𝙰𝚕𝚕 𝙸 𝚂𝚎𝚎 𝙸𝚜 𝚈𝚘𝚞 | Dolores x Reader

Where Love Could Be

It's been three weeks since Isabela's birthday. At the time, years felt like hours as they passed, but thinking about it now, it almost felt too quick.

Things with Dolores have felt awkward, to say the least. Neither of you has said a word about what happened at the party, Dolores unable to come up with words to explain how she was feeling.

And although the two of you met up every day just like before, the room was always filled with silence compared to the past. You didn't know how to talk to your best friend about it either, she just shows up every afternoon to lie in your room and gaze up at the mechanical birds hanging up your ceiling while cuddling with Blanca.

She, at some point, wanted to be around every time you and Isabela met up. It's the quietest she's been since her birthday a few years back; the birthday wherein she felt like her existence in itself had been forgotten solely because of her prima's radiance while she was merely the shadow.

Compared to Isabela, Dolores had seen herself as one of the Madrigals with the dimmest of lights. Antonio was well-loved by everyone for his innocence, Camilo for his wit and quirkiness, Mirabel for her strong will despite not receiving a gift, Luisa for her strength and sense of responsibility, and Isabela... well for just being herself in general.

And then there she was, almost as if she didn't have much relevance or uniqueness of her own. But did she really have a right to complain? Did she, when everyone else had more things to worry about than their individuality?

If she hadn't had her gift, if she didn't hear everyone else's struggles, only then would she learn not to belittle her own feelings. Maybe then, she would feel valid, that she wasn't just a shadow of Isabela.

Because she had been sticking to you like glue, you were unable to properly plan her surprise birthday celebration, only making it harder because if you even tried as much as talking with her family, she would immediately hear it.

Letting a sigh escape your lips, you watch silently as Dolores does the same routine; grabbing Blanca, lying on the bed, and staring up at the ceiling.

"Do you like Isabela?" She speaks for the first time since her prima's birthday.

Eyebrows meeting in confusion at the sudden topic, you tilt your head, Dolores turning to look at you as you take your time to answer. "Of course I like her."

"Do you think what I'm doing is wrong?" She states in a whisper, questioning everything she's been doing up until this point. Using both you and Isabela for her own gains, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt.

You smile gently, leaning onto the bed and pushing a lock of her hair away from her face as you look down at her. "I think you're not sure what you really want. Which to be honest, seems to be a first for you."

And it was true. All this time, all she's ever wanted was Mariano- for his gaze to be focused on her.

Dolores merely stares up at you, eyes soft yet restless. She wanted to be seen, to be acknowledged, and loved without all the effort she was putting in.

All she could think at the moment was, 'All this, just to get a glance from Mariano?' She tried to remember exactly why she found all this effort to be necessary.

She didn't want to hurt you any longer either. Being so close to you that night made her hear how she made you cry, even if she didn't know why, nor why you tried so badly to hide it.

She reaches her hand out, cupping your cheek and caressing it gently. It was as if time had stopped at that very moment, and if it kept on any longer, you would end up mistaking it for something else.

Searching her eyes, your breath catches, your heartbeat slowly speeding up, yet you try your hardest to regulate it. It frightened you knowing her gift would let her see right through you. Because that wasn't how you wanted her to find out.

But little did you know that her own heartbeat was the only thing she could hear at the moment. It scared her, it sounded so loud she feared you'd hear it yourself. It drowned out everything else, something only Mariano could do. So why?

Why did she hate hearing you say you liked Isabela, even if you meant it platonically? Why, when she was the one who set it up in the first place? She hated it, the selfish side of hers that couldn't let you go. She hated how indecisive and confused she got when it came to you.

Most of all, she hated that she strung you along for her own use, and that you never tried to complain. She hated the way she had your heart to keep, yet she repeatedly chose to give it away.

And only when Mariano was within arm's reach did she start doubting herself and her intentions. Things were finally going so well, so why did she feel as if her world was going upside down?

How could she ever let the one person who understood her, go? The one person who stuck with her and loved her unconditionally throughout all these years.

She didn't know she needed someone so badly until you loved her everything; the good, the bad, and all the in-betweens. She didn't know love was right in front of her.

Dolores starts to lean upwards, leaving you in a daze to wonder if she was aware of what she was doing. But before either of you could start overthinking the situation, a knock against the door interrupted, making her pull back immediately and turn away.

Moving back to get seated by the table, you clear your throat before speaking. "Come in."

In comes Isabela, a worried smile on her lips. Getting seated next to Dolores, she places some boxed and freshly baked cookies on her lap, another box, she offers to you. "I've been worried, and you love the cookies I bake, Dolores... So I made you some. I made a little extra for you too." She whispers speaking to both you and her prima, petting Dol's hair and decorating it with the prettiest flowers.

As if that made her reach her limit, Dolores lets a groan escape her lips. "I sometimes wish the two of you would stop being so nice... this is making it so hard for me." She whispers.

Isabela, despite being confused, gestures for you to help pull her up. "Come on, let's get you prepared for your birthday tomorrow. It's time to stop moping."

-

A/N: almost fucking 3 am lol. Forgive thy writing, my brain is srsly giving up lol. Also for those of you who read the message I posted on my board, congrats, I decided to update coz I couldn't sleep lol.

Have to go to the hospital tomorrow, wish me luck with my lab results. And cheers to a new update! I'll proofread it tomorrow instead lol. Lemme know if yall see any errors.