Re: [AyB. Cris y Mari]
Was Cris a romantic? I dunno. He didn't know. Sometimes? When he loved somebody, he loved somebody. But, he was a jealous, angry guy in alla that too. He believed in love, huh? 'Course he did. He even bought it being forever, every time he fell for somebody. Pero, he'd fallen outta love too. Still, whatever he was, he'd never been a practical guy when it came to that kinda thing. With his luck, he figured he'd find somebody else, they'd have a couplea years, and then that'd be it again. Least that was the pattern, wasn't it? He was practical enough to use that.
Elisa could play the coquette a lil bit, if she really wanted to. But, Cris filled the role a lil more, huh? He liked flirting. It was a skill he'd hadta use plentya times as a detective. Not that he was flirting now. 'Cause, nah, he was shooting straight with Mari, giving her the respect she earned by righta being Elisa's kid sister. "Feared her? How come?" Cris didn't insist there were similarities. He knew he'd see some, but he wasn't gonna say that. She knew better than he did.—Cris laughed a lil. Not at Mari, but in general, when she talked 'bout gifted people. He nodded, 'cause he knew that veina thinking, even if he wasn't tapped into it himself. "How could your papi blame your mami? She didn't do nothing. Or is that the issue? She shoulda brought Elisa home? 'Cause Elisa wouldn'tna gone. In the end, she had good days and bad days, but she thought people were coming to get her. That she'd paint them, and they'd come offa the canvas or something." He shrugged a little.
Now, Mari leaned forward and Cris was already leaning on his hands, sprawling into the space and over the counter. It was the first time he was awarea her nearness though, but that could prolly be blamed on the smile she aimed at him. Whether it was deliberate or not, he didn't know, but remember how I said Elisa could play the coquette, if she really wanted to? Mari's smile reminded hima that. He didn't move away from her or nothing. "'Course, eventually, she gave in to my charm," he said easily, with half a smile. "Or maybe she was just waiting for me to say something. Once I did, that was it." Which made him thinka Pilar. "We were at the same school, so, we ended up with classes together and alla that. She was a good student, huh? Not like me."