Thank you for beta'ing, MsSchneeheide!

Being in the passenger's seat of Diablo's warm pickup truck, Blanca has to admit, is so much more pleasant than riding back to Karla's house via the bus. He'd offered to bring her back there even though it's out of his way. The only reason Blanca had accepted, was so her best friend didn't have to leave the comfort of her own home and take Raiza out into the cold, too, in order to pick her up.

She can't stop staring at the dark red leather gloves Diablo had bought for her at the corner store by her apartment. They have a soft interior, making her hands feel cozy inside them. She could've done fine with just these, but he splurged and got about five. They weren't too expensive, either, and she made sure he got them on sale. Blanca would never want him to spend too much on her when he didn't have to. "¿Te gustan tus guantes?" he asks.

You like your gloves?

Clasping her hands together, she beams. "Me encantan. I can't thank you enough."

I love them.

"You're so welcome, I had no problem buying them para ti."

A light feeling bubbles up inside her and she just sighs dreamily while still smiling giddily. As he drives down the snowy streets, he plays Spanish rock music and they sing along together to the lyrics while pausing to laugh a few times. It's only when he stops at a stop sign or red light, that he looks over at her and beams, which makes her return it automatically. She's so impressed that he can concentrate on the road and make her feel safe. The only other man in her life was never able to do that.

"¡Gracias por tener cuidado en el camino!" Blanca tells him with a grateful smile.

Thank you for being careful on the road!

"De nada, pero...why wouldn't I be? I don't wanna be a danger to myself or others! No sabría qué hacer conmigo si nos metiera en un accidente."

I wouldn't know what to do with myself if I got us into an accident.

"Lo sé. You'd be devastated y te quedarías conmigo. Right?"

I know. and you'd stay with me.

"Of course I would." Diablo holds her gaze for a second while they're waiting for the light to turn green. "Always."

Blanca grins. "You sound so reassuring."

"I mean it."

"I'm glad."

"You gots pretty hair," Raiza comments as she snuggles in Karla's lap. They're watching Pingu and eating some Christmas cookies with icing and sprinkles that Blanca's youngest daughter helped her make. Benji is out with his father at Bring Your Children to Work Day. "Can I play with it? Mommy and Mari let me do theirs in braids and piggy-tails!" She holds up her Barbie hairbrush and multicolored pony holders.

"Gracias, sure, niñita!" Karla responds with a smile and Raiza gives her a hug. So, Karla wraps her arms fully around the little girl and kisses her cheek, making her giggle with glee. She sits in front of the chair Raiza is on and tries not to wince when the child pulls at her curls and winds them tight when making her high Pippi Longstocking-esque braids-uneven as well. Karla probably looks ridiculous, but it's worth it to see Blanca's tiny human happy and having fun as much as she can.

Raiza then takes Karla's lipstick from the coffee table and puts some on herself before Karla can stop her. She makes a mess of her face, getting it on her cheeks and chin and it's a miracle that some actually ends up on her mouth. "Look, I'm bootiful like you, Mrs. Córdova!"

"Oh, sweetie, sí, eres bonita," Karla murmurs while gently taking the lipstick from her. She scoops Raiza back into her lap. "You know what, though...you can call me Karla when you're not at school. Or Tía Karla. I'm your teacher, but I'm also your mami's bestest friend in the whole wide world!"

Yes, you are pretty

Raiza's eyes widen adorably and her mouth forms an O shape. "Really?!"

Karla nods her head yes. "Absolutely, Raizita." She plucks a HandiWipe from its container and begins cleaning Raiza's face. "You y tu mami y tu hermana are like familia." She pokes Raiza's button nose and bounces the four-year-old on her knees. Raiza beams and pats Karla's cheeks. Then, Karla tears up a little because of the kinds of things Raiza's innocent brown eyes have seen. She fixes her own hairdo a little and then turns Raiza around. "Hey...do you wanna play in the snow? Señor Ramón y Benji will be home soon, and we can all build snowmen-or snow women, and make snow angels and even have a snowball fight!" She tickles Raiza for a second or two, making the little kid let out a cheerful belly laugh. "I can bundle you up in your big warm purple jacket and your pink hat, yellow scarf, and blue gloves! Would you like that?"

