Carlos's POV:

I walked into the school chatting with mi amigos. We were all off in our own little world, the Spanish pouring from our mouths the way it did every day. We endured the same stares from the same people and I mentally rolled my eyes. When were people going to realize that just because we weren't speaking English we could still see them passing their judgment? I guess that's why I never bothered to try to make any other friends. I was surrounded by a group of people who never judged me and who understood my family.

We stopped at our usual spot in the school that was near the cafeteria and stood in a group. My best friend Hortencia was talking about how his little hermana had gotten in trouble this morning for not wanting to come to school and playing sick. I just shook my head, thinking of all the ways Ariela had tried to get out of class for the day. Soon the warning bell was ringing and we were off to our first classes. Mine was a total drag and I secretly hated school. The only reason I went was because I wanted to become a police officer like my dad and I knew I had to finish school if I was ever going to do that.

I trudged into the recommended public speaking class and slowly made my way to my seat in the back. This class was my least favorite of the day because it was so difficult for me. I grew up in my house where Spanish was the first language and my family picked up English along the way. So in this class where our teacher wanted everyone to...what was the word he always used? Annunciate the words, I could never seem to please him. I shook my head, trying not to dwell on something I knew was only going to make me upset. I glanced around the room noticed that everyone else seemed to have their friends in this class. I shifted uncomfortably as the sudden realization hit me that I had no one. When we gave speeches and impromptu readings in class everyone had at least one person they could keep eye contact with if they were too afraid to look anywhere else but I had no one. None of my friends were taking this class because I was the only one who really needed it for the future. I sighed loudly as the bell rang silently wishing something, anything would shake today up.

A few hours later I was bouncing into the lunch room because this was by far my FAVORITE subject of the day. I practically knocked Hortencia out of his seat when I crashed down into mine next to him. He chuckled and ruffled my hair before saying, "Carlos, usted siempre tiene tanta energia. Uno de estos dias voy a tener el secretode ti." ['Carlos, you always have so much energy. One of these days I'm going to get your secret out of you.'] I just chuckeld and playfully pushed my best friend. He always said things like that and he had known me long enough to know that I had no "secret," madre said that I had always been like this. She said ever since I was a little nino I was always active. I smiled at that thought because I knew those memories made mi madre happy and anything that maid mi madre smile made me smile harder.

After realizing that all our friends were at the table I focused on my food listening to bits and pieces of what they were saying. After the initial hellos and talk of classes I realized that they were talking about someone who was new to our school. I instantly started to look around the cafeteria because new kids were a rarity here at Rocque Academy. Finally I set my eyes on the new kid. He had taken the table at the very back of the cafeteria and was sitting by himself. I looked him over quickly, noting that he had onyx colored hair and an interesting choice in dress. He was wearing all black. After I glanced at him again I realized his personality seemed to match his hair and clothes. He seemed threatening. Realizing that my friends were talking about how the boy must not want anyone to come within in five feet of him I couldn't help but want to talk to him.

As I walked out of school a couple hours later I thought again of my mother. She always told me I was amistoso, meaning that I was friendly. Sometimes she told me that I was too friendly and that some people just didn't want to be bothered. I thought about this as I thought about the onyx haired boy. I couldn't get him out of my head since lunch. I just couldn't help but wonder why he didn't seem to want to make any friends. I saw him in the hallways between classes occasionally and he seemed content with just brushing past everyone and getting to his classes. He didn't make eye contact with anyone and he sure as hell didn't smile at anyone. Maybe this was my amistoso side coming out, or maybe I was just way to curious, but I wanted to know why he just didn't want to connect with anyone. I pushed the thoughts of him from my head as I helped mi madre make dinner and afterwards I helped her put my sisters and brother to bed. After giving her a kiss to the cheek before telling her "buenas noches," I headed up to my room and sat on my bed.

I glanced over at the helmet sitting next to my bed as I ran my hand over it. I sighed as I whispered, "Te echo de menos papi." [I miss you papi] as I allowed a tear to fall from my cheek. It had been almost two years since we had lost my papi in a fatal car crash. Madre had let me keep the helmet he had used in Mexico when he was on the police force as something to remember him by. It was definitely one of the most important things I owned and every day I wished I could somehow bring my papi back. I tried to fill his shoes and be there for mi madre, but I knew I wasn't enough. I fell against my pillow, trying to quiet down my sobs by burying my face into the fabric. "I won't let you down Papi." My thoughts were now consumed with my papi as I drifted off to sleep.

The next morning I woke up to Lali and Lia jumping on my bed telling me they were hungry and ready for breakfast. I grumbled as I realized I had a headache from the night before but remembering that I had to keep the twin girls happy I put a smile on.

