CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE. ✧ ೃ༄
❝ THE DEFENDER & THE PARTNER. ❞

▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄

TW:// FAT SHAMING
( p.s. this was very hard
to write and i hope you all
know and keep in mind that
whatever shape you are, you
are beautiful 💕 )

▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄

"You're shaking."

"Yeah, I hate coming to parties."

Angelica and Dream were in the car, watching as a large venue was lighting up with different colors. They were dressed up with Dream in an all black suit while Angelica was wearing a mid-thigh red satin dress that made her actually feel... hot.

"How about we wait a couple of minutes, 5, maybe?" Dream suggested. "We'll calm down a little and we'll go in. Maybe I get to give your parents a piece of my mind."

Angelica looked at Dream. "What?"

"Alright, countdown starting...now," Dream ignored her, closing his eyes. Angelica couldn't help but close her eyes, too, hearing the loud music playing. "You have nothing to worry about by the way. You look fine."

"Thank you," Angelica mumbled before slowly breathing and out, trying to calm down.

When 5 minutes was up, Dream turned to look at her. "You're good now?"

"No," Angelica snorted. "Fuck it. Let's go before I make you drive off or make you hit me with your car so I can have an excuse not to go."

Dream chuckled and got out, locking the car before stuffing his keys in his pockets. Angelica groaned as she stepped out, lifting one foot and then another to try to soothe the ache in her heels from the heels she was wearing. Dream made her wear the heels since he bought them and tried to stop her from wearing the converse she always wore, having said, "You're not going to wear those shoes like those characters from Disney movies who basically say they're not like other girls."

"Hold onto my hand, brat," Dream snorted after watching her struggle to walk, sticking out his hand. Angelica grabbed it and held onto it like her life depended on it, immediately placing her other hand on his bicep for extra help.

"Let's go slow because these heels are killing me."

"Angelica, the car is like 2 feet away," Dream teased her. "We've barely walked."

"I haven't worn heels since my quince," Angelica whined, continuing to hear laughter escape Dream's lips. "I just want to sit."

Quickly hurrying to the party, everyone turned to look at the two as they appeared. They really looked so good and immediately, Angelica's aunts hurried to her mom who was also staring at her in shock. Rose smirked, loving the reaction from everyone, and headed towards the two.

"Wow," they chuckled, eyeing the couple. Dream had one hand stuffed in his pocket, toying with his keys, and the other was holding onto her sister's hand tightly. Angelica was wearing a cute dress, Rose noted, a purse hanging from her left shoulder. God, they looked like they came out of some type of mafia film.

"We look good, right?" Dream grinned from beneath his mask, fist bumping her. Rose nodded and the dirty-blonde nudged the girl beside him. "See? Told you."

Angelica rolled her eyes, though, a smile was etched in her face. She looked around. "Where's your annoying sister?"

"She's also your sister," Rose snickered before pointing to where a white-dressed person was standing at. "She's over there. She was starting to whine because her feet hurt."

"I feel her," Angelica groaned. "We'll be right back, Rose."

"I'll tell Jose that you're here. He's playing with Edwin, Alex, and Rene," Rose said, turning to leave. Angelica nodded even though they couldn't see and immediately headed towards her older sister.

"Gen!" Angelica called out and said girl turned around, a smile spreading on her lips before she subtlety gasped, a hand on her mouth as she eyed her little sister and the man beside her.

"Ang!" Genesis exclaimed, heading to towards the girl. Angelica smiled and let go of Dream's hand, immediately hugging her sister. "Ah! You look so beautiful."

"Look at you!" Angelica gushed, taking a step back to eye her sister's white dress before she felt her eyes burn with tears. "You're married."

"I know!" Genesis squealed, jumping up and down as best as she could with her heels before she quieted. "Fucking finally. I was this close," she separated her pointer finger and thumb by a few, "this close to proposing to him but, he beat me to it. Also, I only agreed to having this whole entire party because God the food is to die for."

"Did Tia Miña do birria?" Genesis nodded and Angelica perked up, a small gasp escaping her lips. "She also made some rice and beans. You know her rice is so good!"

"You want to try that?" Angelica looked up at Dream who was silently standing beside her with his hands clasped behind his back.

"Um, yeah, sure," he nodded.

"Oh!" Genesis perked up and looked at the man. "Nice to meet you. I'm Genesis."

"Nice to meet you, too," Dream smiled at her, though she couldn't see much because of his mask. "I'm Clay."

