𝐎𝐍 𝐌𝐘 𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐄𝐒, Alex Alvarez

fourteen - rambling

•~3rd person P.O.V~•
TRANSLATIONS: SPANISH TO ENGLISH (done by google translate so the translations are probably shit😭)
"Abuelita" - "Grandma"

(sort of a continuation/the end of the episode "S03:E02")
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"Well, I just got done calling all my exes. I can report that all of my romantic moves have been 100 percent consensual. And 1,000 percent disappointing." Schneider's chest heaved as if he'd run a mile, which he obviously hadn't. "I just spent 12 hours listening to women tell me all my flaws." He frowned, resting his hands on his hips.

"Oh, Schneider, you didn't have to call anyone for that, we're right downstairs," Penelope said as she sat at the kitchen table with her coffee mug. Maria closed her book, the one Syd had recommended. Maria quickly realized that she and Syd had very similar tastes when it came to books, which was something she enjoyed. She liked discussing books they'd both read, talking about what if's and which characters they liked more or disliked most.

"Would it cheer you up to know that we found the perfect relationship name?" Syd asked, sitting excitedly on the couch. They'd already told Maria the name they were going to call Syd because they were absolutely ecstatic about it.

"Nerds?" Penelope glared at her mom as she chomped down on her toast smeared in grape jelly.

"It's flattering, it's non-gendered, and it's fun to say. Syd is my SO. Significant Other." Schneider's eyes went wide, a bright smile creasing the corners of his cheeks, and Maria could practically see the glowing lightbulb above his head.

"Or..are they your Syd-nificant Other?" Elena and Syd's mouths dropped open, excitedly turning to each other. Maria smiled, their excitement was adorable and overwhelmingly sweet.

"Oh, my god! That's genius!" Elena squealed happily, and suddenly Syd jumped up from her seat on the couch.

"Hey, girlfriend, wanna go out somewhere?" They asked over-enthusiastically, a bright smile plastered on their face.

"Hell, yeah, Syd-nificant Other." Elena hopped up, doing a little happy dance as she threw down her binder on the table.

"Yay, they're going outside!" Penelope called, as the couple walked through the doors. Schneider followed quickly after, hanging from the doorframe.

"Hey, wait, is there something you guys wanna call me? Starts with an A. Don't say the first thing you thought of." Maria giggled, shaking her head slightly as she picked her book back up.

Then suddenly she felt the couch cushion beside her dip down, but she didn't look up. It wasn't unusual for anyone to sit down beside her, and she didn't mind.

"Hey, Maria," She looked up and saw Alex nervously wipe his hands on his pants. "Can I talk to you real quick?" Maria closed her book and sat it on the coffee table, Alex was nervous and Maria could see that.

"Sure, what's up?" Alex glanced at his mom and his Abuelita, and he was sure his Abuelita would be listening in. He stood and motioned for Maria to follow him, so she did, and Alex cracked the door slightly. He wanted to make sure their conversation was private but he also didn't want to get in trouble for having the door closed. If it was cracked, then it technically wasn't closed, that was what he'd tell his mom if she got angry.

"Okay," He sighed, plopping down in his bed beside Maria, "I did what you told me to, I apologized to Chloe." Maria nodded, her face showing just how confused she was. "Well, we broke up last night." Maria gasped lightly, a frown creasing her cheeks.

"I'm sorry, Alex." But he shook his head, his hands resting on hers. His hands were hot, which Maria knew was from nervousness. When Maria was nervous, her hands felt cold like her blood was made from icicles.

"No, we both agreed to it after I apologized and explained some things." Maria cocked her head to the side, hair falling from behind her ears.

"What things?" She asked, watching Alex as he drew in a large breath. Maria hadn't ever seen him nervous before, he was such an outgoing person. A person who didn't care what people thought of him and because of that he never seemed to get nervous.

"I had this written out on a price of paper but I figured that would be weird to read to you like you were some presentation I was making." Alex sucked in a sharp breath when he realized he was rambling. "Anyway, basically..." He sighed, he felt overwhelming nervous, almost like he needed to throw up. "I like you Maria, and I explained to Chloe that it wasn't fair to her since she deserves someone who isn't settling because she is a nice girl. We both agreed that it'd be best to break up. She said she didn't mind the pictures but she appreciated that I wanted to make sure she was comfortable and I said I owe it to you, my sister, and my mom for educating me and teaching me not to be an inconsiderate asshole." Maria wondered if she needed to remind Alex to breathe as he spoke since he spoke so fast and so much.

"Alex-" She started but was interrupted by Alex who looked obviously worried.

"Before you say anything I just wanted you to know that we don't have to date, ya know? I've liked you since fourth grade, which is a pretty long time when you think about it. I mean, you're just so pretty, so sweet, so kind, and so smart. You make me look even dumber than Elena does and most times that makes me mad but with you it doesn't. You make me look like a mediocre-looking bum next to you, you're just so-so perfect and I'd understand why you wouldn't want to date me. If you don't like me or if you need time to process everything that's been going on lately then I completely understand but-"

"Alex," He paused, his adam's apple bobbing as he gulped. "I like you too." Alex sighed, the nervousness immediately leaving his body, a small smile replacing it.

"Sorry for rambling, I just...didn't want to mess up our friendship if you didn't like me." Maria smiled and shook her head. Even if she didn't like him, he wouldn't have messed up the friendship. Maria always thought that was so dumb, the way people "couldn't" be friends when someone expressed their feelings. "But now that I know you do, I do wanna be together." He toyed with his fingers before quickly speaking again. "If you want to! Of course." Maria smiled, feeling her chest grow warm and her cheeks burn.

"I'd love to be with you, Alex." Alex smiled a wide toothy grin, at his excitement. He couldn't believe Maria actually liked him, he'd been pining after her for years and now she reciprocated those feelings. He'd never felt so overjoyed in his entire life. No expensive pair of shoes or clothes could compare.
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A/n: I start school on Wednesday (kms) and we started block scheduling this year. Basically, on A Day/Friday I have Chem, History, Early Childhood Development, and Female Strength and Conditioning + Health (I take both like Strength for the first two nine weeks and Health for the last two. Now on B Day/Friday, I have Foods (aka cooking class), Honors English 2, French 2, and Geometry. I have a friend in every class on B day/Friday but I have no friends in chem or strength (as far as I know) so I'm actually gonna KMS BECAUSE THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL IS GONNA BE AN A DAY AND I HAVE CHEM AT LIKE EIGHT AM!!
Word Count:1,297