Should've Said No

First Day of School

But for the next few nights, Rosenda had nightmares from that movie, and it was tough to sleep. She had to listen to some calming music to relieve her mind. Fortunately, the night before going back to school, she had a good night's sleep. She was all dressed up and went downstairs.

"Buenos días," Rosenda smiled.

"Buenos días, mijita," Elena smiled. "Did you sleep well last night?"

"Sí, Mami," Rosenda nodded.

"Good because you need to be well-rested for your first day of high school," Ricardo smiled.

"Okay," Rosenda smiled.

"Well, our old supplies are thrown out, and the studio has been mopped up," Luisa said. "We'll get new supplies when the weekend comes."

"In the meantime, we'll repaint the walls," Elena said.

"Can I help with that if I'm not too busy with schoolwork?" Rosenda offered.

"No, that's not necessary, Rosenda," Elena replied. "Abuela and I will give the studio a fresh coat of paint."

"But once the studio is repainted, you can paint a mural on each wall," Luisa chimed in.

"Good enough," Rosenda smiled.

"Okay, mi vida, you'd better eat," Ricardo said. "You don't want to be late for your first day."

"Okay," Rosenda nodded.

After breakfast, Ricardo went off to work, and Luisa and Elena took Rosenda to Briarwood High School. Once they got there, Rosenda hugged and kissed her mother and grandmother.

"Be a good girl, okay?" Luisa asked.

"Okay, Abuela," Rosenda smiled. She got her things together and went on her way into the building.

Soon enough, the school day started. All the students were getting their things in their lockers. In the freshman hallway, Rosenda's locker was right next to the art room, and this made her excited for art class. Suddenly, she heard a snotty girl's voice ring out, "Oh, this is so unfair! Why did they force me to have this locker?"

Rosenda and the boy who was right next to her looked behind them. Across the hall from them was a snotty girl with strawberry blonde hair in a bun, a handbag on her arm, and "spoiled brat" written all over her face.

"I want that locker over there," the girl spat, pointing to Rosenda, who was surprised.

"What makes that locker so special that you want it so badly?" a freshman teacher asked.

"Because I want it," the girl replied. "I'm Robin Gripling, and my parents give me everything I want—and I want that locker right there."

"Sorry, Robin, but the students are required to have lockers they're assigned, and that's final," the teacher said.

Robin pouted and continued to put her stuff in the locker she was assigned. Rosenda and the boy looked at each other, disgusted at this girl's spoiled attitude—she really seemed like a real-life teen version of Veruca Salt.

After homeroom, Rosenda and the boy were talking as they were on their way to their classes. His name was Hero, and he really seemed to like her.

"Can you believe her?" Hero asked. "She's such a brat."

"I've met a few people who have been petty over being told no, but she's a bit extreme," Rosenda said.