The morning sun made Itza wake up.
She look over at the clock, it was only 8:09am
She got up to brush her hair, today was going to be a different day compare to the others.
Why? There were guest today, people who weren't her family, she was going to be that quite girl, who was polite and nice, it wasn't a big change. Everyone was different around people they didn't know well.
It has been a week since they left Centroamerica; she missed it.
She got out of her room and into a hallway; she was still in her pajamas
In the hallway she found Ivan
"Ivan?" she asked confuse
"Itza!" the Russian said a little happy "Yao had said the Central American friends were coming."
"Yes" she said smiling "We're here in a family reunion. Why are you here, if I may ask?"
"There's a ball tonight" he said smiling "I was invited along with others."
"Very well." She said smiling
"ITZA" Suyapa said running "Dios del santo, sálvame de todo lo malo en este mundo"
"Suyapa?" Itza asked turning around
Ivan smile at the sight of the petit girl
"Suyapa, comportate" Itza said in Suyapa's ear "Rusia esta aqui"
Suyapa looked at the tall man and smile towards him
"Good morning, Ivan" she said politely "How do you do?"
"Very good. Are you okay?"
"Oh yes, thank you for asking. I saw the paintings in the wall outside and I got scare" Suyapa laughed for a moment
"I see." Ivan answered "I wanted to ask at what time breakfast was"
"Antonio said it would probably be at 9:00am when everyone was up" Itza answered
"Thank you" Ivan said "I'm going to leave you two. See you in a while"
"Bye" Suyapa said and then turn to her sister "Itza, Itzita, oime vo', casi me muero… casi…"
"I saw the paintings and they were scary" Itza said laughing while hugging her little sister "Come on, let's go wake up the others."
In the other side of the castle Isidro was sleeping beside Jose and Tomas.
Why were they together?
Last night, before coming in, they found a room full of paintings and they couldn't sleep because of it. So they decided to sleep together.
Jose was in the middle of his older brothers, but he was awake while the others were still sleeping. Isidro snore like an old man and Tomas moved around the bed too much
"Hey, hey" he said out loud "Wake up"
"No…"
"WAKE UP!" Suyapa said busting through the doors "We're cooking"
"Suyapa, you yell one more time" Tomas said with his eyes close "I will kill you"
Suyapa smile to Itza, Itza walk to where Tomas was in the bed
"Ah si?" Itza said in a serious tone
Tomas open his eyes and got up
"I'm up, I'm up"
"Okay then, let's go. Today is a big day!" Itza said smiling. "Put clothes on. We will wait for you in the kitchen"
Tomas was angry for a while but then he and the other's went to the kitchen
When they arrived there was a Suyapa holding a knife against Yao who was pinned against the wall. They were both laughing.
"What happen?" Isidro asked Itza, who was preparing the eggs
"They just decided to have a fight" she said without a care in the world
"Thank you!" Suyapa said smiling "It's always good to fight with you"
"I agree!" Yao said cleaning his clothes
"Yao!" Jose said happily to the asian man "How you've been?"
"Good, good" and then they both walked away
Those two kept talking while Suyapa went back to help Itza.
The siblings worked together, they set the table and prepare drinks. Luckily there was corn mix to make tortillas.
"I think we have everything ready" Itza said "Tomas go call Antonio. Tell him that the food is ready"
Tomas got out of the room and went to call Antonio
"Jose went out to talk to Yao and never came back" Itza said "He's going to clean up by himself."
"The food smells amazing!" Lovino said entering the room
"I'm ready to eat!" Prussia said laughing
"Umm" Francis said taking a deep breath in
"It smells okay" Arthur said sitting down
"Says the guy who can't cook" Suyapa said laughing to his sister
"Sh, be quite" Itza said trying to hold her laugh in
Little by little the people came in.
There were a lot of them
"There are too many people here" Tomas said to his siblings "I didn't know it was a huge party tonight"
"I didn't either" Itza said "I don't think I made enough food"
"We did…" Suyapa said "Isidro and I made sure that we had a lot of food…"
"The hero has arrive!" Alfred said
At the sound of the voice Suyapa turn her face and saw the American
She remember the conversation she had had with Antonio
"Remember, apologize"
She didn't do anything wrong. She only cheered for her friend. He was the one in the wrong. He should apologize.
He even sang those songs!
"Are we all here?" Roderich asked Elizabeta
"Yes, dear. You didn't invite too much people"
"I'm glad. This is costing me a lot of money" he said a little angry
"It's your idea to do this" she said laughing a little "We enjoy it"
Roderich nodded his head
"Well then, let's eat" Antonio said
The people talked around each other, some talked about politics others about fun things.
Suyapa sat by Matthew, Alfred's brother, and they talked for a while; Suyapa ignoring the American
"This food is delicious" Alfred would comment but he never got Suyapa's attention, instead her siblings would said thank you
He was angry. She wouldn't even look at him.
Was he in the wrong? Did he over do it in their party in France?
No. She was flirting with the German. She always was; she did it in Zaragoza, in San Sebastian, in San Mateo de Gallego.
