A/N: Might take a break on this FF after this chapter...I don't know yet. I think I'm burning out.
Alex woke with a start, blinking in confusion at the unfamiliar wooden ceiling. For a brief moment, she had no idea where she was—until the sound of birds chirping outside and the faint scent of pine reminded her. Right. The cabin. Marco's family trip.
She exhaled, rubbing her eyes, then turned her head—only to freeze.
Marco was still asleep beside her, one arm flung over his face, his chest rising and falling steadily. That wasn't the shocking part.
Perched on the pillow between them, staring directly at Alex with unblinking black eyes, was Ava.
Alex's breath hitched. She couldn't even scream. The tarantula's chelicerae twitched slightly, her fuzzy legs shifting as if adjusting her stance.
What the—HOW?!
Heart pounding, Alex immediately started slapping Marco's arm. "Marco. Marco. MARCO."
He groaned, swatting at her half-heartedly. "Five more minutes, mi amor..."
"MARCO, WHY IS AVA IN OUR BED?!"
That woke him up.
Marco blinked blearily, then followed Alex's horrified gaze to the tarantula sitting innocently on his pillow. "Oh. Hey, Ava."
Alex gaped as he casually reached over, gently scooping Ava into his palm. The spider crawled onto his wrist, her legs moving deliberately.
"You—you just—HOW IS SHE HERE?!" Alex hissed, voice low but frantic.
Marco yawned, scratching his head with his free hand. "Couldn't leave her with anyone. You know how people are with spiders." He stroked Ava's back with his thumb, surprisingly tender. "She's family too."
Alex stared at him, then at Ava, who was now climbing onto Marco's shoulder. "You—you brought a tarantula?!"
Marco shrugged. "I didn't think it was a big deal. She was chillin' in her travel enclosure all yesterday. Must've let her out last night and forgot."
Alex pinched the bridge of her nose. "Okay. New rule. Ava does not end up in the bed. Ever."
"Sure, sure," Marco mumbled, already half-asleep again as Ava nestled into the crook of his neck.
Alex sighed, then narrowed her eyes. "Wait—where was she before this? I didn't see her at all yesterday."
"Oh, she was in my bag. In her little ventilated box. She's stealthy like that."
Alex groaned. "Unbelievable."
She threw the covers off, quickly pulling on a hoodie (Marco's, by the smell of it) before heading downstairs, leaving Marco to doze off with his eight-legged companion.
The kitchen smelled like fresh coffee and something sweet baking in the oven. Rosa and Lucía sat at the table, cups in hand, laughing loudly—until Alex stepped into the room.
She paused.
They had been sitting very close—Rosa's hand on Lucía's arm, their faces inches apart—but the moment they noticed Alex, they smoothly shifted apart without missing a beat.
"Alex! Buenos días, mija!" Rosa said cheerfully, as if nothing had been amiss.
Lucía smiled warmly. "Sleep well?"
Alex raised an eyebrow but decided not to comment. "Uh. Yeah. Mostly. Except for the part where I woke up next to a tarantula."
Rosa sighed dramatically. "Ay, ese niño…" She stood, grabbing another mug. "Here. Coffee. You'll need it."
Alex accepted the cup gratefully, taking a seat as Lucía chuckled. "So Marco brought Ava, huh?"
"You knew?" Alex asked incredulously.
Lucía smirked. "Of course."
Rosa shook her head, pouring cream into Alex's coffee. "I told him no pets on the trip. But does he listen? No."
Alex took a sip, the warmth soothing her nerves. "I swear, one of these days, I'm gonna wake up to a snake in my shoe."
Rosa and Lucía burst out laughing.
"Oh, no, no," Rosa assured her, patting her hand. "He only has the one tarantula. The scorpion phase was years ago."
Alex choked on her coffee.
Lucía grinned. "Just wait till you meet his uncle's iguana."
Alex groaned, resting her forehead on the table.
Rosa chuckled, stirring sugar into her own coffee.
Outside, the sound of Marco's loud voice echoed as he stumbled downstairs, followed by the thundering footsteps of Malik and Javier.
Alex sighed, smiling into her cup.
Chaotic? Absolutely.
But somehow… she wouldn't have it any other way.
———
The morning sun had barely risen when Marco burst into the cabin's kitchen, shirtless, hair a wild mess, and a grin that promised trouble. "¡Buenos días, familia! Who's ready to survive?"
