#soy luna simbar fic

[hide-in-imagination]

Paris & a Promise | Simbar Oneshot

The studio was pristine and cozy, with bright colors on the walls, white leather chairs, one in front of the other, and a big screen between them on the far wall so that the people in the audience, and of course, the host and guest occupying the two chairs, could see pictures and videos of the topic that was being discussed.

Behind the three cameras pointing at the studio (one on the guest, one on the host, and one holding a general view of everything), the floor manager, a woman in her thirties with a headset to hear and communicate the director’s orders, made a signal to the host, a charismatic man on his forties with black hair, wearing a suit and tie. In the guest chair in front of him, the blonde young woman, wearing a tasteful long-sleeve blouse and a mini skirt, listened to the countdown overhead until the ‘On Air’ sign lighted up anew, followed by a short rendition of the show’s theme song, and applause from the audience on their seats.

“Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen! We are here live with Ámbar Smith,” the host resumed the show with a big smile, facing the camera and then focusing on his guest. “Ámbar, once again, thank you so much for coming to our show. I hope you’re having as good a time as we are, but if not, do not worry, your torment is almost over now.”

Ámbar laughed along with the audience.

“Noo, don’t say that, of course I’m having a good time, I’m always happy to be here.”

“I’m so glad to hear that. Now,” the host leaned forward, “I’m sorry for deviating from your achievements but, we simply can not let you leave without talking about—” he pointed at her with his hand, “that huge rock weighing on your finger right now.” The audience started screaming. “Poor thing, she can’t even move her hand— Look how she keeps it on the armrest! Unbelievable!”

The audience whooped and laughed while Ámbar giggled, her right hand coming up to try and hide her grin and blushing cheeks.

“Ámbar, my sincerest congratulations on your engagement,” the host said now in earnest as the audience quieted down.

“Thank you so much.” The audience cheered again, stealing another giddy smile from her.

“Now, I know everyone already knows this, but in case anyone’s been living under a rock these last few years, you’ve been dating the Roller Band’s guitarist and vocalist Simón Álvarez for quite a few years now.” A picture of the couple posing together at a red carpet appeared on the big screen of the studio.

“Six years, yeah,” Ámbar said with a smile.  

“Six whole years, and he finally proposed two weeks ago, as we can see in this picture you two posted on Instagram, showing off the ring.”

A screenshot of their Instagram post showed on the screen. The photo depicted their hands together, Ámbar’s hand over Simón’s turned-up palm, the thick diamond ring front and center, shining on her finger, while the background showed an orange and red sky, with the Eiffel Tower blurry but visible in the distance. 

The audience cheered and a warm smile curled Ámbar’s lips at the photo.

The host looked at her again. “Tell me, Ámbar, did you see it coming? Did you know he was going to do it or did it take you by surprise?”

Ámbar made a complicated face. “Um, I kind of saw it coming, but no, not really,” she broke off with a laugh.

The host looked at her with intrigue. “What do you mean? Like, you did and then you didn’t? What’s the story?”

“Well. We were in Europe because the Roller Band was touring there, and they had stops in different cities, and Simón was like ‘You should come with me, you could visit Paris’ blah blah blah, so I joined them. He knows that Paris is my favorite city in the world, I’ve always loved it— In fact, I spent some months there when I was in university, as part of an exchange program for six months, and I just have very good memories of the city in general. So anyway, that got me thinking, you know… We’re going to be in Paris…” She started hinting. “He invited me to join… We’ve been dating for 6 years… So, on that front, I did have my suspicions, but I just— The timing didn’t make sense to me,” she said. “That was the problem, that’s what threw me off.” 

“How so?”

“Because we were only staying in Paris for one day,” she emphasized. “The guys were scheduled to arrive in the morning at the hotel, then they had their soundcheck in the afternoon, and then their concert, and that same night we had to go to Italy because they had their concert there the next day. So I was like… Yeah, no. No way.” She laughed. “Like, it was a lot in less than 24 hours. How could he even find the time for it? It’s insane.”

“He totally got you then.”

“He did. It took me completely by surprise, it was so sweet.”  

“It was like in some sort of balcony, right?” The host checked. “I mean, I remember from the photos you two posted— Those ones.”

New photos appeared on the screen. It was two selfies of the two of them standing close together on a black iron balcony with a view of the sunset, the city of Paris, and the Eiffel Tower. They were taken by Simón, one of his arms around Ámbar while the other extended beyond the frame, holding the phone. In one of them, they were both grinning brightly at the camera, Ámbar showing off the ring, her eyes glistening with emotion. The second was very similar to the first, probably taken seconds apart from each other, except in that one Simón wasn’t looking at the camera but kissing Ámbar’s cheek with his eyes closed. Ámbar was still grinning and showing off the ring like in the first picture, but she had her eyes closed in that one too, basking in the love. 

“Yeah, that’s the balcony of the hotel room we were staying at,” Ámbar answered, pointing at the screen. “Simón specifically looked for one that had a view of the Eiffel Tower for us.”

“He had it all planned out,” the host said, impressed.

“Everything,” Ámbar confirmed. “From the very first second. Cause— Look. This is how it all went down.” She leaned forward in her seat, entering story-telling mode, and the host leaned forward as well, giving her all of his attention. “We arrived at around 11 am in Spain. The first thing we did was sleep because we were all dead on our feet, and then around two, Simón asked me if I wanted to go out to eat, and I was like ‘Yeah, sure’, so we went to this restaurant I recommended to him, I knew it from my many trips to Paris, and we just, you know, had our meal, talked, walked around the city for a little bit after— Very normal stuff. Then, Simón had to go to his soundcheck, so he left, and I just kept walking around ‘cause, you know, I was like ‘I don’t know when I’ll be able to come back, better make the best of it now.’”

“Of course.”

“And that was all I was planning to do for the rest of the day really, but then, like an hour or so later, I get a call from Simón like ‘Hey, I’m done with the soundcheck, I’m going back to the hotel now, let’s meet up there’, and I was like… Why didn’t he just stay in the arena?” She said, bemused. “His concert was like in two hours, it would’ve made more sense. But anyway. I got back to the hotel, and I asked him how the soundcheck went, and he was like ‘Well, very well, everything good’— Which was a complete and total lie, by the way,” she pointed out, looking at the audience.

“What do you mean ‘lie’?” The host asked with surprise.

“He never went to the soundcheck,” Ámbar said. “I only found out about it later. The guys went to the soundcheck by themselves, Simón never joined them.”

“Then what was he doing?”

“I’m getting there,” she said. “So, we met at the hotel, and Simón was like ‘Hey, so, I only have like an hour and a half before I need to leave but, what do say if we order room service and eat a little something before I leave?’ and I was like, ‘Yeah, that sounds nice.’ So we sat at a little table there on the balcony, and we were just, you know, having like a regular dinner, when suddenly he says: ‘My love. I didn’t want to tell you before, but I have a surprise for you.’ And I was like.” Ámbar made a face of curiosity. “‘What?’ And the very instant— I have this so ingrained in my mind— the very instant the sun started setting, he got down on one knee.”

“Oh my god.” The audience cheered and clapped, joining the host’s excitement. “That’s crazy! So, he had it all timed down to the second.”

“He did! He totally did. I couldn’t believe it. And then he, you know, started saying all these beautifulthings, and once the shock wore off, I just started crying,” she laughed a little bit. “And just, you know, I said yes, obviously.”

The audience screamed. Ámbar laughed, radiantly happy, the camera capturing the emotion in her eyes. “Then we hugged and it was very sweet. I really couldn’t have imagined it a better way; it was perfect.”

“And then you two went to celebrate, right? We’ve got some pictures of you on a rooftop.”

“Yeah! That was the craziest part! We had just gotten engaged and Simón was like ‘I’ve got another surprise for you’ and he led me to the hotel’s rooftop, and the whole time I’m thinking, ‘What now?!’ Like, what else had this guy planned? Fireworks? I genuinely couldn’t put it past him by this point. And then we got to the rooftop, and my whole family was there.” The audience went aww. “With our closest friends too; it was like fifteen people up there. And I was like— ‘What are you all doing here?!’” The audience laughed. “‘When did you get here?!’ It was insane!”

“Simón got them all there without you knowing?” The host expressed with awe.  

“No one told me anything! I genuinely don’t know how they managed to keep it from me,” Ámbar said with disbelief. “And the rooftop was decorated with balloons, flowers, there was food— Well, you’ve got the photos there.” She pointed to the screen where the pictures from her Instagram were displaying. “So, like, it was amazing. It was truly amazing, and so beautiful. And our friends started hugging us and giving us their congratulations, and… What got to me the most was that, well, my mom couldn’t go,” she started explaining. “I don’t speak about her a lot publicly but, basically, she’s got a certain degree of blindness, so it’s complicated for her to move around on her own, she has to be accompanied— And honestly, good for her that she didn’t go, I would’ve felt terrible if she had made that huge trip just for me. But she did send me a video congratulating me. I watched it on a tablet. And I just… Well, if I had already cried, that was the moment I finished ruining my makeup.” The audience laughed with her. “But it was sweet. It was all very sweet and moving and just amazing. I had a very good time there with my friends and family until we had to leave.” 

“Sounds wonderful.” The host had a sweet smile on his face. “I bet it was a very treasured moment for you two, for your family, your friends—I have a question though,” he said, more serious now, “that I imagine all of us are wondering as well— What about the concert?”

Ámbar nodded like she knew exactly what he meant. “Yeah, you see, that’s the funniest part! Cause like— Just imagine: Simón organized this whole thing— When he was supposed to be at the soundcheck, by the way; he never did that, he was on the rooftop with everyone else getting everything ready— and in the end, he just like, stayed for half an hour and then he left.” The audience laughed. “Because he had his concert! You know?” She said over the noise. “So like. It was crazy. It was really crazy, he totally rushed to the arena. He must’ve put on his outfit and the microphone in record time, the poor thing. But he always tells me that it was worth it. So.” Ámbar shrugged with a little smile.

The audience went aww again.

A mischievous glint appeared in the host’s eyes. “Yeah, he looked very excited the night of the concert. There was even this video that went viral— You saw it, right?”

“I’ve seen many,” she deadpanned, nodding her head.

“Well, here we’ve got the one that made the most headlines on the internet; a little video posted by a fan.” A video of Simón taking the stage started playing on the studio’s big screen on mute. It was a vertical video, filmed from up close, maybe from the fifth row, or maybe using a lot of zoom. “This is the same night you were telling us about, when the Roller Band was playing at the arena.”

The volume went up and the screams of the crowd could be heard as Simón walked up to the front of the stage where a microphone stand was waiting. He had his guitar hanging from his shoulder, ready to play. For everyone watching at home, the video took the whole screen of the TV, replacing the image of the studio. 

“Paris, how are you doing tonight?!”

The crowd went wild in response to Simón.

Simón laughed a little and started talking again, so the crowd went quiet to be able to hear him. “You know, I’m the exact same way as you, guys, like, exactly. Because this next song,” he started leisurely playing the guitar as he talked, not a melody but just a simple, soft up and down of his hand on the strings, “is one I wrote about a very special someone to me, many years ago now. And since then, I’ve had the fortune, the pleasure, the utter privilege of having this gorgeous, amazing woman by my side. And this night is very special, Paris, because… This very, very night…” He started laughing and had to take a step back, unable to contain his joy. The crowd was screaming. Simón walked up to the microphone again and yelled out ecstatically.

“SHE SAID ‘YES’!!!!”

Simón began strumming the guitar as the rest of the band joined in, playing together the intro of ‘Tiempo de Amor.’

The studio came back on screen and the video continued rolling in a lower volume as Simón started singing the song, eventually going mute, and then pausing altogether. The audience in the studio was screaming excitedly.

“You do realize that because of this 15 thousand people knew about it before many of our relatives and acquaintances, right?” Ámbar told the host, making everyone laugh again.

“I can just picture them seeing this on Twitter or Tiktok and calling you up like ‘WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU’RE GETTING MARRIED?’” The host acted out.

“It happened with more than one person,” Ámbar declared. The audience laughed.

“Alright but, putting all of that aside, the important thing is that you two had this magical moment and now you’re going to take this next step together,” the host moved the narrative along. “Tell me, have you set a date yet for the ceremony?”

“We don’t have an exact date yet, but the idea is to have a Spring wedding next year.”  

“Love that. So, that means you’ve got plenty of time to plan for the event then. I imagine you’ll need it. Are you planning for a big party?”  

“We’ll see,” Ámbar replied. “We’re still deciding whether we wanna do this biiig, over the top wedding or just a small ceremony with our closest friends and family. But, whatever we end up choosing, I think the most important thing is just, our promise to always be together. So,” a serene smile graced her lips, “the rest is just a complement to that and we’ll figure it out as we go.”

“That’s beautiful,” the host said. “Seriously, I’m so happy for you two, congratulations— Give it up for Ámbar Smith, ladies and gentlemen!”

The audience went wild.

“Thank you so much for being here with us today, Ámbar,” the host told her, starting to wrap up.

“Thank you for having me, it was lovely,” she replied with a smile.

The host turned to face the camera and the shot focused on him. “And to everyone watching us at home, you’ll want to stick around because our next guest is an artist who’s been trending all over social media, not only in Spain but in all parts of the world. We’ll be right back!”

…

..

.

. * ⋆ . · 　.╰──────༺♡༻──────╯. * * . 　 *

Okay so, originally, I had this idea in the context of my Actress!Ámbar x Musician!Simón AU. It was going to be, like, a second chapter where I mixed different interviews, some of Simón, some of Ámbar, as a way to tell how their relationship developed after the ending of chapter one. But then I thought—Why limit it to just that one context? I really loved the idea I came up with for this proposal, so I wanted it to fit as many different worlds as possible, especially canon for those who aren’t such big fans of AUs, so— Here it is! I really hope you liked it. It’s very different from everything I’ve written before in terms of format, but that’s precisely why it was so much fun to write. What would you even call this type of POV? Second Person or something? Sdfkjn. I don’t know, I don’t remember much of my high school lessons; it’s been too many years.

And speaking of years. It's been 6 years now since the show ended and this proposal took place 6 years into their relationship, so I think it would be sweet to imagine that Simón and Ámbar are engaged right now as we speak and that they’ll be getting married next year in 2025 <3

Our babies have grown up, and so have we.

See you all next time. – C

[iridescentis]

random question for the people who have dabbled in some future soy luna aspects, who do we think gets engaged first?

purely because im thinking of writing a lil fic that takes place during the first engagement party and i cannot decide whose party it is

[missroller15]

see, this is why i can’t get nostalgic over my first ever fandom…. because then i’m LEGALLY obligated to write a chaotic insane fic for it so here’s to the soy luna fandom and every single amazing beautiful wonderful person i’ve met bc of it!!

[weirdthoughtsandideas]

Sunshine and Moonshine

Chapter 24: Sick children

It had been two days and Sharon had not confronted Ámbar properly about her disobedience yet. That made Ámbar a bit nervous, because it could happen at any moment.

She tried focusing on Emilia. It got a bit intense there for a moment… 

As she entered Blake in the morning, Delfi and Jazmin both noticed she was thinking about something, and they immediately wanted to know.

“Did something happen, Ámbar?” Delfi asked. “You look like there’s something on your mind.”

“There’s always something on Ámbar’s mind!” Jazmin said, “She’s got quite a heavy life.”

“That is true… but I got a feeling that the thing Ámbar is thinking about right now is gossip worth sharing!”

Before Ámbar could say anything, they were all caught off guard by someone sneezing extremely loudly.

“Woah, Ramiro!” Matteo exclaimed. “What’s up with you?”

Ramiro furrowed his eyebrows and stared into thin air, as if he didn’t know who to face when talking. “My little brother did not come home with the flu from his school and smitted me. I’m fine! I’m just allergic to… floors!”

With that, he stomped off. 

“Okay…” Jim mumbled. 

In class, Ramiro sat right next to Ámbar. She could hear him sniffing and trying to hold in coughs.

She instinctively tried to move away from him a bit. 

Soon, Ramiro could not hold it anymore and let out a cough. 

“Cover your arm when you cough!” Ámbar exclaimed, as Ramiro had just been coughing right out in the open.

“Relax, there’s no germs in a cough,” Ramiro said.

The teacher had heard them, and stared awkwardly in front of the board. “... I think we need a run through about germ spreading.”

-

While the rest of the school day was fine, by the end of the day, both Delfi and Matteo let out some coughs. People didn’t think much about it, though. 

As Ámbar and Luna headed home, Ámbar suddenly sneezed.

“Did you get Ramiro’s thing?” Luna asked.

“No… at least I hope so… I just sneezed.”

As they got home, the plan was to change out of their school uniforms and then head to Jam and Roller to skate. But Ámbar got this sudden headache… and she decided to stay home. At least until the headache disappeared.

Luna however, has as much energy as possible, and went to Jam and Roller.

She skated around for a bit. She noticed her throat was getting a little heavier. Not a problem, she thought, and decided to drink some water.

She later met up with her friends.

“Wasn’t Gastón coming here with you?” Jim asked Nina.

“He was, but he said he wasn’t feeling well. Maybe he caught Ramiro’s thing. They’re in the same class, after all…”

After she said this, she let out a sneeze.

“Maybe you caught it, too,” Yam said.

“Impossible! I haven’t been near Ramiro today!”

“But have you been near Gastón?” Yam proceeded to do kissing sounds.

Nina stared at her in horror.

Yam immediately backed off. “Sorry, I was just joking. I don’t know when a joke goes too far sometimes? Did it go too far? I didn’t mean to-”

“No, no, it’s okay… I just… there was this free period between two classes… ”

“Did you…” Jim tried to say it as carefully as she could. “... swap spit?”

That was, indeed, as “carefully” as Jim could say it.

Nina nodded. 

“Ok, there’s a high chance you can be sick,” Luna said.

“I hope not…”

Suddenly, Jim was the one to sneeze.

“Did you swap spit with Gastón, too?” Yam joked. Jim stared at her in shock, not prepared for that.

“Ramiro did cough next to me today,” Jim said. “I hope it was just a random sneeze, and there’s nothing to it…”

“I feel peachy!” Luna admitted. “I just feel a bit… cold, which is weird, because I’ve been working out a lot by skating.”

“Yeah, I’m freezing a little, too…” Yam admitted. “How odd…”

-

As Luna and Ámbar ate dinner that night, both were sure that they were just fine. Ámbar was just a little tired, and Luna just felt a bit chilly. 

“What are you doing?” Sharon asked Luna. “You���re shivering.”

“I’m just freezing… I don’t know why, but I do.” She then let out a sneeze.

“I don’t hope you’re getting sick…” Sharon then turned to Ámbar, noticing her looking tired. “And I hope you don’t, either.”

“I’m not sick, madrina,” Ámbar assured her, although in a very dizzy tone. “I just… have been feeling tired since I came home.”

Sharon went up and felt Ámbar’s forehead. “You’re warm.” She then felt Luna’s. “You, too.”

“How can I be warm when I’m freezing?” Luna asked.

“I’ll suggest you take warm baths and then go straight to bed. And keep yourselves upstairs.”

Ámbar felt her throat. It was starting to itch from the inside. She let out a cough, hoping it would make it better, but it didn’t. 

“Eat up your food quickly,” Sharon said, “Then go upstairs.”

Sharon was extremely afraid of getting sick. So, every time one of the girls got sick, she basically quarantined them in their rooms, not even wanting to be close to them. Basically, if you were sick, you were treated like a dangerous zombie. 

The girls went upstairs, took baths (in separate bathrooms), and spent the rest of the night in their bedrooms. 

As they woke up in the morning, it had not gotten better. Ámbar's throat hurt even more than usual and Luna felt her nose being all stuffed. 

But the girls ignored it and went down to breakfast.

Sharon noticed it, however. 

“You’re pale… both of you.”

“We are?” Ámbar asked, and the second she opened her mouth she sounded really hoarse. She coughed a bit. 

“You look sick…” Sharon said. “And you’ve been sniffing this entire time, Luna.”

“Sorry, my nose is a bit stuffed…”

Sharon glanced at both of them, back and forth. “You do not look well.”

“We need to go to school,” Ámbar said. 

“You shouldn’t go to school.”

“What?” Luna asked. “Our education is really important and we should prioritize it! Isn’t that what you always say?”

“In normal circumstances, yes, but if I send you away, your teacher will just send you home. Besides, Blake is good with sending home homework if you missed a day.”

Luna and Ámbar sighed. They didn’t want to get extra homework. 

“Gosh, I don’t feel good…” Luna mumbled.

Sharon’s eyes widened and stood up quickly. She walked fast up to Amanda, who was cleaning the hallway. She snatched Amanda’s cleaning spray and pointed it at the girls.

“Go upstairs.”

“Are you ok?” Ámbar asked.

“I can’t get sick! I don’t want to get whatever virus you have. Upstairs!”

“But… school-”

“I’ll call them and tell them you’re sick, just get up! Now! Before I get smitten!”

“Ok, geez…” Luna said. She then proceeded to sneeze, which caused Sharon to just point the cleaning spray at them harder.

-

Luna sent a group text to her friends.

Luna: I’m sick today, so don’t wait for me before class!

Yam: I’M SICK TOO

Jim: ME TOO

Yam: Conspiracy theory: Ramiro’s fault?

Nina: I’m also sick!

Luna: Aw, so no one can give me homework notes?

Yam: Bold of you to assume I even take notes normally. I learn by listening as I draw in my notebook.

Yam: More or less learning, at least. I have mediocre grades. I still pass, though!

Nina: What a coincidence all of us got sick?

Yam: You’re sick because you swapped spit with Gastón and he swapped spit with Ramiro

Yam: Wait

Jim: My sister asked why I was laughing so much

Yam: Ahh Julia!! Say hi from me!

Luna: I thought your sister was named Aillén?

Jim: Aillén is my little cousin who’s obsessed with me because my Open music performances ended up on youtube and thus she assumes I am world famous. She dyed her hair red and everything for me. 

Nina: That is adorable. Didn’t you say no one in your family actually has red hair except you?

Jim: Yep! I got a recessive gene or something. Aillén was always fascinated with it and had been wanting to dye it red herself for years. 

Yam: Julia looks a lot like you, Nina, actually. Like it’s scary. She even has glasses.

Jim: She goes to Blake too, you must’ve seen her in the hallway at some point. 

Nina: I’ll keep a lookout for her. Some day. When I’m not home sick.

Yam: I wish we could be sick together in the same house. When I was little I loved seeing best friends being sick together in tv shows and sharing a bed. It seemed so cozy. 

Jim: Come over to my house!! We’ll be sick together

Yam: Really??

Jim: Yeah! Come over! 

Yam: Ok yeah I’m coming!

Nina: Won’t you expose people outside of your germs on the way there?

Yam: I’ll wear a mask! It’s fine!

Luna wanted to write “Have fun on your date!” but she decided not to. She did understand why Yam was so excited, though, and she secretly hoped her two friends got even closer so that she could hear all the gossip.

-

Yam went over to Jim’s house quickly, trying not to cough too much on the way there. Luckily, Jim’s house was only 10 minutes away. Yet, she felt her energy dropping much quicker.

As she reached Jim’s house, she knocked on the door, and Jim’s older sister Julia opened.

“Yam! Hi! Oh, you don’t look good…”

“No, I’m sick, and Jim suggested I could come over and we could be sick together.”

Julia smiled. “That is so sweet. Come in… don’t touch me, but do come in.”

As Yam went in, Julia went out. “Well, I’m going to school now… have fun being sick. But not too much fun.”

“What do you mean?”

Julia gave her a knowing smile. “I observe more than you think. Have fun now, you two.”

Yam waved goodbye, feeling a bit unsure what she meant. She then turned to the staircase, as Jim was coming down with a blanket wrapped around her. She also had a blanket for Yam.

“Hi,” she said in a hoarse voice.

“Hello,” Yam replied, snickering. 

“Let’s go to the living room. We’ll cozy up on the couch and watch a movie.” She threw the blanket to her.

“Sounds great.”

-

Luna and Ámbar were quarantined in their separate rooms. 

Ámbar was lying with her laptop on her bed, wondering what to do. She had been checking random videos on youtube, but she felt like she needed something more.

She suddenly saw a video clip from a movie adaptation of a book series she had read a bit as a kid. She never watched the movie adaptation, as it had come out when she was a bit too old for the books and she didn’t find it interesting at that point. 

Watching the clip, she realized how cheesy this movie seemed to be. She curiously read the comments, and to her delight, most people seemed to agree.

Imagine my disappointment when I saw this in theatres.

I refuse to acknowledge this movie’s existence. Let’s pretend it was just a collective fever dream.

This movie is the reason I started writing fanfiction about this franchise. To fix what the movie ruined!

Fanfiction… Ámbar knew what it was, but she had never really… read it before. 