"I'm glad all of you were able to come" Antonio said
"Yes." Kiku said "Thank you for inviting me"
"Kiku!" Alfred said "You don't have to be polite."
Kiku nodded and went back to talk with Ludwig.
After breakfast was done the family went out to get some things for the family.
Alfred wanted to get Suyapa's attention but Suyapa kept ignoring him.
"Here, in these boxes are my presents" Elizabeta said smiling "I think you all will like it."
In the boxes were dresses and suits for everyone.
"I think I picked good for everyone. If not. I'm very sorry." She said smiling "Dinner will be serve at six, and after that the party. Now you're free to go and do whatever"
Close to where the river was Lili, Vash, Alfred, Ivan and four of the Central Americans shooting
"This is going to be fun" Itza said pointing her fire arm to one of the 'goals'
"The girls should be careful" Alfred said looking at Suyapa
Suyapa looked back at him, angry.
"Could I shoot?" Suyapa asked Vash grabbing his machine gun with a smile
"Yes, go ahead" Vash answered getting away from her
Why the machine gun?
Suyapa began shooting to the 'goals'.
She was wearing a skirt and a t-shirt with her hair in a braid to her side with close shoes
Alfred looked at her, mesmerize by her beauty and her skills.
"That was pretty good" Ivan said
"Well, of course!" Isidro said smiling "She loves to shoot"
"I'm next" Alfred said cheerfully
"I'm going inside" Suyapa said grabbing her stomach "I think I ate something that didn't agree with me
Alfred kept trying to get her attention, but she wouldn't listen to him and when she did, she'd always make an excuse to leave fast.
And like that the hours went by; the afternoon came and everyone retired to their rooms to get ready
Itza had a long-short dress, silver colored with a round collar; Suyapa had a long dress, light blue colored with a sweet-heart collar; Amaral had a plain long dress, black colored with a close collar; Elizabeta had a mermaid dress, green colored with a round collar; Bella had a tight dress, red colored with a sweet-heart collar –which she complained about -; Lili had a long dress, pink colored with a rectangular collar.
Each of the girls were on their room doing what they could to make themselves look pretty. Itza put her long her in a bun, while Suyapa let her wavy-curly hair fall to her back.
When the time for dinner came, the boys were already in the open space in the middle of two of the towers of the castle.
Alfred was busy talking to his brother about their frontier and he didn't notice her.
"Suyapa, you look stunning" Ludwig said
"Thank you!" she said smiling "I thought no one would notice me"
"You look beautiful!" Antonio said "Just like your sister" Antonio pointed to the Guatemalan girl was currently talking to Gilbert
Suyapa then walked to her brother Isidro
"Dios santo" she said annoyed "I can see my breast without trying to see them"
"Did Itza said anything about it?" he asked fixing his tie
"No" she answered "She wasn't bother by it."
"Then don't worry about it" he said smiling "Enjoy the night tonight"
Vash and Lili were talking in the distance; Ludwig, Roderich and Ivan were discussing the music; Itza, Lovino, Feliciano, Yao and Kiku talked random things; Bella had her two brothers at either side of her while they all talk to Antonio; Suyapa, Jose, Tomas and Isidro were admiring the night sky thinking about how much this vacation had helped all of them; Amaral, Arthur, Matthew and Alfred sat at the dinner table talking politics; Elizabeta, Gilbert and France admire the rest of them.
It looked like a peaceful night
And then, the dinner plates came.
It was pasta; beautiful pasta in beautiful plates.
They gather around the table and sat down without a care to where to sit.
To Alfred's luck Suyapa sat by him, but so did Ludwig. They were engaged in a deep military conversation.
"So Alfred" Antonio said from his other side "Let's talk"
"About what?" he asked stuffing his face with pasta
"The day we spent in France camping, you and Suyapa didn't sleep in a tent"
Alfred looked at Antonio
"What do you want?" he asked annoyed
"I just want to give you this" he said giving him an envelop "Open it up when you're alone"
But Alfred ignore him and immediately open the envelop
In the envelop there were three pictures, it could barely be seen but he knew who was in there, he recognize himself and Suyapa in the river kissing, then about to fall asleep in the sleeping bag and the last one showed them sleeping together inside the sleeping bag**
He was surprise, but he was also happy.
He hugged Antonio out of happiness, which made Arthur wonder what was going on.
"Did you apologize?" Antonio asked after smiling towards Arthur
"No. I couldn't…"
"Do it. Right now. She's right next to you… talking to Ludwig. Dinner is about to end and the dance part about to began"
Alfred nodded when he was about to talk the music began.
The majority of them were already done eating, Suyapa was one of them.
"Suyapa, would you like to dance?" Ivan asked
"Of course!" Suyapa said smiling
"What?" Alfred thought to himself "she just went with the commie. Now of all times, to go with him… I would rather have her in his side in the sixties!"
Couples dance together to Kanon in D by Johann Pechelbel.
She looked so beautiful in that dress… and now he was just standing there, a little angry
"Why aren't you dancing?" Amaral asked the young man
"I… I don't know" he answered following Suyapa with his eyes
"Let's dance then" she said smiling
Suyapa laughed, joked, smile with Ivan, who was a great dancer. And too soon the song ended.
