#if i was my abuelita i would never have allowed that shit.....ok maybe one of them but lord. self respect non existent

[greeds]

having siblings literally best concept ever

[m3talmunson]

Steve Harrington except his mom comes from old money, his father new. So while Steve's mom took his father's last name (reluctantly. She was doing her best to promise that her son would have a good life ahead of him), she got to choose Steve's first, which just happens not to be Steve.

His name is actually Esteban Eberardo Ortiz Harrington, because by God, Maria Harrington would never let her son have an English name since she had to give up her own to promise her son a decent life.

Somewhere along the way she got lost in it all. She chased Mr. Harrington around to make sure he wasn't sleeping with whatever floozie secretary he had at the moment, and in doing so she forgot to be a mother - as much as somebody can just forget that duty.

So, one day Esteban got dropped off at his grandpa's house and became Steve. Then one day Steve's grandfather died and Steve didn't even see his father at the funeral. His father, the dead man's son, sent Maria with flowers to the funeral. Flowers she didn't have a destination for. So, the moment it was over she dragged Steve and the flowers back to the dust-covered Harrington home. She makes some dinner and has a nice night with her son, but as they curl up on the couch and try to settle for the night, she brings him up.

"Mijo, your father. I have to go back to him tomorrow. I have a plane ride in the morning. I have to go sweetheart." She blinks back the tears in her eyes as she delivers the news.

"It's ok mama! I'm 10 now, double digits." He holds out both of his hands, all of his fingers splayed out. "I can take care of things here." He put on his best brave face, something Grandpa Harrington taught him.

"Grandma is going to visit you as much as she can, but she doesn't live near here. You'll be on your own a lot, my sweet sweet boy." She let the tears run at this point, ignoring the musical she had put on the TV to occupy their thoughts.

"Don't cry mama," He curled up into her side. "Wait, Grandma? But she's been gone for longer than Grandpa?"

"No, no, my mama. She'll be up here every so often for you. My brave boy." She kissed the top of Steve's head, peppered a few more against Steve's complaints of tickling.

"Come on mama, Dolly's singing!" He said, and drew his attention back to the TV like it was nothing. They fell asleep on the couch that night. Mr. Harrington never would have approved, but maybe he just didn't need to know.

And that began the life of Steve being alone. At least, most of the time. His grandma did come up every so often. She taught him how to cook, clean, where the stools were, and which ones were tall enough for him to reach the cookie jar. The same cookie jar that stayed in place just incase his parents did come home and happen to give half a shit about it.

When she couldn't be there, over the phone, she taught her little Esteban Spanish. His father never allowed it in the house, but the moment she insisted she be called Abuelita and not Grandma, she piqued Esteban's interest.

He was interested until he got made fun of for the accent. He continued to learn it, but insisted that he be called Steve, the same way she insisted he call her something else. That set the record straight for him.

During high school, she got too frail for him to visit. The Harrington's put money in the bank for Steve, so he began to visit her. He'd fly down to where she was staying, drive once he could. Steve got his license the very first day he could, just to visit her. He planned her funeral when the day came, just a month before Will Byers went missing. That kept him in contact with quite a few of his cousins that way, checked in on everyone and made the rounds while he tried to remain a normal teenager, have a normal girlfriend, live as King Steve, or Steve "The Hair" Harrington. Anything that kept his life nice and neatly in place.

Then, a stupid nail bat was his lifeline. Screw normal, he couldn't trust anyone or anything anymore. Two years later, he got tortured by Russians and then, maybe he could trust someone.

Somewhere between his fall from grace and saving the world for good, he grew to trust a lot of people. Grew to have people at his house all the time, filling that god awful empty house.

He had Eddie over one night when he got a call from his cousin Mariana, she had just finished her freshman year of college in the US, so her English was getting pretty good, but she greeted him in Spanish so he can only return the favor. Steve guessed it was only a matter of time until Eddie and the others found out about him anyways.