Curious, she went to search for some fanfiction of this book series. Not to really read any of them, but just to see what people wrote. 

She found a website that seemed to just be for fanfictions. She wrote the book series in the search bar. 

Only 200 fanfictions? She recalled this being way more popular… but maybe not that many were into writing fanfiction about it.

She scrolled through it. Some were only a few 1000 words, others were several chapters. Then she found one fanfiction.

50 chapters out of question mark, meaning that the author was still updating it. The latest update was yesterday. 

”Well, I have nothing better to do…” Ámbar said to herself. 

-

Simón sent Luna a text message.

I saw you were online. Aren’t you in school?

Luna quickly replied.

Nope! I’m sick today 

She and Simón started texting.

Simón: Too bad! I’m gonna miss you skating today. 

Luna: You’re probably not gonna see any of us! All of us got sick, basically. 

Simón: What happened? Some sort of epidemic at your school? 

Luna: We think Ramiro is the culprit. He was sick yesterday but came to school anyway. 

Simón: Oof. Well… get some rest! I hope you get to just relax and enjoy junk food.

Luna: Junk food idk. But our maid comes in every other hour and asks what we want to eat, and then she brings us something from the kitchen. I could really eat a pizza right now… but we don’t have that in our kitchen. 

Simón: I always forget you’re a rich kid with maids and stuff. A bit sad you don’t get to order takeout though. 

Luna: I mean, we do get to, but Sharon gets disappointed in us. Plus it’s easier to just get what we got at home. 

Simón: Hmmm… I have an idea

Luna: Tell me.

Simón: No, you’ll see. 

-

Jim and Yam were looking really dazed at the TV. They didn’t know what to watch, and thus they just zapped on the tv and ended up on the kids channel. Right now there was some dubbed cartoon that they were too old to have known about before.

“That voice actress,” Yam said, “I’ve heard her everywhere.” 

“How old is she?” Jim asked. “I feel like she’s been in every single dubbed kids show I’ve seen all of my life.”

“Yeah, like… is it hard to find new voice actors? Is this why they have the same like… 10 people on everything? What will you do when they pass away?”

“Don’t know!”

The kids show ended, and soon a new one began. This one was one that the girls recognized, as it was a show from their own childhoods that now seemed to air as a rerun.

“Oh, I haven’t seen this since I was like 8,” Yam said.

“Me neither! How fun that it still airs!”

They watched for a moment. Suddenly, Jim let out a chuckle.

“I forgot how funny this was!”

“I don’t think I found it as funny as I find it now!” Yam admitted. “But maybe we find it funny because we’re sick.”

“Maybe… but this show is like… on crack!”

Yam laughed.

“I love your laugh so much,” Jim said. “I know I’ve said that before, but I just… really love it.”

“Thank you…” Yam grinned. She stroked Jim with her foot. 

They watched a little more of the show.

“You know, I actually think this isn’t a kids show, it’s a stoner show,” Yam said.”I don’t know if being sick and being high is the same thing, but I feel like stoners would love to watch this.”

“Yam… do you think we should be stoners?”

“Maybe in university.”

“Yeah, that sounds good… it feels like a university thing to do.”

Yam yawned. “Gosh, I feel so tired.”

“Should we take a nap?” Jim suggested. “We’ll go up to my bed and sleep together.”

Yam stared at her for a brief moment.

“What?” Jim asked.

“I…” Yam hated how her brain automatically thought of the dirtiest thing. “Nothing. Yeah, let’s go to your room.”

-

Luna was lying with her feet sticking up, leaning on the wall. She looked up at the ceiling.

She wanted to move. She was so understimulated. 

She had been clicking a pen so much that it broke. So, she had now gone over to drumming on her nightstand. 

Then Rey bursted into her room.

“Hey! Privacy!” Luna shouted.

“You’re very loud! ” Rey muttered. “Stop hitting your furniture.”

“You don’t decide over me!”

Rey sighed. “Please. Some of us are trying to work.”

“This is my room! And I’m sick!”

“I can hear that. So lay in bed and rest.”

“I cannot rest! I cannot sit still!”

“I am very aware… I’ve been trying to suggest to Sharon to maybe look that up, but she insists you just need discipline…”

Luna bounced on her bed. “Can you leave now? I don’t like you in my room.”

“If you stop drumming on furniture so that it bugs me.”

“Fine…”

She plopped down on her bed. What was there to do?

Suddenly, someone knocked on her door.

“Come in…?” she said curiously, as she let out a cough.

Someone with their back turned walked in slowly and closed the door. They then turned around.

Simón stood there, with a large smile and a pizza. “Are you hungry?”

-

Ámbar was completely stuck in this fanfiction. She had not thought about this franchise since she was maybe 11 years old, and yet, she was certain this random person online made the original source so much better. 

She was 15 chapters deep now, and she just loved the language, the funny lines the characters got out… the author had also added some original characters, and Ámbar thought they added some flavor to the story.

She didn’t leave comments. She didn’t have an account, anyway. But, she did read some other people’s comments.

Punknotdead2012 commented on chapter 2: "Looking good this far! I need to ask if the hippie character they met is based on someone you know?"

Moondustfan commented on chapter 4: “I’m lying on the floor clutching my ribs of laughter!”

Punknotdead2012 commented on chapter 5: “Loved the scene between the captain and the starfighter, but I also once again need to ask if your hippie oc is based on someone you know.”

Fernandalikesrollerskating commented on chapter 8: “LMAO believe it or not I had an exact moment like this once with this guy on my roller skate team. A bit different since he was human and not an alien, but still.”

Punknotdead2012 commented on chapter 13: “IS. THE. HIPPIE. OC. BASED. ON. SOMEONE. YOU. KNOW?!?!?!?!?!?!”

It was also interesting seeing the author’s notes at the end of each chapter. It was like the author lived this really odd life.

Supernovagirl’s A/N chapter 3: “Sorry this took longer to post, my mom locked me inside my room and took my phone -.- But I hope the length could make up for it!”

Supernovagirl’s A/N chapter 6: “I had to rush this because my mom pushed my stepdaughter down some stairs and now blames ME and she wants me to go to Switzerland and stuff idk what to do… but hopefully next chapter won’t come out too late.”

Supernovagirl’s A/N chapter 10: “Thanks for all your nice comments! If you wonder why I wrote an extra long chapter today, well, I’m celebrating! I’m staying in this country, my mom is now in a facility and I feel safe! Life can only get better haha!”

Who knew someone with such a traumatic life could just have time to write the most wonderful fanfiction?

As she finished chapter 15, she checked the comments. Another one from Punknotdead2012 who never seemed to get an answer on their one question. But then, she noticed someone that she might know…

Sapphicskater commented on chapter 15:“As someone who’s also hopelessly in love with her best friend, I feel the struggles of both the characters and you, dear author, as you mentioned you’ve experienced this too. I wish me and my bestie could get locked inside a magical space closet too.”

It HAD to be Yam. Ok, not that Yam was not the only sapphic girl that skated and was hopelessly in love with her best friend, but… it must be. 

Ámbar screenshotted it and sent it to Yam, asking if it was her. 

She soon got a reply.

Yam: You woke me up. I took a nap.

Ámbar: Aren’t you in school?

Yam: Nope. I’m in bed with Jim. 

Ámbar raised both of her eyebrows.

“Good for her…” she mumbled to herself.

-

Yam hoped her phone vibrating didn’t wake up Jim. Luckily, it didn’t seem to do that.

Jim was cute sleeping, even when sick. 

Yam smiled and took the opportunity to snuggle into her, because she could. If Jim woke up, Yam could pretend she did that in her sleep. 

She closed her eyes again and tried going back to sleep.

“Mm…” Jim mumbled. Yam squinted at her, smiled, and then closed her eyes again.

Then Jim mumbled again. Yam didn’t think much of it. 

Until the mumbling started to sound more like moaning .

Yam wondered for a moment if maybe it was because Jim was sick, it sounded more like she was moaning in her sleep when she simply snored or even breathed.

But then, Jim started talking in her sleep.

“Yes… we can do that… mmmmm… I like that…”

“Jim?” Yam was really curious about what she was dreaming. 

“Aah…”

Yam wondered if Jim was either having a really bad dream, or a really good dream. Since she mentioned that she liked something, the latter seemed more possible. 

Maybe she’d just try to go back to sleep herself. 

Or maybe she could answer Ámbar, since Ámbar asked her a question.

Yam: That is my fanfiction account… WAIT. You read fanfics, Ámbar Smith?

Ámbar: Let’s just say I’m bored as I am sick.

Ámbar: How was it being in bed with Jim?

Yam: I’m still in bed with Jim.

Ámbar: You’re texting as you’re being intimate? Interesting…

Yam: She’s sleeping for your information. 

Ámbar: After your lovemaking session, I presume?

Yam: I wish.

Yam: FUCK why did I send that…

Yam: I mean 

Yam: No we’re just sick together so I’m over at her house and we just took a nap and she’s still sleeping. 

Ámbar: I’m gonna read your fanfictions

Yam: I was about to go “NOOO” but you know what? The ones I posted I think turned out quite well. I don’t think you’re in any of my fandoms though

Ámbar: That’s ok, then I’m just gonna treat it as an original story. 

“Yam…” Jim mumbled.

Yam turned to her. “Yeah?” She thought Jim had woken up.

However, Jim seemed to still be asleep.

Jim made a moaning sound again, and then said it again. “Yam…”

Was Yam in her dream…?

Jim formed a rather satisfied smile. 

“Yam… I love you.”

Yam’s heart started beating faster. She didn’t know what kind of dream Jim actually had. She didn’t know if the “i love you” was platonic or romantic, or whatever else. She didn’t know if Jim was just having a fever dream, even though it didn’t seem like any of them had a fever, just a nasty cold. 

Yet, she smiled to herself, and hoped Jim remembered her dream when she woke up.

“I love you too, Jim.”

-

“Simón, what are you doing here?” Luna asked. 

“I decided to give you some pizza!”

“Wow!”

Simón sat down. “I didn’t know exactly what your favorite pizza flavor was, but I went off vibes.” He opened the box to reveal a pizza with bacon on it.

“Wait, is this a pizza that exists?” Luna laughed.

“Apparently! And I thought it was perfectly chaotic for you!”

Before Luna could eat, he took a slice and fed her himself. She made eye contact with him as she chewed on the pizza. 

“Delicious…”

“Really? I have to give it a taste!” Simón picked up his own slice. Meanwhile, Luna just stared at him.

Something in her belly tickled. She wondered at first if it was because she was sick and her body fought against anything she ate. But it felt… good.

“I hope I don’t get you smitten…” she said.

“Oh, it’s fine! I have four siblings! I’m pretty used to getting sick! Starting to get immune to it by this point, haha.”

“That’s good…” She took another pizza slice. “Mm! I don’t know how you actually could find out my pizza preference without me even having tasted this type of pizza before!”

“Well, I guess I have magical powers.”

She giggled.

“Are you the only one home sick today?” Simón asked.

“No, Ámbar is sick, too.”

“Aww… do you think she wants pizza?”

“I’m sure she does… you could go over and give her some.”

“Alright! I’ll go over and give her a slice. But then I’ll be back, ok?”

“Yeah…”

Luna felt really happy he was gonna come back to her. Though, she knew he’d probably want to be with Ámbar more. Even if they broke up… 

A minute after Simón had left the room, Sharon suddenly opened the door. She didn’t go in, due to not wanting to be smitten.

“I heard loud noises. What are you doing?”

“I’m just being myself in my own room!” Luna replied.

Sharon looked at the pizza box like it was a weapon. “Where did you get a pizza from?”

“I don’t know! It just seemed to come from thin air! Weird, right?” Luna held up a slice. “Want some?”

Sharon stared at her in silence, before slowly closing the door.

-

Someone knocked on Ámbar’s door and she immediately closed her laptop. “Come in!”

Simón came in with a grin. “Surprise! Want a pizza slice?”

“Simón? What are you doing here?”

“I bought Luna pizza and I wanted to give you a slice!”

“Ok… why did you buy Luna a pizza?”

“I felt like it!”

Ámbar took the slice and ate it. “It was… ok, but a bit strange. Could you get me some wipes, my hands are sticky from pizza now…”

Simón handed over some wet wipes for her to wipe her hands with.

“So, what are you doing lying in bed sick?” Simón asked.

“I mostly check my laptop.”

“I see! What are you looking at?”

“Well…”

Simón crossed his arms and smirked. “Ámbar, it’s ok if you look at something embarrassing. I promise I’ve looked at worse things online than what you’ve ever seen.”

“Fine…” She opened her laptop and showed him. He immediately started laughing.

“Oh, fanfiction? Ámbar, that’s nothing to be ashamed of. I read it sometimes, too. Although. I prefer reading it out loud for my friends, it’s really entertaining.”

“I found Yam’s fanfiction account.”

“Yam’s? Oh my gosh, show me!”

He took a picture of Yam’s account. “I’m totally gonna read this later and then reference it to her!”

“She’s gonna be so surprised!”

“I know!”

Both chuckled. 

“Well… get well soon, Ámbar. I need to go.”

“Yeah… see you!”

Ámbar still had a soft spot for Simón. She wasn’t sure if she still had romantic feelings for him, but he made her feel good.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed. It was from Emilia.

How’s it going? Wanna skate?

Emilia also made her feel good… but in another way. 

Ámbar: Sorry, but I’m sick today.

Emilia: Are you really sick or are your weird guardian forcing you to be inside?

Ámbar: Well both, but I am actually sick. Like I cough and sneeze and shit

Emilia: Gnarly! 

Emilia: I wish I was over there and fed you pizza or something

Ámbar: Haha.

She closed her eyes, and imagined Emilia coming over and seductively feeding her pizza.

Suddenly, Sharon came in. Not knocking, of course, this was her house and privacy was a privilege, not a right. 

“Ámbar…” she said slowly.

“Hi, madrina.”

“I’m not gonna get close to you, but we need to discuss you being disobedient the other day.”

“Ok.” Ámbar was too sick to really feel anything about a lecture about her bad behavior.

Sharon closed the door, leaning against it to be as far away from Ámbar as possible. “You’re out of control, Ámbar, and I am wondering if there is some outside force influencing you to be like this.”

“No, I just feel grumpy over life.”

“How come?”

Ámbar sighed. “I’m raised by you, and you wonder why I feel grumpy over life?”

“See! Now you’re like that again! Rude and no respect for me.”

Ámbar felt like keeping her eyes up was harder for each second that passed.

“Why can’t you be like you were when you were little? Always listening and being respectful.”

“You never told me that when I was little. I tried and tried to please you, and it never seemed like it was enough for you. Eventually I guess I gave up, because it was no use anyway.”

Sharon crossed her arms. “I don’t remember what I said and didn’t say, but this is not the Ámbar I raised.”

Ámbar yawned, not really having the energy to care about anything Sharon said. “Well, I’m not 8 years old anymore.”

Sharon glanced at her. Suddenly, she felt a bit of sympathy, which she rarely felt.

“You really are sick right now, aren’t you?”

“Maybe…” 

“I can see that… you look really tired.”

“I’d like to nap, actually. I don’t want to argue with you. I don’t have the energy for that.”

“You’re right. We shouldn’t argue. You should get some rest.”

Ámbar closed her eyes. 

Sharon stared at her for a few moments. “Ámbar…?” she said carefully. No response. 

She went as close as she could without feeling like she’d be at risk to be smitten. 

She had put that little girl down for a nap when she was very young. She knew when Ámbar was actually sleeping.

She almost wanted to pet her, but… once again, she did not want to be sick.

Suddenly, Ámbar’s phone vibrated.

Curious, Sharon took it. 

Emilia: Imagine that tho. You sitting there like a princess and me feeding you. Would be pretty hot lol

Sharon furrowed her eyebrows. What kind of language was this?

She wondered if she could unlock Ámbar’s phone.

Immediately, she walked out in the hallway. 

“Rey! Come over here?”

Rey came very fast. 

“Yes, Miss Benson?”

“Unlock this phone for me, please.”

“Right on it, Miss Benson.”

[countessofravenclaw]

Like the Red Rose blooms in the Oxford Garden: Chapter ten

Sometimes when your heart breaks… it feels like there is no way to fix it. No matter what you try. All the memories get left behind as something unfinished… But maybe, there is to way to fix it, A second chance. Some way to finish the story you two started writing because it was never the end, but just a part of the story… even if you have to travel far to achieve it.

You can say "Goodbye", you can say "Hello". But you'll always find your way back home.

“Was that your phone?” Nina asked as Gastón’s phone dinged. 

They had been studying at the library on the evening as the term finals closed in on them. There only was about a month left before the exams, and the summer would begin.

“Oh, yeah I think it was,” Gastón reached for his phone and looked at it. “It was an email… from Renishaw.” 

“What does it say?” Nina closed the book she had been browsing through, “I thought you already got the job.”

“I did,” Gastón opened the email. He would be continuing the internship he had done at Renishaw last summer, this summer. “It must be just some information.”

“He opened the email and read it through. “Huh?” 

“What is it?” Gastón looked up and saw Nina’s face growing in concern.

“Oh, nothing bad,” he reached her hand in reassurance, “Just the email said that I don’t need to do the three-week intern training period there, because I was there last year.”

“Is that a bad or good thing?”

“Good,” Gastón laughed while playing with Nina’s fingers, “It means that I have three weeks free at the start of summer. So, what do you wanna do?”

“What am I supposed to want to do?” Nina looked at him. The look of slight confusion on her face was way too cute, and Gastón had to try his hardest not to get distracted. 

“Well, it would be a waste if we just sit here the whole summer. There are lot of different things we can do.”

“I don’t know how to come up with something. You choose.”

“Well, if you want me to.” Gastón grinned at Nina, “We already were at Kent, but there are lot of other places here as well.” Gastón stopped to think for a moment, “but, honestly, we can just do that during the weekends if we want, so… How about we go back home?”

“Home?” Nina looked up at his eyes, “You wanna return to Buenos Aires?”

“Well… Yeah.” Gastón reached to take both of her hands to his and ran his thumps over them. “I have been thinking that for a while now. I mean, I didn’t come back last year, and honestly kind of regret it. Matteo really tried to get me to come. So, you’d like that, if we did go back? We could stay at mine.”

“Yes, I really would love that,” Nina smiled at him, “Your parents would be fine with us staying there?”

“Of course. I am not sure about their schedules right now, but if we get to be by ourselves, I’m not gonna be upset.” Gastón got up from his chair and moved to one on the other side of the table next to Nina.

“Luna will be so excited,” Nina smiled, “It would be so great to see everybody…and we can tell them.”

“Right, they don’t know,” Gastón laughed, “Almost forgot about that. If Luna and Matteo have kept their mouths shut, which I think they actually have. Jazmin would have flown across the ocean to make a video about this.”

“She’s probably never going to change in that aspect,” Nina laughed, “At least Delfi shut Fab and Chic down, but Jazmin is never going to stop.”

“We’re never going to live to see that day,” Gastón agreed, “How about we just call Matteo and Luna now, and let them know, so we can plan accordingly? And make sure nothing has actually leaked and they are just waiting to ambush us.”

“That's a good idea.”

“Well, lets not waste any time.” Gastón took his phone out and called Matteo.

“Hey!!!” Matteo appeared on the screen after a moment, “Nice to see you fancy school people. I was beginning to worry that you are beginning to forget how to speak Spanish.”

“We spoke yesterday,” Gastón snarked while changing his phone to his other hand, while wrapping the other around Nina. “Is Luna there?”

“We want to talk to you both.” Nina continued.

“Yeah, she is here… somewhere.” Matteo appeared to look around, “I think she went to the kitchen.”

Nina and Gastón looked as Matteo got up, from Mansion’s living room from the looks of it, and started walking around. 

“She’s with Simon in the kitchen,” Matteo whispered to them, “Do you want to…?”

“Just don’t show the screen,” Gastón said, while their view on the video call got quite crooked as Matteo lowered the phone.

“Chica Delivery,” Matteo entered the kitchen where Luna was sitting with Simon and Ambar, “Can you come with me for a moment?”

“For what?” Nina and Gastón heard Luna’s voice question. 

“We, uhm, have a phone call,” Gastón felt half bad for kind of finding Matteo’s stumblings in the attempt of hiding who he had been talking, kind of funny.

“From who?” Simon’s voice rang, “Why the secrecy?”

“There is no secrecy. It is my cousin, wants to meet my girlfriend,” Matteo continued, “And its none of your business anyway.”

“You know, if you wanna make out, you can just say so!” Ambar’s voice yelled as Luna and Matteo walked to the mansion’s stairwell.

“What does your cousin want from me?” Luna questioned as they entered her room. 

“It’s not my cousin,” Mateo huffed and sat on her bed, flipping the videocall’s camera back to the front and spoke to Nina and Gastón. “I hope this means we can stop this act at some point soon.”

“Oh my gosh!!! Hi!” Luna jumped next to Matteo on the bed. “You could have just said that it was them.”

“Actually, your performance was very entertaining,” Gastón laughed. 

“Glad you enjoyed it,” Matteo rolled his eyes sarcastically. “So what is up with you two?”

“Well, we want to talk with you two about something,” Gastón started talking, “You’ll probably be happy about that, since you like to complain.”

“Uuuuuu, about what?” Luna leaned closer, excited.

“We were talking about the summer, and Gastón’s internship doesn’t start until in a few weeks from starts of the summer—” Nina started explaining, “—so we thought we’d come back, for a couple of weeks.”

“REALLY!?!” Luna started jumping, “OMG! You are really planning on coming back?”

“Yeah, I think we both miss all of you there,” Gastón responded, “Plus, maybe it is time to let everyone know, about us I mean. You two haven’t told anybody right?”

“Of course not.” Matteo scoffed clearly smiling, “Everyone else is in deep darkness about you two, even if it really should be really obvious, if they just saw your faces.”

“Well, thats the plan, we want to tell everybody.”

“So, when exactly are you coming, on what day?” Matteo asked, “Because, uhm… actually, I have an idea. We’ll be at Italy for a couple of days at the start of summer, so what if we fly to you after that and then we fly back to Argentina together.”

***

“I wonder what Matteo bribed Luna with to get her on this early morning flight,” Gastón said to Nina as they were walking towards Luna and Matteo’s arrival gate at 9:35 the morning at Heathrow.

“I honestly don’t know, or do I want to know,” Nina shook her head and turned to look at Gastón’s watch, “When is it landing?”

“In ten minutes,” Gastón said pulling her closer by the waist as they sat down. “We better enjoy the quiet while we can.”

“You know you miss them,” Nina rolled her eyes at him before leaning her head in his shoulder, “But it probably will take a while until they can get off. I can’t imagine Luna and the baggage claim conveyer belt are good friends. Remember when she was convinced that she had lost her bag at Cancun during Roda Fest?”

“Good times,” Gastón laughed before brushing a strand of hair back behind Nina’s ear. He looked like he was about to lean in to kiss her when a burst of people started coming out of the arrivals gate. 

There was no sign of Luna and Matteo until the crowd started dwindling. 

“¿Estás seguro de que esta es la dirección correcta?” A bubbly voice all a sudden was heard at the terminal.

“Yes, this is the right direction.”

“But are you sure? We need to find them.”

“I have been here before… I am sure.”

Nina and Gastón raised their heads to see a couple walk out of the gate. Luna was hard to miss in the crowd while she was wearing a flagrantly bright rainbow summer dress. 

“But are they here?” Luna was jumping on her tiptoes on the platform sneakers she was wearing, “What if they went to the wrong gate?”

“They didn’t,” Nina and Gastón saw Matteo and Luna’s heads turn towards them and they got up from the bench they had been sitting. “They’re right there.”

“AAAAAAAaaaaaahhhh!” Nina felt Gastón detach his arm from around her, just a few moments before she was tackled into an extremely tight hug. Wasn’t Luna just at the other side of the terminal? Well, maybe she had finally actually learned to fly. “I MISSED YOU SO MUCH!!”

“I missed you too.” Nina hugged Luna back, and Luna tightened her grip, so it got hard to breathe for a moment. 

“You look so good!” Luna still kept jumping up and down after she had released Nina, “You have not fully turned into a “posh English lady” on me?” Luna joked.

“No, never,” Nina laughed. She turned to look at Gastón who was just coming out of his own hug with Matteo.

“I honestly can’t believe this! You’re together again. True love really conquers all!” Luna gushed after tackling Gastón in a hug as well. 

“I am with her,” Matteo laughed, “I honestly needed to see this in person, so now I can fully believe it.”

“You need a demonstration?” Nina saw Gastón smirk before his arm wrapped around her pulling her into a kiss. 

***

“So, you are looking very well,” Matteo nudged Gastón with his elbow. They had separated from the girls at first when they had arrived at campus because Luna had wanted to see Nina’s room. “Such a different tune from the fall.”

