Chapter 3: An Angel Fallen From Heaven

...Ariana Ximena Castillo ...

"Was signing me up for school really necessary?"  I complained while getting my bread out of the toaster. "I told you, I'm fine with working with you at the bakery."

"Dios mío Ana (Goodness Ana)," mom said in frustration. "How many more times do I have to explain that—"

"Getting your education is important," I interjected.

"Remember those fine words." Mom chuckled.

"But school ain't for me," I said for like the 100 times, giving her an eye roll.

"Y teníamos que ser primas (And we had to be cousins)," Tamara said while entering the kitchen.

"What?" I questioned.

"School is pointless," Tamara responded.

Mom shook her head. "You're no help."

"Yet you spent seven years in college just to get your law degree," I shot back.

"Let me finish," Tamara sighed.

"Elaborate then," I said in thought.

"School is pointless," she reiterated. "Yes, I'm now a lawyer who's helping your mom out with the bakery. Remember what I had to do in order to get here."

"She had a sh*t attitude in high school," mom says. "However, she pulled through."

"That's right," Tamara concurred.  "At first I was contemplating if college was a good idea. My parents didn't have the opportunity to go because of financial struggles. Once I applied, they were so happy for me although they'd said that they've supported whatever my decision was."

"It will all be worth it once you have your degree," she ranted on.

"Why don't you call me?"

Tamara showed confusion. "Huh?"

"Once you're finally done paying off all that student debt for we can celebrate." I let out a proud smirk. "That's if you're not retired by then."

"B*tch!" Tamara crossed her arms in anger. "You know that student debt is a highly sensitive topic for me."

I yawned. "Sorry, not sorry."

She gave me the death stare as my mom just stood there irritated. It was way too early to be chastised by Tamara. I just wanted to go to school in peace (never thought I'd ever say that) and not in actual pieces.

"Uh fine!" I expressed exhaustion. "No more complaining from today and onwards."

"Mom raised an eyebrow at me. "I wouldn't be so sure about that."

We all exchanged a few chuckles and giggles

At this point, we were all joking.

"All right," Tamara said while closing up her coffee mug. "It's time for me to go."

"Drive safe," mom advised her.

"See ya." I gave her a little wave.

Tamara's living with us for the meantime until her house gets modernized. Her wife, Hanna, was also staying with us but was currently abroad for a business meeting. Their home was set to be ready by the end of the month and honestly, I was getting used to having them around.

Although she is about seven years older than me, we still get along pretty well. The same goes for Hanna. They are my favorite "crackhead couple" as I like to call them. You would think that just because one is a lawyer and the other a businesswoman they would take everything serious and their life would be full of ugly cries at three a.m because they regret their career choice.

It's anything but that. I always admired the way they were able to keep their work-life away front their personal one. Holy cr*p, I feel like my life is complicated enough. I could only imagine the type of work they had to do and all those sleepless nights they pulled off in order to get to where they're at in life now.

"You know, the phone is meant to be answered."

Mom signaled her head to my nonstop ringtone.

"I'd rather not." I shrugged.

"What if Xavier is calling to apologize?" She suggested.

"You mean to tell me that I'm a disgrace and dishonor to the family all over again?" I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, dad's not looking for any form of reconciliation here. Y si soy sincera, no me nace en el corazón hablar con el o Danny (And if I'm straightforward, I don't find it in my heart to talk to neither him nor Danny)."

"Have you had the chance to speak to your father?" Mom asked while setting her coffee mug on the kitchen island.

"Nope. I don't intend to. If he wants to say sorry, he'll do it of his own will and not out of force. Same goes for Daniel. I'm not going to force him to stay in contact with me because we are siblings. It was made pretty clear two days ago that they wanted nothing to do with me."

"Once again, I'm so sorry hun." She came forward to give me a hug. "Know that I love you no matter who you are, okay? You will always be my baby girl."

Hugging her back, I say, "It's not your fault ma. If anything, I'm sorry to have put you in that position with dad."

"Don't worry about me." She gave me a kiss on my forehead. "You asked me to keep that secret of yours and I gladly complied. Just know that I'm very proud of you for standing up to Danny and your father. That was very brave of you Ana."

"Thanks for being supportive rather than hating me," I said sadly.

Mom put her hand on my cheek as I placed my hand over it. "I could never hate you."

"Now..." She made her way to where her mug was resting on the kitchen island. "Get your a*s to school."

I shook my head in annoyance. "You just ruined the moment."

...♡⃛ ──────────── ♡⃛...

—Glarrisson High School—

H*ll to the f*cking no!

There was no way in h*ll that I was going to a school filled with these snoopy kids.

