"Sadly, in this town and in the rest of the world, there are some ignorant people who just refuse to understand or respect other people's belief or views." I looked at Becks with sad eyes because I knew exactly what she meant. Being black girl in America was hard enough. I couldn't imagine what Becks was going through.

Being a Latina, trans woman in small town such as this must be a struggle on its on. I needed to do something to cheer her up. Then I remembered something my dad said to me.

I locked my arms around hers and smiled at her. "My dad always told me, "god only gives challenges to those he knows can handle them", you may not know that you have the strength to over come it, but when you do it makes the victory ten times more sweet." I could tell she was still a little confused. "What I'm trying to say is that, though the world is filled with dickheads and jackasses, if you believe in who you are there is no one who can stop you." That came out so fucking corny. I hate it. She stared at me with a blank look. I couldn't tell what she was thinking.

Out of nowhere she began laughing hysterically. "That was the cutest, and yet corniest thing I have ever heard. Gracias, mi amor. I needed the laugh." Well at least she smiled.

"Hey kid." Rebecca stiffened at the sound of the voice as if she knew who it was already. We turned and saw all three Mancini bays standing behind us. Rebeccas stature changed and she seemed more on guard, but she still left a smile on her face. "Hi, Tate. Hi, Timmothy." She said. Her voice sounded sweet. But was laced with venom.

The two boys awkwardly waved at her while Mike stood silent. Mikes smile slightly twitched a bit. "No hello for me. Is that really the way you treat your best friend."

The smile on her face got bigger. "Former-best friend. Anyways, what do you pendejos want, I gotta finish showing my new friend around." All three of there eyes turned to me and the staring was intense. They looked me up an down, as if they were inspecting me. I guess that's karma for how hard I was staring earlier.

"Your the new girl from the city right?" said Timmothy. He was very handsome. Strong jawline, white teeth, clear skin. Literally, the picture of perfection. He reached out his hand and reintroduced himself. "Well, hello my name is Timmothy, but you can call me Tim. This over here is Mike," he pointed over to Michael who was barely paying attention to him. Mike was to busy staring at a very irritated Becks. "And this is Tate." Tate's presence was almost like a shadow. He stayed quiet the entire time, until he was mentioned. He nodded his head toward me. I gave him a sheepish smile in response. I couldn't help but notice that his hair up close was a pretty dark brown, not black like originally thought.

"Would you stop staring at me? It's fucking rude!" She yelled toward Mike, pulling me out of my train of thought. His smirk spread wider. "So, Beck, that stunt you pulled with Thomas was pretty dangerous. You know the whole, exposing him to the entire class." He said. A smirk still on his face but his words didn't seem playful. She rolled her eyes. "What y'all worried?"

"Yes!" All three said in unison. "You know how he is." Tate said. Becks smile completely erased. "He isn't the only one in this school who has there opinion about me. He doesn't scare me. I can take care of myself." Her voice was was flat and monotoned, as if she had no emotions.

The boys seemed wounded by her words. Mike looked like he was going to say something but she cut him off before he could. "Anyway, me and my friend here are about to be late to our next class. So if you don't mind. Shoo." She grabbed me by my arm and began pulling away from the boys.

"It was nice to meet you all." I waved sheepishly as I was getting drug away. The way she talked about them earlier was like she never really knew them, as if she only heard about them through rumors. But clearly by there conversation and the way she talked to them. There is history there. But why did she act like she didn't know who they were at first?

"How do you know them?" I asked her

"Rebecca doesn't know them. They were apart of Robbies past. They have nothing to do with Rebecca." I looked at her confusingly. Did she just talk in third person? It didn't even seem like she was talking to me.

"Whose Robbie?" I asked. She suddenly stopped. She dropped my arm and murmured something under her breath. "Sorry?"