“Well, it is hard to mask how happy she makes me.” Gastón smiled as he opened the door to his room. Oliver and Jacob had left to their homes earlier during the week.

“And everything that comes with it?” Matteo raised an eyebrow suggestively as he sat down.

“Well, I don’t have any reasons to complain,” Gastón nodded his head, “She’s amazing, in any way imaginable. Even though I do sometimes fear that Nina’s mother is getting ready to wring my neck for what we have been doing, like she probably would have when Nina was 17.”

“Are you in a relationship if you are not scared of your in-laws?” Matteo laughed, “Oh, I can finally say this in person. Congratulations, you’re no longer acting like an idiot!”

“You been waiting for a long time to say that huh?” Gastón punched Matteo lightly on the shoulder.

“Yes!” Matteo punched him right back, “I have been watching you to be the biggest mess in your life when it has come to Nina for FOUR years now… it’s finally over! I am just so happy about you two being happy.”

“I mean, I could say the same about you and Luna—” Gastón was interrupted by the door opening. Had he not locked it and the girls were coming… No, they would have heard them afar.

“I thought you left in the morning?” Gastón asked as James suddenly walked through the door.

“Series of unfortunate events… because I don’t have a car,” James leaned on the doorframe, “Dad’s picking me up…” James moved his eyes in the room and finally noticed Matteo, “...I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you had company. Wait… are you Matteo?”

“En vivo y en persona.” Matteo got up from the bed, while eyeing James verily. Gastón had not really considered how this meeting would go down before this moment. Matteo out of principle wasn’t the biggest fan of Gastón’s other friends —whom he had never met until now— because he was a bit territorial about their friendship. On the other hand, Matteo did know that what he and Gastón had was never going to be broken. 

“Matteo, be nice.” He said in Spanish.

“I am always nice,” Matteo rolled his eyes before offering his hand to James and switching to English, “Matteo Balsano, Gastón’s best friend.”

“James Wilson,” James shook Matteo’s hand, “Nice to finally meet you, since I have heard a lot about you. Plus, I have heard you multiple times, but never understood what was being said.”

“Yeah, Spanish can be a hard language to master… But I managed to do it once upon a time.” Matteo deadpanned. Gastón found this scene purely comical.

“So, you are flying to Buenos Aires in the evening?”

“Yeah,” Gastón answered James, “Matteo and his girlfriend flew here from Italy, so we can go back together. Nina’s showing her around.”

“Oh yeah, you finally got to meet her,” James directed his words to Matteo who threw Gastón a side glance. “I am sure you have heard all about everything to do with Nina, so you definitely can agree that it definitely was such a relief that Gastón stopped being an idiot.”

“Yeah, I have a lot of experience with him being an idiot when it comes to girls. Nina’s no exception” Matteo started saying, his side eye towards Gastón growing “But yep, I have met her… for the first time.”

“Don’t oversell it,” Gastón said to Matteo in Spanish so James couldn’t hear. “We should probably go find the girls.” 

“James, I see you at the fall.” He patted James on the back as he and Matteo walked out of the door.

“How long are you gonna keep this up?” Matteo questioned as they were walking down a hallway, “These guys still don’t know about your crazy quest for the invisible internet girl?”

“Or that I knew her before at all,” Gastón shook his head, “I even told them that Luna’s name is Sol, because otherwise, it would look quite weird that my best friend's girlfriend has the exact same name as Nina’s best friend.”

“You do know that you need to tell them someday,” Matteo continued, “You can’t lie to save your life, so I am surprised that anyone has ever bought this. They’ll find out during the wedding anyway.”

“When have you become this wise?” Gastón nudged Matteo with his elbow.

“I have always been like it,” Matteo shrugged laughing, “But don’t change the subject. They need to know before the wedding.” He looked at Gastón smirking, “What? We both know that that’s the endgame here. Not like you haven’t thought about it.”

“Of course, I have.” Gastón smiled. He had thought about it, maybe a little too much for only being 20, but he couldn’t help it. That was the only future he saw in his mind. “But, we've only been together again for a little over a month. We can’t just pick up where we left off and were young. Nina’s 19. Ana would actually kill me. I guess there is no rush, if we're being realistic here. It’s not like you have any proposal plans yet either.” 

“Hey! We were talking about you!” Matteo pointed a finger at Gastón.

“It’s really good to have you back!” Gastón started laughing.

“You too,” Matteo hugged him suddenly, “I honestly missed you, a lot.”

***

“Are your roommates here?” Luna asked while skipping ahead of Nina in the stairwell.

“No, I told you, Marlee and Ariana went home earlier this week.” Nina explained as she opened the door to the level where her room was located. 

“Awww, thats sad.” Luna hung her head as they walked on a hallway, “They sound awesome, I would like to meet them.”

“I am sure you will,” Nina said as she opened her dorm room’s door.

“Uuuuuuu, this room is nice,” Luna gushed as they walked into the room. It was a little more bare than normal as Marlee and Ariana had taken most of their things home. “But have you been staying here alone now that they’ve gone?”

“No, I haven’t been staying here,” Nina said as she sat on her bed. “Gastón’s roommates are also gone, so I have been spending the night there.”

“Oh, right,” Luna said while jumping next to Nina, “So, do you need any help with packing?”

“I got everything sorted out yesterday,” Nina said while pointing to the suitcase next to the bed. That had been one of the only times she had actually been back in her room after Oliver and Jacob had been gone. Staying in separate rooms with Gastón didn’t make any sense when they weren’t forced to do it.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door. 

“Are we going to eat or what?” Matteo and Gastón appeared through the door, “I am starving.”

*

Nina and Gastón were sitting at the table with Ana. They had arrived in Buenos Aires the morning the day before and stayed at Gastón’s house. Nina’s mom had insisted that they come to have lunch with her as soon as they arrived. 

Ana knew about them already, Nina had told her parents pretty soon after they had talked to Gastón’s parents. Their friends at Buenos Aires on the other hand… still had no idea, but they had a plan… or part of it. After they were done with Ana they were going to meet with Luna and Matteo at the mansion. 

According to their plan, Simon and Ambar would be the first ones to be told. Luna and Matteo had told them that Nina would be visiting. After that, they would figure out how to tell the others. 

“Isla and Marco must be happy to have you back,” Ana said addressing Gastón. 

“Well, they would be,” Gastón laughed, “If they were here. They’re in Columbia. They were actually quite mad, that we were coming back while they were gone. But they’ll be back next week, and I will get no peace.”

“Well, I understand them quite well,” Ana turned toward Nina, “I would be the same way if you came back while I wasn’t here.”

“Well, you never travel anyway,” Nina rolled her eyes, “So you don’t need to worry about that.”

“Why would I want to travel? Ana continued, “There is plenty of justice in need to serving right here in Buenos Aires. Not like your father, who seems to be very at home at Miami.”

“You know Dad’s very happy there,” Nina responded, “What would he need to be here anyway? I’m not here. Oh, did you get those boxes I asked for?”

“Yes, I did.” Ana said, “What do you need them for?”

“I need to sort out my stuff so I can ship some of it over.” Nina answered. She had thought she had already explained this to Mom. “I am not going to be gone forever. We talked about this. Just until I am done with my degree. If you feel lonely you can just say so.”

“Actually, have you talked to Mora lately?”

“No, not really,” Nina furrowed her brow. 

“Well, she’s coming back from Milan.” Ana smiled.

*

“What are you looking at?” Nina asked as she walked back to her room after grabbing couple things from downstairs. Her mother had left to meet a client so Nina and Gastón had been left alone. They had few hours before they had agreed to meet up with Luna and Matteo. 

Gastón had been standing in front of her nightstand looking at something. Nina walked behind him. He was holding the framed picture from her graduation with everyone, in his hand.

“You were very beautiful,” His head turned towards her for a moment. There was clear sadness in his eyes. “I should have been there.”

“No one can blame you for not being,” Nina wrapped her arms around his shoulders, hugging him from behind. “You were across the ocean and had a lot of things going on. Renishaw is more than a formidable place to have an internship at as a freshman and look where it has gotten you now.”

“That's what I said to Matteo, but I was lying,” Gastón put the photo back down, “If I would have tried, I could have come to see your performance live at the River Live Fest, Luna’s party, and to your graduation. Mom and Dad have miles for the rest of my life… I just couldn’t do it. It wouldn’t have been fair to you and… I couldn’t have borne to see you, with him.”

“I can’t blame you for that either.”

“He’s not in this picture.”

“I broke up with him the day before,” Nina explained. She still felt guilty when she thought of that. “So, he obviously didn’t show up. I don’t know what happened with him afterward, except that he doesn’t work at Roller anymore. Maybe it’s for the best that we don’t see each other, I hurt Eric way too much for it to be fair for us to be friends.”

“You could never hurt anybody.” Gastón turned around and ran his finger on Nina’s cheek. 

“But I have, and probably will in the future.” Nina shook her head before looking into his eyes, “Why are we even talking about my ex? There’s no point to that, he’s gone, and I am in love with you. I only hope that he is happy, the way I am.”

Gastón pulled her closer and wrapped his arms around Nina as she leaned her head on his chest. Her mind turned to peaceful almost at once. 

“So, I am pretty sure your stuff isn’t going to pack itself,” Gastón said looking around in Nina’s room. “Are you taking those photos?”

“Should I?” Nina asked looking at her nightstand, “Did you pack the ones you have from your graduation?”

“Yes. I thought I’d take that whole album.” Gastón nodded, “It’s just something nice to have. Those are good pictures.”

“I agree,” Nina said, turning her head, “I’ll look through some of the books I have here, see if I wanna take any.”

She was leaning forward on the bookcase when she felt fingers trace down on her spine. 

“What are you doing?” She turned around and Gastón’s arm grabbed her tight around the waist. 

“Well, just a thought. I did some calculations, and we have more than plenty of time on our hands and your mother’s gone…”

“We were supposed be packing.” A smile formed on Nina’s lips as his hand moved to her hip, caging her against the wall next to the bookcase. She had no actual intention of fighting his intentions, she had truthfully thought about it herself. Gastón was just the one who acted on more daring impulses faster.

“We can 100 percent get it done, but now that we’re alone, and will probably be hounded by everyone the rest of the day when we get to the mansion.”

“Aha.”

***

“Welcome!” Luna and Matteo were waiting for them at the mansion’s gate when Gastón drove his car up to the gate.   

“Is everything in order?” Nina asked Luna as they started walking across the garden.

“Yes,” Luna was practically bouncing. “Simon and Ambar are thinking that just Nina is coming.”

“Pedro’s not here,” Matteo continued, “He’s out with Delfi, house hunting. Or not house hunting exactly but looking for an apartment so they can move in together.”

“Oh, I just love surprises!” Luna jumped up. 

“Lets just hope it’s a good one,” Gastón ran his hand on the back of his neck. He had been detached from the rest of the group, you couldn’t get around that fact, so he was a little nervous. 

“Why wouldn’t it be?” Luna looked at him. “When has love not been good news?”

“Well, it will be a surprise,” Nina reached to take Gastón’s hand, “No one knows that we even ended up at the same campus.”

“I can’t wait to see Simon’s face,” Matteo laughed. 

“I’m excited!” Luna jumped again as they got to the door.

“Here we go,” Gastón shared a look with Nina and tightened his grip on her hand as Luna opened the door and four of them walked inside the mansion. The hall was empty. 

“Hey!” Luna yelled inside the house and winked an eye to the others, “SHE’S HERE!”

After a moment, footstep started approaching them.

“Nina’s here already?” Ambar, wearing pastels once more, emerged from direction of the kitchen, Simon behind her. “So great that you’re back…”

Ambar’s voice trailed off as Gastón felt both of hers and Simon’s eyes focus on him. Amber clearly was attempting to minimize the shock on her face.

Simon on the other hand did not even try: “What?”

*

“You need to tell us everything,” Ambar said once everyone was sitting down at the mansion’s living room. “I mean, we knew nothing about this at all.”

“Well, it’s a long story,” Gastón said looking at Nina, “We will probably never know how this happened, but someone somewhere was clearly on my side. I have mentioned my friends before, Jacob, Oliver, James, but important to this are Ariana and Marlee.”

“Who just happened to be my roommates,” Nina continued, “So it was kind of impossible to avoid each other.”

“We bumped into her on the first day, not that I knew that Nina was there, Matteo.” Gastón shot a side-eye towards his best friend, “So I thought I was hallucinating for a second. But that being said, it was just impossible to stay away from her. Should have known that from the other times I tried that. It’s impossible.”

“We all know that fighting against something that is inevitable has no use,” Simon said draping his arm around Ambar. 

“But you kept this under wraps really well,” Ambar continued, “I mean, I am gonna be honest here, many of us, me included were curious of what would become of you now that Nina had come to Oxford, but then we heard nothing.” Then she suddenly turned toward Luna and Matteo, “I also can’t believe that you two knew about this and somehow kept it secret.”

“I can keep a secret.” Luna protested. 

“Well, yes, you can, but I thought you would have been bouncing off the walls.”

“She was, trust me.” Matteo remarked, “Not like they told us right away either, though.”

“It was two weeks,” Gastón rolled his eyes, “And you were the first to know before anybody else.”

“How did your other friends react?” Simon asked. 

“Well, thats the thing,” Gastón smiled shortly, “They do not know. I mean they know that were together and I had to deal with month of nagging about needing to ask Nina out, not just from Matteo. All they know that I had a girlfriend in Buenos Aires who I left… they don’t know that Nina’s the same person.”

“Seriously?” Simon and Ambar looked astonished, “That kind of secret is almost impossible to keep.”

“They don’t speak any Spanish, so we don’t need to worry about saying something and being overheard,” Nina started talking. Gastón slid his arm on her waist, lacing his left-hand fingers with hers. “We know that we need to tell them at some point, but don’t exactly know how. Yet anyway.”

“It is one step at the time, right now.” Gastón continued, “Right now, we need to tell you all that we’re back together. You we’re the first ones after Luna and Matteo, then there are the rest.”

“Do you have any plan for that?” Luna asked, “Because Ramiro took Jim and Yam to Chile.”

“Thats the problem, not everyone is even here.” Nina breathed.  

“I might have an idea,” Ambar perked up suddenly. 

“All the help is welcomed.”

“Okay good,” Ambar continued, “Unlock your phones and give them to me.”

“Okay…” Gastón and Nina handed their phones to Ambar. 

“So, I trust, when the case is two of you, that you have pictures.” Ambar looked very focused, “Preferably one where you are kissing.”

“Yes, we do.”

“Perfect. Now everyone else, mute the group chat.” Ambar chucked her own phone to Simon. “So, I have your permission to do this?” She looked at Nina and Gastón. 

“Yes.”

“Great,” Ambar smiled and handed them their phones back. “Now everyone will definitely know within the hour. If I have learned anything from Delfi and Jazmin, it is that news travel quickly.”

“Well, now that thats done, tell me everything about Oxford.” Ambar continued, “It must be so beautiful.”

“It truly is,” Nina started saying, “I feel like I have learned more during this year than I have in my whole life. The language was a bit challenging at first, but I am starting to get the hang of it.”

“She is already showing signs of a British accent,” Gastón turned to look at her, “So she is definitely getting the hang of it.”

“Those two won’t speak any Spanish anymore once they return to us for good,” Matteo laughed. 

“Well, we’ll see in four years.” Gastón rolled his eyes again toward Matteo.

“Four years?” Simon questioned.

“Until I graduate,” Nina explained. 

“Are you coming back then too?” Ambar looked at Gastón. “I thought you’d be doing a PhD.”

“Oh no, I am not doing that,” He shook his head, “I did think about it at some point, but no. It would be way too much effort right now and masters in science and technology from Oxford will get me way ahead in life already. I can get that doctorate later if I want, but I don’t wanna spend all my twenties studying. There are other things I want out of life.”

“I am just going to sit here and pretend to know what you are talking about,” Simon laughed, “I was talking to Mom the other day and happen to mention that two of my friends go to Oxford and for a moment she did not believe that I have winded up in the such sophisticated crowd, especially with Ambar at law-school. Rico and Julio, my brothers, flat out didn’t believe me.”

“Well, everyone has their own paths,” Nina nodded, “How are you doing with Pedro and the band?”

“Still figuring it out,” Simon grimaced, “But we’re optimistic. It is really not the same with no Nico.”

“Nico still having fun at New York?” Matteo crossed his arms, “We haven’t heard of him in a while.”

“Thats the thing,” Simon continued furrowing his brow, “I am not sure… He and Ada have not worked out.”

“Maybe he’ll come back then!” Luna piped up. 

“We can hope that.” Simon shook his head smiling. 

“Lot of people are coming back now,” Ambar said looking down, “I mean I came back from pretty much oblivion… and honestly I should thank you.” She turned to look at Gastón. “You don’t need to be this nice to me, last we saw each other I was skating for the Sliders.”

“Actually, it was during the Open,” Gastón responded. Honestly, he didn’t see any reason to be mad at Ambar. He had heard many good things about how she had turned things around. 

“I have been trying to compartmentalize the Red Sharks out of my mind.” Ambar closed her eyes.

“Well, it doesn’t matter. We’re fine. I have known you for a long time, and honestly proud of you.”

“How long have you known each other?” Simon leaned forward, curious.

“Since third grade?” Ambar counted with her fingers, “I am not doing the math right now. I went my whole comprehensive schooling at La Hoja de roble.”

“And I started there when I was nine,” Gastón added, “So yeah, third grade checks out. If I remember correctly both Delfi and Jazmin both started there in the fifth grade.”

“Did you go to that school as well?” Luna asked Matteo.

“Yep, I started there at eighth grade. Probably like a week or two after the semester actually started, because Dad’s moving schedule of course couldn’t possibly let me start school like a normal person.”

“Yep, I saved your skin during the chemistry class.” Gastón laughed. 

“Thats not what happened!” Matteo countered. “I had it under control.”

“It didn’t look like it,” Gastón shook his head, “You were absolutely lost with Mr. Patrena’s whiteboard.”

“He was the worst,” Ambar huffed, “How anybody ever learned anything from his classes, is beyond me.”

Suddenly they heard the noise of mansion’s door opening. 

“Have you seen this—??!!” Delfi walked through the door, Pedro trying to keep up with her pace behind her, her phone in her hand. They both stopped in their tracks as they saw everyone at the living room. 

“Yes, we have,” Ambar spoke first, “Live, actually.”

“It really is true?” Delfi and Pedro turned to look at Gastón and Nina. 

The Team of Jam&Roller

Ramiro: What?

Jim: IIIiiiiiiIIIIIiiiiIII!! 💗💜💚💙💛

Yam: Omg!!💙💙💙💙

Ramiro: Cool

Jazmin: I need an interview now!

Gastón: No.

Nina: No

{}

Hey! Has anyone been missing the Roller Crew? Well, don't worry, we got them back for a chapter because I miss them too. The reason why I made Simbar to be the first to find out about Gastina is because they will have a strong friendship with each other in my canon. This was the start. Little spoiler here, but you'd know this if you've red SI: Simon and Ambar will come to attend Gastón's graduation, and they will eventually become the godparents to Gastón and Nina's second child. Plus, Simbar with Lutteo are the ones who have had to face the odds when it comes to their love, and they are the Holy Trinity of Ships, who need to be a trio. You know how I feel about that if you read MOT. Also Gastón and Ambar, having known each other the longest, is a nod to Aliados, a show which Agustin and Valentina were both in before Soy Luna (They actually played love interests, and yes it was trippy).

And for my Swifty readers, I know that you always find a way back home is technically not a Taylor song, but she did write it so fair game

[mylutteoheart]

Playing Cupid (chapter 10)

New chapter out now! There are only 2-3 left before the end of this fic. The edited version will be out tomorrow on ao3. Also keep your eyes open for a little simbar in this chapter. Luna and Matteo have been building their lives together slowly. Fresh out of college, they’re planning their future. But by planning this, they have an underlying plan no one knows of. Bringing their best friends together after 4 years of not being happy without the other. How well will their plan of playing Cupid work?

Prologue | chapter 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 | find my other fics here

"So nothing happened?" Luna insisted as she and Nina were walking to the bridal shop for the last dress fitting before the wedding.

"Well, I wouldn't say nothing," Nina answered as she looked down at her feet to hide her blush.

Suddenly, out of excitement, Luna took Nina's arm and pulled it to make her stop. She asked excitedly: "What? What happened? Tell me!"

"You remember the day we went scouting for locations?", Nina said carefully.

"Right, the location you found was even better than the one we initially had," she said, already imagining her and Matteo standing there on front of all their friends.

"When we started talking about you two loving the location, I started imagining the romance that comes with marriage on that venue and there was this moment, where it was just the two of us and we were this close to kissing," Nina gestured with her thumb and pointer finger close to one another to indicate the distance there was between them.

Luna jumped up and down at the news and said: "That's great! That must mean he feels the same way about you."

"I don't want to get too excited. It was just the spur of the moment. It meant nothing," she tried to deny, not wanting to get her hopes up.

"Don't say that, you have to keep hoping," she rested her hand on her best friend's arm in support.

"Let's just get going," Nina said, not wanting to think about it.

Luna understood and together, they started walking again to go to the bridal shop.

***

"I'm talling you, she likes you," Matteo said to Gastón, also on their way to the bridal shop.

Every bridesmaid and groomsman had to come to the fitting today. The suits were also tailored in the bridal shop.

"I just think she got swept up in the heat of the moment. There was a romantic side to it all," Gastón said airily, not wanting to show how much that moment meant to him.

"And I always thought me and Luna were bad at communication," Matteo shook his head in disbelief.

"What are you on about?" he took a look at Matteo to see him roll his eyes.

"We all see they way you look at each other and it's still the same look you had when you were both so in love in senior year at Blake," Matteo explained, "It hasn't changed in six years."

"Really? I haven't noticed," Gastón frowned, trying to picture what his best friend is saying.

"Of course you haven't. You know, this all reminds me of the time I was so dumb to see how Luna truly felt about me when that guy Michel appeared," he said with a fond smile, he did frown when he said the name Michel. He would never like that guy.

"Oh, I remember you complaining a lot about that guy. I would have loved to be there to witness your idiocy and to talk some sense into you," Gastón chuckled at the many phone calls with Matteo during that time. He really was hopeless when it came to Luna.

"Well, now it's my job to do that," Matteo became serious and continued, "What you need is one clear conversation with Nina and everything will be cleared up."

"You make it sound so simple," he sighed, not believing a word.

"That's because it is," he just answered, "And I'll make sure I'll prove you right. I'll just have to convince Luna, Ámbar and Simón to leave you two alone in a way where you can't do anything but talk."

Matteo held his chin in thought, already trying to come up with dozens of ways to make this happen.

Gastón's eyes widened and said: "You're going to do this now?"

"The sooner the better, weddings are all about happiness and romance so I'd love to see you and Nina being happy and together at our wedding," he said.

"You really want us to be together?" Gastón said in surprise.

"Of course, I want you to be happy and you've never been as happy as you were with Nina. I know that wouldn't have changed a bit," Matteo said as if it was the world's most known fact.

"Thank you for being such a good friend," Gastón smiled and gave him a quick hug, "Now, let's get this fitting over with."

***

"I see you've already started on the champagne," Matteo said with a smile as he entered the bridal shop with his best friend.

"You were just taking too long," Ámbar said with a smirk.

"Is Luna here yet?" Simón asked as he appeared and stood next to his fiancée.

"She was coming with Nina, she's probably running a little late," Matteo answered, "While we wait for the other girls to appear, we can already try the suits for me and the groomsmen."

"Oh, Simón in a suit, I can't wait to see that," Ámbar said as she sat down on the sofa in front of the fitting rooms with her glass in her hands.

"I'm sure you would look radiating in your bridesmaid's dress as well," he flirted and pecked her on the cheek. Getting into the fitting room.

The other guys followed but not before he sent a text to Luna that they needed to talk as soon as she came in.

"Hey, sorry we're late. We ran into some issues on the way," Luna apologized as soon as she came in the shop.

"It's fine, we already got started," Matteo greeted her as he walked out of the fitting room and taking Luna in his arms as he gave her a peck on the cheek.

"Don't you look handsome," Luna said as she looked him up and down.

"I always look handsome," he answered her with a fond smile.

"Let's look at the other before your ego grows too big," Ámbar interrupted their sweet moment.

"Here we are," Simón said as he appeared in front of the four people in the room.

"I'm definitely not disappointed to have come here," Ámbar said as she looked at the guy she loves so much.

"I'm sure I can't compare with you by my side at the wedding," Simón said while he gave her a big smile.

"Alright guys, let the girls put on their dresses and wait with the flirting when you have a room on your own," Matteo said as he put a hand on Simón's shoulder, showing them he's just teasing.

"Let's go Nina, the bride will put on her dress after Matteo left," Ámbar said and took Nina by the arm to lead her to the fitting room.

