Love, Victor: Season 2 [Fan Made]

Season 2 • Episode 7: Knock Knock

A soundtrack of rain softly hitting the window played in the background as Armando stood in his room, staring at the framed photo in his hand with tired eyes. He just couldn't seem to fall asleep with so many thoughts haunting him.

As cold as he had come off to his family, there was a warmth buried beneath it. Growing up, he was taught that a father should be the iron fist to a mother's velvet glove. All he had known was tough love. That's what a father's love is supposed to be.

Right...?

Armando exhaled as he rubbed his face in his free hand. He placed the frame face down on the side table, then climbed into the squeaky motel bed. Over the covers, he sat up, still deep in thought.

His own father would've told him he was doing the right thing. So, until now, he acted under that presumption. But if what he was doing was right, then why was there a dark pit in his stomach?

He loved his family. He loved Victor. Still, there was a guilt telling Armando that he could've done better for Victor, but Armando didn't know better. 16 years of being a dad and he still couldn't seem to get it right. He sighed. He just didn't understand.

What's done is done, he told himself. What's done is done.

A chill ran down his spine as he saw a shadow shift in the corner of his eye. The dim light outside just visible through a layer of sheer curtains revealed a silhouette passing by. Armando gulped and brushed it off. It was probably someone just walking by his room to get to theirs.

Still somewhat uneasy, he looked at the doorknob to make sure his door was locked.

That's when he saw it shake.

Someone was trying to open the door.

If they had knocked first, there's a good chance he would've answered. But in this part of town, this late at night, someone trying to open his door so violently wasn't exactly welcome. He grabbed his phone on the nightstand and opened it to the device's keypad, beginning to dial 3 numbers. Better safe than sorry. Then, there was another sound at the door.

Knock, knock.

He pressed the green button glowing on his phone, holding it up to his ear and listening to the other end ring. The noise at the door pounded now, turning from a suggestion to a demand.

Knock, knock.

Silence. It couldn't be the motel owner; Armando had been visited by him before to talk over his financial situation in paying for the room, so he knew the owner would've just left a gentle knock and waited for the door to open. It couldn't have been his family; it was too late at night for that. They would've at least called asking him to open the door by now.

Armando's heart was practically cracking his ribcage and breaking out of his chest. He had a gut feeling something bad was about to happen to him. Then, he heard the other end of the phone pick up.

"911, what's your emergency?"

The door boomed open.

>><<

Mia grabbed another tortilla chip from the bag on the table, dipped it into the small bowl of salsa, and took a bite, the crunch filling the quiet. Once she had finished her bite, she began speaking, causing Lake to look up from her phone.

"You were the one who left Victor's note, right?" The question was quiet.

"Yep. Why?"

"Nothing, I just realized I never actually asked." Lake nodded. There was a moment of silence. Mia used the break to finish her chip.