Chapter 2 but still so much to do. I wrote this around January because everybody got sick with the flu so I figured why not. But then I got sick and kinda forgot about it until the other day so I went through and cleaned it up, added a few things, and now it's done. I'm probably just gonna make this like Love is Magic where things time skip but I'm only gonna go for no more than a month at a time. And the POV will be Tori unless stated otherwise.

Time skip: a week

"Victoria Vega to the office please."

The class starts muttering to themselves, wondering if I'm in trouble or something. I doubt it, I haven't done anything wrong and Jade's been less mean to me since she found out about Mateo, but you never know. Getting up and shouldering my bag, I walk out and to the office.

The secretary looks up and points to the phone. "You have a phone call, Ms. Vega."

I pick up the phone and put it to my ear. "Hello?"

"Victoria Vega?"

"This is she."

"This is Kimberly Delgado from Trinity Elementary. Your son, Mateo, has a fever and is feeling pretty ill. Would you be able to come get him?"

My heart drops. I hate my baby boy to be sick. "Yes, of course. Give me 15 minutes, 20 tops."

"Of course, Ms. Vega."

I hang up and look to the secretary. "My son is sick, could I have someone get my work for me?"

She nods understandingly. "Who would you like to collect your work?"

"Jade West has the same afternoon classes as me, so maybe her?" I don't think before the words are out of my mouth, unsure of how Jade will react to that.

"Sure, Ms. Vega. I hope your boy feels better soon."

I smile at her and give her a little wave before walking out of the school. Pulling out my phone, keeping it on silent during school hours so I don't get in trouble, I call Trina and fill her in. Not 10 minutes later, she's in front of me and we're on our way to Mateo's school.

"Do you know what happened? What's wrong with him?"

I smile a little at the concern in my sister's voice. Having Mateo didn't only make me mature faster, it seems. "He has a fever but that's all the lady told me."

We pull into the parking lot of the elementary school and we're both out of the car the second it's off. The secretary smiles at both of us. "Trina. Tori. He's with the nurse, right through there."

She points us to the nurse and I walk in while Trina signs him out. The nurse sees me and is about to ask who I am when Mateo opens his eyes and speaks. "Mama."

I'm by his side in an instant and look at the nurse. "Do you know what's wrong?"

She looks from me to my son but nods slowly. "I believe it's just the flu, it's been going around. Just let it pass, take it easy, and I can write you and your son an excuse for school if you'd like."

"Thank you, ma'am." I give her a small smile before looking back at Mateo. "We're here to take you home, mijo. Come on."

He lifts his arms and I lift him up, feeling his skin burning through my clothes as he rests his head on my shoulder. Trina opens the doors for me on our way out and I carefully place him in his car seat. Looking at him closely, I can see he's pretty pale and he's more drowsy than usual.

"What did she say?"

"It's most likely just the flu. Do you want me to stay home to watch him? I'm excused, I just need someone to get my assignments."

She pulls into our driveway and shakes her head. "If you would feel better staying home with him, that's your choice. But I can take care of him if you go to school."

I lift a sleeping Mateo out of his seat and follow Trina inside. My phone starts to ring the second we're through the door so I hand my son to Trina and slide the green circle. "Hello?"

"Vega, they called me to the office and asked if I could pick up your assignments. Where'd you go?"

If I didn't know Jade, I'd think she was accusing me of something. But I can hear the concern carefully hidden in her tone. "Mateo has the flu, I had to go get him from school. I just need the assignments for today, I'll have Trina watch him tomorrow."

She must hear my reluctance at leaving Mateo while he's sick because she quickly reassures me. "I can take your assignments until he's better, you just worry about your spawn. I'll even be nice and loan you my notes for our afternoon classes. See you after school."

"Thank you, Jade. See you after school."

I slip my phone in my back pocket and rush upstairs, seeing Trina sitting next to a sleeping Mateo. She's softly playing with his hair, something that relaxes both he and I, and seems to be humming. She may not have a nice singing voice, but her humming is halfway decent.

"Jade said she'd bring me my homework until he's better."

"Well isn't that nice of the she-devil…"

Hitting Trina's shoulder, I sit in front of her and look at the sleeping boy. "She's been a lot nicer to me since she found out about him. Maybe Hollywood Arts will be different than Sherwood."

