I took a deep breath and steeled myself before the Smith's front door. You're fine, I thought. Be normal. No need to panic like a spaz.

I rapped on the door before I lost my nerve.

The door swung open to reveal a blonde woman that I recognized as Morty's mom. "If you're here to convert us to your religion," she said dryly, "I'm sorry to inform you that we are quite happy with the god we do or do not have."

She moved to close the door.

"Oh no, Mrs. Smith! I-I'm here for Morty."

She stopped and gave me a skeptical look. "You're here for Morty? Why?"

I fiddled with the straps on my backpack. "I'm his Spanish tutor… may I come in?"

After a beat, Mrs. Smith shrugged and open the door for me to step in.

"Morty!" She called up the stairs. "A little friend is here to see you." She faced me with a smile. "He'll be down in a second…"

"Uh, L-Luisa. I'm Luisa."

"Luisa. It's good to meet you." She gave me a once-over that had me shrinking from her calculating stare. "If you study in his room, please remind my son to keep his door open."

"I-I-I—"

"MOM!"

My face heated at the sound of the familiar voice. Morty stomped down the stairs and glared at his mom. "Stop saying words. You can go now. Thank you."

Mrs. Smith rolled her eyes and laughed, muttering an "uh-huh, sure thing" under her breath before heading into the living room.

We were left alone, and a twinge of self-consciousness shot through me. Was there something on my face? Was I taller than him? He's gonna think I'm gross.

He's not gonna think about you at all. Just shut up and teach him Spanish.

Morty chuckled and rubbed the back of his head in an embarrassed way I couldn't help but think was adorable. "Sorry about her. Moms, y'know? You know how they are."

"Haha. Right." Moms. Did I know. "Anyway, Morty, estas listo?"

He gave m a blank stare. Cutecutecute.

"I'll take that as a 'yes'. So where should we set up shop?"

Morty jabbed his thumb at the stairs. "My room is good. We'll-we'll-we'll have fewer distractions that way."

I tried to smile nonchalantly, as if I wasn't both terrified and excited to be in Morty's room, sitting on his bed with him mere inches away. "L-Lead the way."

He led me up the stairs. A door in the hallway opened and out stepped a redheaded girl in her early twenties. She was dressed in a lacy purple tank top I would die and kill to wear, tight jeans and heels. Her eyes were glued to her phone. I thought she was texting friends or scrolling through her social media until a light flashed on both of us.

"Summer!" Morty shouted as I shrunk back. "What the— what the hell?"

She kept her attention on her phone. "Mom said you had a friend and I needed proof for myself."

"Stop being a creep. Sh-She's just here to tutor me in Spanish."

I forced smile. "Hi, I'm Luisa."

Summer ignored me. "Spanish II is dogshit easy. I should know, I took it twice. Just download Duolingo."

Morty's shoulders shagged. "This is serious. It turns out I-I'm missing, like, a lot of credits I need to graduate."

"Can't grandpa Rick just make you a fake diploma or something? He's already given me five." She turned to me for the first time and smiled smugly. "I'm a doctor, detective, and a beautician.

"Oh, w-wow," I said, unsure of how to respond. "How do you have the time for all-all your jobs?"

"She doesn't," Morty said. "She tricks people into following her by promising to start an OnlyFans. She's barely an influencer."

"Influence this." She bumped him with her hip and farted on him.

Morty made a show of gagging and pushing her towards the stairs. "Ugh! Summer, you're gross! Goodbye!"

"Yuh-huh. Have fun studying, limp dicks. I'm gonna get wrecked and eat ass."

Morty shouted at her to go as she flipped him off and made other obscene gestures with her fingers and tongue. Their back and forth reminded me of my older brothers, and I would've laughed, but…

"How'd she know?" I muttered.

"She doesn't know anything." Morty grabbed me by the hand and dragged me to his room. His hand was so warm and firm. I thought I might combust.

The next two hours went by without a hitch. I helped Morty with his homework, speaking to him in Spanish to help him get used to hearing and speaking the language. He was a quick learner. Together we were able to get through a few of the homework worksheets he had backed up for seemingly months.

I yawned and stretched. "That's a good place to stop, or at least take a break if you're up for more later."

