Author's notes: This chapter contains slang from the 1920s that not too many people are familiar with. Here is a glossary of them.

Dumb Dora-a stupid girl

Goofy-in love

Jake-Okay. When Hector said, "Everything's Jake," he meant, "Everything's okay."

Cake-Eater-ladies' man

Swell-Wonderful, also a rich man.

Chapter 4: Anything for you/Game Over

Mirabel ran deeper into the East Side until she came across a huge mansion with a big courtyard. Her cat stopped beside her feet. "At least, we are home, Pepita," The pre-teen said to her pet. After running in the courtyard, she opened the back door. 'Just as long as I tiptoed up to my room, nobody will notice!' the little girl thought. Her cat walked beside her. When the girl reached for the staircase, she stopped because she was startled. Someone had been sitting on the bottom of the stairs, waiting for her.

"Stephanie, where have you been?" a female alto voice asked her, coldly. The figure was dressed in a purple dress that went down to her calves, and donned a low hair bun. The figure also had purple eyeshadow and dark lipstick.

Pepita meowed and leapt into the woman's arms. The woman held the cat tenderly and stroked its fur.

Stephanie inwardly groaned. In the West Side, she was still remembered as "Mirabel," but since she came to the East Side, that was not the case anymore. Now, she has a new name, which she had learned to respond to right away. Of all the people to run into, why did it have to be her guardian?

A man in a green suit, hurried over to Stephanie and hugged the preteen tightly. His short black curly hair, had been peppered a bit with gray.

"Answer my question!" Stephanie's guardian commanded. "I'm waiting!"

Neither Stephanie nor the man could speak. The man quickly wrote down something on his his notepad and gave it to the mafia boss for her to read.

'What about our silent vow? We can't break it!' The note read.

"I had some quartz buried surrounding my estate, Juan!" The Mafia boss sighed and rolled her eyes. Usually, she'd call the man in green an idiot but didn't want to be a bad influence to Stephanie. "You were the one that had discovered a loophole to your other niece's gift, remember?"

Juan realized this and hit his face with his palm. How could he forget?

"I was outside, exploring, Senorita Imelda" Mirabel answered, meekly.

"Why weren't you in the courtyard?" Imelda asked her, cooly. "You could have gone there if you wanted to go outside!"

"I was, Senorita Imelda!" Mirabel clarified. "But then I heard some musicians in the distance. I left because I wanted to see where the music was coming from. It turned out that the they were performing in the West Side. Maybe they're getting ready for the Spring Festival Dance."

"Did anyone see you?" Imelda questioned her, abruptly. A flicker of fear flashed in her eyes. If anyone saw Imelda or any of her henchmen or servants, the police would start questioning them, and find a way to throw them in jail.

"No, Senorita Imelda," Mirabel lied. "Not one person."

Imelda breathed a sigh of relief. "All right, I won't have to worry about the police, then."

Juan narrowed his eyes at Stephanie, who winced. The 12-year-old girl had a feeling that he was going to have a talk with her.

"In the meantime, can you please water the flowers?" Imelda requested. "They could use some water."

"Yes, Senorita Imelda," Stephanie bowed. She dashed out of the hallway before her uncle or her mistress could say anything more.

"Aye, aye, aye!" Juan rolled his eyes. "That girl is going to be the death of me one day!"

"Don't trouble yourself, Juan," Imelda sighed. "She's only a child, and as long as no one saw her, we're fine."

"I'm not fine."

"Why do you say that?"

"I had a vision and it troubles me."

"What's your vision?"

"It's hard to make it out," Juan pondered out loud. "First, I saw a young boy plucking a marigold flower from here. Then it changed to a man with golden curls coming down to that same patch of marigold flowers."

The words, "marigold flowers," triggered fear into the mafia boss. Spring is here and her least favorite flower is blooming! Anger flashed through her eyes. "Well, don't just stand there!" she roared like a lioness. "Gather the gang. Go out and pluck out every single marigold flower out there! GO!"

"Yes, your grace!" Juan bowed respectfully to her.

In the West Side, everybody was in the town hall for the annual Spring Festival on one Saturday evening. There'd be dancing, live music, food, and prizes. Everyone was excited to take a break out of their busy work schedules and gather around for this fun occasion.