Alex, still nursing her coffee, blinked slowly. "Survive what, exactly?"
Marco snatched a piece of toast from the counter, taking a huge bite before answering. "Nature, mami! The wild! The unknown!" He gestured dramatically toward the forest outside. "Today, we learn survival skills!"
Rosa, flipping pancakes with one hand and holding her coffee with the other, didn't even look up. "Marco, the only thing you've ever survived is your own stupidity."
"And yet here I stand!" Marco declared, flexing.
Diego, who had just walked in—massive, and shirtless, nodded enthusiastically. "I'm in. But we're doing it right. No setting anything on fire this time."
Marco gasped, offended. "That was one time! And the shed was already kinda rotten!"
Valeria, already dressed and looking like she'd been awake for hours, rolled her eyes. "You're not teaching anyone survival skills. You once tried to eat a mushroom you found because it 'looked friendly.'"
"It winked at me!"
Alex buried her face in her hands.
By mid-morning, the group had gathered in the clearing behind the cabin. Marco stood atop a log like a deranged wilderness guru, holding a stick like it was a sacred staff.
"Lesson one: Fire." He struck a pose. "The ancient art of not freezing to death."
Javier, leaning against a tree, smirked. "Bro, you use a lighter for everything."
"Details!" Marco waved him off before pulling out—yes—a lighter. "But today, we do it the old way." He tossed the lighter to Malik, who fumbled it. "We use… sticks."
Diego sighed and stepped forward. "I'll handle this."
Within minutes, Diego had a small fire going with actual friction, while Marco's attempts had only resulted in a lot of sweating and one broken stick.
Alex clapped slowly. "Wow. Truly, we are in the presence of a master."
Marco wiped his brow. "Okay, okay, lesson two: Shelter." He gestured grandly at a pile of branches. "Behold! Our future home!"
Valeria crossed her arms. "That's a pile of sticks."
"It's artisanal."
Rosa, watching from the porch with Lucía and Isabel, called out, "If any of you sleep outside tonight, you're getting eaten by bears."
Malik shuddered. "Aight, I'm good. Indoor plumbing exists for a reason."
After the failed survival demonstration, the group split up—some to hike, others to lounge by the fire. Alex found herself sitting with Valeria near the cabin, watching as Marco and Diego attempted (and failed) to skip rocks across the nearby lake.
Valeria sipped her drink, eyes narrowed at her brother. "He's an idiot."
Alex smirked.
Valeria sighed, but there was a hint of a smile. "When he was a kid, he once tried to train a squirrel to be his sidekick. Named it 'Super Nut.'"
Alex snorted. "Did it work?"
"It bit him. Twice." Valeria shook her head. "He cried for an hour, then tried again the next day."
Alex watched Marco now, laughing as Diego effortlessly skipped a rock while Marco's plopped straight into the water. "He doesn't give up..."
Valeria's expression softened slightly. "Nope. Stubborn as hell. But…" She shrugged. "That's why we love him."
As evening fell and the group gathered around the campfire, roasting marshmallows (or, in Marco's case, attempting to roast a whole hot dog directly in the flames), a familiar rustling came from the bushes.
Then—"CHSSSSK!"
Alex froze. "No."
Marco gasped. "CARLOS!"
The raccoon waddled into the firelight, beady eyes locked onto the food.
Rosa immediately stood, pointing. "OUT. NOW."
"Mamá, he's just hungry!" Marco protested, already breaking off a piece of hot dog.
"DO NOT FEED THE WILD ANIMAL—"
Too late. Carlos snatched the offering, then immediately lunged for the bag of marshmallows in Malik's lap.
Chaos ensued.
Javier yelped and fell backward off his log. Malik threw the marshmallow bag like a grenade. Valeria grabbed the nearest stick, brandishing it like a sword.
And Marco?
Marco was delighted. "He remembers me!"
Carlos, now perched on the picnic table, stuffed a marshmallow into his cheeks like a furry little bandit.
Alex is torn between horror and amusement.
Rosa sighed, pouring herself another drink.
Diego, ever the calm one, simply reached over and gently shooed Carlos away. The raccoon hissed once—then waddled off into the night, victorious.
Marco wiped away a fake tear. "Hasta luego, mi amigo."
Valeria groaned. "Dios mío, we're never coming back here again."