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"Did you pack my lunch already?" Valeria asked as she tripped over her own shoelaces. "I got it for you right here and tie your shoes before you fall on your face."
"Thank you." Valeria graciously accepted the pink lunchbox from him. She's had the same lunchbox since she was 6, it was now covered in butterfly stickers and faded marker ink that listed the names of her best friends in their own creative writing styles.
"I'll see you later." Valeria quickly wrapped her arms around around him for a quick hug before heading out the door. Cesar turned his head to look at his sister's small frame, putting a pin in his conversation with Monse.
"Took you long enough."
Valeria rolled her eyes as she approached them both. "Where's ruby?" She asked. "He didn't text me this morning."
"He just uh-" Cesar scratched the back of his neck as he struggled to come up with a lie. Monse quickly interjected, "He got held up. Something with the twins I think."
"Come on Val lets go." Cesar took Valeria's hand in his. "Wait up Olivia!" He called out as they started their journey to school. Monse following close behind them.
Olivia turned around with a bright smile as she waited. "Olivia, I would like you to meet my little sister Val."
Valeria stared at Olivia's hand as she brought it out, she then placed her hand in hers shaking it after receiving a subtle nudge from Cesar. "It's Valeria actually."
Cesar shook his head in embarrassment where as Monse stifled a laugh. Olivia retracted her hand from hers. She then looked down at Valeria's shoes raising an eyebrow. "Not to embarrass you or anything but I think you accidentally mismatched your shoes."
"Nah. I just wear them like that." Valeria fought the urge to roll her eyes.
"Alright, let's start walking shall we." Cesar said as he laughed nervously pushing Val in front of the group, away from Olivia. He wrapped his arm around her neck as the two walked side by side. "I don't like her."
"Just give it some time. And be nice."
••
Valeria approached her locker, in her arms held her heavy biology book which was currently stabbing her inner elbows with its sharp edges.
she couldn't help but to notice from the corner of her eyes a group of girls who were currently eyeing her head to toe as she passed by.
as valeria rotated the knob on her lock to open it, her eyes perked up as she heard small whispers and giggles behind her making her palms start to sweat as she grew nervous.
she shrugged it off until Alexis, a girl who she remembered from her 5th period Spanish class came up beside her and said, "Hey, don't worry about them. They're all just stupid, basic white girls."