Héctor was walking with his mother and father down the road, to the annual Spring Festival. The rest of the family had gone ahead to help set up the party. The shoemaker did not share in his parents' excitement.

"Smile, mijo," Franco nudged him.

Héctor sighed and mustered up the best smile he could manage. His smile was so wide that it made his parents' skin crawl.

"That's not a smile!" Abuelita frowned. "You can do better than that!"

"This is one of my better ones, Mama," Héctor said through his teeth. "Why do I have to go to the festival?"

"Because the whole town is going and so are you," Abuelita said, firmly. "I don't want you to waste the whole evening moping around."

"I've been to the annual Spring dance a bunch of times before," Héctor groaned. "What's so special about it?"

"We want you to socialize with other people," Papa answered, gently. "Maybe you'll meet a pretty senorita!" His son dropped the fake smile and rolled his eyes.

"Papa, you know how I feel about women," Héctor grumbled.

"We just want you to be happy. We missed seeing the old you before that...infamous wedding."

"You need to brighten up, mijo" Abuelita chimed in. "I don't want you sulking around in the corner, like you always do."

"I'll go but I won't like it." Héctor sighed. He opened the two big heavy doors, allowing his parents to go inside first. When they were inside, the shoemaker could see that everybody had outdone themselves on decorating the town hall. There were strings of colorful paper hanging through the ceiling. To the right of the hall, was a table full of food and a punch bowl. There was a lot crepe paper flowers on the walls. To the left, were small groups of people engaged in conversations. In the center was the dance floor. In the background was a stage, reserved for the live band (courtesy of Andres and Natalia who would be performing later).

"This party doesn't look so bad," Héctor mused.

"Save a dance for me, mijo," Abuelita smiled.

"How about me?" announced a dramatic female voice.

Everybody turned to the source of the voice which came from center stage. A woman while black bobbed hair and dressed in a white flapper dress with gold trimmings.

"Ernestina!?" Héctor gasped. What was his ex-fiancé doing here?

"Aren't you happy to see me, big boy?" Ernestina responded in a breathy voice. She blew a kiss at him...which did not have any affect on him. "I just got back from Hollywood not too long ago!" She got off the stage and sashayed over to him. The flapper pushed Abel rudely out of the way, as she did so. "Out of the way, fatso!"

Then the wannabe actress hugged Héctor and caressed his face, not caring that he was uncomfortable. Nor did she acknowledge his parents, who were standing next to him.

"What is she doing here?" Abuelita demanded. She took her shoe off and was about to strike the vamp in the head. Her husband pulled her back from doing so. Although, Franco was not pleased to see the former bride, he did not want his wife to make a scene.

"Oh, I missed you so much, dear Héctor!" Ernestina cried so dramatically. "I love you, I love you, I love you. Don't you miss me, too big boy?"

"Not really!" the shoemaker, grimaced, who was struggling to get away from her. Finally, he pulled himself away from her. "You left me at the altar, remember?"

"Uh, no," Ernestina smiled way too big. "I have no idea what you are talking about!"

"I remember it!" Miguel shouted, from the crowd. He was quickly shushed by his mother who didn't want him to cause a scene.

"Start the music, girls!" Ernestina announced. She snapped her fingers and a spotlight appeared on her. Her girl posse, began playing music that sounded strange to everybody's ears. Rebecca began playing the piano, Violetta tooted her saxophone, Helga started with her trumpet, Ellen started playing the guitar, and Tanya did the backup vocals. The flapper started to move her hips in a lewd manner, and began to serenade Héctor.

"I'd give anything to give me to you

Can you forget the world that you thought you knew?"

"No!" Héctor shouted, moving away from her. Unfortunately for him, his ex-girlfriend kept walking toward him as if he were her prey.

"If you want me,

Come and find me

Nothing's stopping you so please release me!"

"Release you from what?" Héctor questioned her, crossing his arms.

Ernestina avoided the question by moving her head away from him. She began to do her fast dance moves.

"I'll believe

All your lies

Just pretend you love me!"

"Nunca!" the former groom turned his head away from her, and with his eyes closed, sticked his nose up in the air.

"Make believe

Close your eyes

I'll be anything for you!"

