Chapter 8
April 25th, 2018
"Is it really that bad?" Mia asks. "Didn't you say he apologized today in economics?"
"It's my mom Mia. You know I hate thinking about what she did to me, my dad, to your mom."
Mia looks down.
"I mean, she hurt dad and had a child out of spite. And then abandoned said child. Who does that?"
"I don't know. I can't believe it happened.
"Martín exists because my mom is insane."
"Your mom's not insane. Love drove her to do a strange thing."
"Will love drive me to do anything like it?"
"Lup, no." Mia says, hugging her sister's head to her body. "You know, you'll never be Mercedes."
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April 26th 2018
Lupe was glad they didn't have class together. She avoided Juanma like there weren't a limited amount of people in the school. But there was still class tomorrow.
April 27th, 2018
Juanma said hello to Lupe, handed her a piece of paper and left her alone to complete her part of the handout. Score.
She saved the letter for her dorm because she didn't trust herself in public.
To Lupe:
I'm sorry again for what I said. Apologizing in person wasn't enough.
It was stupid of me to think mentioning your mom for the first time was a good idea I hadn't known you were the story my mom told me as a child. That's worse. I'm sorry again. I'm sorry, now for anything I say in this note that hurts you. Or anything I say in life that hurts.
I'm not good at predicting the effect of my words. Our friendship, I hope we are still friends, began with bickering over one if my thoughtless statements. I believe I have grown since that time.
I'll continue to grow from being friends with you.
You've been curious about Álvaro. But he hasn't been honest with you. Neither have u to avoid the pain and confusion of last year.
Álvaro and I have known each other since infancy. We were best friends because we were all each other knew. When I met Tobias, I abandoned him. I'll admit it.
A few weeks into the school year, Álvaro convinced Fede and Nico to throw our first game. My cousins thought it was a prank. Álvaro did it out of hurt feelings. But that drove me further away. He had Martina and Fede to be friends with but not me.
I thought I had outgrown his childish ways. But it was childish of me to cut him out without a conversation.
I digress. We had reached a new normal.
That is until Fede and Álvaro blew up the chemistry lab after hours the first day of school. I'm not sure how it happened but I do know my cousin would never think of breaking into the school. At least not before they were close friends. Which is on me.
Reading over this, I realize that Martina and you are on cheer together. It occurs to me that you may have heard some things from Álvaro or Martina.
Martina was my first date and a middle school version of a girlfriend. We ate lunch together like once a week. We dated a month. Somehow that convinced them both and my mother that we were soulmates.
Martina still gets invited over for dinner randomly to try and convince me.
But since meeting you, Lupe, since you first narrowed those fine eyes at me, I am certain I'll never be convinced again.
Lupe laughs out loud.
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Lupe: Juanma is in love with me?!
