many years ago...

I packed my things to go live with my father, Diego, who worked for the DEA, now working as a mechanic down in the Bronx. My mother, Martiza decided to let me and my brother Gerardo to live with my father, since her new boyfriend Joseph moved in and we started getting into fights for no reason, and my anger was getting out of control. She believed the best way to make it stop was to move in with my dad. To make this story short, she basically picked her boyfriend over her children. Lovely...

I still love my mom but I didn't want to be in a home like that. I knew living there made me angry and no matter how many times I went to anger management classes, that anger will always sneak up on me. Plus, I haven't seen my father in years. It was a good way to see him again. A new beginning for all of us. My mom drove us all the way New York, with some things we had left.

"Okay, here we are." My mom said as she parked in front of the little house. We saw my father out on the porch, waving.

"Mis hjios!" My dad yelled, opening his arms wide. Gerardo and I ran into his arms.

"Dad!" We smiled. My mom waited by the car, ever since they separated, they haven't spoken to each other, if they did speak, its a whole mess, arguing, swearing, pointing fingers. We ran back to the car, grabbing our bags.

"Okay, you be good okay?" My mom said as she looks at us. "Call me whenever you want. Hazel, take care of your brother." I nodded. She pulled us in for a hug. "I love you two so much." She sniffs.

"I love you to ma." Gerardo held her a little longer.

"We always will love you mama." I kissed her cheek. She wiped our tears and then hers. She took one last look at us before she drove off. She waved goodbye.

"I know this is gonna be tough, but we'll manage." My dad said as he helped us with our bags. We walked in the house, bright and cleaned. "Go check your rooms." Gerardo and I dropped our bags and ran upstairs. I saw my room, all my stuff from moms were here and neatly placed. All day we caught up, what we been up to, what we like, dinner plans, plans for the weekend, and our least favorite, school. "I know you just got here, I got you guys to start school Monday." Great, two days. "Gerardo, the middle school is amazing, kids are nice, and i heard that the baseball team is really good. And Hazel, the high school got a great track team as well." Running is my life, I always love it. Sprints are more my thing. Middle school was when i started getting into it.

"It is the middle school behind us?" Gerardo points out.

"Close and safe." My dad smiled. He claps his hands. "Its Friday, you don't have to worry about it till Sunday night, okay? Right now, we can chill and watch some tv-"

"Actually, can we go for a walk? Im just tried of sitting all day." I asked him.

"Sure, come on." The three of us hopped out of the couch and went outside. Gerardo brought his skateboard, skating in front of us. "Any boyfriends?"

"What? No! Dad!" I stuttered. Boys weren't really my top priority at the moment.

"What! Im just saying!" He laughs. "Good I miss you guys. I feel like you're already 20."

"We missed you too dad." I hugged. The day went by fast, the three of us went back home after walking around the neighborhood, showing us new pizza joints. I went to my new room, seeing photos of my old friends back home, missing them more. This will be good, a new start, a new life.

Monday Morning:

My dad had dropped off Gerardo at school, he was nervous and didn't he really want to go at all. Now, it was my turn. I got dressed, slipped on my dirty high top converse and grabbed my bag.

"Ready?" My dad asks as he opens the front door.

"Uh yeah." We got in the car, i watched as we drove past by buildings, busy streets and seeing people enjoying their mornings. We pulled up to the school. It was big, i will get lost, i can just can tell. My dad and I walked into the main office, them making my dad sign some forms. I took a look around in the office, watching kids walk by as they went to class.

"Good thing you started, second semester just started last week." The secretary smiles at me, making me smile back. "Heres your schedule, locker number and code, and pe uniform." I grabbed the things from her. I looked at my father.

"You'll do great, I love you." He puts his hands on my cheeks.

"Love you too." He kisses my head and walks out.

"I can take you to you to your next class." Said one student. We walked out of the office. "Im Maddy, whats yours?"

"Im Hazel." We shook hands. "This place is pretty big."

"You'll get use to it." We waked through the empty halls. "Lets me see your schedule." I showed it to her. "Oh english 032 with Mr. Johnson. Its right here." We were standing in front of it. "If you need any help, or even a friend, im here. Or in the theater room."

"Thanks Maddy." She waves as she walks away. I took a deep breath as I opened the door. I stepped in, all eyes were on me. I was turning red and i was burning up. The teacher came to me.

"Whats your name?" He asks.

"Hazel Santos." I whispered.

"Everyone, this is our new student Hazel. Please make her feel welcomed." Everyone just kept staring. "You can take a seat behind Travis." He pointed at the free seat. I kept my head down and made my way there. Mr, Johnson blabbered on about the syllabus. I drew on my notebook, not listening a word he was saying. The bell rang, making each class boring but it went by fast. It was finally my last class, biology. I met with Ms. Hammel, my biology teacher, early, her giving me the syllabus and some other things for the class. I took a seat in the back and more students kept coming in.