"Okay!"

Once Blanca and Diablo reach their destination, they see Karla, Ramón, and the little children laughing and having fun together on the blanket of snow that covers the Córdovas' lawn. Blanca's happy that her daughter is out there too and actually enjoying herself; she's never experienced the snow as a positive thing before.

Diablo parks at the curb in front of their house and they both unbuckle their seatbelts. He hops out first and comes around his truck. Blanca is about to leave the vehicle too, but she hasn't ever been in this kind of thing before and she doesn't want to misjudge the distance to the ground. She's afraid she could land on her feet too hard and slip on the icy road. He appears in front of her and extends his hands out. It doesn't surprise her in the least, since he'd helped her get in. "Está bien, I got you." He beckons her forward and she grabs his hands while jumping down. Diablo doesn't let go of Blanca until she's steady on her feet.

"Whoa...gracias."

"De nada. You okay?"

Blanca nods and they walk together through the snow. "Sí. Simplemente nunca antes había subido a una camioneta y salido de una."

Just never ridden in a pickup truck before and gotten out of one.

Diablo grins at her. "Entiendo."

I get it

"Look at me, Mama, I'm making a snow angel!" Raiza exclaims cheerfully as Blanca comes up to her and kneels down beside her.

"I see that, bebé!"

Raiza sits up and throws her arms around Blanca. "Mommy, I missed you!"

"Aw, sweetie, I missed you too." Blanca returns her daughter's hug and gives her a noisy kiss on her cheek. "I told you I'd come back, though, ¿verdad?"

"Sí." Raiza bobs her head up and down.

Blanca waves at the Córdovas. "¡Hola!"

"Hola," Karla and Ramón greet her back. "You showin' off your new gloves too, lady?" Karla asks teasingly.

"Sí, courtesy of that dude right there." Blanca points up at Diablo.

"Mmm! So thoughtful of you...mine won't fit her and hers are in the dryer currently."

"Well, I thought some backups would be necessary in case this happens again," Diablo says.

"Hi!" Benji jumps in. "Look at our snow man and woman!" He points to the pair made of snow and Blanca just has to grin.

"Hey, sport! Awesome job!" Blanca responds. "Did tu mamá y papá help you and Raiza build those?"

"Yep!" Benji nods. "Horsey, Mami! ¡Caballo!" he calls out, toddling towards Karla.

Horse!

"Okay, you got it, mijo," Karla tells him through a laugh. She gets on her hands and knees and the little boy climbs on his mother's back.

"Giddy-up, cowgirl!" Benji says happily.

"Yippie-yi-yay-kiyay!" Raiza joins in.

Blanca, Diablo, and Ramón have a small chuckle at Karla making horse noises to entertain the little ones. When she's finished, she pelts them all with snowballs, and it starts a playful war, which lasts until it's time to eat. They have macaroni and cheese and carrots for lunch. Even though it's probably because her smallest girl is surrounded by her and Karla, Blanca is pleased that Raiza seems content with Diablo joining them, and she hopes that Maritza will soon warm up to him, too.

"No creo que su padre esté realmente muerto," Flaca murmurs as she takes over the sewing for Theresa as her mother folds laundry. "Maritza's, I mean."

I don't think her dad's really dead.

"Oh, sí, why do you say that?" Theresa asks. She puts her fists to her hips and frowns. "Blanca said he was. La muerte es bastante grave...¿por qué alguien mentiría al respecto?"

Death is pretty serious...why would anyone lie about it?

Flaca shrugs. "I dunno. Yo, it's like she doesn't miss him at all...so weird! She barely talks about him. ¡Tampoco menciono a mi papá, pero no digo que está muerto! Most teenagers I know would be angry if their mami was interested in another hombre right after losing their papá. She don't seem enojada o nada...it's more like, calm and collected about her mom finding love after he died."