She turned toward me and put on the same fake smile she had on earlier. "I'll tell you about him another time. Here's your class. Oceanography with Mr. Kinser. He's cool. Pretty chill. When class ends, just meet me right here and we can walk to lunch together. Cool?" Before I could agree she walked off. Did I make her uncomfortable? Was I asking to many questions? Maybe I shouldn't of pried. I hope I didn't fuck up the first friendship I got on the first day of school.

I waited outside the door like Becks told me. When i finally saw her, she looked much better from when she left me. She walked up to me with a grin on her face. "You ready for food bitch!" She screamed at the top of her lungs. There was no venom in her voice. She seemed to be in a better mood from before. Almost like what had happened before never happened. I don't want to ask any questions. When I asked earlier she seemed uncomfortable, and I don't want to put her on the spot again. I'll leave it alone.

I smiled at her. "Honestly, I'm not that hungry." she grabbed me by the arm and began pulling me. "Okay. But I still got to eat. So let's move."

We began walking a little to fast for my taste. I began to focus on my breathing. Making sure that I take in the right amount of breaths. We finally made it to the cafeteria. My breath was uneven and I was a little lightheaded but I wasn't to out of it for anyone to notice. I took a few breathes and tried to normalize my breathing while Becks was making heart eyes at the food in line.

By the time she got her food I was back to normal. I followed behind her quietly, til I heard someone scream her name. "Rebecca! Baby!" I saw a slim white guy with shaggy hair and baggy clothes running towards us. And to top it all off, he wore a beanie. He reeked of weed. It was a very suffocating smell. He looked like he was so tired but you could tell he was filled with energy. He ran up to the small Latina, completely ignoring me, and slings his arm around her shoulder. He looked as though he towered over her. He was like 6'1, while she was a good 5'6. Maybe smaller.

"Hola Kyle. What is it you want stupid?" She said. "Party. Tonight. My place. Little bit a weed. Little bit of alcohol. All illegal. You down?" She looked at him with a questioning look. "What's the catch?" She asked. He looked at her with that fake "I'm hurt" look. "I am shocked that you would think I would have an alternative motive. Am I not allowed to want my old smoking buddy back." She rolled her eyes and then looked back at me with a smile. "It all depends on her. She's new. I've been showing her the ropes today. And if I go, she will be my date. I refuse for her first party here to be with anyone else but me. So? Did you want to go?" She asked.

I shook my head no. I didn't want to risk breaking my dads promise. He's already worried enough. "Can't. Tonight's game night with my Pops." I realized how embarrassing that sounded as soon as I said it. Rebeccas smile got wider. "You are so cute."

Though Rebecca found it cute, I don't think Kyle had the same thought. His smile dropped, and for quick second he seemed annoyed. "So a goody two shoes, lame. What? Don't like the company of the riff raff?" An extremely annoying smile spread across his face.

"I have no problem with the riff raff. I just prefer the company of people who know how to shower. You reek of ignorance and attention. " I responded......I probably over reacted......but like my dad always say 'don't piss off a bear, if your not ready for a mauling. Rebecca seemed like she was trying her best not to laugh but she soon failed. "Los siento, mi amigo. But that shit was funny. I was right about you sweet but spicy."

He rolled his eyes, he seemed speechless. He finally pulled himself together, put his attention back to Becks. "Whatever. I hope you won't regret it, your gonna miss out on the greatest party ever thrown." He said.

"You say that about every party." She smiled

"You aren't wrong. See you at the next one?" He said. He slowly began to walk away. She nodded. His eyes slowly began to move over to me. "See you around goody two shoes."

I flicked him off. I felt that was an appropriate reaction. I looked at a still smiling Rebecca. Her smile seemed wider and all the stress she had felt seemed to have completely disappeared. She looked like a giddy little middle schooler pining over her crush.

"You like the pot head?" Her head snapped to me as soon as those words left my mouth. She nodded her head shyly. It was kind of cute. " I think I do."

Picture above is Avia Jogia as Mike

Picture of Adonis Boso as Tim