Morty closed his book. "I-I can take a break. Yeah. Thanks for doing this by the way. I think I'm finally getting the hang of it."

I smiled. "That's good, Morty. I'm glad I can help you."

He smiled back but then turned away. Oh god. Did I smile too big? Or did it last too long? Should I have said something else? He's gonna think I'm a weirdo.

"How'd you get to be so good?" Morty asked. "A-at Spanish, I mean."

I made a silent prayer of thanks for end that awkward pause. "I'm Mexican. I speak Spanish and English with my family at home."

"Oh, well, that'll do it. Haha."

I laughed. "Yeah. I took Spanish in school for an easy A. And tutoring looks good to colleges, or so my guidance counselor says."

He looked at me and I once again was weak under his gaze.

"N-Not that that's the only reason!" I said. "I like spending time with you. To help you with Spanish. Because I'm super helpful."

"You are."

I blushed at the simple compliment. "M-Morty…"

"What is it, Luisa?"

Say it, baboso. Sayitsayitsay—

I swallowed. "Can I… get a glass of water?"

Fuck!

As I followed him to the kitchen, we talked about movies we were looking forward to seeing. He was interested in an upcoming Marvel movie. I didn't care for it, but I like listening to him talk about something he was into. I loved the enthusiasm he spoke with.

While he was pouring me a glass of water, an older man in a lab coat and spiky electric blue hair walked in, brushing past Morty on his way to the fridge.

"Hey, Rick," Morty said. "This is Luisa. Luisa, t-this is my grandpa Rick."

I waved. "H-hello."

He gave me an uninterested glance before returning his attention back to the refrigerator. "Oh, she knows. It's that girl that watches our house like she's trying to— uuuurp— trying to catch flies in her mouth."

It took every muscle in my jaw not to drop it. He caught me. He saw me. Shit.

I barely heard Morty yell, "Rick! Don't be rude! She's not a stalker, she's my Spanish tutor."

"Not mutually exclusive, Morty." Rick grabbed a case of beers but didn't close the fridge door. "Besides, what do you need a tutor for? I already gave you bilingupills."

Morty's cheeks reddened. "I-I-I'm not sure what you mean, Rick! Bilingu-what? Haha! You're probably just confused. Poor grandpa, he must be going senile-– ah!"

Rick smacked Morty in the back of the head. "H-how's that for senile, biii—uuuuurp—iiitch?"

I snapped my fingers. "I know where you might've—might've seen me, Rick."

"You mean when you watch us from the comfort of your home?"

"No!" Well yes. Obviously yes, but I'm creating plausible deniability here. "I meant that I think you've dealt my brother space weed before."

Morty turned on his grandpa. "What the hell, Rick?! You're dealing weed?"

"Space weed, Morty. It's not as bad as it— as it sounds. Glimbit dust is a mild sedative. Melatonin gives a stronger high… y'know If you're a— uuuuuurp— pussy."

And with that, he took his case of beer to the garage and slammed the door behind him like the whole damn conversation didn't just happen.

My fingers twitched around the cool glass of water. "M-Maybe I should leave."

"What? Why?" Morty asked. "Because of Rick? Don't mind him, he's drunk. He doesn't know what he's talking about."

"Not… not exactly."

Morty frowned. "What d-do you mean?"

I sipped my water and sighed. Might as well confess. "I'm not a stalker or anything, I swear! I just… I live across the street from you and your house has been very… active the last four years. I see you and your grandpa getting up to a lot of… sciencey shenanigans."

"Oh. O-Oooooh, fuck."

"And you guys fight a lot, but sometimes you're having fun. There's a lot of crazy sci-fi stuff going on, it's hard not to be curious."

"Oh, well-well that's okay. You know, I-I imagine a lot of people in the neighborhood do that. This is the house that never sleeps. Haha."

"That's cute, Morty," Rick said, suddenly back in the kitchen, rummaging in an overhead cupboard. "Did she explain that she follows you around school like a lost puppy and y-your a rib eye?"

"Why are you still here, Rick?" Morty asked.

He shook a box of cereal at Morty and belched. "I-I-I forgot my Eyeholes. Don't mind me. Or do. I don't care."

