Hello Rosalynna

Chapter Thirteen: Realizations |✔

March 16th, 2037

Chapter Thirteen: Realizations  |✔

"Times are changing, I know

But who am I if I'm the person you become, if I'm still growing up"

Growing Up // Macklemore & Lewis ft. Ed Sheeran

Ansel Carson

I walked through the halls of Lakeview High, a bustling corridor lined with lockers plastered with stickers and flyers. It's this weird mix of tradition and modernity, with stained glass windows and high-tech projects in each classroom. The school's got this vibe, this New York energy that's different from what you see in movies. Everyone's in a rush, but it's kind of like we're all in it together.

The weight of the situation with Daisy felt like an anchor around my neck. Telling Dad and Valentina was one thing, but the thought of facing Mom and Enrique about it was a whole different story. Mom had this knack for sensing trouble and Enrique... well, he's my brother, but he's terrible at keeping secrets. I could already picture him accidentally letting it slip to Mom, and then all hell breaking loose. She'd go into overdrive trying to fix things, smoothing it over by inviting Daisy to live with us, and that was just the beginning of her "solutions."

Texting Daisy was a risk, but I had to. I needed her to understand that telling Dad wasn't a betrayal. He was the one person I trusted more than anyone else in the world. I knew he'd do whatever he could to help. But Daisy, she was angry. Angry that I had taken that step without consulting her first. It felt like the ground was slipping from beneath my feet; the one person I confided in about everything was now upset with me. It added another layer of stress to an already overwhelming situation. But I couldn't shake the feeling that I did the right thing by telling my dad. If there was anyone who could guide me through this mess, it was him.

Valentina caught me in the hall, her steps quick, catching up to me as I was lost in my thoughts. "Daisy has been going off all day huh?" she observed, her tone a mix of concern and understanding.

"Yeah, she's mad because I told Dad," I admitted, the weight of Daisy's frustration heavy on my shoulders.

"It's probably just the hormones," Valentina offered, her words meant to reassure me, to soothe the chaos brewing within me. She always had this way of trying to find the silver lining, to offer a perspective that could make things seem a bit less dire. But despite her attempt to calm the storm, it was hard to simply brush it off as hormones when everything felt like it was spiraling out of control. Her support meant a lot, though, a brief respite in the tumult of the day.

Valentina and I strolled through the familiar corridors, the echoes of countless conversations blending into a symphony of lunchtime chatter. The cacophony was oddly soothing, a semblance of normality in the midst of the storm raging within. The routine of it all was like a refuge, a temporary escape from the maelstrom of emotions swirling inside.

Enrique swaggered in, his usual nonchalant demeanor cutting through the buzz of the cafeteria as he took a seat at the long tables with us. "Are you guys ready for college yet? I am about done with this shit," he declared, his voice carrying a hint of impatience and eagerness for what lay beyond these walls.

"Been ready," Valentina quipped, her excitement palpable. "Princeton is not that far away, you guys! We are almost out of this hell hole," she remarked, a glimmer of anticipation dancing in her eyes.

"Yeah, more school, yay," I interjected with a touch of sarcasm, a smirk playing on my lips. "Let's go get lunch. I am hungry as hell," I declared, rising from my seat. They followed suit, falling into step behind me, the conversation about college momentarily putting the immediate turmoil on hold. As we moved toward the lunch line, the chatter around us merged with the clinking of trays and the smell of food, offering a brief respite from the complexities and uncertainties that awaited us beyond the school gates.

The cafeteria buzzed with chatter and laughter, mixing with the aroma of whatever the lunch ladies had cooked up for the day. Today, it was a choice between chicken alfredo and a vegetarian stir-fry, with a salad bar that looked surprisingly fresh and inviting.

As Valentina and I stepped into the line, I noticed the lunch ladies, Mrs. Parker and Mrs. Thompson, both veterans of the school. They were like the unsung heroes, dishing out meals with an efficiency that only years of experience could bring. They had this unwavering warmth in their eyes as if they knew every student's favorite meal. I opted for the stir-fry, Valentina picked the chicken alfredo, and Enrique lost in his thoughts, absentmindedly went for the same without even realizing it.

"Rique, what's wrong?" Valentina probed, concern lacing her voice as she picked up a fresh apple from the bowl nearby. She always went for the fruit, saying it helped her focus in class.

"It's Veronica, man. She's starting to irritate the hell out of me," Enrique sighed, the weight of his feelings evident in his tone.

"What did she do now?" Valentina inquired, her brow furrowing with worry, as we made our way down the line, trays in hand, picking out our lunches.

Then, Enrique began to spill about his complicated entanglement with Weston. He explained how she kissed him, feeding into his fantasy, and Valentina listened attentively while I nodded, trying to process what he was revealing.

"She's kind of right, bro," I interjected, "I've never even seen you around Veronica at home or at school. I've seen you around Weston every day since they moved in."

Valentina couldn't help but chime in, nudging him gently, "If you're feeling Weston, you need to just say that to her. You need to tell her, this is what it is and the same vice versa with Veronica. It's better to sort that stuff out now."

"I can tell you from person experience it's better to get that shit gone now than wait until she goes batshit," I add.

Enrique's response was more of a sigh of contemplation. "With Weston, everything is just different," he murmured, caught in his own reverie.

"Well, if she's so different, why haven't you made yourself available?" Valentina challenged gently, her eyes probing his.

Enrique was about to reply when we reached the lunch ladies, and their presence shifted the conversation momentarily. Mrs. Parker smiled warmly as she served up the stir-fry, while Mrs. Thompson ladled out the creamy alfredo with a knowing nod at Valentina's choice. The clinking of trays and the aroma of the food filled the air, a temporary distraction from the weighty conversation.

"I say break up with Veronica and get what you need from Weston." I say winking, "I mean she literally lives in the backyard how much more convenient could you get?"

Valentina picked up an apple from the nearby bowl, her eyes fixed on Enrique. "That's terrible advice," she retorted her tone a mix of disappointment and concern.  She turned to me,"You should have nothing to say; you've got babies on the way."

Enrique just nods, I give him a confused look,"What?"

"Why aren't you surprised that she's pregnant by me?"

The revelation of Daisy's actions was like a punch to the gut. Enrique's words struck a chord, the truth of it sinking in deep. "She literally sleeps around at school, locker rooms, everywhere you probably need to see if the babies are even yours," he explained. There was a mix of shock and frustration, but there was an underlying acknowledgment that his brother had seen things he didn't want to acknowledge. The mention of the red Altima, the too-frequent sightings that I ignored... it all hit hard.

Enrique's final words stung with their honesty. "I thought you'd tell me when you were ready," he said, a tinge of hurt and understanding in his voice. It was a moment of truth I couldn't ignore. The weight of everything, the impending responsibilities, and the tangled emotions of these relationships were suddenly more palpable than ever, even amid the clatter of the lunchroom.