MISFIT ❁ ALEX ALVAREZ

Citizen Lydia ✰

Aria's POV

Schneider, Max, the whole Alvarez family, and I sat at their dinner table, celebrating Schneider and Lydia becoming citizens tomorrow.

"Hey, here's to you guys. Tomorrow you will be American citizens. This is my last night with a bunch of foreigners at my table." Penelope cheered, lifting her glass

"Yep, finally ready to renounce free health care, economic prosperity, and diplomatic respect for... Oh, God, maybe I didn't think this through." Schneider gasped, suddenly freaking out

"And tomorrow I will be as American as El Pollo Loco. Salud." Lydia smiled, raising her glass

We all raised ours and cheered with her. As Lydia was about to take a drink, Elena pulled her arm down, "Hey, Hey, Hey. You can't drink. You have a test tomorrow."

"Ay, please. In Cuba, we had the four R's. Reading, writing, 'rithmetic and rum." Lydia nodded, throwing back her shot.

"Plus you only need to get 60% right to pass." I pointed out, making Lydia smile at me for taking her side

"So basically, to become an American, you have to prove you're a D-minus student?" Elena questioned

"Yep, it's the same requirement as it is to become president. Want me to help you clean up?" Schneider asked, making me laugh

"Nah, you're gonna be American. Let the Latinos do it." She joked

Everyone got up, and Schneider and I headed to the door.

"Text me later, handsome." I joked, as I walked pass Alex

"You go it, beautiful." He replied, playfully winking.

I rolled my eyes and shut the door behind me, before racing to catch up with Schneider

__________

Schneider and I walked through the doors of the building where he would be taking his citizenship test.

Schneider was dressed head to toe in American flag clothes, which I had repeatedly begged him not to do

He busted into the waiting room where Alex and Elena were waiting with Lydia, "They didn't call my name yet, did they?"

"What the hell are you wearing?" Lydia asked, eyeing the man up and down

"I'm trying to look more American. Is it not working? I should have brought a gun." Schneider cried, freaking out for the fifth time this morning

"Are you okay?" Alex asked

"He's been like this all morning." I sighed, sitting between Alex and Elena

"Last night, I was testing the pH of the water in my seahorse ranch and, as I looked at those vomiting little guys, I realized I suck at tests." He groaned

"He cried for half an hour. You try comforting a crying grown man, it's impossible." I added, making Alex and Elena laugh

"All tests. Drug, sobriety, vision, IQ, smog. You name it, I fail it!" He continued

"Relax, pobrecito Schneider. Look, you go in, they ask you a few questions, you come out. Fricky-fracky. American." Lydia smiled, clapping her hands together

"See." She added, pointing to a man, not realizing he was being escorted out in hand cuffs.

We all grew shocked, "Oh, my God! They're gonna send me to Gitmo!"

"Oh my God! I'm gonna be an orphan." I cried, now just as freaked out.

Then, a nice man walked out and called Lydia's name. She got up and followed him into the room.

"He seems nice." Schneider notes, a little calmer than before

Then, a lady came out and harshly called Schneider up.

"You'll do great!" Elena reassured

"Go get them." Alex cheered

"You like my outfit?" He asked the lady

"Oh, boy." She grounded, walking into the testing room

"He's screwed." Elena said once they shut the door

"Yeah, I'm gonna miss him." Alex agreed

"Oh my god." I cried, in a higher octave voice

"I'm kidding, mi amada." Alex laughed, grabbing my hand

A few minutes later, Schneider walked out with his hands behind his back and an ICE agent following him.

My grip on Alex's hand tightened, "Oh, no. Are you in handcuffs?"

"No, I passed!" He cheered, pulling out two tiny flags

"Oh my God, Yes!" I cheered, getting up to hug him

He lifted me up in a hug and then set me down to hug Elena and Alex.

"I'm so proud of you!" I smiled hugging him again

"Thanks, kiddo." He laughed, ruffling my hair

Another couple minutes went by, and Lydia walked out of her testing room

"Ooh, here comes Abuelita." Alex pointed, making us all turn in that direction

We all cheered thinking she passed, but stopped when we saw the look on her face.

"What? What? Is something wrong?" Alex asked

"I don't know. He said to wait here. Maybe they make everyone wait while they figure out if you pass." Lydia suggested

"They didn't do that with me. She told me I passed in the room and then I showed her my YouTube video. Don't look for it." Schneider said

"I answered every question. I aced the English test. Did I do something wrong?" Lydia asked

"This is because you're Latinx. The white guy goes in there and cruises to citizenship, despite having nothing to offer this country." Elena groaned

"That's right. Wait, are you talking about me?" Schneider asked

"Could I lose my green card?" Lydia questioned

"No. I'm sure everything's okay." Alex assured her, gently patting her arm

"Maybe. You would not be the first proud immigrant who got treated like a criminal." Elena said

"I cannot believe this. It is this government today. This whole country has changed. It has turned to caca. This has been my home for more than 50 years, and they don't want me? Well, I don't want them." Lydia snapped

"Oh, Lydia, sorry, we just had a typo in your social. You passed." The man who tested her said.

"I love this country." Lydia cheered, excitedly

_________

Wow I updated really close to the last chapter, you're welcome. Also, side note, the next chapter is going to be hard to write because I don't really know what I want Aria to say to Lydia yet. If anyone has any ideas I'm open to hearing them. Make sure to vote!! Love y'all!