CHAPTER TWO.
(   parental guidance !  )

EVER SINCE SHE HAD BEEN ABLE to comprehend it, biology had been Reyna's favourite subject. She'd been enamoured with the complexity of the human body since she'd first gotten hold of her sister's biology textbooks. She was ten, hardly old enough to grasp the difficult concepts, and yet she was endlessly curious. The functions and diversity that humans could portray simply fascinated her. Biology was not, however, as interesting when it consisted of sitting still in a classroom while a dull man droned on about homeostasis for what seemed like hours.

        The clock ticked irritatingly slowly, each tiny movement of the arm seeming to be more leisurely than the last. Her textbook was open in front of her, but her eyes saw right through it, not processing any words in the slightest. Absentmindedly, Reyna ran her pencil along the empty pages of her notebook. She'd already read ahead through the relevant textbook chapters, doing her best to stay advanced in the class. Her phone buzzed noisily along the tabletop, and Reyna quickly snatched it, hoping to diminish the noise.

FRANKIE ・｡ ✩
maybe it was lizard
people !!!
illuminati?

REYNA ･ﾟ♡
get a life loser

FRANKIE ・｡ ✩
good plan, i'll just ask
Sinclair if he's free
this weekend

REYNA  ･ﾟ♡
aw he's just
your type !!
cupid strikes again

        Reyna could just barely spot Frankie sending her a stinking look from across the room. She giggled, turning back down to her screen.

        "I'm sorry, Ms. Martinez, am I boring you?"

        Reyna snapped her head up, shrinking back from the disapproving glare she was receiving from over the man's rectangular spectacles. Her cheeks coloured as she tucked away her phone, straightening up. "No, sir."

        Mr. Sinclair turned himself on his heel, sending a conspiring look towards the board. 'Group Assignments' was labelled in large, neat text, a list of requirements listed underneath in point form.

        "For these group assignments, I'd like to make a few changes," Sinclair turned himself towards Frankie next, his thin hair flopping over the exposed shiny scalp. "Ms. Miller, how about you assign yourself with Mr. Carter. And Ms. Martinez, I'm sure Ms. Argent would greatly appreciate you as her partner."

        Reyna gave out a low sigh, already dreading the work that would come in the next days. She despised group projects, usually only finding them partially enjoyable when done with Frankie—although that might have more to do with the ice cream breaks they partake in than the project itself.

        Turning herself, she tried to identify the 'Argent' girl that she'd be working with, but didn't particularly recognize the name. Sliding of her chair, Reyna began to tidy her things when a hand tapped her shoulder. Jumping high, Reyna whipped around to the rapper, met with an unfamiliar face.

        The girl was undeniably beautiful, with kind eyes and flowing dark hair. Her porcelain skin shone wonderfully off her black jacket. She smiled kindly as she pulled her books to her chest. "Sorry! Are you 'Ms. Martinez?'"

        "Oh god, Reyna is totally fine," she uttered, sliding her books into her plain beige bag. She took on a small smile as she faces the girl again. "You must be 'Ms. Argent' then."

"Allison, actually," she laughed, revealing a deep dimple in her cheek. "If anyone started calling me 'Ms. Argent', I'd probably have to shoot myself."

        "Very fair, Allison it is." Reyna smiled, pulling her bag over her shoulder as she leaned against the lab table. Her fingers tapped incessantly across the surface. "So, do you know what we're supposed to be doing in this project at all?"

        "I'm pretty sure it's just meant as a review of homeostasis and it's functions in the human body, it shouldn't be too hard." Allison explained, gesturing her head towards the board as the two girls began exiting the classroom. "But since Sinclair seems to permanently have a stick up his ass, I doubt we're getting class time to do it,"

        "I think at this point, the stick is just part of him," Reyna giggled, curving her way through the rustling crowds of teenagers. She stopped herself next to Allison as the girl jimmied her locker. "Well, my grandmother doesn't really like having people over at the house, but we could meet up at a café or something,"

        "We could always do it at my place," Allison offered, finally breaking free the stuck door of her locker. "My parents are totally cool with friends coming over."

        Reyna let out a small smile, feeling a bit envious. She hadn't been allowed to have friend's visit for as long as she could remember, courtesy of her grandmothers extremely private lifestyle. She had been able to have Frankie a handful of times, and even that had taken hours of needling on her part before her lola caved. "That would be great! Just give me your number and we can set up a time?"

        With amicable smiles. the two girls exchanged phone numbers, reserving a plan to work on the project later that evening.

        The Martinez house wasn't what anyone could call eye-catching. The freshly-washed brick siding was aged and faded, the window panes painted birdhouse-red to match the pointed roof. The grass was neatly trimmed, the lawn clear of any ornaments or foliage. Not even the small planters by the sides of the house were occupied by any life. It wasn't in disrepair by any means, but it was surely frustratingly simple.