Slowly driving my car around the student lot in hope of a parking space, a car was backing out from a spot. Putting my left blinker to warn the cars around me to know that the spot was mine, this black BMW hit on the accelerator and stole my space as soon as the car backed out.

Not hitting on the brake soon enough, they hit the car from the front. They wanted a spot and the car ended up having more than a spot in the bumper.

Karma is a b*tch I tell you!

Thankfully someone else was backing out right across. That would give me the opportunity to get off and give them a laugh.

Pulling on a handle in the bottom of my seat to open the back trunk, two girls exited the now bumper-less BMW. Looking at them through the side mirrors, one of the girls with blonde hair who was wearing a vibrant pink fluffy sweater in almost one-hundred degree weather, slammed the drivers' door, and clicked her way to the front of the car with her big a*s heals, also pink and hideous.

Grabbing my backpack out of the trunk, the two girls were giving me angry glances from behind.

Turning around, finally acknowledging their ugly faces, I gave them a smirk and headed towards school.

I usually never stayed quiet. I always had something to say. Mom would be disappointed if I got in a fight on my first day of school. If only heading to class was true though. The two girls ended up screaming something that made me react. My blood was already boiling at the fact that I had to be here and already these two b*tches wanted to start problems?

Count me in!

"Hey, you!" Screamed one of the girls. "Girl with the ugly shoes. I mean really, they are so two seasons ago."

"My name's Ariana but whatever toots your horn...if it's even working to begin with," I laughed uncontrollably. "What do you want?"

"We just got this car like two days ago!" one of the girls angrily mentioned.

"Congrats?" I replied.

The pink sweater girl continued yelling. "Because of you, my car was destroyed!"

"I don't remember being the one trying to steal a parking space," I snapped back. "Do you even have your license? That little stunt you pulled there isn't even seen by beginners."

"You have to pay for it," said the girl next to pinkie.

"Are y'all being serious?"

...

"You are seriously telling me to pay for something that I didn't cause?!" I was fumed. "Just learn how to f*cking drive properly."

"I'm sure you have enough cash to pay for it. You said it yourself, I'm a girl with the two seasons ago shoes," I went on. "Now if you'll both excuse me and my ugly shoes are going somewhere else other than here."

Seems like New Jersey was following me everywhere I go. Every time I got into a fight, mom would always call and tell me that violence wasn't the answer. I beg to differ. Of course, it was. Punching Ross in the balls stopped him from taking my lunch in the fourth grade.

I bet they were the "Queen Bee's" from school. There was no doubt about that. I feel like every school has at least one or two of those. Lord knows I needed a little more spice in my life and put these two idiots in my way. I was probably at the top of their list, to be honest.

...♡⃛ ──────────── ♡⃛...

The first class I had was English, taught by some dude named Mr.Hall. It was probably the worst class ever. Also, fun news. The girl next to pinkie was in my class. She apparently went by the name of Peyton.

The only thing, or person rather, who made it less torturing was my partner, Adalyn. She's the first person that I encountered who's actually really kind. I guess the fact that we were both new to California was an instant click.

Adalyn came from Nottingham, England, and is living with her stepfamily which she didn't sound too happy about. I wanted to ask more questions but knew that I needed to have my boundaries.

Whatever it was, I hope she knows that I'll listen.

... ♡⃛ ──────────── ♡⃛...

—Last Period—

I was finally walking into my last and final class, theatre and drama. Like if I needed more drama in my life but whatever. Not my choice of schedule.

Walking my way past these loud a*s classmates of mine, I sat down at the far end from the back. I hated making an entrance but these people seemed to think that I was Beyoncé or something (God, I wish). Welp, it's just for today, I hope.

"Class we seem to have a new student with us," the teacher announces once everyone had settled down.

No, is she actually doing this "tell us something about yourself" cr*p?

"Ariana, is it?"

"Correct," I simply nodded.

"I'm Ms. Pierce, the drama and theatre teacher. Why don't you come up here and tell us something about yourself."

Mother of—

Sighing as I stood up from my seat, I made my way to the front. This lady was actually going to waste precious class time to introduce a loser like me? Not like these people were a bit interested in what I had to say anyway.

"Hello," I waved, obviously faking my excitement. "It's honestly so great to meet y'all. As you already know, I'm Ariana Ximena Castillo but go as Ari for short. I moved here from New Jersey about three days ago and I'm really, really looking forward to spending the year with all of you."

God, I hated myself for that.

"At least someone's excited about learning something in this class." Ms. Pierce gave everyone else a frustrating head shake.

"Super!" I exclaimed. "May I go take my seat now?"

"Actually, I like your enthusiasm so much that I want you sitting up front."

Sarcasm was written all over her voice.

