The first thing I noticed as I was slowly coaxed into consciousness: was that I was cold, not freezing just cold. A shiver still found way down the length of my spine, goosebumps rising in response. Although my eyes were closed, I could tell that natural light was beginning to flood my room and I leisurely rolled my body to face the source. I was greeted by a cool soothing breeze brushing over the skin of my cheeks, it brought along a sense of clarity and I peeked my eyes open the slightest bit. I was gradually adjusting to the beaming rays of light that seeped through the window across from my bed. My mind eagerly noted that even the morning's here feel bet- Espera un momento, la ventana está abierta?! Cómo?
In an instant I pushed upper body away from the enticingly warm mattress to stare at my window, my face scrunched in confusion while my heart drummed in alarm. I closed that window last night, I shut the curtains, I locked it tight; yet here it was, unlocked with the curtains pushed back and window slightly ajar.
"About damn time! Get up, lazy ass, you have school today!"
The way I screeched wasn't even human. I propelled off the bed into a heap of flesh and bone on the wooden boards, my heart drummed in my ass as I peered at my mom from the side the bed. I had been so captivated by my own panic that I completely blocked out the sound of her footsteps leading to my room and her rough opening of my door. None of that mattered though, because in a second I had leapt over my bed and fumbled to stand in front of my mom.
"Ma hear me out! Last night I closed the window, locked it, and everything! But now it's open! I know I didn't unlock it- I promise!"
My grip on her forearms were tight, but the look she gave me was enough to loosen my hold just slightly and lean a bit backwards. She was giving me the mom-glare.
"I know, Anita, I opened it earlier- when I woke you up to eat breakfast! But you clearly you went back to sleep!"
"Anita, levántate pendeja, necesitas comer! Anita, get the fuck up-" I ducked under my blankets as my door burst open.
"Maaamii...I'm u-up..I'm up" I hear a click and something scraping but couldn't recognize other sound because I hid my head under my pillow.
"You start classes today; I'm not driving you to school so be ready for the bus!"
"Okaaaaay"
My mom finally walked out my room and I once again surrendered to sleep.
I was rigid as the foggy memory made itself known. My grip slackened enough for my mom to pull her arms away from me and cross them in her famous mom-pose. The pose itself spoke volumes and was all I needed to know that she was not entertained.
Flashes of gold stirred in my head from last night, and I opened my mouth to bring it up, but when I noticed her eyes narrow as if daring me, I decided that I can only look like a dumbass in 24 hour time intervals and pushed the thought to the back of my mind.
"Ok well I'm just trying to make sure we don't turn into the cabin in the woods-"
My mom slapped her hand over my mouth and turned her head away.
"Your breath- go fix that, then come downstairs and eat"
I didn't bother responding to her, settling to deliver a glare that spoke what I wanted to say. I didn't move until she left and then dragged my feet to the bathroom, picking up my phone on the way there to check the time.
It's six in the fucking morning. That's not bad. I used to have to wake up by five in the morning, the latest time I could leave, to make the bus on time even though I lived a ten-minute drive away from school which didn't start until 7:30 am. Unfortunately, it wasn't all that different here either.
I took about thirty minutes for me to get my morning routine out the way, and another twenty to figure what I'm gonna wear. It's still summertime, but this place doesn't seem like a hotspot for dresses because it rains so much and when it's not raining its damp. I've never really liked wearing shorts. If it's a no to dresses then a skirt is out of the question, unless I put thick stockings on, so maybe I can wear a dress.
In the end I decided to play it safe and threw one a pair of jean blue skinny jeans and and white short-sleeved fitted T-shirt that stopped just above the waistline showing the tiniest bit of skin. I pick up a olive bomber jacket lined with orange on the inside (you know the one) and for the pièce de résistance: timbs, the classic tan and black ones (you know the ones). My bright, deep brown eyes scanned my ensemble in my full body mirror, turning to check my ass out. Literally, thank you Mami for these curves you've bestowed upon me. My eyes fell on my hair, which was just barely considered curly, I'd say more on the wavy side. My pops may have been bald but turns out I got my thick locks of silky brown hair from him, as well as my slightly garker than tan skin from him as well (gracias papi). My hair fell past my shoulders, but just barely made it past my shoulder blades; I constantly cut and grew my hair, enjoying the different looks I got from it. For now, i'm letting it grow out.