"Hold on, Ámbar, I'd like to ask you something first," Matteo stopped her before she was gone, Nina already disappeared.

"What's going on?" she frowned, having no clue why she was pulled apart.

"Yeah, your text sounded urgent," Luna interrupted.

"It's time we do some more matchmaking with the two lovebirds that aren't together but really want to be," Matteo said with an excited smile.

Simón turned to Gastón to confirm who they were talking about, Gastón just rolled his eyes and shook his head in exasperation.

"Is that why you two have been so secretive lately? Because you were playing matchmakers?" Ámbar raised an eyebrow.

"Sadly, yes," Gastón sighed.

"Come on, you agreed," Matteo said with a frown.

"I did and I think I'm starting to regret it," he answered.

"You don't," Matteo said without blinking.

Gastón answered: "You're right."

"Okay, what's the plan?" Luna interrupted, wanting to get back on track.

"We need to get them to talk alone without interruptions," Mattteo started to explain.

"Easy, just lock them in the fitting room, it locks from the outside," Ámbar simply said.

The four others look at her with a frown.

"What? I might not pull that stuff anymore but that doesn't mean I don't notice things," she said in a flat tone.

"You're brilliant, bonita," Simón said and gave her a kiss on her crown.

"Okay, now we just got to figure out how we get Gastón in that fitting room," Luna said, thinking out loud.

"That's easy. He just walks in," Matteo said.

They all start to think for a moment and couldn't find a better alternative. They ended up nodding and agreeing with his plan. It was the best they could do.

"Alright, let's get this crazy plan started," Gastón sighed and gave in. Getting ready to finally have the conversation he and Nina had to have.

[hide-in-imagination]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH

SOY LUNA Argentina, 2016-2018.

[putonmyfavoriteshow]

putonmyfavoriteshow's master fic writing post on-going ~ Violetta the heart of pretending (future franletta/leonetta reverse fake-dating au dramedy; my passion project) Soy Luna ...and they were roommates (post show jazmilia/delfma; self-indulgent rom-com chaos for side-characters who deserved more) BIA the celestial goat & her cosmic fish (platonic-for-now chiarleste's great astrology debate; a dynamic exploration between my favorite kind of bickering sidekicks) finished multi-chaps ~ Violetta a perfectly perfect gift (luty ft. franletta - my first official dcla multi-chap!) luty month (daily prompts from @iristhedeadflower) franletta month (daily prompts from @weirdthoughtsandideas) finished one-shots/two-shots ~ Violetta no boys, no problems (right?) (franletta s2 alternate ending to italy arc) an unexpected evening (jadangie fix-it fic - dcla gift exchange 2022 + bonus dcla pride month chap) midnights (a ludmila pov luty fic + bonus luty month chap) playing murder (and all that jazz) (violetta gang halloween fic - canon pairings) go figure (a naty pov luty fic) the mistletoe experiment (a natila story based on a dcla advent calendar prompt from @countessofravenclaw) welcome to new york (christmas version) (violetta gang xmas fic - canon pairings) it is what it is (luty - angsty ficlet) the deadfast club (violetta gang horror two-shot - luty focus ft leonetta/camcesca)

Soy Luna elevator goes up, elevator come down (simbar s3 missing scene - tumblr soy luna fic week 2021) unlock my heart (when lutteo got locked in the dressing room, except it's jazmilia aka the best non-canon ship ever made by a random wheel) there's a great big beautiful tomorrow (lutteo/gastina tomorrowland adventure - dcla gift exchange 2023) BIA losin' sleep (thiana s2 missing scene inspired by @assim-eu-sou) dream date (romantic chiarleste debut to ao3) non dcla ~ my sorta friend's sister's funeral (victorious - jori - angst/fluff one-shot) even crows have wings (six of crows - kanej - sl/roller skating au one-shot) page 55 (the villains of valley view - hartmy - missing scene drabble) if we were a horror movie (the villains of valley view - hartmy - hartmy watch jennifer's body)

other fan content: my tumblr edits tag my tumblr gifs tag

[lastshadeofme]

A Simbar fic featuring full Prince Charming Simón and wonderful mother Ámbar yay!

(Probably one of the best and longest work I’ve written so far)

[sapphire374]

Forever In Your Arms

“I scraped my knee and now you’re fixing it up and I swear if you don’t stop running your hands over my leg, I will kick you.”

Wattpad Link

Ámbar stormed out of the Jam and Roller. Furious was an understatement for how she was feeling. “No Ámbar, wait,” Simón yelled chasing after her. “For what. So you can tell me it was my fault and that I was the one to blame.” Simon was able to catch up to her and took a hold of her arm so she could stop. She turned around facing him this time and pushed her arm out of his hand. She pursed her lips in anger and barely wanted to see his face. 

“Look Ambar I wasn’t trying to accuse you. I was only trying to ask if you were the one who took Luna’s lucky keychain. Sometimes we take things by accident.”

“Oh please Simón you know that’s a lie what you’re saying right now. You did accuse me of stealing it. Nobody just takes things by accident and you automatically assumed I purposely stole it. Look I know I’ve done bad things in the past but I have changed and I thought you saw that too but it turns out I was wrong.”

Simón began to stutter seeing Ámbar’s eyes water. “No no no I don’t doubt for a second you have changed ok. I was only curious that’s all. The keychain wasn’t appearing anywhere and you didn’t say a single word after Luna told us about it.”

Ámbar bit her lip holding back the tears. She didn’t say anything all day but for a reason. A reason she wasn’t comfortable to say yet. “Simón you can’t quickly assume it was me just because I stayed quiet in a conversation. That is a pity excuse and I thought you knew me very well and would have noticed I haven’t said a word all day before that conversation happened. But I was wrong, you don’t know me. All I am to you is some girl you imagine me to be. A vision of the perfect woman but you still linger onto the doubt that I haven’t changed.” Ámbar turns around and leaves clenching the strap of her shoulder back. The tears were slowly coming out now. She didn’t mean to say all of those harsh things to Simón cause she knows he truly does love her but she felt it was best and that he deserved it. He shouldn’t have assumed she would do something like that after she has numerously proved that she has changed for good. Out of all the people in the world, it had to be him who doubted her. When that thought settled in at that moment, the pain couldn’t escape her lungs. 

Simón with his head down ambled to the Jam and Roller. There, Luna immediately greeted him. “Simón what happened? I saw you chasing after Ámbar, how did it go?” Simón scratching his head replied, “Horrible. It was the worst. And to be honest I deserved it. What was I thinking to question Ámbar is if she did it? I should’ve trusted her. She changed to become a better person for good and I, the idiot, doubted her. Now I don’t know what to do. She probably doesn’t ever want to see me again.” Luna didn’t know what to say or do other than hug him. 

After a two minute silent hug, Luna broke free from his arms and said, “Look it’s going to take Ambar some time to forgive you but I know she will cause she loves you and knows you love her, but you will have to demonstrate that to her these upcoming days.”

“Like how? How can I be able to erase my act of stupidity from existence.”

Luna giggles. “Yes it was very stupid what you did but we’re all human and the important thing is you learned from your mistakes. You won’t be able to erase that moment from existence since that’s not possible but like I said you can truly show her that you are sincerely sorry and really do love her.”

“But the real question is how do I do that?” Simón being frustrated now.

Luna pauses for a second to think. “Well there are many ways you can show your love for Ámbar. You can write her a song, you can surprise her with a gift, or you can hire a mariachi band to sing to her how sorry you are.” Luna then nudged Simon’s arm and he let out a little chuckle. 

“Luna, Mariachi bands may have been able to save us many times but I don’t think it can save me this time. Tú Carcel isn’t that powerful either so don’t even think about it.”

Luna then frowned and jokingly said, “Simón, how dare you disrespect our song that way. Ámbar probably wasn’t singing it that day but I can guarantee you, she was singing it in her head.” 

“No but I really blew it this time Luna. I doubted her and lost all of her trust after everything we have gone through together.”

Luna froze for a second. She hasn’t seen Simón so disheartening in ages. “Look Simón, what you did was wrong but you can’t give up on love so easily. Plus, we’re all human and bound to make mistakes. Eventually she will understand and forgive you.”

Simón rapidly took his hands out of his face to now cover his mouth in shock. “No no no I’m so stupid!”

“Well you definitely can be at times but I thought we already cleared up that topic since you came back here.”

“No it’s that I forgot to apologize. The whole time I was too busy trying to find excuses that I forgot to tell her I was sorry,” Simón stuttered.

“Then what are you waiting for, do it now!” Luna demanded.

“I can't, it's too late already and I’m in charge of closing up the Jam and Roller today,” Simón whined.

“Well then you’ll do it first thing in the morning.”

~~~~

Ámbar slammed the door shut behind her. Her anger lingered around the air, ever since she entered the mansion, like strong perfume. Everyone in the house noticed the vibe and felt it was best to leave her alone. Well almost everyone. She paraded around her room scrambling for her journal. She had officially decided for a month now to let out her anger in a journal. She felt like this coping mechanism was easier to work with than her mirror sessions. She had a precise plan laid out. She would write down her feelings, rip the page out of her notebook and stick it into the paper shredder. The paper shredder was a better choice than doing it by hand so no one would even be able to tape back the pieces. 

Right when she finally found her journal and a pen to use, she heard a knocking at the door. “Who could it possibly be now,” Ámbar agitated wondered. Ambar got up from the covers and annoyingly turned the knob of her door. Her face quickly changed when she saw it was Monica there. “Hi Ámbar. I wanted to tell you goodnight before you went to bed.”

“Was that all you wanted to tell me cause it seems like there’s more.” Ámbar sounded more irritated than what she meant it to be. She sincerely was curious but found it hard to show it.

“Well you appeared upset ever since you came and it made me worried. Since I am a mom, maybe I can help. It’s ok you can talk to me… or not whichever is your choice just know I’ll always be here.”

Ámbar now stared at the floor, contemplating what to say next. The only other person she felt a little more comfortable with when opening up, other than Simon, was surprisingly Luna’s mom. She always wished ever since she was little to have somebody there to talk to and listen to her, no matter how stupid or unimportant the topic may have sounded.

“I guess you can come in.”

Monica slowly took a few steps into Ámbar’s room. At the time Ámbar didn’t realize Monica was carrying something till now. She took out a tray of delicacies from her behind and placed them on the coffee table. There was a cup of milk, a plate of chocolate chip cookies, and a bowl of precisely cut fruit. They were in the shape of little stars. Ámbar couldn’t stop but stare at the food.

“I already ate dinner,” Ámbar coldly stated.

“I know you have but you forgot dessert. I brought you some options so you can pick what you like. I even cut up the fruit into little stars since I know that’s your favorite shape.”

“You do?!!”

“Of course I do. I remember you once said it in a conversation we had at the dinner table.”

Ámbar couldn’t help but get a little teary-eyed. No one has ever put this much effort for her. In fact no one has ever known her favorite shape was a star, not even her best friends Delfi and Jazmin. It’s her favorite ship since it reminds her of the birthmark she has at the side of her stomach. Monica noticed the shiny, watery glare in Ámbar’s eyes. She thought of the best thing to do, and that was to hug her. Ámbar really started crying in her warm, and gentle embrace. 

“Shh it’s ok hija. It’s ok. You’re safe with me.”

The hug lasted for a good ten minutes. Once Ámbar cried out all the tears she had held in, she broke free from the hug. 

“Thank you…. It’s just me and Simon got in an argument and I know that may sound so stupid cause it’s boy drama but it’s more than that -”

Monica immediately cut Ámbar off and said, “It’s not stupid at all and you don’t have to give me an excuse dear, I completely understand.”

This came as a shock to Ámbar. She wasn’t used to this at all. Whenever she wanted to talk about anything outside of school to Sharon, her Madrina would scold her for wasting her attention on useless topics and people.

“Well it’s just I’m worried that no one will ever believe the fact that I have truly changed. How everyone will probably still see me as the same manipulative mean girl I used to be. I’m tired of gaining everyone’s trust and belief. I really have changed but I don’t know what else to do so they can realize that,” Ámbar now sat down slouching.

“Ámbar you don’t have to prove to anyone that you have changed. You’ve already been showing it for quite a long time now. Don’t beat yourself up so hard for this. For some people it takes longer than others to trust again. Try not to focus your energy on those people. If they can’t see the incredible person I see right in front of me, then it's their loss.”

“You truly think so.”

“I know so.”

~~~~

“Wait, Ámbar slow down,” Simón yells out a mile away from her. Ámbar decided to skate in the morning to the Jam and Roller today. She tried to take the other route to avoid Simón, but he knew that she likes to take this path whenever she’s angry, especially at him.

“Can you please stop following me. I don’t want to talk to you.”

“Ámbar I came to apologize and say I’m sorry.”

This came off as a shock to Ámbar. “You wh-” Thump. Due to her attention being solely focused on Simón, she didn’t realize the big hole on the pavement. Her foot lost control of the wheel and her knee slid on to the pure concrete. Ámbar was on the floor now in pain, clenching on to her knee. It was bleeding and she tried to not show any signs of pain.

Simón came faster than lightning. “ÁMBAR!” He bent down to the floor and examined her knee. He then slid his backpack off of his shoulders and unzipped it. He took out a napkin and hurriedly cleaned off the blood streaming down her lower leg. His touch felt like an electric zap and the way his fingers swept across her leg made her badly want to kick him now. She’s still angry at him but deep down finds him very romantic the way in how he’s stressing out about her. She shook her head out of a daydream, surprisingly feeling like her prince charming coming to the rescue. She doesn’t need a prince even though having one right by her side feels nice. She may be a damsel in distress but can handle this all on her own. 

“Look it’s ok. I can fix it just let me be.”

“No you’re not okay Ámbar. I don’t care what else you say, and be mad at me for all that matters but I’m not leaving you alone. I can’t bear to witness you hurt. So go ahead and complain all you want but I’m not leaving.”

Ámbar froze at his response. He untied the plaid shirt around his waist and instead wrapped it around her leg. Before he was able to hear a response from her, he picked her up and carried her bridal style. He skated like the Flash, almost never before. She couldn’t help but stare at Simón’s worry look plastered all over his face. Now the electricity in her is building up into fireworks, her heart has never beaten so fast in her life. She can feel his tense grasp around her waist and legs. This position actually felt comforting for her, as if she can stay in his arms forever. 

Right then and there Ámbar realized how it didn’t matter if people didn’t believe her or not on whether she has changed. She has people by her side who truly care about her. 

“You know I’m still mad at you.”

“You can be mad at me for an eternity. I deserve it. As long as you're healthy and safe while you scold me, I’ll forever be happy. I truly am sorry by the way. I do trust you and I don’t know why I even doubted you for a second, it was such a dumb decision and I truly regret it,” Simón panted.

“Good. You should regret it. You apologizing and running to help me, not necessarily saving since I don’t need saving, has made me a little less angry at you.”

Simón chuckled. “I love you so much bonita. Never forget that.”

“I love you too, stupid,” Ámbar giggled.

[assim-eu-sou]

the fact that the Solos videoclip exists is actually so funny

[hide-in-imagination]

“Roads That Cross… Not Knowing What To Do"

You can read the previous chapters here: (1),(2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), (12), (13), (14), (15), (16), (17), (18), (19), (20), (21), (22), (23), (24), (25), (26), (27), (28), (29), (30), (31), (32)

Thank you all so much for your continued support, it means so much to me.

Things were fine, but they also weren’t.

That night, after their hug, Simón had insisted they finished the garlands as they had set themselves to do. Ámbar truthfully couldn’t have cared less about the garlands or her original plan of getting them done— Simón had forgiven her. Nothing else mattered to her. All she wanted was to be close to him, hug him more, kiss him, reaffirm herself that they were alright— She had been so scared...

But she didn’t want to be too imposing after they’d just reconciled, so she followed his lead, and agreed to work on the decorations.

Then they had dinner with everyone, and, sure, Simón was a little less talkative than usual—especially when he got asked about his ‘headache’ and Ámbar could feel his discomfort radiating from him— but they’d gone through an emotional moment just an hour ago. It was normal if things were still a little tense.

Then they climbed up to her room, with Simón carrying the cardboard box after having offered, and after he placed it on her coffee table, Ámbar held his hand and asked if he would stay the night with her. Simón hesitated, just a little bit, but then he smiled and squeezed her hand and said, ‘of course’, and Ámbar felt so relieved that she kissed him. She kissed him gently at first, just a tiny thing, but then she sought his lips again and tried to linger, tried to deepen the contact, and that was when Simón pulled away.

“Do you want to use the bathroom first or should I?”

It wasn’t an out-of-the-ordinary question, so Ámbar answered ordinarily as well. “Uh, no, I gotta take off my makeup and do all my skincare, so it’s going to take eons— You go first.”

And he said ‘okay’ and went to the bathroom, and it was normal, seemed just like routine, but Ámbar felt it… off.

Later, as they were lying under the covers to sleep, she soaked in the normalcy of it and convinced herself everything would be fine. They had just fixed things between them, so it was normal if it felt a little weird. They were still snuggled up together in spite of that, with Ámbar’s face on his chest and Simón’s arms around her, and it felt so nice after spending a whole night alone, in this bed that felt too empty without him.

She breathed in Simón’s scent and fell asleep, thinking everything would be better the next day.

It wasn’t. Not really.

Nor was the day after that.

--------------------

There was an air of hesitation that lingered around Simón and every move he made now. It wasn’t constant— it appeared every now and then, subtle, but Ámbar noticed, and it kept her from relaxing fully into their normal routine.

It also didn’t go unnoticed that they weren’t having sex. Which was fine— they didn’t need to do that every day. But they used to. So it was… different.

She couldn’t say it was all Simón because she hadn’t tried to initiate it either. But the mood just never felt right, and that was exactly the problem.

Getting there used to be easy, and now it was not.

And that, she felt, applied to everything.

It wasn’t like Simón was distant. He didn’t avoid contact with her or acted cold— Nothing like that. She also didn’t think he was… punishing her or something because of what happened. Whatever was up with him didn’t seem to be on purpose— In fact, it seemed like he wanted it gone just as much as she did. But it kept coming back.

The worst part was that Ámbar couldn’t address it. What could she say? Ask if there was anything wrong? She knew there was. And she knew it had to be related to her lies and her secrets, so she couldn’t bring it up because that would just lead to questions she couldn’t answer.

It was distressing.

And then, as if Ámbar didn’t have enough problems, Sharon happened.

------------------

The final nail in the coffin came in the form of a phone call— Again. Ámbar was in the mansion, working, when her phone started ringing, and every thought of the upcoming event she was overseeing flew out of her mind when she read the caller id.

‘Vanessa.’

Ámbar rejected the call. It was the middle of the day and the last thing she wanted was to talk to her godmother. After all the trouble she had caused her. After all the pain she kept putting her through because of her inability to do things right.

Ámbar put her phone on vibrate and continued working. But not two minutes passed by before her phone started vibrating, and when she didn’t pick up that call either, her screen lit up with a new message.

Vanessa: Pick up the phone, Ámbar.

When her phone started vibrating for the third time, Ámbar finally gave up and answered it. With a bit of luck, she would make it quick, and then she could go back to try to not let Sharon ruin her life.

“What do you want? It’s the middle of the day, I’m working.”

“Ámbar.” The sound of her name in her voice always brought her an ominous feeling. “How kind of you to finally pick up. Since you’re going straight to the point, allow me to do so as well,” Sharon said drily. “I heard from Rey that not only do you refuse to help me, but you’ve been also wandering around the mansion, searching for ways to stop my plans.”

Ámbar growled internally. That damned Rey— He’d fallen onto her clutches again, right when she’d had hope that Maggie had managed to convince him for good. Not only that, but he had tattled on her to her godmother after she specifically told him, threatened him, to keep his mouth shut.

Must everything go the opposite way of how I want it to?

“I don’t know what Rey told you, but I have no ulterior motives,” she replied as casually as she could. “I’m just working from home because all the noise at the Roller was distracting me.”

“Don’t play dumb with me, Ámbar; you’ve tested my patience enough already,” Sharon shut her down with a scathing tone. “I want you to stop this absurd rebellion you have against me immediately. Whether you like it or not, you and I are on the same side. The Valente will never forgive you for helping me, and you know that perfectly well. That’s the reason why you haven’t told them anything despite wasting your time pestering me, or am I wrong?”

Ámbar clenched her eyes shut. Maybe at some point that had been one of her worries, but it was never the main one, couldn’t she see? “I don’t want to have to tell them anything— I just want you to stop this before you ruin your life,” she begged.

All she wanted was to keep her safe. Everyone safe. Was that so much to ask? Couldn’t this war just end?

“And I want you to stop meddling with my plans, so listen carefully,” Sharon said in a hard voice. “Either you let Rey and Maggie do their jobs or I’ll be making a call to your two-bit boyfriend.”

Ámbar’s heart stopped. Every muscle on her body seized, quick and violently with the impetus of dread.

“What?”

She could hear Sharon’s sadistic smile on the phone. “I imagine you don’t want him to know about our conversations. How do you think he will react when he finds out you’ve been helping me since last year, pretending to be Sol Benson when you knew Luna was the real one?”

Ámbar shook her head. “You can’t do that.”

“No? How long do you think it’d take me to get his phone number? Half an hour? Less than?”

Ámbar swallowed her saliva, her mouth as dry as a desert, and took in a shaky breath. “No, you can’t do that because, if you do, I’ll talk,” she said. “I’ll tell them everything I know— Your new identity, that Rey and Maggie are helping you— everything about your plan.” 

“So I’ll make another one,” Sharon replied easily, sinking Ámbar’s stomach to the ground. “I have time and resources. Rey and Maggie too are expandable. I could get other people to help me.” Her voice lost its levity then, gaining a dark edge to it. “One way or another, I will have my revenge, Ámbar. Now you can either stay on my side like you’ve always done, or face the consequences all by yourself. It’s your choice. This is your one and final warning.”

She hung up the phone. 

Ámbar sat there, frozen from head to toe, trying to convince herself that this wasn’t happening, that it was just another nightmare. But the more she stayed there, the more achingly clear it became that this was reality.

She’s not going to stop.

The feeling sunk in and her chest started clenching. Panic.

She’s not going to stop. There’s nothing I can do. I have to tell them.

But Sharon, the other part of her wept. What will happen to her? I don’t want anything to happen to her. Why does it have to be me?

She could tell Maggie to do it. Maggie could give them all away— it wouldn’t have to be Ámbar.

But even then, the moment they were captured, either Rey or Sharon would make sure to tell everyone that Ámbar knew. They would want her to go down with them.

Simón would find out that Ámbar knew, and once again, she wouldn’t get the chance to explain anything to him because she wasn’t the one who told him.

But I don’t want to tell him. I want to be happy. I want us to continue being happy for a little longer.

Wouldn’t Simón choose the same? Stay in happy oblivion for a little longer instead of going through heartbreak? Anyone would choose happiness, right? 

Especially now that the Day of the Dead Roller Jam was coming up. She couldn’t ruin this for him. Maybe she could tell him after, but not right now.  

Yeah, after. She could tell him after. At some point. She could do that.

She had to… she had to focus on the event first, and then on fixing whatever weird thing was up with her relationship with Simón, and then when things were good between them again, she could unveil everything, and maybe… maybe he’d understand. Maybe everything would be fine. Maybe…

Ámbar spent was felt like hours trying to calm down her pulse. She had no idea what a panic attack felt like, but she imagined the starts of one felt like this— like shortness of breath and a knot behind her sternum, so she had to calm down, think of something else.  

She worked on decorations, one after another, focusing on the repetitive movements, and eventually, it worked. Her mind was getting clearer.

Then Rey walked in through the front door, passing by the lobby, and Ámbar saw red.

She was out of her seat in a fraction of a second. She yanked him into the empty dining room by his suit jacket and turned to him with such a fierce glare it should’ve killed him.

“How could you rat on me with Sharon?” She snarled. “You do know I can talk, right? I warned you, Rey. I told you not tomess with me. Are you out of your mind? Do you truly care more about Sharon than your own damn safety now?”

“I'm going to expressly ask you to calm down,” Rey seethed through gritted teeth, “and to not lay a single hand on me again because we both know you have a lot to lose from all of this.”

Ámbar scoffed and shook her head. “I don’t get it. I swear to god, I can not understand it— How can you not see this is reaching the end of the line, Rey? Any moment now, my godmother is going to sneak into this house because she is obsessed with that stupid chest, and she’s going to get caught, and then she, you, and Maggie are going get sent straight to a prison cell— You should be stopping her, not helping her!”

“Your godmother is not going to back out, miss,” Rey said with certainty, spitting the last word with venom. “She is unyieldingly set on destroying the Valente. And ensuring she doesn’t get caught doing it is my job. All you have to do, as you’ve done until now, is remain quiet.”

