Marci Wellington's POV

The first day of practice was controlled by the Coach and Gynamstic's instructor. The Coach was in charge of the basketball and football teams, while the Gymnastics instructor was in charge of the cheerleading squad.

Not to be judgmental, but those two acted like they'd been caught stealing money from a bank.

They've been stealing glances from each other since practice started and avoiding eye contact. Now that's someone who screams guilty.

Lucas and I are the only ones on the bleachers in the gym.

The football team was supposed to be outside, but it was raining. They were stuck doing warm-ups and exercises with the basketball team. They've been making sexy poses when none of the adults in the room was looking to display dominance.

As for the cheer squad; I've been flashed so many times, I think my eyes need to get checked after this.

"The testosterone in this room is choking me," I mutter to Lucas.

"I would say the same, but I'm not gay." He said.

Before I sent a dig his way, I heard a string of Spanish curse words which could only belong to my best friend.

"Carajo! Ustedes no tiene derechos a hablar de mis hermanos como si no estuviera aquí! Derramar mierda por todos lados y mantener tus malditas y estúpidas fantasias lejos de mi familia."

Translations: Damn it! You people have no right to talk about my brothers like I'm not here! Be spilling bullshit all around and keep your fucking stupid fantasies away from my family.

Back in middle school, Giá and I faced the same issue. That was her mantra most of the time.

Giá was glaring at her teammate, who smirked at her.

The rest of the squad had stopped what they were doing and looked at Giá with devious looks.

This won't end well.

The only person's voice I can hear is Giá's because her Spanish curses were bouncing off the walls, and thanks to the rain, the others' voices were drowning.

It's a stare-off.

Giá against the whole squad.

None of them looks ready to back down, and the woman in charge of them can't do anything. Because let's face it, the Lealtads are scary when they get angry.

The glare Giá gave them starts to waver when the cheer captain, Jade, comes forward and places a hand on Giá's shoulder.

Again thank you, Mother Nature, for blocking out her words.

The glare leaves Giá's face completely as her expression crumbles to one of defeat.

Mateo and Diego, who have been watching everything from afar like me, went to get to Giá. But she sprinted out of the room before they could reach her.

"What the hell just happened?" His mother tongue will show off soon. I hope Diego can subdue his younger brother, who never allows anyone to meddle with their sister.

I tsk, "I'll be right back." I tell Lucas and take off after Giá.

The Grim stone institute is known for being one of the best public schools in the state of Miami. The junior, middle and high schools were separated into different buildings and had five floors each.

Giá could be anywhere here; I know she wouldn't leave because walking home in the rain is not an option. I go for the stairs and start to head to her haven, the science club block.

I had to look in every room until I heard muffled sobs from the back of the mathematics lab.

I sigh and enter the room quietly.

Giá and I are not the ordinary best friends people make of us to be. Yes, we are related. Yes, we've crossed great mountains because of our friendship, but that's not all.

Giá and I have something in common that not many people know about. You see, when you're either the last born or only child but in our case only girls of your family, it's a lot of pressure.

People want and believe that you will surpass those older than you. You will be the best of the best. But maybe that's not what you want.

Sure every kid wants to make their parents proud and try and measure up to their older ones, but let me let you in on a secret.

Some kids prefer to just do them. They do what makes them happy, no matter how high the ranks are. That's easier said than done, when everywhere you go, people will compare you to your older ones.

I walk further into the room, drop down to my knees and wrap my hands around her shaking frame. Giá must know it's me because she turns around, wraps her hands around my neck, and cries on my shoulder.

"It's okay. Let it all out," I say gently.

After some time, her sobs become lighter, but the pain in her heart won't lessen with just a single crying session.

"Jade said that Diego got a scholarship heading his way, and Mateo could do well anywhere he ends up in." Her voice is muffled, but I can still hear her.

I tighten my arms around to give her the comfort she needs.

"Then, one by one, they started poking fun at me. I'm no good, and it's thanks to my brothers I'm even allowed to go here."

Just to point out, the Lealtads have a decent amount of IQ as they've got beauty. So it's not her academics that they were poking at.

"Then what did she say that made you run off?" I want to know so I can make a deal with Shawn later.

She sighs, "She said that the only thing I've got going for me is cheerleading even though I suck at it. But what took the cherry on top was that she affirmed the rumours." She whispered the last part quietly.

"What rumours?" I furrow my brows and lock my stare at the wall behind me.

"That Lucas and Nate are pinning for you, and the only reason you guys hang out with me is that I'm your DUFF."

I restrain a laugh because now is not the time to wonder how people passed through the school system and ended up being so dense.

"Giá," I say to ensure she is still listening to me and not lost in her imagination.

She nods, but I know that if we don't talk this out the right way, we will have this conversation again soon, and by then, her insecurities will have eaten too deep within her.

I gently pry her hands off my neck and cup her cheeks to make her look me in the eye.

"There's a thin line between friends and family. We crossed that line a long time ago. Before I started dating Nate. Before Lucas and I acknowledged each other's existence. Remember that day we had with Abuelo?"

She wipes a tear that slips out of her eye, "At a dinner before the beginning of Middle school, Abuelo had both of us sit down and listen to one of his stories as he retold it ten times."

I let out a small laugh because that night was when I realised I was jealous of the kind of family that Giá had. I wanted to belong in it; I wanted something like that from my father and mother. I desired it so bad that at the end of that night, I threw a tantrum; I wanted a sleepover.

"He said," She says it with me because it's the quote that we live by, "The ink and paper go together to tell one of the most infamous friendships ever made."

She smiles lightly, "You're my ink."

I smile back, "And you're my paper."

"Together, we write our story."

The same lines we chanted on our first day of middle school.

We both smile at the memory, "When I become the assistant cheer captain while you're valedictorian. And we graduate and move our separate ways. Would we still be friends?" She asks.

I answer immediately, "No."

Before her expression fell, I added, "We'll be sisters causing havoc in our different colleges."

She throws her hands around me and pulls me in for a tight hug.

I love Giá and Marci's friendship.

Do any of you have a best friend? Because ironically, neither do I have nor believe in them. I have a lot of people dear to me, so it's kind of hard to pick.

Anyway, stay tuned.