LÍO

ZARCO

It's evening time and Marco's brought Zara to the best restaurant in the city. Situated at the top floor of his El Reval appartment building.

Despite the place being a dump inside, the outside's beautful. The city views are stunning.

Hundreds of people swarm the streets in the mid evening sun, looking for a place to eat or drink.

He's turned up the music to blank out the lingering atmosphere of the street below and is enjoying his time with Zara as he munches on his fifth slice of pizza and eighth dough ball.

She has barely touched hers in comparison.

Marco places his hands on hers and lets out a frown. "Are you okay?"

Letting out a sigh, she turns to him and asks: "Marco, is my brother gay?"

He shrugs back. "I have no idea, Zara. I don't think so, why?"

"I'm worried that if he is, Baba won't take it well and he'll be upset and freak out. He's ... well old and pretty conservative..."

"Well, that's between him and your Baba. They can discuss it and argue it out. I know you're worried about Adam because he's your big brother, but you have to let him have his own space as well. Baba too."

"I know but..."

"...Worrying won't help the outcome of things." Marco leans in to kiss her. "Zara, everything will be okay. You have me here for support."

"...I hope so."

Marco smiles and nods. "I'm also the tickle monster!" He says with a smirk as he begins to tickle her under the armpits. She laughs. "You like that?"

"Stop!" She giggles, trying to fight him off. Marco wraps his arms around her and cuddles her tight. He rests his chin on her exposed arm. "Aw, you're so soft."

"It's the new moisturiser I've started using. Georgia told me about it. It makes my skin feel really smooth, especially after shaving."

"I'm glad you took her advice. You've never smelled better either." She says with a smile. "Honestly, you're a snack. I could eat you up right now."

Marco smirks. "Why don't you?"

Zara smiles back. "For dessert?"

"Sure." He laughs. "Let's go."

Zara smiles and follows him into the lounge and over to his sofa, where Marco forgets that a bald man is sitting down and playing video games with a beer and ashtray opposite him on the coffee table.

They've started kissing each other, and he doesn't wanna stop now:

"So this is your novia?" The man asks Marco as he nods his head. "She's hot."

Marco winks back. "I know she is, Armando."

Armando smirks back. "How did a guy like you end up with this linda flor?"

"I have something you don't."

"And what's that?"

"I'm suave. And I'm also charming and not an actual lump of human shaped pork mush."

"At least people find me tasty—"

"—Not all people. Vegetarians, vegans or your ex-wife."

Armando gives Marco the middle finger and goes back to playing his game. He's losing against some random teenager from Dubai 5-0 on a FIFA football game. He starts yelling at the kid, so Marco decides to bring Zara into his room:

"Sorry about that. I forgot he was even awake. He's usually asleep until like ten at night."

Zara looks up at Marco as she takes off her shoes and shirt. "Who even is he?"

"My roommate, Armando. He's a pain in the ass. So is Rose, the hooker but she's hardly here, which is nice." Marco adds as he finishes taking off his shirt and flopping onto his bed. "I'd like to have my own apartment, but I can barely afford that. You know?"

Zara lays down beside him and raises an eyebrow. "I thought you came from a rich family."

"I do, but they want nothing to do with me."

Zara frowns. "Why?"

"Because I used to be big into drugs. They tried to help me, but I kept stealing money off them to fund my habit and they thought that throwing me out would teach me a lesson. It did but now they hate me."

"What do you mean?"

"They hate the person I've become. They hate how different I am compared to their expectations. I'm not the same kid that I used to be at all."

"Of course not." She shakes her head and kisses him on the cheek. "But they were still rude to you? That's horrible. You're a nice guy, Marco."

Marco kisses her back and lets her climb onto him. "You think so?"

Zara nods. "You try, Marco and I appreciate that."

"Do you?"

"Of course." She kisses his happy trail. "God loves a tryer."

"A tryer? I'd say that I'm more of a risktaker."

Zara smiles and rests her head against his chest. She can feel his heart beating just for her. Faster and faster by the second.

Droplets of sweat form on him. He starts to breathe heavy. Marco looks up at the ceiling and tries to cool himself down.

"Are you okay?" Zara whispers to him.

"Yes—Yes. I'm just a bit nervous."

"Why?"

"Just about life and stuff... and finding money... and this is going to be the night that I take your virginity... right?"

"Yeah, and there's no need to be nervous." She whispers.

"I just feel like things are happening fast. A few months ago, I never even knew that Adam had a sister."

"I know, Marco. But sometimes things happen for a reason."

Marco agrees. "Even bad things, even trials."

"So, that's why I'm here to help you, and listen to you."

Marco sinks further into the sheets. "Even if I'm bad?"

She raises an eyebrow. "What do you mean bad?"

Marco takes in a deep breath and exhales it. "Promise you won't tell anyone this, and you won't freak out?"

"What is it?"

"I've done something kinda bad—bad but I need to do it to get moneu and stuff and I'm reall, really sorry, Zara."

"How bad are we talking here?"

"Well... I'm a drug dealer..."