little dark age | luis mendoza

four: partners

Genesis didn't know that hockey could beat her up so bad. Maybe she was just really out of shape. She was sore from her head to her feet, it even hurt to pick up her pen to write notes. She was leaning against her hand in her English class the next day, a class she shared with Luis.

She was always good at English without having to try, another trait she took from her mother, so she wasn't too worried about falling behind. Her mother was brilliant, if she had the money she could have went places with her smarts. Gen pursed her lips, her heart aching as she remember her mother.

She was good at hiding the pain from her death. It had been a little over a week and she still hadn't allowed herself to grieve. She didn't want to, not until her father was thrown in prison or six feet under. She couldn't let her emotions get in the way of her survival.

"Alright, class!" Their English teacher, Mr. Hayes, said in his usual chipper voice. Gen rolled her eyes as she glanced up at her teacher. "for your first project of the year, we'll be writing stories! You will be required to write a short story related to Romeo and Juliet with a partner!"

Gen groaned as he held the book up for everyone to see. She had to read the book back in middle school. For some weird reason, it was the only book she ever sat down and read so she was already bored with the assignment. Not to mention, she did not want a partner.

"Genesis and Luis," She heard, bringing her out of her thoughts. Her eyes went wide as she realized he was reading off his list of partners. With an annoyed sigh, she glanced over at Luis. He was sitting in his seat, that stupid smirk plastered on his face as he watched her with playful eyes.

"You've got to be kidding me," She murmured under her breath as he slowly made his way across the class room. He pulled a chair in front of her, resting his his head on his hand as he stared at her. "hello to you too, douchebag. Now quit staring at me, they'll think we're in love."

"That wouldn't be so bad, would it?" He teased, licking his lips as he held eye contact with her.

"It would be the worst fucking thing ever," She said with a smirk. His face fell slowly and Gen couldn't help but laugh. "oh, come on, Mendoza! I'm just fucking with you, don't be a softie."

"Genesis, you are too much to handle," He said as he shook his head, small laughter escaping his lips.

She shrugged her shoulders, "my ex told me the same thing and guess where he ended up?"

"Where did he end up, Genny?" He askes teasingly but she ignored the tone.

"Prison! Don't follow in his footsteps, Mendoza," She said with a small wink as she picked up her pen and began writing down some ideas for their story.

"You know, I never know if you're telling the truth or not," He said as he picked her pen up and began playing with it.

She snatched the pen back with an annoyed smile, "it's what makes me so fun!"

"Totally," Luis responded with an eye roll. They went silent for a moment as he watched her brainstorm ideas on her notebook. "so where are we going to do this project?"

"Definitely not at my house," She said with a laugh. "you could be a killer for all I know."

He rolled his eyes, "well, you're not coming to my house! Your brother might end my life if so."

"Kai's a softie once you get to know him," She said with a shrug. "I'm the meaner sibling, believe me."

"Trust me, I already know," He said with a sarcastic smile, making Gen smile back with equal sarcasm. "we'll go to the pond."

"The pond?" She asked with an arched brow. "should I bring a fuckin' bathing suit too?"

"Only if you want to," He said with a smirk. Gen rolled her eyes as the bell rang. She gathered her stuff quickly as Luis stood up.

She stood up to her full height, "meet me at my locker after school or I might just have to castrate you."

He watched as she walked out of the room, a small smile on his face as he shook his head at her. She sure was something else.

***

Genesis was laying on her stomach in the grass as she wrote in her notebook, creating names for their characters. Luis was sitting against a tree, watching as she concentrated on the pages in front of her.

Gen was deep in thoughts, brainstorming away. Luis was supposed to be doing the same but he was distracted by Gen. Her tongue stuck out of the corner of her mouth and her eyes would squint slightly.

"I like this idea," Luis said as he pointed toward one of the ideas. He moved from the tree and laid down on his side beside her, his head resting on his hand. She laughed to herself.

"Had a feeling you would like the one with the death guy," She said as she rolled her eyes. "basically, this girl moves in next door and the mysterious neighbor catches her eye. They get to know each other and they fall in love but she finds out he's been dead all along and he only made her fall in love with him to become human again. Then, she takes his place in the after world!"

"You write books?" Luis asked with his eyebrows raised.

"Nah, I just have a demented mind," She said with a sarcastic smile as she circled the idea. He rolled his eyes at her as he thought of names.

"What about the guy's name be Mike," He suggested randomly making Gen verbally gag.

"That's a real shitty name," She said as she rolled her eyes, not looking over at him.

"Ah, so that's your ex's name," He said with a nod of realization, making her head snap in his direction.

"Now, I don't remember saying that," She said with a glare. "it's just a boring name."

He nodded slowly, "you don't have to tell me. So Mike is the guy who manipulated you into helping him kill a guy and now he's in prison."

"Mikey never made me help him kill a guy," She said as she turned to face him.

"So he's in prison?" He asked with an annoying grin, one she wanted to slap right off his face.

"I hate you, Mendoza," She said with a groan as she threw the book toward him so he could read some of her name ideas.

"What did he even get put away for?" Luis asked as he opened the book back up, reading over the list.

"Assault of a minor," She said as she played with the grass between her fingers, refusing to look up at him. He tore his eyes away from the book, looking at her with sympathy. He didn't have to ask, he knew.

"So this guys eighteen?" He asked, ignoring her last statement which she was thankful for. She couldn't stand pity.

"He's twenty," She replied with a sigh, earning a shocked look from Luis.

"You dated a twenty-year-old?" He asked, his eyes wide. She laughed at his face as she sat up.

"I was fourteen and he was eighteen," She said as she pursed her lips. "I've made some pretty bad mistakes back home, him being the worst."

"Fuck him, he's a dick," Luis said, making her smile. He seemed like he genuinely meant it.

She patted him on the shoulder playfully, "and the more I get to know you, the more I like you."