Tattoo Artist | o. diaz

ochenta y uno: ain't nobody takin my baby

Venus walked into her parents' house with Oscar behind and once she was further inside, Luciana jumped out from behind the wall and yelled, making Venus jump back.

"Happy birthday!" Luciana and a room full of people shouted. "Oh, you look so pretty." Luciana complimented.

Venus smiled at her and took a few steps before bringing her into a kiss. Oscar had a look of surprise, but everyone else just went back to whatever they were doing. In other words, they looked away and waited for the two to stop kissing.

"When did that happen?"

"Last month. Venus was helping Lu dye her hair red and then asked her." Pablo said as he walked by, not stopping to even greet Oscar.

Venus pulled back from Luciana, but still kept her arms around her waist. "I thought it was just a dinner?"

"Dinner party, mija." Emiliano said.

"Yes, can we eat now? I'm hungry." Enrique said. "And I think the kids are getting mad." He pointed over to the hallway where his kids and Luis were in the playroom arguing. Jamal came running out a few seconds later, screaming as all the kids chased him with pool noodles. "Can we throw them in the jacuzzi?"

× × ×

Lisbet had set up an entire "buffet" on the counter and it was filled with food she, Jamal's mom, and Mrs. Guzman had made. Everyone was spread out around the house; some people were in the dining room, some were in the living room, and some were outside since the kids wanted to swim and someone needed to watch them. Venus and Luciana sat on the couch with Venus' legs on Lu's lap while Lu and Pablo argued about the right way to eat Oreos.

"Why would I waste my time separating it when I could just eat it whole?!" Pablo yelled, using his hands for emphasis.

"Because they taste better when you separate the cookies!" Luciana yelled back, demonstrating with an Oreo from the package she got from the kitchen.

"Oh, you would know about separating." Pablo said, looking to Venus who was eating Mac n' Cheese from the plate that was just sitting on her chest.

Venus looked up with her mouth still full, and saw Pablo still looking between Venus and Luciana. "Why'd you look at me?"

The Santos in the room laughed quietly, and watches as Luciana picked up a pillow and used it to block Venus. "Stop looking, puto." Luciana glared at everyone looking between her and Venus, and did her best to block Venus from eye sight.

"I kinda wanna swim." Venus voiced out, poking Luciana with her foot. "Wanna go outside with me?" Venus stood up while all the Santos in the living room were talking and started walking to her old room. Luciana looked around, then followed after Venus. Venus was eating a piece of asparagus and looking at her bathing suits. "Red or white?"

Luciana look at the two bikinis, and contemplated. "Red." Venus nodded, then took the red one to her closet. Luciana started looking around, then jumped face first into Venus' bed.

"So they been together for a month?" Oscar asked the group. They still didn't hang out with him at his house, so he was really left out of the loop when it came to Venus. Pablo, Enrique, and everyone else in the room nodded, making Oscar look back down at his beer.

"Luci, if you throw me, I'm pulling you in!" Venus shouted, trying to run away from Luciana who has been trying to push her into the pool for at least 10 minutes.

All the kids sat in the pool with their floaties on and watched Venus stand on the complete otherside of the pool. Every single one of the kids had a juice box as they sat on the swan and the flamingo Emiliano had thrown in.

One of the girls turned to Luis and adjusted the floatie on her arm before saying, "Your mommy's pretty."

Luis nodded his head and watched as Luciana snuck up on Venus and pushed her in. However, Venus reached out and grabbed like 2 of Luciana's fingers, pulling her in so Luciana fell into the pool with her.

"Do you have two mommies?" Enrique's daughter asked. Luis nodded again, making her pout. "Can I have one?"

"No, they're mine."

"But I don't have one."

"My mom has diabetes." Another kid commented, this time a boy. "Daddy won't let her have soda." He informed his new friends, sitting om the edge of the pool with his goggles on top of his head so he could eat his Hot Cheetos.

The continued talking about their parents while Venus tried swimming away from Luciana. "Luci, stop!"

"Why'd you pull me in?!"

"You pushed me!"

Luciana shook her head with her lips pursed. "Nuh uh, I tripped."

Venus stared at Luciana, then jumped on her, dunking her head underwater.

"Cake time!"