Another flashback chapter. I just can't help myself with these.

Miracle City twenty-two years ago...

Seventeen year old Carmela Mondragon took a deep breath as she approached her new school. She had just moved in with her mother just four years after the death of her older sister Ingrid. Her father had become so overwhelmed with guilt that he fell into a depression and needed to get help at a home somewhere. The whole thing had left her especially tramatized and she had hoped that she would never have to face anything like that again. Now was the time for a fresh start, a new home, a new school, and hopefully new friends.

"Class I'd like you all to give a warm welcome to our newest student Carmela Mondragon." The teacher introduced.

"It's a pleasure to meet all of you." Carmela said politely.

She appeared calm but on the inside she was a nervous wreck. Her nerves seemed to rise when all the other students stared at her.

"Oh look my maid just texted me she wants her outfit back." One girl said causing all the other students to laugh. Carmela blushed.

"Hey that's enough." The teacher hushed them. "Go take a seat Miss Mondragon."

She saw two avaliable seats in the way back as she walked down toward them she could feel the stares of the other students and she could hear a few snickers and insults hear and there.

"I heard that her mom was into some voodoo crap." One student whispered.

"I heard that her dad was sent to an asylum." Another whispered.

"I bet this chick will be nuts."

Carmela sighed and sat in her chair. She and her mother had just moved in yesterday and already people were gossiping about them. No doubt she would be targeted by bullies and not find a single friend. Things couldn't get any worse.

"Well look who finally showed up."

At the sound of the teacher scoffing, Carmela looked up to see a boy walk into the class room. He was her age, real tuff looking, he wore a leather jacket and ripped jeans with a few piercings on one ear and another in his nose. All the students gave him looks of both utter fear and respect while the teacher looked at him like he was the biggest nuisance on the face of the earth.

"Hi-ya teach, you're looking nice." He said.

"What's the excuse this time Mr. Suarez?" The teacher asked.

"Got into a fight with my old man."

"Is that right? Well I'm sorry to hear that. Please take a seat."

He scanned the room for an empty seat. The only one he saw was the one next to Carmela. He huffed, gruffly walked over, and sat next to her. For a brief moment they made eye contact. He had blue eyes just like she did, aside from her father she had never seen another man with blue eyes. He turned away from her, leaned back, and put his feet on the desk table.

"Now everyone please take out your textbooks." The teacher said.

All day Carmela tried to focus on class but she was so nervous about everything that she could hardly breathe. As the days went on she found it easier to calm down and do her work but she did become a victim of insults and rumors. She tried her best to ignore it. After all she didn't want to cause any more trouble. Soon a routine had developed, she would go to school, come hone, help her mother cook and clean, do homework, eat, bathe, and then sleep. She was a very smart student who worked hard and impressed the teacher greatly but she still didn't have any friends. All and all it stayed that way for half the year then one day after school her teacher asked to talk to her after class.

"Carmela can I ask you for a favor?" She said.

"Sure what is it?"

"Carmela you are a very bright young girl and one of my best students which is more than I can say for some people."

"Thank you ma'am. But what are you asking me?"

"Well you know Emiliano Suarez right?"

"Yes he sits next to me in class."

"He's been failing a lot lately and I don't think he's father is interested in getting him help so I was wondering if you would be so kind as to tutor him."

"I...I don't know. I don't mean to be rude but he seems a little...Mean."

"I know by his appearance he's very hard but believe me he's a very nice boy. Why not give him a chance?"

"Alright I guess I could."

"Wonderful. The two of you will be meeting in the library every day from five to seven. Is that okay?"

"Yes."

"Thank you, I know that if anyone can help him it's you."

So the next day ay five o'clock Carmela went to the library where she waited patiently for Emiliano. Who didn't show up until six-thirty.

"Alright babe let's get this over with." He said sitting down next to her.

"You're late." She said.

"Ask me if I care."

"Well you should know that if I'm not home by eight my mother will be very upset."

"Again ask me if I care."

"I'm sorry but are you not here to be turored?"

"If you want the honest truth babe, no. I'm only doing this so I can get the teach off my back."

"Oh well if that's the case good night." She grabbed her bag and headed for the door.

"Wait before you go I need you to do something. Tomorrow she's gonna ask you if I came or not you're gonna tell her that I did right?"

