Chapter Text
The Day Of
Song: Sonny & Cher- I Got You Babe
Maria
Sunday, March 18th, 1973- 6:00 am- Danny & Maria's Apartment
The sun and the pools of warm light comfort my face in the morning, make me happy and dawn is the time of day I usually experience, only when I set out to explore the countryside and go to morning classes, which don't happen too often. It’s the time of day when the sun is in its most beautiful form, and today is no different, though I don't know why I would expect anything else, especially considering I live in Texas, where it’s always bright and sunny. The sun casts a gentle glow through the curtains covering the bedroom window, and I feel the warmth spread across my face. Even when I’m not outside and directly in contact with nature, it follows me everywhere, and this is how I usually wake up these days, with my eyes directed at the window where I can see the tall trees and birds sitting in their little nests. It reminds me of when I used to sleep at my abuela’s home on Saturdays as a kid whenever mama and pa' were working. She had a lemon tree planted right outside the spare room where Ana and I would sleep. Every morning, she would wake us up at this time, serve us breakfast, and have us pick lemons.I can still smell the strong, sweet citrus scent that would completely overwhelm my nose. Ana had the habit of biting into the lemons despite my telling her she would regret it. However, when I saw her face twist and turn in disgust at the sourness, it was nothing short of amusing. I still tease her about that sometimes, but she doesn't mind; she eventually learned her lesson about sinking her teeth into anything sour. I wake up next to Danny these days, and it’s one of the best feelings in the world. I truly feel happy and loved around him. We’ve been together for over a year now and have been completely inseparable. Even before making our relationship official, we would always spend time together, thanks to Leland introducing us at the campus arcade lounge a couple of months earlier. I wasn't originally going to be there that night, but I’m glad I made the split-second decision to go. He is the sweetest, most gentle man I have ever met, and I feel so lucky to know that I get to be with him daily. Originally, I was in a dorm room with our friend, Julie. Thankfully, she stayed with Connie when I moved out, so I didn't feel too bad about leaving her. But I do miss those nights when we would sit on the couch and watch movies while eating every snack we had in the kitchen.
When I turn around to face Danny, I run my fingers through his soft brown hair and smile. His hair is one of my favorite things about him. It stops at the bottom of his neck, and I love ruffling it whenever I tease him about something. He tries to act like he doesn't like it sometimes, but those red cheeks give him away every single time. “Mornin’, baby.” His voice is a little croaky and slightly strained, probably from all the laughing and yelling last night when we were at the apartment Julie and Connie shared for a drink and some games. It was a fun night, but the drinking got to Danny’s head a little. Yeah, he is hungover. Sonny, Ana, and I were smart and decided to stick with soda.
“Good morning, handsome. Are you feeling okay?” My hands still caress his hair momentarily before moving to his cheeks. I smirk at him, and he knows why. He shouldn't have challenged Leland to a beer-drinking and arm-wrestling contest. Though it was entertaining, everyone was on the edge of their seat.
“Ugh, I’ll be fine.” He says as he places his hand on top of mine before continuing.
“Y’know, I think I’m gonna stop trying to beat Leland in an arm wrestling contest and no more alcohol. Damn, my head hurts.” I chuckle. Maybe he read my mind just now. He also tried to impress me, but Danny doesn't have to do that; I’ll love and admire him either way.
“I was just thinking that. Maybe this hangover has given you superpowers, and you just read my mind.”
“Hmm, I think you’re right, baby.” He leans in for a kiss, and as always, he ensures his stubble doesn't rub against my face.
The kiss reminds me of our first date. We went roller skating, where I fell due to being a little clumsy. It was pretty funny now that I think about it, even though I was embarrassed and everyone looked right at me. After Danny picked me up from the ground, we went to get ice cream at the local diner, which not only cooled my face down but also made Danny and I realize we had much in common. We had different tastes when it came to ice cream, though. Strawberry and vanilla have always been my favorite mix, while Danny preferred chocolate and triple chocolate if he could get his hands on some. When we sat in the booth and talked for hours about what we enjoyed doing and our families, he revealed to me that he was in a foster care home until he was ten years old. His mother left him and never came back, and his father didn't take care of him when this happened. Finally, when he was twelve, a loving family took him in, and he got the family he deserved. My papa died from a heart attack when I was sixteen, so I can understand what it feels like to lose a parent, even though the two situations have different circumstances.
Danny pulls away from our kiss and gently cups my face. “I love you, Maria. So much.”
“I love you too, baby.” I’ve never loved someone like this; he is my first love and will always be special.
“Are you excited for your flower trip? Sure you don't want me to come with you?.” I sigh and giggle at his question. If I had to pick out the silliest question he has ever asked, then what he just asked would get the number one spot.
