"Ernesto's not insensitive, Rosita. At least he didn't used to be."
Victoria roll her eyes. "He's either sensitive or he's not, Héctor." she mutters. But she knew Héctor heard her. She catches his fearful and pointed gaze and and narrows her eyes at him. He shrinks away.
When he does, Victoria stares at her plate in front of her. The taquitos in front of her are perfect. Her mood is anything but. She takes a bite and listens in on their conversation, getting grouchier by the minute.
"I don't think murdering me was his first decision." Héctor says, and Victoria can hear the slight hopefulness in his voice.
"You don't think so?" Tía Rosita asks him. Victoria grumbles quietly.
"No." Héctor answers, staring directly at Victoria. Victoria looks up. "I don't think it was his first choice. It couldn't have been. If it was, then I don't know what he was thinking."
"He was probably thinking about finding a new best amigo," Victoria interjects bitterly. "He probably secretly despised you."
"He did not!" Héctor is staring at her, shocked.
Victoria rolls her eyes, standing up. "Yes he did, Héctor. He probably hated you. He was just being nice."
"Because he was nice." Héctor sort of glares at her, and a look of fierce protectivity shines in his eyes as stands, his fists balled at his side.
"It's not nice to kill your best amigo," Victoria yells, banging her hand on the table. "It's not nice to steal songs and take the credit. And it certainly isn't nice to try and turn people against you."
"We had a relationship, Victoria," Héctor says in a clipped tone. "A friendship. He was like a superhero to me. How was I supposed to know he'd turn on me?"
"Maybe you'd know if you had a better judge of character. If you payed more attention. If you saw how desperate he must've been and acted on it." Victoria matches his firey stare with an icy one of her own.
"The fact that you used to be amigos with him makes me sick." Victoria is on a roll. "I can't believe it even lasted that long. You're too intense. Too kidlike. No wonder Ernesto took that chance" Victoria sees his expression change from angry to slightly pained. She starts to walk away, but then stops. "I wish you were forgotten." she mutters. Everyone at the table gasps.
"Victoria!" Mamá Imelda shouts. Victoria turns around and sees Héctor's face. Tears are running down his face and he tries to mask it with irritation. That's when Victoria gasps. She'd hurt him. Not what she intended to do.
Victoria huffs angrily and runs to her room, slamming the door and diving onto her bed. She hadn't meant to make Héctor sad. She just wanted him to be different. More mature. Normal.
She rolls over to face the ceiling, covering her face with her pillow. Then she lets loose her tears.
A few minutes go by, and Victoria isn't feeling any better. When she hears her door open, she groans. "Go away," she mutters darkly as she rolls on her side.
But the person doesn't go away. Victoria hears shuffling around and seconds later, her door closes. Victoria rolls over to face her door, and then she sees it. Héctor's favorite toy, Awesomeness. Attached to her chest is a note.
It reads, Squeeze this.
On the other side of the paper it reads, Sometimes squeezing something makes me feel better.
"I'm not you!" Victoria shouts, groaning.
But then she sqeezes it.
Now she has a mission.
Victoria hurries to Héctor's bedroom door, sliding her note under the crack. It simply reads, It worked.
She still feels to guilty to hear his laugh when he reads it.