Chapter 17: Unfamiliar Territory
"This is unbelievable," Noel exclaimed.
"It definitely sucks," Kate agreed with a scowl.
"How can we lose our school principal and get a replacement, all in one weekend?" Matteo shook his head.
Emilia looked around them as students filed out of San Patricio's indoor basketball court after an emergency assembly session right before lunch.
She told the gang, "I heard Pedro Aldana got sacked – I mean, asked to leave – on Friday night and they flew in the new principal from Barcelona on Sunday."
"Sascha Pastor. That's the name of the new principal, right? I don't like the looks of her," Matteo grumbled.
"And her speech about how she will reshape the school for better discipline and performance? We don't need more discipline." Noel's face grew dark.
By the time the gang had settled into their usual lunch table, the complaints had only intensified.
"Pedro was good. Why would they get rid of a perfectly good principal?" Matteo frowned.
Emilia nodded. "He trusted us and gave us freedom."
"A little too much freedom," Kate pointed out with a smirk. "But who's complaining, right?"
"Not me." Noel grinned. "All those times I was allowed to miss my classes to practice running on the track. That was great."
Kate leaned forward. "Reina?" she called from across the table. "You've been oddly quiet. What's up?"
Reina put down the fork that she was using to stab at her bowl of salad. "I guess I just don't see what the big deal is."
She shrugged her slender shoulders and continued, "We rule this school. And don't forget that our parents pay for everything, including the principal's salary. There's nothing to be worried about."
"I suppose that's true..." Emilia said thoughtfully.
"Of course it is," Reina replied haughtily. "If Sascha Pastor even dares to try to change a single thing at San Patricio... We'll just need to tell our parents and she'll be fired in no time."
"Reina is always our voice of reason," Matteo mused, throwing her an affectionate smile.
"You're welcome." Reina took one more mouthful of her salad before pushing the entire bowl away. "So let's move on to another topic now. Something more exciting, please."
"Umm, this isn't exciting but I'm this close to failing my English literature class." Emilia sighed. "Does anyone want to study together for the test this Friday?"
Normally, Reina would've rolled her eyes, told Emilia that the class was a total breeze, and wondered aloud why anyone could be flunking the subject.
And Reina was about to do so at this very instance... Until she caught Kate's eye. And remembered how she was supposed to try being a decent human being.
Well, here we go.
Taking a deep breath, Reina said, "Emi, why don't we meet at your house after school? We can have a study session then."
Emilia's face lit up. "That sounds great. But I can't do today. I have drama practice. Kate does too. How about tomorrow?"
"That works."
Kate gave Reina a secret smile, then turned to Emilia and said, "Count me in tomorrow. I have an appointment at the hair salon first but I'll pop over right after that."
"You girls have fun," Noel told them with a yawn.
"Would it kill you to actually study properly for a test for once?" Kate teased him.
"Yes," Noel answered without missing a beat.
"I'll be busy tomorrow with football practice," Matteo informed the gang. "For the big game against Academia El Pilar."
"I can't wait," Noel announced with a devilish grin. "The Las Encinas loser cheering for our team – that's going to be priceless."
Matteo laughed. "You said it, my friend."
Reina rolled her eyes. "Just make sure we win, captain. Or else Ander isn't going to be the only embarrassed cheerleader on the pitch that afternoon."
"It's going to be a tough match," Matteo acknowledged. "But we'll be ready. We've been studying El Pilar's last few games and we're trying out this new formation that's going to strike them at their weakest points."
"Good." Reina saw that her phone had notifications and unlocked the screen in one quick swipe. There were new messages from Ander.
"Babe, so I'll see you tonight?" Matteo asked.
Reina looked up at Matteo and nodded quickly. "I'll be there at 8," she confirmed before refocusing on her phone to read Ander's messages.
Ander: Hey are you free this afternoon?