"But I can put it in a bun! Yes I can put it in a bun!- I got my edges back! aaaye!" I need to get off social media, the shit I regurgitate at times is wild.
But I did put it in a bun and I most definitely laid down my edges. It's something you grow up doing in New York, can't let them baby hairs do what they want, gel them babies down, put the rest of your hair back, throw on some gold hoops, a chain, some gloss (mine has my name on it in between two roses) and keep it moving. I held onto the gloss though, I'll put it on after I eat.
Speaking of, I pulled out my phone and choked as I saw the time. I spent an hour getting ready?!
"ANITA YOU BETTER NOT MISS THAT BUS!"
I shoved whatever looked suitable for school into my bag, pens, pencils, a calculator, one notebook (cause fuck no, thank you very much), my gloss, my phone, and my headphones. I stood up while my mind raced a mile a minute, inquisitive brown eyes maniacally scanning the room for any stragglers. It's the type of panic that isn't really necessary and only makes things worse but is so sudden and strong that it clouds your mind. My mind was a feeding frenzy, until they landed on a solid stone ring resting on the top of my dresser. A single ray of light reflected subtly off the ring's edges while simultaneously illuminating the large peridot gem embedded in the center. The light revealed old Latin inscriptions lining the ring's outer band, almost tantalizingly. Within an instant the ring was on my finger and I could feel myself "click". The world seemed to quiet down and my thoughts were pacified. It's almost like i felt complete- almost.
I found myself downstairs and almost out the door when my mom called me to her attention.
"You missed the fucking bus and your food is- the fuck is you wearing?" Moms, they never know how to treat a lady.
"Clothes, im sorry 'bout the bus, I'll make sure to make it tomorrow, but I think I'm gonna walk this one today"
"Anita, no, we don't know this area that well"
"Ma, the area doesn't know us that well, I can protect myself, I've been practicing my magic and even coach said I'm the best boxer since pa!" My mom flinched at the mention of my dad and I froze before, admittedly, lamely trying to backtrack my words. She silenced me with a raise of her hand and a worn out smile she used to hide her emotions.
"You're right, the town doesn't have any consistent records and the people are normal, just be safe and be smart with your magic. You still have a lot to learn, Anita" I nodded firmly, knowing better than to joke around with such a sensitive topic.
"I'll be fine ma, it's just high school" I called my brother to me and he was already in his school uniform of navy blue and khaki. His melanin rich arms wrapped around my waist and he stepped on his toes to kiss my cheek.
"Bye Ani, I'll see you later"
"See you later bebe, te quiero"
"Te quiero también" I pressed a kiss to my mom's cheek, she cringed hating when we touch her face, but smiled and told me she loved me before I left the house.
It took five minutes to make it out the path we turned into the yesterday and I found myself facing the same wide row we drove down. Now, the way teleportation works is that I have to know where I'm going, the problem is I don't know where the fucking school is. It's not enough to simply get coordinates or know the address, I have to be familiar with where I'm trying to get. So, for now, I'm stuck. Or at least, that's what I believed. After just a couple of minutes hopeful wandering, an older looking orange truck blew past me. I ignored it, like most would, until it screeched to a halt just a couple of feet in front of me. A sense of dread began to pool into my stomach, in that same moment the ring on my finger began to buzz threateningly. The ring was connected to me and my emotions, what i felt it transmitted.
Ma said that this town didn't have any history of kidnapping or murder or rape and I know I can take down whoever is operating the vehicle with a bit of magic. However, I'm still a girl from New York on the cusps of adulthood who's seen, heard, and experienced shit. So when a sketchy ass truck decides to stop, in the middle of no where, clearly in response to seeing me alone- i get defensive.
As if sensing my discomfort, the driver stuck a hand out their window and a head full of long straight brown hair peeked out to greet me with a bashful grimace on a pale faced teen. My stomach drops regardless, but i released a breath of relief- I was so prepared to fight that I hadn't even noticed I was holding it. Realizing she was the only one in the vehicle, I began to lightly jog up to the truck and meet her at the driver's side.
"I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you it's just, um, are you going to Forks High?"
"You're fine, it's just- give a girl a warning" I settled with laughing off my nerves. Her grimace deepened when she realized how nervous i had been. "yeah, I'm heading there now, I just moved here yesterday, and I have to ask- am I going the right way?" The girl laughed, seemingly to calm her own nerves as tucked a strand of pretty brown hair behind her ear.
