"This is insane"

I leaned back on the seat, holding tight on to whatever I could get a hold of. Oh my God this is not good, we're going to die!

Santiago grabbed his brother in a head lock and pushed him over to the corner of the seat opposite of me.

"Joel you need to calm down" he said through gritted teeth. They were both breathing heavily, but that didn't take away the murderous looks in their eyes.

Joel chuckled, turning his head away to spit out blood. "You're the one who started this brother."

"Joel don't star—"

"You're the one who made me mad! Now you're telling me to calm down?" Joel faked an offended look. "It's always me, you always blame everything on me!"

Santiago let out a frustrated sigh, "I'm not blaming you for anything...I just want you to calm down. Look at how scared Gabby is!"

He turned to look at me but his face didn't change, as if he didn't care if I was scared or not. Joel didn't show concern in the slightest towards me.

"We need to get down from here" I glanced down to see the Ferris wheel worker glancing up at our cabin, probably trying to make sure we were alright. I noticed a small group of spectators had already formed around the man, trying to find out what was going on.

"I'M GOING TO BRING YOU GUYS BACK DOWN, PLEASE SIT BACK IN YOUR SEATS AND DON'T MOVE!" the man yelled up at us.

"I'm really sorry ab—" Joel began, but I raised my hand up stopping him from speaking any further.

"Save it, I don't want to hear it"

We all sat in our seats quietly as the Ferris wheel started moving again. As soon as we reached the bottom again I pushed the door open, almost hitting the worker in the process but I didn't care. I could hear people asking me if I was alright but I ignored them and walked away towards the food court. Ignoring all the curious gazes I received from people as I walked by.

I took a seat in one of the small tables and put my head down on the table, trying to calm myself down. Those two brothers are crazy! Do they really hate each other that much?

I heard someone take a seat across from me but I didn't bother looking up to see who it was. It's probably one of them.

"Gabby"

Joel. Ughhh...

"I'm really sorry about what happened, we shouldn't have done that"

I squeezed my eyes shut trying to keep myself from standing up and attacking him like a crazy woman.

"Will you please look at me" he muttered, pulling my chin up roughly with his fingers.

I slapped his hand away and glared at him. "Don't touch me!"

"Then stop ignoring me."

I scoffed. "How do you expect me to act after what just happened? We almost got killed!"

He rolled his eyes and leaned back on his chair, looking unfazed. "It wasn't that bad! But at least let me apologize."

I cleared my throat, sitting up straighter as I forced myself to look at him in the eyes.

"Alright, speak"

"I know I was acting like a total douche. I shouldn't have started a fight with Santiago, but in case you haven't noticed... him and I don't get along very well."

"No shit"

"So, do you accept my apology?" Joel asked after a moment of silence.

Huh, well that wasn't much of an apology but I guess that's the best I can get from him.

"Yes"

"Thank you."

"And I would really appreciate it if we didn't mention anything of what happened to my friends, I want them to enjoy this night." I added.

"Fine with me"

"Where's Santiago?" I asked, noticing for the first time that he wasn't anywhere around.

He automatically scowled at me but quickly changed it up to a fake smile. "I don't know"

"Whatever", I stood up from my seat. "I'll be back, I'm going to the restroom."

"They only have portable restrooms here" he informed me.

"Where are they?"

"Go down this way all the way over to where the bumper cars are and then take a left."

"Okay, I'll be back" I walked away following his directions and immediately spotted the portable restrooms in the very corner, there was a small line but I wouldn't mind waiting. As I stood in line and looked around the small carnival I spotted a familiar figure sitting down by himself in a small bench, secluded from everyone else.

Santiago.

I made my way slowly towards him, he seemed to be deep in thought so he didn't see me as I approached him

I took a seat next to him and that's when he felt my presence.

"Hey"

He turned to give me a small nod.

"What are you doing here all by yourself?" I asked.

"Just trying to keep my distance from my brother."

"Oh"

He clicked his tongue and turned to face me with a blank look on his face. "I'm really sorry about what happened...I shouldn't have kept on fighting with him...I didn't mean to scare you."

I nodded, letting his words sink in. Taking in the blank look on his face, trying to figure out if he was being sincere but coming up with no answer. But even though his face gave no hint of what's on his mind, the apology felt better coming from him then from Joel.