"How about I make believe you disappear?" Héctor asked, wryly.

"Nothing left to make me feel anymore

There's only you and everyday I need more

If you want me

Come and find me

I'll do anything you say just tell me!"

"Hellooo nurses!" Andres flirted with Ellen, Helga, Violetta, and Tanya, who looked unamused.

"Let me hit her, Franco!" Abuelita hissed at her husband. Her shoe was still in her hand.

"No, mi amor!" Franco said, still holding her back. "You'll make it worse!"

Ernestina attempted to kiss her former boyfriend but he resisted her by pulling himself away from her.

The shoemaker backed further away to another area of the dance floor. "No, Ernestina!" Héctor cried. "I can't take you back when I saw you kissing another man."

"Oye, one little mistake!" Ernestina said, carelessly. "I'm a desirable woman and I can't help it if men fall themselves over my feet!" She lifted up her skirt and showed off her fishnet stockings to prove her point. But instead of drooling over her legs, all the males glared at her.

Abel, Camilo, Miguel, and Manny and Benny all looked at each other. Each boy stuck his tongue out and pointed it with his finger.

Andres slid on the floor and stopped at Ernestina's feet.

"HELLOOOO NURSE!" The blonde man grabbed the disgusted woman's hands and kissed them feverishly. "I fall myself at your feet! You are the most desirable woman of all the USA! WILL YOU MARRY ME?"

There was a long awkward silence, save for the crickets chirping outside.

"Get up, Andres!" Enrique and Berto grumbled, picking him up.

The flapper quickly wiped her hands off on her dress as if she touched dirt. She flashed her usual seductive smile at Héctor. "Also, you should be lucky that I came crawling back to you. You're barely handsome!" she laughed. "What other woman would want you?"

"Let me hit her, Franco!" Abuelita hissed. "Let me hit that Dumb Dora! No one talks to my son that way!"

"Elena," Abuelito hissed back. "Let Héctor handle this problem. He needs to stand up for himself!"

Lucky for Franco, his youngest son stiffened up and ignored Ernestina's hurtful words.

"You are not welcome here!" Héctor stared down at Ernestina. He thought of a song to respond with as his two older brothers appeared beside him as vocal backups.

"Desirable, is what you think you are

"But you're just so typical

"Though you think that you're a star." The shoemaker angrily marched over to her, followed by Berto and Enrique.

The tables were turned now. Ernestina backed up, giggling nervously.

"You act like everyone revolves around you

"Baby, you dropped the ball

"And now the game is through!" As Héctor kept marching toward her, everybody looked on with amazement. This man who was usually gentle and sweet, was standing up for himself?

"'Cause you tried to play both sides

"(Both sides)

"You got caught up in your lies

"(In your lies)

"But you're running, you're running out of time

"You played yourself (Game over, game)

"But did you did you think that you would really find love

"From someone else (Game over, game)

"Yes, Musa was a rich actor!" Ernestina defended herself. She ducked Héctor's slaps and kept using nearby guests as body shields.

"You're making moves, you're gonna lose, you know

"You played yourself (Game over, game)

"And now you're thinkin', thinkin' you can get one by me

"But you'll never win, but you'll never win

"Try again, 'cause the game is over!"

Ernestina quickly ran back onstage, trying to cut him off with her song, only for her act to be interrupted by Héctor and his brothers who came onstage next to her.

"Take it personal 'cause I did when you cheated on me!" Héctor pointed his finger at the sheepish Ernestina.

"You may be beautiful

"But there's more that the eye can't see

"You're so predictable

"The way you calculate each move

"Heads I win, tails you lose because you don't have the right to choose!"

"Sure, I do!" Ernestina retorted, cockily. "Right girls?" She looked around disappointed that her posse had quickly retreated offstage. Now she was stuck with her former boyfriend singing out his anger to her.

"'Cause you tried to play both sides

"(Both sides)

"You got caught up in your lies

"(In your lies)

"And now you're running, you're running out of time (yeah)

"You played yourself (Game over, game)

"But did you did you think that you would really find love

"From someone else (Game over, game)!"

"Yes, he promised me to get into show business!" Ernestina claimed.