I don't mention my dad either, but I don't say he's dead! angry or nothin'...

"Es difícil hablar de eso. Sin embargo, también me has puesto un poco curiosa. She just lost su esposo...¿por qué tan rápido para seguir adelante?"

It's a hard thing to talk about. However, you've made me a little curious, too. her husband...why so quick to move on?

"Possibly it happened a long time ago?" Flaca wonders aloud.

"Maybe."

"What, noooo!" Maritza whines. "I already invited Flaca...and I was gonna ask Karla if my girl can sleep over 'cause she's hosting us and everything."

"You can bring Flaca along, I've never met her really," Blanca assures her oldest child. They're relaxing on the guest room bed together when Maritza's back home. "I hope she likes bowling y lo sé she probably loves Mexican for dinner! There ain't a soul alive who doesn't."

"Dean hated it," Maritza reminds her.

"Exactly, fucking asshole," Blanca hisses. "Era un monstruo, no creo que tuviera alma."

He was such a monster, I don't think he had a soul.

"He didn't." Maritza sighs sharply. "Okay, so I really gotta accompany you and Diablo on your date tonight...gracias a Dios tendré Flaca conmigo. He's really treating us?"

Thank god I'll have Flaca with me.

"Yes he is. No es una cita, y Raiza y el hijo de Diablo, Laronne, también vendrán," Blanca reminds her.

It's not a date, and Raiza and Diablo's son Laronne are coming, too.

"Why are you doing this?" Maritza wonders aloud. She folds her arms across her chest and pouts.

"I want you girls to see that he's a good man in general. Plus, I think it'll be nice to get to know him and Laronne a little better, y maybe ustedes niñas can start getting used to having him around, too, as mi amigo, at least!"

you girls

"Lo sé que es un buen hombre por lo que nos has dicho...pero, why ain't you scared of him, like not even a little bit?"

I know he's a good man from what you've told us...

"I trust him...he's never given me a reason para tener miedo." Blanca grows concerned for Maritza and squeezes her hand. "Are you afraid of him?"

to have fear.

"All the time...for you. He's huge, he's got tattoos, his nickname is the Devil..." Maritza ticks off what she thinks are his negative traits with her fingers.

"Pero he's mushy and sweet like candy on the inside. I do agree, he could look frightening to anyone who doesn't know him from Adam, but you can't judge a book by its cover. He has never hurt me. He wouldn't dream of it. A gentleman would use his size to protect you, but an evil motherfucker usaría su tamaño para intimidarte y abusar de ti. Diablo nos protegería si estuviéramos en peligro, I know he would."

would use his size to intimidate and abuse you. Diablo would protect us if we were in any danger.

"Nunca ha estado en una relación contigo," Maritza points out. "I don't want you to be manipulated into another trap. I know you like him...but look what happened with the other sleazebag who you crushed on when you were thirteen."

He's never been in a relationship with you.

"I understand that, baby girl...but not all men are like Dean. I'm smarter now, too...I can catch red flags so much easier, and Diablo hasn't raised any." Blanca doesn't bother to tell Maritza about Diablo being a jewelry thief in his youth, since that'll make her worry when she doesn't need to. Even during that time, he didn't harm a hair on anyone's head. He may have just scared some old rich asshole CEO into giving him what he wanted, but that doesn't matter to Blanca.

"¿Cómo lo conociste?" Maritza wants to know.

How did you meet him?

So Blanca tells Maritza the whole story-how Diablo was in the car that Dean hit in the accident when she was fourteen, and how she and Diablo had become so close that Dean got jealous, and anything else she can think of. Maritza seems very interested as she listens.

"Wow, that's actually pretty genuine. They say girls pick Mr. Wrong and nice guys finish last, which was obviously true in your case. Why is that like, the thing?"