After getting the two three year olds settled at the kitchen table with pancakes and milk (and making extra for my mother and Tomas) I grabbed my backpack and headed out the door. Even though it was Saturday I knew I needed to head to the library. I called Hortencia, knowing he would want to come to. We both loved our families but it was impossible to get any homework done at either of our houses on a Saturday.

"Buenas dias Carlos."

"Buenas dias Hortencia. Voy a estar en tu casa en unos pocos." [Good morning Hortencia. I'll be at your house in a few.]

"Oh, no Carlos, se me olvidaba. No puedo ir a la biblioteca hoy. Mi padre quiere que la ayude en la casa hoy. El esta planeando una sorpresa para mi madre." [Oh no Carlos, I forgot.I can't go to the library today. My dad wants me to help him around the house today. He's planning a surprise for my mother.]

I sighed lightly as I tugged on my backpack, I'd never gone to the library without Hortencia before but I was already on my way. "Esta bien Hortencia. Voy a ir solo. Dile a tu papa me dijo hola." [It's okay Hortencia. I'll go by myself. Tell your dad I said hi]

"Lo hare. Te llamare mas tarde. Adios Carlos." [I will. I'll call you later. Bye Carlos.]

"Adios Horetencia." I hung up the phone and trudged to the library hoping today would get a little better.

I arrived to the library noticing there were a lot more people there than usual but luckily the table Hortencia and I always used in the back was still open. I took my usual seat and opened my backpack pulling out a notebook and a pencil. On Monday I had a speech in my public speaking class and this was going to be the most important one so far. My grade wasn't the best in the class and this speech could be the deciding factor in whether or not I would have to retake the class. I had been working for like an hour and I looked up content with my progress. I was just scanning the people in the library when I noticed someone walking towards me.

I sucked in a harsh breath as I realized it was the boy from yesterday except today he was wearing normal clothes and he actually smiled at me. I just watched him walk over to the table before he stopped in front of me and he held out his hand. "Hey I'm Logan, you go to my school right? I think I saw you a few times yesterday." I shook his hand and nodded.

"My name is Carlos. I saw you at school too.."

Logan shifted on his feet uncomfortably while rubbing the back of his neck with his hand, "Um I was wondering if I could sit here with you? All the other tables in the library are full. I think finals week must be near at the college down the street or something." He chuckled nervously.

I tried my best to give him a warm smile, ignoring the feeling in the pit of my stomach before nodding, "Sure you can sit here. I don't mind. I'm used to having my best friend with me anyways." I gave a little chuckle trying to clear the awkward feeling between us.

Logan's smile grew wider as he sat down in the seat, "Thanks. I really appreciate it. The library at my old town was never this full."

With that Logan pulled out his work and I tried not to stare noticing he had a lot of textbooks that were aimed for people who were juniors while he was sure Logan was his age it couldn't hurt to ask. "Hey Logan...why do you have all those books for juniors? Are you a junior or something?" Logan instantly started to blush but he tried to hide it by looking for something to write with in his backpack.

"Uh, no. I'm a Sophomore but I take a lot of advanced classes..."

Noticing the boy suddenly looked embarrassed and nervous I decided to drop the subject but not before adding, "Well I think that's pretty cool. I don't know many people who are smart enough to do that." I gave Logan a quick smile before going back down to my speech, reading the phrases over and over again trying to get them to flow together. Noticing Logan was finally getting to work I looked over at the boy with his peripheral vision and let out a quiet sigh. Logan was off in his own world working on equations and writing out answers I wouldn't even try to understand. I turned my eyes back to my work but not before noticing that Logan looked happy in his world of numbers and variables.

A few hours later I had not only finished my speech but my math and English homework as well. After I glanced over all my work to make sure it was done properly I began to put my things away. In the middle of putting everything in my backpack I looked up and noticed Logan was watching me, he looked away his cheeks suddenly red and I realized I was being rude by not saying anything to him. Papi always told me to be nice to people who were nice to me and so far Logan had given me no reason to be rude. I smiled at Logan for what felt like the hundredth time that day before saying, "If you're done with your homework you can come over to my house if you want. I have to make my siblings lunch and I can make you something too if you'd like." I didn't know why I was asking this boy to come over to my house all of a sudden. I knew my mother wouldn't be happy that I didn't ask her permission but Logan looked like he needed a friend.

"You sure your parents won't mind?" Logan gave me a lopsided grin and I shook the thoughts of Papi away before they had the chance to creep up on me.

"Well my mother always talks about how friendly I am. So I don't think she'd mind me bringing a new friend over for lunch."

"Okay, I'd love to come over for lunch then. My parents won't be home until late and I haven't exactly made any friends around here yet." Logan packed up his things quickly and soon I was on my way home with the friend I never intended to make.