"You're making moves, you're gonna lose, you know

"You played yourself (Game over, game)

"And now you're thinkin', thinkin' you can get one by me

"But you'll never win, but you'll never win

"Try again, 'cause the game is over (yeah)!"

Ernestina grabbed a microphone and tried to sing where she left off.

"I'll believe

"All your lies

"Just pretend you love me-"

But her microphone was snatched away from her by Enrique. Berto knocked down anymore musical equipment so she wouldn't get to it. Hector grabbed his guitar and performed a guitar instrument solo before proceeding his singing.

"Whoo!" Berto shouted, approving his brother's musical talent.

"How could you think that you could do me like that?" Héctor chorused.

"Running behind my back

"How could you do me like that? (do me like that)

"Now the game is over (oh)!"

Giggling nervously, the flapper desperately, tried to think of a comeback. She grabbed some drumsticks nearby and started hitting them together.

"Anything for you

"I'll become your earth and sky

"Forever never die

"I'll be everything you need!"

When the flapper realized that her solo wasn't cooling down any of the attendants' anger, she dropped the drumsticks, and exited stage left.

"How could you think you could do me like that?" Hector vocalized.

"Do me like that?

"Do me like that?"

As Ernestina ran down the steps, she tripped over three pairs of brown shoes and fell flat on her face. "Uh!" While groaning in pain, she got to her knees to see Miguel, Abel, and Rosa all waiting in bare feet.

"That's for breaking Tio Héctor's heart!" Rosa shouted.

"That's for calling me fatso!" Abel barked.

Miguel stick his tongue at her. "Cheater!"

"Cheater, cheater!" Benny and Manny repeated after him.

Ernestina lifted up her face and growled at the children like a lioness. "I'll have your little heads for this!" The woman quickly stood up. She would have said or done something to threaten the Rivera children if it weren't for Héctor and his brothers coming after her. The woman's anger quickly turned into fear.

"Played yourself (Game over, game) (oh)

"But did you did you think that you would really find love

"From someone else (Game over, game)?" Héctor vocalized, as his former fiance quickly backed up.

"You're making moves, you're gonna lose, you know

"You played yourself (Game over, game) (played yourself)

"And now you're thinkin' you can get one by me

"(Thought you could get one by me)

"But you'll never win, but you'll never win

"Try again, 'cause the game is over (oh)!"

At this point, Ernestina turned around and ran for the door. The last thing she wanted was for Héctor or anyone to slap her.

"You played yourself (uh huh)(game over game)

"But did you did you think that you would really find love

"From someone else (Game over, game) (you could find love)?"

Ernestina quickly opened the door wide. She failed to notice that Mama Coco was standing below her.

"You're making moves, you're gonna lose, (oh oh oh)

"You know you played yourself (Game over, game) (you played yourself)

"And now you're thinkin', thinkin' you can get one by me (get one by me)

"But you'll never win, but you'll never win."

"Shut up, Héctor!" Ernestina yelled, covering her ears. "What are you trying to say?" As she took another step, Mama Coco lifted her leg close to Ernestina's ankles. The flapper tripped over Mama Coco's leg and started to fall down the stairs.

"Try again, 'cause the game is over!"

Then Héctor shut the door, almost catching her shoe.

"Game Over!"

When that was over, he took a deep breath and breathed out.

The crowd broke into an applause, cheers and gritos (Dolores was covering her ears as she smiled).

Héctor turned to his grandmother, and hugged her gratefully. "Gracias Mama Coco!"

"De nada, mijo," Mama Coco replied with a twinkle in her eye.

"Yay Tio Héctor!" Rosa cheered, hugging him around his waist.

"That was neat!" Abel jumped up and down.

"Great job, hermano!" Enrique congratulated him.

"Fantastico!" Berto whooped.

"What a relief!" Felix Madrigal shouted. "For a moment, I was afraid you were going to take her back!"

"And how!" Agustin Madrigal strongly agreed. "You deserve better!"

"Mama, Mama, did you see that?" Miguel piped up, excitedly. "That mean Ernestina tried to kiss Tio Héctor, but he told her to get lost!"

"Yes, mijo," Luisa laughed. "I did see that!"

"Thanks guys," Héctor smiled. "It wasn't easy, but I'm glad I did it! Everything's Jake now!"