"Are you and my sister like... together?" Genesis squinted her eyes at him and Dream glanced at Angelica who was staring at her sister with wide eyes.

"We are," Dream cleared his throat, a smirk appearing on his face when Angelica's face turned red when her sister looked at her.

"You had a boyfriend and you didn't text me?" Genesis started slapping her arm repeatedly, leaving the girl to cower and try to hide behind Dream. "But, I need to tell Chris! He owes me money."

"You bet on me?"

"Well, he said that since he knows how you are, you would bring someone to be your fake boyfriend," Genesis rolled her eyes at the mention of her husband's words. "But I was like, Ang wouldn't do that. She would be too anxious and fidgety to even ask someone."

"Thanks," Angelica stared at her with a straight expression at her wording.

"Anyway," Genesis snorted, "the food is over there by Tia Angela," she gestured towards a woman with long hair was standing by. "And you already know how ma is gonna get when she sees you with a white boy."

"Alright, I'll talk to you later."

"Good luck."

Angelica went back to holding Dream's hand since he stuck it out, the two walking towards the food station where they were automatically bombarded with a huge scent of roses.

"Angelica!" Tia Angela greeted. "No te he visto desde cuando tenías 13 años, mija! Ya creciste." [translation: I haven't seen you since you were 13! You grew.]

"Pero mírala a usted!" Angelica smiled. "Que joven se ve con ese vestido. ¿Se pintó el pelo?" [translation: but look at you! You look so young in that dress. Did you dye your hair?]

"Ay, si," her aunt Angela nodded. "Debías mirado que canas me crecieron. Todo mi pelo se me miraba blanco. Blanco! Y tu tío ahí para enfadar me decía que me miraba vieja. Tú crees?" [translation: Oh yes. You should've seen the white hairs I grew. My entire hair looked white. White! And then your uncle, to piss me off, told me that I looked old. Can you believe that? ]

"Pero si el se mira viejo," Angelica rolled her eyes, never liking her aunts husband. [translation: but he looks way older. ]

"Bueno, ahí te dejo," her aunt softly slapped her on the arm before glancing at Dream. "¿Es tu novio?" [translation: Well, I'll leave you be. Is he your boyfriend?]

"Si," Angelica fake smiled. "Su nombre es Clay." [translation: Yes. His name is Clay.]

"Yo siempre supe que te gustaban a los guerros," her aunt teased her, pinching her cheek. "Pero es bien guapo. Hi!" [translation: I always knew you liked White boys. But he's very handsome. ]

"Hi," Dream smiled at her, shaking her hand.

"Ahí los dejó pues," her aunt started to leave. [translation: Well, I'll leave you.]

"She was nice," Dream chuckled. "She called me handsome."

"Don't know why, but," Angelica playfully rolled her eyes and Dream nudged her, causing her to shake her head while laughing. "But, here's the homemade food. My family likes making the food so they won't waste money."

"It looks good."

"Do you want some salsa?" Angelica asked. "My mom made it since she's the only one who likes making them. Her salsa is very spicy. Last time, she made one and I tried it and holy shit! I tried milk, nothing. I ate ice, 7 especially, and nothing. It was so spicy."

"I'm good," Dream nervously chuckled. "I don't do well with spice."

"Hmm, okay."

"Is that my ugly sister?" They turned around at hearing a voice snd found the culprit standing a few feet away from them. "God, your face makes me want to throw up."

"Shut up," Angelica rolled her eyes before hugging her you her brother around his neck and ruffling his hair. "We know who got the ugly genes from the family."

"Haha," Jose sarcastically laughed before pushing his sister away and looking at Dream. "Oh, you have a boyfriend? Who would've known? Judging from how anxious you always are, I thought this moment would never happen."

"You're so annoying."

"Angelica?"

"Ooh," Jose's eyes widened as he looked at the person who called out his sister's name. "I'll get Genesis and Rosa just in case she starts something since I know she is."

Jose immediately walked away just as Angelica's mom came to her, stumbling a little with a smile spread on her lips. She was already drunk.

"Look at you," Angelica's mom, Elizabeth, said, "you lost a bit of weight. Finally! Karla is over there and you're the same weight as her."

Angelica tightened her hold on Dream's hand. "Ma, you're drunk. Take some water or milk or you're gonna regret the headache tomorrow."

"And who's this?"

