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𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐝𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐭 in a line of black velvet chairs before Azucena's desk, listening attentively to requirements and demands of Polo's return. To Charisma, the meeting had been a complete waste of time. She didn't mind being on campus thirty minutes prior to the bell, in fact she actually planned on being at the entrance steps the moment the doors unlocked.
What she didn't plan, was being sucked into her brother's meeting to only get out ten minutes after the first period bell signaled. Considering the brunette already had her schedule in hand, her hope was to sneak onto campus underneath radar and make it to her first class, where she could sit in the back - void of elite's eyes. However, as always, the universe wasn't on her side.
The meeting took longer than necessary, with her mothers' begging and pleading for Azucena to comply and allow Polo back on campus; and for the seventh time she had sighed and fidgeted with her paperwork muttering, "given the circumstances I can not allow Polo back until his trial is finished." Regardless of either mother's request and lure of fondling money towards the principal she still hadn't budged.
Both Mrs. Benevant Villada were overwhelmed and disappointed with Azucena's decision, however, it was clear both of their children could care less whether or not either of them were at school. Polo's tan skin was nearly pale and his jaw was clenched as if he were holding his breath and focusing on maintaining a straight posture while Chari looked absolutely bored out of her wits, subtly rolling her eyes and groaning under her breath.
After voicing her frustration towards being late for class, Azucena allowed Charisma to part from her family and head to class. The girl ignored both her parents' and her sibling, she was already too stressed to walk into her first class minutes late, seeking sole attention from everyone. There were a few stragglers in the hall yet most had already found their way to class and Chari found herself standing outside the closed doorway, willing herself to open it and walk in with confidence; however, not one ounce of her body found strength in doing so.
Charisma could hear the voices of her mothers' and principal descending from the way she came, and as she looked over her shoulder she could see Polo stalking beside them. It amazed her how both mothers' could hold their head high and shoulders broad with confidence as if their world wasn't falling around them, when she could barely force a smile upon her face and Polo could remain afloat. It was evident by the way his eyes trailed upon the tile without budging towards his peers he didn't want to take the walk of shame.
"Good luck," Polo mumbled under his breath and forced a crooked smile as he passed his sister. Azucena bid the family adieu and stopped beside the youngest with a wholesome smile. Her hand went to the knob and twisted it, slightly pushing it ajar. "After you," Azucena grinned with her teeth while motioning for Charisma to enter.
Filling up her cheeks with air, the girl let out a breath and tightened her hold of her books against her chest then returned her principal's smile. She could hear her mingling classmates chatter die down as she walked in and stood off to the side eyeing the empty chairs and tables.
Charisma wasn't stupid, by their judgmental eyes and parted lips, the girl knew they weren't happy about her brothers' release nor her presence (guilty by association, obviously). It was written over both Samuel and Guzman's face. The youngest Garcia looked as if his head were about to burst in reddened anger while Guzman looked at her as if she was just a sheet of nonexistent glass. While most knew she was innocent in her brother's ordeal, Guzman still didn't believe the truth she cried. His eyes revealed he still wasn't seeing any other way. Again, guilty by association.
"Have a seat," Azuscena demanded and placed her hands together while everyone gathered in their seats.
There were only two seats available, one beside Carla and the other next to her brothers' girlfriend, Cayetana. Her lips formed a frown and Chari found herself sitting beside Cayetanna, the best option of the two. The first day Cayetanna started at Las Encinas, Charisma knew something was off with the older girl. Her shoes appeared too worn down to be considered a recent purchase and her luxurious stories were scripted they deemed fake.
Besides Lu, Chari could see right through the girl's desperation to be popular and rich, mooching off her brothers' bank account. Still, for some knowledgeable reason, Polo liked the girl and no matter how many times Chari voiced she was using him and didn't like her, there was no changing his mind. Now, she was thankful her brother had begged her to put her judgments and accusations aside to put up with Cayetanna, since now she seemed to be one of the only faces welcoming her with open arms.
Her eyes remained trained upon the board behind Azucena as she proceeded to discuss Polo's return in a few days following his trial. Many voices chimed in with anger and annoyance, frustrated that his wealth was allowing him to return and graduate alongside his class. Her skin felt as if it were crawling with bugs, pricking each nerve of her skin as her brothers' name seethed from the lips of her classmates, all calling him a murderer.
Charisma hadn't known the truth and while her brother did deserve everything that would be coming towards him, she couldn't handle hearing such. Polo was her knight in shining armor, protecting her from the moment she came out of their shared womb. Literally, their mothers' had photos of the twins nestled together in their crib with Polo embracing his sister. They were attached at the hip and telepathically knew when something was off with the other.
"You okay?" Cayetanna whispered and offered a comforting closed smile. Pulling out her gloss, Chari layered another coat on then propped her elbow atop of the desk, letting her chin rest in her open palm. "Yeah," she said quietly and smiled graciously as if everyone were on mute and she could care less to the topic of occurrence.
It hurt that neither friend or ex friend had even considered her presence. Then again, each one of them were in fact selfish to the bone. It wasn't surprising they didn't care that Polo's sister sat before them bearing every word of hatred. All she wanted was to escape but her anxiousness to depart but she stood her ground without batting an eye or letting anyone see her fall, not that they were paying much mind since Valerio strode in with his shades as if he were making the entrance of a lifetime.
Charisma had only been to school for a mere hour, class for just fifteen minutes, and she was ready to check herself out and beg her mothers' to homeschool her for the rest of term. However, the brunette was much stronger than she felt, and she knew if the elites ran her out of campus, they would be winning - and there was no way they could get rid of a Benevant Villada that easy. ▬▬▬ 𝖝𝖔 ▬▬▬
