Marci Wellington's POV

The first week of school could be explained in many words, but I'll use one.

Eventful.

The cheer team kept giving Giá a hard time, especially after Mateo stepped in to defend his sister. My best friend has had a permanent scowl on her face since Tuesday.

As for Lucas; the basketball team has been singing his praises and helping him do stuff. The pessimist immediately called them out, and when the football jocks saw an opening to get on his good side, he shot them down faster than when Abuela could throw her trusty roll of paper to my head because I forgot to lock the front door.

I have the bruise and the missing chunk of makeup from my kit to prove it.

Nate and I have been working on a Biology project which is twenty-five per cent of our grades this term. It's about the reproductive system. I don't know how, but when he came over to do it, we ended up in Abuelo's study, where he helped us with it. I can now give my future kids the birds and the bees talk while using riddles.

Lovely.

Giá and I got up from our seats as the final bell rang. I could hear the home management teacher going on about submitting our assignments on Monday; she was drowned out by the falling of a sewing machine in the front.

"So, what are we doing this weekend?" Giá asked as we walked out of the class, stepping over the needles on the floor.

"I'm going over to the penthouse, you?"

"I have a whole book of diagrams to memorise for next week's technical drawing class." She leans on her locker while I open mine and dump my books in it.

"So, how does it feel to be the only girl in the class?" I humour her.

Giá has always wanted to be an Architect; she has an eye for building work if the Lego building blocks in her room are anything to go by.

"Well, I get a chance to watch boys try and make their dominance known. They fight each other over who gets to do my homework for my affection." She says grimly.

It was at that moment that Nate and Lucas joined us.

"Whose affection are we fighting for?" Nate asks as he ruffles Giá's hair which makes her glare at him.

"If it's you two, it's a lost cause." Lucas snorts as he takes a sip from his water bottle.

I close my locker and turn the dial.

We join the sea of students and make our way to the parking lot.

"We should do a dance video; it's been a while since we last did one," Nate said out of the blue.

"You're right, Nathan, but where and when would we get the chance to do it?" Lucas told him in a tone that adults used to talk to toddlers.

I bring my hand to his neck and feel it, "Definitely coming down with something."

Giá snorts, "The only thing Lucas can come down with is good grades and a heaping side of disapproval of everything."

"Anyway," My boyfriend brings our attention back to him, "I was thinking we could do it in my backyard. We just got a new paint job for the fence, and the grass needs to be broken in."

"Sounds doable. When should we do it?" I ask and look around them.

We had stepped outside the school and walked towards the car Diego used to bring Giá and me to school.

"We could do it on Sunday afternoon?" He suggested.

We all made a sound of approval and leaned on the car to wait for the Lealtad men to come out.

The football jocks were attracting attention as they walked out of the school. Their captain and assistant were at the rear walking behind them.

The girls that flocked their angles were the cheer team, and the others weren't good enough to make the team. That's what you would say if you wanted to sugarcoat it.

I saw girls in tight clothes trying to get groped by boys who had better things to do.

Then one of the boys wrapped his hands on a cheerleader and gave her a spanking.

Scratch that; they have nothing better to do.

Jade and Xena flanked the sides of Diego, competing for his attention.

The boy looked frustrated, but because Abuela had already drilled into his head that he could not hit a girl and get away with it. He had his hands clenched on their sides with a big smile.

Diego wrapped his hand around his younger brother's shoulder as they walked toward the car.

They stopped in front of us with the desperate duo behind them who kept whining.

'Help me!' He directed at me.

The things I do for my family.

"Okay, break it up," I step away from resting on the car to them.

I latch my hands to that of Diego and Mateo and pull them to me. Since they could rival some short basketball players, I had to step around them to shield them and make myself look intimidating to Xena and Jade.

Xena scoffed, "Don't you have a family dinner to be preparing for?"

Thanks to whatever snitch is out there, my parent's divorce is as popular as the theory of 'you cannot lick your elbow'. I had Mateo do it just in case.

"Don't you have a hair salon's lawsuit on your head to pay off?" I bite back.

Today Xena was sporting a dark orange mop of short hair; it makes me not want to eat the fruit again.

"Move. I have a date to get to," Jade commanded and tried to push me out of the way.

Remember when I said the school had a policy of respecting its superiors, teachers and students alike?

Well, it looks like I'm about to break it. I quickly looked to the side to ensure no car was left in the teacher's parking lot.

Another thing; the cheer team is operated by the girl in front of me. She is one step away from bashing my head with her pompoms. On second thought, her perfume might make me go unconscious before she can get to do that.

"Ladies, I believe that you could do not only us a favour but mankind as well; if you take a step back and keep going till you are at the edge of a cliff and don't forget to bow backwards." I smile spitefully.

The drama-hungry students noticed the anger on their faces and the atmosphere stills. Phones are raised in the air, and bets are being placed.

"If you don't understand, I'll use smaller words," My smile was growing bigger by the minute, "He doesn't want you, and if I was a lesbian, neither would I. You two bitches have had your rounds on everything that has a set of balls. Xena, you gave Diego a BJ under the bleachers last year. He doesn't want a second round, better work on your skills."

I turn my attention to the person I have been itching to smack since Monday afternoon. "Jade, the strip club called. They wanted their clothes back. But when they saw who was modelling it," I stepped forward and mock-whispered in her ear, "They told me to tell you that you could keep it. It's as good as ruined."

A series of oos was heard, but I wasn't done yet. I turned to my group of friends and motioned to Lucas with my head, "Do me a favour, help me get Giá home."

He nodded. I walked closer to Nate and gave him a light kiss. "We'll talk later."