Angelica wasn't worried about her mom. Her mom usually got very happy and talkative when she was drunk. But, she also got very judgmental and said words she would later regret saying.

"I'm Clay," Dream introduced himself, shaking Angelica's mom's hand. "I'm Angelica's boyfriend."

"No manches!" Elizabeth exclaimed, turning to look at her daughter. "You got a boyfriend?" Before Angelica could reply, her mom pat Dream on the shoulder. "I suggest for you to run! Run! Or you're gonna have to deal with her "depressive" episode."

At a young age when Angelica was diagnosed with depression, her mom had always told her that there was no reason for her to be sad or to have depression. She was always getting her out of the bed by yelling insults or would make Angelica feel even worse.

"Um, I think I'm going to stay with her for a long time," Dream sarcastically chuckled.

"Why don't you date Karla?" Her mom gestured to a slender woman talking with other women. She had blonde highlights and a green dress with gold heels on. "Look, she's prettier. I always wished she was my daughter."

Angelica rolled her eyes and Dream intertwined their fingers together. "I'm good. I have Angelica and that's fine by me."

"C'mon," Elizabeth continued, "Karla is smart. She's skinny. She's just the best."

"Angelica is the best," Dream started to gently argue with her mom before turning to look at Angelica. "We should go sit down and eat."

"Yeah, the food looks nice and delicious," Angelica nodded, grabbing her plate and Dream grabbing his. Elizabeth hiccuped a bit.

"Don't eat a lot," Elizabeth commented. "You're gonna start gaining weight again. Ya estabas bien gorda y vas a engordar si sigues comiendo mucho." [translate: You were already fat and you're gonna get fatter if you keep eating so much.]

"Ma, calm down," Angelica sighed, placing the plate on the table near her. Dream placed the plate near hers, too, and turned to look at her mom. "I'm not going to keep on hearing you say shit about my weight. So what if I have a bit of meat on me? So, what if I gained a few pounds? So what if I'm fat? Ya, déjame en paz. Siempre te he escuchado y ya me enfadaste. En serio." [translate: Leave me in peace. I always heard what you said and now you're irritating me. Seriously.]

"Ma, leave her alone," Genesis appeared, groaning at her mom's drunken state. "You always get drunk and you can never handle your alcohol."

"And now my kids are disrespecting me?" Elizabeth hiccuped. "I always took care of you guys and now you're treating me like this? You guys are so sensitive."

"Oh, my God," Rose rolled their eyes before glancing at Genesis. "Where's Dad?"

"Here," they turned around and there was Angelica's dad in his glory. He seemed irritated and Dream gulped at seeing how serious he was. "I'll deal with your mom. Rose and Jose, why don't you stay with your sister?"

"Which one?" Jose asked.

"Ang," at saying her name, her dad turned to look at her. He sighed and walked towards her, immediately hugging her. "I missed you, chaparra." [translation: shortie]

"I missed you, too, pa," Angelica rubbed his back before the two stepped back and he glanced at Dream. He turned to look at his daughter.

"¿Te trata bien?" [translation: does he treat you right?]

"Me enfada," Angelica answered, "Pero... si me trata bien." [translation: he irritated me but... he does treat me right.]

"¿Lo amas?" [translation: do you love him?]

Angelica couldn't even answer that. Love? That was strong. She couldn't even admit she liked him. But... Love? Ha! That was funny. Yes, she liked him but that was minimal. But love? That was just way too much for her. After all, they were beginning to be friends and they weren't arguing as much as they would before. But-Wait... She liked him...

"No más dime si lo quieres," her dad cut off her thoughts. At seeing his daughter looking at him with innocent eyes, he sighed and smiled. "Si lo quieres." [translation: at least tell me you like him. You do like him.]

"Just go with Ang and Clay, buy yourself something to eat, snd you're staying with her," Genesis sighed, rubbing her forehead. "I'll save the food and I'll take you some to your house."

"You guys want to go to In-N-Out?"

Jose and Rose perked up as their dad and Genesis' husband came to take their mom to the car. She kept complaining and arguing, clearly wanting to cause a scene.

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

"Let's go then."

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

2k+ words! 🥲

So, since you all know, I've
been listening to BTS and I
decided that their song
Fake Love will play as a big
part in between Ang and Dream's
relationship :)

Also, I wanted to clear up that
Dream has NOT seen Angelica's
face. She has seen his face, but
he hasn't seen hers.

Might update in a bit again

:)