"It's okay. You were the one who stopped it from going any further and I appreciate that."

"I bet you don't want to hang out with us anymore" he commented.

I shrugged. "Maybe, but it's not like it matters. You don't seem to enjoy spending time with all of us."

"Well it's not really my idea, I see no point in getting attached if we're never going to see each other again" he responded nonchantly.

At least he's being truthful.

"I agree"

He smirked. "So it's your friends who always drag you with us?"

"Yes...in a way. But I don't really complain since I see that they really like spending time with your cousins, I just tag along because they want me too."

"You're a very strange girl you know that?" he raised an eyebrow at me.

"I've been told."

"No wonder my brother is so smitten with you"

I scowled at him. "No he's not."

"Oh please" he scoffed with an amused look on his eyes. "Have you seen the way he acts around you?"

"He's just a flirt"

"I may not get along with him", he told me, rolling his eyes. "But trust me when I say this, I know when he likes a girl and he deffenetly likes you."

I narrowed my eyes at him playfully. "Are you trying to make me like your brother?"

The corners of his mouth turned down slightly, forming a little frown on his face making him look even hotter. "Not really, I'm just stating what I see..."

"Well sorry if this offends you in any way but I'm not interested in your brother"

He grinned. "I figured."

It's a fact that the brothers can't stand eachother, but Santiago seems to be a better brother than Joel.

I smiled as I stared at him. There's just something about this guy that's very noble, even when he hides behind his 'I –don't-care-about-anything' mask he still gives me a good vibe, unlike his brother Joel who always haves a negative feeling around him.

"If you don't mind me asking" I started, analyzing his face as I asked. "Why do you and your brother hate each other so much?"

His face darkened and angry glare crossing his eyes for a moment before he turned to me with a tight jaw. "It's mostly sibling rivalry, you know? He thinks my father likes me better..."

Even as he answered me I felt as if he was holding something back, that there was more too it but I didn't pry. He doesn't know me that well and it's not my business at all, but I can't help myself from wanting to know...

"Do you have any siblings of your own?" he asked, changing the subject to me.

"I have two older brothers, I'm the only girl"

"So you're the baby of the family?" he smiled.

"Yeah, I am" I gave him a smile of my own.

"Do you still live with your family back at home?"

"No, I um...I live with Sofia and Vanessa" I stated slowly, debating whether I should tell him about my family. I don't feel comfortable with anyone knowing about my father and his little dirty business, so I'll give him the sweet and edited version of my story. "My parents divorced when I was fifteen, my brothers went with my dad and I stayed with my mom. He lives here in Mexico and I don't have a good relationship with him, I only talk to my brothers every once in a while because I get along with them better."

He blinked. "Oh"

"Yeah...What about your parents?"

"Well" he sighed. "My mother died when I was ten years old. My father and I are very close, he's my role model and I have a lot of respect for him. He never re-married after my mother passed away"

"I-I'm sorry about your mother..." I whispered, leaning over and grabbing his hand in mine without thinking.

Santiago looked up at me with an understanding look in his eyes. "It's fine it was a really long time ago" he said squeezing my hand gently.

"Hey guys!" a voice called.

Santiago immediately let me go, and I quickly pulled my hand behind my back. We both looked up to see Sofi and Daniel walking over towards us.

"We've been looking everywhere for you" Daniel said, slightly out of breath. "Where's Joel?"

"He's in the Food Court, I left him there because I had to use the restroom and he told me he would be waiting there for me, I guess he's still back there."

I completely forgot about going to the restroom.

"Well we better get back and meet up with him; we can call Leo and Nessa so they can meet us there too. It's already getting late." Daniel suggested.

"You're right" Santiago nodded standing up and I followed his lead. "Let's go."

****

"Where were you? You took a long time, I was about to go look for you!" Joel demanded, looking angrily at me.

Who does this boy think he is?!

"After I used the restroom and I was on my way back, I found Santiago and we got talking completely forgetting about the time." I explained.

He tensed up and glared slightly at his brother. "Well I want to leave already, let's go." He brushed in between Santiago and I, making sure to bump roughly into Santiago's shoulder as he walked towards the exit.

