I reminded myself. I spent a long time managing my expectations about this. I needed to make sure that I was right before I did anything else, "Pepa did you say you love me?" She nodded her head. I let out a breath, "As a friend or..." "More," she whispered her face in her hands. I went over to her and moved her hands back, "Pepa?" She wrapped her arms around me and pulled me in for a kiss which I quickly deepened as the cool breeze picked up around us. Cool breeze meant she was happy because of me. I figured out that one a long time ago.