Meanwhile, Ernestina had fallen down the stairs. Her dress was ruined and her hair was out of shape. Mascara had been smudged on her face. She stood up, growling to herself. "This isn't what I had in my mind when I told myself, 'Seize your moment!' Now I must think of another way to seize my moment!" She thought back to her time in Hollywood. Four years ago, when Ernestina and Musa had reached Hollywood, he promised her that he would get her a part in the movie by schmoozing up to one of the Hollywood producers. At first, it wasn't easy finding a studio, until Ernestina and Musa met a movie producer, that didn't mind hiring actresses that were colored.

For a brief time, Ernestina had performed in movies playing small roles as chorus girls. It wasn't enough, she wanted to be the leading lady! She pleaded Musa to ask the producer to give her a leading role in their latest Hollywood flick. At first, Musa said he would take care of it. But it was all lies. When she asked him, Musa finally revealed that he never talked to the producer; he never had plans to help her become Hollywood's biggest star. It turned out that Musa had been using Ernestina to make his secret girlfriend (another aspiring actress) jealous.

When he disclosed this information to Ernestina after making whoopee with her, she was livid. She grabbed her gun from her drawer and shot him in the back in cold blood. Afterwards, Ernestina hid the body underneath the bed and dashed out of Hollywood in her brand new T-Ford before the sun ever rose.

"If I don't marry Héctor soon, I am doomed!" She grumbled to herself. The flapper never loved the Rivera shoemaker. She just couldn't think of anyone else that was better than Musa. Héctor may not be rich, but he had enough money to keep him and his family well fed. "I am broke and I need someone whose finances can provide me a good life. Now I need another plan to seize my moment. Come on, 'Tina. Focus. Visualize!" She was about to open the door, only to have her face slammed by it.

The person opening the door, was Andres. The blonde man had gone out to get some fresh air. "Why did Gloria call me a Cake-Eater, as if it meant something negative?" He thought out loud. "I really do like her!" He turned his head and sighed romantically at Gloria dancing with her father on the dance floor.

"Seeing something you like?" Ernestina spoke from behind the door.

Andres blushed at the thought of being caught staring at Natalia and quickly closed the door. "Oh I'm so sorry, I didn't see you there!"

"It's all right, Annie."

"Andres," the blonde man corrected her.

"What were you talking about just now?"

"Oh, it's Gloria," the blonde man sighed. "I have a crush on her. But when I told her that I like her, she told me she didn't feel the same way. Besides, she called me a Cake-Eater as if that were a bad thing."

"I know exactly how you feel," Ernestina mused. "It's too bad we do not have a date."

"Yeah," Andres said, sadly. He should have known better than to develop a crush on his friend's sister. "Héctor told you off, very well!" he smiled, before turning his attention to the stars.

The flapper said nothing, at first. Then she trembled and broke out into a loud sob. "Oh woe is me, for I am in love with Héctor!"

"Oh you really are goofy!" Andres said, surprised.

"Oh, I wished there was some way to get him to fall in love with me!"

"Well, I don't know what to tell you," Andres shrugged. "Unless there is a love potion, you really should have thought of that before-"

"That's it!" Ernestina grinned. The wheels in her head were beginning to turn. "A Love Potion! That will fix everything!"

"But there's no such thing as a love potion!" Andres shook his head. "It only exists in fairytales!" He gulped when Ernestina cupped his face.

"Oh no, love potions do exist, mi amor," she whispered into his ear. "I know someone in this town, who is very good at making love potions."

"Who?"

"Her name is Frida Kahlo Madrigal."

"I don't believe you," Andres chuckled, pulling his head away. He yelped when the flapper grabbed him by the collar.

"Listen to me," she hissed. "The Madrigals are a magical family. Nobody knows that they can do magic. Frida is the one that designs love potions, and if you ask her, she'll make one for you. If you give me the love potion, I'll use it on Héctor, and I'll help you use it on your precious lady friend!" She said in a sing song voice.

"Oh, that will be great!" Andres smiled. "I will go and ask her right now!" He wasted no time, going back into the town hall.

'That was easy.' Ernestina smirked. 'Soon Héctor will be mine!'

