—1096 words—
Alex had just finished reviewing her notes when the familiar sound of screeching tires and Marco's voice echoed from outside:
"ALEX! MOVIE TIME, MAMI!"
She rolled her eyes but grabbed her jacket, shoving her feet into her shoes as she bolted for the door—only to freeze on the front step.
Claire was already outside, leaning into Marco's driver-side window, arms crossed in full Mom Interrogation Mode.
Alex hesitated, eavesdropping as she crept closer.
"—so you do have a job?" Claire was saying, eyebrows raised.
Marco grinned, unfazed. "Yep. Full-time mechanic. Pays the bills."
"And school?"
"Nah. Dropped out."
Claire's expression tightened. "Why?"
Marco shrugged, still casual. "Got put in juvie. School wasn't exactly priority numero uno after that."
Claire's eyes widened slightly. Alex could practically see the alarm bells ringing in her head.
"Juvie? For what?"
Marco opened his mouth—
"Mom!" Alex cut in, sprinting the rest of the way to the car. "We're gonna be late."
Claire straightened, shooting her a look. "Alex, we need to—"
"Love you, bye!" Alex yanked open the passenger door and slid in, slamming it shut behind her. "Drive. Now."
Marco saluted Claire. "Nice meetin' ya, Mrs. D!"
He peeled out before Claire could respond, leaving her standing in the driveway, mouth slightly open.
Alex slumped in her seat, exhaling sharply.
Marco glanced at her. "So. That went well."
Alex groaned. "She's never letting this go."
"Eh, she'll warm up to me." Marco grinned. "I'm charming."
Alex rolled her eyes—but as they drove off, she couldn't help the tiny smile tugging at her lips.
———
The movie theater lobby buzzed with the usual crowd—teenagers huddled around the snack counter, families herding kids toward the latest animated flick, couples sneaking into the back row of the horror movie.
Marco strolled in with his usual swagger, one arm draped casually around Alex's waist, the other tucked in his pocket. He nodded toward the lineup of posters.
"Alright, mami, what's the move? Action? Horror? Romantic comedy so I can make fun of it?"
Alex scanned the options, then—with a smirk—pointed at a poster near the bottom.
"The Quantum Cosmos: A Four-Hour Journey Through Theoretical Astrophysics."
Marco's arm dropped from her waist like she'd just announced she had the plague. He stared at her.
"…No."
Alex blinked up at him, tilting her head slightly—then, in a move so out of character even she didn't recognize herself, she gave him the most devastatingly cute pout she could muster.
"Please?"
Marco's jaw dropped. "Oh, hell no. That face is not fair. You never make that face."
Alex batted her eyelashes. "I do now."
Marco groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "You're evil."
But he grabbed her hand anyway, muttering under his breath as he marched them to the ticket counter.
"Two for the… ugh… the nerd documentary," he grumbled, slapping down his card.
The cashier blinked. "…You sure?"
"No."
Alex grinned triumphantly.
———
The theater was nearly empty—no surprise, given the film's niche appeal. They claimed a pair of seats dead center, Marco dumping the giant popcorn bucket between them like a peace offering.
"I swear to God, if this thing has equations…"
Alex ignored him, already engrossed as the opening credits rolled.
Ten minutes in, the narrator was deep into a monologue about quantum entanglement when Alex reached for the popcorn—only to freeze.
A soft, rhythmic snore came from beside her.
She turned.
Marco was out cold, head lolled back, mouth slightly open.
Alex stared. Then sighed. Then, despite herself, smiled.
She grabbed a handful of popcorn and settled back into her seat, letting him sleep.
Four hours later, Marco woke up to the credits rolling and Alex smugly asking, "So, what did you think?" He retaliated by dumping the remaining popcorn on her head.
———
The glow of the McDonald's drive-thru sign bathed Marco's car in neon yellow as they pulled up. Alex was still scrolling through her phone, oblivious, while Marco's eyes locked onto the sign taped to the menu board:
"SCREAM FOR FREE ICE CREAM! 🍦😱"
Marco's grin was instantaneous.
The speaker crackled to life. "Welcome to McDonald's, what can I get you?"
Alex didn't look up. "Just a cheeseburger and fries."
"Double Quarter Pounder meal, large, extra pickles," Marco added, then nudged Alex. "And a vanilla cone for her."
"Anything else?" the employee droned.
"Yeah, actually—" Marco leaned out the window, inhaled deeply, and screamed at the top of his lungs.
Alex jumped, phone clattering to the floor. "WHAT THE HELL, MARCO?!"
A long sigh crackled through the speaker. "…So. Free ice cream."
"Damn right," Marco said, rolling up the window as Alex stared at him in horror.
———
They pulled into a parking spot, food bags in hand. Alex unwrapped her cheeseburger, shaking her head.
"You are so embarrassing."
Marco shoved a fry in his mouth, smug. "Free ice cream, mami. That's called smart financial decisions."
"That's called public disturbance."
"Tomayto, tomahto." He tossed her the vanilla cone. "Enjoy your ill-gotten gains."
Alex scowled—but took a bite of the ice cream anyway.
It was the best vanilla cone she'd ever had. She'd never tell him that.
******
Some time later...
Alex stepped into Marco's house and immediately froze. Rosa was slumped on the couch, her head in her hands, muttering rapid-fire Spanish under her breath.
"Uh… is everything okay?" Alex whispered.
Marco waved a hand. "Yeah, mamá just doesn't appreciate nature."
Alex frowned. "What does that—"
"C'mon," he interrupted, grabbing her wrist and tugging her toward his room. "I got somethin' to show you."
She followed, wary, until Marco flung open his bedroom door with a dramatic flourish.
"BEHOLD," he announced, gesturing to a large aquarium on his desk. "My newest roommate!"
Alex leaned in—then screamed as a hairy, palm-sized tarantula scuttled up the glass, its eight legs tapping against the surface.
She bolted out of the room so fast she nearly took the door off its hinges.
"MARCO, WHAT THE HELL?!"
"Aw, c'mon!" Marco called after her, laughing. "That's Ava! She's a sweetheart!"
From the couch, Rosa groaned. "Dios mío, I told him no more pets…"
Alex, now halfway down the hall, pointed accusingly at Marco. "THAT IS NOT A PET. THAT'S A NIGHTMARE."
Marco pouted. "She's just a lil' fuzzy!"
"SHE'S FUZZY LIKE A BRUSH FIRE IS WARM."
Rosa sighed, rubbing her temples. "Alex, mija, you get used to it."
Alex stared at her, horrified. "I won't."
Marco grinned, scratching his chin. "Wanna hold her?"
Alex's response was immediate: "I'M LEAVING."
(She didn't leave. But she did make Marco move Ava's tank to the closet before she'd set foot in his room again.)