Prologue: Last Month

Maria woke up to and incoming video call on her computer, and slowly dug her way out of her covers and made her way to her desk rubbing her eyes as she answered.

"Hola, Mija." Her father's face appeared on her screen, he was in full uniform, but only the tops of his shoulders and the cap on top of his head showed the army grade camouflage that was required "Hola, papa. How are you?" she said in return as she reached for her hairbrush and began to comb it through her long chestnut locks, and pull it into a high ponytail.

Her father yawned which then was passed along to Maria "We got in last night. So far so good. I just wanted to make sure you were going to be alright home alone for so long."

Maria paused from brushing her hair for a moment and looked at the screen, she understood the reason for her father's call, it had been eighteen months since her mother's death and it was the first time she was left alone in their big house since then because her father had been deployed. "I'll be fine Papa. Manolo said that if I ever get lonely I can call him anytime and he'll come over."

Her father chuckled "What would you ever do without that boy?" Maria shrugged and laughed slightly "Well Mija I should let you go and get ready for school, I love you."

"I love you too Papa. Call soon adios." Her father gave her a two finger salute before they both hung up.

Maria sighed before she pushed herself away from her desk and began to get ready for school, rummaging through her drawers until she decided that it was too much work to find a shirt and pants and decides to wear a dress instead.

She pulled her favorite white and red dress from her closet and slipped it over her head as her phone began to ring, and she laughed in response, before she answered.

"Hola, Maria Posada speaking." She said as she walked to the bathroom to brush her teeth and finish getting ready.

"Hey! It's Joaquin, from history."

"I know who you are," Maria said as she tried to brush her teeth and talk at the same time, before she gave up and spat in the sink, "we've been friends for years."

Joaquin was the stereotypical popular guy, captain of the football team, and can have any girl he wants at any time, but was also one of her best friends. She first met him in elementary school when she saw him and his friend Manolo where playing tetherball on the playground and then the three of them were inseparable, the three amigos ever since. She even dated him for a year and a half before they broke up decided that they were better off being friends, that's when she started dating Manolo.

"Yeah well." Joaquin chuckled on the other end of the phone "I'm throwing a party tonight, my Aunt and Uncle are going out of town."

Maria grabbed her laptop and began walking towards the stairs to finish her morning routines "I don't know. Manolo and I were going to…"

"Bring him to the more the merrier. Just think about it." Joaquin said "Oh. One more thing can I copy your History Homework that's due today?"

Maria laughed "Good-bye Joaquin, I'll see you at school." She heard him laughing on the other end as she hung up. Walking into the kitchen the first thing she saw was the portrait of her mother hanging next to the calendar. "Morning Mama." She said as she pulled out a loaf of bread and began to make breakfast by place two slices in the toaster and grabbing the peanut butter rom the cabinet.

As the toaster was going she walked around the lower floor gathering everything she would need for the day ahead, her backpack, textbooks and other papers that were scattered haphazardly all around, the living room, study and even the bathroom. By the time she got back the bread had popped back up and she grabbed and quickly spared a layer of peanut butter on top, before she placed her laptop in her bag, grabbed her car keys and headed out the door.

A/N: hey I hope you enjoyed this I have the first couple chapters almost done so if you like this please review, and favorite so I know you want to see more. thank you.