"Isn't it great to see Héctor having fun, Felix?" Pepa asked, while dancing with her husband. The Madrigal couple glanced at Hector dancing with his mother. The Rivera Matriarch was the only person that Hector felt comfortable dancing with, of course.

"Yes mi vida," Felix nodded. "But what's even better was seeing him stand up to that terrible woman! Had he taken her back, I would have lost respect for him!"

Luisa and Enrique took a break from dancing. They noticed Agustin and Julieta sitting down on the chairs, with crestfallen faces. The Rivera couple joined the Madrigal couple by the chairs, Luisa sat next to Julieta while Enrique sat next to Agustin. Growing up, Luisa Rivera and Julieta were best friends. They were both born in Mexico who immigrated to USA in the wake of the war, and the girls went to school together until Julieta was ten years old. When Luisa asked her friend, it was because Julieta had to be homeschooled to help out her family and Luisa understood. It was common for kids to stay home to help families work. When Luisa met Enrique, she worried about her friend not having a boyfriend. Thus, when she met Agustin, she thought he'd be a great man for Julieta. When she introduced Julieta to Agustin, it wasn't too long before Agustin began to court Julieta. When the couple married and had daughters, they named one of their girls after Luisa.

"Julieta, Agustin, que pasa?" Luisa asked.

"Nada," Julieta answered, smiling sadly.

"Are you sure?" Enrique pressed on. "You two looked like you're not having fun."

"Oh we are!" Agustin said as cheerfully as he could. "It's just that...well," he sighed sadly, looking at his two daughters. Luisa J. was sitting in a chair, waiting for a dance partner. Isabella was surrounded by a huge group of men who were all fighting to dance with her.

"We wish...," Julieta's voice broke a little, finishing for her husband. "...Mirabel was here."

The Rivera couple didn't say anything more. They knew how painful it was to talk about their missing daughter. After Mirabel went missing, the Madrigals had searched hard for her.

"Do you know why she...disappeared?" Enrique asked, cautiously. He didn't want to pry, but his curiosity took over him.

"No idea," Agustin responded. "All we know was that the day after Isa's birthday party went awry, Mirabel left."

"What happened at the party that went awry?" Luisa inquired.

"I don't want to get into details," Julieta spoke hesitantly. "Let's just say that Mirabel tried to help, as always, but my mother thought she was being too helpful."

"Actually," Agustin frowned. "She got mad at Mirabel for being 'in the way.'"

"Agustin!" Julieta shushed him, not wanting him to talk ill of her mother.

"Do you think that's why she ran away?" Enrique asked.

"I suspect so," Agustin confirmed.

"You haven't seen them ever since then?" Luisa was surprised. When the Madrigal couple shook their heads, she put her hand to her heart while her husband looked as if his birthday had been cancelled. The Rivera couple cannot imagine moving out of the Rivera hacienda, just because they were mad at Abuelita.

"Julieta and I moved out of her house, so we can have space and dedicate our time to finding her," Agustin continued. "My other daughters, Luisa J. and Isabella are still with the rest of the family." Speaking of his other daughters, Agustin looked back at them. He couldn't help but notice how uncomfortable Isabella looked. He saw that she was having trouble trying to fight them off. "She's surrounded by too many boys," he frowned. "I better do something!" He was about to stand up when, his wife held him by the arm.

"No, Agustin," she whispered to him. "Isa said she wants to handle these situations herself."

Just then, Enrique and Luisa's only son appeared and joined in the conversation.

"I saw Mirabel!"

Agustin and Julieta turned their heads to Miguel's outburst.

"Miguel...," Enrique said in a warning tone.

"It's true!" the boy piped up. "I saw your daughter just recently!"

"Miguel…," Luisa warned him.

Before Miguel could say anymore, and before the Madrigal couple could ask him for details, Abuelita came out of nowhere and dragged him away from the conversation.

"You have to excuse my son," Luisa smiled apologetically. "I don't know what's gotten into him."

"His head's always in the clouds," Enrique shook his head in disgust.

When Abuelita dragged Miguel to the corner of the Town Hall, she slapped him at the back of his head.

"Ow, what did I do?" the boy whined, holding his head.