“I can’t, Rey, Ican’t— This is wrong,” Ámbar said in agony. “The Valente don’t deserve this— God, not even you and Maggie deserve this. Do you know what she told me?” She expressed with incredulity. “Do you know what Sharon told me when she called me earlier? That you’re replaceable,” she affirmed. “That she doesn’t care if you and Maggie go to jail because she can just pay someone else to do her dirty work. Open your eyes, Rey. This is going to end badly for everyone.”

Rey reared his head back a little. A few emotions flashed through his eyes—Fear, Ámbar was almost certain, and something that looked like hurt— but then all of that was gone as he put his firm expression back.

“I don’t believe a single word you say,” he enunciated strongly. “Your godmother considers me her right-hand man— I’ve spent years supporting her in everything she’s ever endeavored and she recognizes that.” Ámbar closed her eyes and shook her head, frustrated, distraught, but Rey kept talking. “You just want to confuse me because you’re scared of what your little boyfriend might think of all this. Sharon already warned me that you might react this way. But that’s all the more reason for you to keep your mouth shut. And I know you will.”

He leaned forward and looked her right in the eye. “You always do what’s most convenient for you. You can stop pretending otherwise.”

Rey straightened the jacket of his suit and walked away, leaving her standing there.

And Ámbar…

Ámbar hit the spot where he had been on the wall and drowned her fingers in her hair.

She couldn’t take this anymore.

------------------------

Later that night, as they were getting ready for bed, Ámbar put on a smile and turned to face Simón.

“Good news! Well, I hope it’s good news. Starting from tomorrow, I’m going to work in the Roller again.”

Simón finished putting on his sleep shirt and blinked in her direction. “Oh. You’re not going to work from home anymore? I thought you could focus better that way.”

Ámbar avoided his gaze by pulling back the covers. “Mm, maybe, but the Roller Jam is this Friday and I need to be where the action’s at.” She sat on the bed and reached for his hand. “Besides, I miss being able to see my favorite person all day.”

Simón’s expression showed a hundred different questions. He was suspicious—Of course he was. Her decision to start working from home had been abrupt, and now she was coming back to the Roller just as abruptly. It could be just whims. Ámbar was known to have them. But Simón wasn’t stupid.

He wasn’t, but he just showed a little smile and said nothing. 

They got under the covers after that, and again, the air between them wasn’t tense, but it was different.

Maybe this different was their new normal. With everything she had done and was still doing, maybe she didn’t deserve more than this. Maybe it was something she had to get used to.

Ámbar buried her face in Simón’s neck and tried not to cry.

-------------------

On her very first day back in the Roller, she was surprised to find people happy to see her working there.  

“We were starting to miss seeing you at that table,” Eric told her with a gentle smile. “I’ll bring you your usual juice right up.” 

Ámbar blinked as he went to the bar. “Thank you…”

And then Ramiro smiled at her as well. “The Roller’s not the same without you, so welcome back.”

Warmth gathered inside of Ámbar. Everything looked so bleak lately that sometimes she forgot she had good relationships now— She wasn’t in the dark pit she once resided in. She didn’t have friendships based on hostility now. She wasn’t the pariah, completely alone, shunned by everyone. She wasn’t even that girl who only had friends because of the popularity she exuded.

She had genuine bonds now. Because she didn’t pretend anymore, nor did she attack anymore, and, surprisingly, some people seemed to like her without any facades.

Delfi saw her working on decorations in the afternoon and offered to help her with them. Ámbar felt a surge of joy and readily said yes— If there was one bond she was happy to have back, it was that one. This new go at their friendship was still rocky, but she felt like it got better every time they talked, and that was exactly what they did as they made the handicrafts— Talk, leisurely, casually, gloriously light and breezy with no particular direction.

Some minutes after they sat down to do that, Jim and Yam saw them working and asked to join in too. It took Ámbar by surprise, but the Roller Jam was just around the corner and she had to get these done, so the more hands, the better. She accepted gratefully.

Then Jazmín arrived and claimed she didn’t want to be excluded, so she started helping too. Ramiro joined in as well soon after, followed by Nina, and before Ámbar knew it, she had a whole group gathered on the Roller’s stage, all making decorations together. Even Simón and Pedro took a break to join them.

It felt so nice. Seeing everyone talking and working together… Feeling part of a group... Ámbar was pretty independent, and she didn’t mind doing things alone, but it was nice to be able to turn her brain off for a minute and let herself be carried by a cheerful current.

So, of course, something had to ruin it.

“What if we put candles around the rink like they do in México?” Jazmín proposed with sparkling eyes.

“It’d be very pretty, but also very dangerous, so let’s better not,” Simón kindly shot down her well-meaning but poor idea.  

“Yeah, did you forget already how the rink caught fire last year?” Pedro said.

It was like a black hole had sucked out all the calm they’d felt until that moment. Ámbar’s chest contracted, and one could’ve heard a pin drop in the silence that followed.

Many stares fell on her at once.

Simón turned to his friend with a reproachful look. “Pedro.”

Even in the awkwardness, it made her a little happy to see him jump in her defense, but Ámbar didn’t want this to turn into an argument, so she hurried to intervene.

“No, it’s okay, you don’t have to censure yourselves for me,” she told them. The fire was something that happened and that affected everyone— It was bound to come up every now and then.

She didn’t want it to be a taboo topic forever. She didn’t want everyone’s eyes to turn judgmental and distrustful every time they talked about last year.  

Of course, there wasn’t much she could do about that, but… there was one thing.  

Ámbar cleared her throat a little, joining her hands in her lap to stop them from fidgeting.  “Since you’re all gathered here, I’d like to take the opportunity to apologize about the fire.” She glanced at them. “I know most of you won’t believe me, but it really was an accident, and I’m sorry about that. And…” She brought her gaze down to her hands. “I’m sorry about the other stuff I did too.” There were so many she couldn’t even count them. She squirmed a little with discomfort and rushed her words, looking up. “I know that just saying it is not enough and that it’s going to take a while for you to see I really changed, but either way, I…”

Ámbar had to look away again. She was not good at this. “I don’t know, I just… wanted to… say that.”

Lame. That ending was so lame.

She stood up quickly. If she had to sit through one more awkward silence, she was going to jump off the roof. “I’ll go check the decorations in the rink.”

Ámbar walked away, fighting a grimace. God, she couldn’t believe she had done that.   

But that’s it. I did it. It’s done now.

She knew she had to apologize at some point— it probably should’ve been item 1 on her list if she meant to mend her ways, actually. She should’ve planned more how she was going to do it, maybe rehearse the words or something, but the important part was that it was done, right? Better an improvised speech than nothing.

Once in the rink, Ámbar went over to her worktable, looking for something to do. There were a couple of skull decorations that could use a second coat of paint, so she gathered her brushes and the paints to do just that.

Before she could start working on the first, though, she heard footsteps approaching, and when she turned her head toward the sound, she saw Simón had come after her.  

Oh.

She thought she’d have a little more time before she had to talk about it.

Simón stood barely two steps away from her, and her eyes flicked back to the decorations. She couldn’t ignore him though, obviously, so Ámbar placed the skull and the brush carefully back on the table and wiped her hands on her clothes before facing him, even though they were clean.

“On a scale of 1 to 10, how bad was that apology?” She tried to joke, letting out an awkward huff of laughter. 

Simón didn’t hold a fraction of her tension though. The smile that grew on his lips filled his whole face with warmth. His brown eyes looked at her with an incredible softness.

“It was great.”

Ámbar almost got speechless seeing such fondness directed at her. Simón grabbed one of her hands in both his own and held it between their chests. He caressed it gently with his thumb.  

“That couldn’t have been easy. I didn’t expect Pedro to bring up the fire so out of the blue, I think it took all of us aback, but you handled it so well.” His hands squeezed hers. “You spoke from the heart, and I think the guys realized that too.” He took a step closer to her, his face absolutely beaming. “So, from one to ten, a hundred, bonita. A thousand. I’m very proud of you, my love.”

Oh.

Suddenly, Ámbar tried to remember if he had called her that the past few days. He had, of course, he had. But not like this. Not with that tone in his voice. Not with eyes so affectionate they kicked her heart into overdrive.

“Yeah?” Her voice came out too breathy, so she cleared her throat and spoke again, fast, a little clumsy. “I mean, I should’ve done it a long time ago, really. And maybe better. But it was the right thing to do, and, like I said, it’s not that I think this will fix everything; it’s not that easy. But at least—”

Simón held her face and kissed her. It wasn’t a hard kiss, but it was enough to cut off her nervous thoughts and leave her mind pleasantly blank.

“You were great,” he told her again, close.

Ámbar smiled, a mirror reflex from seeing him smile so beautifully, and welcomed his lips when he kissed her again. 

And that night, their kisses did linger, and the contact did deepen, and Simón held her closer and closer. It was heady, and slow, and consuming.

It was easy.

*****************

“I’ll go check the decorations in the rink.”

Simón followed Ámbar with his eyes as she walked away, his heart doing a weird thing where it seemed like it wanted to squeeze and expand at the same time. Around him, his friends were just as quiet as him.

It was Nina who broke the silence. “Wow.”

Simón brought his gaze back to the group and saw similar expressions of surprise on everyone’s faces. The good kind.

“Is this the same Ámbar or did someone switch her with a clone?” Yam said in disbelief.

“I told you guys she had changed,” Delfi said with some superiority.

Simón couldn’t stay to hear more after that, possessed with the need to go to Ámbar.

His heart was thrumming as he walked toward the rink. It was a rush of elation, an invigorating mix of relief and love that started building the moment Ámbar started to speak. See? It screamed. I wasn’t wrong. I’m not wrong for believing in Ámbar. I never was.

It’d been hard the last few days. The constant fight against the voices in his head, rationality and emotion working on different wavelengths, and him, caught in the middle.

But that apology had been a balm to his anxious brain. Empiric proof that Ámbar was different from how she was before. Simón felt aligned again. He had hope. Sometimes, that was all he needed.  

Things were much better after that day. They were good, actually. Their time spent at the Roller felt like old times. Everyone was smiling, excited by the upcoming Roller Jam, and the smiles didn’t dim around Ámbar anymore. Everyone worked together on the final preparations for the event. It was almost like they were all friends again.

In between waiting tables, Simón showed off his costume for the party to Ámbar and then stored it in the dressing room, ready for Friday. He was excited about sharing a little piece of his culture with his friends and with everyone who showed up, lured in by the decorations, and the food, and the music.

Ámbar said her costume was ready too. She refused to let him see it though, insisting on keeping it a surprise for the big day.  

She really loves her secrets, doesn’t she?

Simón shot down the intrusive thought. He’d been doing that a lot lately. They kept popping up, but he wasn’t going to let them fester, especially for something like this. He loved surprises. It was fun.

Time flew by and suddenly it was the last night before the big event. At dinner, it was all everyone was talking about: Luna told her parents that they had to go check it out, even if only for a little bit. Mr. Alfredo invited himself too, which, of course, everyone agreed with. The guys went over the itinerary with Ámbar, especially Pedro and Simón, who would be on the employee side of things, and Michel marveled about how he was getting the best student exchange experience ever, because he didn’t only get to learn about one new culture, but two.

After dinner, when everyone had finished their food and the first few were excusing themselves to go up to their rooms, Maggie finished picking all the dishes from the table and turned to Ámbar with a smile.

“Ámbar, sweetie, want to do the dishes with me like last time? So I’m not so lonely doing it?”

Ámbar looked a little surprised, and bemused, by the invitation. Honestly, Simón was too. Maggie didn’t usually ask anyone to do things with her. Mónica sometimes offered, and Ámbar offered once as well, but that was it.

“Yeah, sure,” Ámbar replied after a moment, smiling, and got up from her chair. Simón thought of how much she’d changed from the conceited girl he met when he first arrived in Buenos Aires. That Ámbar would’ve never agreed to something like that, much less with a smile on her face. “Goodnight,” she told Simón, placing her hand shortly on his shoulder. She couldn’t openly say ‘See you later’ in front of Luna’s parents.

“Goodnight,” Simón said back, and watched her disappear inside the kitchen with Maggie. He stayed talking with his friends for a little longer and then excused himself and went up to Ámbar’s room.

The first thing he did was kick off his shoes and throw himself on the bed. He was tired from work, but also so excited about tomorrow he wasn’t sure how he was going to sleep. He knew he had to catch some good hours though— There was going to be a lot of movement tomorrow, lots of customers, and then a party. Hell, he even had a performance! He definitely had to sleep.

It was still early though, so he checked social media for a while, and then turned on the TV.

He had just opened Netflix when Ámbar walked into the room.

“Hey, just in time,” he greeted her, smiling. “I was thinking of watching a movie or something. What do you think?”

Ámbar blinked at him for a moment and then at the screen. “Um… Yeah, sure,” she said softly. “I mean, if you want.” 

“I think I’ve been picking the movies for a little too long,” Simón joked self-critically. “You pick something.” He offered her the remote. “Whatever you want.”

Ámbar looked at the remote for a moment before taking it. “Okay.”

She went to the bed and Simón scooted over to his side to make space for her. Not like there was much space to give, the bed was small, but that wasn’t a problem when they were used to touching anyway.

Ámbar sat next to him, crossed-legged, and began to scroll through the different titles.

A moment passed. Simón watched her profile.

“You okay?”

Ámbar’s eyes moved from the screen to him. “Hm?” It took her a second to process the question. “Yeah, why?”

“Nothing, just, you’re a little quiet.” Ever since she came in, actually.

“Oh. No. I’m just focused on finding something,” she said, and brought her gaze back to the screen. “I don’t know if I want to watch a movie though— Maybe something shorter. With a faster pace. I don’t know, distracting.”

Ah.

Simón brushed back a lock of her hair and caressed her face softly with his knuckles.

“Are you nervous about tomorrow?”

If he was going to have a hard time sleeping, he could only imagine how she was feeling.

Ámbar met his eyes. There was something in hers, something familiar, like something he’d seen there before, but she lowered her gaze before he could discern exactly what. She could’ve stayed quiet and it would’ve still been obvious something was up. She confirmed it anyway. “A little.”

Simón cupped her face, waited until she looked back at him to give her his most reassuring smile. “It’s going to be amazing,” he told her with certainty. “You’ll see. You’ve worked too hard for it not to.”

Ámbar smiled.

The both of them focused on the screen after that to find something to watch. They ended up deciding on a sitcom, and they settled together with their backs against the pillows and Simón’s arm around Ámbar.

Simón enjoyed the show, but Ámbar still seemed a little distracted. She laughed a little late at the jokes, and was a little restless, moving her fingers constantly, checking her phone every few minutes, sometimes even seconds apart, as if she hadn’t looked at it right the first time.

She had to be really nervous, Simón thought. Ámbar had a tendency of being a perfectionist, and a little workaholic, so he wouldn’t be surprised if she was checking work emails even now. God knew it wouldn’t be the first time he caught her doing that after work hours.

After the second episode ended, Ámbar detached herself from his side and sat up. She shoved her phone into the pocket of her jeans as she turned to look at him.

“You know what? I think I’m gonna make myself some tea in the kitchen, maybe even something to eat, I don’t know— I’ll be back, okay?”   

She started to get up but Simón caught her arm.

“Want me to get it for you?” He offered. It was the least he could do. All of tomorrow’s event was basically for his sake. “That way you don’t have to move.”

Ámbar showed him a smile but declined swiftly. “No, thank you, I’ll do it, don’t worry.”

She stood. Simón did as well. “No, really, I don’t mind.” He walked over to the other side of the bed to stand in front of her. “I mean,” he smiled playfully, “what use is the best Mexican boyfriend in the world if he can’t even bring his girlfriend food in bed?” He let out a little laugh. “Come on, what do you want? I believe you said tea. What flavor should I bring?”

“I don’t know, love, that’s why I want to go myself, let me do it.”

“Oh but that’s no problem, I can bring different options for you to choose, like before.” He felt a surge of amusement and fondness, remembering that time. “It’ll take me a little longer but—”

“Enough.”

Simón stopped in his tracks.

“That’s enough, Simón,I said ��No, thank you.’ I’m very grateful, but I’m perfectly capable of doing things by myself. I’m going. Now drop it.”

Ámbar said it all sharp and fast, in one go, like exasperated.

Simón stood very still. His train of thought had turned to nothing.

Ámbar winced looking at his face and sighed. Her whole body softened and she moved closer to him, placing her hands on his shoulders gently.

She caressed them as she spoke. “Look. We’re both tired. Tomorrow’s a big day. Why don’t you stay here, rest, put on a movie like you wanted to, and I’ll watch it with you once I’m back, okay?” She kissed his cheek. “Wait for me.”

With that, she pulled away and walked out of the bedroom.

Simón stared at the door in her absence. Strange. All of that had been too strange. One second, they were fine, and the next, she was snapping at him with a hard voice— She didn’t have to get so defensive over something like that.

Unless it wasn’t about that.

Why was she so desperate for me to stay here?  

Simón walked over to the door, and his hand was already on the handle when he stopped himself.

“No.” He let go and turned around, letting out a huff of laughter. “No, come on, what am I doing?”

Why would Ámbar lie about going to the kitchen? It was ridiculous. He was paranoid. What did he want to do? Go down there and make sure she was actually there?

What if she isn’t?

Simón shook his head and ran his fingers through his hair. He was overthinking it. Yes, she was acting a little strange, but she was nervous. Worried and stressed about tomorrow. That was most probably why she lashed out too, but she realized her mistake and changed her tune immediately. Those things happened under stress.

He decided to stop dwelling on it and walked over to his side of the bed. He picked up his phone from the nightstand and checked the time. It wasn’t that late yet. He placed it back on the nightstand, and was about to put on a movie, like Ámbar said, as a distraction, when a thought struck him.

Her phone.

Simón’s heart stuttered. He flicked his eyes toward the opposite nightstand. It was empty. His feet brought him over to it as if to make sure, and then he looked around, over the vanity, the table. Nothing.

He remembered he’d seen her putting it in her pocket.

His stomach sunk low.

She took her phone with her.

Simón’s mind went into overdrive. Ámbar had been checking her phone incessantly since she walked into the room, hadn’t she? He thought it was work emails—What if it wasn’t? Why would she bring her phone to make herself tea?

Maybe just to pass the time?? A critical voice retorted in his head. You’re exaggerating.

Was he? Because it was all adding up. She’d been acting strange, distracted, checking her phone instead of focusing on the show, and now, suddenly, she wanted to be alone so badly that she basically ordered him to stay here, and she took her phone with her.

She could’ve taken it without thinking, it’s not that big of a deal, the voice reproached again. It sounded like himself. Like his old self. The one who had stronger views of right and wrong.

Good thing that she took it too or you would’ve already gone through it with the way you’re acting right now.

Simón stopped pacing at once. He hadn’t even realized he was doing it.

No. Absolutely not.He was not that kind of boyfriend.  

He kept repeating that in his head while he fought the urge to go to the kitchen. I’m not like that, I don’t want to be like that, I won’t do it—

But his eyes kept glancing at the door.

**********************

“Ámbar, sweetie, want to do the dishes with me like last time? So I’m not so lonely doing it?”

Upon receiving Maggie’s invitation, Ámbar immediately got a bad feeling in her gut. Maggie’s expression was sweet and chirpy— overly so, if you knew how she really was, which was a clear indicator that something was up. Ámbar saw it in her eyes. ‘Come with me’ they urged.  

Ámbar did so. Once in the kitchen, Maggie handed her a pair of gloves, the same ones she’d used last time, and for a moment, they just washed the dishes normally.

“Sorry about that, but I needed to talk to you,” Maggie started in a quiet voice.

“Yeah, I figured, what happened?” Ámbar said in the same volume.  

“Well, you didn’t hear it from me but…” Maggie looked around quickly, making sure there was no one near. She leaned closer. “I overheard Rey talking on the phone with Sharon. She’s going to sneak into the house tonight.”

Ámbar’s heart leaped. “What? At what time? Right now?” She expelled in a rush.

“I don’t know!” Maggie whisper-yelled too. “Rey didn’t even tell me about it— I only heard him because I noticed he was acting weird and spied on him. Clearly, he’s being very cautious.”

Ámbar scrubbed the plate in her hands to let out some of her nervous energy. She should’ve known it was only a matter of time before this happened. She wasn’t expecting to hear about it, though. Now that she had the information, what was she supposed to do with it?

“Why are you telling me?” She asked Maggie. If Rey didn’t even tell her about it, clearly the plan was exclusively between him and Sharon.  

“I don’t know, I thought maybe you could do something about it and save us all from going to prison?” She suggested. The fear and urgency in her voice were evident, and in her movements as she washed the dishes too. “I mean, it’s too risky coming here again after she was almost caught twice before. I’m telling you, Sharon has completely lost her mind.”

Ámbar lowered her gaze to the sink. She felt her heart drop to her stomach, wilted like a two-week rose. “I know. But there’s nothing I can do to stop her,” she admitted ruefully. “I’ve tried everything; it’s useless.”

Maggie sighed heavily. “Rey too. For a moment, I thought I had gotten through to him but… Ugh! I don’t know what enchantment that woman pulled him under.” She scrubbed the dishes with more force. “So, what do we do?”

Ámbar watched the suds and food scraps drip down the drain. Her voice came out hopeless. “I don’t know.”

The two washed the dishes in silence for a while. Ámbar got lost in her thoughts. Thoughts of how she wished things had gone differently. Thoughts of all the things she could do… and all the consequences those decisions could bring.

Maggie broke the silence after some minutes. “If they catch her…” Ámbar’s heart faltered. “Could you please tell everyone that I tried to stop this?”

Ámbar looked to the side, meeting her gaze. Maggie drew a tiny smile on her lips. It looked gloomy. “My designer clothes weren’t made for jail.”  

Once more, Ámbar was made very aware of all the lives that were entangled in Sharon’s plot. Everything that could be ruined if she talked. Everything that could be ruined if she didn’t.

She wondered if Rey had told Maggie about what Sharon told her on the phone, about replacing them, her disregard for their safety.

Even if he didn’t, Maggie seemed to know. She wouldn’t be asking her this otherwise.

“Yeah, I’ll tell them,” Ámbar promised. She couldn’t control many things, but this she could do.

She went up to her room with a thousand thoughts raging through her mind. Of course, Simón noticed. He always noticed when something was up with her, even if he didn’t know why.

Outwardly, Ámbar tried to seem composed while her pulse galloped with anxiety, harder every minute. She couldn’t stop looking at the time, wondering if Sharon had already entered the mansion or if she hadn’t yet; wondering if she should talk, right now, put an end to everything once and for all, or stay out of it and hope it resolved by itself. Maybe someone else would catch her. Maybe something would come up and Sharon wouldn’t sneak in at all. But if she did— How could she waste such an opportunity to stop her? But if she didn’t, Ámbar would just be ending her peaceful days prematurely for nothing. But it wouldn’t be for nothing— It was the right thing to do. But she had the event tomorrow. But that wasn’t the most important thing. But—

The second episode of the sitcom ended and Ámbar couldn’t have said what any of the character’s names were. She had to leave. She had to do something.

But Simón was being inopportunely sweet, and ugh—

She walked out of her room feeling like a rope frayed to the last thread, tugged in all directions. She had to move, or she was going to break.

Ámbar sped over to Sharon’s room. There was no one inside when she walked in. Was she late? Had it already happened?

She pulled out her phone to call Sharon but then stopped herself short. She couldn’t call her— What if she was already making her way inside and the ringtone alerted everyone of her presence? Same thing with a message. She wanted to believe Sharon wouldn’t be so stupid as to not set her phone on silent mode, but she hadn’t been making the most rational decisions lately, so she didn’t know.

She chose to hide somewhere and wait. Everyone hadn’t gone to bed that long ago— it was unlikely her godmother had been in and out already. The curtains next to the bed were long enough to hide her feet, so Ámbar got behind them and turned to the window, which gave her a view of the front yard of the house.

She didn’t know how long she spent standing there, looking out. It was probably just a few minutes, but her nerves were strung tight, and it felt like hours. She thought she saw something at some point, but it was dark and she was high up, and there was the chance that Sharon wouldn’t even use the main entrance to walk in. All the uncertainty and the waiting did nothing to assuage her heart rate.

Then she heard someone opening the door.

Ámbar held her breath. Her senses zeroed in on every little noise, cataloging each of them, discerning.

Heels. She could clearly hear the sound of heels walking on wooden floor.

Ámbar pushed the curtain aside and stepped forward.

In a red hair wig and a similar dress to the one she’d seen before, Sharon stopped in her tracks and spun around quickly, reacting to the sound of footsteps other than her own, and her wide eyes met Ámbar’s in the semi-darkness.

Sharon’s posture relaxed, just slightly, when she saw it was her. That was a mistake. Ámbar would let her know.

“What are you doing here?” Sharon’s voice was accusatory.

