(PRESENT)
Mateo checked his phone. Nine fifty-three. Cameron would be at his seminar now, busy for at least two hours. Plenty of time to scheme. Rubbing his hands, he called Rosa. She picked up instantly.
“Is he gone?”
“Yup,” Mateo nodded, “we’re all clear.”
“About time. What even takes him so long in the morning.”
“He gets…” Mateo smiled, “distracted easily.”
“I’m sure you have nothing to do with that,” Rosa said, an accusatory tone.
“Hey, I actually don’t.”
“I’m sure your presence is distracting enough for him,” she correctly pointed out.
“Okay, I’ll give you that one,” Mateo conceded, “but that’s on him, not me.”
“Sure sure. I believe you, thousands wouldn’t.” Rosa chuckled. “Never thought I’d see my brother act all sappy and cute around anyone.”
“I’m sure he never expected you would, either.” Mateo liked teasing Rosa as much as Cameron. It was too easy. “Yaz is a pro at that, huh.”
“Hey, this isn’t about me and Yaz,” Rosa quickly interjected. “This is about Cam. Specifically, his birthday.”
“Twenty years old, huh.” Mateo could still remember the awkward lanky teen he first met at school. How things had changed.
“Yeah,” Rosa sighed loudly, “makes me feel ancient.”
“You’re not that much older, Rosa.”
“Tell that to Cam, please.” The muffled sound of footsteps stopped, replaced by shuffling. “And I’m here.”
Ending the call, Mateo went to the ground floor and let Rosa inside. She was holding two small cardboard boxes. Precariously balanced. He took the topmost one.
“Such a gentleman.”
“That’s me.”
They climbed the stairs, disappearing into Cameron and Mateo’s flat.
“I brought everything I could find.” Rosa put her box on a table. “Managed to print a few extras, too.”
“Thanks, Rosa,” Mateo gave her a brief hug, “you’re a life-saver.”
“I know.” She patted his back then sat down, opening the first box. “Do you have the book?”
“Of course I do.” Teo grabbed an empty notebook from a small bookshelf and joined Rosa at the table.
“Good thing you’re organised, unlike Cam. Not his strong suit.”
Teo took the other box, opening a world of memories. “You can say that again.”
“There might be some random old photos in there too.” Rosa said as she sifted through her box. “Just gotta find the ones you want.”
They spent the next few moments checking for the perfect pictures. Most of them were taken these past few years: unofficial dates; their first official date at Fabian’s diner; parties; movie nights; prom; graduating and moving in together. All memories Mateo held dear.
“I love this one.” He held up a picture of him and Cameron fast asleep on a sofa. “Can’t remember who fell asleep first.”
“No idea. I just got home from work and bam, there you both were. Passed out. Popcorn everywhere.”
“We still found kernels weeks later.”
“Pretty sure there were some left in the old sofa.” Rosa took the picture, adding it to the approved pile. “At least you’d eaten half the bowl.”
“It was a big bowl, though.”
“What were you even watching?” Rosa asked. “I was way too tired and distracted to pay attention at the time.”
“You know, I don’t even remember.” Mateo wracked his brain. “Something to do with time travel, I think. Not even sure if it was a movie. Might’ve been a gaming channel lp.”
“Great memory you’ve got there.”
Mateo shrugged. “I can’t be good at everything.”
He continued the search, stopping when he found a much older photo. One corner was folded, part of the edge ripped. A man - who he recognised as Cameron and Rosa’s father - and a woman.
“Whose that?” He held it up, pointing at the woman.
“Uh,” Rosa looked at the photo, “one of dad’s old friends, I think.”
Mateo stared at the woman. “She kinda looks like you.”
“Yeah, I guess,” Rosa took the picture, tucking it back into the album, “but we’re supposed to be focusing on Cam’s birthday present.”
By this point, both Rosa and Cameron had given up on finding their mothers. Mateo found it sad, they probably had family out there somewhere, but he understood. They had made it this far with only each other.
Unfazed, Rosa searched through more photos. “There you go.”
Mateo took the picture she held out. The first of many birthdays he and Cameron celebrated together.
“Damn, I still remember this.”
“Yeah, the flat was a total mess after. Seems to be a trend when you two are involved.”
“Hey,” Mateo held up his hands, “Cameron was the one who started the food fight.”
“Funny,” Rosa stared at the memory, “he always blames you.”
Mateo shrugged. “It could’ve been a semi-mutual declaration of war. I don’t remember.”
“That’s what I thought. Honestly, you guys just feed off each other’s mischief.” Rosa shook her head, then smiled. “It made the house livelier, that’s for sure. It’s weird seeing him this young again. Both of you, actually. I just wish he met you earlier.”
“That would’ve been nice but… I think we met each other at about the right time. When we needed it.”
Mateo had needed Cameron just as much as Cameron needed Mateo back then. No doubt about it. He still did.
“It’s funny, isn’t it?” Rosa rested her chin on her hand. “Sometimes, people just come into your life and before you know it…”
“It’s like they always belonged there,” Mateo finished for her.
“That sounds so sappy when you say it aloud, but yeah.”
Two hours later, they had picked out some of the best photos. Carefully, they spread them on the table, pairing them with other trinkets. Years of life compiled into one book.
Humming, Mateo embellished the pages with doodles. Nowhere near as good as Cameron but with the same feeling.
When he was finished, Rosa inspected his work and gently nudged his arm. “And you always told me you couldn’t draw.”
“I’ve had years of practice doodling for Cam. ”Mateo smiled at the cartoony drawings. “Got a way to go before I match him, though.”
“I think you already do,” Rosa said softly. “In more ways than one.”
“Yeah, me too.” Mateo wanted to keep matching Cameron forever.
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Gotta love a nice, wholesome family bonding session :)
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