"Miguel, you can't just go around telling people that you saw you-know-who!" the old woman scolded.

"Por que?" Miguel asked her. "I know I saw her!"

"Miguel," Elena said, quietly, holding her grandson's hands. "Even if you did see her, nobody would believe you. Besides, it is not proper for a child to be discussing such heavy matters like these with adults."

"I just wanted to help them!"

"You want to help them?" Abuelita challenged him. "Stop making up stories to give them false hope, Comprehende?" She walked away, not wanting to hear anymore.

The 12-year-old sighed. 'Well, at least Hector believes me.' He looked to the downhearted Madrigal couple in blue and teal. 'Don't worry, Senor and Senora Madrigal. I'm going to find Mirabel!'

Luisa Jessica Madrigal was sitting in the chair, her eyes downcast. "I wished someone would ask me to dance," she sighed.

"Yo tambien," her cousin, Dolores, was sitting next to her on her left.

Both madrigal girls looked to thier right and saw that every teenage boy was fighting to dance with Isabella.

"Lucky for her," Dolores said with a hint of jealously. "She's got a lot of admirers."

"I think she needs help," Luisa J. disagreed, kindly. "Notice how uncomfortable she looks?"

"You are right," Dolores said, observing Isa's strained smile.

Luisa Madrigal stood up, walked over to the boys and made an announcement.

"May I have your attention please, gentlemen?"

All boys turned away from Isabella to Luisa J.

Although, Isabella was annoyed that she couldn't handle the boys herself, she was relieved that her sister rescued her.

"You all want to dance with Isabella but there is too many of you," Luisa J. explained. "Let's make a resolution. Whoever first asks Isabella to dance with her, will be her dance partner. Two of you will have to ask me and my prima, Dolores. The rest of you will have to either wait for the next song or ask other girls. What do you say?"

The boys looked at each and nodded. It seems fair to them.

Luisa J. perked up when she saw Abel beginning to speak and held her breath. 'Maybe he'll ask me for a dance!' She grinned at the thought. She made eye contact with Abel, but he didn't look at her. Instead, he looked at Isabella, which made Luisa J.'s heart sink.

"Isabella, would you like to-"Abel began. He was rudely pushed out the way by a slender 18-year-old boy with hazel eyes and well combed brown hair. "Excuse me, would you like to dance?"

Isabella inwardly groaned. This boy was Ercole Visconti, one of the few people on the West Side that's from a wealthy family. Isa wished she could decline but unfortunately for her, it was rude to do so. Thus, she placed her hand in his and they walked to the dance floor.

Luisa J., Dolores, and Mariano helped Abel up, who was peeved.

"Are you okay Abel?" Luisa J. asked him. "This is the second time someone pushed you to the floor!"

"Yeah, I'm fine," Abel grumbled. "That's not fair! I was about to ask Isa to dance when Senor Swell decided to show up! He thinks he's the bees knees just because he's rich!"

"I was going to ask Isa, too!" Mariano sighed, sadly. "Luisa J., may I have this dance?"

"Sure Mariano!" Luisa J. smiled. She failed to see the sad look on Dolores' appearance.

Dolores sighed, while looking on at Mariano. She hoped that he would ask her.

"Dolores, may I have this dance please?" Abel asked. He smiled when she accepted it.

Isabella was not having fun with her partner. Ercole was staring at her as if she were a gelato. Then when he put his arm around her waist, Isa slapped him, and stormed off. She sat down on the chairs, wanting to be herself. She didn't care if she was acting unladylike or not, she did NOT want to dance with him! 'I wish there was someone I can freely talk to.' She thought, miserably. 'Every boy I met, saw me only as a piece to have. Is there no boy out there for me?'

Outside of the Town Hall, there was a short man who had been watching Frida Kahlo Madrigal through a glass window. He had glasses that were shaped like circles, and his black hair was combed over the crown of his head. He wore a flat hat and was dressed in his fine suit. He stared intensely at the woman, as if he were expecting something to happen. The teenaged boy perked up when he watched a blonde man dancing with Frida and conversing with her. What were they saying? He couldn't hear them through the window!

Frida Kahlo Madrigal was doing the Charleston with her dancing partner when suddenly, Andres cut in.

