Sugar And Spice [ON HOLD]

Day One

"¿Podrías abrir la puerta, mi nieta?" ("Can you get the door?") Abuela says, drops the tray of freshly baked brownies on the counter and takes the electric mixer from me, as the doorbell rings for the third time. I hurry to the door.

I ask who it is but get no reply. I open the door to meet Dior standing there, his face lit up with shock. I step back and dash to the kitchen.

"¿Qué está haciendo aquí? Dijiste que no vendría." ("What is he doing here? You said he wasn't coming.") I mutter.

"No dije tal cosa. ¿Por qué no viene?" ("I said no such thing. Why won't he come?") I groan. I had only come to Glenn Knox for Abuela's birthday because she said Dior had to go somewhere with his mom and wouldn't make it.

Abuela is Dior's grandmother and our families have been close for a long time.

She's well aware of the fact that Dior and I are not on good terms and yet she intentionally did this. The door creaks and I look up to see Dior leaning on the kitchen door awkwardly.

"No te quedes ahí parado." ("Don't just stand there.") She says to him. He hesitates before coming to carry the chocolate ganache mixture Abuela is holding out to him.

Oh, did I mention? Abuela only speaks Spanish. She doesn't know English that well and she dislikes speaking it overall.

We work in silence for a few minutes, during which Abuela intentionally makes as much noise as she can with the utensils. I'm just putting the cake pan with batter in it into the oven when I hear a yawp and then feel a warm liquid cascading down my back.

I turn to see Dior holding a bowl of chocolate pudding. "Ay, culpa mía!" ("Oops, my bad!") Abuela says, standing straight with her leg slightly stuck out behind her. I sigh, turn on the oven and leave the kitchen, ignoring Dior calling my name.

*~*~*~*~*

I come out of the guestroom's bathroom after changing into an oversized shirt and meet Dior sitting on the bed.

"I'm sorry about that." He says, staring at the wall on the opposite side of the room.

"Yeah, I should go help Abuela." I move to open the door.

"It's locked." He says. I turn the knob but the door won't budge. I turn to look at him.

"Abuela?" I ask. He nods. I sigh. "I wish she'd mind her business."

"You know she hates quarrels." He's right. I should have expected her to do something like this. I saunter to the window seat cushion and stare at the fruit bushes in the garden. This room did always have the best view.

I feel eyes on me. "You still look exactly the same, save for a few details." Dior blurts out. I turn to glare at him. He looks away.

"What does that mean?" I continue glaring until he looks back at me.

"Remember when we first met?"

"First day of middle school. What's that gotta do with anything?" He chuckles.

"It was way before that. The day when your abuela died and your mom brought you guys over for Abuela's birthday. I was actually crushing on your sister at first." I roll my eyes and turn back to the window.

"It was our first time meeting each other so all the kids were shy and quiet. All of a sudden, she just started talking and soon everyone joined in. I noticed her looking around after awhile and then followed her to this room. I could hear her talking to someone.

I waited until she left and went in, curious to see who she was talking to. Then I saw you. You were sitting right there, staring up at the stars, the curtain half closed, bathing just you in the moonlight. I was transfixed." I turn back to him. "Needless to say, I was no longer interested in your sister."