“I’ll be fine, baby. I’ll only be gone a few days, and you don't need to worry.” There’s only a small gap where I can see the wildflowers that I want to take pictures of, and I’m not sure if I could wait another year for them. I’m too excited and eager, and I also enjoy spending time alone occasionally. I lean over and kiss his forehead, moving his hair out of the way as I do it.
“Come on, we better start getting ready. We have to meet the others at the diner. I’ll wake up Ana after my shower.”
“Alright, baby.”
I leave our double bed in my yellow nightgown and walk toward the closet to grab a towel. Our bedroom is filled with stuff we love, and if I were a stranger walking into this room, I would assume it was a museum. The same can be said for the rest of the apartment. Whenever I go out into the countryside, I take photos of the fields, flowers, and animals with my Polaroid camera and pin them around the apartment. Most of them are pinned above the old bedside table Danny fixed for me after we moved in. On top of my bedside table are multiple potted plants with flowers poking out from the sides. I always ensure I water them daily, and I trust Danny to take care of them when I’m on my trip. Right next to where I sleep is a bible and a cross necklace my abuela gave me before I came to Austin to study Photography. Ana and I were raised in a Christian family, so it was important to me to keep these belongings nearby. Plus, it helps me feel close to my papa.
Danny’s half of the room is cluttered with music records and posters. His favorite artists are Pink Floyd, DRWG, and Elvis. I enjoy Ben E. King, Sonny & Cher, and Lydia Mendoza. And I'm a big fan of any song that is remotely romantic. Sometimes, if I was ever organizing my photos, Danny would sit in the other room with the record player at full volume and show me his air guitar moves. My little rockstar. Next to his posters are some mechanical diagrams. He sometimes uses them when he is trying to fix something or if he wants to create something new. It also helps him with his Mechanical Engineering studies. There isn't much on his bedside table, just a lamp and a single potted plant. He didn't grow up with much, which taught him to make the most of what he could.
With my towel, I leave the bedroom and head toward the bathroom around the corner. I undress and shower, turning the water on to almost full heat. Despite being with Danny for some time now, I still feel insecure around him without clothes. It’s not because I think he isn't attracted to me,I know he thinks I’m beautiful, he tells me every day. My insecurities have been with me since I was a teenager. Sometimes, I would be slightly jealous of other girls and women's appearances because I was always a little curvier, which I have been trying to love more, and it has been getting easier over time, thanks to my determination and Danny. But mostly my own determination. I didn't date in high school; I was always too busy exploring or working. So, it's safe to say that I was never as experienced as many other people around me.
When we were intimate for the first time, we didn't go all the way, and we still haven't. Reflecting on it makes me slightly embarrassed; I know I probably looked extremely flushed and awkward. I didn't want to do anything wrong. Being intimate all the way is always something that causes me to feel extremely nervous; it’s something that leaves you exposed and vulnerable to someone else’s eyes, and I never wanted it to be something quick or meaningless. Many would probably assume I’m hesitant because of my faith, which may have been true. I wouldn't mind waiting until marriage, but I would prefer it if it happened more naturally, rather than being based on a schedule. At times, this made me feel ashamed and judged, even if no one said anything out loud; however, I had to do what made me happy, not what everyone else wanted.
Once I’m done in the shower, I carefully step out of the bathroom and head into the living room to wake Ana on the couch.
“Wake up, baby sis.” I nudged her.
“Hmm, what time is it? Just let me sleep longer, Maria.”
She’s still pretty tired. Thankfully, Leland listened to me when I told him not to give her any beer, so she avoided a hangover. Ana and I have always been close. When pa' died, we both took it hard, but I think it helped us both become stronger. We still have our moments. When I was offered a place at the University of Texas through a scholarship and funding from my family, I felt a great deal of guilt about leaving Ana back home, as I knew what that meant. It meant she had to work a job alongside school, as well as trying to keep up with cheerleading practice and that boy she used to be with. But it also meant she had to care for mama by herself most of the time. She deserved to go to university, too, to experience life in a completely different way.
“We have to meet the others at the diner soon. So come on, get your butt up before I ask abuela to come over.” I chuckle as I gently tap her leg. If we weren't up in time for school, our papa used to tell us that abuela would be over like the speed of lightning, and then we would have no choice. She did come over sometimes, but she wasn't mad at us but at pa'. She would storm into the living room and lightly hit him across the head with her bag with a wide grin, trying to encourage him to let us stay off school so we could play outside instead.
“Oh, you would say that. Fine, I’m going to take a shower.” While Ana walks into the bathroom, I head back into the bedroom to find Danny dressed in his half-buttoned-up red shirt, jeans, and black shoes. “You look handsome, baby.”.His eyes dart up toward me, and he looks at me with a gentle smile, the corner of his mouth curving upward.