        The interior didn't do much to save it's reputation. The walls were bare and strikingly grey, only adorned by a few simple paintings and relics. The small kitchen flowed nicely into the comfortable living area, while all three bedrooms crowded together in the back of the one-story building.

        Reyna knew her grandmother was home as soon as she'd walked through the door. The sweet aroma of braising chicken hung in the air, accompanied by a tart vinegar smell. Carefully removing her shoes at the door, Reyna breathed in the comforting smell with a smile. Her grandmothers recipes and cooking skills never failed to amaze her.

        A tiny woman stood hunched over the stovetop, her short greying hair sitting nearly atop her head and curling by her ears. She was a bit plump, and hummed a child's tune as she stirred the chicken slowly throughout the brown marinade. Reyna smiled, careful not to make a sound. She had never seen her grandmother as content as when she cooked.

        "Whatcha' making?" Reyna inquired, letting her bag fall loudly to the ground. Her grandmother startled, nearly scalding herself from the hot marinade as it flew from the pan. She sent Reyna a scornful gaze, wrinkles around her eyes deepening.

        "Jesus, child. Haven't I told you not to sneak up on an old woman," she grumbled, wiping up the splattered sauce from the countertop. Reyna coloured a bit, moving to assist her grandmother but was promptly waved away. "You'll give me a heart attack one of these days,"

        "Sorry, Lola," she muttered, moving to the fridge to fish out a cup of raspberry yogurt. She faintly noticed the thin, silver cross necklace that hung from her grandmothers neck. She pointed vaguely towards it as she searched for a spoon. "Is that new?"

        "Very old, actually," her grandmother claimed, bringing a hand to finger the petite cross. It didn't look too worn to Reyna, but she had never been too much of an expert on jewelry. "Your father bought it for me, many years ago."

        Reyna swallowed her tongue, slowly spooning her yogurt. Her grandmother rarely spoke of her departed son, and if she did, it was often too wistful or secretive to even comprehend. Reyna had hardly known the man herself, as she had only been an infant at his death, yet she still thought highly of him. Her grandmother was not a weak woman, she would not grieve if the one lost was not truly special.

        She wasn't sure if she missed him, even though she respected him. Could you miss someone you didn't truly know? She supposed she often longed for the illusion of having a father, rather than the man himself.

        Clearing her head, Reyna shifted over towards the sink, running a trickle of warm water over the dirtied bowls within it. "I need to go work on a project tonight,"

        "With whom?" Her grandmother asked, carefully pouring some additional marinade into the chicken pan.

        "A girl from biology," Reyna replied plainly, reaching for the lavender soap to her right.

"And what is this girl's name?" Reyna felt a bit irked, continuing to scrub the bowls. The woman had been so overly protective since they'd come to live with her nearly ten years ago. She'd appreciated it as a young child, but now her grandmother's reach on her life felt suffocating.

        "Allison. I'm pretty sure she's new to town, so I thought it would be nice to pair up with her, so she can get to know people. " she muttered, stemming the flow of the tap. She didn't mention how she'd been forced into partnership with the girl as a type of reprimand from Sinclair, but what she'd told wasn't technically a lie. She was almost certain that Allison was new to town, and this could be her opportunity to give her a welcoming experience.

        Her grandmother nodded in agreement, sending her a quick look of approval. "That is very kind of you, apo. I'm sure if you ask your sister nicely she'll drive you."

        "IS IT JUST GOD'S LAW THAT ALL attractive men have to be either gay or famous?" Reyna couldn't help but snort at her sister's frustrated declaration, pulling her knee up to her chest. Abigail's Cadillac sped uneasily down the road, rattling a bit as they made a sharp turn.

        "I mean, you seem to be doing alright for yourself," Reyna teased. She could recall all the nights her older sibling had been out from dusk till dawn—sometimes sporting foreign male clothing and nearly always hungover as hell.

        "'Doing alright' doesn't exactly mean I'm getting what I want," Abbey pointed out in a huff, adjusting her grip on the wheel. "Besides, it's been way too long since I've been able to go out."

        "You know Lola would murder you if she knew how often you snuck out," Reyna remarked, taking a glance over at her sister. The girl had hardly had any time to herself since she'd taken up a job at the local hospital, and it showed. Her pretty features were tired, purple bags peeking out from under her eyes.

        "Well, then it's a good thing she doesn't know," the 'and she never will' was unsaid, but definitely implied as Abbey sent her sister an icy look. Reyna recoiled, quickly dropping the subject. She'd been on the bad sides of too many of Abbey's revenge plans to even consider ratting her out.

        The car slowly rolled into a long, winding path, leading up to the luxurious home looming over them. The house was easily three stories, modern and majestic with its refined architecture and huge glass windows. Reyna couldn't help but feel a little intimidated as they approached the magnificent home. She couldn't help but think how out of place Abbey's scuffed Cadillac would appear beside this wealthy of a house.