"Y-Yeah yeah, totally, I was just g-going to ask if you needed a um, a ride?" Her voice pitched as she asked this, I could see her cheeks tinting a dusty rose color while she tried to maintain eye contact. "My name is Bella, by the way, Bella Swan, my dad's the chief of police here and I just didn't feel right about leaving you to walk the rest of the way, especially since it might rain and it's not a short walk" she rambled slightly, her eyes shifting across y face looking for an indication of how i might respond, it was oddly comforting seeing her so uncomfortable. It made me feel safe to know she was just as bashful about offering a stranger a ride as it was being offered a ride by a stranger.
"Anita Rodriguez, my mom just started her job as a social worker for the hospital here, and um, I would love to catch a ride with you- I'm so lost it's a miracle i made it this far." Bella blinked at me her eyes widened by only a fraction before she nodded her head with the sign of relaxed smile forming of her face.
"Cool, um today's my first day too, but I've been here for a week already and I used to come here a lot when I was a kid, I'm a junior"
I pouted as I hopped onto the passenger's seat sliding the seat belt across my form. "Aw, I'm a senior! I hope we get some classes together, Bella, you seem like cool people" Bella laughed as we drove off, she seemed more at ease with me and agreed with my statement. My ring felt like it was purring in delight, I was happy to have met a chill person.
By the time we rolled up to the school Bella and I were in tears, crying at stories she shared with me about her times in Arizona and Forks while I shared with her embarrassing background info about my life in NY. We also found out that though we had almost completely different tastes in a lot of things, we still were able to make common ground. However, our boisterous energy died down once we pulled into a parking spot and noticed all the eyes on us. We were receiving way more attention than what was necessary, the once manic campus had quieted down to a ambiance of whispers and stares.
I scoffed unapologetically while my eyes scanned the campus.
"That's dumb cute that they're trying to hide it"
"Totally, it's like they've never seen people before"
I smirked at the brunette's words as we exited her truck, we were immediately greeted by a group of kids whose car was adjacent to hers.
"Nice ride"
It came from a dark-skinned black jock, who wore a corny varsity jacket and fumbled with a football in his hands, his friends laughed at his words and I glared at him.
"My guy are you serious right now?" he jumped at my tone, or maybe it was the glare. His face flushed as he straightened up.
"Look, I didn't mean it like that"
"It's fine, thanks, let's just go, Anita, we only have ten minutes left." Bella shyly ducked her head and I sighed, I could tell she wasn't comfortable, and I didn't want to make it worse. She was nice enough to offer me a ride, it'd be rude to stress her out.
"Do you know where to get our schedules from, I was so serious when I told you I have no idea where I'm at" my attempt to serve a distraction had worked and Bella put her energy into answering my question instead of worrying about the dozens of eyes that continued to follow us as we walked.
We managed to locate the guidance office in less than a minute and were greeted t the door, our schedules waiting for us along with encouraging words from the consoler at the front desk. I grabbed a map on our way out and instead of asking for directions, Bella and I decided to try and figure it out ourselves. I had managed to get her to ignore the eyes of our peers, but the victory was short lived after some random dude appeared between us and threw his arms around our shoulders.
"You're Isabella Swan and Anita Rodriguez, the new girls!"
He was a tall Asian kid with black scene bangs and light skin. I shrugged his arm of my shoulder wordlessly and he dropped his other from Bella's shoulder with an apologetic smile. One that basically he didn't know what he did wrong, but sorry.
"Sorry, I'm Eric! The eyes and ears of the place. Anything you need? Tour guide? Lunch date? A shoulder to cry on?"
The cringe is real with this one, I grimaced as "Isabella" tried to play it cool and act interested in what this kid had to say, but I had to remain silent. I'm not someone that often holds my tongue, but if you don't have nothing nice to say (you know the rest). The awkward breathless laugh that she released almost made me snort but I held back and settled for trying to remember the path we were taking to head to our classes.
"I'm more of the suffer in silence type" she responded trying to give him a hint, but this guy was persistent, I'll give him that. He didn't seem to mind that she was struggling to give a politely respond to his intrusive behavior, while I was flat out ignoring him.
"Good headline for your feature, I'm on the paper and you're front page baby, Anita got anything you want me to put in?"