So, he responded to Mariana. He had an entire conversation with her, back to the couch that Eddie was sat on. Last he knew Eddie was flipping through movies, but all the noises stopped. At least Steve could assume that maybe he just picked a movie, and maybe get hurt or yelled at or something after the call. He just had to get through this conversation with Mariana.

He heard the crash of tapes falling and had to end it.

"Sorry Mari, I've got to go." He said abruptly in English, and tried his hardest not to slam the phone back into the receiver.

When he turned around, he didn't expect what he saw. Sure, Eddie's jaw was basically on the floor, but he didn't seem angry, not like Steve had expected.

"You- you speak Spanish, Stevie?" Eddie had almost a shocked rasp to his voice, clutching onto the tape in his hand, the one that managed to not fall.

"Yeah, have for about 8 or 9 years now."

"You, Steve Harrington, are fluent in Spanish?"

"Esteban Eberardo Ortiz Harrington, actually. And yeah, my mom is Mexican."

"Est- Esteban???" Eddie laughed out. "Good God Stevie-"

"I know, I know, I should have told you sooner. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hide it, I just- it's hard walking around Hawkins with a Spanish accent, it's just so-" He interrupted Eddie.

"Steve, Stevie, no." It was Eddie's turn to interrupt. "I'm not mad at you sweetheart. Definitely not mad." Eddie hinted at something else.

"You're not mad? What- I-" Steve raised his eyebrow. "What's that look about then?"

Eddie had been out to Steve for a while, and vice-versa. They hadn't exactly not been flirting, so Eddie didn't feel too crazy saying this next part.

"If I'm being so honest, Stevie," Eddie stepped closer into Steve's personal space, "I wouldn't say completely platonic feelings."

"Oh, that's what does it for you, Munson? Really?" Steve teased. Back with the bravado charm.

"I dunno... want to say some more?"

And, of course, the moment he hears it again -the accent Steve's voice works itself into- he's basically frothing at the mouth. He drops the tape he was holding and swings his arms around Steve's neck, only a little awkward considering the lack of height difference.

"I guess it is, Esteban."

"You don't even know what I said!" Steve pretended to act shocked, or pissed or something, but he really didn't care.

"Tell me later," Eddie cut Steve off with a swift kiss, and maybe Steve would settle for later.

Maybe he'd have a lifetime to tell Eddie that all he said was "I really want to kiss you." He had his wish fulfilled anyway.

[go-ldy]

I have zero self-control, so, if you're up to it: best and worst episode(s) of Riverdale?

I love this question! Sorry for the delay in answering, I have had to give this the deep thought and contemplation it deserves! Best episodes is easier for me tbh because there are only maybe one or two episodes of Riverdale that I did not like. I’ve decided to break it down into my best/worst for each season.

I’ve tried to approach this being as objective as possible but.... you know, I am only human, and I am easily swayed when Betty and Jughead make out a lot. 

Season 1

Best

1x10 or 1x11 with 1x11 having a slight edge. Obviously, the bughead angst content in both is A++ and what I am here for, but I also think that 1x11 in particular does a good job of moving the plot along while developing the characters at the same time (Riverdale is not always good at this ok so it is important to remark on it when it meets this bar!). We have Homecoming, and the incredibly awkward Cooper-Jones pre-Homecoming dinner, and Varchie sneaking into FP’s trailer behind Betty and Jughead’s back, and Veronica desperately trying to determine if her father had a role to play in Jason’s murder, and FP’s arrest (!!!) and Jughead running off at the end in a funk. There is a lot that happens AND everyone goes to a dance! It is sadly rare to have a Riverdale episode where everyone feels intertwined to the main story and where the Core 4 get to interact and develop. Plus, Jughead is so adorably excited about his and Betty’s family meeting even though they are 16 and have been dating for like two months. MY HEART. He was already planning their wedding.

