Friends For Life... And Death. - A Coco Fiction

Please Don't Stop The Music

Kat stays at the Riveras' house more and more until they eventually set up a room for her. She didn't realize how many nights she slept over until they did that. The family insists that they're okay with it and enjoy her company.

Meanwhile, she notices that the family that's supposed to be hers is paying less attention to her. She's fine with it, since it means she can spend more time with Coco, Héctor, and Imelda without risking punishment. One day when she goes over, however, she immediately notices something different.

Héctor is talking with a man in nice white clothing who has a bright smile. Héctor notices Kat's presence and instantly his eyes light up. He grabs the man's arm and drags him over.

"Katrina, there you are! I want you to meet Ernesto de la Cruz! We were friends as children!" Héctor says, gesturing to the person behind him. De la Cruz smooths his clothing, staring at the little girl. Kat just stares back. Intimidated by his size, she inches closer to Héctor and hugs him. Héctor just puts an arm around her and looks at his friend. "Ernesto, this is mi sobrina, Kat. She's been helping me with my musical career."

"Is that so?" De la Cruz asks, looking at Kat. His half glare is unsettling, and Kat hugs Héctor tighter. He smiles and picks her up, and she lets out a startled squeak.

"She's a bit shy sometimes..." Héctor laughs, giving his eight-year-old niece a slightly worried look. Then he grins back at De la Cruz. "But she is very smart, and excellent with a guitar. Just hear her play!"

He sets her down, gesturing to the guitar she's carrying. Reluctantly, she strums a few notes to La Llorona.

"Wow..." De la Cruz murmurs, jealously glinting in his eyes for just a moment. The envious look scares Katrina, and she abruptly stops playing while backing away from the towering man. She herself is tall for her age, but she's still a child.

Héctor quickly catches her when she backs right off one of the walkway steps. He looks at his friend, then to his much younger friend in concern.

"Why were you so afraid of Ernesto?" He asks after De la Cruz is gone. Kat shrugs, picking her dinner apart. "I told you, he's been my friend for years. I wouldn't have let him near any of my family if I didn't trust him."

"I don't think he likes me." She responds quietly. Héctor sighs, knowing she's trying to get out of talking about it by using that tone.

"If he wants to stick around, he'll have to get used to you." He states, smiling reassuringly. He notices that Katrina isn't eating, and taps the table by her plate. She just shakes her head in response to his silent communication.

Ernesto continues coming over, and every time he does, he gives Kat hostile looks while Héctor isn't watching. Kat tries to avoid him.

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"Kat, I need some help!" Héctor says one day, looking slightly anxious. She gives him her attention. "Tomorrow is mine and Imelda's anniversary, and I want to write a song for her."

"Well, you certainly gave us a lot of time." Katrina remarks, looking at the clock and seeing that it's almost four in the afternoon. She looks back at his desperate expression and smirks. "Let's get started."

"Héctor, Mija, time for dinner." Imelda says, sticking her head in the room. Kat instantly stops playing the tune she was working on, and Héctor hides his songbook. A look of suspicion comes on her face. "What were you two doing?"

"Nothing, and uh, we're not that hungry." Kat says quickly, standing up to push the woman out of the room. Imelda takes her shoe off, and raises it like a weapon. Kat instinctively cringes.