Cartel Princess // Marcus Arguello

Chapter 21

New start...sort of

After everything that happened, I took a few days off of school and just kept to myself. Juan said People were saying I "pulled a Chico" and got myself killed as well so, when I walked out of my room Monday morning, curled hair, my skirt shorter then it should be, and in front of the entire Soto Vato gang with my head held high...it was clear they were all shocked; I think in there minds the Soto Vatos we're falling apart but I wasn't going to let that happen. I was feeling fine, confident even but of course, that was ruined when we ran into the rats. I met eyes with Maria as she stood in front of Marcus, his hands on her waist her arms draped over his shoulders, I felt stuck.

And to make matters worse, they were standing right next to my locker. Maybe they did this on purpose, and by they I mean Maria. By word of mouth I heard the rest of them didn't want to mess with me, I guess my threats really scared them. I hadn't realized I was staring for so long until Santiago put his hand on my shoulder "they're both not worth your time" he whispered. I nodded and continued to my locker. The rest of the gang split but Juan and Santiago stuck by my side. When we reach my locker Juan and Santiago stood between me and Marcus's back which pushed him.

From what I could see from the corner of my eye, he turned around like he was going to do something but stopped when he realized who had pushed him "is there a problem?" Santiago asked to which Marcus shook his head "Yea, who the fuck do you think you are? Pushing people around like that?" A voice I knew to be Maria said, it was my turn. I closed my locker then pushed in front of the boys "oh, are you new here? This is Juan and Santiago, they're with me and he was standing in the way of my locker" she went silent and I locked eyes with Marcus "you move on quick" I said before Turing on my heel and walking off.

The three of us walked to class, I could hear Marcus behind us but ignored him and so did the guys. Juan and Santiago had different classes so we eventually got spilt up and Marcus saw an opening. He walked a step behind me "Can we talk please" he pleaded  "no" I said coldly  "why not?" He argued  "Because you're with her" I replied stoping and turning to look at him "Ona, we aren't together-she's just" I cut him off  "your girlfriend." I stated "Marcus I may disappear for periods of time but I'm not stupid, I know what goes on here" I turned back around and continued to my class

"just talk to me Ona" he went back to begging me and it was getting annoying. I stopped and pulled him into a empty class locking the door behind us "fine. You wanna talk? Let's talk. You broke me." He looked guilty but I wasn't letting up "I didn't mean" he started but I didn't let him finish "no. You broke me and you left me for-for what? For her?" I felt my self shouting but it felt good  "Ona" he whispered "Marcus I broke each and every rule I set up for myself, for you, and you took it for granted" he couldn't look at me anymore. His eyes looked every where but at me "I loved you, and you didn't love me back so you know what? Who cares. Life goes on. Lesson learned..." my own words hurt me but, I needed to believe them.

"My mother used to say we have three loves" I said making him look up  "our first love, our first relationship, you're just figuring out how things go, you love them but you know it won't last." I took a small breath then kept going, remembering what my mother used to tell me "The second love is better, you know what you like now,but this love is going to hurt you, make you cry throughout it" he looked interested now "but your last love is your true love, the one you finish with." I bit my lip and shrugged a little "I was hoping that was you but...you chose her...and that really hurt so"

I caught the one tear that was about to escape my eyes. I've been to vulnerable in front of him already, I wasn't going to give him tears along with it. I straightened myself up then went to walk out the door, now five minutes late for class. He turned around quickly, determined to get a sentence in "No, you don't-you don't get to do that" I turned around with a sigh "do what, Marcus?" Since our problems started, this would be the first time I see him cry because of them. As bad as it sounds, the grounds finally felt even and I was glad; I was happy he was crying " You don't get to make me fall completely and utterly in love with you and then just walk away...it's not fair"