BAD REPUTATION [SCOTT REED]

ONE

'YOU STOLE MY PARKING SPACE!'
——

"Alona, cariño, are you sure you're ready to go back to school today?"

Alona heaves a sigh, repeating for what seemed like the hundredth time since she got back. "Yo estoy, mamá. I'm certain I could deal with the bullshit rumors my classmates made while I was away."

Her mother shoots her a disapproved look, "Watch that language of yours when you're talking to me, Alona Isabel."

"Lo siento, mamá. I'm pretty sure you've already sent your regards to the Padilla family about keeping theirs eyes on me."

"I'm just making sure!" She affirms, not fazed at all that what she did made Alona feel embarrassed and a bother. "Dios mío! It's already 7:15 and you still haven't eaten half of your breakfast. You and your brother are gonna be late! Both of you get up and get your asses to the car!"

"Pero mamá, espera! I'm not yet done with my breakfast!" Joaquin protests, lifting his head from his plate of leftovers of Paella his Mom made last night.

Isabel huffs, shooing them out of the house. She places a kiss on both of her children, "You both have a good day, okay?" Then she turns to her one and only daughter with a warning gaze, "I don't want to hear you getting into fights again, you hear me, young lady? That one you pulled last time with the gang leader thing was beyond my limits and then juvie. Enough is enough!"

She nods robotically, knowing that if she had decided against her mother she would hit her with her zapatos.

Joaquin fastens his seatbelt and she drives him to his school, jamming to Eminem's new album. They arrive at his school and before he could get out of the car, she turns the lock and he huffs, turning to his sister with an annoyed expression.

"I'm gonna be late, idiota, unlock the door."

"Wait 'till mamá hears you speak to me like that!" She threatens and he rolls his eyes, flicking her on the forehead, hard. Taking advantage of Alona's vulnerability, he reaches over the lock buttons and unlocks his side of the door. She shout out after him, "I'll pick you up at around 3:30!"

She drives her way to Liberty High, honking at cheerleaders sashaying at the parking lot with their uniform, obviously on their way to the gym for their practice. She sees a few new faces walking by with one or more of their newfound friends.

Alona eyes zeroed on the nearest vacant spot of the parking lot to her left, ignoring the other incoming car bracing itself slowly to slide in at the slot.

She turns off the engine and steps out of the car, slinging her bag over her shoulder. She hears a honk behind her and she flips her hair as she looks over her shoulder with an arched eyebrow.

The window of the car she stole the parking lot from opened itself and revealed an attractive boy wearing a letterman jacket.

Huh one of those dumb jocks, she thought.

"Hey! You stole my parking space." He accuses, bewilderment and irritation surfacing on his face.

Alona shrugs, "So?"

"So?! I found it first and you just came in and stole it right before my eyes!"

"Well," Alona chuckles in amusement. "guess you were too slow."

She walks away and he calls out for her to come back but she doesn't. Scott Reed aggravatedly drove his car around the parking lot, looking for any vacant ones but found none. He cussed as he looks over the time to see that he was late already. He searched for Monty's car and decided to park behind it, blocking its way. He sprints to the double doors of the school and made a hot trail for his first period.

"Late again, Mr. Reed. It's the fourth time this month now." Mr. Collins notes, looking up from his lesson plan. "Detention after class."

Scott mutters his profanities, inwardly kicking Mr. Collins out of his chair in frustration. He makes his way to the back and stops short when he sees the girl who stole his parking space seated at the second to the last row.

"You—-!"

"Mr. Reed, will you please stop bothering Ms. Vergara and take your seat, please? She just got back, she doesn't need your disturbance."