Worst

1x09. It is the only episode of season 1 that felt filler. And I would still rank it higher than the other “worst” episodes on this list. But the main plot of Archie being used by the Blossom family is ehhhhhh. And frankly uncomfortable given his all too real recent past of being used by Ms. Grundy with no acknowledgment from the show whatsoever that these gross adults keep using this 16 year-old kid to serve their own purposes. So yeah, probably the worst of season 1.

Season 2

Best

I have to go with 2x14. Okay, okay 2x05/2x06 are probably better written and better plotted and have less dialogue that makes me want to end myself, but hear me out. 2x14 is the absolute essence of Riverdale packed into 40 glorious minutes:

Each couple has a spat with each other and then against each other, we get Betty versus Jughead, Archie versus Veronica, Bughead versus Varchie, and it is great???? yeah, you all fight over Hiram’s nefarious plot to buy up all the newspapers in town. 

Bughead listens to Varchie have sex and the vice-versa like an hour later as normal friends do.

Betty and Veronica talk about abuelita (I must know more about abuelita!).

An entire scene where Archie wakes up early to chop wood?? At someone else’s house? Even though he’s only there for a weekend?? Again, very normal, every day teenage behaviour. And Veronica pervs on him while sipping coffee. Get it, V.

Some of the worst, cringiest dialogue this show has ever had, and that is a HIGH BAR including: “A Vughead Kiss? Right now, in the present, might be precisely what it takes to save a future Bughead from imploding.” THIS IS THE WORST LINE OF DIALOGUE EVER WRITTEN, LIKE OF ALL TIME, I CAN BARELY WATCH. IT IS NAILS ON A CHALKBOARD, END ME.

Archie doing push ups in his bedroom, because OF COURSE ARCHIE RANDOMLY DOES PUSHUPS BEFORE BED AND ALSO WHEN UPSET HAVE YOU SEEN HIM. And then Veronica propositions him for sex and Archie, still mad about Vughead, turns her down. And this is an actual scene that takes up time in a 40 minutes episode??? I love it.

Lodge Lodge

They play monopoly

And then get attacked by home invaders!!!

Who Archie chases into the woods only for one of them to be killed by Andre so that Hiram can later frame Archie for a murder he didn’t commit.

anyway 2x14 is the best episode of Riverdale maybe ever, tell your friends.

Worst

2x11 for the reasons @arsenicpanda has articulated before - mostly involving the clumsy way that the writers tried to parallel the Serpents to the plight of Native Americans. And Jughead’s awkward white saviour plotline, eugh. Although bonus points for Archie trying to wrestle to impress Hiram for some reason?? I can’t hate it.

Season 3

Best

Season 3 has a lot of contenders. I’m torn between the parentale breakfast club episode (which also featured crazy-G&G-Jughead, a fave of mine) and the Prom episode, but I’m going to go with 3x20, Prom Night because this episode is a sheer delight from start to finish. Hal Cooper fakes his own death by cutting off his hand and then he replaces it with a hook - legends only. CHONI FOR PROM QUEENS until the dream is killed by Edgar. U KNOW that is when Cheryl started reconsidering the whole Farm business even with the whole being able to talk to Jason’s corpse thing. 

Bughead investigate shit and make great faces. Varchie go to prom as the least platonic “friends” ever and it is adorable. Everybody somehow wears the best outfits even though Bughead changed the Prom theme the night before. Betty being chased through the school by the Black Hood/her dad is legitimately terrifying. 10/10.

Worst

3x09, hands down. I have a lot of beef with this episode. My main beef is that 3x08 ends on this great cliffhanger and there is zero payoff? Jughead and FP come home to find the town is under QUARANTINE, no one is allowed IN OR OUT, and then in 3x09, he is snuggling in bed with Betty and it was like????? but what about the quarantine?? how did you get back in?? honestly the first time I watched 3x09, I thought I must have skipped an episode, but NOPE, the quarantine cliffhanger was waved off and I will never forgive them for this.

