Second chapter. Sorry it has been a while. But I had to move to another house and had to wait a while to receive internet. Please bare with me; I can't spur new chapters on a whim; this one is a toughy to keep chugging along. I'm talking to you remilee12. I appreciate that you like this story, but please understand I had a lot of stuff occur between then and now.
Anita, Marco, and Tito belong to me. Everyone else belongs to Jorge R. Guiterez, Sandra Equihua and /or Guillermo del Toro.
/
"…And he had my Grandpapi's wallet!" Manny explained as he and Frida had lunch, "I think Tito knows what my family really does!"
"You're just being paranoid!" Frida insisted, "I mean, a kid we just met just happens to have your grandpa's wallet and found out where you live. But it doesn't mean that he knows you're a super…something. But anyway, aren't you excited? We're gonna watch a bull fight!"
"Why is there still bull fighting?" Manny asked, "Ain't that a little…ancient?"
"Dunno," She said, "But I guess it's either that or piano practice."
"Or maybe it's that family tradition for Anita's family," He suggested, "Marco did say his family used to be bullfighters."
"But didn't one ancestor guy quit?" Frida brought up.
"Ah…I don't know anymore," Manny said as he leaned back, "We'll just have to wait for the match. I hope she's not mad at us."
"Eh…she's not that bad once you get on her good side." Tito answered, making the two kids freak out.
"Tito!" Frida shouted, "What heck are you doing here?!"
"What, can't I visit new amigos?" The older boy asked as he drew his arms around their shoulders.
"Wait, do you go to this school?" Manny asked.
"No," Tito answered, "It's probably a few blocks from here."
"So you ditched school, to come to another school?" Frida asked.
"Ditching my school was part of my plan," The older boy admitted, "But as to coming to your school was a bit of improv."
"Improv?" Both kids asked.
"Yeah," He said, "Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't."
"Wait, why are you skipping school?" Manny asked, "And while we're at it, why did you have my grandpapi's wallet last night?"
"Okay, you caught me," Tito said as he held his hands up, "I'm kinda bad."
"We kinda figured that out." Frida said.
"Why did you steal from my grandpapi?" Manny asked.
"Well," the older boy said, "I wanted to see how well I got with my pick-pocketing skills. And your grandpapi was the only target I could see at that moment. But I would out that he didn't have any cash in it."
"He usually keeps his cash in his sombrero." Frida said.
"Frida!" Manny scolded.
"What?" She asked.
"Nah, it's cool." Tito said, "I just wanted to see if I could do it. Cash is just bonus points to me."
"So you want to be a villain or something?" Manny asked.
"To be honest," The older boy uttered, "I wanna be this town's first anti-hero."
"Anti-hero?" Manny repeated.
"So, you want to be a villain?" Frida reasoned.
"No, no," The older boy denied, "An anti-hero is a literary character that is considered a hero, but has traits that say otherwise. Kinda like those comic book heroes who say they're heroes but do things like gamble, smoke, and the like."
"So, you wanna save Miracle city while taking people's money." Manny said.
"Pretty much," Tito said, "Hero work doesn't really pay all that much. But I don't wanna be that one jerk that blows up the city because he's a jerk."
"I can see that." Frida said.
"THERE HE IS!" A voice shouted, causing the three to look up to see a few security guards running towards them.
"Whoops, truant officers. See you later!" Tito said as he ran off.
/
Later, the two were standing in front of the Rosa Arena, a banner reading, "CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR GRADUATES!" draped over the entrance. As the two kids walked to the entrance, a large man stood in front of them. "Family and close friends only." He said.
"We were invited to watch." Manny said.
"You ain't getting' in." The man sternly said.
"It's okay," Marco said as he approached them, "They're with me."
"Marco!" Both greeted.
"Glad to see that you made it," Marco said as the man stepped aside, letting the trio to enter, "Anita kinda needs some support."
"What do you mean?" Manny asked.
"Anita's…kinda the underdog in this class." Marco admitted, "Every times she goes into practice, something bad happens."
"Can't happen every time." Frida insisted.
"Me and Tito kept track," The spectacled boy said as he produced a note book, "The average result is the bull falls asleep, the swords break into shards, or a random hole appears and she falls in it. Then there was that one time where Anita somehow rode the bull all the way to the town's outskirts."
