Chapter 11: Inexplicable

Reina exhaled in great exasperation as she stared at her walk-in wardrobe. This was a major catastrophe – despite the impressive expanse of the wardrobe, she had no idea what to wear.

Saturday had come around quicker than Reina had anticipated. She was the slightest bit nervous, if she were to be honest with herself.

Because of Matteo, of course.

Even though it was pretty much a sure-fire win for him later today, it was still undeniably a dangerous challenge for anyone.

And it had been raining the night before, so the trail would have some very slippery parts. She hoped Matteo remembered; he'd been on that trail several times before with her.

"Come on, Reina. Just pick an outfit and get going," she muttered to herself as she checked the time on her phone. Noel was driving and giving her and Matteo a lift. He should be arriving in less than ten minutes.

Reina's hands deftly went through her wardrobe collection, pushing one clothes hanger down the rail after another. At last, she settled on her favorite dark blue denim jacket, a moss green flannel shirt and black jeans.

And for the final touch, Reina reached for the jewelry box containing her rings. Lately she had been obsessed with her black vintage Alhambra ring from Van Cleef & Arpels.

A frown formed on her eyebrows as she continued to rummage around the jewelry box, unable to find the clover-leafed ring.

When was the last time she'd worn the ring? Could it be...

"Oh no," Reina whispered her thoughts out loud. "Shit, no."

She recalled now. She'd been wearing the ring last Sunday, when she met up with Omar for her weed supply. And then bumped into Ander. And then dropped by his house.

As if on cue, a previously buried memory surfaced from the depths of her mind – the memory of removing her ring and placing it on Ander's study table, before she tucked into her pizza. Did she put the ring back on before she left? It didn't seem so.

Good job, Reina. Now you have to contact Ander if you want your ring back.

It wasn't that Reina disliked interacting with Ander, no. In fact, his messages would even make her smile sometimes. For some weird, inexplicable reason.

But now that the rivalry between San Patricio and Las Encinas was heating up and the dare game had gone into full swing, it would be foolish for Reina to have any affiliation with Las Encinas students.

If Matteo or any of her friends ever found out, what would it to her reputation? She would lose reign of her school. And that was unthinkable.

But on the other hand, this particular ring wasn't exactly replaceable. It had been a sixteenth birthday gift from her mother, who had inherited the ring from her grandmother.

She needed the ring back.

Reina's eyes turned upward to her ceiling for a second, as if hoping for a miraculous solution to magically fall into her hands.

Of course, nothing of that sort happened.

With a sigh, Reina grabbed her phone laying on the vanity dresser. She'd just make this quick and painless.

Reina: Hi Ander. I believe my ring was accidentally left on your study table. Could you check? It's a clover leaf design, black onyx with a diamond in the middle

Ander: Hi Reina. Okay let me go take a look

Ander: I found it

Reina: Great!

Ander: I can pass the ring to you later today at Vicalvaro Lake

Reina: That may not be the best time...

Ander: Why? Ashamed to talk to me when your boyfriend and friends are around?

Reina: Yes

Ander: I can always count on you being brutally honest

Reina: You're welcome

Ander: So when should we do it then?

Reina: Do "it"? Do you want to be more specific, Ander? ;)

Ander: Reina...

Reina: Yes, Ander?

Ander: Is everything always a game to you?

Reina: Of course not... Mostly, yes. But I wouldn't say 100% everything is :P

Ander: Hmm

Reina; Okay back to the topic. I'll get the ring back from you another day. I'll text you again to arrange the time and place, okay?

Ander: Okay

Reina: Okay

Reina: Good luck out there today

Ander: Thanks. If I don't make it out alive, you can ask my mom for your ring back

Reina: Haha Ander Muñoz, you're as dramatic as always!

Ander: I hope I'm only exaggerating

Reina: Lol bye Ander

Ander: Bye Reina

As Reina clicked the side button to switch off her phone screen, she caught her reflection in the vanity dresser's mirror.

Yup, there was that inexplicable smile on her face again.

"My beer is getting warm," Kate whined after taking a sip from the can she held with her slender fingers.

"Do you want me to get a fresh new cold can from the car for you?" Noel offered.

"I think I'm getting some bug bites on my legs," Emilia chimed in with her own complaint.

Reina moved several steps away from her friends, not bothering to hide her irritation. They were being too noisy and distracting her from focusing on the challenge, which had begun a little over five minutes ago.

Their group stood on one side of the clifftop path, in a strategic spot that was shaded from direct sunlight and provided a great view – they would be able to see Matteo and Ander when they emerged from the trail and make the cliff jump, which could be anytime now.

Meanwhile, Eric and Christian were stationed at the bottom where the lake was. They were responsible for determining the first person to get to shore after plunging into the waters.

Reina threw a glance at the opposite side of the path, where the Las Encinas group had huddled. The petite blond girl. The haughty-looking brunette girl. The tall blond boy. His dark-haired sidekick with the intense blue eyes.

These Las Encinas people weren't talking much to one another. Most of them wore anxious expressions on their faces, looking out for signs of Ander appearing.

Good, they should be worried.

Matteo was going to win, and then Ander would have to go through the very public, utterly humiliating cheerleading punishment.

That would teach these Las Encinas losers a lesson. They would think twice about cheating in football games – or anything else.

"School rivalry is stupid to me."

Shit. Why did Ander's words float into her mind all of a sudden?

Reina could feel a scowl forming on her face.

Damn that Ander Muñoz, thinking he was so mature and above it all. And right when she was in the middle of defending her stance in this whole school rivalry thing, he had the audacity to cut her off. With a kiss!

Who did such things?! Never mind that it wasn't too long ago when Reina herself had used kissing as a way to steal that last piece of ice cube from Ander at Club54...

"Nooo, Ander is leading!" Emilia's shrill voice immediately pulled Reina out of her thoughts.

Reina saw the running figure in sweat-drenched curls and sucked in her breath. It was true. Ander was in the lead.

Matteo was right behind him, but it looked like Ander wasn't breaking stride at all.

Reina had honestly never considered the possibility of Ander winning the challenge. Matteo was a star athlete and fit as anything. Plus, he knew the trail fairly well. How could this be happening?

Ander was fast approaching the two groups. As he was about to run past them, his gaze locked with Reina's for a second.

Reina wasn't sure what happened – but in the next moment, Ander lost his balance slightly and stumbled. He managed to recover from it quickly, but the momentum was gone.

Matteo took advantage of Ander's split-second falter, caught up and then sprinted past Ander.

"OHHH!" Both the San Patricio and Las Encinas groups let out yelps of surprise.

Reina clapped a hand over her mouth as she watched Matteo confidently take the leap from the edge of the cliff. Ander followed immediately after Matteo.

And with that, both boys vanished from Reina's sight.