Secondly, most of this episode is spent in Archie’s feverish dream/hallucination and I just find dream episodes real dull, sorry Archie. I love that Archie tried to box a bear, I mean good for him, but the the dream sequences are boring.

Season 4

Best

A tie between 4x14 and 4x15. I just love these two episodes. The Preppies are legit the best villains this show has ever had (especially Donna, my love <333). There were real stakes for the Core 4, and even though I was pretty sure Jughead was not dead, I was still insanely happy to see him again in 4x15. Betty threatening Donna in the woods while wearing Jughead’s sherpa is a total bamf move, MARRY ME, BETTY COOPER. Jughead’s faux funeral is a+. Even the BA fake dating scheme (before it went horribly awry in the following episodes) is hilarious to me. Like, what kind of horrible plan is this?? if Betty seriously dated Archie following Jughead’s death, she would need therapy STAT, but the town of Riverdale is just like “oh ok I guess Jughead is dead.” Okay, sure. Plus Donna taunting Betty over the fact that she apparently can’t go two hours without needing to bone Jughead and therefore Betty’s plan was doomed to failure. How was this a real scene that happened. Oh my god, these episodes are so great.

Worst.

4x17. I mean, obviously. Please don’t make me have to explain.

[lumiolivier]

The Good Old Days Chapter Fourteen: Let Me Take You Home

A/N: Hi, friends! Another week here. I'm so glad I moved this to Thursdays. I'll say that much. But I don't have too much to say here. Other than...No. I don't think I have any warnings to put in this week. Other than my love for Sariña knows no bounds. I love Mama (and Abuelita soon enough) so much. That came out in the For the Family chapter today, too. But I'm going to shut up now. See you next week! x

It’s no big deal. It’s not like it’s the first time I’ve ever had to give Mama news out of nowhere. How was I supposed to know Vanessa would’ve been cool with meeting her tonight? Besides, it’s not like it’s going to be anything major. Just a quick hello and we’re out the door. Right? I should know better. I really should. There’s no way that Mama can ever allow something to just be simple. There’s no way she’s going to allow Vanessa to come into this house just to say hi and leave. And I had a feeling I was about to get the back of her spoon to the head. And it’s her day off. There’s no way she’s going to let this be little.

“Hi, Mama!” I came back in and dropped my shoes at the door.

“Hola, niño,” she chimed, already in the kitchen, cleaning up things from breakfast.

“How are you?” I treaded lightly, hoping she’d take it as me making casual conversation.

“I can open the windows,” Mama smiled, “I know where all of my babies are. I don’t have to go to work today. It’s nice.”

“That does sound nice,” I pulled up a spot at the kitchen table, “Hey, Mama…I have some news to tell you.”

“What’s that, Francisco?” she didn’t think much of it. Thank Christ.

“I just came back from Vanessa’s house,” I told her, “And…She said she’d be ok if we went out tonight.”

“That’s nice, mijo,” Mama awed.

“I don’t think you understand,” I braced myself for whatever may come next, “Vanessa and I are going out tonight.”

“Si,” she nodded, “Cuidado. Don’t be out too late.”

“Mama…” I took the towel out of her hand, “Would you like to meet Vanessa tonight?”

“Vanessa’s coming tonight!” Mama let out the most inhuman noise I have ever heard in my life. I swear, dogs on the other side of the city just heard her, “Vanessa’s coming tonight! I meet her!”

“She’s only going to be here for a few minutes,” I love mi mama so much. But she’s excited, so that’s comforting, “But yeah. She’ll be over tonight.”

“Speaking of Vanessa,” she wondered, “How is her sister?”