“I should be asking you that.” Ámbar marched across the room, passing by Sharon and standing between her and the bookshelf that concealed the secret chest. “I told you it was too dangerous. But, of course, you wouldn’t listen to me. You don’t listen to anyone but yourself.”

“I don’t have time for sermons, Ámbar,” Sharon said dismissively and tried to go toward the bookshelf.

Ámbar stood in her way.

Sharon glared at her with irritation.

“Step aside.”

“No.”

Sharon’s eyes threatened murder. “Ámbar.”

“What’s most important to you?” She asked. “Whatever’s in that chest or your revenge?”

“Both,” Sharon spat darkly, and tried to push past her, but Ámbar blocked her way again.

“No, you don’t get both.” Her voice was strong and resolute. Her posture firm. “You’re in a checkmate, godmother. One scream from me and all your plans are over— Rey will not be able to save you in time. You’ll have to pay for what you did.”

Sharon looked at her appraisingly, taking her words for what they were— A threat.

Her lips curled into an ironic smile. “So, it’s finally come to this, huh?" She shook her head. "Raise crows and they will poke out your eyes.”

Ámbar didn’t respond to that proverb. This wasn’t a betrayal. She told herself it wasn’t. “I’m giving you a choice,” she made clear. “Take whatever is inside that chest, leave all of us alone, for good, and you can spend the rest of your days building an empire somewhere else or whatever it is that you want. But if you insist on your stupid revenge, I promise you, I will personally make sure to stop you, even if you manage to escape tonight, which seems very unlikely.”

Sharon watched her in silence, and Ámbar could see in her expression that she knew it too— Right now, the cards weren’t in her favor.

“So, I ask you again,” Ámbar said with finality. “What’s more important to you?”

The two took each other’s measure, unblinking, unmoving.

Sharon spoke flatly. “Step aside.”

“No.”

“Move, Ámbar,” she reiterated with annoyance. “I’ll take what’s mine and go. Far away,” she clarified. She was conceding. “So long as you keep your end of the bargain as well.”

Ámbar hesitated. Could she trust her to keep her word? Could she trust her own vow of hunting her to the ends of the Earth if she didn’t?

Ironically, it was Simón’s words that crossed her mind.

For someone to change, you have to give them a chance to do so.

Sharon wasted no time in advancing toward the bookshelf once Ámbar stepped out of the way. The furniture made a clicking noise as the secret compartment was revealed, and Sharon pulled the little doors open to access the chest inside. Ámbar stood with her arms crossed in front of her chest, watching as Sharon pulled the key out of her purse, hoping she wouldn’t regret this later.

She had to look away as she opened it. What if this was a terrible mistake? What if whatever was in that chest was even worse than the revenge she wanted to inflict on the Valentes? What if—

The sound of struggle reached her ears. Metal against metal, wood being shaken, followed by an angry tsk of Sharon’s tongue.

“It’s not working— This is not the right key!” She fumed.

Ámbar whipped her head toward her. “What?” How could it be the wrong key? Right when she’d made a deal with her? “Are you sure? Here, let me try—”

She reached for the key, but Sharon twirled around quickly, blocking her way to the chest. “No!” She exclaimed, frantic. “I don’t want you anywhere near this chest, you hear me? Especially you. And Luna.”

Ámbar frowned, both at her exaggerated reaction and the words that came with it. What did she mean ‘especially you and Luna?’

She didn’t get to ask about it because, right then, the knob of the door rattled as someone tried to open it. Sharon had had the good sense to lock it when she walked in, but that didn’t change the fact that there was someone outside the door right now, someone who then knocked when they couldn’t push it open.

“Hello?” It was Luna. “Is someone there?”

Time seemed to slow down around Ámbar. It was over. The key didn’t work, so Sharon couldn’t have what was in the chest, and without that, their deal was void, so she couldn’t risk letting her go— She had to give her away. Now.

Her eyes met her godmother’s, and she knew from the look in them that she was thinking the same thing.

There was fear in them. Ámbar didn’t think she had ever seen her that scared before, with the certainty of doom paling her face, and never with that look directed at her.

Ámbar didn’t think. She just acted.

“Hide.”

Time started moving again.

Ámbar went to the door and turned the key to unlock it. Before opening it, she took a glance behind her back, making sure Sharon wasn’t visible. She couldn’t spot her.

She opened the door just enough to show herself to Luna.

“Luna, hi, sorry for locking the door.” 

“Ámbar?” Luna looked at her with her face wrinkled in confusion. “What are you doing in Sharon’s room?”

“You have no idea what just happened.” Ámbar walked out of the room, closing the door behind her. Years of pretending to be good paid out now, fueling her improvisation. “I was coming back from the kitchen when I started hearing some weird noises. I thought they were footsteps and I got scared— I thought maybe Sharon had come here again, so I came to her room, but there was no one. I haven’t seen anyone else either, or heard anything since then. I think maybe I imagined it all. I’ve been paranoid since the last time she came here.”

Luna’s eyes fluttered with surprise. “Wow, I— I haven’t heard anything. I was in my room and wanted to come here, and I didn’t see anything on the way either, maybe you did imagine things.” Ámbar nodded her head. Luna frowned. “Wait— And why did you lock the door?”

Her heart jumped to her throat. “Because I’m paranoid,” Ámbar said. “Like I said, I got scared that maybe someone was here and they were going to try and come for the chest, so I locked myself inside, and then you knocked on the door and almost gave me a heart attack.” That part was actually true.

“Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean to,” Luna apologized. She lowered her gaze a little shyly, fidgeting with her fingers. “I just— Since tomorrow we’ll be celebrating the Day of the Dead at the Roller, I got a little sentimental and I thought maybe I could search for some pictures of Lily and Bernie.” Her eyes looked at the door wistfully. “This used to be their room, before. Would you help me look?”

Her hand reached for the handle but Ámbar blocked her way. “No, no, I don’t think it’d be a good idea.” She contorted her face into an image of empathy. “I mean, if you’re already feeling kind of sad about it, I think seeing pictures would only make you feel worse. Maybe tomorrow,” she suggested, “with the whole Roller Jam and everything, you’ll be in better spirits and you can search then.”

“Well, I’m not feeling that sad really—”

“And now that you mention it—” She needed to get her away from here, now. “You know, I have a problem with my costume for tomorrow, you think you could help me?”

Luna frowned. “Me?”

“Yeah, I mean, you’re from México, and there’s something about it that doesn’t seem quite right to me. Maybe I’m exaggerating, but I’d like a second opinion. Could you come to my room and check it out with me?”

“Simón is from México too, why don’t you ask him?”

“I’m keeping it a surprise from him, he hasn’t seen it yet.” Again, all the better lies always had a kernel of truth. Ámbar joined her hands together. “Please, Luna? It’ll be quick, I promise, I’ll let you be after that.”

Luna hesitated, still looking very confused, but she agreed. “Okay, sure.”

Powerful relief flooded Ámbar as they started walking and left Sharon’s room behind, further and further with each step they took. She had no idea what minimal detail of her costume she was going to point out to Luna once they got to her own room, but that was unimportant— The coast was clear now. Sharon would be able to escape.

As soon as that thought registered in her mind, her chest hitched with a sharp pang. Her stomach sunk along with her relief, both crushed under a wave of guilt so potent it was almost asphyxiating.  

Her brain reproached her without mercy. You weren’t supposed to let her escape— You had to stop her!

Ámbar’s pulse went wild again, and she became very aware of her own breathing. She tried to keep it normal, but now that she’d stopped moving by instinct, her mind was frantic, urging her to action so loudly it was like a blare in her ears. 

It’s not too late. Turn around. Tell Luna to go get her parents. You have Sharon right there, served on a silver platter— What are you doing?

But Sharons’ face. The fear in her eyes.

Who cares? You’re not at fault for everything she has to pay for. Hand her over, help getting her captured, and the Valente will be grateful. Maybe even Simón will be happy. Maybe he’ll be proud of you, for doing the right thing, like when you apologized in the Roller.

Ámbar felt her stomach so tied up in knots it was like she was going to be sick.

“Ámbar?” Luna spoke to her. “Are you okay? Is something wrong?”

Her heart pounded even harder.

“No.” Her natural instinct was to lie. Hide everything behind a smile. “Everything’s fine, I’m okay.”

“Is the issue with your costume that bad?” Luna ventured, clearly not believing her words.

A breathless laugh burst out of Ámbar. “No, no, that’s just a tiny thing, you’ll see when we get there.” Her hands fidgeted. “It’s just…”

She could feel Luna’s stare on her face. Ámbar swallowed.

“It’s just that… thinking that Sharon had sneaked into the house again left me a little rattled, that’s all.”

Lie. Liar. Say the truth. Stop this. Stop this.

“I didn’t know that Sharon’s appearances had affected you so much,” Luna said with sympathy, but there were some strong undertones of surprise and bemusement. “I mean, with how close you two used to be, I would guess you’re the one with the least reasons to worry. She would never do anything to you.”

Thump.

A dagger ran through Ámbar’s heart.

It took her a while to regain her composure. She had to remind herself how untrue that was, all the things Sharon had done, everything she had threatened to do. 

“You forget she lied to me about my identity,” she said to Luna. And that’s only what you know.

Luna looked down, embarrassed. “Oh. Right. You’re right,” she said quietly, and remained quiet all the rest of the way, which suited Ámbar just fine.

She didn’t want to talk. She wanted to wrap up this ruse as quickly as possible and then get into bed. She had a big day tomorrow after all. That was the only thing she had to focus on right now.

Coward, her brain grumbled at her.   

‘You always do what’s most convenient for you,’ she heard Rey’s voice. ‘You can stop pretending otherwise.’

She was sure that was how it looked from the outside. But Rey was wrong.

Ámbar didn’t do what was convenient for her, almost never. She did whatever poured out of her in the moment— Whatever she could. She told herself she was smart, and cunning, and calculative, but she wasn’t. She followed her emotions more often than her head. She got things wrong. Over, and over, and over.

Maybe she could break that cycle if she weren’t so stupid, she thought numbly. She would never know, she guessed. She was too emotional to do things right, too much of a disaster to stop making more messes.

I deserve everything coming my way.

She opened the door of her room and saw Simón on the bed, already wearing his pajamas. He did a double-take when he saw she wasn’t alone, surprised and confused.

“Luna?” He said, blinking. “Wha…?”

Ámbar drew a smile on her face.

Time to perform! Don’t you just love that, you lying bitch?  

“I found Luna on the way and asked her to help me with my costume, sorry for startling you.”

She closed the door behind them.

**********************

Simón didn’t go to the kitchen.

He didn’t leave the room at all, mainly because he had made a decision, long ago, regarding Ámbar. He chose to believe in the good in her. He chose to trust her when he started this relationship, and chose it again when she apologized about the phone call. He had to stick by that choice. He couldn’t keep wavering over every little thing.

Ámbar wouldn’t lie to me again, he stated in his mind, with conviction, with logic. Not after what happened the last time. She knows better and she wouldn’t do that to me. She loves me.

Since she loved him, she wouldn’t purposely do something that would hurt him, right?

Simón went to use the bathroom and do his nighttime routine— brush his teeth, wash his face. Ámbar had a wide variety of products and she’d told him to just help himself to whatever. There was a cleanser he liked, so he’d taken to using that one. It definitely made his face feel better than regular soap.

He usually would take a shower, but he wanted to be present when Ámbar came back to the room (he told himself there was no particular reason behind that). He could take one in the morning, he decided, and walked out of the bathroom.

He changed into his sleep t-shirt and pajama pants, a soft cotton combination he fancied in the colder months. Well, usually he wore a little more, like thicker pants or a long-sleeve shirt, but that was in the loft when he slept with barely a sleeping bag on top of him, and most importantly, that was when he slept alone, because Ámbar might use him to warm up her cold feet every night, but that didn’t mean her body didn’t produce heat. If Simón tried to sleep more covered, he would lie awake in a puddle of sweat.  

Ámbar still hadn’t come back when he laid back down on the bed. He scrolled through Instagram for a few minutes, checking the passage of time, until he realized he was doing that and put his phone down. He grabbed the remote and searched for a movie to watch (he didn’t really want to watch anything but…)

He had just selected something when the bedroom door opened. Simón looked toward it, expecting to see Ámbar, but he didn’t expect to see—

“Luna?” He sat up. “Wha...?”

“I found Luna on the way and asked her to help me with my costume, sorry for startling you,” Ámbar said to him, and closed the door behind them both. “Thank god you were dressed.”

Luna grimaced so hard after hearing that.  

“Oh,” Simón said, taking that in. He crossed his legs, leaning slightly forward. “Does that mean I finally get to see it?”

“Nope,” Ámbar replied humorously. “We’re gonna be in my en-suite— No peaking!” She started crossing the room and looked behind her. “Follow me, Luna.” 

The two disappeared inside the bathroom seconds later, leaving Simón alone again.

He frowned.

Well, that was weird.

Ámbar left to serve herself some tea or something and then she showed up around twenty minutes later with Luna in tow?? Had Luna ever even been inside Ámbar’s room before? They never had the best relationship. They got along well enough now, but enough for Ámbar to bring her here and ask for her opinion on her costume? A costume that she didn’t even show him?

Well, if she doesn’t want to show it to you, it makes sense she’d have to ask someone else.

But now? The night before? When Ámbar liked to be prepared for everything and always tried to leave things ready in advance?

You’re overthinking again.

After some minutes, he heard the bathroom door open, so he quickly schooled his face into a neutral expression. Luna and Ámbar reappeared in the room, the latter stopping by her closet to put back a hanger with a black garment cover on it.

“Thank you again, Luna, sorry for bothering you.”

Luna chuckled. “I really didn’t do anything— I don’t know why you thought there was something wrong with your dress.”

“Ssh.” Ámbar tilted her head pointedly toward Simón.

Luna’s eyes widened. “Dress, pants, blouse—Who knows?” She corrected, letting out another light laugh. She smiled at both of them as she walked to the door. “Goodnight, Simón, see you tomorrow.”

He smiled at her. “Goodnight.”

Luna left the room, letting the two of them alone. Simón’s eyes immediately focused on Ámbar. He saw her sigh, the slightest bit of tension dropping from her shoulders, and she ran her fingers through her hair, probably in an unconscious gesture.

“How was it that you ended up with Luna again?”

He made his voice sound curious and not suspicious— Just conversational. Ámbar’s back still straightened before she turned to look at him.

“I was coming back from the kitchen when I heard some weird noises,” she started saying. “Or, well, I thought I had heard weird noises. Evidently, I was wrong.”

Ámbar bent down to take off her shoes. She kept talking as she put them back in her closet, and then as she walked toward her vanity and started taking off her jewelry. “But when I went to check Sharon’s room to make sure everything was fine, that’s where I met Luna. She wanted to look for photos of Lily and Bernie. She said that since we’ll be celebrating the Day of the Dead tomorrow, she was feeling melancholic. I told her it’d be better if she saw them some other day, since looking at their pictures now would only make her sadder, and that’s when I asked her to come help me with my costume.” Now that she’d stored everything back in its place, she spun to face him with a smile. “What better way to take her mind off such sad topics, right?”

Simón’s shoulders slumped a little. “Right.”

He felt a little bad after hearing her explanation. It all sounded perfectly reasonable— even nice toward Luna.

I’ll have to ask her later to see if she tells me the same story.

Simón shook himself internally right after finishing that thought. What was wrong with him? He was blowing this whole thing way out of proportion— He just had to believe her and that was it.

Ámbar went to her nightstand to leave her phone charging. Simón finished processing her words.

“So… there was nothing wrong with your costume, actually,” he concluded.

Ámbar turned her head toward him, and her whole posture revealed she’d been caught. She showed him an apologetic smile with a tint of playfulness. “Could you keep it a secret from Luna?” She asked. “I don’t want her to think I was just messing with her like I used to do; that wasn’t my intention.”

Simón smiled. “Yeah, sure.” 

So, there was a lie, but just a little white one. Maybe that was what his intuition was picking up on and it was nothing bad after all. It definitely was more believable than Ámbar seeking help with her costume the night before the event.

And her doing all of that just for Luna is more believable? His brain mocked. They’re not even friends.

Simón tucked his hands under his thighs and curled them into fists. Stop it.

“Thank you,” Ámbar said. She glanced at the TV. “I see you found a movie.” She climbed onto the bed and sat next to him. “Did you start watching it already?”

“No, not yet.”

“Good, so we can watch it together,” she said smiling. “Although,” she checked her phone briefly, “it’s a little late now. I better take off my makeup first, so we can just turn off the TV after and sleep.” She slipped out of her side of the bed. “I’ll brush my teeth too. I’ll be right back.”

Simón got up. “Wait.”

He intercepted her on the way. Ámbar stopped and looked at him curiously.

He wrapped his arms loosely around her and put on a smile. “I want a kiss first.”

Ámbar’s face filled with tenderness. With her hands on his chest, she tilted her head up to give him a kiss, sweet and short. Too short. “Are you charging me a toll to pass through now?” She said with amusement.

“Yes,” he said, and leaned in to join their lips once more.   

He kissed her longer this time. Softly at first, then a little more insistently, tilting his head and parting her lips with his. He sucked on them slightly before pulling back.

She didn’t taste like tea.

Simón held her head between his hands and kissed her deeper. Ámbar’s hands went to his back, and when his tongue entered her mouth, her fingers dug into his skin and she let out a little moan. Simón felt an answering shiver go down his body. Heat pooled low in his stomach, but she didn’t taste like anything. She didn’t smell like anything. Nothing.

Then what did you do for twenty minutes?

Ámbar pulled back, panting a little. Simón’s breathing was accelerated too. Her hands held his shoulders. “Um.” She looked down momentarily. “Not that I don’t like it, but maybe we should just watch the movie,” she said slowly. “We have a long day tomorrow and it’s already late.”

Simón knew the twinge in his chest wasn’t rational. He felt it anyway.

“You don’t want to?”

Ámbar looked a little troubled. Maybe it was an unfair question to ask. Maybe it wasn’t. Simón felt like he didn’t know anything at the moment. “It’s not that I don’t want to, it’s just…”

She looked to the side and— Oh… There was that look on her face again. The one she always denied that existed.

She blinked it away soon. She always did. “Actually, you know what?” She cupped his face. “It doesn’t matter.”

And for once, Simón instinct wasn’t to ask. He didn’t want to know what was causing her hesitation. He didn’t want to talk. He wanted to drown himself in a feeling.

So, when Ámbar kissed him, that was exactly what he did.

He poured all of himself into the meeting of their mouths. He held her against him and moved them to the bed, and with every layer they took off, he reminded himself of something.   

She loves me.

Ámbar pulled him down and closer, pressing her body against his and circling him with her legs.

Even if sometimes I annoy her. Even if I don’t have that much to offer. Even if I don’t have a place of my own. She doesn’t care about any of that. She doesn’t want anyone else. She loves me.

He entered her in one slide, groaning at the tight, melting feeling, and Ámbar moaned, sighing as he bottomed out as if it was a relief to have him this close to her. She kissed the side of his neck, his jaw, his temple, and Simón started to move, stealing a gasp from her kiss-swollen lips.

Ámbar loves me.

He kissed her mouth and her neck. Heard her moan.

I know she does.

He thrust harder.

I know she does.

“Hey.”

Ámbar grabbed his face. Simón stopped.

“What’s the matter? Is it a cramp?” She asked breathlessly. “Why the painful face?”

Simón’s chest seized. Ámbar was looking at him with worried eyes.  

He didn’t want to talk.

“Yeah, it’s a cramp,” he said. “But it’ll go away, it doesn’t matter.”

Ámbar’s face softened with sympathy. “Let’s switch positions.”

She guided him gently to lie on his back while she got on top of him. She arched up with her hands on his stomach and moved her hips, getting fully seated on his cock. A little trembling sigh left her lips.

“Better?”

Simón reached for her. “Can you kiss me while you do that?”

Ámbar lowered her upper body, moaning a little at the change of angle, and pressed their lips together. 

Simón held the back of her neck and kissed her fervently as she moved.

Ámbar loves me. I know she does.

…

..

.

----------------------

I played a little with the timeline in this chapter, doing some back and forth, which is something I hadn’t done before. I hope you liked it. I personally love this chapter a lot.

As a fun fact, I’ll tell you that this changed drastically from my first draft back in 2020. The ending, though, with the ‘Ámbar loves me, I know she does’ is the one thing that didn’t change, and I’m very happy I could keep it.

I’M SO EXCITED ABOUT NEXT CHAPTER !!!!

Coming up -> Roads that cross… with the Day of the Dead (Part 1)

[iridescentis]

ive been thinking about my SL next gen ocs recently and ive come to realise the reason why i can't really think of any plot is because these kids have zero trauma - they are all raised in happy loving families who are at least comfortable if not wealthy and very successful

what kind of plot am i supposed to put them through?? making any of them angsty isn't even fun because it's hard to feel sorry for a teenager with a perfect well off family throwing a tantrum

my writing is 90% inner monologue what do these kids have to monologue about??

[purple-fireflies]

try to slip past his defense (without granting innocence)

A/N: Soy Luna Grey’s Anatomy au -- some plot devices will be the same, others may differ. (This is just an excerpt, I'll post the full chapter on ao3 & tumblr when I'm done with it!)

Other notes:

The title is from The Fray’s “How To Save A Life” which is basically the show’s anthem song (that and chasing cars)

Sometimes, certain dialogue may be verbatim from the show (this is only for medical-related plot devices, ie meeting patients, assigning lab reports, establishing exposition, etc) so I’m stating here right now that that specific dialogue belongs to Grey’s Anatomy, and the characters belong to Soy Luna, but everything else belongs to me

Juliana never had the last name given in the show, so for story’s sake, it’s Bahiense.

She’s referred to as “The Nazi” but that’s not meant to offend anyone at all, it was the nickname given in the show, so I’m transferring it here.

In Soy Luna, Ámbar is one year older than Luna, but here she’s the same age as her

In Grey’s Anatomy, there are only 5 people in each group of interns, but for plot’s sake, there are 7 each

In the show, Benicio’s name was never mentioned, so for writing purposes, his last name is going to be Calisto

Luna sits up quickly—bad idea.

She winces at the light coming in through the window and groans at her headache.

And someone stirs next to her.

Exactly how much did she drink?

Enough so she doesn’t remember the name of the smirky boy staring at her, pulling on his boxers.

She is never drinking again.

And he needs to leave.

“You are?” He asks, grinning the grin that probably got Luna into this mess.

“Humiliated on so many levels,” She mutters, “And I’m late, as well. So if you could just, I dunno, leave, that would be perfect,”

“Or we could pick up where we left off?” He asks, with a grin that tells Luna he isn’t used to being rejected.

“No, seriously. I’m late. Which I shouldn’t be on my first day of work, so?”

Take the hint.

“Wait, so you live here?”

Jesus Christ, she’s going to be late.

“Huh? Oh yeah, it was my aunt’s house, but I’m selling it so technically, not for long.” She rushes out.

“I’m sorry,” He replies, actual emotion in his eyes.

“My aunt is still ali—you know, we don’t have to do the thing,”

“We can do whatever you want,”

Really?

“No, the thing. Where you pretend you care or ask me nice questions or whatever. Listen. I’m going to go upstairs and shower, and when I get back, you’re not going to be here, uh…”

What was his name?

He laughs softly, “Matteo.”

“Luna,” She replies, shaking his hand.

“Bye, Luna,” He says winking at her.

She smiles in response and jerks her head towards the door.

“Bye, Matteo,”

And that’s the last she has to see of him.

𝅘𝅥𝅮𝅘𝅥𝅮

“Each of you comes here hopeful. Wanting in on the game. A month ago you were in med school being taught by doctors. Today, you are the doctors. The seven years you spend here as a surgical resident will be the best and worst of your life. You will be pushed to the breaking point. Look around you. Say hello to your competition. Eight of you will switch to an easier specialty. Five of you will crack under the pressure. Two of you will be asked to leave. This is your starting line. This is your arena. How well you play? That's up to you,” The chief, Tamara Rios, says as Luna stumbles into the room, causing everyone to stare at her.

Great job, Valente.

Luna walks around the room. She sees Ámbar, avoiding her gaze as if it was poisonous. She sees another girl, a brunette, looking around the room with wide eyes. She sees Simón, looking back at her, and resists waving at him as a kindergartner would. She walks around the OR a little more and sees two girls so close they might as well be stuck together, one a blonde and the other a redhead. She bumps into another boy, who just huffs softly and brushes her off.

Rude.

𝅘𝅥𝅮𝅘𝅥𝅮

The resident takes 3 more interns, leaving Luna with the brunette she saw at the orientation.

“Only 6 women out of 20,” She says, sighing, as if mad at the statistic itself.

“And I think one of them’s a model. As if that would’ve helped with the whole respect thing,” The redhead interjects.

Luna and Ámbar share a look.

Luna turns to the brunette.

“You’re Nina, right?” She says, smiling.