"It's because we crave excitement. Not just us...pero dudes, too. You see 'em goin' after the nasty chicks porque they got charisma, boys thrive on the attention, they don't care that the girl could fuck 'em over the next day...y it's the same for us, too. Them not calling us back or whatever jerk move they wanna do, it makes us want them more. I know it's stupid, and I don't go for hombres así anymore."

men like that

"No quiero someone like that."

I don't want

"Bueno, that means you're intelligent," Blanca tells Maritza and both mother and daughter share a smile.

"Since Flaca y yo were planning on Dave and Busters, could we do that instead? Those bowling balls are probably too heavy for Raiza anyway, and I already went bowling with my crew."

Flaca and I

"Okay, I'll talk to Diablo about it!"

"Gracias, Mami. Did you have to do anything to make him pay for all of us?"

Blanca shakes her head no. "The outing was my idea, pero se ofreció a pagar por nosotros out of the goodness of his heart!"

he offered to pay for us.

"Oh, fantastic!" Maritza says pleasantly. The daydream she'd had of Blanca and a Hispanic guy dating seems all too real to her now, like she has foresight or something.

Or maybe it's just a weird coincidence.

"So, ladies...anyone wanna try to solve this mystery? Blanca doesn't seem affected by her husband's muerte in the least..." Theresa starts out, but trails off. They're at their usual hangout spot, The Sparrow Tavern.

"Yo, I noticed that, too," Alison says.

"Same," Aleida murmurs.

"Mm-hm," Lila chimes in.

"Marisol mentioned that it might have happened way in the past, pero Karla, you said su esposo acaba de morir, right? As in, recently." Theresa narrows her eyes in confusion. "Then she wants to be with Diablo and she isn't mourning her spouse. What's up with that?"

her husband just died

"Maybe he left them like losers do and she came here with her daughters to forget all about him and pronounced him dead because she was so heartbroken by his betrayal," Alison guesses. "Perhaps he didn't respect the girls enough and couldn't form a proper bond with them, and that's why they don't care much about him."

"Or it was the other way around," Layla mutters. "She filed for divorce and ditched his ass with the children in tow for whatever reason such as cheating, got custody of her girls and he didn't exactly fight for them in court. He sulked about it and she walked out. Probably a hella nasty fight, too."

"Boom! That sounds a little more right, the last guy most of us saw her with was Dean, and we all know what a scumbag he was. So, she finally realized it and...yeah, she called it quits. Good for her," Lila says. "She a real badass bitch."

Karla beams with pride for her right-hand woman. "That she is."

Aleida scoffs. "Yeah, there ain't no way he's dead, unless she killed the bastard. Like they say in the song 'Cell Block Tango' from the musical Chicago, he had it comin', I'm pretty sure. Most pendejos do. I bet it was that fucking cabrón Dean."

"Hey, don't say that!" Karla scolds her. "My best friend is not a murderer!" she continues in defense of Blanca. "Great song, by the way, though. Everyone's innocent until proven guilty. People react to their spouses dying in all different ways...maybe forgetting him and going on with her life was how she could try to heal herself. I know her, she wouldn't...ever do something like that." Secretly though, Karla wonders about it and begins to think that she doesn't really know what happened with Dean. All along, she had an inkling he would turn abusive. She just assumes Blanca and the girls ran away from him because of it. "Unless it was self-defense..." Maybe Blanca did try to kill him, but she only was able to maim him or at least finally found a way to send him to jail or Dean was gone long enough for Blanca, Maritza, and Raiza to escape, at last. Of course, she doesn't want to tell Blanca's story-it's not hers to talk about. "We shouldn't discuss this, okay? It's not our business. I don't even know hace cuanto murió anyway. I was just saying that, because y'all were pressuring her to go after Diablo."

how long ago he died

"So were you, pequeña, don't lie!" Aleida nudges Karla and gives her a knowing smile.

little one

"Ay, pero..." Karla begins to argue, but then realizes she can't, because she, too, wishes Blanca would just give into her feelings for Diablo. However, she understands why Blanca needs to take it slow. "Her kids have to approve, she's gotta know if she can have faith in him a hundred percent."