“Better,” I melted inside. It wasn’t exactly an uncommon thing for Mama to take in strays. Cats, dogs, a raccoon in the alleyway behind our building once. It didn’t matter. If someone didn’t have a place to call home, Mama would make sure they did. Even if it were only temporary. Granted, Veronica came from a pedigree, but that didn’t make her any less a stray. I’m starting to think her sister may be a little like that, too, “Last I checked on Veronica, she was asleep.”

“Good,” Mama nodded, “Pobre bebe…Dios la ayude.”

“Amén,” I agreed.

“So,” she thought, “Do I need to cook tonight?”

“Not for us,” I shook my head, “We’ll find something somewhere tonight.”

“Ok,” Mama sat across from me, “You love her, don’t you, Francisco?”

That was a loaded question. Vanessa was definitely something special. All the others that came before her were nice in the moment, but Vanessa…She’s not a nice in the moment type. She was all I could think about. When I made a decision, I had her in the back of my mind. Maybe not in the most significant way, but she was there. When I look to the future, it’s not often I don’t see her. I suppose we could call that love, but how in the hell did she have me so quickly? It was one drink, one look, one trip to the Bean, and one uncomfortable phone call and she had me hooked, “I think so.”

“What’s going on now?” César came stumbling out of our bedroom, still half asleep.

“Francisco is bringing a young lady home tonight,” Mama told him.

“Vanessa already?” César rubbed his eyes, “Damn, Frankie. Look at you.”

“You behave yourself tonight,” Mama scolded, “She’s probably a sweet girl.”

“I’ve met her, Mama,” César reached for the coffee pot, “I was there when they met. Hell, if it weren’t for me, I don’t think she would’ve went over to him in the first place.”

“She would, too!” I got defensive. I knew things about that night César didn’t. Twitchy. Nice ass. I’ll take it.

“You could barely talk to her,” César jabbed, “If you got two words out, you were doing good.”

“César!” Mama snapped, taking my side. Te amo, Mama, “Play nice.”

“Sorry, Mama,” César joined us, “But it’s true. He could hardly talk to her.”

“Because her other sister was breathing down her neck,” I argued, “If Violet wouldn’t have been there to be her sister’s keeper, Vanessa would’ve totally hung around me some more.”

“Uh-huh…”

“Mama…”

“César…” Mama growled, ready to beat the shit out of him.

“Sorry, Mama,” César kept his mouth shut. Smart on his part.

“Is she a good girl, César?” Mama asked, “Vanessa?”

“Yeah,” he nodded, “She’s alright. She’s cute, too, Mama. I don’t know what she’d be doing with Frankie.”

“More than what she’d ever do with you,” I wasn’t just going to take that. If I was going down, I’ll be damned if I don’t take him down with me. I pushed away from the kitchen table, “On that note, I need to go check in with the Old Man. I’ll be back later.”

“Ten cuidado, cariño,” Mama kissed my cheek and sent me on my way.

Alright. What didn’t I get done last night? I had a couple places that still needed their collections taken care of. Other than that, I should be golden, right? It’s not like I was going to deal with that prick that was fucking with Veronica last night. He’s taken care of. And I had the bruises to prove it. Hell of a lot less than what he’s got, but still. My eye still hurt, but I’d get over it. Bumps and bruises are easy to heal from. It’s the stab wounds and the gunshots that would put me up. Fortunately, I was alright.

I walked down to the Narrows and peeked my head in the Old Man’s office. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think he was doing fucking mad libs, “Hey, Old Man? Busy?”

“Frankie!” he tossed his pen aside and brought me in, “Jesus Christ, kid…The fuck happened to you?”

“You were there!” I rolled my eyes, “Don’t give me that.”

“Oh, yeah,” the Old Man sat back down, “That’s right. You got your ass handed to you last night.”

“Excuse me?” I argued, “I don’t think so. I’ve rarely lost a fight. And given how that prick walked away last night, I’m pretty sure I won that one, too.”

“I’m messing with you, Frankie,” he settled me, “My god, relax a little. You could’ve walked out of that worse, but dammit, you got fight in you.”