"Hey!" the man shouted, as he was bumped out of the way by Andres.

"Andres!" Frida gasped, when the blonde man took her hands into his. "If you wanted to dance with me, you should wait until the next song!"

"I have to talk to you about something," Andres explained as he twirled the woman. "It is very important."

"What is it?" Frida inquired, wondering what was so urgent that Andres had to talk to her right now.

Andres leaned in and whispered into her ear. "Rumor has it that you have the power to make potions, especially love potions? Is this true?"

Frida's eyes widened. Who told him that? The only person outside of the family that knew her secret was in the other side of the town! "I don't deny it," she whispered, back, fearfully. "Who told you that?"

"A birdie told me so," Andres whispered vaguely. "Will you do it for me? I am in love with a lady but she does not love me back."

"I don't know…,"

"Please?" Andres beseeched her. "I'll give you anything."

Frida spotted a brooch on Andres' blue suit. It was a silver dancing girl with sapphires on the dancing girl's outfit. It also had curly swirls around her. "How about that brooch?"

Andres looked at it. "I don't know," he sighed. "It's a family heirloom brooch."

"No brooch, no love potion," Frida said sternly.

"All right," the blonde man agreed.

"Bueno," Frida smiled. "Your assignment is to bring me a marigold flower. Meet me at my house tomorrow at 1 o' clock, and I will give you the potion. When you arrive at my house, come to the back door. Do you understand?"

"Yes, but why do you want a marigold flower?"

"Because it is a very important ingredient for the love potion."

'What were Frida Madrigal and that blonde man talking about?' The mysterious man pondered. When he saw the blonde man leaving, the mysterious man decided to see if he can follow him. He turned around the corner and bumped into someone.

"Oof!"

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" he said. The person he bumped into, was a girl about his age who sported a lavender dress. She was the only girl that had long hair in ringlets. "Are you all right, Senorita?"

"I'm all right," the young girl answered. Isabella was annoyed at herself. She just had to bump into someone and mess up her perfect ladylike walk! What would her grandmother say? The eldest Madrigal girl was surprised when the man took her hand and helped her stand up. When they both stood up, Isa saw the kindness in his brown eyes.

"Gracias, for helping me," she spoke softly and shyly.

"Como te llamas?" the mysterious man asked her.

"Isabella Madrigal. How about you?"

"Bubo Marquez," he grinned a bit. Bubo recognized this girl as the niece of Frida Kahlo Madrigal. But he pretended that he didn't know her else he'd give himself and his boss away. "What are you doing outside?"

"Oh, I'm just getting some fresh air," Isabella answered. "I was not having fun at the dance. What about you? I should be asking you the same question." Not only was she curious, but Isa found it strange for a man to be so well dressed and not show up at the festival.

"Oh, I'm just taking a stroll," Bubo lied. "The evening looks lovely tonight, doesn't it?" The man nervously, looked up at the stars.

"Not really," Isa sighed, frustrated. "I'm having a bad evening." She didn't know why she was talking so freely to a boy she didn't know. Maybe she needed someone to talk to, anyone that would listen to her.

"Would you like to talk about it?" Bubo inquired. He's not sure why he was interested in this girl. 'Maybe she can give me some information about Frida Madrigal.' He thought, glad that he had an excuse.

After Andres left the party, he dashed over to the East Side. He had no problem going over there because he remembered how to get there. "I'll just pick one of those marigold flowers and-uh!?" He stopped in his tracks. That patch of marigold flowers he, Natalia, Miguel, and Hector had seen earlier, was gone. It looked like somebody had come and plucked them all out. "Where did all the marigold flowers go? How am I supposed to get one now?" Then, he remembered that Miguel had picked one earlier. "I'm sure Miguel wouldn't mind if I borrow it."

Andres snuck into the Rivera's hacienda. The Riveras were still at the Town Hall, cleaning up at the afterparty. Andres spotted the marigold flower that was in the vase on the table. The blonde man thought of grabbing just the flower, but stopped. He realized that he didn't have a vase at home and didn't want the flower to wither. Thus, he grabbed the vase that held the marigold flower, and left the hacienda. 'I'm sure Miguel won't miss it,' Andres thought, trying to justify his actions. 'Love potion, here I come!'