I never get tired of seeing his face turn red when I surprise him like that. I stifle my laugh and latch my hands onto Diego and Mateo.

"Have a nice weekend, everybody." I give a toothy smile to the crowd who part for the three of us to walk through.

-

"Wanna tell me what that was about?"

"What part?" I pick up a lucky clover and begin to twirl it.

Mateo looked me over, hand on his hips while he stood in front of me.

"So the show you made in the parking lot was for nothing?" I raised a brow in disbelief.

"You and your brother are the ones who asked for help," I raised my hands in mock defence. "Plus, those two have been getting on my nerves all week. I had to do something at some point."

On Wednesday, they got someone to switch my clothes for the mascot costume, and I had to call Giá to get me some spare clothes.

I'm happy that someone had enough brains to invent phones.

If I know those two well, there will now be a war between us till their graduation, and I am more than prepared.

If you can't beat them, join them.

"What's on your mind?" I turned my attention to Mateo as he played with the football.

"Just thinking," He murmurs more to himself.

He twists his waist slightly and throws the ball in the air. It goes straight through the goal.

I mock a crowd of frantic football fans, "He shoots, and he scores!"

We start laughing, and he collapses next to me. Diego went on a snack run after losing a coin toss to Mateo. It left both of us in a deserted school.

After the whole episode in the car park, I dragged them out here to watch them practice because I wanted to bond with them. I couldn't do that at home so here was the next best thing.

I put my next step into place, "So, what are you doing this weekend?" I ask.

He shrugs, "Don't know yet. Diego said something about a party tonight and tomorrow, but I'd rather sit at home and read one of Abuelo's novels."

"What else?" I say to keep him talking.

"Abuela promised to teach me how to make a new dish. Madre said I could help her with the student tutoring she signed up for. Then Padre said we could go fishing on Sunday." He has a wistful smile on his face.

That's the kind of face you should have whenever you and your family have something planned to do together.

I allow the four-leaved blade of grass in my hand to fly away and watch it go.

"From where I'm standing, you would make a good housewife. Or should I say, househusband." I grin.

Mateo does a double-take at me, questioning my sanity. "Are you sure Jade's perfume didn't mess up your brain cells earlier?" He tapped my temple.

"Face it, Mateo, you're a family man. Maybe you will be submissive to your cute wife." I move my hand to his face and pinch his cheeks.

"I don't know what you've done to Marci, but I want her back pronto." He says as he moves away from my hands.

I force out a laugh to go with the cheerful mood. After dinner night, when my mom told my dad and me that she wanted a final separation. I haven't felt like myself for a while now. I can't remember the last time I made a real sarcastic remark.

It's that bad.

I felt a tiny push on my shoulder, "You still here?" Mateo asked.

I missed what he said, so I nodded in negative. "Please repeat what you said."

"I know why you think I would be more fulfilled as a stay-at-home man, but I want something more. I excel in sports and all my classes, but nothing gives me that fulfilling feeling I get when I hang out with my family." There's that wistful smile again.

I know what you're thinking; why am I allowing him to talk about his perfect family life when mine is in a pile of rubble?

I always wanted it, but I couldn't get it. Maybe this is the next best thing. If I get over the petty envy, I have towards these people for having the one thing I always wanted, I could get the family I always dreamed of.

Don't get me wrong; Caleb and his friends are like older siblings to me. But when you have Abuela and Abuelo, it's different.

And I want it, and for me to get it, I have to bond with these people one way or another. Then I can say that I've gotten it.

"I'll come up with a few more options and run it by you," I responded.

Mateo looks at me with a look in his eyes. I'm not sure what it is, but I'm leaning towards appreciation.

"You're a good kid, you know." He swings his hand over my shoulders and pulls me into his side.

"I thought Abuela already told you to stop lying." I contradict while trying in vain to not snicker.

We laughed as Diego walked up to us with a bag of sandwiches and a disgruntled look.

"While the long look, Hermano," Mateo asked as Diego dumped the bag in my lap.

Translation: Brother

"I got jumped by Jade in the parking lot." He sighed and looked away.

Mateo almost threw away his sandwich with how hard he was laughing while I couldn't get air into my lungs even if I tried.

When we sobered up, Mateo finished his sandwich before me and continued kicking balls.

Diego dropped down next to me as I continued eating.

"How's it going, Marci?" He asked.

I stopped mid-chew and looked him over, "I should be asking you that. You were forced to stay close to Jade longer than necessary."

He barked out a laugh and threw his head. The sun was starting to set. From this angle, Diego looked really handsome. Hot would have been a better way to describe any member of the Lealtad clan, but unfortunately, we are related.

"Has someone ever told you that you have a very reactive face?" He lay down on the grass, hands behind his head while one of his legs was draped on the other's knee.

I felt my brows furrow, "How so?"

"Your face allows you to display the emotion going in that head of yours; at least I forget your eyes." He says, "Also, I know what you are trying to do, and just so you know, you've always been a part of this family since the day you were born."

His eyes soften as he turns his focus from me to Mateo, and I force myself to swallow.

"You don't know that." I drop the half-eaten sandwich back onto my lap and refuse to look at him.

"No one will call you out on it, but I know the real reason you dragged us here was to get to know us. Being spiteful towards Jade and Xena was just a bonus; I think it's nice of you to want to hang out with us. Kudos for trying to understand what Abuelo is saying half the time." He glances at me briefly before going back to watching his brother.

I think that's when something in me snapped. I was ready to finally accept it, and when I thought I was working for it, here it was being handed on a silver platter to me.

I smile lightly, and it felt real, "Thanks, D,"

He sends me one of his own, "Anytime Marci, anytime."

Thoughts? Theories?