Ander: I'll be at the Retamares Country Club with Guzmán and Polo
Ander: Thought you could play cheerleading coach again
Ander: G and P have graciously agreed to take on the punishment with me at the game next week
Reina thought about it for a second then began to type.
Reina: Such loyal friends
Reina: Okay Ander Muñoz, I'll see you at Retamares
"What's the plan for you two lovebirds tonight?" Kate wanted to know.
"Movie night at my house," Matteo said. "Reina has agreed to watch an action movie with me in peace – for once."
Noel gasped. "Is this the Reina Velásquez that we know and occasionally love? The one who threatened to smash the TV screen when we were having that John Wick movie marathon?"
"Hush. Just finish your burger," Reina instructed Noel, sticking her tongue out.
Who would've thought that trying to be a better person would be this challenging?
"Hey, stranger," Reina called out as she spotted Ander with his friends at the fringe of the tennis courts at the country club.
"You made it," Ander said with a grin. "You've met everyone here?" he asked.
Reina glanced at the group and could only vaguely recognize some of the faces. "I don't mind being reintroduced..."
"Sure. This is Guzmán, Polo, Lu, Carla and Marina. Everyone, say hi to Reina."
"Hi again," Marina greeted warmly.
Reina couldn't help noticing that the rest were less friendly than Marina. The brunette girl in particular – was it Lu? – was eyeing her critically. With a touch of disdain.
But whatever. Reina never let other people's judgment phase her. And as far as she was concerned, she was just here to help Ander out.
"So, are we ready to practice?" she asked.
Ander was about to respond when a sugary-sweet female voice called out from the courts.
"Ander? Can you come over for a minute, please?"
Ander rubbed the back of his neck. "Hold on. I'll be back."
Reina's eyes followed Ander as he walked over to a curvy girl with long light brown hair in an extremely short tennis skirt. She leaned in close to Ander as she spoke. It looked like she was asking him for some advice on her swing.
But still. She doesn't need to stand so close to Ander.
Reina resisted the urge to roll her eyes. It was so obvious what that girl was doing.
"It's so obvious what she's doing," Marina quipped, standing beside Reina.
"Oh." Reina quickly shifted her gaze away from the courts.
Marina laughed, her ginger curls bouncing. "It's okay. We don't really like her either. Her name is Bianca Salvador and she's been trying to get into Ander's pants for months now."
Ha! Looks like I beat her to it. Reina couldn't help feeling a sense of triumph, as childish as it was.
"Of course, Ander is absolutely clueless," Marina continued. "He thinks she's just really bad at tennis and needs his constant coaching."
"Come on. Nobody is that bad at tennis," Reina scoffed as she saw Bianca 'accidentally' dropping her racket. Ander, being the gentleman that he was, bent down to pick it up. As he passed it back to Bianca, her hand lingered on his for way too long.
"You know it and I know it..." Marina grinned.
Reina frowned, wondering if Ander's hot date the other day involved Bianca. Not that it was any of her business or concern. It was his life. But seriously, Ander could do much, much better.
A short moment later, Ander left Bianca and walked back to the group.
"Sorry about that," Ander said, shooting Reina an apologetic smile before turning to address the entire group. "Guzmán, Polo. Let's head to the dance studio now and start practicing. The rest of you who wants to come along and watch, just follow us."
"Bianca finally released her claws on you for a minute, huh?" Marina teased.
Guzmán, who was standing nearby with Polo, overheard Marina and let out a guffaw. "Ander can't help it if he's just such an eligible bachelor."
Ander shook his head, slightly embarrassed. "She just needed some tips with her tennis game, that's all."
Lu sidled up next to Ander, patting his arm protectively. "Can we please stop talking about that witch? She's annoying."
Reina gazed at Lu and Ander, looking extremely comfortable with each other as they led the way to the dance studio.
As Reina thought about how Ander was surrounded by quite a number of girls, she was gripped by a strange sensation. An emotion stemming from unfamiliar territory.
Could it be... that Reina was actually jealous?
No way. That's utterly ridiculous.
... Isn't it?