"Okay, today, i know its monday and your last class, i dont want to bore you. I've talked about me last week and now, i want you guys to know each other." She passes out papers. "So Im going to assign you partners, who you'll be with for the rest of year. No excuses, you get who you get." Ms. Hammel sighs. Shes nice, I like her, chill. "This is at random, reminder. Please raise your hand so you and your partner knows you are and sit together." She clears her throat. She was listing the partners, one by one. "Luke Alvez and Hazel Santos." I looked up and raised my hand. The boy raised his hand, slowly. He grabbed his things and came to sit next to me.

"Hi." He said to me.

"Hey." I said softly. He grabs a pen from his bag and starts to write down some things on the paper.

"Im Luke." He sticks his hand out.

"Im Hazel." I took it and shook his hand.

"You're not from around here, are you?" I shook my head. He turns to me. He was cute, way cuter than the boys in Chicago. I mean cute. You can smell is Cologne from where I was sitting, its a nice smell. That smile, wow.

"Im from Chicago." I managed to say.

"You're far from home."

"Im staying with my dad." I nodded, trying to make conversation. He flashed me a smile. I just melted.

"Not bad. You like it so far?"

"I just moved Friday, we haven't seen much. Little by little i guess. Overall, it's nice."

"Cool. I hope-" we both jumped as a boy hugs Luke from the back and poking him. "Alright Scott-"

"Well well." He smiles at my direction. "Names Scott, you must be the new girl that Luke has been drooling over since English." He turned red.

"I never knew that you were in my english class."

"The man nearly jumped out of his seat!" Scott continued to embarrass Luke.

"Go back to your partner." Luke shoves him. He shook his head and looks down. "I didn't mean-"

"Hey, its all good. Funny but cute." We both chuckled.

"I have a feeling we're gonna be great friends, Hazel."

"Im glad." The bell rang, we all gathered our things and headed out the doors. I was making my way home, until I heard running from behind.

"Hey, long time no see, huh?" Luke huffs as he stood besides me.

"Stalking me Alvez?" We walked together.

"Me a stalker? Nah. I live a few blocks from here." He pointed out. I was already a few houses down from my house. We started to chat about our day.

"This is me." I pointed at my house. "Thanks for walking with me."

"Cant have a girl walking by herself." I started to blush. "See you tomorrow." I saw my dad and Gerardo peeking through the window, spying.

"Yeah, ill see you tomorrow."

"This time, ill make sure to say hi in english." We waved goodbye. I walked up to the door and saw Luke walking back. "I thought you lived a few house down?" I yelled out.

"I lied." He smiles. "I just wanted to walk with you." I shook my head, going inside the house. Luke Alvez is something else.

"Whos the boy?" Gerardo asked as he peeped from the corner.

"Nobody."

"He didn't look like a nobody."

"Then dont worry about it." I ran upstairs to my room and jumped on my bed. Maybe moving wasn't a bad idea at all.

Few Months Later

Freshman year came to an end. My grandparents came to live with us. My dad married my stepmom, Paula and Andrea is now my stepsister. Luke and I started hanging out more, and man let me tell you, he's going to be the one for me.

"Abueltia!" I yelled out as I ran down the stairs. She hums from the kitchen. My grandparents are staying with us to help around the house. "Ill be back. Im going to the park with Luke."

"Ooh Luke." Andrea sings. I threw a pillow at her. Her and Gerardo laughed.

"I thought you and Luke were just friends?" Gerardo asks as he played his video game.

"We are. We're just going to the park."

"Okayy! If thats what friends actually do." I rolled my eyes. The doorbell rang and I charged at the door.

"Hey!" I smiled as I opened the door to see Luke.

"Ready?" I nodded my head. I stepped out of the house and we went to the park. We sat down on a bench. We had ice cream and laughed until the sun was setting. "You dont you remember when you accidentally tripped over your foot when you had that race?" He laughs.

"Okay, i lost my balance." I bushed. "Dont get me started when you walked into a trash bin." I laughed at him

"I couldn't stop looking at you." He smirks. My heart stopped. Dear lord. "Hazel, i like you."

"I like you too." I stuttered.

"I love you." My eyes widen. Did he just- yall got that right? He just said he love me.

"I-i love you too." I managed to say without fainting. He just laughs.

"What do you say on becoming my girlfriend?"

"I would really like that." We both lean in and kissed each other. Once we pulled back, i was at awed. "Wow." We laughed. I didn't come home until 8 pm. "Thanks for today."

"Same thing tomorrow?" I nodded. We kissed again. When i walked in, I singed through the hallway. My grandparents looked at me, smiling.

"I know that look. That was the look when your abueltio asked me to be his girlfriend." My grandma said with her thick cuban accent.

"Luke asked me to be his girlfriend." Andrea jumps up and runs to me.

"I knew it! This needs to be celebrated!" Andrea rubs to the radio and played some Cuban classics. We all danced around the house. My dad and Paula came home from work.

"What is this?" Paula asks as she sets her bag on the table.

"Luke asked Hazel to become his girlfriend!" Gerardo cheered. My parents laughed and joined in. My grandpa pulled me to him and we danced. Im glad Im here.