Nina nods, “Which resident did you get assigned to? I got Bahiense.”

“The Nazi? Me too,” Luna replies.

The guy who bumped into her says, “You got the Nazi? So did I. At least we’ll be tortured together,” He says, trying to lean into Luna’s space.

Luna and Nina exchange a quick look saying, God, can you believe him?

A doctor comes up and calls out “Smith, Valente, Ponce, Simonetti, Medina, Sánchez, Álvarez,”

Ámbar walks up to the guy and asks, “Bahiense?”

He points down the hall.

The seven look down to see who he’s pointing at. It’s a woman slightly shorter than them, using a cane to stand up, ordering some other resident around.

The guy who bumped into her says, “I thought the Nazi would be a guy,”

Sexist much?

“I thought the Nazi would be...you know, the Nazi,” Luna mutters.

“Guys seriously? Maybe it’s just professional jealousy. You know, maybe she’s just brilliant and they’re so jealous so they call her the Nazi. Maybe she’s nice.” The redhead says, and Luna sees her nametag saying Jimena Medina.

The blonde next to her, Yamila Sánchez, Luna supposes, nods.

Which means the only one left that she doesn’t know would be...Luna cranes her neck to see his nametag.

Ramiro Ponce. Who is currently staring wistfully at Yamila.

Please.

“Let me guess, you still have hope left in your heart,” Ámbar says to Jimena, rolling her eyes as if it’s what she was born to do.

Jimena shoots Ámbar a dirty look (wow, Luna wishes her luck with that can of worms) and proceeds to try to shake Dr. Bahiense’s hand when she walks over.

Dr. Bahiense looks at her hand as if it’s infectious.

Jimena, undeterred, continues to say, “Right, well. I’m Jimena Medina, but you can call me Jim if it’s easier,”

Yamila, who seemed to jump out of thin air, says, “And you can call me Yam,”

Bahiense looks so unimpressed Luna thinks that if contempt alone was enough to murder someone, Bahiense would be a serial killer.

Luna shares a quick look with Simón, who gives her a reassuring nod.

Bahiense looks them all up and down, evidently annoyed with being stuck with their group (ouch).

"I have five rules. Memorize them. Rule number one, don't bother sucking up, I already hate you, that's not gonna change,” She starts, then moves to a bench, filled with different objects, “Trauma protocol, phone lists, pagers. Nurses will page you, you answer every page at a run. A run, that's rule number two. Your first shift starts now and lasts forty-eight hours,”

Everyone rushes to grab their pagers, studying them before Bahiense starts talking again.

“You’re interns, grunts, nobodies, bottom of the surgical food chain, you run labs, write orders, work every second night till you drop, and don't complain!”

Bahiense opens what Luna supposes is an on-call room, “On-call rooms. Attendings hog them, sleep when you can, where you can, which brings me to rule number three, if I'm sleeping, don't wake me, unless your patient is actually dying. Rule number four, the dying patient better not be dead when I get there, not only would you have killed someone, you would have also woken me for no good reason, we clear?”

Luna rushes to nod, writing furiously on her notepad, and then goes, oh.

She raises her hand.

Dr. Bahiense looks extremely pissed at Luna for having the audacity to have a question.

“Yes?”

“You said five rules. Those were only four.” Luna says, trying not to wilt against Dr. Bahiense’s gaze.

“Rule number five. When I move, you move,” She says after her pager beeps.

That’s some TV show shit right there.

They break into a run and watch as Dr. Bahiense runs down a couple of doctors.

𝅘𝅥𝅮𝅘𝅥𝅮

The helicopter—yes, a helicopter—lands, and a doctor pulls out a teenager on a stretcher.

This is way too much for Luna on her first day.

“What do we got?” Bahiense asks, and Luna hears Nina correct the grammar under her breath.

As the paramedic puts the girl on the stretcher (while she’s seizing) he says, “Katie Bryce, fifteen-year-old female, new-onset seizures, intermittent for the past week, ID lost en route, started grand mal seizing as we descended,”

Bahiense stops, leaning on her cane for a second, and then it’s all business.

“All right. Yam, put her on the side, 10 milligrams diazepam,” Bahiense groans when Yam does it incorrectly, “No, no, the white lead is on the right, righty whitey, smoke over fire, a large-bore I.V. don't let the blood haemolyse, let's go!”

Yam injects the diazepam and Katie stops seizing.

Luna releases the breath that she wasn’t aware she was holding.

Another doctor, in dark blue scrubs, another doctor comes up in stark contrast to what she and the other interns are wearing. Luna catches his name very quickly. Gastón Perida.

Nina sucks in a breath as he walks past them, Luna realizes with a start.

“So I heard we got a wet fish on dry land?” Dr. Perida says, and Luna catches how Nina stares at him with intent.

Dr. Bahiense, her sudden brashness gone, replaced with respect as she says, “Absolutely Dr. Perida,”

Dr. Perida nods, his eyes brushing over the intern group, stopping at Nina, and he then continues.

“All right, Dr. Bahiense, I’m gonna shotgun her,”

“That means every test in the book, CT, CBC, chem. seven, a tox screen, Nina and Ámbar, you're on labs, Ramiro and Yam, patient workups, Luna, get Katie for a CT, she's your responsibility now,”

Wonderful. Her first day and she gets the really hard patient.

“What about me and Simón?” Jim asks.

Bahiense looks so tired when she stares at Jim, “Right, you two, uh. You get to do rectal exams. Okay?”

Jim and Simón have faces that say no, not okay.

Luna makes a face gloating at Simón and he just glares at her in return.

𝅘𝅥𝅮𝅘𝅥𝅮

Ámbar peeks into the OR where Dr. Bahiense is. Bahiense comes out and looks at her expectantly.

“Um, Katie Bryce's labs came out clear, there's nothing in the results that explain her seizures,” She says, hoping to catch Dr. Bahiense to ask her what she really wants to ask her.

“And…?”

“ I heard every year the attending on-call picks the best intern and, and lets them perform a procedure, during the first shift?” Ámbar asks, glaring back at Dr. Bahiense when she tries to stare her down.

Ámbar Smith does not get stared down.

“Go away. Now.” Dr. Bahiense says, and Ámbar groans internally.

𝅘𝅥𝅮𝅘𝅥𝅮

Yam sighs at yet another ill-tried joke Ramiro attempts.

Flirty in med school and flirty now.

Why should she even bother?

“We have one more patient to work up,” She mumbles and he nods, walking slower to keep up with her pace.

She places her stethoscope and hears for a heartbeat. “Everything seems to be in order,”

“So he’ll be fine?” The woman next to him—presumably his wife—asks.

“If you don’t count that my bacon days are over, sure,” The patient replies.

Yam shares a smirk with Ramiro.

“You'll have surgery tomorrow with Dr. Perida, I hear he's good, and after that, you can have all of the bacon-flavored soy product you can eat,” Ramiro interjects, speaking easily with the patients.

“Please, kill me now,” the patient jokes.

“Wish I could, but I took the Hippocratic Oath for a reason,” Yam replies absently, going over and signing his charts.

She blushes at the weird looks she gets and rolls her eyes at Ramiro’s never-ending smirk.

𝅘𝅥𝅮𝅘𝅥𝅮

Katie. Won’t. Stop. Talking. Which isn’t helping Luna find her way through these halls.

Did she just miss the last turn?

“You’re lost,” the kid says, grumbling.

What do you think I’m trying to fix right now? Luna thinks to herself and just about stops herself from saying.

“I’m not lost.” Luna insists, then remembers she’s a doctor, “How’re you feeling?”

“I’m missing my pageant. How do you think I feel?”

“Right. You’re missing your pageant.”

This poor girl is in the hospital with seizures and the only thing that she can think about is her pageant.

Luna feels sorry for her.

“The Spokane Teen Miss? I was in the top ten after the first two rounds. This is my year. I could've won,”

Luna absently hums and realizes that they’re going the wrong way. Again.

She turns around and pushes Katie back the same way.

“You are so lost. What are you, new?”

Luna chokes back a laugh. Yeah, something like that.

𝅘𝅥𝅮𝅘𝅥𝅮

Yam watches Ramiro try to give their patient a central line. It’s not working.

And it’s visibly hurting the patient.

She groans and pushes past him, about to put the line in when Dr. Perida waltzes into their room and raises his eyebrows.

“Out.” He says, his nice demeanor replaced with annoyance.

Do all of the residents and attendings just hate interns on principle?

Yam glares at Ramiro and pulls him out, watching from the window as Perida puts the line in perfectly.

“Bet you used to mess up a lot when you started out,” Ramiro tries to joke with Perida.

Yam just winces and nods at Dr. Perida as she leaves.

Ramiro at least has the decency to look sheepish.

This is going to be a long shift.

𝅘𝅥𝅮𝅘𝅥𝅮

Luna sits, taking Katie’s patient history and generally listening to her incessant babbling.

“I twisted my ankle. I do rhythmic gymnastics, which is like, really cool. Nobody else does it. And I tripped over my ribbon, and I didn't get stuck with someone this clueless. And that was like, a nurse,” Katie says.

Luna bites back a retort.

𝅘𝅥𝅮𝅘𝅥𝅮

Simón groans at the plate of food in front of him. The number of rectal exams he and Jim had to do was enough to take the appetite away from anyone.

“This shift is 80 hours long, you have to eat, Simón,” Ámbar mutters, her gaze hardening after leaving Simón’s eyes.

“I can’t.”

“Eat.” Ámbar insists, pushing Simón’s plate towards him.

“You try eating after performing 17 rectal exams. The Nazi hates me. I want to puke.” Simón says, his face contorting.

“Just don’t puke near me,” Ámbar mutters.

“The Nazi’s just a resident. Attendings hate me,” Ramiro replies.

“Did you know Luna is inbred?” Nina asks, and all heads whip to her immediately.

Partly because no one expected the shy ingenue to say anything.

And partly because Luna being inbred is very surprising.

Simón hurries to say “It’s not uncommon to be the kid of a doctor,”

“I mean royally inbred. Her mother is Lili Benson.”

“Shut up. The Lili Benson?” Jim asks.

Nina nods.

“Who’s Lili Benson?” Ramiro asks.

“The Benson method? Where’d you go to med school, Antarctica?” Yam says incredulously.

No one notices how Simón and Ámbar tense up as Yam continues talking. “She was one of the biggest women surgeons. She practically invented th—”

“She won the Harper Avery. Twice.” Jim says, rolling her eyes at Ramiro.

“So I didn’t know one thing.”

“I would kill to have Lili Benson as my mother. Scratch that, I’d kill to be Lili Benson.” Nina says, her eyes alight.

“Katie Bryce is a pain in the ass. I swear if it wouldn’t get me fired, I’d strangle her with my bare hands.” Luna says, walking over to their table, sitting next to Nina.

She seems to miss the wistful glance Simón throws her way.

She does seem to notice the way everyone’s staring at her.

“What?”

Nina opens her mouth to say something but stops immediately when Dr. Perida walks over.

“Good afternoon interns. It's posted, but I thought I'd share the good news personally. As you know, the honor of performing the first surgery is reserved for the intern that shows the most promise. As I'm running the OR today, I get to make that choice,” Dr. Perida says, and Luna feels a rush of hope.

Or. Felt. Seeing as Dr. Perida is clapping Ramiro on his back (it was kind of worth it to see him choke a little on his salad) and saying, “Ramiro Ponce. You’ll be scrubbing in on an appendectomy this afternoon. Congrats.”

Luna deflates.

She wanted that surgery.

She wanted it really badly.

“Me?” Ramiro asks, not quite believing it. Or maybe he’s just wilting under Yam’s intense glare.

“Enjoy.” Dr. Perida says, nodding to everyone.

Luna doesn’t fail to notice that he’s staring at Nina while he says that.

Nina doesn’t fail to notice either, if the blush on her cheeks has anything to say about it.

Ramiro looks like he’s still in shock.

𝅘𝅥𝅮𝅘𝅥𝅮

“I’ve seen his file. Ramiro Ponce barely even made the cut to get into the program. He’s not your guy.” Juliana says to Gastón, raising her eyebrows.

“Oh, he’s my guy alright,” Gastón responds, absently checking the labs.

Juliana sighs, “Every year you pick your guy, and every year your guy suffers most.”

Gastón smiles. Everyone who knows him knows his easy nature, his inclination to being on the side of less serious.

Unless of course, it has to do with work.

“Terrorize one, and the rest fall in line, Bahiense.”

“I get it. I respect it. But Ramiro? Ponce is a puppy. A cute little puppy that is waiting to be killed. He can’t take the pressure. Think about it, Perida.” Juliana says, walking away.

𝅘𝅥𝅮𝅘𝅥𝅮

Luna watches as Katie’s parents stumble into Katie’s room.

The look of pure worry and fear on their faces makes Luna warm to them immediately.

A couple of hours ago, their kid was supposed to go on stage and wear a sash and be a kid.

Now they’re scared that their kid could be dying.

“Katie?” The mom asks, trying to hold her hand.

Luna falters, not wanting to break their little window.

“They gave her a sedative for the CT scan, so she’s just a tad groggy,” Luna says, standing up.

“Will she be okay?”

“Does she need surgery?” The parents ask at the same time.

Their urging faces make Luna wish she had an answer.

“Uh. You know, I’m not her doctor, I am a doctor, just not hers. Anyway, I’m not Katie’s doctor. I’ll go find him.” Luna rambles.

Luna finds Bahiense, “Katie’s parents have questions. Should I get Dr. Perida to answer them?”

“What? No. Perida’s off the case. The case is the new neuro attending’s case, Dr. Balsano. He’s over there.” Bahiense says, pointing to…

Oh god.

Please.

Not today.

This is not happening.

Matteo turns and stops dead in his tracks, his eyes clicking in recognition.

This is not happening.

Luna is not dealing with this.

She turns away from his gaze and walks away. What is she going to do?

She walks towards the stairwell and gets grabbed in.

She stumbles and Matteo catches her, running a hand through his hair, which Luna grudgingly admits looks not bad.

No. Luna. Stop it. Luna. No.

“Dr. Balsano. Did you need anything?” Luna asks, trying to not look at flustered as she is.

Matteo looks positively ecstatic at this turn of events. “Dr. Balsano? This morning it was Matteo. Now it’s Dr. Balsano.”

Luna dearly wants to slap that smirk off of his face.

“Dr. Balsano, we should pretend this never happened,”

“What never happened? You sleeping with me last night or kicking me out this morning because I don’t know about you, but both are memories I’d dearly love to keep.”

This guy really can’t take a hint.

“No. No. No. This is not happening. There are no memories of anything. I’m not the girl in the bar and you’re not the guy in the bar. I am your intern, Dr. Balsano.”

“I see how it is. You took advantage of me last night and now you want to forget about it.” He says, smirking incessantly.

“I most certainly did not,”

“I was drunk and vulnerable. Not to mention, insanely good-looking,”

“You’re not that good-looking,” Luna says, while her traitorous brain says Liar over and over.

“Sure I’m not. But last night, I was wearing my red shirt and I was extremely good-looking and you took advantage,”

He’s not entirely wrong about the red shirt.

“I didn—”

“Want to take advantage again? Say, Friday night?”

He’s smiling again, only this time it’s a smile, not a smirk.

Maybe Luna wouldn’t have said no if he wasn’t an attending.

“No. You’re an attending. I’m your intern. And I would seriously appreciate it if you stopped looking at me like that,” Luna says, glaring at him. It doesn’t seem to deter him.

“Like what?” He asks innocently as if he has no idea what he’s doing right now.

“Like you’ve slept with me,”

Matteo smirks.

“Dr. Balsano. Have you ever considered the fact that this is inappropriate?” Luna breathes.

He doesn’t say anything.

Luna sighs and leaves, the door slamming behind her.

𝅘𝅥𝅮𝅘𝅥𝅮

“Open. Identify. Irrigate. Close.” Jim instructs, and Yam sighs.

“Jim, I think he’d know,”

“He looks like he’s going to puke,” Jim shoots back.

Yam looks at Ramiro and says, “We have to go to the gallery now. Don’t screw it up.”

They walk up and take a seat behind Luna and Nina.

The intern above them says, “He’s going to faint. He’s a fainter.”

Yam fights back a if you only knew.

“Nah, I’m guessing code brown. Right in his pants,” another intern snickers.

Yam and Jim share a look.

Sure, she’s not a huge fan of Ramiro but he helped her a lot in med school. He helped Jim a lot in med school.

This is just savage.

“He’s going to sweat himself unsterile,”

“10 bucks he’s messing up the McBird,” someone says.

Oh god, they’re betting on Ramiro.

“20 says he cries,” Ámbar says, and sends an apologetic look at Luna.

“I’ll put 20 on him melting down completely,”

“50 says he pulls the whole thing off.” Yam hears herself say.

Luna grins at her, “That’s one of us down there. The first one of us. Where the hell is your loyalty?”

Yam breathes out.

The entire gallery, while it was buzzing before, is now silent.

“75 he can’t even ID the appendix,” Ámbar says again.

This time it’s Simón shooting her the look.

“I’ll take that action,” someone says.

Eric, Yam realizes.

The idiot from their bio class.

Nina elbows Luna when Dr. Perida says, “Okay, Ponce, let’s see what you can do,”

Jim breathes in quickly and Yam also holds her breath.

Do it right do it right please do it right.

“Here it comes,” Simón says.

“Scalpel,” Ramiro says and the nurse hands it to him, echoing the word.

Ramiro takes it and everyone cheers.

Perida motions for them to shut up as Nina says, “God, he’s quite a bit of trouble,”

Ramiro gets ready to cut as Perida instructs, “More pressure.”

Ramiro manages to do it without any mishaps and then proceeds to say, “Pickups.”

The scrub nurse echoes the command and hands him the instrument.

They go on for a little bit, and Yam thinks he might actually pull it off.

Until it goes downhill after Ramiro takes out the appendix.

Perida mutters an angry remark as all the interns in the gallery call him Double O’7.

Jim shares a worried look with Yam and asks Luna, “What does 007 mean?”

Luna sends them an apologetic look.

“License to Kill.”

𝅘𝅥𝅮𝅘𝅥𝅮

The cool air rushes into the basement that Bahiense’s interns have settled into.

The majority of them pile onto the gurney as Nina goes to the vending machine looking for some chocolate.

Luna winces at the whine that Ramiro makes as he walks into their “hideout”.

“They’re calling me 007 aren’t they?”

Luna groans and shoves Simón’s head off of Ámbar’s lap so she can fall asleep in it.

She’s too tired to deal with any human interaction that requires her to, you know, have any sort of emotional security.

“No one’s calling you 007,” Jim and Yam lie (but they do it in unison so like, props).

Ramiro shoots Yam an annoyed look, “I was on an elevator and Eric whispered 007,”

Ámbar pushes Luna’s head off of her lap and glares at Ramiro, “How many times do we have to go through with this? 5, 10, 15? Please tell me soon or I’m going to rim your head off.”

Ramiro sits on the gurney and groans “Eric whispered 007 in the elevator and everyone laughed,”

Luna picks her head up from where she’s trying (unsuccessfully) to fall asleep and actually feels sorry for the guy for a second but the aching limbs and pounding migraine make it kind of hard to console the poor guy.

“They weren’t laughing at you,” Jim says.

“You sure?”

“Would we lie to you?” Jim asks.

“Yes,” Ramiro, Ámbar, Simon and Luna say.

“007 is a state of mind,” Nina yells from the vending machine and throws a packet of chips at Luna as she walks back.

“Says the girl who finished first at freaking Stanford,” Simón yells at her.

Nina just rolls her eyes in response.

Just as Luna finally feels the call of sleep, her pager beeps.

She just wanted 5 minutes.

“It’s 911. Damn. I gotta go,” and Luna takes off at a sprint.

“I should’ve gone into geriatrics. No one cares if you kill an old person.” Ramiro continues after Luna leaves.

“Yes. Yes, they do care if you kill an old person. Plus. Surgery is hot. Geriatrics is… Well, it’s for freaks who live in the basement with their mom,” Simón replies.

“I have got to move out of my mom’s,” Ramiro mutters.

Nina and Ámbar share a grin.

𝅘𝅥𝅮𝅘𝅥𝅮

Luna’s out of breath by the time she gets to Katie’s room.

She really has to go to the gym more.

“Finally,” Katie mutters.

Luna looks around, seeing if anything’s wrong.

Oh god, please tell me she has a good reason for this. She has a good reason. Maybe. Hopefully.

“Are you alright?” The nurse paged me 911.”

“Ha, it took me forever to get her to even pick up the phone. I had to go full Hulk.”

“Wait. So there’s nothing wrong? Nothing medically wrong?”

“I’m bored.” Katie shrugs.

Luna likes to think she’s a nice person. A little absentminded at times, but a nice person nonetheless.

Katie, however, is really testing the whole “do no harm” thing.

“I am not your babysitter. I am not your cruise director. You can’t just page me for anything.”

“Don’t be so overdramatic. My pageant is supposed to be on cable, but it’s like this hospital lives in the ’90s. I can’t find anything. If someone who’s not me gets the crown, I should at least get to see it.”

Luna takes a deep breath. She’s a teenager. You were also stupid as a teenager.

“Okay. This is a hospital. There are sick people here. Go to sleep and stop wasting my time.”

“I can’t sleep, my head’s all full.”

“Those are called thoughts. Run with them.” Luna says in a fit of anger.

She’s been working for almost 24 hours and she just wanted 2 minutes of rest.

But maybe she shouldn’t have snapped at a patient.

But that’s a lesson for another day.

𝅘𝅥𝅮𝅘𝅥𝅮

Luna and Nina are in the ER when they hear a loud voice.

“4B has post-op pneumonia. Let’s get her started on antibiotics, okay?” An intern says to a nurse.

Someone didn’t tell the newbie not to piss off the nurses.

“Are you sure it’s the right diagnosis?”

“Oh gee, I don’t know. I’m only an intern. But here’s an idea. You go and spend 4 years in med school and then talk to me. She’s got shortness of breath and fever. It’s post-op pneumonia. Start antibiotics.” He sneers.

Luna rolls her eyes.

The same guy walks over to her and Nina, “God, I hate nurses. I’m Benicio. I’m with Jeremy. You guys are with the Nazi, right?”

“You know it doesn’t have to be pneumonia, right? It could be splinting. Or she could have aPE.”

He sneers again (does it ever leave his face?), “As I said, I hate nurses.” and walks away.

“Well, he’s an absolute idiot,” Nina says, shooting daggers towards Benicios across the room.

Luna’s about to respond, but her pager beeps again.

“Dammit, Katie.”

This time she walks.

𝅘𝅥𝅮𝅘𝅥𝅮

[weirdthoughtsandideas]

When seeing the most popular fics in the Violetta and Soy Luna tags on ao3, you can see what people really prefer to read about. And it’s not so much non-canon ships

Ok, so checking the Violetta tag, the most popular fic is my season 1 rewrite (hashtag no flex). Honestly I think it gained this because 1. Back when it was posted, Violetta legit had like 10 fics. Which meant that, well, whenever someone posted a fic, you read it, regardless what it was about. And it’s been so long now that it has gained that amount of hits. So I wouldn’t say it’s really the ”definition” of what people like to read. However, number 2 and 3 in the hits list are two leonetta fics (which ALSO are written by me… which feels a bit funny because it’s also the ONLY leonetta centric fics I’ve written). And honestly, I think it has to do with the fact that leonetta is the most popular canon ship and, I myself when I was younger LOVED reading about them, and I know how much Leonetta holds so many people chokehold. I was one of them. I myself don’t think it’s as fun to write about Leonetta anymore even if they’re still dear to me, and I don’t think my fics focusing on them are my best work, but they excite young teenage girls a lot and I get that.

However, after this? The non-canon ship fics starts to flood in. It’s Luty, it’s Franletta, it’s Natila… WLW fics are dominating. I mean, sure, the fics about Leonetta have the most hits, but relationship wise, who does people want to write about the most?

The queer girls own the Violetta tag on ao3 it’s true

But the Soy Luna tag? Yeah, there is very little non-canon ships that are getting the most hits. It’s a very consistent theme there: Simbar.

Simbar this, Simbar that, Simbar doing anything and everything with each other. The majority of the first page is just tagged with Simbar, even if it’s not the only ship.

But canon ships dominate the SL ao3 tag. I mean, when it’s two boys or girls it’s most often just tagged platonically, with some few exceptions.

(Also 10 of those Jim/Yam fics are mine… I was surprised with how little content they had when they seemed to be such a well liked ship… I guess people just found it more interesting with the canon ships than with them, since they canonically didn’t end up with someone).