“Had to,” I pointed out, “Or these streets would eat me alive. Not having that.”

“Well then, apex predator,” the Old Man stopped for a second, “You smell like high class. Did you already have a date with Vanessa today?”

“That’s not until tonight,” I clarified, “I went to go check on her sister this morning. Manhattan’s a fucking monster, Old Man.”

“I like going to Manhattan once in a while,” he sighed out, “I’ve had a few lovely young ladies from Manhattan. Good times. But more importantly, how is Vanessa’s little sister?”

“Tired,” I thought back to Veronica’s fragile little body balled up in her bed, sleeping like a baby, “She threw up once while I was there.”

“Roofies will do that,” the Old Man nodded, “It’s some rough shit. Poor kid. I’ve never even met the girl and I feel for her.”

“They have that effect on people.” I knew exactly what he meant. I hardly knew Veronica and my instinct told me to protect that girl with my fucking life. Vanessa, too. I barely met her and I was already naming our future children in my head. But I digress.

“And,” he wondered, “You have a date with her older sister tonight, right?”

“Her oldest sister,” I confirmed, “Not the middle one. But I need to take her to my place first.”

“Why?” It took the Old Man a second to figure out the answer to his own question, but when he did, his eyes lit up in a way I was not expecting, “Oh, Frankie…Is tonight the night?”

“Vanessa said she’d be ok if…”

“Tonight’s the night!” No wonder the Old Man and Mama get along so well. Sometimes, I wonder if they’re the same person.

“It’s not that big of a deal,” I tried my best to calm him down, but instead, he gave me such a blank stare, “Yeah. I know. That sounded fucking stupid in my head, too. I know.”

“Frankie,” the Old Man threw an arm around me, “I absolutely adore you. I hope you know that.”

“Got the feeling.”

“Don’t tell the others,” he jabbed, “But you’re my favorite. If you think your mother isn’t going to make a big deal out of this, you are sorely mistaken.”

“That’s not necessarily true,” I explained, “I’ve already talked about it with Mama. She understands we’ll only be there for a few minutes. Just enough for her to say hi and for us to get out.”

“Are you sure she’s not going to get a little overzealous?” he worried, “Because I could see her telling you one thing and then, doing something else in the moment.”

“I need a distraction,” I begged, “Something to keep me balanced and something to keep prying eyes out of my love life. You wouldn’t have anything for me to do, would you, Old Man?”

“I got nothing,” the Old Man shrugged, “I got everything taken care of today. Any job I’d give you today would just be below your paygrade.”

“Seriously?” I wondered, “What about my collections I didn’t grab last night?”

“Taken care of,” he told me, “Sorry, Frankie, but I really and truly don’t have anything for you to do. I got my money. There hasn’t been a peep about the asshole from last night. Everything’s good here.”

“Oh…” There go my plans for the day.

“Wait a minute,” the Old Man thought it over, “You’re not worried about Vanessa meeting Sariña tonight, are you, Frankie?”

“No,” I bit the inside of my cheek, “No? Should I be?”

“I couldn’t blame you if you were,” he agreed, “Your mama’s a peach, but I don’t know enough about Vanessa to know how she’ll handle it. How is she around people?”

“She’s a fucking socialite, Old Man,” I reminded him, “Not to mention, she’ll be able to put that almost law degree to good use, if she needs to make a case for herself. Although, I think César may have laid the groundwork for that.”

“What do you mean?”

“When I got back from Vanessa’s this morning,” I filled him in, “I told her I had just come back from seeing Vanessa and checking on Veronica, but when I told her about Vanessa coming over tonight, she asked César if she was alright. Mama trusts my opinion on just about everything, but at the end of the day, she knows César will always look out for me. If he says she’s alright, then chances are, Mama will be fine with her, too. So, instead of going into this only knowing Vanessa comes from money, she’ll be a little more open minded.”

