No matter how much she runs, Laura is stuck in an endless loop of her past. With a transfer of school and a curly-haired boy who seems to be wherever she goes, it's a matter of time she realizes that her universe ceases at the sight of him-and runni...
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MARIA'S HOUSE WAS decorated in various tinges of warmth and earth. Evan and I were seated on barstools the shade of wood, the countertop—which was filled with desserts—a cream-coloured contrast. The shelves were sitting atop electrical appliances, and the fridge had magnets with pictures stuck underneath, none of which I could make out from where I sat.
There were at least five different types of cupcakes in front of us. I could see her chop some garlic to sauté. The kitchen was filled with mouth-watering smell of food, and acknowledging I felt overwhelmed would've been an understatement.
I picked a chocolate cupcake and took a bite, the perfect sweetness mingling with the cold layer of whipped cream on my tongue.
If Evan would've let me in on this spontaneous trip, I might've shown less tantrums on our way here.
But it was him we were talking about.
Of course he'd had to do it in a way which involved bizarre and sickeningly inane confessions as the sky poured down.
Thankfully, we hadn't gotten soaked. Whatever moisture hanging on our clothes had dried after spending some time in his Aunt's forest-clad sanctuary (alternatively read: her house).
I spotted Evan's grin from the corner of my eye. "What?"
He didn't reply with words. With a fleeting touch, he wiped the corner of my mouth and cleared the whipped cream I had childishly daubed on my face.
My cheeks flushed. Since the walk here, he and I had fallen into casual conversation—one which did not require any efforts. That meant my heart being allowed a tiny break from hammering down and lodging in my throat.
But now, as we sat so near each other with comforting silence and the frequent brushing of our limbs, that break was ending. My heart was going to give-in to the free fall.
Maria noticed me pause mid-bite. She didn't see the act that had just taken place, but her playful eyes told me she knew of everything that had taken place between us today. "Qué pasó? No appetite?"
"Not at all. I love these, Maria," I grinned. I had given up on translating languages. "The extra chocolate chip is adding years to my life."
She laughed. "Eat up, then. I have more things cooking up for you kids while Evan shows you around."
I was here to see things? "Tía." Evan's voice was a low groan, breaking my trail of thought. "No arruines el suspenso."
I drifted my eyes from him to her, lips upturned. Evan's mouth, despite the tone of annoyance, was tilting to a side with joy, eyes bright when they found mine. "I brought you here for a reason."
"Which is?"
He winked. "You'll find out."
Maria let out a small chuckle. "Finalmente trayendo a la niña a casa, cariño?"
