MAMAAAAAA

"YOU GUYS ARE INSANE — completely insane!"

"Come on, we need you for this."

"No, you don't." Floramaria Alonso was flaming Javier River and Kate Carter. The two, who decided to take a pit-stop to Chicago, Illinois to get their favorite writer.

They were trying to convince her to go to Oklahoma — where tornados were striking like crazy — and collect data and try to help the people losing their homes. And yes, she was part of that tragic accident five years ago.

Originally, she didn't want to do it. Five years ago, all she wanted to do was be home, reading a book as she watched her son play video games that she could not find joy in — except Mario Kart, she loved Mario Kart. But no, her best friend and cousin, Jeb, forced her to go.

They were all into tornados or whatever. She didn't know what to call it, but she was never into what their group went to college for. She still hung around them, finding them a fun, close-knit group. So, while she was still a mom, she was looking into journaling and becoming a reporter. So the group pitched her that this could be her biggest first hit.

And she accepted... After getting her Cuban grandmother to watch her seven year old son, Lucas.

"I'm only staying for a week... Not long, and you can report our story and—"

"No... I'm sorry, but I can't just leave Lucas." Javi and Kate looked at each other before looking back at her with a sigh.

"Please, Flora... There's people out there who need their voices heard. And by your story, it could encourage more people to act out and help!"

"Lucas can come with." Javi suddenly suggested, making the two women whip their heads at him.

"And that's 100% a no—"

"Oh, come on!" Javi laughs, making Flora quirk a grin. "It'll be safe, especially with our girl Kate there. You know she can control tornados."

"I can't control 'em," Kate remarks, raising an eyebrow. "I can only tell where they're going to be. If I could control them, we wouldn't have these poor people have their homes taken away in seconds."

"You're right, you're right — but come on, Flora. He won't be near any of the storms, and he'll practically be at your side the whole time... Just make sure you have his Nintendo and chargers packed, and some money for his Monster drinks and gummy bears."

Floramaria eyed the two for a few seconds, skeptical of it all. It's not safe to go tornado chasing with a kid. It was stupid.

"What about your Abuela? Can't she watch him for the week?" Silence grew between them as Flora tapped her nails, humming lightly before finally speaking up. "Um, she actually passed away three years ago... So that isn't exactly an option."

"Jesus Christ—" Javi whispers, covering his face before rubbing it furiously as Kate looks at her with wide eyes.

"I'm so sorry—"

"Nah, don't worry about it... She never liked me anyway. She always called me and Lucas names under her breath. It was funny, but she wasn't quiet about it." Flora couldn't help but say under her breath. "Lucas was always bastard child in Spanish, while I was just whore."

"Just whore?"

"Yeah, I'd step in a room and she'd cough — Whore," The Cuban woman mimicked her deceased grandmother's cough and old voice before chuckling awkwardly.

"But if anything happens to my son on this stupid trip, even if it's a papercut, I will blind you."

"What? Why are you looking at me? This is on Kate, too, right?"

"Mostly on you, babes." Kate laughed at Javi as he looked dumbfounded with Flora, sending him a wink and sipping her matcha tea.

~~

"Hey, mom?" She was zoned out, her eyes hard on the road. So she didn't hear Lucas calling her name over and over.

"Mom?"

"Mother?"

"Madre?"

"Mamaaaaaa!"

"FLORAMARIA—"

"What?!" Flora exclaims, finally putting her attention to her son.

"Jesus, woman! What are you thinking about?" Lucas asks with furrowed eyebrows, looking at his mom with a bewildered expression. "I didn't know you getting to the age where you need hearing aids—"

"AH!" He screeched when Flora immediately started poking his waist.

"Okay, okay! I'm sorry!"

"Mhm, sure!" She laughed, playfully hitting his arm before pulling away. "Sorry, I'm just thinking about this whole thing. I haven't been around a tornado since... You know."

Lucas nodded, scrunching his mouth as he looked at Flora. She only told him about the tornado incident "their school project" around two years ago. It was the day when she felt it was time for him to finally find out how Tio Jeb died. It was hard for him to remember him since he was too young, but he does remember a few memories here and there with his Tio Jeb before he died.

So he knew who Kate Carter and Javier River were. He stopped seeing Kate after the incident, but he'd see Tio Javi at least twice a year. Lucas liked Javi and his long visits to him and his mom. He was a family friend too, so he was like a cool real uncle that'd appear out of nowhere from time to time and hanged with Flora's whole family...

"But it's gonna be fine! We brought your computer to school and your games! You're not going anywhere near a tornado!" He eyed her oddly with a raised eyebrow when she nervously laughed after her words.

"You know what? I'm just gonna turn around, I'll ask if your Tia can watch you—"

"No, no, no! You know how much she hates us!" Flora threw her head back with a frustrated, dramatic groan, desperately wanting to bang her head on the steering wheel.

"Okay, it's fine. It's 100% okay. You're gonna be fine — I'm gonna be fine. Everything's gonna be fine!"

"Speaking of Tia's, do I have any other aunt's or Uncle's? Other than Javi?" Flora couldn't help but laugh, shrugging with a small smile. "No, you only have your Tia Cordelia here... And your Tia Tanya and your three crazy druggy Tio's are in Cuba. Sorry bud, you don't have a very stable family."

"It's okay... At least we're normal."

"Are we normal?" Flora chuckles before frowning, noticing how suddenly it was Lucas going into deep thought.

"What's wrong, babe?"

He shrugs before looking at his mother in curiosity. "What about my Dad? Did he have any siblings? Are there any hillbilly cousins from his side?"

Floramaria was always honest with Lucas about his father, Tyler Owens. For the first five years of her life, she wanted to figure out where Tyler was and tell him that he was a father and possibly give him a chance. But during those years, her parents forced her to keep Lucas to herself. And then it was put in her head that he wanted nothing to do with him or her. But deep down, she knew that wasn't the case.

She just grew afraid, but after trying to search his name for a little while, she couldn't find him. So she gave up. But if her son ever wanted to meet him, she'd find a way somehow. Or if he ever asked questions about Tyler, she was 100% honest about him... But Lucas never grew interested in finding much about his dad.

Sure, he asked a few basic things to compare himself to him. His name was Tyler Owens. Like where his father grew up — Texas — and a full cliche cowboy if you ever saw one. So in Lucas's vocabulary, his dad was a hillbilly cowboy. His eye color — bluish-green. How tall is he — six foot... Knowing his dad was six foot gave him hope for his future.

Flora would always try to ask if him if he was interested in knowing who his dad really was. But it was always a "no."

"Your dad was an only child... So, no hillbilly cousins, sorry." She laughed, making him nod.

"I'm sure his mom, your grandma Abigail, is still alive and still sweet as ever... She always made these Snickerdoodle cookies to die for. You'd like her. And his dad, he was probably the most meaning guy in the world, but when he liked you, he treated like his own. Sarcastic remarks, always being able to find something to put you to work on their farm, and loving this game called, Why I hate your generation."

"That's cool." His small voice made her stop talking about Tyler.

She wished she could know what he's thinking and why... Most kids would wonder where the hell there dad's were if they grew up without one. What was wrong with her kid? Did he not want a dad? Does he not care? Bit also, why doesn't he care?

It unnecessarily stresses Flora the fuck out.

[ i'm so nervous to finally start this, i hope yall love this ]

[ and don't expect quick updates... sorry lol but i'm gonna try tho ]