"Well, you're gonna like this scoop, Blanca and Diablo took their children out for an evening at Dave and Busters, Marisol told me! She's with them now," Theresa reports.

Karla points at her. "Now I know where Flaca's gossipy gene comes from!" The other women stare at them with interest. "Pero ladies, no teasing Blanca about it when you see her, por favor. This is not anything romantic, it's more like-"

"The Brady Bunch? Yeah, I ain't estúpida, they tryin' to see what it's like if they was one big blended familia," Aleida cuts Karla off.

"Sounds like dat to me," Lila muses.

"I second that," Alison puts in.

Layla purses her lips. "It does make sense!"

"¡Ay, cállalos, todas!" Karla interrupts her friends. "It's too early for them to get married and raise each other's kids as their own. Sed serias."

Oh, shut up, everyone! Be real.

"We know that, K...pero they acted so much like a couple before, y the spark between them never went away after sixteen years, apparently," Theresa says. "I remember her gushing about their first encounter after all that time."

"Yeah, that's why they're so close...and they probably will be together eventually," Karla predicts. "I'd give it six months, that's how long it took Ramón to charm me and sweep me off my feet and into heaven." She sighs. "I just want mi mejor amiga y sus hijas to be happy."

"Me too," the others murmur in unison.

"Aww, Raiza looks so much like a mini-you, Mami!" Maritza squeals as they walk to Diablo's truck that evening. He's going to pick up Flaca on their way to Dave and Busters. It's a good thing his vehicle has enough room for them all; Laronne is sitting in a seat between Blanca and his father.

"I know!" Blanca exclaims. She'd curled her youngest daughter's hair and put her in a cute outfit so Raiza resembles any darling little girl, but for some reason, Blanca can really see herself in Raiza tonight. She assists Maritza into the backseat of the truck and sets up Raiza in the carseat she'd borrowed from Karla. Until they reach Flaca's apartment, her kids are silent after saying a polite but shy hello to Diablo and his son. Blanca can tell Laronne is a tiny bit awkward around them, too.

"Girl, I'm so happy to see you!" Maritza squeals as Flaca gets in beside her. "I love your purple lipstick and how it goes so well with the matching stripe in your hair!" They share a tight hug.

"Gracias, Mari. Nice meeting you, Señorita Flores y Señor...Diablo? Is that seriously your name?" The goth girl shakes hands with Blanca and Diablo and then straps herself in.

Blanca overhears Maritza stifle a giggle. She doesn't blame her daughter; she'd thought it was weird at first, too. When she was Flaca's age, she had no idea why anyone would name themselves the devil if they're not one in reality.

He just answers Flaca's question without expressing impatience or anger. "No, soy Dario, pero llámame Diablo o Señor Zuniga. Soy satanista, eso es todo. También estoy en una banda de rock y what I admire about the Devil, is he punishes the horrible people in Hell."

I'm Dario, but call me Diablo or Mr. Zuniga. I'm a Satanist, that's all. I'm also in a rock band

"Oye, I thought you were an atheist!" Blanca exclaims.

"That was what I thought back in high school, but the two beliefs aren't the same, I found out later! If I were un ateo, I wouldn't believe in God or Satan," Diablo clarifies.

"Trust me, it's awesome having a daddy who hates boring old church. I never have to go!" Laronne exclaims. "Not even on Christmas or Easter!"

"Dude, lucky!" Flaca tells him.

"Mami despises it, too. She doesn't believe in God, says it's all just a bunch of bullshit," Maritza lets him know. "However, mi papá used to be a major religious freak, we had to go all the time until he...murió. I won't miss that part."

Blanca nods. "It's true!" She's thankful that Laronne is there; it seems to be easier for Maritza to speak to him rather than Diablo, but Blanca's fully aware that Diablo is listening to every word. She's also grateful Flaca had asked Diablo a question about himself, since this has helped Maritza to join in.

