hermosa - ruby martinez

3

"Mija, are you excited to go back to school?"

Camila looked at her mom, shrugging as she checked her phone. Monse said they could bike together, even though Camila had long since retired her bright pink bicycle, in trade for a hot pink skateboard. The skateboard was a lot less of a hassle and gave her an excuse to go to the skate park in New York to see the cute guys. "Everyone's acting weird, Mom. Really weird."

"'Cause, you've got a new look. They don't know how to handle it," Marco said as he entered the kitchen. As if his hair could feel the gaze, he immediately covered his newly grown "mustache" (but to everyone else's judgment, it'd be a rat-stache) with his pointer finger. "I'm a man, leave me alone." 

Camila looked down at her outfit, questioning if her style had really changed, even though she knew that's not what he meant. The white, baggy low waisted carpenter style capris, adorned with a black tiny, tight, and cropped tank top, layered over with a baggy, muted green distressed off the shoulder crochet top, paired with platform black converse, would not look as good if she looked the way she used to, Camila thought to herself. Shrugging, she pushed Marco's statement aside.

"Not in my house, Mr.Man. Where's Dani? Wake her up it's time to go." Claudia paced herself around the kitchen, straightening up the proclaimed coffee sectioned, moving the Domino Sugar and Cafe Bustelo box against the kitchen wall.

"She left with Mr. Turner." At this, Claudia immediately shot her head up, while Camila stifled a laugh. Claudia wasn't surprised by this, as Dani had been spending an unhealthy amount of time with the boy since she and her brother had moved with the woman, but it didn't immediately mean she was never going to have a bit of shock. A mother's intuition, though being an aunt, was never wrong. She knew Dani had immense feelings for the boy, but approaching the aspect would always be difficult for her. She knew Jamal since he was younger, so it was difficult for her to see him as a potential son-in-law. Then again, they were just high school students.

"An awful lot of time, no?" The teens shrugged before gathering their things and getting ready to go for school. Marco grabbed an apple on his way out, not before gulping an obscene amount of coffee from his aunt's mug in which she slapped at his grabby hands. Camila almost reached the door right behind her cousin before her mom called for her. "Did you eat?" Camila shook her hand, moving towards the door again.

"I'll grab something on my way. Love you, be safe."

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Camila knew she had drastically changed, as she had gotten the basic reaction from everyone she has seen so far since returning. If her closest friends and family members were shocked by her transition, she had no doubt that high school would be any easier. She felt every eye on her as she walked with Marco, who was too busy scoping out the busts and bottoms some of the girls had grown over the summer. Beginning to crack the knuckles in her fingers out of anxiety, Camila kept her head down, not looking to engage in conversation with anyone but her friends.

Marco seemed to have found his own way around, completely forgetting about her, yet, Camila had not noticed yet. Believing Marco was behind her, or at least a close distance, she walked faster, head fixated on the floor. Faster, and faster, and faster, until she bumped into a strong figure. The strength of the figure almost repelled her back, as she begin to fall back due to the high force collision. The figure wrapped their arm around her waist, causing her to look up, making eye contact with big brown eyes. Camila could not believe the sight above her. He was beautiful, serene-looking. Swallowing, she forced herself to stand up on her own, trying her best to erase the dumbfounded look on her face.

"I'm sorry, I should've been looking the right way." Camila looked anywhere but the boy's eyes.

"It's alright, Suarez." Camila looked straight into his eyes, confused. The boy chuckled, shaking his head slightly. "What, you didn't think I would know your name? I've known you for so long, it'd be horrible if I forgot." Jose.

"Fuck, man, I'm sorry. How was your summer? It's good to see you!" Camila allowed her eyes to travel over his tall figure, his veiny hands accompanied with strong arms, bulging out of the short sleeve of his white t-shirt. His shirt ended just as his shorts began, and god, Camila has never thought someone looked better.

"I stayed in Freeridge, didn't really get a chance to do anything different. I heard you went to the East coast though?" Jose's arms crossed over each other in the front of his chest. He tilted his head, looking down at the girl, knowing just what he was doing because he has always known just what he was doing.

"Yeah, it was a good summer." Camila couldn't find any other words to say, she was nervous. Last year, Jose wouldn't have even given her the time of day, and now, she began a friendly conversation and he actually entertains it? They stayed in this stalemate of silence, Camila rocking on the balls of her shoes, and Jose just staring down at her. "Listen, I should probably go to class," Camila dared to look up at him. "It was really good seeing you though."

"It was good to see you too, Suarez. I hope to see more of you, soon."

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short chapter. will update again before school starts (Monday). also writing a fezco story