        "Holy shit, is your friend Tony Stark or something?" Abbey gaped, pulling to a slow stop as she took in the grandeur of the house.

        Ignoring her sister's sarcastic comment, Reyna bid her a quick goodbye and brought herself to the front door. She was relieved when Allison answered the door quickly, feeling a bit less out of place as the girl welcomed her in with a warm smile.

        The inside of the house was just as stunning as the outside, a white marble staircase following up the the second floor. Reyna tried to keep in her awe as she followed Allison to her room, pausing to gape at the crystal chandelier above the entrance. Jesus, just who was this girl?

        Allison's room, thankfully, was a bit more normal by Reyna's standards. Adorned with only a few posters along the walls, a vanity and various mismatched trophies, the room was comfortable and less cold than the other luxurious sights she'd seen. Allison gave her a kind smile as she sat herself on the edge of the black and white duvet. "Sorry, it's kind of a lot. My parents tend to be a little, excessive."

        "No, no, it's cool," Reyna reassured, gravitating towards one of the vintage posters along her wall. She could feel an itch of excitement build up in her chest as she observed it. "Are you a Red Hot Chili Peppers fan?"

        "My dad got me into them when I was super young," Allison nodded, pulling her sleeves over her thin fingers. "He got that from a concert in '94."

        "That is so sick!" Reyna gushed, admiring the poster closely. She'd gotten into older rock ever since her grandmother disclosed her father had been a sort of junkie for classic rock. It was one of they ways she felt she could know him better. "God, I would not have pinned you for a girl that's into that type of music."

        "What does that mean?" Allison inquired, folding her feet under herself. Reyna could feel herself becoming a bit bashful, realizing how she'd already found herself labelling someone she hardly knew.

        "Just that, I'm glad we have something in common!" She grinned, taking a seat beside Allison. She was careful not to put her feet on the bed, leaning excitedly towards the girl. "I can hardly ever find someone with similar music tastes."

        "Well, I taught her well." A gravelly voice emerged from the doorway, causing Reyna to jump as she turned towards the unexpected sound. A tall man obscured the doorway, an easy smile gracing his aged features. Salt and pepper stubble ran across his chin, eyes crinkling at the edges.

        "Dad, what are you doing up here?" Allison asked, turning herself towards her father. Reyna couldn't see much of a striking resemblance between them, until she noticed their eyes. Striking as steel on each of them.

        "What, I can't introduce myself to my daughters friend?" he asked cheerfully, approaching the two girls. "I'm just about to head out, so I thought I'd check on you girls."

        Reyna lifted herself from the bed, extending a steady hand toward the man. "Reyna Martinez, sir. Allison and I are working on a biology project together."

        With mild surprise, Mr. Argent took the girl's hand in a firm grip. "Martinez, you said?"

        "Yes, sir."

        "You know, most kids your age wouldn't bother to shake hands." he noted, as Reyna took her hands back to her side.

        "My grandmother immigrated here from the Philippines when she was young, she's always been stern with my sister and I where etiquette is concerned," Reyna explained, thinking back on the harsh lessons she'd received from her grandmother when she'd been anything less than polite. Etiquette and respect was of utmost importance in her Lola's eyes, and she'd been sure to pass that along to her granddaughters.

        Reyna nearly missed the slight raise in the man's eyebrow, as he quickly shifted his expression back to the cheery father she'd introduced herself to. "The Philippines? How interesting."

        Reyna itched to ask why that simple fact proved so interesting, but held her tongue as she gave a sweet smile. She was always reading into things.

        She had nearly forgotten the incident when Mr. Argent turned himself once again towards her. "Martinez, is that your father's name?"

        "Dad!" Allison urged, seemingly baffled by her father's intrusiveness. "Don't you think you're being a little rude?"

        "I'm just asking a simple question," he insisted, shooting Reyna a charming smile. A subtle chill ran down her spine as she rubbed her fingers together, nicking at the peeling blue nail polish. "Sorry, I was just a little curious."

        "It was my mother's name," Reyna stated, bringing her head up to lock eyes with the older man. His eyes glinted as he took in the information, nodding silently.

        "Dad, we've really got to get started on our project," Allison interrupted, sending her father a look that only a daughter could muster. Reyna was glad for the intervention, her shoulders tense and uncomfortable. The interaction had left a sour taste in her mouth.

        He smiled knowingly, retreating back towards the doorframe. "Of course, I'll leave you girls to it."

        With a relieved sigh, Allison turned herself back towards Reyna. Her tone rang a bit guilty. "I'm really sorry about him, he's usually a pretty nice guy."

        Reyna swallowed down her growing discomfort, sending a smiling nod towards the brunette. She was sure that wasn't an interaction she'd forget anytime soon, but she didn't want to trouble her possible new friend. "Don't worry about it, I've had weirder."