"Ugh, try telling my mom that." Through the rearview mirror, Blanca sees Flaca rolling her made-up eyes. "She makes us go almost every freakin' domingo, y...eh, it's like, enough already!"

Sunday, and

"You? Really? Your emo-ness must set off an alarm en la iglesia every time you walk in!" Maritza teases her friend. At that, everyone laughs, even Flaca. "I know, she's silly, huh?" Maritza's probably asking Raiza rhetorically.

at church

"Yeah!" Raiza answers anyway.

"Nah, they accept everyone. I just gotta look somewhat presentable. Like...not Satan's girlfriend or somethin'. What'd they think when you went to church con tus pentagramas?"

"I didn't have 'em on mis manos until a while ago!"

"Ah, okay. Well, they're ultra cool!" Flaca compliments her.

"Gracias...I'm proud of being a Wiccan."

"Too bad I still gotta go, despite the fact that I'm una bruja at heart with an Ouija board and everything..."

"Girl, same!"

"Flaca, try to get through it as best you can. I used to play rock songs inside my head when I was forced to go," Blanca murmurs. She tries to make it out like not a big deal; many people's parents make their kids attend religious services. Diablo and Laronne don't have to know Dean had been the dictator of that.

"Mm! I do too, sometimes," Flaca comments.

"I'd think of makeup tips I could give my friends," Maritza adds. "Y...Raiza would draw on paper that our parents gave her."

"Aw, sweet!" Diablo says. "Well, it looks like we're here!"

"Yay!" Blanca and Maritza shout eagerly as everyone exits the vehicle.

Flaca cheers. "My favorite place in the universe!"

"One of mine, too," Laronne agrees.

Maritza beams as she walks between Flaca and Blanca. "Yeah, the games are so much fun...oh, and the food and prizes are awesome!"

"Ladies and my little man first!" Diablo says as he opens the door for them.

"Pretty lights!" Raiza pipes up as they step inside the building.

"Yeah...it's like the teen and adult version of Chuckee Cheese!" Diablo points out.

Blanca giggles. "Mm, you're right..." She glances down at Raiza. "No mouse to scare you, at least!"

Raiza jumps up and down. "Hooray!"

"Poussey? What you doin' aquí, chica?" Flaca asks.

"I work here, duh!" Poussey points to her uniform and name tag.

"One of our school friends," Maritza explains to Blanca. She turns her attention back to the African American girl behind the counter. "Ah, rollin' in the big bucks, I see!"

"Yep!"

The games are very entertaining and they win fabulous prizes such as disco balls, lava lamps, blankets, basketballs, cups, and music players. It's good luck all around.

Then, it's dinner time. "So, I guess he's gonna tell us what we're having since he's the big hombre in charge," Maritza tells Blanca quietly.

"He's a better man than that," Blanca assures her. "You're having fun, right?"

Maritza nods silently and smiles. "It's not bad."

"Alright, menus!" Diablo announces and he passes them out. They're at a circle table and he takes a spot between Blanca and his son. She's next to Raiza, and Maritza is in the middle of her younger sister and Flaca.

"Gracias," everyone tells him in unison.

When the waiter takes their order, Blanca ignores him out of habit. She knows Diablo won't explode in a jealous rage, but she's used to focusing on the man she's with.

"Blanca? You okay?" Diablo sounds concerned and she's jolted out of her thoughts.

"Hola, Señorita Flores..." Flaca waves at her.

"Mami, let him know what you want," Maritza whispers. "Diablo's actually letting us do that."

"Oh, sí." So she asks for a burrito with cheese, rice, meat, beans, hot sauce, sour cream, and guacamole and she flinches when he beams at them.

"It'll be ready very soon!"

"Gracias," Diablo says.

Blanca and Diablo sip strawberry margaritas while the kids have sodas. "Mami, can I try some of your drink?" Maritza wonders aloud. "It looks delish!"