"Yes but I'm also going to tell her that you were late and didn't try at all."

"You can't do that. She'll suspend me and I won't graduate."

"Ask me if I care."

She headed for the door.

"Wait!" He called making her stop just inches from the door. "Okay what do you want?"

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me. What do you want? Money? Jewelry? A date? A chance to lose your virginity?"

SLAP!

"Ow!" He cried when she slapped him.

"You disgusting perv!" She scoffed. "How dare you! Why if my mother heard you say such things to me she'd put an arrow straight through your head!"

"Okay, okay I'm sorry but that doesn't mean you should- Oh God!"

"What?"

"I think you gave me a nose bleed."

"Don't be ridiculous I only slapped you." She raised her hand. "With the hand that has my bracelet of stones on it. Oops."

"Oh man you really nailed me."

"I'm sorry, here let me see."

"I don't need your help."

"Relax my mother does healing so I know what I'm doing. Now follow me to the bathroom."

They went to the bathroom. The library had a neutral gender bathroom so they both could go in. Carmela wet a tissue and began to wipe the blood from his upper lip then gave him a dry one to keep the blood in his nose.

"Better?" She asked.

"No." He said.

"Sorry I couldn't do more."

"Whatever."

"Do you need some water?"

"No thanks babe. You've done enough now go on. Leave."

"But aren't you worried about getting suspended and not graduating?"

"What does it matter? It's not like I would've graduated anyway, Dad always said I was a moron."

"Listen I...You wanna know what I want?"

"To hit me again?"

"Tempting offer but no. I want to help you."

"So you're gonna tell her I tried tomorrow?"

"Yes but on a few conditions."

"I knew there was a catch. Alright babe what do you want?"

"Okay first of all my name is Carmela not babe and second if I'm gonna help you I'm really gonna help you. You're gonna show up on time and pay attention and actually try."

"And if I say no?"

"Then I quit."

He sighed.

"I guess I could do that."

"Good then we have an agreement."

They shook on it. Carmela glanced over at the clock.

"Oh no it's eight thirty! My mother is gonna kill me!"

"Don't worry, I'll walk you home and tell her it was my fault."

"Really?"

"Hey I kind of owe ya."

"Thanks."

The two walked back to Carmela's house. It was nine o'clock when they finally got there and as expected Sandra was worried out of her mind. Her daughter had never stayed out that late before so when they arrived she was in a frenzy.

"Mom I'm home." Carmela said.

"Oh hija thank goodness." The fair haired middle aged woman said hugging her daughter tightly. "Where were you? I was scared that you had been jumped by some hoodlums."

Her eyes then went to the rebellious looking young man just a few inches from them. She quickly released her daughter and pulled a bow and arrow from her dress which she pointed at him.

"Who are you? And what did you do to my daughter?"

"Whoa now! Just take it easy lady." Emiliano said backing away.

"I'll take it easy when you explain yourself! I'm warning you boy if you've touched my daughter I'll use you as my new target for practice!"

"Mother stop! He hasn't done anything!" Carmela said pulling the bow and arrow from her. "Mother this is Emiliano, I'm tutoring him after school and the reason I stayed out so late is because he had an accident."

"Oh...What kind?"

"Well I..I...I...You see I-"

"I ran into a door." Emiliano said. "Clumsy me and I would like you to know that your daughter is a very smart and nice girl and I'm glad she's helping me."

"So this is just tutoring?" Sandra asked suspiciously.

"Yes ma'am nothing else. So then I'll just be going now."

He started to walk away real slow like and then he ran away. Carmela face palmed herself in embarrassment.

"What a strange boy." Sandra said.

"Mother why? Why would you point an arrow at him?"

"I'm sorry dear but I don't like that boy."

"You've only known him for two seconds."

"I have a sixth sense and it tells me he's no good. Darling you can do a lot better than him."

"Mother we're not dating! It's just tutoring! He's not even my type and I'm sure I'm not even his. Remember I like boys who have a brain."

The two women laughed as they went inside to do their regular routine but as the days went by their routine began to change. After school Carmela would meet Emiliano at the library and help him study for subjects and tests in their classes. For awhile they didn't talk about anything except learning subjects but then they began conversing about each other and what they liked and didn't liked. Over time they began friends but Carmela noticed that for some reason Emiliano seemed to never want to go home and while they would study at her house sometimes they never studied at his. Also whenever she mentioned his parents he would change the subject but she never pried because she understood the feeling of not wanting to tell people about your family.