“You’re gonna make me blush, darlin’.” I love it when I do that. Danny always embraced my words with open arms, even when he playfully acted as if it bothered him; he didn't care if he looked silly or like the brightest tomato in the state. He only cared about making me happy. I walk to the closet and pick up my blue and white flower-patterned sweater, brown shorts, and my favorite pair of brown sandals. When I turned around from the closet, Danny was sitting on the bed, looking up at me with a big smile.
“What are you staring at, baby?.”
”Oh, just the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my entire life.” My heart feels like it’s going to burst. Danny approaches me, wrapping his arms around my shoulders like a warm blanket.
“I don't know how I got so lucky with you. Look at you, you’re perfect.” He kisses my forehead.
“I’m far from perfect, baby. I mean…. well, you know how I feel about myself sometimes and how I look”. One thing I love about Danny is that he pays attention to me, to my quirks, my insecurities, and everything else. As we both pull away from the kiss, I ruffle his soft brown hair again, except this time he does it back to me. We’re both twenty-one years old, but we still act like love-sick teenagers.
“I mean every word of it, baby. Damn, I would wait a lifetime for you if it came to it.” He leans down to capture my lips in a kiss. His words cause me to have a surge of confidence, so I decide to take advantage of it while I can. His eyes widen as he watches me drop the towel from my body onto the floor. I think I’m in more shock than he is, though. My eyes are completely focused on him. I’m afraid that if I look at myself, I’ll pick my towel back up and wrap my entire body in it like a cocoon.
“Danny…can you wrap your arms around my waist and pull me close, please?.” I’m not sure where this will go, but I know that he is there to make me feel comfortable no matter what. Danny gently nods his head and pulls me in close, followed by me wrapping my arms around his shoulders. He still has his clothes on, so I’m completely bare against him, and I can feel the warmth of his slightly exposed chest seep into my tan skin.
“So beautiful. Are you okay?” I sigh, looking into his blue eyes, which never fail to make me forget my own thoughts and anything around me. They’re a pretty light shade and very piercing, almost as if they could pierce my hazel eyes at any point.
“Yes. It feels–nice and comforting. You make me feel good. Thank you for always taking care of me.”
“I’ve got you, Maria. No matter what, I don’t mind waiting for us to do more stuff together. I know you want it to be special, and I’d wait forever if it meant you were happy.” Gosh, he knows exactly what to say. I reach up to his lips and give him one last kiss and a smile before I pick up the towel and get dressed.
"Come on, you're stalling me, baby." This is a good start to the day, but it makes me miss him already. Once I’m dressed, I pack my jewelry bag, camera, and everything I need to write my letters before throwing my brown satchel over my shoulder
As we walk into the living room, I find Ana sitting on the couch, ready to go. She is wearing a blue shoulder-cut shirt with stitched flowers on the front that our abuela made, brown pants, and shoes. Her hair is slumped over her shoulder, just like mine; no wonder some people mistake us for twins sometimes. Our abuela always loved stitching various patterns into our clothing, especially flowers. Mama started to do the same after papa died; I think it was more of a comfort for her than a hobby, though. They were together from a very young age, so she lost her partner and best friend. I can’t begin to imagine what that kind of pain is like.
Ana looks directly at me with a pleading look in her eye… I think I know what she’s up to. “Can I stay here an extra day, or at least until you return? I’m having so much fun.” She sometimes asks this when she comes to stay over on weekends, making the guilt settle in my stomach again.
“Ana, you have to go home. Look, when I get back, I’ll come visit. Me, you, and mama can spend some time together, I promise.”. This is a promise I intend to keep, and I don't want to let Ana down. I want her to be happy and not alone while taking on many responsibilities. When Danny first met mama, it was a nice day, but as it has been since papa passed away, she was withdrawn and found it difficult to hold a longer conversation, so I understand more than anyone why Ana would want some time away.
“I know, Maria. It’s just hard trying to be there for mama while also trying to live my own life. When I’m here, I feel like I’m free.” She trails off with a sigh before walking over to me to pull me into a hug. I gently place my palm on her head and tap her back.
“I know, baby sis. Just remember the promise I gave you, okay?” Ana gave me a gentle smile before looking between Danny and me. “You two still suck for not letting me stay even for an extra night, though.” She’ll be okay. I know she will, she's a fighter.
“Alright, you guys ready?.” I look at both of them as they nod in unison. We leave the apartment, and Ana and I get into my black Dodge Coronet while Danny gets in his red truck behind us. Danny will return Ana to Uvaldi once I leave and head for Newt. He’s become like a big brother to her, practically making him part of the family now, even if mama sometimes can't fully notice that. When I go on my next flower trip, I’ll take them all with me and try to get mama to come along. I know it'll remind her of papa, and although she was never completely into nature like I am, she always supported my passion. And I know papa would look down on us with a big smile.