endless competition - academic rivals

|chapter five| rock music

mira's pov:

mira eagerly ran into the house, discarding mateo's umbrella to the side, as she looked for her mother. every thursday, the two would drive over to her grandmother's facility to visit her.

to mira, visiting her grandmother felt like chasing her first high, although mira had never done drugs. she naively anticipated that her grandmother would be the same as before, that she would pull mira into a hug, oil her hair, and braid it while saying, "everything is going to be okay". 

every time mira visited her grandmother, she would be disappointed.

mira's excitement was thwarted by the realization that her mother wasn't home, meaning that she wouldn't be able to visit her grandmother.

mira felt tears bubbling up in her eyes at the thought that if she didn't visit this week, her grandmother would forget her. 

she angrily grabbed a bag of chocolate pretzels and stormed into her room. mira turned on her comfort show, brooklyn nine-nine, and slowly, an hour passed.

her anger would've have dissipated if it weren't for the sound of rocks against her window. she looked out of her window and into her enemy's. 

"what are you doing, idiot?" mira asked furiously as she opened her window. 

mira saw mateo visibly swallow in fear before he mumbled a couple words. 

"what are you saying?" she yelled.

"i- i'm-" mateo stuttered.

"what?"

"i'm sorry!" mateo shouted quickly. 

for what?

mira's confusion was ended by the realization that mateo knew that the group project would not work out with the two of them working separately.

she deviously decided to take advantage of mateo's apology.

"i don't believe you," she said, fighting back a grin.

mateo saw through her facade immediately.

"what do you want, rao?" he asked, resigned.

"i need you to drive me somewhere now." mira ordered.

"why?"

mira's heart stopped. she couldn't tell him the truth about her grandmother. she quickly fashioned a lie to hide her secret.

"it's an alzheimers facility, i volunteer there." she responded. 

"fine. be out in five." mateo replied.

"thanks mateo! you're the worst!" mira said cheerfully.

mira quickly gathered her things in excitement to see her grandmother. although part of her knew that she would be disappointed, she'd rather remember her grandmother's former self than resent who she is now. 

the rain from earlier today had stopped, and mira assumed that the california weather would take care of its chilly after-effects, so she didn't bring a jacket. 

she walked outside to see mateo waiting in front of his car. it was an average toyota camry with brown paint. she'd been in it a few times when her and mateo used to carpool, around the beginning of her grandmother's alzheimers. 

their carpooling arrangement ended rather quickly.

mateo was wearing a black long sleeve that fit a little tight and a pair of baggy jeans. mira hoped he didn't notice her looking at his silhouette through his shirt.