toxic. alejandro rosario

4

"she said to be home by four, why the fuck is she telling you to be there in ten if it was three twenty." alejandro said after reading the message zeala's mom had sent her. it was now 3:40, way past ten minutes in which zeala was supposed to be home.

"she always fucking does this and blames it on me, she told me four and didn't say to be there earlier, i didn't do shit but she always finds a way to put everything on me." zeala said, obviously frustrated with how her mother was acting towards her.

"just go for a little and then i can pick you up whenever you're ready to leave." alejandro said, trying to help zeala become less annoyed about the promotion party.

"i'll see later into the party, if they start with their shit i'll text you." zeala said, knowing if her mom and step-dad began to drink, she would have to leave before they were left alone with her.

alejandro pulled into zeala's driveway, noticing two unfamiliar cars parked.

"i'll see you later or tomorrow ale." zeala said, giving alejandro another quick peck on the lips.

"see you tomorrow OR later z, good luck." alejandro said, smiling to the girl who was obviously under stress/annoyance.

zeala and alejandro exchanged their last goodbyes, zeala then closing the passenger door. her backpack in hand, looking in her phone camera to make sure her hair and makeup weren't messed up.

unlocking the front door with her house keys, her mom was sitting on the living room couch.

"hi." zeala said, passing by and heading to her bedroom.

"its three forty, i told you by four." sierra, zeala's mom, said.

"yeah you told me BY four, you didn't tell me anything about coming earlier." zeala said.

"don't start with your little attitude, go change, i already picked out your outfit." sierra said, zeala rolling her eyes, mummering under her breath.

as she entered her bedroom, she saw the outfit her mom had picked out. it definitely wasn't her style, it looked like something you would wear on thanksgiving. zeala put her dislike for the outfit aside and just went along with it. she was already done, her hair and makeup were fine, and she just had changed into her outfit.

zeala made her way downstairs to make sure her mom approved of her appearance before she started saying things.

"does this look fine?" zeala asked, fixing the bottom of her skirt.

"it looks pretty, see i need to start picking your outfits out." sierra said, zeala's face slowly forming a smile. zeala and her mom had up and downs, sometimes they would have good moments, sometimes bad moments. zeala tried to cherish the good moments as she knew they didn't happen too often.

"whatever, i look like i'm going to thanksgiving dinner." zeala said, looking down at her outfit. her mom letting out a laugh.

"where's nate." zeala asked, trying to see if he was in the kitchen.

"he's in the back, some of his work friends got here earlier." sierra said, then getting up from the couch to start preparing the snacks.

"help me with putting chips in the plates." sierra said, zeala making her way to the kitchen as well.

the party had started about four hours ago, it was mostly older people, i mean it was a promotion party so its understandable. zeala was just scrolling on instagram, there was nothing for her to do. her mom and step-dad were already drinking, she knew it would end up being another night of arguing so she wanted to get to sleep before everyone left. plus, she had to get up early for alejandro's game. sierra knew of alejandro as zeala's only friend, nate wasn't so pleased when hearing about alejandro but i mean his opinion doesn't matter in this situation.