"I-I don't follow him!" I insisted. "I just–"

"Look Lu-Lu— what was your name again?"

"Luisa."

"Look, Luisa. It's not my place to give a fuck, but it's really obvious for anyone with a brainstem that you have a boring little, insipid crush on him. Just rip that— rip that Band-Aid off. You have boobs so the chances are in your favor."

He left us again in awkward silence.

"I-I have to go." I set my most full glass on the counter and headed out of the kitchen.

"W-w-wait. Please."

It was the "please" that stopped me. I turned, and he was staring right at me.

Morty rubbed his arm. "Do you really… y'know, like me?"

I could only nod. "It's stupid. I'm sorry. You barely know me so I know this is uncomfortable for you."

"No it's not—"

"I just thought you seemed very nice and cute and you're obviously the most interesting guy at school. I-I'm surprised you don't have more girls following you."

The adorable pink coloring his cheeks made nearly made this whole situation worth it. "O-oh, aw geez..."

I continued. Cat's out of the bag, might as well go all out now. "And I-I remember back a few years back when everybody mutated and really wanted to fuck the shit out of some guy Morty. After it all went down and everyone got better, I thought to myself, who the hell was Morty? And boom! He's that kid down the street where all the weird shit goes down. That's pretty funny, I wonder what this kid's deal is."

"Oh. Wow. That-that-that is a lot."

"I'm sorry. I'm rambling. I'm just afraid of what you might say to me when I stop talking."

I could only stare at my feet while I anticipated his response. My heart hammered in my ears.

"Luisa, I li—"

"Hey, Morty!" A brown-haired older man jauntily strolled into the kitchen. He hummed and poured himself a glass of orange juice, blissfully unaware of the awkward situation he found himself in. He smiled when he eventually noticed me. "Hello. Who's this, Morty? You're new little girlfriend?"

Iwannadiiiie...

"Dad!" Morty said indignantly.

Morty's dad ignored his embarrassment to shake my hand. "Hi, I'm Jerry Smith. And you are?"

I shook his hand. "Hi, Mr. Smith. I am...thoroughly humiliated."

"Well hi, Thoroughly Humiliated. I'm Morty's dad. Haha!"

I almost laughed from the absurdity of the dumb joke, but Morty didn't share my feelings.

"Dad, shut the fuck up! Can you be normal for five minutes!" Morty grabbed me by the shoulders and steered me out of the kitchen. "Jesus Christ. W-W-W-What is with everyone in this family?!"

I heard Mr. Smith mutter a "What'd I do this time?" as Morty pushed me out the front door.

"I-I-I'm sorry, Morty!" I stammered. "If you want me to go—"

"No!" Morty spun me around to face him. "I don't want you to go!"

Whatever I was going to say was swallowed. The look on his face… he really wanted me to stay. My stomach fluttered. "Then why did you bring me outside?"

"Oh, um… I just wanted to get away from them."

My shoulders shagged in disappointment when he removed his hands. I rubbed my arm. "You don't have to be embarrassed about your family, Morty. Trust me, if we studied at my house it would be just as bad."

He laughed, and butterflies erupted in my heart. "Y'know s-somehow I doubt it."

"Seriously. Imagine having three Summers, but they're also annoyingly protective Juggalos."

"Aw, geez. I couldn't… that-that sounds like a nightmare." We went back and forth like that for a while, sharing stories about our families until the sun began to set.

I stood up. "I didn't notice that it was getting late. I have to go for real this time."

"O-oh. Right. Don't forget your backpack."

We kept talking as he walked me to his room and back out his front door.

I shoulder my backpack on. "Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow, Morty. Thanks for being so cool about everything."

Morty shrugged. "It's fine. Luisa…"

I froze as he cupped my cheek and leaned forward to press his lips to the other. All my blood rushed to my face and probably somewhere alittlelowerthanthat.

He smiled softly at me. "D-don't even trip, dawg."

Before I could respond, I heard distant whooping and hollering. From across the street, my brothers watched us through the window, laughing and recording us on their phones.

Morty's cheeks reddened again. "A-aw geez."

I dropped my face into my hands. "Jesus Christ just fucking kill me..."