“Oh, I love your mother,” the Old Man sighed out, “She’s something else.”

“Old Man,” I got nervous, “She’s still my mother. No.”

“I know, I know!” he whined, “Honestly, Frankie. You take all the fun out of it. This is why I don’t date women with kids.”

“Good to know.” Then, he’ll stay the fuck away from Mama. Because her three kids get rather defensive. Not to mention, they’re all major pains in the ass, except for the youngest. The youngest is alright, “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous, though.”

“You’ll be alright,” the Old Man gave me a pop to the shoulder, “I know you will. And trust that Vanessa’s got a brain in her head and won’t say anything too off color.”

“I doubt it,” I smiled a bit, “But thanks, Old Man…Really? You got nothing for me?”

“Nothing.”

“Well then,” I got up, “In that case, I’m going to go pay a lovely lady a visit.”

“Another one?” the Old Man teased, “Damn, Frankie. And here you had the audacity to judge me. How many you got on the line at once?”

“Just Vanessa,” I elaborated, “I’m going to go get some lunch. The lady that runs the food truck I go to loves me. And between you and me, I think she might be interested in someone closer to her own age.”

“Really?” he perked up, “And when you say…”

“No,” I stopped him, “You leave Abuela alone. She’s sacred. And married.”

“What kind of married?”

“Happily,” I wasn’t dealing with it with Mama. I sure as fuck won’t deal with it with Abuela.

“Alright, alright,” the Old Man backed off, “Go on, kid. Get out of here. I’ll see you later.”

“Hey,” I stopped in the door, “Are you going to need me tonight? I probably should’ve asked before I made plans with Vanessa.”

“You more than earned tonight off, Frankie,” he allowed, “I’m not going to stop you. But for future reference? You should probably ask me before making plans with Vanessa next time. Now, go grab lunch.”

“See you later!”

I always liked going to talk to the Old Man. He put shit into perspective. And this was one of those things I needed to sort out. I just hoped to all things holy that Mama and Vanessa hit it off tonight. If they don’t…I don’t know who’s going to be more miserable in that fallout. But before that, I needed something to put in my belly. I was going to get something before I went to see the Old Man, but shit slipped my mind. And what better than a trip to see Abuela for my beautiful, tinfoil wrapped baby? The only suck part was that she was about to move in a few minutes, so chances are, she’s packing up.

“Abuela,” I knocked on her window, “Will you feed me please?”

“Frankie!” she threw her window open, “Of course, cariño. Is everything alright?”

“Yeah,” I nodded, “I’m good. I’m…beyond good, actually. I just got back from talking to my boss. I checked in on a friend of mine. Everything’s pretty good for me right now.”

“That’s wonderful,” Abuela got to work, “You’re lucky you caught me when you did. I’m supposed to be uptown in an hour.”

“Gracias, Abuela,” I sighed out, “I really do appreciate it.”

“De nada,” she brushed me off, “You know I would. Only for you, though.”

“What about if it were either Tony or César?”

“Did I say Tony or César?” Abuela winked, “I said you, didn’t I?”

“Te amo, Abuela.”

“Te amo,” she smiled, “Do you want horchata, too, or are we skipping that today?”

“Abuela,” I pouted, “Did you really just ask me if I’d say no to horchata?”

“Silly question,” Abuela wrapped up my burrito and handed me that beautiful, Styrofoam cup full of liquid joy, “Three-fifty, Frankie.”

“Shit…” I patted my pockets, “I’m a little short. Coming here was kind of a last minute thought and I didn’t grab my wallet. Think I could get you next time?”

“I got this one,” she let it go, “I know you’re good for it.”

“Thanks, Abuela,” I grabbed my horchata and my burrito and waved her off.

