forever yours - a carteo story

~Chapter Five~

When Carla and Mateo finished their picnic, Carla invited Mateo to her house for dinner.  Mateo accepted and he decided to run back to the palace and tell Elena.  Carla went inside the cottage and found her mother humming as she was reading a book.  Carla giggled.

"Hi, I'm back.  Did something happen?" she asked with her eyebrow cocked.  Aashna looked up from her book and straightened her glasses.  "I'll say.  Esteban's coming to dinner so can you help clean the house?" she asked.  Carla dropped the picnic basket.

"W-what?  He's coming here?!" she exclaimed in disbelief.  Aashna nodded slowly.  "Yes, do you have a problem with that?" she asked.  Carla sighed heavily and threw herself in the armchair.

"I sort of invited Mateo for dinner too." she admitted.  Aashna smiled.  "That's fine.  We have enough for the entire kingdom.  Now can you help me with cleaning?" she asked.  Carla frowned but decided to help her mother without a fight.

Two hours later,  Esteban arrived earlier than Mateo, which was to be expected since Mateo was slightly busier and never took carriages.  Carla shot a glare at Esteban when he entered the house, luckily he didn't notice.  Mateo arrived a few minutes later.

"Thanks for coming.  I assume you know that uh, Esteban's here." Carla pointed to Esteban and her mother hugging.  Mateo laughed nervously.  "Yeah, but it's fine.  the more the merrier I guess." he smiled.  Carla kissed him on the cheek, so that her mother would notice. 

The four sat down to eat.  There was an awkward silence for a minute until Mateo piped up about the weather.

"Sure was nice today." he remarked.  Esteban scoffed while playing with his food by moving it around with his fork.  "It was horrible.  You prefer humid weather, wizard?" he asked noisily.  Mateo looked hurt.

"Well, no.  Carla and I had a picnic near the house.  I guess you were in Avalor all day." he assumed.  Carla frowned.  Shut up, shut up, please don't say anything, Esteban!

Esteban and Aashna nodded.  "Yes, it wasn't all that bad." Aashna laughed.  Esteban glared at her and narrowed his eyes.  Aashna frowned.  "Well anyway, how's the queen, Mateo?" she asked.  Mateo smiled.

"Oh, fine. She's just been busy." he replied.  Carla buried her head in her hands.  Nobody but Mateo, who put his arm around her, noticed.  Esteban sighed and slammed his fork on the plate.

"This is ridiculous!  Carla, you can't act like an- ugh there isn't a word for people like you." he groaned.  Aashna looked upset.  "Please, she hasn't felt good today-" That surprised Mateo.

"What?  How come you didn't say no to the picnic?  I wouldn't have minded." he frowned.  Carla sighed.  "Look, I don't wanna be here.  I'll just go in my room." she pushed her chair out and slammed her bedroom door.  Mateo ran after her, leaving Aashna and Esteban alone.

Aashna was glaring at Esteban.  "I can't believe you said that! If you're going to be like that tonight, then just go!  I much rather be with my sister than with you." she shouted angrily at Esteban.  Esteban's nostrils flared.

"Fine, I'll see you later." he slammed the front door and hopped in the carriage.

Aashna cursed to herself as she cleaned the table.  Eventually Carla and Mateo came out of Carla's bedroom.

Carla had one suitcase in her hand.  Aashna noticed and her eyes widened.  "W-why do you have that?" she asked.  Carla sighed.  "Look, I can't live like this.  Mateo invited me to stay with him at his mother's this weekend.  I'll be back Monday." she explained.  Aashna dropped the plate she was washing.  

"Carla- do you think, uhm, never mind.  Go ahead." she glared at the sink.  Carla frowned but followed after Mateo, who was quiet the whole time, onto Skylar.  Skylar offered to take Mateo there.

When they landed in front of the hacienta, Carla shed a few tears.  She had just gotten her mother back, and she was the one who left her this time.  She felt awful.  She sighed but picked up her suitcase which Mateo set on the ground and walked inside.

The smell of powdered sugar filled the house.  "Ah!  What is that smell?' Carla sighed dreamily.  Mateo laughed.  "That's just my mom baking.  She and Gabe's mother got together and exchanged recipes.  She's been a baking addict ever since yesterday." he laughed.  Carla smiled.

"Aww, that's nice.  Can you show me around the house?" she asked.  Mateo nodded.  He showed her the living room, kitchen of course, the room she'd be staying in, the bathroom and finally the basement where he kept some of his old potions.

"It's nice in here." Carla remarked as she held up a purple bottle.  "Why do you have this?  It's just purple water." she opened the top and placed her finger in the liquid.  Mateo smiled. 

"It reminds me of you, your eyes." he admitted.  Carla set the bottle down and placed both of her hands on her heart and blushed.  She walked over and kissed him. She laced her arms around his neck.  "That is the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me." she said, staring a deep hole in Mateo's eyes.  Mateo smiled.

"Are you sure?" he broke out of her grip and got out his tamborita.  He placed her hand on his.

  "Te quiero más que a nada. Y quiero guardar este momento para siempre, amor" he whispered to the tamborita, "Captura de luz." A light danced around them and then it went out.  

Carla smiled, knowing what Mateo meant earlier, but something didn't make sense.

"I love you too, but what was the thing with the light?" she asked.  Mateo laughed.  "Oh, I did one of those complicated spells that captures the moment." he explained like it was nothing.  Carla grinned.  "I've never done it before." she replied.  

Mateo nodded.  "I know.  But hey, at least we got it." he smirked.  Carla pushed him playfully. 

"I'm going to see if I can help your mother with the bunelos." she smiled and ran back inside.  Mateo sighed dreamily.

He used the spell to recapture the previous moment again and again.  He'd never get tired of it.

(Translation to the spanish sentence: I love you more than anything. And I want to save this moment forever, love)