43

Amora

"I swear to god! What does this even mean?" I mumbled, staring down at the paper in front of me.

I was sat at the kitchen of the Rodriguez's house, studying harshly for my upcoming test.I have too get good grades this semester. Pops will certainly kill me if I get another c.

I looked up from my papers seeing Pablo walk into the kitchen, carrying a cup as he let out a few coughs.

"Oh would you like me too get you some tea? That cough does not sound good, I know this way good recipe I make it for my dad all the time" I quickly sat up, walking over towards him.

"No no dear I'm ok. But please for the last time! Call me Pablo it's fine, really" He laughed, shaking his head at me as he set his cup into the sink.

"Oh alright, if you want some just tell me ok?" I sighed, sitting back down.

"Of course, I will" he called out, beginning to exit the kitchen.

I was now left with silence as I continued to flip through the book, groaning in frustration once I realized I had lost my place.

"How many times have I came down here too see you over without telling me?" Benny walked in, smiling down at me.

"Sorry. My house was a way distracting place right now. Pops is constantly yelling at people on the phone" I sighed, tiredly resting my head into my hand as I picked up my pencil.

"It's ok. I like having you here" he laughed, pecking the top of my head.

I smiled as I continued to glance back and forth between the book and my paper, writing down notes.

"What are you doing?" He questioned, leaning over the table to look at my paper.

"Studying. Dad will certainly ground me if I show up with my report card being c's again" I explained, sighing sadly.

"You? Studying? That's hard to believe" he rose his eyebrows in shock, making me scoff and shake my head.

Soon Natalia and Luis walked downstairs, with Natalia laughing once she held her foot out to trip him.

I whipped my head back to see Luis stumble down the steps, gripping onto the railing before quickly stepping down onto the floor.

"Jesus christ what the hell!" Luis shouted, angrily throwing his hands up.

"Oops?" Natalia laughed, shrugging her shoulders as she stepped down the stairs.

"Oh hey girl. You still studying?" Natalia asked once she was in the kitchen, looking over my shoulder.

"Yeah, my teach is being such a bust!" I sighed, turning over the page with a frown.

"Oh, I wanted to ask if you wanted to go shopping but-

"Yes!" I cut her off, immediately shooting my head up. I sat up, quickly closing my book and stuffed my papers back into my bag.

"Hey? I thought you were studying!" Benny questioned, watching my franticness as I scrambled my papers around.

"Yeah whatever. That can wait! This is way important!" I waved my hand, throwing my bag over my shoulder.

"Well, If we're going out. I got to get ready" Luis groaned, pushing himself up from the table.

"Uh what? Who said you were coming" Natalia rose an eyebrow, crossing her arms.

"I did. I want too spend time with my future sister-in-law too, you know?" He laughed, wrapping an arm over my shoulder.

Immediately I choked on complete thin air at his words, widening my eyes as Benny shook his head, sending him a look.

"I'm just kidding. I'll be back" Luis laughed, nudging Benny's arm before leaving the room.

I cleared my throat watching as Benny rolled his eyes at him before cracking a small smile at me.

Sister-in-law? Marriage? Oh my mind was practically spinning at the thought.

Benny and I haven't even said the L word yet!

Soon Luis walked back into the room looking more cleaned up and changed.Natalia took my hand pulling me out of the house with Luis and Benny following behind.

"Alright. Who wants too drive?" Luis questioned, holding up a pair of keys.

"Ooo me-

"No! Not you" Benny cut me off, pulling my hand back down.

"Ugh, fine" I groaned, crossing my arms angrily as we all hopped into the car.

I sat down next to Benny who immediately grabbed my hand intertwining our fingers, before placing it down onto his lap.

Soon after a few minutes of driving we arrived in front of a few shops, making me excitedly jump out of the car.

"Ok. So I'm thinking we could try something like a mini skirt, plaid? You like plaid?" I questioned, grabbing Natalias arm as I thought.

"Mini skirt!" Luis and Benny both shouted, making us both turn back.

"No no no. First off all, you can't even wear a mini skirt" Benny shook his head, grabbing onto my hand.

"And who said?" I scoffed, yanking my hand away and crossing my arms.

"Uh your dad? He told me to watch you, so yeah no" he explained, shaking his head in disapproval.

"Oh relax. It's not revealing at all! It's way cute, equivalent too wearing a pair of shorts. Come on!" I turned back around, tugging Natalias hand.

——

"Oh my god Amora! You did not have too buy us this stuff, it's too much" Natalia gasped, looking down at the bags in my hands.

"Shh sure I did it's fine. Oh Luis! Here, I bought you a few pair of sneakers in like 5 different colors! They were all too nice I just couldn't chose" I waved him over, handing him a bag.

"Are you serious? You didn't have too do-

"I wanted too ok. It's totally fine don't even worry" I waved my hand, assuring him.

He shook his head before cracking a smile."Thanks. Now I got too get you something!" He nudged my arm, laughing softly.

"No no! Do not. I love shopping, that stress about my stupid test is long gone!" I smiled, assuring him again.