Okay, Ms. Pierce was definitely not stupid and was able to hear the sh*t load of lies flying out my mouth.

"No, it's okay," I insisted. "I'm able to show my excitement from the back as well."

"Ms. Castillo." My angry teacher shot me a glance.

"I'll go grab my things," I gulped as I rushed for my items.

"Good choice kid." She giggled. "Ms. Bellamy, would you be a dear and please raise your hand. She'll be your partner for the rest of the year."

Looking at a hand go up in the air, I made my way to whoever this Bellamy chick was. As I took a seat next to her, I threw my backpack on the table, making her iced coffee tip over.

Great, now I had three people that hated me, counting the other two girls put together.

"I'm so sorry," I said while quickly reaching for napkins.

Taking out a few napkins from my backpack from the crunch wrap supreme I had for breakfast, I went ahead and wiped the table. Gladly, my fellow classmates were too busy talking to one another instead of witnessing whatever had happened here.

"Don't worry about it. Accidents happen," the Bellamy girl responded.

"Just try to be less clumsy next time," she said with a low giggle.

Giving her a thoughtful look, I seemed to be getting lost in her ocean blue eyes. Gosh, they were so mesmerizing. Even her small giggle was adorable.

Admiring her medium-lengthened ash-blond hair and then going down to her dazzling blue eyes, I then realized that she'd been talking to me this whole time.

"Erm hello? Are you all right?" She hollowed at me, waking her hand in my face. "You seemed to have spaced out."

Before I could have an opportunity to respond, Ms. Pierce quieted down the classroom. Apparently, they thought that this place was Six Flags. Keep in mind that these were seventeen, almost eighteen-year-olds who were screaming inside the classroom.

"Everyone quiet!" Ms. Pierce screamed out.

D*mn, my eardrums we're definitely damaged for good.

"Now that I finally caught your attention, we can finally start the class," she continued on. "As many of you already know, I usually give projects right after we finish a topic. Since Romeo and Juliet took only a week to finish, you will start on your first-trimester assignment."

"God, not another project," Bellamy muttered in a low whisper. "As if the one Mr. Hall gave us isn't enough."

"Your task is to act out a scene coming from this star-crossed story," she said while lifting up the Romeo and Juliet book. "You will each be in a group of three but some of you will only be paired up with one person due to the number of students not being even."

"Can we work with whoever we want?" Inquired a student sitting in the back of me.

"No. Your partner will be the person sitting next to you," she explained. "Now Ariana, I understand that you're new here. The story is very short. If you need to look at the notes we took about four days ago, ask your partner. I bet she'll be glad to pass them to you."

"That's true," Bellamy spoke in a shy tone.

"Great. Then it's settled. Your project is due three weeks from now. I recommend that you use this time to plan everything out. And please don't forget to look at the sheet of paper that I'll pass in a few minutes. It has the number of lines and minutes that you'll have to include."

Taking a deep breath, I finally faced her again.

"So, when should we start?" I asked in an unbothered tone. "And whose our third partner?"

"How does Wednesday sound to you? My debate club required participants to attend meetings on Mondays and Fridays, sometimes Tuesdays," she responded. "As for the third partner, Santiago isn't here today. I'll send him a text later."

Santiago was the person who sat in front of Bellamy from the three individual tables in our group.

"Yeah, sounds good."

"For the meantime..." She took out a book and notebook from her backpack. "I want you to finish this reading by Wednesday before we meet. My notes are there just in case you need them."

"Are you always this bossy?" I jested.

"Get used to it." She tittered.

There it was.

That freaking giggle.

"Anyways, want to do it at mine or should we do it at yours?"

"Nope sorry." I nodded my head. "I don't think we're in that "doing it" sort of phase yet."

"Very funny Ariana," she remarked, then chuckled a few moments after.

"Bellamy, call me Ari, " I emphasized. "Ariana is too formal for me."

"Okay, Ari." She rubbed her neck timidly. "My name's—"

The bell rang, meaning it was finally time to leave this h*ll hole.

"Okay class, hope you and your team members were able to see eye to eye. We'll have time to work on it during the last fifteen minutes of class tomorrow!" Announced Ms. Pierce.

"I'll see you around." Summer gave me a quick wave as she exited the class.

Watching her as she left the class, the question lingered around my head. There was something about her that intrigued me. I don't know what it was. Was it her blue eyes or the very light freckles on her face? Whatever it was, she had definitely caught my eye.

I wasn't sure if she was batting for the same team as me.

Most likely not.

Better question, what would Jade think about all this? I still had feelings that I couldn't quite understand for her.

Then again, I couldn't help this feeling telling me that Bellamy had felt an instant click too.

Time will only tell I guess.

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To Be Continued...

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