Note: So in the books very, very briefly it is mentioned that there is a guy named Mike Burns who is white and lives in the south side but is considered Mexican because "It's not about who you are it's where you're from" (not a direct quote, I paraphrased that). So I thought I'd do a story involving Mike's sister –Who could for all we know exist, since we don't actually know his background-. It focuses on all our favorite brothers (don't worry!) and is pretty fun to write. This is going to have some romance in it but honestly I'm not all about romance ruling a story so here it is, Happy Reading! :D
Rating: Teen
Disclaimer: I do not own Perfect Chemistry, Rules of Attraction, or any of the characters, places, etc. Simone Elkeles does.

When I was little I believed in the idea that I only needed my family to be alright. And it was true, that's all I needed. My brother Mike and I were two of the few white kids in our Latino neighborhood. But it didn't matter what we were, it mattered where we were from. And since we were born on the south side we were considered as just as much by everyone around us. My dad worked in an auto shop, my brother joined some gang, and I never knew my mom because she died when I was little. Childbirth or something like that.

It all seemed fine, until Mike went missing. One day we woke up and my dad's car was just gone, his bed empty with no note to tell us where he'd gone. We tried calling his cell phone but all that helped us find was the phone that he had left on the kitchen table. It didn't make sense. Mike wouldn't ditch us. Dad was really upset, he said that he had run away to help the gang. But I don't believe that. I believe that he was chased away to avoid the gang. Something bad happened to him, that's all I know.

We lasted about a year before the threats came in. The first one was in our mailbox in April, Dad never let me see them but I knew what they basically said. Betrayal will cost you, our Blood left you with no one to help, and we're waiting for payment for our loss.

It was about Mike, I knew it. But Dad just tried to ignore it. One night someone lit a brick and lit it on fire before throwing it through our front window, another time the letters P-A-Y were spray painted on our door in red, the last straw for my dad was when some guys tried to grab me as I walked home from the bus stop. I started shouting and ran to the house, I was lucky I was so close because my Dad came right out with his shot gun in hand, chasing off the gangbangers.

Dad freaked out. I told him I could handle it, they needed more Blood and so I would go join up – I didn't tell him that part- I'm tough. And not afraid of them. That's bull actually, anyone with a brain knew to fear them but the only way to get by around here was by acting like nothing could touch you. Dad had paid them off with money, we were practically broke. So he called a friend, Mrs. Fuentes, her and her sons used to live up the street from us.

I remembered her son Alex was super handsome but super frightening as well. He was a tough as nails kind of guy. They all were, except the youngest Luis, he is about my age so we were both 11 at the time. Anyway, he got her number from Elena (a relative of the Fuentes') and called her asking for help. Asking if he could send me away to them all the way in Colorado.

I did not want to leave him. He was my only family that I knew was definitely still breathing. He needed me here too, sometimes he couldn't handle everything. The bills, shopping, cleaning, work. It was too much for someone to do alone. And with Mike gone…it was just bad. But when Mrs. Fuentes said it was fine I had no choice. He sent me away. We had a big fight about it before I left, but I apologized even though I was right. If there was something I learned from living in the south side of that suburb, it was that you should savor every goodbye you have with another person, because you never know if it's going to be your last to them.

So currently I'm walking into an airport in Colorado, not sure who to look for exactly, but trying to act like I had a purpose standing in the crowd that had gotten off my flight. The flight had freaked me out to be honest. It was my first time flying and I honestly don't think I want to do that again, unless it's to go home.

After a few minutes I sit down. I'm tired and stressed from flying and confused about who to look for. Sue me for needing to take a break. I practically jump out of my skin when someone lays a hand on my shoulder, the last time someone grabbed me from behind was…not the best memory I had. So when I look up from the brown skinned hand and see the dark but recognizable tattoos on the arm attached to it I quickly hit it away.

"Whoa, whoa chickita, it's me," The guy says taking a step back and holding his hands up for me to see, "Alex Fuentes?"

Though thoroughly embarrassed I try not to show it. "Sorry," I say quickly, "Habit." Is the only thing I say as explanation for my behavior but he nods understandingly. He did come from where I come from. He knows what it's like first hand.

"Es bueno chickita, I understand what that's like." He picked up my bag for me, I tried to reach back for it but he shook his head with a laugh, "Let me be a man Marie."

I can't help being wary around him. The guy used to scare the crud out of me, even though I knew he wouldn't hurt someone from his hood. "You've grown up." His points out as we walk to the exit. "I remember you came to the garage with Mike one time, a tiny little bebe. The last time I saw you, you were…"

"Probably eleven." I say quickly. God I need to get over my fear of this guy.

"That's right you were in Luis's class." He laughs again; he has a very friendly laugh which lessens the tension for me a bit. We continue to walk in silence to the car; before we get in he turns to me. "Chica there is no reason to be afraid of me, you know that right?"

"No! I'm not afraid! I'm just…" My brain became a pile of mush and so I had to go with honesty, "afraid yeah. But it's just that…you have been very nice and I'm sure…I know people change. It's just that the way I remember you is very…"

Should I say Latino Blood? I know what happened to him….or I heard rumors. He's definitely changed I just can't forget what he was like. Or no…what the people he was with are like. I decide to go with that. "It's hard to forget what the people you were with are like."

It's silent for a bit and then I add. "Mike always thought you were a good guy." Past tense. Because he's probably dead for all I know.

Alex smiles, "Yeah Mike was a cool guy, muy guay." Past tense. Meaning he know what happened, or knows as much as anyone else. Meaning that their whole family probably was told by my Dad. He then continues to say, "And…I am sorry you remember me that way. Pero people change and we're part of the same familia for now right? So I promise there is nothing to fear."

I think Alex was just trying to be nice with the family thing. But I know what Mexican families are, once they accept you it's like you become one of their own. I had several familias Mexicanas in Fairfield. It sort of made me feel more comfortable. The Spanish that I sort of understood, the atmosphere of lower middle class, the gangster being nice. It was very much like home.

"Gracias." I say with a smile and he laughs again as he gets in the car.

"The chickita can speak espanol!"

"Un poco." I say, laughing a bit myself, if I let him think I let people at home think I spoke very well they would start spouting off in Spanish and I would never be able to keep up or explain that I didn't speak it that well. "And stop with the little girl talk. YOU are the one who said I had changed."

He gave me a smirk, "Si chickita you changed, but I didn't mean height wise. And besides," The car cruises onto the highway, "You're still little to me and mis hermanos."

It was true that he was bigger than me. So if genetics are effective his brothers are probably bigger too, but most people are bigger than me. I'm short. I'm a true Italiano, people always told me I looked just like my mom while my brother took after the Irish or my dad. But then it also occurred to me that though they were also bigger, Luis was always a bit older for our class and I am always the younger. Always the younger.

Here it comes, youngest again. In a family with lots of brothers I'm not sure what a sister dynamic would add, but knowing Mexicanos the way I did, it definitely would mean something very different than the independent "woman-being-the-man-of-the-house" way that I had been living for the past two years.

So what did you think? This is my first fanfiction, and I'm sure my grammar and spelling are off (that's not my strong point), but after reading fanfiction for years I decided to try writing some of my own to share. Hope you liked it (: