Days And Nights (Book of Life and Maya and the Three One Shots)

Sanchez Flames

The Sanchez children meet the loves of their lives.

Fourteen year-old Celina was sitting outside the house people watching one evening as she often did when she gets bored.

She saw someone drop a pocket watch as they passed by. She quickly picked it up and called out, “Hey! You dropped this!”

A boy around her age turned around and walked back to her, “Oh, thanks. I…” The boy lost his train of thought when he saw Celina. He was her height with light olive skin. His eyes were blue and hair was dark brown.

Celina raised her brow when she saw his face turn pink, “Are you ok?” She asked.

The boy cleared his throat, “Uh-uh, yeah.” He stammered, “T-Thanks. I-I’m Marco Luz.”

“I'm Celina Sanchez.” 

Marco looked more nervous, “S-Sanchez? As in Manolo Sanchez?”

“Yeah. How do you know my dad?” 

“I, uh, think I saw him performing when I first moved here.” 

Celina became intrigued, “Oh. Welcome to San Angel.”

Marco's face became a deeper shade of pink, “Thank you…”

“Hm. I should've known you're not from around here. I don't recognize the watch from anywhere.”

“I got it from our trip to America.”

“You've been to America? Wow. I wish I could go one day.”

Marco smiled, “I'm sure you will.”

“I hope so. Sometimes when Papa travels for a show, he takes us with him. We've seen some really cool cities. And my mom has taken us to Spain with Abuela.”

“You went to Spain?!” Marco exclaimed.

“Why? Is that strange?”

“N-No, no, no! I think that's very cool!”

Celina looked up, “Oh, hi, Papa.” Marco tensed up and turned around. He looked up at the older man he knew was her father.

“Hey, mija.” Manolo said. He noticed Marco, “Oh, whose this?”

The blood drained from Marco's face and his voice was caught in his throat. Thankfully, Celina spoke for him, “This is Marco.”

Manolo held his hand out to the young boy, “It's nice to meet you, Marco.”

Marco slowly took his hand and shook it, “I-I have to go. My d-dad needs me t-to be home.” He ran off, “It was very nice to meet you!”

The two Sanchezes starred in the direction he ran, “He seems nice.” Manolo said. 

“He seemed nervous about something.” Celina said, “Not sure what.”

Manolo smiled at his daughter, “I think I have an idea.”

…

Fifteen year-old Cecilia stormed in the house with a huff. 

“Cecilia, what's wrong?” Maria asked, getting up from the couch. 

“I am totally done with Ernesto!” Cecilia fumed.

Maria blinked, “Really? I thought you were crazy about him.”

“Not anymore. He's so pessimistic about everything. And he goes on and on about how much he wants to leave town.” Cecilia took a deep breath, “I can't believe I wasted my time liking someone who did nothing but sulk about life and complained about how fake the people are here. What was I thinking?”

Maria placed her hand on her shoulder, “Aw, well, it's good you realized that's not what you want. But don't worry, you'll find someone else.”

“Oh, no. I'm done with boys. I'm not wasting my time any-”

“Excuse me.”

Cecilia yelped at the sudden voice. She turned around and saw a boy her age in the doorway. He had tan skin with shaggy black hair and brown eyes.

“Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you.” He said, “The door was open, so I, uh… should've knocked.”

“Oh, are you one of Manolo’s students?” Maria asked.

“Yeah.” He glanced at the piece of scrap paper in his hand, “This is where Señor Sanchez lives, right?”

“Yes, it is. I'm Maria and this is our daughter Cecilia.”

Cecilia brought herself back down to earth when she was mentioned, “Oh, uh, yeah. H-Hi.”

“I'm Tomás.” He smiled. Cecilia felt her heart thump at his smile.

“I'll go tell Manolo you're here.” Maria said, walking upstairs.

“So what made you want to learn music?” Cecilia asked.

“I wanted to learn something new.” Tomás shrugged, “I thought music would pair well with my writing.”

“You write?”

“Just a little, it's no big deal.”

“I-It sounds pretty interesting to me.”

Tomás raises his eyebrows, “It does?” She nodded.

“There you are, Tomás.” Manolo greeted from the bottom of the stairs, “Just follow me.” 

Tomás looked back at Cecilia, “I'll see you later.” He followed Manolo upstairs for their lesson. 

Cecilia walked to the stairs, looking up at the room they were in, smiling softly.

“So much for being done with boys.” Maria said.

Cecilia's face turned red in embarrassment, “What are you talking about? I am. Tomás isn't that great. He might be an awful musician.”

Maria giggled and walked away, “Whatever you say, mija.”

Cecilia silently went upstairs and hid in the room closest to her father's music room, listening to Tomás's lesson. He was… an ok musician.

…

Carlos had started his first day of third grade in San Angel's school, meaning a new classroom and some new kids. One of his new classmates was a girl named Ana. 

During the kids’ playtime in the schoolyard, Carlos was with his friend Alberto. He paid half attention to what Alberto was saying. He was staring at Ana a couple feet away as she played with another girl. 

“Carlos. Carlos!” Alberto said, exasperated. 

“What?” Carlos asked.

“You're not listening.”

“Y-Yeah, I am.” Alberto sighed when Carlos turned back to Ana, “Hi!”

The reddish-brown haired girl turned to Carlos and smiled, “Oh, hi. I like your hair.”

Carlos looked up at the curl on his head and shyly smiled, “Oh, thanks. I like your spots.”

Ana grinned, touching her freckled cheeks, “Thanks. I used to not like them, but mami said they make me special.”

Carlos smiled, feeling an unfamiliar warmth in his chest.

“You're supposed to be my friend.” Alberto said.

“I am.” Carlos said.

“No, you're not. You're disloyal.”