Reyna cursed under her breath as she stared at the computer in front of her. All the numbers were jumping around, and she found it hard to focus. Normally, all she had to do was take a deep breath and then a small break. Her dyslexia wouldn't normally act so bad. Today was the exception.
There were a lot of things slowly pushing Reyna closer and closer to her breaking point. The first and foremost was her girlfriend. Thalia wasn't answering her calls as much, and they hadn't gone out on a date for a whole week despite Reyna offering. She wasn't a big fan of dates, but if she was offering, why wasn't Thalia taking her up on it?
Thalia just seemed distant, and Reyna felt like it had something to do with her. She must have screwed something up, but considering Thalia wouldn't talk to her, she didn't know what the hell it was. All she could do was spend half the night wondering, and trying to call Thalia ended with a voicemail.
The door opened, and Reyna's second problem walked into the office. Her gaze moved to study Romy. He focused his gaze on Lupa's desk, and since there was no one in the chair, he looked around the room. His sight landed on Reyna.
"Hello," Romy greeted awkwardly. Reyna managed to give him a nod. When he didn't turn and walk out, she pulled the earbuds out of her ears. "I was wondering where Lupa was."
"She stepped away to help one of the fighters," Reyna answered. She lowered her eyes to stare at the laptop.
"Is it cool if I wait here?" Romy questioned.
"It's cool," Reyna muttered. She stared at the numbers and tried to bite back a sigh. Lupa wanted her to learn how to make a budget, and all it was doing was irritating her. She didn't go to college. Hell, she barely passed high school. All of this felt like it was going right over her head.
"You're Reyna, right? Lupa talks about you all the time," Romy began. Reyna looked at him and sighed as she realized he wasn't getting the hint. She closed her laptop.
"Yeah. I am," Reyna confirmed. Romy held his hand out to her. After a moment, Reyna shook it.
"It's nice to meet you," Romy said. He turned his head and smiled. "Lupa."
"Romy," Lupa greeted as she pulled Romy into a hug. Reyna averted her gaze and opened her laptop back up. She stared at the screen and tapped on one of the buttons to make it look like she was doing something. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched the two.
"I didn't mean to just walk into your office," Romy began. He dug his hands into his jacket pocket and smiled slightly.
"It's fine," Lupa promised. "I needed to talk to you, actually. About getting a job."
Reyna's head almost shot up, but she kept her gaze on the laptop. Romy cleared his throat awkwardly and spoke, "I've tried. No one will take the chance on me."
"I will," Lupa stated. Reyna stiffened and turned her head to the side. Lupa was looking at Romy and didn't seem to notice her staring. There was a look of shock on Romy's face.
"Lupa, I can't. It wouldn't be right," Romy began. Reyna forced herself to look back at her laptop. Those words were the smartest thing that Romy had said since he got there.
"Romy, I would love to have you work here," Lupa said softly. She grabbed his hands. "I know that it's hard for you to get a job, almost impossible. I always have room at my gym."
"I couldn't be a fighter," Romy whispered. He looked away.
"No. No. I would never ask you to do that," Lupa promised. She moved Romy to her desk and made him sit in the chair. She sat across from him. Reyna sunk further into the chair that she was sitting in. This entire thing was awkward, and it only made her mad. Why was Romy being offered a job? She also didn't think Lupa knew she was in the room.
"You don't have to be a fighter. You don't even have to help anyone spar. If there is anything that ever makes you uncomfortable, you do not have to do it. I promise," Lupa whispered. Her voice was gentle and caring. Reyna carefully slid her earbuds back in, careful to not make too much noise.
"What would you want me to do then?" Romy questioned. He cleared his throat and picked at his sleeves.
"The gym can always use cleaning," Lupa began. "At the moment, Nico and Mellie split duties of doing supply runs and organizing the gym, among other things. You can help them with that. It doesn't have to be a full-time job. I just want to help you get back on your feet."
"I can't," Romy began. He shook his head, and there seemed to be tears forming in his eyes.
"You can, Romy," Lupa promised.
"Are you sure?" Romy slowly asked. He averted his gaze and focused on his feet. His arms crossed, and he leaned forward like he was reacting to a body blow.
"If I wasn't sure, I would not have brought this up," Lupa said. "This will be a trial run for both of us. I know you can do it, but I want you to believe in yourself. Your past is the past, and I will not allow it to rule your future. You shouldn't either."
"I... okay. Thank you," Romy whispered. He wiped his reddening eyes and sniffled. "Thank you so much."
"You're welcome," Lupa said with a smile on her face. "I will have to keep a close eye on you, Romy. It's not because I think you will do something wrong. It is just a precaution. I did it when the others joined the gym as well."
"I will not let you down," Romy promised. He lunged forward and wrapped Lupa into a bear hug. Lupa hugged him back.
"I need to talk to Octavian about it and get an application. You'll fill it out, just for the sake of records. Octavian will help set you up, and we'll have you start next week," Lupa said. "We will work out the rest of the details later."
"Thank you," Romy said again. He pulled away and slowly sat down. There was a look of shock on his face, along with a huge smile.
"I'm just glad that I could help you," Lupa said. She grabbed Romy's arm and gently squeezed it. "Let me get the paperwork."
Lupa walked out of the office. The smile on her face looked permanent. A content grin settled on Romy's face, and he relaxed back in the chair. Reyna looked away from the scene and tried to process what she had witnessed. A scowl morphed her features.
How stupid could Lupa be? Why would she just give Romy a job like that? Especially after how he had hurt her so long ago. This had to be some kind of joke. Giving a job to Romy was different than giving a job to anyone else.