"You deadass right now? I don't even wanna introduce myself in the front of class, let alone the whole school- count me out"
"Seriously, please don't"
"Woah, relax! No feature, cool?" I nodded dismissively while Bella physically pushed her anxiety away, her body falling into a more comfortable position.
No matter how hard I tried, unfortunately I couldn't get with this guy's vibe; even after I told myself I was sort of acting like a bitch. Which doesn't really bother me but still, I don't want to step on any toes so soon. Another disappointment ended up being the fact that Bella and barely had any classes together, save for lunch and fucking literature, which is just an extra class for me.
After we split to apart, I ended up having Eric show me to my class. I attempted to be friendly with him since he was nice enough to help me out, but I wasn't able to come up with more than short answers and curt replies to his intrusive questions. He dropped me off with an awkward goodbye, not that I blame him, and rushed out of the senior classroom. I was quick to push past the classroom door, praying that he didn't give me the wrong directions for being such a bitch.
"Miss Rodriguez, I presume?" To my curt nod, the teacher gave me a warning in the form of a greeting. "good to see you arrive- late, i understand you're new, just don't make this a habit"
I blanched at the teacher, a dad body white man with very little hair on the top of his head but complimenting blue eyes. I didn't bother apologizing or explaining myself, I've never been one to allow disrespect from anyone, adults or teens alike.
My teacher muttered something under his breath as I passed by, I took note that he looked to be taking a seat and in the same moment his ass was about to curse the seat, i flicked my wrist at my side. The chair moved no more than an inch, but it was enough for him to slip, he didn't fall- but he did elicit laughter from the class for his hellish squeal. Aside from that incident, I was bored out of my mind. This AP Stats class wasn't easy for me but it sure as hell didn't captivate my attention enough for me to try for anything higher than a C.
Up until lunch, my day consisted of people attempting to talk to me, very few actually wanting to talk to me, boys trying cheesy one liners to grab my attention, someone referring to me as "Chiquita", me embarrassing him in front of the class, and a nice period where I sat next to this beautiful blonde chick with these pretty brown eyes, almost golden. We barely spoke but I enjoyed the silence and when we were partnered together, she actually held her weight in the work. It ended with her giving me some good car recommendations since I told her about this morning and she even told me some tricks to use at the dealerships to get a good car for cheap. I think her name was Rosalie Hail. Hale?
When lunch finally came around, I was lucky enough to find Bella trying to inconspicuously make her way into the cafeteria. I was quick to call after her and was surprised by my own excitement to see the brunette. Bella must have felt the same because she let out a laugh that expressed her relief and quickly met me halfway. We got our food together and I couldn't help but confide in her how weird our peers seemed, something she agreed with wholeheartedly. I let out an ugly cackle when she told me about her inability to properly pass a volleyball that resulted in sending it sailing straight to the back of someone's head. Unsurprisingly, when the dude realized that it was the Bella Swan who had bestowed a spike to the back of his head, he was quick to greet her and introduce himself as Mike Newton; following the introduction was a girl named Jessica Something. I smirked seeing the subtle dislike across Bella's face as she brought up Jessica's ambitiously cheerful attitude and Mike's discomfortingly flirty disposition.
"At least you're making a good impression, on God, everyone thinks I'm a bitch"
"What? That's so not true!"
"Honestly, I sort of like it, people aren't as inclined to approach me now, bless up"
Bella snorted at the wink I sent her before Eric appeared out of fucking nowhere and was quick to usher us over to a table occupied by two brunettes, a blonde chick, and some dirty-blond haired dude. I immediately recognized him as Mike Something from the way he eyed Bella as we were ushered toward the table. My focus on him was interrupted when i noticed one the of the brunette's looked to be of Hispanic descent. It's crazy when you see someone that looks like they can relate culturally to you at a table full of people who don't. I wanted to ask her, but didn't want to assume, so I settled for a name exchange as I sat beside Bella, forcing Eric to sit on my left side instead of weaseling his way between us like earlier. So far i got the names Angela Weber, Jessica Stanley, i didn't bother getting the blonde girl's name because i could hear the attitude in her nasally voice, Mike Newton, and Eric- oh shit i forgot Eric's last name again.
"Hey, Mike! You met my homegirls, Bella and Anita, right?"
