Summary:

Gabriela, along with Pepa and Bruno, goes to the plaza to see Julieta.

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Written in Gabriela's POV.

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"So, how do you find life here so far?" Pepa asks me as we make our way down to Julieta's food cart at the plaza. I feel at ease being able to talk to someone like Pepa who's genuinely happy to see me. I don't need to read her mind to know that, because it's so obvious. Her arms are linked with mine as we stroll along the streets, Bruno following closely behind us.

"Well, I guess I could say I've adjusted so far." I eye Bruno, who's walking along with the hood of his ruana up. "Bruno, why do you have your hood up?"

He turns to look at me, eyes wide. "Er…I don't feel comfortable being…seen in public." I nod in understanding. Pepa did mention that people didn't like him. I know it has something to do with his gift. "Hey, Bruno, can I try something? Pepa, can we stop for a second?"

Pepa looks at me, her eyebrow raised but she doesn't question me and we all stop walking. Before Bruno can even say a word, I link my other arm around his. He immediately stiffens.

Oh, wrong move. "Lo siento, Bruno. I didn't mean to catch you by surprise. I thought…maybe if we all walked arm in arm, you'd feel a bit more comfortable since you're with us and not just following from behind?" I begin to move my arm away when he stops me.

"Wait. Give me a moment." Pepa and I wait until he relaxes, and a sigh escapes him. It's like he's been holding his breath for a while. "You're…right. Sorry, I didn't mean to react like that. Heh." He grins and slides the hood of his ruana off his head. Pepa and I try hard not to laugh at his messy hair. "What's so funny?"

I smile at the two Madrigal siblings flanking me on both sides. "Nothing. Let's go get Julieta."

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The sun is starting to set when we reach Julieta's cart. She's serving the last of her customers as we approach her.

"Julieta!" Pepa waves with her free hand. "Look who I got here!"

Julieta's face breaks into a huge grin when she sees us. "Gabriela! Long time no see." She gives me a big hug and chides me softly as a mother would. "What took you so long to visit? Ay, I thought you forgot your promise to mi Mamá."

"Lo siento, Julieta. But I'm here now, at least. And look who we also brought along with us." I nudge Bruno with my elbow and he yelps in surprise. Julieta laughs. "Ay, you got Bruno outside!"

"Shh, quiet down, sis." Bruno eyes the townsfolk walking about, probably on their way home. My vision blurs for a moment, and then I start to hear terrible thoughts.

Bad luck!

He's creepy!

What is he doing here?

I hope he doesn't look my way.

Poor Señora Madrigal, having a son like that.

He's better off…

"Gabriela, is everything okay?" Julieta's voice brings me back to reality. "Your brows were furrowing." I blink at her. I think I've blacked out for a moment. "I'm fine." I lie. Thankfully Julieta buys my fib. "Oh, okay. Agustín's left for a bit to get some herbs for me, but he'll be back soon. Pepa, think you can give me a hand packing up for the day while we wait for him to return?"

"Sure." Pepa lets go of my arm and turn to Bruno. "Brunito, you stay with Gabriela, make sure she's okay. This won't take long."

We watch as Pepa and Julieta walk off to pack up. I glance at Bruno, who's shifting his feet. I lock my arm tighter with his, and his eyes grow wide.

I feel bad for him. It's a good thing he can't read minds like I do.

"What are you doing?" Bruno whispers at me.

"Nothing." I can't let him know what I've seen from the townsfolk around us. He shrugs. "Do you want to sit while we wait? We can take a seat over there." He points to a bench directly across from Julieta's cart. I nod at him. "Okay."

We walk towards the bench, arms still linked to one another. "Gabriela?"

"Hm?"

"Are you sure you're…okay with us looking like this?"

"Why, are you not okay?" I ask. He shakes his head. "No, I mean, I'm fine with it, but…"

"But what?"

"...people might get the wrong idea, you know?" He says carefully. My heart broke at that. People are so cruel to him for something he couldn't even control, that unless you're part of the Madrigals, being seen with him equals social suicide. "What do you mean, the wrong idea?"

He looks away, embarrassed. "Never mind."

We sit together in silence, just watching people. I glance over at him. I've never gotten a really close look at him before, save for the time I took him by surprise, but it was too dark to even make out any of his features. We're sitting so close together at the moment that it gives me a chance to. Messy curls of hair frame his face, and from his profile, I do notice his nose is the most prominent feature. It's not out of place though and gives him enough character. He has some light stubble on his cheeks. He's indeed good-looking, but he looks tired, with some bags under his eyes.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" I whip my head up and our eyes meet. Busted.

"Sorry," I laugh nervously. What should I say? "I've realized I've never gotten a close enough look at you before."

"You like what you see?" Bruno teases me, a mischievous grin dancing on his lips. I roll my eyes at him. Okay, I take it all back.

"Ay, you should stop hanging out with my brother. He's such a bad influence on you."

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