cheap thrills :: [malik #fdc]

nine. brasíl

Brazilians don't speak Spanish.

They speak Portuguese. Brazilian Portuguese, which varies from Portuguese Portuguese in the same way English varies throughout the states -- like, can't everyone just say soda? What the hell is pop? -- or Spanish varies between Spain and Mexico or French does in Algeria or France.

And your girl was lost.

Like, pretty darned lost.

It helped that Mari could decipher a few words here and there that she'd picked up in Spanish from the previous countries, but mostly, she was lost as hell.

FIND MY MAN AND HE CAN TRANSLATE FOR YOU CHICA, is what Bonnie types in response to her text off the airplane, "FUCK YA GIRL CAN"T SPEAK ANY PORTUGUESE."

"Good thing we're together, Mrs. Zayn Malik," Lennon grins, slipping her arm into her friend's as they wheel their luggage towards their room. "Aren't you lucky as hell that I took Portuguese in college, menina?"

And before Mari can reply, Lennon's leaned her head on her shoulder, "That's Portuguese for girl, Mari. Like, Zayn's namorada means Zayn's girlfriend. Which is you, remember? Do you remember that you're Zayn's bae?"

"Take several seats," Mari laughs, as they enter their large hotel room in São Paulo. "Because I'm done as hell."

"That's too damn bad," Lennon sings, throwing her suitcase upon her bed. "Because I'm obviously just getting started."

They were staying at the Real Castilha Hotel in Downtown São Paulo.

They had only one night there, but there were to be two nights in Rio and Mari was excited. Like, she was really excited and honestly she couldn't hide her excitement.

"We. Are. In. Brazil!" Mari exclaims, throwing open the window. "Can you believe this?! Guys, we made it!"

Lennon nods. "Twelve days down, only one more city to go."

"Oh god let's not," Mari says at once. "I can't do a countdown yet. Not now."

"Fine," Lennon nods. "But, our last night in Rio, we're celebrating, ma'am. No excuses."

Mari wiggles her eyebrows. "We getting drunk again?"

Lennon slaps her five. "Hell yeah."

As the financial capital of the country, the tour for the day consists of sightseeing and cultural hotspots, but also something Mari can't get enough of: shopping.

"How am I going to buy anything? I can't speak Portuguese for shit!"

"You two are funny," Zayn says as he closes the door to the girl's suite. "Mari, you'll be fine."

"Yes," Lennon exclaims with a snap. "You better be encouraging and supportive. You'd better go, boy."

"Thank you, Lenn."

"Don't worry, Z. I appreciate what Mari has."

"At least someone does, yeah?"

"Any time, friend."

"I'm over both of you."

"You're not," Lennon grins.

"Because she loves us."

"A lot," and Lennon unzips her suitcase, grabbing clothes. "So don't miss me too much," she grins. "I'm about to shower."