[2] GIRL ALMIGHTY | T. HOLLAND ✔️

3.3 the family we choose

"Come in!" Nina opened the door to her great aunt's house with Tom in tow, remembering what circumstances led to his presence. Zendaya had been dropped off to get to her next modeling job.

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"Hello, my dearest friends." Marina smiled at her seemingly empty apartment, though the shower could be heard in the distance. "I am home!"

it had now been five days since they had arrived in the city and two since their arrival at her apartment. she loved to have human company at home, even if she had spent a day in Washington. Everything looked to be in its place, probably due to Z scolding Tom. The man in question was napping in her couch while her cats used him as a pillow.

so much for cats being the epitome of evil.

"hey, Nin." Jesus Christ, she'd not be able to handle it if he kept on being himself. her hands got to work on  banana smoothie to stop him from seeing them shaking, hoping the bad lighting in her kitchen didn't  show any redness.

"hello, Thomas."

after realizing what those sensations had been, it seemed they had become heightened. every glance sent shivers through her body, he could speak for ages and she'd just smile like a fool.

"how was Washington?" he asked as if the hadn't texted constantly.

"good enough, Adam managed to meet some assistants and we did networking." Marina handed him a glass and set the other for Z.

"you sound so grown up."

"I am grown up."

"you're younger than me."

her retort died as a loud crash came from upstairs. her neighbor was a college professor with some weird habits so noises like these were not unusual.

"like that matters." both let out a light laugh.

unusual though was him frantically running and yelling for everyone to get out as fast as possible due to some very dangerous ants being loose.

"shit."

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if there was one thing you needed to know about the Miranda family it was that they easily welcomed people in their house. given how Luiz and Luz lived in a more spacious house upstate, they'd host their kids and friends every once in a while for a big dinner.

Tom watched as his friend became someone else entirely in a safe environment. first she gushed over Anthony and Jasmine's engagement, while holding Francisco. then very warm reunions were had with her cousin's Hamilton colleagues, their SO's and Rafael Casal, who was quick to discuss a new idea with her. he had obviously said something funny because next thing they knew, Nina laughed loudly. Tom's fists clenched as she jokingly slapped Rafa's arm before shaking her head. it was not flirting but it made him a little jealous of not being who caused her a little happiness.

but then Marina Miranda, girl almighty in his eyes, turned and beckoned him over. she had yet to change from the semi formal attire but it was the only thing in her suitcase she could grab.

"Tom, I want you to meet my Lin, el idiota más grande de esta casa." why did she have to speak Spanish? he loved that.

"I feel like that was not nice." His British accent stood out a little.

"it wasn't." a new voice added to conversation.

"not in the slightest." Martina side hugged her before nearly tackling her best friend to the ground.

it wasn't often that Thomas Stanley Holland felt out of place, after all he was moderately good looking, could carry a nice conversation and had an interesting line of job. however this was a mismatched family that he was slowly becoming a part of, still in early stages of awkwardness. thankfully Nina had become hyper aware of him, taking to leading introductions and seating him beside her, with Rafael followed by Daveed on her left and the newly engaged couple across.

unfortunately her parents didn't make it, leaving her older cousin as the designated annoying older relative.

"so did I ever tell you about that time Nina got so..." she slapped his mouth shut, not even flinching at his licking. Vanessa seemed mortified at the scene.

"could we go watch the movie now?"

(Imma split this into a couple of parts.)