the exception

1. the misunderstanding

It's 7:30 on Thursday morning, and Nina Salazar Roberts pulls into the second row of the parking lot at Miravista High School. Nina rolls her windows down, taking in the fresh, salty air of Laguna Beach. There was something comforting of this scent— it was her childhood. It brought a sense of nostalgia to her.

Taking a sip of her strawberry smoothie, she pulls her backpack from the backseat and takes out her AP Biology notes. She was good at biology, she wouldn't lie. A smile of satisfaction came to her face as her fingers traced over the words hydrolysis and carbohydrates. She studied till two in the morning for this unit test, and if she didn't get higher than a 95, on it, she would be disappointed.

"In dehydration synthesis, comple-," Before Nina can even finish reciting her vocabulary out loud, Gina Porter, her best friend taps aggressively at her front windshield.

"Jesus Christ, Gi!" Nina says clutching her chest and reorganizing the flash cards that flew out her hands. "Don't scare me like that!"

Gina bends over, catching her breath. "I- I'm sorry," She looks up at Nina's bewildered expression and before proceeding to laugh again. "You.. can't expect me to warn you wh- when I know you'll react like that!"

Rolling her eyes, Nina says, "Yeah okay, whatever. Now sit down and eat this lumpia I brought before I change my mind and leave you out there." Nina pulls out a ZipLoc baggie with four crisp lumpia, made this morning by her Lola. Lumpia are Filipino spring rolls that Nina knew Gina loved. When they were younger, and would play for hours at the park, Gina knew to look forward to the small delightful snack that would be waiting on the table when they came back.

"Ew," Gina says mouth full of egg roll wrapper and vegetables. "You're actually studying for bio? My grade couldn't save itself even if I tried. My hope is Pearson will round me up if I beg at the end of the semester." She crunches on another lumpia and smiles at herself, content with her plan.

Nina stares at her with disappointment. "Gina, I know you. You're literally so freaking smart and capable. When we were in fifth grade, you were helping me study for subjects. You're gonna have another study session with me for the next test." Nina said, pulling a roll from the bag.

"Woah woah woah there buddy," Gina said holding up her hands. "First of all, I'd like to say that in elementary school, I actually enjoyed learning. Now teachers expect me to read thirty pages of the textbook and take notes? I think not." She says, slumping into leather seats of Nina's white Honda Civic. She continues, "You know what, I wish I was as smart as Ricky Bowen."

Nina dusted off her fingers and made a genuinely confused face. "Are you okay? I heard that guy finished with a 20% last year in Spanish 3." Nina said, extra emphasis on the twenty. "Everyone else at least passed! At that point you have to really be trying to fail."

"Okay, okay, you know what I mean! He does really good on test things. He just doesn't do work ever. Like for the last biology test he got a 95!" Gina said, searching Nina's bag for more food. "I know I'm not one to talk, because I literally got a 54, but didn't you get like a 75?" Disappointed in her search, Gina set Nina's bag down.

"Here take my smoothie, and it was an 80." 95? Nina thought. That was the hardest test of the semester. "Honestly it was probably his lucky day."

"Whatever. Anyway, he's so freaking hot bro. So, apparently, Jackie tells me he broke up with Rachel. Something about her being too clingy or something."

Nina looks at her incredulously, "Girl what are you trying to say here?"

Gina nudges her, "I'm sayingggg, that if he's finally on the market it's time for me to shoot my shot. I'm lonely and you can't tell me you don't think he's cute."