A/N: The song title "Everyday Fun" was borrowed. The actual song is from Power Rangers: Super Samari and the episode is Season 1: Episode 7. Just thought I'd let everyone know. Here's the next chapter.
Victoria froze, her glasses falling a bit when she tensed. She repositioned them and turned around. Mamá Imelda was sitting up in bed, staring at Victoria.
Victoria gulped again.
"Victoria, what are you doing awake?" Mamá Imelda asked, sounding exasperated. "It's 11:30 at night."
Victoria straightened and took a deep breath. "I couldn't sleep. I thought heard something, so I thought I'd check on you."
"We're fine." Mamá Imelda ran her hand through Héctor's hair as she said this. "Anything else?"
Héctor gave another quiet and shallow laugh, and Victoria shuddered.
"How do you deal with him?" The words exited her mouth before Victoria knew what she said.
"What?" Imelda was now paying full attention, sitting straight up and staring at Victoria in bewilderment.
Victoria sighed, not saying anything.
"Victoria?"
Finally Victoria took a deep breath. "How do you deal with him? It's impossible to be amigos with someone as severe as Héctor. Did someone force you to? Was it your parents' idea? Surely you didn't become friends by yourself." Victoria exhaled, looking at Imelda's face.
It looked mad. And hurt.
Now Victoria was sorry. She glanced at Héctor, still in deep sleep. He rolled over to face Imelda and smiled contenedly, laughing.
Victoria looked away.
Mamá Imelda sighed. "No," she said in a sad tone. "No one forced us to be friends. I did it on my own."
"But why?" Victoria pressed, "What made you choose him?" Victoria gave her words a purposfully sharp edge.
Mamá Imelda's expression became sadder. "I knew he needed help." she explained, squeezing Héctor's hand. "I knew we'd be good amigos because we'd support and assist each other. He needed me. Ernesto spent most of his time away from Héctor, and no one else would dare speak to him. When he'd hang out with me, we were inseperable."
Imelda sighed. Victoria waited.
"I've seen the way you look at him." Mamá Imelda stared at her. "You can't stand him, can you?"
"Sometimes." Victoria admitted. Mamá Imelda cocked her head to the side, confused.
Victoria looked her in the eye. "He's too much for me. I don't know how to act around him. I can't talk to him without feeling a bit mad. I wish he was more like me. He'd be easier to tolerate." Victoria sighed. "Lo siento. I know we're family, but... I just... I'm not sure I like him."
Mamá Imelda's expression became rigid, fierce.
Victoria realized what Imelda must think, and she gasped. "Lo siento, I didn't mean that. Well I did but--"
"Victoria, go back to bed."
"But--"
"Now." Mamá Imelda's voice had a forcefulness that she hadn't used with Victoria since she was a child. Victoria left, fuming.
She knew she meant it the moment it came out of her mouth. She really wasn't sure if she liked Héctor.
Slumping down in her bed, she huffed.
How do you connect with someone that makes your non existant skin crawl when they're at there happiest point?