Hola, hermosa…I’m going to wait until I get home to open you up, but oh, I promise when we have our moment, it’s going to be one for the fucking record books. Hopefully, Tony and César will be out of the house and I can go out onto the fire escape and indulge myself properly. And when I got home, I got my wish. Thank you, Jesus. Mama wasn’t even home. Huh…I wonder where she ran off to. I checked the fridge and sure enough, Mama left a note. I must have just missed her. Market. Alright. Fine by me.

I climbed out onto the fire escape and opened up my burrito. A late lunch in peace. My girl coming tonight. Her sister’s ok, despite her puking this morning when I saw her. I got the night off. Everything really is coming up me. Who would’ve thought a piece of shit like me would have something like this? I mean, it’s a hell of a burrito. God, just let Vanessa and Mama get along and not butt heads. I don’t ask for very much, but fuck, I’m begging for this.

As the day went on, it got to be that time of the night. It wouldn’t take me too long to get to Vanessa’s, but it’s times like these where I wish I had the Old Man’s town car at the ready, but unfortunately, we’re going to have to do public transit. Sorry, Vanessa. Not all of us can come from champagne wishes and caviar dreams. But you’re not with me for that, are you? It does have me curious as to why the hell you’re with someone like me. Maybe I’m just better off not questioning it.

When I knocked on her door, Alfred answered again, looking down on me as he did before, “Oh…It’s you…”

“It’s me,” I chimed.

“As I said before,” he argued, “Mistress Veronica is not well.”

“I know,” I brushed him off, “I’m actually here for…”

“Hi, Frankie.” Right on cue. And fuck, she got cuter from the last time I saw her.

“That one,” I took her hand, “Hi there.”

“I’ll be back later tonight, Mr. Pearson,” Vanessa told him, “If anyone asks for me, I won’t be in for the rest of the night. And when Veronica comes back, can you have her call me?”

“Of course, Mistress,” he nodded, looking me over with great mistrust, “And you’re sure you’ll be coming home tonight?”

“Yes,” she swore, “Honestly, I’ll be fine. Frankie, would you ever do anything to put my life in danger?”

“Hell no!” I squeaked.

“That’s what I like to hear,” Vanessa skipped down the front stairs and waved behind her. I should probably follow her, shouldn’t I?

“Sorry about the cab,” I slid in next to her, “I would’ve grabbed my boss’s town car, but I’m sure he’s using it tonight.”

“Frankie,” Vanessa put my face between her hands, “It’s alright. Don’t worry about it. Not the first cab I’ve taken. Likely not the last. It’s alright. Now, what do I need to know?”

“What do you mean?”

“What do I need to know?” she reiterated, “About your mom? What’s going to make her love me?”

Oh my god, she’s nervous, too. I know I shouldn’t be happy about that and I should do my best to make her comfortable, but fuck, that made me feel better. I laced my fingers between hers, “Just be you. I know it sounds so cliché, but really, Vanessa. Mama’s going to like you. Don’t worry. You don’t need to try so hard.”

“Ok…” That smile…That fucking smile…It got to me every time.

When we got back to Williamsburg (and I could finally unclench), I noticed a familiar black car parked in front of our building. Huh…First of all, impressed that street parking was available. Second, I’m curious as to why the Old Man’s town car was here. Maybe he was good enough to let me borrow it tonight after I brought Vanessa here? At least I hope so. Thanks, Old Man! Much appreciated. As Vanessa and I stood in front of our apartment door, I didn’t smell Mama’s cooking, so she’s not going overboard. Alright. Maybe I can breathe a little tonight.

“Mama!” I called from the door, “I’m home!”

“This is so cute,” Vanessa awed behind me. Oh, sweetheart, that’s because you don’t come from this.

“Hola, niño!”

“Frankie!” There was someone I wasn’t expecting. Although, I did see his town car out front. I don’t know why I’d be surprised.

“Old Man,” I wondered, “What are you doing here?”

“I thought I’d check in on your mama,” the Old Man had Mama’s hand in his, “Please. Sit.”

Mierda…