The Jock, The Nerd and The Geek

15

When his Mama and Abuela were at church, they sometimes spent the whole day there so Alex always stayed with him. Except when she couldn't, or she was upset with him.

A look crossed over at the name, but since her son wasn't in an okay state, she decided to not say anything about her today but rather, "Did I tell you, querido? Mr Steinfeld has been giving me large tips lately."

Marcos managed to nod, ignoring the pain pooling in his stomach now. "Really?"

She nodded and then puffed her chest. "You should know your Mother by now. She has the best hands in the world."

At those words, Marcos was sure he would burst out crying. She looked so proud at what she did that he didn't know how she'd feel if she ever found out that it wasn't all hard-work that caused him to do that.

Maria would be hurt.

Her face fell now, seeing the face her son was trying to keep. It was obvious that he was doing his best to keep the smile on his face but it was hard for him. "Marcos, truly, if something's wrong, I can stay. You're more important."

He shook his head. "I'm fine, mama. I just— Headache." He sniffed in, his nose all runny now. "Could you maybe get me a glass of water, please? Before you go?"

Her smile was gentle as she touched his face. "Of course," And walked out his door.

Sighing, he put his palms on his face, trying his best not to scream before he crawled out of his bed, wincing at the pain in his belly and walked to his mirror.

Slowly, he pulled the shirt he was wearing up, a small gasp leaving his lips as he noticed the bruise in the middle, just below his ribs then shut his close eyes as he remembered what had happened.

Yesterday, after he had left Paris behind, he realized he was lost and A's card was missing. He knew, he knew he should have called Alex, but in his panic, he had called someone else.

Someone who was already mad at him for missing their Friday evening dinner, and had gotten a punch to his stomach, which according to him, was him being generous.

Fuck.

"Hola!"

Marcos quickly dropped the shirt down as he heard Alex's voice and walked out of his room softly, as if he was scared if she saw him and nearly bumped into his Mother who was looking at him curiously.

Alex saw him anyway, smiling and sending him a wave, then entered the house and walked to his Abuela, twirling the woman in her dress and laughed before she kissed her cheeks and started saying something he couldn't hear to her.

"Marcos?"

He turned to his Mother, whose curiosity had gone back to suspicion again. "Are you— Are you okay, hijo?"

He nodded and slowly on the stairs, taking the glass from her as Alex walked to him, Maria moving away quickly so she wouldn't have to be close to her. "Eros,"

Marcos looked up at her. Seeing the smile on her face seemed to do something to him. Made him want to jump on her and at the same time, stay away.