California Dreamin

4

At that time, the wedding day was the day every girl was waiting for. It was like a girl's dream. They always had this not-so-realistic idea of a perfect marriage with a perfect future, only to find out it was pure imagination and be disappointed.

Of course Nina was an exeption. Everyone in El Paso knew what Nina thought about marriage: a woman's prison without any wrongdoing.

She kept telling that to herself while putting on the slightest make up not to make her father mad. She gave a last check to the mirror and left her room to reach her parents and brother downstairs.

"So if we're all ready, we can go." Said her father while checking if Nina's dress was appropriate and wasn't showing off too much skin.

As they got in the car, her mother spoke.
"Ruth must be nervous."

"I bet she is, unfortunately I didn't get the chance to speak with her by the telephone this morning." She smiled a little thinking about her being all nervous and anxious and exited at the same time. Nina liked Ruth's future husband, he was a good man.

"At least today, Nina, don't ruin the party talking about your ideas of marriage and independence, no one gives a fuck, you're just a kid." Her father coldy said.

Nina slightly pinched her arm not to answer out of anger because she knew there would've been horrible consequences so she limited herself to nod. Her brother looked at her and caressed her arm with a sad smile, trying to tell her that she did the right thing by remaining silent. He sure preferred her to speak up for herself but at the same time he didn't want to see her bruised again.

As they arrived to the church, they got out of the car and started waiting for the bride. The groom was already there, smiling to everyone to hide that he was nervous as well.

Nina found it cute, she loved when men weren't scared to show some emotions and vulnerability. Of course he had to be nervous, it was his wedding day and he was about to marry the most beautiful, genuine and kindest woman on earth probably. She smiled at the thought.

The bride's car arrived along with the other Ramirez brothers. She had to admit it, the youngest Ramirez was breathtaking that day. He noticed her as soon as he got out of the car and winked at her. Nina rolled her eyes, he was still an idiot.

The boy didn't miss that and hid a laugh while helping his sister with the dress as she was trying to come out of the car as well.

Nina gave her a comforting smile as she met her almost full of tears eyes.
During the religious ceremony, she could feel the boy's eyes on her every five seconds, but she couldn't give him a dirty look as they were in a religious place and he just loved it.

"This will be a veeeery long day." She whispered to her brother who knew exactly what she was talking about and quietly laughed about it.

"You're more patient than this, hermanita."

"Me? Sure." Diego kept quietly laughing
at his sister being frustrated.

"Why don't you just leave him alone and let him stare?"

Nina looked up at him with eyes wide open. "Yes and what about Nancy? What should I tell her when she asks me about today? <Oh yes your lover stared at me the entire day>?"

"Oh so you don't really mind him staring at you, you just feel sorry for your little best friend." Diego started teasing her.

"What?!" Nina raised her voice a little, only to be shushed by an unknown relative to which she gave a fake smile.

"I'm joking Neens, but please don't start a fight today, just keep pretending he doesn't exist like you always do." Her brother almost pleaded.

"Of course we won't."

At the restaurant everybody were cheerful and impatient to party and dance with the married couple. Nina kept feeling the youngest Ramirez's eyes on her to which she would reply with confused looks and inviting him to quit it. She did the best she could to avoid him considering they didn't have any agreement on not arguing or provoking each other that day. They didn't call it truce, they didn't speak at all, like usual.

After the main course and some dances, Nina went outside to smoke a cigarette. Sometimes she would feel a pretty heavy atmosphere inside and had the need to go out.

"Shit." She whispered trying to find her lighter inside her purse. She scoffed as she was about to put down the still untouched cigarette and turned around to go back inside when she felt something hot close to her left cheek. Someone was holding a lighter near her face. The youngest Ramirez.

She muttered a "thank you" while letting him light that sweet cancer between her lips. She found that moment really embarrassing as she avoided doing eye contact with him while being at a very short distance.
She knew that would have been the longest cigarette ever given his presence along with a very awkward silence. Until he broke it.

"So, about Nan..."

Nina glared at him hearing her best friend's name coming out of his lips again.
"Again? Seriously?"

That time it was him the one to roll his eyes. He was curious, he knew Nancy as a quiet girl, he would never imagine her to be that type to look at older boys like that. And like him.
Before he could talk again, she spoke first.

"Listen, if you really want to make conversation with me, leave Nancy out of it. I'm very jealous and protective when it comes to her, she's just a kid."

The boy was literally stunned and it was hilarious.
"Hey! I still haven't said a thing though!"

The way he defended himself from the sudden attack from the girl which really wasn't needed, it just made her laugh out loud in a way she never had, soon followed by the older one. It was the first time he would make her laugh and when she stopped, they both realized what had just happened.

They looked at each other for a while without saying a word, only with a little timid smile on their lips and a slightly surprised expression on their faces. It was weird, they despised each other and then they were laughing together. What was going on inside their heads?
She never thought he could be funny and he never thought she could be capable of laughing.

She then moved to go lay with her back against the wall, breaking eye contact. He then followed her shortly afterwards, laying next to her.

"She likes you. A lot. I would say that she's madly in love with you to be honest. I don't even know why, no offense." She said after a while. The cigarette getting shorter and shorter.

"None taken." He laughed a bit, loving her being so spontaneous. "It's just that... you're right, she's a kid and I don't know if I really have the patience to wait for her to grow up or whatever."

They remained silent for a few minutes more before realizing they both finished their cigarette and they agreed to go back inside.
Nina was greeted with an expression on Ruth's face in which she could clearly read a "what the hell am I seeing?" referring to them two being together.

The younger one mouthed a "I have no idea", making the spouse laugh.
They kept dancing and playing funny little games and tricks with the couple until late night.
It wasn't that bad after all.