Chapter Text
>>>> 7 <<<<
”Pepa!” Bruno hollered as he darted into the kitchen. Skidding to a stop, the sand in his hair spraying lightly as he did.
"Ay! What!?" she yelled back, turning to meet his delighted face mere inches away from hers.
"Bruno," his Mamá scolded with a pointed look at the sand falling from him onto the kitchen floor.
"New friend!"
"What?"
"New friend! Pack extra for lunch!" he cried. "Por favor," he added at his Mamás arched brow before smiling sweetly.
Julieta sat alone, as she waited for Pepa and Bruno to arrive for a kids only lunch. Swinging her legs absentmindedly, she leaned back and let her eyes slipped closed as she enjoyed the sun on her face.
"Here," a light nervous voice says from somewhere to her right.
Looking over she sees a familiar girl holding a few wild flowers out to her. Smiling she reaches out and takes them.
"Thank you!" she says, stroking the soft petals. The girl gave her a timid smile back, wringing her fingers together as if unsure what to do now. Patting the ground beside her, Julieta looks at her with hopeful eyes.
A shy smile takes over the girls face as she sits beside her. Looking at her more closely Julieta finally places her.
"You look different when you're not all covered in bee strings," Julieta says bluntly.
Faustina's eyes widen as she looks at Julieta. The soft teasing look in her eyes causes her to laugh.
"Mamá says I'll grow out of it," she said factually.
"Grow out of being stung by bees?" Julieta asks, face scrunched in confusion.
"I don't know," Faustina shrugs, "that's what mamá says."
" ...Will...will you still bring me flowers if I don't have to heal your bee stings anymore?" Julieta asked softly.
"Yep!" she nodded back enthusiastically. "I'd bring you flowers every day if you want."
"Oh she'd love that!" a new voice added. Turning they spotted Pepa and Bruno standing just a few feet away.
"Okay then, I will," Faustina said with a happy determined nod. Moving to leave, Julieta stopped her, pulling her back roughly.
"Have lunch with us," Julieta said, as Pepa and Bruno nodded along eagerly.
"I--I, okay," she gave in as Bruno showed her how much food they had brought followed by a smirk.
"Let's go!" Pepa cried, ushering them towards the river.
>>>> 17 <<<<
"Yeah but who'd want to go out with me, I'm spooky," Bruno said wiggling his fingers playfully.
"How about Faustina, you're already good friends. She doesn't think you're 'spooky'," Alma said looking over at the gangly young girl. Faustina slowly shook her head.
"No, I-I don't think he's spooky," she stuttered out, as a new feeling came over her. A desperation, wanting to reach out for Julieta's hand for comfort. Her fingers twitched where they rested in her lap.
"Perfecto," Alma clapped, looking at Bruno hopefully.
"NO!" Julieta shouts as she pushes herself up abruptly, leaning forward she stares at her Mamá. Her eyes filled with fear and confusion, not knowing where her outburst came from.
Alma looks at her, slightly taken aback. Softening as things start to click into place. She looks at Pepa, who is staring right back at her in surprise, then at Bruno and his wide scared eyes. Finally to Faustina, whose eyes were filled with panic. Taking in the way she leaned ever so slightly towards her daughter.
Throwing her hands up in surrender, she looks back at Julieta with a raised brow. Julieta herself now looks just as shocked, as her face flushes deeply.
"Lo siento, Mamá," she said, smoothing the front of her skirts before sitting back down, embarrassed gaze burning a hole into the floor. Relaxing ever so slightly as Faustina's foot pushed against hers.
"No, no, it's ... it's alright, Julieta," Alma says with gentle curiousity, leaning her weight on the doorway. She took in Julieta's stiff posture, noting how Faustina had her foot pressed against hers, before swinging her eyes over to see how relieved Bruno looked, to Pepa, who seemed to be holding her breath. With a thoughtful hum, and a drum of her fingers against her forearm, she turned and left the room.
"Uhhh..." Pepa said, looking between the other three in the room.
"I need to make more arepas," Julieta said, jumping to her feet before bolting from the room.
Bruno and Pepa both turned to look at Faustina, who raised both eyebrows in surprise.
"What?" she asked, narrowing her eyes at the two remaining triplets.
"What, what?" Pepa shot back.
Faustina pursed her lips thoughtfully, "I don't want to know," she said, before shaking her head and pushing herself to her feet. Catching her missed step with practiced ease, she squinted at the two of them before leaving to find Julieta.
"Juli?" she said, opening Julieta's bedroom door just enough to poke her head in.
"Si." She heard Julieta's soft voice call from deep within. Pulling the door open just enough to slip inside before she closed it behind her. She wandered through her room, under the tree canopy like ceiling of the tunnel that lead to the bedroom. She found her sitting on the edge of her bed.
"Hi," Faustina whispered as she sat beside her. After a heavy moment of silence Julieta turned to her.
"You don't want to marry Bruno, do you?" she finally said. Faustina gave her a look filled with incredulity.
"I...NO! Juli! I ... no I don't," she said with vehemence, after her incredulity had faded. "I most certainly do not want to marry your brother."
"Okay. Gracias," she said sagging with relief.
"What is it?" Faustina prodded, bumping her shoulder against hers, sensing she had more to say.
"It's silly..." she said, with a sigh at Faustina's encouraging look she continued, "I thought maybe Mamá saw something between you and Bruno that I didn't....see ...or know about..."
"I think you know both me and Bruno better than that," Faustina deadpanned.
"I know!" Julieta cried with embarrassment, before covering her face with her hands.
It was then Faustina started to giggle. Her laughter slowly building until it came out in loud gasping guaffs.
"Dios," Julieta groaned, flopping back on the bed.
As her laughter died down, she flopped back beside Julieta, pleased to see the smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
"Pepa and Bruno know something," she stated simply.
"They have a secret without ME?!" Julieta yelped, launching herself off the bed. Turning around to face Faustina, looking slightly wild.
"Yup," Faustina said, popping the 'p'.
"We'll see about that..." Julieta mumbled before peeling from the room shouting their names.
Chapter 2: Alma
Chapter Text
Since Julieta's 'outburst', Alma had been watching the two of them together. The way they seemed so in synch, so in tune with the other... And yet, somehow completely unaware of what exactly they were feeling.
The way the flitted about, dancing around each other. Oblivious to the advances of others. She was surprised she didn't notice earlier, how obvious it seemed now that they were completely consumed with the other. She supposed that's why others would still approach, they didn't see it either. Because they weren't looking for it.
Julieta and Faustina were also not actually courting. Not yet at least. It seemed like only a matter of time now. And, she was sure, as soon as they officially began courting, everyone else would also be blinded with the glaring reality of them.
So she waited. Waited for the day Julieta realised and came to her.
She didn't have to wait long.