"Okay, soló un poco."

just a little

Maritza beams. "¡Gracias!"

"De nada."

"Yum, this is good!" Maritza exclaims after having a bit.

"I bet," Flaca says, her tone wistful. "My ma would never let me do that, probably 'cause I'm fourteen."

"That sucks," Maritza tells her.

"So, what's your favorite subject in school, Maritza?" Diablo asks.

"Oooh, that's a tough one. I enjoy Spanish class, Karla makes it entertaining! Same with English, I got Mrs. Ford. I know this ain't a high school course, pero I enjoy hanging out with my crew at lunch!"

"Cool, I'm glad to hear! What about you, Raiza, what do you love to do for fun?"

Raiza sucks her thumb and glances up at Blanca with wide, questioning eyes. "It's okay, honey, you can tell him if you'd like to," Blanca encourages her.

"Playing with my Barbies and dollies and pretending I'm Powerpuff Girl and Dora," Raiza mumbles, scooting into Blanca's lap. She doesn't really look at Diablo. "Also my ball."

"Oh, cool!"

"Neat, kiddo, who's your fave Powerpuff Girl?" Flaca wants to know.

Raiza turns to her. "Bubbles...but Dora's better. She looks like me."

"She has this plushie of Dora that she carries around all the time, it's adorable," Blanca puts in. She doesn't mention that it's also Raiza's comfort toy since that's personal.

Diablo smiles softly. "Aww, cute." He ruffles Laronne's hair. "Hey, buddy, why don't you let the girls know what you did for your science fair project!" He turns to the rest of them and a proud grin stretches across his face. "Mijo got an A."

Maritza and Flaca give Laronne a thumbs up and Raiza copies them. "Wow, nice!" Blanca holds her hand up and he gives her a high-five.

"I made a killer volcano!" Laronne informs them. "With my papi's help, of course."

"Whoa, that must've looked rad," Blanca comments.

"I wish I could've seen it, those things are amazing," Maritza chimes in.

"Yeah, I bet you had a blast!" Flaca exclaims. "Pun intended."

They all chuckle at that. "I did!" Laronne says. "Science is so awesome, language arts, too. I won the spelling bee contest at my school as well! They call me a teacher's pet, but I don't care."

"Ah, bien, pero we're not as brilliant in school as you are," Maritza admits sheepishly, gesturing to herself and Flaca.

"Yeah, I get C's, but that's just 'cause school gets harder in like, seventh or eighth grade," Flaca mutters.

"Flaca, don't scare him!" Diablo lightly scolds her, but he doesn't sound that strict.

"Lo siento," Maritza says straightaway, narrowing her eyes at Flaca while shaking her head no.

"Yeah, just enjoy life in the here and now," Flaca suggests.

"I agree," Blanca murmurs. "So, did anyone know that Maritza and Raiza have the same middle names as Karla's, Diana and Adilene?"

"Mine's Diana, in case you were wondering. Maritza Diana Ramos Flores. My little sister is Raiza Adilene Rosalia. Ramos honors my birth mom's last name, and Raiza is Mami's only middle name."

"No, I had no clue. That's very interesting!" Diablo comments.

"It really is, whoa," Laronne agrees.

"I would've named my eldest Raiza, but since Maritza already had a name, I gave the name Raiza to my youngest baby."

"I just think it's super cool that you've both taken in children who ain't yours biologically and still love them as if they're your flesh and blood," Flaca says after a while. Blanca and Diablo exchange a smile.

"Oh yeah, me and Laronne got that in common," Maritza realizes aloud. "I was a baby when Mami took me in." She squeezes Blanca's hand lovingly.

"We've been tight ever since," Blanca adds. "Then came Raiza, and the three of us became even more inseparable."

"How precious! So have Laronne and I," Diablo tells her.

"Aww, that's really sweet!" Blanca states.

"Yeah," the others concur.

Their conversation continues until they have to go home.

Thank you for reading and reviewing, Juliette45 and MsSchneeheide!