"What's his deal?" Nessa asked staring after him.

Leo rolled his eyes. "He's just in one of his bad moods, don't mind him."

"He's probably jealous" Daniel said, looking between Santiago and I suggestively.

"Oh don't even start!" Santiago said annoyed.

"That's exactly the same Gabby reacts every time we tease her." Sofi giggled.

"Oh, do I sense a good couple here?" Nessa wiggled her eyebrows.

"Don't even start!" I replied without thinking. Slapping a hand over my mouth as soon as I realized I had just proved their point.

They all started laughing while Santiago and I shifted uncomfortably under their gazes. I turned to me and shook my head so he could see how annoyed I was at them for teasing us.

"Alright that's enough" Santiago snapped. "Let's go to the truck."

I got into step next to him while the rest of them followed behind us, talking animatedly to themselves.

"No wonder they all get along so well" he chuckled, sneaking a glance behind us. "They're all very annoying."

"Tell me about it."

When we reached the truck we saw Joel sitting in the very back sulking all alone.

"I CALL SHOTGUN!" I yelled running over to the passenger's door.

"Yeah whatever!" the group chorused back, already waiting in line to pile in the back.

That sucks! What's the point in calling shotgun if they're not going to argue back?

Joel quickly reached into the front seats and unlocked the doors for us. But before I could open my door someone had already reached over and grabbed the handle before me. I looked up to meet Santiago's eyes and smiled at him.

"After you" he said, opening the door for me.

"I didn't know you were such a gentleman." I commented jokingly.

"There's a lot of things you don't know about me, Gabby" he responded back with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

****

"We're really glad you girls decided to join us tonight" Leo stated.

"It was fun, we should do it again sometime" Nessa responded looking up at her crush with a flirty smile.

The couples all separated up so they could say their goodbye's properly, leaving me standing alone with Santiago. I glanced at the truck to see Joel staring at us intently, waiting for us to do something.

"I had a really good time" I looked up at him and gave him a sincere smile.

"Even after what Joel and I did?"

"Yes even after what happened with you guys"

"Hopefully we can continue our talk next time we see each other..." he whispered secretively so that no one else would hear him.

Next time? That means he plans on seeing me again, maybe he'll ask me out on a date. Oh boy what am I going to say when we're alone on a DATE! I felt my heart tug at my chest just at the thought of being with him alone.

"Yeah" he mumbled. "Because WE'LL PROBABLY GET DRAGGED TO ANOTHER MEETING WITH OUR FRIENDS" he yelled out the last part for our friends to hear.

Oh.

"Y-Yeah most deffinetly" I bit my tongue to keep my voice indifferent, so that he wouldn't hear the disappointment.

"Alright we're done smooching over here!" Nessa called out as she came over to us with her sister in tow. "Time to say your goodbye Gabbs"

"C'mon Santi grab the girl already and plant one on her" Leo rolled down the window of the truck to smirk at us.

"Shut the fuck up, Leo" Santiago grumbled.

"Santi? " I asked, referring to what Leo called him a few seconds ago.

"It's just a stupid nickname they call me."

"Ah....I guess I'll see you soon then?"

"I'll see ya" he smirked.

I reached up to give him a hug and he slipped his hand around my waist pressing me against his body. We lasted quite a while because after a few minutes our friends started coughing to get our attention.

"Wrap it up lovebirds" Nessa laughed.

I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and then turned to Daniel and Leo. "I'll see you guys later. Have a good night."

"You too Gabbs"

I poked my head in the truck and smiled at Joel who stared back at me with an angry look on his face.

"See you around Joel!"

"What? No kiss for me?" he sneered.

I blew him a kiss, hoping that would make him feel better but I didn't even look at his reaction just in case he said another stupid thing.

"Vamonos" I said to my friends, and we walked to the entrance of the hotel.

"What an amazing night" Sofi ran over to her bed, looking up at the ceiling with a dreamy look in her eyes.

"It sure was Sofi, best night ever" I smiled.

And it was just because of him...Santiago.

****

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P.S. The way you pronounce Santiago's nickname Santi is like this: Sahntee (It's in Spanish so it's pronounced different in English)