"Whoa." Both kids gasped.
"I just hope she's able to graduate from this." Marco said. The trio reached the arena, seeing a few people have taken their seats along the bleachers. "It's just gonna be us today." The spectacled boy said as they took their seats.
"You mean your folks aren't coming?" Manny asked.
"They're busy." Marco stated, "Both work at the bank. Where's Tito?"
"Right here." Tito said as he joined them.
"Tito, why the heck were those officers after you?!" Manny asked.
"And how did you escape?" Frida asked.
"Those officers were security at the school I go to," Tito explained, "And I got away because I'm smarter than they'll ever be."
"You skipped from Reform school again?" Marco asked, "Your folks are gonna be miffed."
"They never liked me." Tito said, "So did I miss anything?"
"Nah," Manny said, "We just got here."
"I was just explaining my sister's bad streak." Marco said.
"Ooh, she's gonna hate you for that." The trouble maker said.
"She hates both of us for keeping a log about it." The spectacled boy pointed out.
"Nah, she still loves us as amigos." Tito said as he reclined.
"So," Manny uttered, "Tito's a delinquent, Anita's unlucky, and…what about you Marco?"
"He's just a nerd," Tito jokingly said as he ruffled Marco's hair, "But he's our nerd. Gets us outta trouble a lot of times, haven't you?"
"More times than I could count on my fingers and toes," Marco answered as he readjusted his glasses, "Like that time you mistook a beehive for a piñata."
"Hey," The delinquent said, "I was a little dazed and confused."
"I somehow started a fire just to calm the bees down…" the spectacled boy sighed, "And at the same time, got a ticket for arson."
"I paid for it!" Tito said.
"The crime's still on my record." Marco uttered.
"Eh, the both of us will make it up to you one day." The delinquent said, "Give it time."
"Yeah, I know." The spectacled boy mumbled.
"So," Frita spoke up, "What do you want to do when you're older?"
"I just want to be a librarian," Marco answered, "A nice, quiet job where I'm surrounded by knowledge."
"You would probably get along with my mom." Manny said.
"That's pretty boring." Tito remarked.
"That's how I roll." Marco uttered. A trumpet sounded, making the four turn their attention to the main arena.
"Welcome to the graduation ceremony of the young bullfighter's club!" A robust man announced, "Today, most, if not all the children in this arena shall demonstrate their skills and prove they're ready for the horrifying and risky world of professional bullfighting! Now without further ado, let's meet our potential graduates!" A line of children suddenly marched out, each dressed in a matador's outfit and holding a red cape.
"There's Anita!" Tito pointed out, "There, in black!" The group looked to see Anita second to last in line, a determined look on her face as she held her cape up to her chest.
"Just like our ancestor." Marco remarked.
"Wish our potential graduates luck!" The man continued, "Student one, prepare to fight!"
/
A little while later, it was Anita's turn to fight the bull. The four cheered loudly as Anita stood alone in the ring. The bull was then released and was charging straight for her. She held her cape to the side and waited. "Here we go…" Marco said as he took the note book out, "Time for tragedy."
"Have a little faith in your sister." Manny said. Anita pulled the cape away as the bull charged past, kicking up dust. Anita coughed as she tried to wave the dust away, unknowing that the bull had recovered and was about to charge again. The bull roared and ran towards her, catching her off guard and throwing her over his back.
"Anita!" Tito screamed as Anita fell to the dirt. The young bullfighter struggled to get up, holding her cape to the side.
"She's gonna be sore tomorrow." Marco remarked as the bull set itself up again. Anita waved the cape as she glared down the animal, trying hard not to show an ounce of pain. The bull charged towards the teenager and she jumped into the air, completely leaping over the animal as it ran by.
"Whoa." The four uttered. As the bull skid to a stop, Anita brandished her sword and charged at the animal, pushing the blade forward. Unfortunately, the blade broke; metal shards scattered to the dirt.
"That's just unbelievable." Manny gasped.
"Told you she has bad luck in the ring." Marco said as he wrote down in the notebook.
"What now!?" Frida asked, "Do they give her another sword or something?"
"No," Marco uttered, "She either flees and don't graduate, or die trying to kill a large mammal with her bare hands." Anita dropped the useless sword as the bull started to charge again, making her jump and land on the bull's back. As she grasped the horns, the bull started to buck. A few members of the audience cheered as Anita held on for dear life.