I cringed hard, the tuck your head in your neck cringe. "Homegirl"? Son doesn't even know us and suddenly we're his "homegirls"? I smell cap. Not to mention, I could practically feel the testosterone emitting off these two as Mike baited Eric on and Eric took his challenge at face value. But of course, anytime i found something mildly amusing here, someone has to fuck it up- I heard it before I felt it, the squeak of sneakers and rowdy laughter and then: the fucking anger.
My guy had the audacity, the fucking balls, to run up on me and press his chapped lips to the side of my face! Then he did the same shit to Bella, before swiping a chair from under Newton and running off like a fucking clown. I seethed as I realized it was the same dude from the parking lot who commented on Bella's truck.
"Hey, Nita, are you okay?"
"On Jesus, I'ma have to talk to that kid and let him know what's good" Bella blinked at me before asking a question that's extinguished my anger and replaced it with disbelief.
"What's good?"
"What?"
"You said you have to let him know what's good- why?"
"Bella, no, I-"
The words died in my mouth and I ended up letting out an incredulous laugh. I had no idea how I wanted to respond, it reminded me that I'm not in New York anymore and that even though I could see myself getting along with Bella, I didn't really know her.
"I meant that I'll have to tell him how I felt about that"
"Oh, Tyler? He's harmless, honestly, besides every boy at school is just dying to get to know you two, you're the shiny new toys"
Jessica's words were followed by the blonde-haired girl, Lauren I think it was, mumbling something under her breath as she stabs her fork into her salad bowl. I opened my mouth to tell her to talk her shit- but Angela interrupted by giving us the quickest of heads ups before snapping a photo of Bella and me. I immediately leaned away from the table, brows furrowing as I grabbed the straps of my bag ready to walk away before she explained herself.
"Sorry, I needed a candid for the feature-" She was immediately interrupt by Eric. I could see the genuine apology in her eyes and let my bag fall to the ground.
"Feature's dead Angela! Don't bring it up again!"
"My guy, chill the fuck out, she didn't know" I intervened after noticing Angela's discomfort at being yelled at out of literal nowhere. Eric offered a half assed apology, but I ended up rolling my eyes and forcing myself to bite down on an apple to keep myself from slipping up again. Lord knows the shit I want to say to this kid at times.
Angela was quick to dismiss his attitude although she gave me an appreciative smile. "I guess we'll just turn another editorial on teen drinking"
Bella was eager to lift the girl's spirits up and offered her several other topics that were fairly decent while Jessica was quick to agree with anything that came out her mouth.
Angela and Jessica were quick to pick up where Bella had left off, something about Speedo padding's and a swim team. I laughed at the thought but didn't comment as I began to question Bella on her classes, she was into the conversation until her eyes wandered to the big windows of the cafeteria, my words died down as I followed her line of sight. Baby let me say, I'm usually a melanin enthusiast with my darker than others skin tone and brown eyes, I am a firm advocate for my brown skin girls and people of color. Especially after constantly being told how much a lighter complexion and lighter eyes would complement my features. From an objective standpoint, I'm hot as fuck the way I am; subjectively, my tan skin makes me even hotter. Now, bear that in mind as I melt over these pale toned porcelain Greek mythological deities that entered the cafeteria, fuck even I was enamored by their beauty. But then my ring buzzed, and not in a good way: it felt like a warning, but I couldn't find what it was warning me about. Instead I turned my attention onto the five figures who were just beginning to enter the cafeteria- until I realized I was somewhat familiar with one of them.
"Oh, it's Rosalie, that must be her boyfriend she told me about" had i noticed how enamored everyone else at the table seemed to be as well, i wouldn't have said anything. I knew i had started some shit when Jessica Stanley dramatically twisted her head in my direction.
"No way, you actually spoke to her?"
The twinge of disbelief left me feeling affronted as I regarded Jessica with caution.
"Barely, we have a class together, we got partnered, we spoke a few words" I didn't bother asking about her interest in the encounter, it was clearly a superficial one.
Lauren scoffed after I spoke.
"Makes sense, Rosalie is known for being a bit of a bitch"
"The fuck is that supposed to mean?"
Lauren look up at me and glared, but before she could open her mouth Jessica had took what I said and ran with it. It seemed just passing words with Rosalie was enough to speculate something in Jessica's mind. It only got worse when Bella asked a question that filled me to the brim with mortification. I hate gossip, on God, when it's about a celebrity I'll never meet then sure- but local gossip, about people I'll most likely see every day annoys the fuck out of me.
"Who are they?"