Chapter 7
April 24th, 2018
"What's going on with you and your mom?" Juana asks.
"What do you mean?"
"I met her this weekend."
"You met my mom like 2 months ago."
"That's Mia's mom."
Lupe panicks.
"My mom. You met my actual mom."
"Yeah. It turns out my mom knows her. She was shocked to find out I was going to this school out of all the choices."
"Because she looks down on this school." Lupe says bitter. "She was probably surprised it was allowed as a school for Pemberly Academia."
"It's a great school. My mom did forbid me from dating you though."
Lupe panicks again.
"Oh. Were we going to date?"
"Not likely."
"Wow." She says slowly.
"No. I mean, don't you hate me?"
"Why would I hate you?"
"For the first day of school."
"I've forgiven that. You helped with Go! after all. I just enjoy teasing you about it."
"What about Alvaro?"
"It's not my business and shouldn't affect our relationship. It does but it shouldn't. Why would I spend time with you if I hated you?"
"Because we have a class project." Juanma gestures at their notebooks.
"Then I would only spend time with you when necessary."
"Because of the Bingleys."
"Who are gone now."
"Also your dad could be forcing you to."
"Have you seen my dad interact with his children?"
"No." Juanma answers frankly.
"Oh. Well, we're not forced to do much. Anyway, why is our supposed romance forbidden?"
"Because your family is crazy."
Lupe's eyes widen.
"My mom's words, not mine."
"Somehow that's worse. How could you tell them to me?"
"I thought we had this laugh at the ridiculous vibe going on."
"Well, yes. But that wasn't ridiculous. That's actually how people feel about my family. Why does she think we're crazy."
"Because your mom left your dad and had a child with Mia's dad. She says it's nonsense straight out of a novella and those always go into the next generation. Hence the no dating rule." Juanma says honestly.
"Your mom thinks I'm going to be my mom one day!" Lupe hisses.
"Who cares what my mom thinks?"
"I don't but you probably do. I thought you were my friend but I guess not if you can repeat those cruel things to me. I can't work on the project right now."
Lupe gathers her stuff quickly and leaves.
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Juanma: now she has reason to hate me.
Lupe: How can I ever look at him again?