Suyapa smile and went to sit down.
Alfred appeared behind her
"Hey!" he said sitting next to her "Why are you angry?"
She smile politely at him
"I'm not, Sr. Alfred"
Alfred looked at Suyapa with a serious look. Whenever she called him 'Sr. Alfred' it was because she was angry.
"Please tell me what's wrong."
"You" she answered dryly
"What have I done?"
"Sing… sing those songs…"
"You were cheering on Ludwig"
"He's a friend"
"You didn't cheered on me!"
"Is this going to be like WWII?" she asked angry "Is it?"
"No, is not" he said covering his face with his hands in frustration "I'm sorry, okay?"
She looked away rolling her eyes
"I shouldn't have done that, I'm an idiot. I'm so sorry baby"
"Don't call me baby" Suyapa said
"You like it when I call you that!" Alfred said grabbing her hand which she took away from him "Fine. Fine… I'll leave you"
Alfred got up and after a moment, to not make it obvious Suyapa followed him.
She grabbed the back of his suit, he stopped
"I forgive you… I'm sorry for not cheering on you" she said quietly looking to the side
"What are you two doing?" Arthur said
"We're just talking" Suyapa said smiling "You know, about our situation"
"Oh yes, I heard your house is not doing so well"
"Yes" she said smiling "It's gotten pretty bad"
"Arthur come here!" Amaral called him "Look at what I've found!"
Alfred grabbed Suyapa's hand and they walked away from the party.
Itza and the others dance some more. Most of them were having fun.
Except Abel.
"Who picked this dress for you?" he asked
"Elizabeta" she answered looking down
"It's a little too much, big sister" Lux said worried
"I know… I didn't want to wear it, but I thought it might be rude"
"It's showing too much!" Abel said "I've seen that Antonio looking over here"
"We're just friends!" Bella said angrily "He might be looking at both of you"
"That doesn't mean he can't admire the amazing sister I have" Lux said looking over at him
The party got going.
They didn't notice the two people missing.
They kept partying and talking and having fun.
Itza danced with everyone, she was like the host.
Roderich had retired to his bedroom while the others drank wine and talked
"Isidro" Tomas said "You're short tempered… worse than me. How come you haven't gotten angry in this whole trip?"
The shorter guy smile at him
"I want to be at peace with myself. This vacation has helped me relax… Possibly I will go back to be the worse out of the five."
"Yeah…" Jose said smiling "You and Suyapa"
"Talking about her…"Tomas said "Where is she?"
"Tomas!" Ivan said "Are you enjoying the party?"
"Yes" Tomas said smiling
Tomas remembered his days of wars.
Sandinistas and Contras each backed by the two super-powers of the time; the USSR and the USA.
Everything was different. Each of them had had something like that, specially Isidro, Itza and him***.
Jose and Suyapa were enjoying the peace… Jose thanks to his little Civil way in 1946 and Suyapa thanks to the civil wars of 1924, after that they had a peaceful century… it did change for Suyapa which she didn't understand, she mostly blamed it in Hurricane Mitch in 1998.
"Ah, have you seen your sister?" Itza said smiling to Isidro "It's so hot"
"You've been dancing with everyone"
"Is good that she's having fun" Jose said "Come Itza, let's dance together"
Isidro looked at Tomas who was still thinking
"What's wrong?" Isidro asked
"I don't know…" he answered "Do you think if we had stayed together we would have had the wars we had?"
"Maybe" Isidro said "I didn't know what to think when that was happening"
"It was like you were part of both sides, you fought for both sides, you were sad and happy for victories or loses" he said confuse
"We are the people" Isidro said smiling "and the people are us"
"Maybe if we had stayed together…"
"It wasn't your fault, it was our fault"
"I was the first one to separate" Tomas said
"Then Suyapa and Jose" Isidro said touching his brothers arm "Is okay… we thought we were ready to be on our own"
"Then the other time with Morazán"
"There were so many times we tried. The last one, Itza wasn't part of it. It was in the 1920s…" Isidro said "But is okay. There's a reason to why it didn't happen."
"Some of our people want it… even today"
"Yes…" Isidro said smiling "I think it would help us… but it won't happen, not any time soon."
"Ah, I guess" Tomas said "Come on, let's go closer to the music and the others!"
Isidro and Tomas sat down, they didn't want to dance, instead they wanted to just look
Abel danced with Amaral
Lux with Bella
Ivan with Elizabeta
Itza danced with Ludwig
Lili danced with Gilbert
the other's were having little snacks
"I guess Suyapa went to sleep" Antonio said to Francis
"Ah, I wanted to dance with her"
"Si, me too"
The ball kept going.
It was an interesting night for everyone.
The only drink around was wine, which they didn't drink much of it.
They did have fun and the guest were not complaining about anything.
It was a good night.
They had one more week in Europe.
I didn't feel like a week for anyone. Too much had happen.
"**notice that I mean sleeping, like dreaming sleeping
*** Nicaragua – 1979-1990
El Salvador 1980-1992
Guatemala 1960-1996