"At least she'll make it as one of those professional bull riders." Manny remarked as the animal started to charge towards the wall. Anita jumped off before the bull's skull collided with the wall, stunning it and causing it to slouch onto the ground. As the young girl stared at the downed beast, the audience started to cheer.
"So she might have a chance after all." Marco remarked, "She just has to kill it."
"Couldn't they go on without killing the bull?" Frida asked.
"Yeah," Manny added, "She survived getting tossed around by a bull. That should be reason enough to let her graduate!"
"No." Marco stated. Anita went back to gather a few good shards from her broken sword and approached the beast. She then stabbed the beast all over its body, blood staining the dirt as the bull roared in pain. As it started to get up, the young matador hopped onto the bull's back again and raised her arms, a very large piece of metal glinting in the afternoon sun.
The kids looked away as her arms were slammed down, grimacing at the inevitable. The crowd grew silent, gaping at the possible sight. "Is it over?" Frida asked. Manny peeped at the stadium floor, only to have his eyes grow wide. Anita was on top of the bull, but was grabbing her hand as red oozed through her fingers.
The crowd erupted in jeers and boos as the rest of the kids peeped again, seeing Anita run out of the arena as she held her injured hand. "I take it that means she failed, right?" Manny asked.
"Yeah," Marco said, "She failed. Bull's still alive, and her leaving the arena means she forfeits."
"Aw man," Tito said, "I thought she would pass this time."
"She failed more than once?" Frida asked.
"This was her thirteenth attempt." Tito answered.
"And thirteenth failure." Marco added.
/
Later, the four kids waited on the steps of the arena as the crowd dispersed. "Now remember," Marco warned, "Be supportive; she'll be devastated, and is in unadulterated pain. Gotta make the sting a little more tolerable, you know."
"So says the guy that tallies the number of losses that his sister went through." Tito brought up.
"I get bored, you know." The spectacled boy said.
"I know you do." A female voice said, making them turn to see Anita approaching them, dressed in her street clothes and holding her bandaged hand. "Hey." She greeted.
"Hey, sorry you lost for the thirteenth time," Tito said, "But hey, the guy who made the lightbulb didn't get it right in one try."
"We thought you were cool." Manny said.
"Yeah, the way you flipped onto that bull's back," Frida continued, "And the way you rode that bull! That was awesome!"
"Thank you for the kind words," Anita said, "It's all I got for the while; I'm not allowed to come to the arena as a matador student for a whole year."
"That bites." Marco said.
"So, what are you going to do?" Tito asked.
"I don't know." She said as she sat down, "I'm just really tired right now. I just wanna go home and crawl into bed."
"It'll be okay," Manny said, "I mean, there's plenty of stuff to do. Like the arcade, or the ice cream shop, maybe some pizza…"
"It's not that I will go bored," She answered, "It's just the fact that it's my luck that prevents me from ever succeeding. I have all the skills down pat! I worked out for a long time! I've done this twelve times! And yet I just can't do it…my parents are going to kill me when they hear the news."
"Maybe you can hide for a while," Tito suggested, "Run through the streets with me."
"A true person would face what is to befall on them." Anita answered.
"Don't you get tired of that?" Tito asked.
"Hey," Marco said, "Just as she said, her problems are hers alone."
"Do you at least want us to treat you to something?" Manny asked.
"No rewards are to be placed on failures." Anita said as she stood up and walked off.
"Welp, that's my cue." Marco said as he saluted the group, "Hope to see you later." He left with Anita, leaving the three to stare on.
"Why is Marco that harsh?" Frida asked, "He's almost like my sisters!"
"I think he's just mad at her." Tito answered, "You see, Marco's a skinny, nerdy kid, so he gets picked on a lot. And who do you think is Marco's defense in this world?"
"Anita, right?" Manny asked.
"Correct," Tito answered, "And the fact that a boy is being protected by a girl, his own sister I might add, just makes the whole situation a lot worse. So he ends up making her feel bed at every chance he gets, especially when she fails at certain things. But hey, that's my theory"
"That's…just mean." Manny said.
"Yeah…" Frida agreed.
/
To be continued...