A/N: Fifty chapters already? I'm feeling quite proud of myself. I thought this would be over at thirty or thirty five chapters but here we are at fifty. Thank you so much for coming this far. It's been nothing but a pleasure having you read my work. Enjoy this chapter and don't forget to leave a vote after.

~Old and Miserable like you~

Today's class went on faster than expected probably because it was a friday. Students and teachers all hoped to leave as quick as they could to have the weekend off to themselves. The geography teacher stood in front of the class explaining the successions of climatic changes over the past millennium and Dolores was paying total attention. Geography was one subject where she was lacking but she made up for her losses in calculus, mathematics and other subjects.

"Dolores." Nicolas whispered against her ear again. She waved him off as though he was a pest. In truth, he was. After asking Adelina to switch seats with him so he could be closer to Dolores, he didn't cease to distract her since then.

Nicolas, fed up from trying to get her to reply him, wrote her a small note which he passed to her discreetly. The small sheet finally caught her attention as she turned her head to grab it.

"A date tonight?" She spared him a glance as she rumpled the piece of paper. "Sure. But don't you think we've been doing fancy dates more often?"

Nicolas paused to think about it. "That's true. I didn't think about it that way. How do you suggest we spend our afternoon? Want to do something fun? How does an amusement park or a museum sound?"

"Tempting but no." She looked at the teacher who by now posed a question to someone in the front row. Relieved it wasn't her, she turned her head to answer Nicolas. "What's wrong with spending the rest of the day at your place? Not for assignments or to talk to Aurora. Besides, she would be heading out tonight and your Dad would be out as well."

He leaned back, keeping his eyes locked onto the whiteboard. She was right in that. Her suggestion would also help him to be easily reachable in case something went wrong at the party Aurora was going to. He realized then that he didn't even ask her where it was going to be hosted. Although she did mention that it was a friend's place, no specific venues was given. He'd have to ask again when she got home later today.

"We could watch Netflix at your place. Just remember to get me my favorites." She continued in a whisper.

He nodded at her requests. "Okay. Would you like to sleep over?"

His question had her squinting as she weighed the options. "I don't know yet. Maybe. Sounds like a fun idea by the way but let me think about it."

"Huerta, De León. Detention!" The geography teacher yelled finally, grinning from ear to ear like a scary cheshire cat.

They both groaned at the same time. Getting detention meant their closing time being delayed by an hour or two depending on if she wanted to be lenient with them and she was not one with such inesteemable virtue.

Adelina spoke up unexpectedly. "But today is a friday, ma'am. We need to head out of this hellhole on time, play loud music and do some gyration later tonight. I'm sure you also want to head on to a club or a bar too, don't you? I'm not so sure where you old people get your fun from."

"That includes you too, Adelina. Detention!" She barked with an ugly leer.

"What a pain in the gorilla's ass." Adelina muttered.

The woman turned around again, leaning forward. "What did you say?"

"Nothing, ma'am. Absolutely nothing." She replied between tightly clenched teeth. It was an understatement if it was said that she was angry. She was seething.

"But that's total crap. We can't be getting detention on a Friday afternoon. Afterall, this is the last subject we have for today. Loosen up sometimes and don't be so uptight. Remember, we're young, full of life and need all the fun while we can have so we don't end up being old and miserable..." Like you.

The words hung in the air of silence, sending everyone into a smothering shock. The whole class whipped their head to espy the person who dared speak to the befuddled woman in that manner. It was Carlos, the feared bully who had been quiet and solo since the week began. It seemed like the spell of silence placed on him finally wore off.

"What did you say?" The woman questioned after shaking off the initial shock. Her face was reddened in anger and her fingers closed tightly over the iPad in her grip as she shook visibly.

Carlos shot a wink at the dazed Adelina sitting beside him, then turned to the teacher. "I don't like repeating myself."

The students began to murmur their agreement one after the other. Soon, there was a whole class of teenagers who started to revolt against the detention given to the three students amidst them. Some of them stood up on their chairs with low chants of 'no detention.' Others remained in their seats but chanted along. The woman looked like she couldn't take any more of the rebellion. The vein by her neck ticked in sync with the hand of the second in the wall clock.

"Enough!" She yelled suddenly.

The class fell silent at her sudden outburst. They let out a sharp gasp of shock as she slammed the device in her hands on a desk in anger. She was beyond pissed at them.

She stretched a thin finger toward them. "You all are getting detention. Better still..." She began hurriedly shoving the books and ipad into the bag she had brought along with her into the classroom. "I can't bear to see your ugly looking faces for one more second. See you next week. Bad bye!" She stormed out angrily.

At that instant, the bell signalling close of day rang out louder than usual. Everyone cheered in happiness, flinging their books in the air and doing little victory dances. Carlos' defence might be strange but he was very right. They were final year seniors who needed fun once in a while even if they couldn't get it everytime.

As some of the other students propped themselves up on their desks, starting loud conversations with their friends, Carlos came to stand in front of Nicolas and Dolores.

"What are you guys doing tonight?"

Dolores didn't bother sparing him a look. "None of your business."

He brushed the insult off, continuing to speak to her like she didn't just give him the cold shoulder. "Well, I'm having a party at my house tonight and--"

"Why do you think telling me about your dumb party would have me gracing the event?" She zipped her bag shut, then gave him a condescending once over. "I don't care if you have a party where Ariana Grande and Chris brown would be in attendance, I don't give two fucks about it. Find someone else to attend."

The expression on his face at her response was crestfallen. "Um, okay then." He turned to Adelina who was right behind the couple.

"What? She already said she wasn't interested in coming. Don't stare at me that way."

"I know, I got the message. I'm asking you now. Grayson is gonna be there too." He debated further, trying to convince her.

Adelina rolled her eyes, dismissing his innocent looking face. "I just might if you ask politely."

"Please?"

She raised a finger to her chin in pretence of being deep in contemplation then said, "I'll think about it."

Carlos grinned, startling her. "Great! There's still about five hours to make up your mind. I'll be expecting you." He sent a small smile and a wave before walking out with his bag dangling in his hand.

Nicolas who had been standing nearby in silent observation, reasoned that something was off with the way Carlos just tried to personally invite them to a party he was hosting knowing very well their relationship with one another. Was he planning something to take them unawares again?

Dolores pulled his the arm of his sleeve to bring his attention. He peered down at her. "If you want that sleep over to happen, I think you should start heading home to plan it instead of wasting time glaring at Carlos."

"Sorry, I just got a bit suspicious at his motives. One can never be too trusting around that guy." He said, packing his own books off of the desk and placing them in his bag.

Adelina concurred with a small nod while staring at the door which Carlos just exited from. "You can never be too sure as long as it concerns Carlos."

Dolores turned to her. "Were you serious about going to the party?"

"Heck no! I just needed to shake him off my behind. I'd give Grayson a call to know if he's done in the art room so we can head to the art studio he wanted to go after school. I won't be following you home today, sorry."

Dolores waved her off. "It's not a big deal. If you ask my opinion which I know isn't needed now, I'd say you attend it just to unwind. At least, there'll be Grayson there to keep you company. Were you intending to leave your boyfriend all alone in a party filled with horny and hot teenage girls?" She teased.

"No, ew! Disgusting!" Her face registered repulsion and Nicolas laughed. "Alright. I'll try my best to attend. Okay?"

"Good. See you tomorrow and you better come with gists." Dolores threatened, pulling her into a hug.

"You bet." She replied before pulling away and heading out of the class to meet Grayson in the school's art room.

~~~{•}~~~

The nerve of  Carlos to pop up from nowhere and try to invite them to a party.
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