So… Yeah, it’s not so much non-canon ships maybe in Soy Luna, but in VIOLETTA? The queers awoke and blasted off

[countessofravenclaw]

Like the Red Rose blooms in the Oxford Garden: Chapter one

Sometimes when your heart breaks... it feels like there is no way to fix it. No matter what you try. All the memories get left behind as something unfinished... But maybe, there is to way to fix it, A second chance. Some way to finish the story you two started writing because it was never the end, but just a part of the story... even if you have to travel far to achieve it.

I forget about you long enough, to remember why I needed you

Breathe.

Just stand still and breathe… she could do this. 

Just breathe, in and out. 

The noise of everyone clapping and cheering rang in her ears. It felt like the noise was drowning her. 

Breathe. Inhalar y exhalar. No one would notice. She could do this.

Nina felt her hands going numb as she tried to control her ever more shallow breath. She could not move. The video Delfi and Jazmin had shown had left her in a trance. It had woken something inside of her that she had thought had been buried… she had convinced herself that she had buried it. 

She had to get out of there. Out of the crowd. She could not ruin Luna’s party like this.

She willed her feet to move. Nina glanced around the yard hoping that no one had noticed her. She didn’t know what she was supposed to say to anyone…

She quickly found her way back inside the mansion and started climbing up the staircase before collapsing at the top, her head in her hands.

Everything was still spinning in her eyes, as she tried to balance out her breathing. She could not afford to have a panic attack right now. She couldn’t… 

In and out. Just breathe. Why had she been under an impression that she was able to keep her panic attacks under control? She took another shaky breath. 

The spinning started to slow down and she could not hear her racing heart so loudly anymore. The attack had started to subside and Nina was able to take a deep breath again. 

She ran her hands through her hair and tears started falling down her face. Why was this happening to her?  Why had the video gotten to her like that, she… she knew why. She just had been convincing herself that it was not true, it could have not been true anymore…

…what was so wrong with her that she was not able to get over it? Over him. She already should have, she thought she had. But just those unexpected glimpses —why had she even been caught up off guard? She knew that he had been there, she had also been there— had brough such a surge of emotions… just like when she had heard his voice again after so many months, a months ago. Everything had just come crashing back. The joy, the pain, the way she missed him… she still did, because she love—

NO! No, no no. She could not do this, she had Eric…

…Eric— What was she doing? She did not know. She didn’t know anything. More tears came from her eyes. 

How had it come to this?

“Nina?” Suddenly she heard a voice from behind her.

***

Matteo was walking around the grounds of the mansion with Luna after they had all sung happy birthday to her and the girls had showcased that video. The party was still going strong, and the energy was still being super high. Knowing Luna, the party would definitely go on until midnight if not longer. 

Matteo's own mood didn’t exactly reflect everyone else’s, but he was able to keep it to himself. It was Luna’s day after all, and he did love seeing her so happy, and Luna really was having time of her life, basically leaping on every step she took. 

“Wasn’t the video so nice?” Luna asked after trying to do a pirouette in heels on the grass, and almost falling on her face onto said grass. “I legit almost cried. We have been through so much, and so many adventures are to come, as long as we are all siempre juntos.”

“Yeah, it was nice,” Matteo agreed, lowering his head just slightly, “if only we were all together,” he said mostly to himself. Yes, it was true that the video had dampened his mood. It just brought back some memories and it was not the easiest seeing the footage of all the times with Gastón. 

They hadn’t talked that much during the past month after that call about Nina and Eric. Gastón was clearly closing himself off, even towards Matteo. Matteo knew Gastón and knew that being in denial was never good for him. He was not coming back to Buenos Aires for the summer, saying that he had gotten a coveted internship at London and could not afford to miss it… well he was the son of Isla and Marco Perida after all.

He had made sure Luna had invited Gastón to the party, but he had declined, even if it would have only been for couple days. Matteo though knew the real reason why he was keeping himself at the other side of the Atlantic. 

“What did you say?”

“Oh nothing.”

“Do you see Nina anywhere?” Luna asked looking around

“Hmmm,” Matteo said glancing around. Eric seemed to be talking to Simon and Pedro, so Nina at least was not with him. “I don’t know, maybe she went to the bathroom or something, don’t worry.”

“Oh I am not, just wondering,” Luna shrugged, “I feel like she kind of vanished after the video. I wanted to ask her opinion on it.”

“She’ll probably come back soon.”

“Hopefully. Because this party got me thinking about that we should have a graduation party…”

“Luna, grandpa wants a picture with us, right now.” Ambar suddenly sprinted in front of Luna and Matteo. Mateo still did not understand how all the girls could maneuver so smoothly with those deathtrap shoes. 

“Okay, I’ll be right there,” Luna let go of Matteo’s hand and dashed off. Matteo was about to follow her before Ambar stopped him. 

“Matteo, I left my phone to my room and Simon is too busy with the band. Can you get it for me?”

“Actually I was going to—”

“I was not asking, Matteo,” Ambar looked at Matteo with her more threatening eyes, “Go get my phone.”

“Okay, okay,” Matteo shook his head and started walking towards the door. If you were the boyfriend of the birthday girl, your job apparently was the delivery boy of the hosts. Okay, not that he really minded. He could go get Ambar her phone and be nice.

Matteo walked back to the mansion and climbed over the side staircase to Ambar‘s room. He grabbed her phone from her bed—how had she even forgotten it there?

He was checking his own phone as he came out of Ambar’s room. Matteo sighed of relief when he noticed that Gastón had actually answered to his latest message. They still needed to talk but full on phone call would need to be left to the next day. Matteo also was thinking that maybe he should take some time, probably after Luna’s graduation, to go visit England. They needed to talk face to face, as he was getting quite worried about Gastón…

He was about to turn back towards the side staircase when he heard a noise that seemed to be coming from down the hall. 

Matteo did not know if this was against his better judgment —Well he had been told multiple times that he had no “better judgment”— or not, to go after a suspicious noise in a mansion that could as well be haunted. Also, disturbed people had attempted to burn it down too, multiple times, but his curiosity got the better of him. He could fight off a burglar if it came to it. He slipped Ambar’s phone to his pocket and started moving.

As Matteo walked further in the hallway, he heard the noise again. Now more clearly. It sounded like someone was crying. 

There was no doubt about it as he approached the grand staircase of the Mansion. As he walked closer to it, he saw a figure huddled at the top of the stairs. 

Matteo instantly knew who it was, even when they were not facing him. He had witnessed Jazmin working on all the girls’ hair before the party, because she had insisted of doing his and Simon’s hair as well —Pedro had ran away. That brown straight hair with a half updo, as Jazmin had called it, was unmistakable. 

“Nina?”

Matteo saw her jump and frantically turn around. He had obviously scared her. Her glasses were in her hand and face tearstained.

“It is me, Matteo. What are you doing here?” He asked as he started walking towards her, “Are you okay?”

“...Yes…uhm, Well… no,” She was trying to wipe the tears off her face. “It’s stupid.”

“I doubt that if you are like this.” Matteo pointed out. “Do you want me to get someone?”

“NO! No, please … don’t get Eric.” Nina’s voice had quickly gotten fast and desperate… before she buried her face into her hands and, burst back into tears. Matteo furrowed his brow. It was pretty interesting that she had said that… specifically not wanting her boyfriend present. 

Hold up a second, were they even boyfriend and girlfriend? Matteo honestly had never heard Nina call Eric that. Not that Matteo had even meant him. He was never going to lie and say that he even liked the guy or whatever he had with Nina, but as Luna had said, he was not really allowed an opinion… but you gotta have some solidarity with your brother.

Matteo stepped on the stairs and sat down next to Nina. He did not wanna leave her alone while she was like this. He had gotten to know her much better during the past year, and he definitely held affection and protectiveness towards her, as she was extremely important to two people Matteo loved the most: Luna and Gastón. 

“Did something happen?” Matteo draped his arms around her, as he remembered that Gastón had mentioned in passing in some side sentence that Nina calmed down easily from physical contact. 

“No, nothing happened.” Nina sobbed, “That is the problem. I— I don’t feel anything… or at least the right things.”

“Are we talking about Eric…?” Matteo questioned carefully. Nina just nodded. Matteo tried to mask the smile on his face. He had been right, and had not just imagined the nothingness between Nina and Eric. He had always failed to see what ever Luna was always gushing about being so cute. 

“I have no right to be unhappy. I shouldn’t be, but I am. I can’t help it. Everyone was so happy for me, I just thought that, since it seemed to make so much sense to everyone, it would make sense to me too.” Nina seemed to start calming down, even when her voice still seemed quite shaky. 

“No one can tell you how you should be feeling,” Matteo responded. “I learned that the hard way.”

“I thought that I was over it. That I could move on. But I don’t know anything anymore. I don’t know what I am doing.”

Matteo absolutely knew who the topic had changed into. “Honestly, we both know that I won’t be unbiased on that front, but it never is a good idea to lie to yourself. Everyone will understand.”

“Matteo, he doesn’t love me anymore. He said he was happy for me… ” Nina shook her head, “...I, I wasn’t happy about that. I don’t know what I was expecting him to say. That he would come back and fight for me? I just convinced myself that I could get over it.”

Matteo really wanted to tell her the truth about that phonecall but he knew that it was not his to tell. They needed to talk that out themselves. “Nina, you know Gastón as well as I do. Do you really think he would ever stand in the way, if he thought he was in the way of your happiness.”

“No, he wouldn’t.” Small smile formed onto Nina’s lips. “But I don’t know. I don’t know anything anymore, about my future, about anything. It is a blurr. I have messed everything up for myself and I can’t see a way forward.”

“I know how that feels.” Matteo responded, “Trust me, it will all become much cleared if you really think what you want and care about. And do not think that you will disappoint anyone. Everyone loves you.”

Matteo got up and offered his hand to Nina. “I think we better head back. They’ll be having all the fun without us.”

“I can’t go back out there,” Nina shook her head. “I can’t face Eric… this is not the time and place for it. I need to get my head in straight. And… Luna will know something is wrong. I know I need to tell her, but I can’t do it here, she’d drop everything. It is her party, I can’t do that.”

“I can make up an excuse for you, if you want to slip away.” Matteo offered as Nina got up from the stairs. 

“Thank you,” Nina hugged him.

“Someone once asked me to take care of you,” Matteo hugged her back, “I don’t think I succeeded in that, but maybe I can still redeem myself. You are my friend, and we all stick together.”

“We do.” Nina smiled at him and started walking down the stairs. Matteo turned around and took the route he had come from.

“Here’s your phone,” Matteo threw the phone at Ambar as he got back to the garden. Ambar, Simon and Luna had been chatting with Delfi and Pedro next to the band gear. 

“Finally!” Ambar said as she effortlessly caught the phone. “What took you so long?”

“I could not find it.” Matteo remarked as he joined the others. “Maybe you should have sent someone that actually knows the current layout of your room… like Simon.”

Ambar looked like she wanted to snark something back at Matteo, but she just rolled her eyes, flipped her ponytail and wrapped her arm around Simon’s arm. Matteo grabbed Luna’s arm and pulled her a little further away from the circle. 

“I ran into Nina while I was on the goose chase for Ambar’s phone,” He started.

“Oh, did she come back out with you?” Luna questioned.

“No, she went home.”

“Why?”

“She had a huge migraine,” Matteo lied smoothly. That was something that would sound believable and not make anyone too worried. “Probably from the sun. And the festival this morning was probably exhausting for her as it was her performance. So not really surprising.”

“Oh noh,” Luna looked alarmed, “I should call her, make sure she is alright.”

“Luna, she knew you would make a huge fuss,” Matteo took Luna by the shoulders, “and she didn’t want to take attention away. It is your big day after all, she didn’t want to ruin it.”

“Oh,” Luna looked down, “okay then.”

“Call her tomorrow,” Matteo suggested, “Now come on. Are we just going to let that delicious looking cake melt in the sun?”

“Oh, did I tell you that Mom made it double chocolate?” Luna started pulling Matteo towards the cake. Her attention was successfully diverted. 

***

3:00 AM. Nina rolled on her side in her bed. You should never look at the alarm clock when you were having a hard time sleeping, but there she was. 

Not that it could make things any worse than they already were. Thoughts swirled in her head and she was unable to get them in order. 

Matteo was right, she should just be true to her heart and listen to it and not her head. 

In her head, being with Eric made sense. He was nice and sweet to her. He reminded her of herself… when she had been younger. She should give him a chance, she owed him that… Everyone thought so… but did she think so? 

What did she feel? She had felt content at the start because… because everyone had been so happy. Happy for her, because she was happy. Had she actually been? Been happy? 

She tried of thinking of Eric. Being with him had not been unpleasant, just, something was missing. She was not really sure about what she felt for him. Did she feel anything for him? The only thing she felt right now, was guilt. Not the overwhelming warmth and happiness that made her heart race. Everything that just a voice over the phone could cause.

She didn’t not feel the buzz when she touched his hand or the constant need to be close to him. There was nothing physical about the relationship. No attraction… Maybe it would come with time…

Be honest with yourself Nina … the truth was that… she did not want any of that. She could not even imagine it. It was not just nerves because she was inexperienced, because it was not true. She had done it before. 

She and Gastón had gone all the way just three months into the relationship. She could never regret it, it had been incredible. Any time he had even just touched her, the feeling was indescribable. She had not felt something like that since… 

Even just the way he had known something was wrong from her voice after saying once sentence. She missed that too.

Tears crept their way back into her eyes. The searing pain in her heart returned in waves. She could not keep going like this. He was gone, but that didn’t change the things with Eric. She could not keep doing this to him. She had seen firsthand what happened when the relationship was stretched too thin while there was nothing left. .

She almost instinctively reached out to the drawer in her nightstand. Her hands found the fabric easily, she never could have been able to get rid of it. Nina wrapped the green scarf around her left hand and laid back on the bed. 

Next morning she was not feeling that better, so she tried to keep busy. Alongside all of her personal problems, she still had to figure out, well, the future. 

The graduation was going to be in three days and she still had not finished any college applications. Her mother had surprisingly not been super overbearing on the topic, but Nina had the feeling that if she didn’t present her with some answers soon, Ana’s patience was going to run thin. 

This should be easy, if only she actually knew what she was doing. 

Nina was sitting on the floor of her room and had probably a thousand different university leaflets in front of her. Yeah, honestly, she was trying to focus on this to avoid the eventual conversation with Eric. But this also needed to be done, so what better time than now?

She reached for one of the leaflets and looked it through. Why was this so hard? She had thought that after figuring out the major, picking the school would come automatically. 

“Could I just get some kind of sign?” She leaned into her bed and sighed. How had she let this come to this? 

She thought back to year ago. She had had the perfect plan then, which would have given her everything she had ever wanted. But she had let that all go. She really didn’t know what she wanted, huh? Why had she stayed? Staying for the writing post seemed ridiculous right now, but she had not known it then. She had given up all her happiness, all her clarity for that, and had ended up here—Why had she done it all?

Suddenly her phone started ringing, making Nina jump for a second. She frantically looked around to see where she even had left it before getting up to get it from her nightstand. That must have been Luna, probably wanting to ask why she had disappeared last night… the call was coming from an unknown number. So it was not Luna.

“Nina Simonetti,” Nina answered the phone. 

“Nina, Hello,” a vaguely familiar male voice rang from the other end of the line. “this is Manuel Ramirez, the headmaster of Blake South College.” That's why the voice had sounded familiar.

“Hello, Mr. Ramirez,” Nina answered, not really sure why she was receiving calls from the headmaster.

“First I want to say how sorry I and all the faculty are that you won’t be giving a speech at your Graduation ceremony this Saturday.” Probably about two weeks ago after they had gotten their final exam results back Nina had received the news that she was the top student of their graduating class. Traditionally that would mean the she would have been required to give a speech at the graduation, but thankfully she had been allowed to turn it down. She would never have the courage for a speech. From what she knew, the one giving the speech was the student who had gotten highest results after her. She did not know who that was, but thats how Gastón had given the speech last year. 

“I know, but as I told Mr. Perez already, I don’t really like to give speeches and I am sure the one who has been offered the honor will be more than up to the task and I am really looking forward to hearing their speech.”

“We understand that,” Mr. Ramirez continued, “and that is not what I called you to discuss. Well, as you know already, you received the highest marks across the board. So, I have the honor to inform you that you have received the Educación Internacional Para Jóvenes Prometedores Del Mañana scholarship. It is sponsored by the city hall of Buenos Aires, and is highly coveted. Blake is one of the rare schools that has the qualifications for its students to even receive it.”

Nina was too stunned to speak for a second. She had not expected this at all. “I am sorry… I don’t think I have ever heard of that.”

“Only the top graduating student can qualify for the scholarship, and even then it is not guaranteed,” Mr. Ramirez explained, “No one at Blake has received it in a couple of years due to varying circumstances.”

“Yea, but, what is it exactly?”

“Like the name suggests, it is a scholarship for international study programs. It covers five-year University tuition, which means to masters, plus the student accommodations for a one year.”

“Wow… uhm, that is a lot,” Nina was still wrapping her head around all of it. “Does this apply to all the schools?”

“Not all of them, of course. All the Universities included in it are ones with teaching languages other than Spanish. This excludes most of the Spanish and Latin American universities. The latest schools added to the scholarship are from the Nordic region of Europe including The University of Helsinki and the Aalto University.”

“So this is for learning new cultures?”

“I won’t beat around the bush Nina,” Mr. Ramirez continued. “This scholarship is for you to go to an Ivy League school. Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and of course Cambridge and Oxford. Blake is a coveted upper secondary school and we expect great things from our alumni. We have not had an alumna in a noteworthy school outside of Argentina in five years until last year when one of our graduates went to Oxford. He is keeping the name of Blake South College up, and we have all the faith that you do the same.”

“Of course, but I need time to think.”

“I’ll sent you all the detail via email. I am sure you’ll make the school proud.”

“Thank you.” Nina said and heard the call to be disconnected. 

Wow. She had had so much on her plate that scholarships had not even crossed her mind, not to mention massive one like this. It was huge. 

Somehow automatically her hand had reached for another university leaflet… Oxford. The looming, beautiful building stared at her right from the page. The Head Master just had to mention Oxford. 

Was this the sign? Did she believe in signs? She didn’t know. 

Just… after everything had happened, she had just thought that she would spend the rest of her life in Buenos Aires. Moving away had been a fleeting dream, a burst of courage… because she would have not been doing it alone. Now… she was afraid. 

The scholarship was way too good of an opportunity to not take advantage of it. She wasn’t an idiot. Right after they had divorced, her parents had set up a trust for her future education, which they had put in a certain amount monthly. Nina’s Blake tuition had been covered from that. Of course, her parents had tried to one-up each other on their contributions, plus Mora had made couple of donations to it as well. Nina did not know the full amount, but she knew that it was a fair amount. But there definitely was something super tempting to not needing to rely on it. 

Gastón had gone to Oxford with Isla and Marco paying everything out of pocket for him, and of course he had been extremely grateful about it, but Nina knew that he had felt some kind of way about it. Being the sole child of millionaires was not as easy as it maybe seemed. 

“Why are you in my head again?” Of course, she had ended up thinking Gastón again.

All a sudden her phone rang again. This time it was Luna. 

“Hey Luna,” Nina picked up the call.

“Ninaaa!” Luna’s bubbly voice came from the other end. “Hiiii!”

“I am glad you called,” Nina started speaking, “I am so sorry that I left yesterday. I didn’t want to make a scene…”

“It’s all good. Matteo told me you got a headache.” Luna responded, “How are you feeling? Any better?”

“Yes, it went away during the night.” Headache? Matteo clearly was quite good at the excuse game, which should have not been surprising. Nina did get stress migraines from time to time. “I am fine now.” She felt really bad about lying to Luna like this, but she didn’t know what to say. She needed to figure everything out. But she would tell Luna the truth. 

“Okay well, what are you doing now?” 

“Universities. Trying to sort all that out before Mom’s patience runs out.”

“Uuuuu, me too!” Luna’s voice got even more excited. “I can’t believe that we are graduating on Saturday. Matteo has been helping me and Ambar is taking me shopping today. What are you wearing?”

“Didn’t I tell you?” Nina questioned. “Mora sent me a dress from her upcoming collection.”

“Take a picture. I wanna see it. Can you come over tomorrow? I wanna talk to you about the plans I have made about community college.”

*

“I missed you!” Luna jumped to hug Nina as she opened the Mansion door the next day. 

“You didn’t see me for a day.”

“Yeah, but still.” Luna did a small twirl. “What are those?” Luna was gesturing the pile of booklets Nina was holding-

“University pamphlets. I wanted to talk with you about all of that and you mentioned community college.”

“Yes of course,” Luna said as she skipped ahead when Nina walked inside. “Simon and Ambar are out, and so is Pedro, so only Matteo is here with us. We can talk in peace. Mom just brought some cookies to the living room… I left my phone upstairs. I’ll go get it real quick.”

Nina shook his head laughing as she watched Luna run up the stairs before realizing that she was getting up the wrong staircase. 

“She still does not know how to navigate here,” Nina turned around and saw Matteo shaking his head behind her. He had appeared from nowhere. “I was sitting on the couch, so I heard what you were talking about.” 

“Yeah. It is maybe time to actually make decisions about all of this,” Nina gestured to the brochures in her hands. “Luna mentioned leadership and teaching classes at community college.”

“Yes, that idea came to her in a dream yesterday. You know how she is. She will probably tell you more about it soon.” Matteo explained, “Monica and Miquel are really happy about her actually having a plan.”

“It is a good one. Academics are not really her and that way she can have her career in skating as she wants.”

“Yep… How are you doing?” Matteo changed the subject. “You look better than couple days ago.”

“I don’t know how I am doing.” Nina shook her head, “I made some decisions, but totally lost with others.”

“What decisions?”

“Eric,” Nina shook her head, “I just… I can’t keep doing this to him. He deserves much more than me. But I don’t know how I am supposed to tell him that. I don’t want to break his heart.”

“Well, truth is always a good start.”

“I know.” Nina said looking down, “I better put these down on the table.” she gestured to the leaflets she was carrying and started walking toward the living room. 

“Hmmmmm… Oxford huh?”

Nina turned around and to her horror, she saw Matteo holding the Oxford leaflet. When had she dropped it?

“Uhmmm, well, I just had it there.”

“Has anyone ever told you that you are pretty bad liar?” Matteo said looking at her. “Look, you don’t need to tell me, but I want you to know that you can trust me. I am your friend.”

“I know. Okay. The headmaster called me—” Nina started to explain, “—and told me that I have gotten a scholarship called: Educación Internacional Para Jóvenes Prometedores Del Mañana.”

“Wow, thats big.”

“You know what it is?”

“I am pretty sure Dad was just and just able to mask his disappointment that I didn’t get it.” Matteo laughed, “But yeah, I know what it is. So you were thinking about Oxford?”

“Well…” Nina struggled to find the right words, “...the scholarship kind of came out of the blue. I don’t know, honestly.”

“Wasn’t it your dream to go study abroad last year?”

“Well, yes, It was, but…”

“But now it is not anymore?”

“No, thats not it. I guess, it still is? Maybe. I would love to go, learn and live like an adult, with no Mom hovering over my shoulder and England is an amazing place.”

“Then what is the problem?” Nina saw Matteo to furrow his brow. “If you say Gastón, I won‘t believe you. I know him and you do too, he would never have a problem with you following your dreams.”

“I know that.” Nina smiled. “Guess part of that is the fact that I felt like he closed the door on that path for me, but I wanna open it again, but I don’t know how. And how can I leave everybody? All my friends are here and the team…”

“Nina, Roller will always be important part of all of us, but we are all also growing up.” Matteo started talking, “Simon and Pedro are trying to keep the band afloat, I have the label plus the studies I am doing, so do Jim, Yam, Delfi and Jazmin. Ambar is going to law school. Everyone will be going their separate ways, and I think you know that. If you want my opinion, I think you should do it. Taking risks can be worth it, especially if its for something you really want. Plus it seems like you have already made the decision.”

“I have?”

“You got a scholarship that basically enables you to go study basically in any school in the world, but the only thing you are thinking about is Oxford.”

Matteo was right, and Nina knew it. Maybe she had always known it. “But how do I tell Luna?”

“Tell me what?”

Nina turned around and saw that Luna was standing on the bottom of the staircase.

{}

Aaaaaa! It is honestly quite weird that I have been writing for the soy Luna fandom for about two years and have not yet written about how Gastina got back together. Well here it finally is, the Gastina Oxford story as we could say. I hope you enjoyed the first chapter

You all know what I think about the dynamic Matteo and Nina were never allowed to have, because you bet Matteo was never fan of Eric. He is the one who knows the other side of the whole mess and is able to help Nina through it.

Additional note: This will in no way shape or form be an accurate representation of what it is like to study at Oxford. I don't study there and there is only so much research you can do. Plus if I'd try to keep things 100 % accurate, the story would suffer, and the story itself is not all about Oxford or their studies. That being said, if you are a student at Oxford and reading this... I am so sorry.