With Reyna or Nico, they had been kids on the streets. Lupa took a chance on them, but they had nothing in their history that would be a red flag. Romy's entire damn slate was red. What the hell had gotten into Lupa? Was she blind?
Reyna closed the laptop again. She placed it to the side and slowly stood. Her gaze focused on her arm before moving to Romy. He still looked shocked by what he had been offered. Reyna turned to leave the office. Then, she looked back at Romy.
"I'm watching you," Reyna stated. Romy looked at her, and a frown broke his happy streak. Reyna kept his gaze and didn't back down. "I'm not fooled by your game."
"I don't have a game," Romy said softly.
"Really? Then, why did you come back all of a sudden?" Reyna demanded. "Did you wake up one day and decide that you could just go back to how it was before? That Lupa would just forgive you for what you did?"
"I just wanted her to understand how sorry I was," Romy began. He scratched at his sleeves and at his wrists. "All I wanted was her forgiveness. Nothing else."
"Yet, you wormed your way into her house and a job," Reyna spat. She took a step towards him and shook her head. "You can say whatever you want, but I know the truth. You heard that her mother died, and you showed up with a sob story to wrap Lupa around your finger."
"I'm not," Romy insisted.
"Bullshit!" Reyna snapped. "You knew her mother died and decided to weasel your way back into her life. You used her grief against her. I'm not just going to stand here and let you take advantage of her. I swear to God if you hurt her again, I will-"
"Reyna."
The single word caused Reyna to freeze. The tone was one of the harshest that she had ever heard. It had been used on her once or twice before when she was in serious trouble. That was about five years ago. Reyna slowly turned and looked at Lupa. The look of utter fury on the woman's face was enough to cause Reyna to shrink back like she was taking a body blow.
"What right do you have?" Lupa demanded in a quiet voice. She looked at Romy and spoke in a louder tone. "Please leave us alone."
"Lupa, it's not a big deal," Romy began. He scratched at his wrists again and shifted in his seat.
"Romy. Now," Lupa practically growled. Romy quickly stood and nodded. He walked out of the office and closed the door behind him. Reyna slowly looked at Lupa and tried to speak. A glare cut her off.
"You have no clue what Romy is going through," Lupa hissed in a low voice. Reyna looked away and shook her head.
"I know what it's like to be homeless, Lupa," Reyna began.
"Because you walked out on a sister who loved you because you were an immature child. You still are," Lupa accused. Her tone wasn't loud, but it felt like Reyna was being slapped. She looked at Lupa and swallowed painfully. Her eyes started to sting, and she blinked rapidly.
"You do not understand what Romy is going through, and don't you dare say you do. You have no right to judge him," Lupa continued. Her voice was cold and icy. Reyna remained silent and moved her gaze to the ground. She heard Lupa speak again, but the words didn't register in her head.
All she wanted to do was protect Lupa from someone who would take advantage of her. Why was she one getting yelled at? Romy had murdered his brother. Who knew what else he could do? Lupa was too damn blind to see that.
Lupa wanted to let Romy back into her life so much that she was willing to look past what he had done. He was just going to take advantage of her again or even hurt her. And, Lupa was just going to let it happen.
"Reyna."
Hearing her name caused Reyna to snap back to focus. She looked at Lupa.
"Are you listening to me?" Lupa demanded. Reyna remained silent. "Reyna!"
"I get it!" Reyna hissed. She shook her head. "I don't understand why you care about Romy more than us."
"I do care about you," Lupa began.
"Which is why you're lecturing me when I'm only trying to help you?" Reyna asked as she raised her voice. "He's nothing more than a-"
"Enough," Lupa interrupted. Her voice cut through the room like a knife, and Reyna flinched. A look of pure anger was on Lupa's face, and it was not an expression she wore often. If Reyna was being honest, it scared her a little. "That is enough."
"You do not have the right," Lupa hissed. "How dare you. Just... leave."
"This is bullshit!" Reyna protested. "He's just trying to manipulate you!"
"Reyna, that is enough!" Lupa yelled. Reyna flinched again and took a step back. Lupa closed the distance and stared into her eyes. "This conversation is done. You are going to leave Romy alone. You will not threaten him again. I am tired of your immaturity, your attitude, and your temper. I have tried so hard to be patient with you, but you won't get out of your own way."
"That is why your relationships will never work out. It is why you will never reach the title that you dream about having. It's time to grow up and stop being a child," Lupa stated. Reyna felt tears well in her eyes again as she heard the words. Lupa averted her gaze and took a deep breath. "Reyna."
"I'll leave him alone," Reyna muttered as she swallowed painfully. Tears obscured her vision, and she pushed past Lupa.
"Reyna," Lupa repeated. She gently grabbed Reyna's arm.
"I heard you, Lupa. I understand," Reyna said as she jerked her arm away. She stormed out of the office and slammed the door shut behind her. Reyna wiped her eyes as she made it towards the breakroom. While all she wanted to do was go out to her car and drive away, she didn't actually drive herself that day.
Reyna pushed open the door of the breakroom and saw it was empty. She really hoped that Nico would be cleaning it. Reyna slowly sat down and swallowed painfully. A tear trickled from her eyes, and she wiped it away.
Reyna grabbed her phone and opened her contacts. She clicked on her girlfriend's name and brought the phone to her ear. The phone rang for a few moments, and Reyna lowered her head. When she got Thalia's voicemail, she hung up. Trying to call her sister ended the same way, and Reyna squeezed her phone tightly.
Her fist slammed into the table. She pocketed her phone and stood. Reyna was just going to head home. It didn't matter if she had to walk there, even if it was freezing cold outside. Reyna just needed to get the hell out of the gym.