Trina twirls a bit of Mateo's hair absentmindedly. "Maybe. But just because Jade turned out to have a heart doesn't mean everybody will be so accepting."

I let out a small sigh and get up to take out my contacts, knowing she's right. When I sit back down, we spend the next couple of hours like that, talking while Mateo sleeps off his fever. Just when we hear the doorbell, Mateo jolts awake and I have just enough time to grab the trashcan before my poor baby starts puking his guts up.

"That's probably Jade, can you go get it?"

Trina says a quick "yeah" before hurrying out of the room. Mateo keeps puking, whimpering as he dry heaves and my heart breaks at seeing my little boy like this. I gently rub his back, smoothing his sweaty hair out of his face and quietly telling him I'm there.

"Mommy, it hurts…"

"I know, baby, but you'll get better soon. Let's go get you some medicine and some water, okay?"

He reaches his arms out and I lift him up, holding him with one arm and carrying the trashcan with the other hand. Trina gives us a sympathetic look once we're downstairs and I notice Jade looking at us in concern from the couch. I give Trina the choice of the trashcan or Mateo and I'm honestly surprised when she takes the trashcan. My sister doesn't do well with vomit.

"I'm gonna set you down on the island counter, okay baby?"

He nods and loosens his hold on my neck, a little wobbly when he's not holding onto me. Jade gets up and walks to stand next to him, keeping him from falling off. "Do you know what caused it?"

I shake my head, getting him a glass of water and helping him take a few little sips. "No clue. It's probably just going around, that's what the nurse said. He'll be better in a couple days."

I set the cup to the side and rifle through the cabinet to get the Tylenol and the thermometer. "Abrir, mijo."

Mateo opens his mouth and I slide the thermometer under his tongue, moving the hair from his face before it beeps and I look at the small 100.2 on the screen. I pour the recommended amount of medicine in the plastic cup and hand it to my son, knowing he'll take it while I clean the thermometer and put it and the medicine away.

When I turn back, I see Jade softly rubbing Mateo's back as he takes his medicine and she quietly laughs at the face he makes. "s'not funny, Jade."

"Sorry, little man. You made a funny face and it made me laugh."

He smiles as best he can at her. "I'm glad. You have a nice laugh, y'know?"

She doesn't say anything, just turns back to me and motions to the door. "I guess I should go. I brought you your work, that's all I really had to do, right?"

"If you have any homework you wanna do here, you're more than welcome to. Trina's probably taking an hour-long shower after throwing the trash bag and dad doesn't really come home until after midnight. If you're okay with cartoons in the background, nobody's really gonna bother you."

I push off the counter and walk to the island, feeling Mateo's arms and legs wrap around me and I walk to the living room. "What do you wanna watch, little love?"

"Ladybug and Chat?"

He yawns as I turn on Miraculous, laying on the sofa to the right while I sit on the floor in front of the one closer to the door. Jade sits next to me and we start doing our homework. Mateo falls asleep before the first episode is over, Jade and I finishing our homework around the end of the fourth.

Ladybug and Chat Noir do their fist bump thing when Jade breaks the silence. "You're really not the perfect princess I had you pegged as."

I turn my head, seeing Jade fiddling with her bracelets. "What do you mean?"

"When you first came, I thought you were just this perfect girl who got everything she wanted without having to work for anything. I mean, you just walked into our lives and everybody liked you instantly. But after seeing a little bit of your life and what it's like…you have to work twice as hard as anybody else. You're responsible for another human being and your parents don't really help with that. I don't do this often, at all really…but I wanna apologize for how I treated you. And if the offer is still available…I would like for us to be friends. Actual friends, you can call me if you need anything and I'll be there. I'll help you with whatever you might need."

Her speech leaves me…well, speechless. Jade West, the girl who's been tormenting me since I started at Hollywood Arts, wants to be my friend. Something I've wanted since I met her.

I can't stop the small smile that crosses my face. "Of course, Jade. Same goes for you, I'll try to help with anything you might need and our door's always open for you."

Song of the day (lol more like song of the chapter): Little Me by Little Mix

I don't know why I'm doing those, I guess it's just to say what song I'm listening to when I write my A/Ns

Hugs and Kisses to those who want them and Love to those who want it xxx