"Hey Carmela!" A guy from her school said to her in the hallway one day. "I know a guy who's completely insane! You think your dad would like a new roommate at the asylum!"

The other kids laughed at his insult.

"Hope you don't take after him that much because I don't think the school allows retards!"

Carmela felt like crying but she held back her tears and kept quiet. But Emiliano would have none of it.

"But apparently this school has an open policy for ass holes doesn't it Chakal." Emiliano said. He then grabbed him and pinned him to his locker. "You know something Chakal. I don't like you. Because you're a nerd who thinks he can make himself popular by bullying girls. Even I know that's low."

"Wha...What are you gonna do with me?" He blubbered.

Emiliano thought for a moment then grinned mischievously. A couple minutes later he was hanging off the flag pole by his underwear. All the students laughed and pointed at him but the principal didn't find it funny at all.

"Emiliano my office now!"

Emiliano huffed and followed the principal to the office. Carmela was grateful that Emiliano had defended her but she felt bad that he had gotten her into trouble. So after school she went to find him to thank him and apologize but she couldn't find him however a friend told him where he lived. She went to his house but it didn't exactly look homey. Actually it looked abandoned, half the windows were broken and the ones that weren't were dirty. The lawn was terribly unkept with tall grass and weeds, there were also holes in the roof.

She went to the door and knocked on it. The door was answered by a tall, strong looking man who was dressed sloppy, his hair was greasy, his teeth were yellow, and he wreeked of both cigarettes and taquilla. Carmela had never seen or smelled a man so filthy and disgusting. She felt like throwing up but held it in.

"What do you want?" He asked in an irritated and gruff voice.

"Sorry bothering you but is Emiliano here?"

"What do you want him for?"

"I just wanted to thank him for what he did for me and that I'm sorry for getting him into trouble."

"Trouble? What trouble?!" He said getting angry and before she could say anything he went back into the house listening to him shout with great anger. "What did you do now you stupid little punk?!"

"What do you mean Dad?" She heard Emiliano say in the background.

"You think I'm stupid?! You caused trouble again didn't you?!"

"So what if I did? It's not like you care about me old man!"

"I could care less about what happens to you! But I don't want people saying things about me! Why do you even go to that school?"

"Isn't it obvious? To get away from you! Now scram I gotta study I have a test tomorrow."

She heard the sound of glass breaking followed by horrible shouting and other stuff getting broken followed by Emiliano screaming. She saw him run out from the back door.

"Yeah that's it! Run away!" She heard his father shout. "Run away like your slut mother did!"

Carmela followed him.

"Emiliano?"

"What?!"

When he turned around she saw that he was covered in scratches and bruises. Her hand went to her mouth in shock.

"Did he do that you?" She asked.

"It's nothing! Just leave me alone!"

Tears formed in her eyes.

"Why are you crying?" He asked her.

"That's horrible." She wept. "It's horrible that he hurts you like that!"

She walked over and hugged him.

"What are you doing?! Get off me! Leave me alone!"

But she didn't. She just kept hugging him. He continued to demand that she let go but then after awhile he broke down. She held him and comforted him.

"You deserve a family that loves you." She said. "I hope you find that one day."

Six years later...

"Hello Doctor! My name is Emiliano Suarez!" The man said as he arrived at the front desk of the hospital. "My wife is she okay?"

"She's fine. Congratulations Mr. Suarez your wife has just given birth to a healthy baby girl." The doctor said.

In her room Carmela laid in bed cradling a blue haired baby girl in her arms. The baby was crying but the mother only smiled and soothed her.

"It's okay. Good girl." She said comforting her new daughter. "We're going to call you Frida. Our little Frida."

She kissed the baby's head and continued smiling until she noticed a tiny glow coming from the infant's chest.

"Is that-"

"Carmela?" Her husband asked entering.

"Oh Emiliano you're here. Look at her isn't she beautiful?"

"Yes she is. Just like her mother."

"I knew you'd have a family who loved you one day."

"And it's all thanks to you." He said before they kissed.