I shot him a smile to which he shook his head at me and returned it, before I glanced over to see Natalia staring off.

I followed her eyes too see her staring off at a boy that sat in the ice cream shop, across the room.

I cracked a smug smile before glancing towards Benny who was too busy eating his ice cream too even notice.

"What's his name?" I whispered, leaning over towards her.

Her eyes widened realizing I caught her staring before shaking her head and returning a smile."Alex. He's in my math class" she explained, looking back over at him.

"Hm, he's cute?" I smiled, shrugging as I looked over towards him with her.

"What'd you say?" Benny immediately questioned, sharply looking over at me.

"Nothing bozo, we're talking here. Not you" I shook my head, shooing him off.

"Yeah, but he doesn't even know I exist. He's like super popular among the 7th grade class. He would never even look at me" Natalia continued, sighing sadly.

I frowned looking back towards her with sadness. "What! He must be completely blind too not. You're a total babe!" I exclaimed, nudging her arm too cheer her up.

"What are we even talking about here?" Luis chimed in, furrowing his eyebrows in confusion at our conversation.

"Nothing Luis. Mind your business will you?" Natalia groaned, smacking him away.

"Ok, how about. Well, you could talk too him? I know that seems simple and stupid but I think he'd appreciate you making the first move" I offered, shrugging slightly.

"Like me with those total wacko" I smiled, wrapping my arm over Benny's shoulder.

"What! No you didn't?" He scoffed, shaking his head in denial.

"Yes I did. I told you I liked you first!" I insisted, removing my arms and crossing them.

"Yeah but I kissed your cheek first, and then you decided to follow along and copy me!" He protested, shaking his head at my statement.

"Ok but what's more important here. A kiss on the cheek or an actual undying confession of feelings for you?" I questioned, tilting my head with a smile.

He thought for a moment before rolling his eyes as he shrugged. "I guess your thing"

I let out a small laugh, nodding my head in approval. "Exactly. You're learning, there's hope for you" I smiled, patting his shoulder.

"You know I'd love too, I could so die! But I'm too scared to do that" Natalia laughed, shaking her head at the thought

I bit onto the inside of my cheek as I glanced back towards the boy, thinking and plotting to myself.

"Ok, I'll tell you what I usually used too do. It worked all the time" I waved her over."Come" I motioned her to follow as I stood up from the table.

"What are you doing?" Benny questioned, furrowing his eyebrows in confusion as he watched me.

"Nothing nothing. Let's go" I brushed him off, waving my hand for her to follow.

She followed behind me as I walked over, stopping once I was near the table. Eyeing their table before waving Natalia to come closer.

"Ok, so pretend you're going to grab a spoon but drop it. If it doesn't land near him I'll kick it over, but wait until he picks it up and then approach" I whispered, instructing her.

"And once he gives you it back. You got too start up a conversation. Boys are complete moronic flakes, ask him what his name is. What school he goes too. Then just be like 'oh I go there too!' That'll be sure spark up something" I continued.

She leaned back once I finished, nodding her head before we both turned around.

I nudged her too go making her quickly glance at the boy before grabbing onto a spoon from the cup upfront, immediately dropping it after.

Luckily, I didn't even need too kick it over. It slid right over, not near but close enough, making me look away immediately once the boy looked down.

I nudged her too go over as she hesitantly walked forward, leaving me to stay behind and excitedly watch.

I continued to stand around immediately smiling once I noticed the smile on the boy's face as they talked.

I squealed too myself as I rushed back over towards our table, sitting down with Luis and Benny giving me confused looks.

"What is she doing?" Luis exclaimed, leaning over to see her.

"Is she- she's talking to a boy?" Benny questioned, furrowing his eyebrows as he watched the scene.

"I know! Isn't it so cute!" I smiled, clapping my hands excitedly.

"No it is not! She's 13. She can't be talking to a boy!" Luis insisted, beginning to stand up from the table.

"No no! Sit. Trust me this is good. When was your first girlfriend hm?" I questioned, crossing my arms.

He huffed, shaking his head as he slowly sat back down. "I don't know..12?" Luis muttered, looking down to the table.

"Exactly. The girl would totally go out with him anyway, no matter what you, or you say" I explained, motioning to the two who sat at the table.

"At least now you know about it. Besides, he doesn't look harmful at all!" I exclaimed, looking back towards the two.

"Yeah he does! Look at him" he scoffed, insisting as he motioned back towards the boy.

We all looked over as I titled my head, squinting my eyes slightly as I examined the boy who Natalia talked too.

"Mhm...no. I'm not seeing it?" I titled my head, shrugging slightly.

"Well I do. He's a complete-

"What happened?" I cut him off, seeing Natalia walk back towards the table.

"Oh my god.. it went so good! He's is so cute I nearly fell right on my ass" She exclaimed, quickly siting back down next to me.

I smiled as I listened to her gush about the boy, glancing over and rolling my eyes seeing Benny and Luis who watched us in complete confusion.