Motherless

48

Hector

Talia's house looked like something out of a movie warm lights everywhere, music shaking the walls, people laughing and dancing like they had no worries in the world. But honestly, the whole place could've been on fire and I still wouldn't have noticed.

Because she walked in looking like that.

Talia didn't just look good she looked unreal. The dress, the makeup, her hair... everything. For a second, I genuinely forgot how to breathe. And watching her dance with our friends? Yeah. Someone needed to check on me.

They were all jumping around to some fast song, screaming the lyrics, having the time of their lives.

Then the music changed.

A slow song. Out of nowhere.

I glanced toward the DJ, confused, until I saw Ms. Winslow. Looking straight at me.

She winked.
WINKED.
Then she pointed at me like, Go on. That's your shot.

Talia froze on the dance floor, staring at her mom like she betrayed her. Her cheeks went bright red. Mine probably matched.

I swallowed, wiped my hands on my jeans, tried to pretend I wasn't dying inside, and walked toward her.

I bowed dramatically, because if I didn't turn it into a joke I was going to panic.

"Mi lady," I said, putting on a fake old-fashioned accent, "may I have this dance?"

She covered her face for a second. "Hector, please," she whispered, mortified but her hand slipped into mine anyway.

And that was it. Instant short-circuit.

Her hand was soft. Warm. Small. And mine suddenly felt like they didn't know how to work correctly.

I put my hand on her waist cautiously, like she was made of glass and her hand landed on my shoulder. We started swaying. Kind of off-beat at first, because we were both nervous. She kept glancing at her feet, then at me, then away, like she couldn't decide whether to laugh or run.

But after a minute, it felt... natural. Easy. Like we'd done this a thousand times.

We talked about random stuff at first her friends acting like idiots, the decorations, her mom's very obvious matchmaking attempt. She kept giggling, and every time she did, my heart did something painful.

Then things got quiet.
The nice kind of quiet.

Her perfume drifted around me something soft, sweet, not too strong. And before my brain could stop my mouth, I said softly,

"Te ves hermosa."

Her eyes widened just a little. Her cheeks warmed. "Gracias," she murmured.

God. I could've melted right there.

I said something else after that something too honest in Spanish, way too fast. She blinked at me, confused. She didn't catch it. Thank God. I would've had to fling myself off the balcony if she did.

We fell into silence again, but a different kind this time. She was close. Too close. I could feel my heartbeat in my fingers resting on her waist.

And I realized:
If I didn't say something now, I never would.

"Talia..." My voice shook a bit. I tried to act like it didn't. "There's something I want to tell you. I— I like you. A lot. More than just fri—"

"EVERYONE OUTSIDE! COME QUICK!"

Someone yelled it so loud it cut straight through the music.

Talia jumped, stepping back. The spell shattered instantly.