"The last question I have for you tonight."

"What will it be?" The blonde replied.

"Alaska Velazquez . . ."

"W-What about her?"

"You are her friend, am I correct?"

"Yes, I am."

"Great then you can tell me a bit about her. More specifically, her behaviour."

The blonde looked to her lawyer, who nodded.

"Well . . ."

-

"Social networks are the way we have nowadays to present ourselves to the rest, right? What we show, or what we hide, says a lot about who we are."

Alejandro scoffed.

Martin had clearly never worked in an institution like Las Encinas before, because no one, and he meant absolutely no one showed a thing about how the truly were on social media. Including himself.

"Disculpe," the door suddenly creaked open, and the familiar voice of his other half sounded throughout the classroom. 

Why was she late?

Alejandro noticed that she was slightly flustered and her cheeks a little red, but probably realised that the latter was due to the fact that she had interrupted the whole class and everybody's eyes were on her as Martin smiled and waved his hand for her to sit down.

Looking around briefly with a blank expression on her face, Alaska felt her cheeks getting warmer and warmer as she quickly calculated how fast it would take for her to get from where she stood and where Alejandro sat with an empty seat next to him. Before she realised, she shuffled her feet to the nearest empty seat which happened to be a completely empty seat. It couldn't have worked out any better for her.

"As I was saying, this is what the pair work I want you to do is about."

Pair work?

Alaska wished she had stayed with Dr. Claudia.

"I want you to create your partner's profile for a social network."

"But wasn't this a language and literature class?" Samuel asked.

"Welcome to Las Encinas, man," everyone including him chuckled.

"We can demonise social networks, like other schools do, but but we can also use them to learn."

"Please, take advantage of the opportunity to investigate, to question the other and most of all, adapt this to your goal - what do you want Christian?"

Alaska looked up and smiled in advance knowing he was about to say something goofy.

"I just have a doubt. What can I improve in my profile? Nothing! It's perfect! " he said the final part in English, which Alaska looked at him trying not to burst into laughter. Alejandro noticed.

"Believe me, it can be improved. When Martin was talking about privilege and intelligence, he didn't mean you." Lu responded, evoking a witty response from Polo in the back. Alaska frowned, and the class became slightly rowdy.

"Guys Please, be creative. Use photos, video, interviews, whatever you want, you have all the school's material at your disposal."

Then the bell rang.

"Nobody leaves until they have a partner, choose one and come by my desk." Alaska hater pair work. Immediately, she looked to Alejandro and saw that he was talking with Nadia. Her heart dropped.

If Alejandro was working with Nadia, then that meant that the only two people she would willingly work with were out of the question. She automatically became frustrated.

"Bueno, bueno. Look's like you don't have a partner, but I don't either. So this is your lucky day." the multicoloured Coach handbag fell on top of her desk. At the sound of the voice, she felt her skin crawl as she peeled her eyes from the bag to its owner.

"I would rather cook rice for the whole country one by one, Lu."

The brunette dropped her fake smile.

"Look, don't make this harder than it needs to be. I need a partner, and so do you. Your boyfriend is working with someone else, Miss Palestine is working with your brother. So that makes you a loner. You either pass or you fail this class, so get your shit together because we are now partners." With that, she spun on her heel to go to Martin's desk.

Alaska felt her blood boil so hard that she began to feel pain in her temples. 

So she counted to ten. 

6 . . .

"Amor." The familiar deep voice she loved spoke behind her and kissed her cheek quickly as he dragged the chair in front of her to sit down. She relaxed.

"Como estas?" 

"Hungry. I say we get an early dinner tonight, maybe around 5:30? How does that sound?"

She smiled. "Sure. I'll be ready at 5." 

-

Samuel rushed his way into the restaurant kitchen for just about the fifth time to check if his brother was anywhere near done with the two portions of French fries and burgers. He saw Nano scramble to get the order together.

He knew that the manager was going to have his ass if Nano didn't pick up on the work fast, because he vouched for him when they were in need of a new sous-chef. 

"We were so happy in this town without these snobs," he heard Nano mumble as he took the food in a rush to take them to the customers.

"Sorry for the delay." Samuel apologised, setting the food in front of two of his classmates.

"I've had faster service." Guzman snarked, causing the blonde opposite him to kick his shin slightly with a look on her face that clearly meant 'Be nice.'

"I apologise, we have new kitchen staff."

Alaska sympathised knowing he was just trying to do the best job he could. He was evidently under a lot of pressure. After she had confronted him at Marina's party, it had all blown up from there. She could tell when he had nothing to say that he was protecting someone. After all, there were two people outside the gate, one of them was just a look out. She had an inkling he was the lookout. 

"It's no problem, Samuel." She nodded at him.

"It is absolutely not okay, because he has to uphold the service and high status of this place." Guzman said as he looked at her, bewildered.

"This is overcooked." Guzman said smugly.

"You know I can't say anything here, is that why you're talking to me like this?" Samuel frowned, holding his ground.

"Are you talking to me?" 

"Guzman, basta." Alaska replied almost sharply.

And with that said, Guzman bit his tongue. Samuel's eyes lingered on Guzman's slightly before murmuring 'enjoy your food' under his breath, and turning to leave.

"You know, I really wish you wouldn't defend him and his friends every time I need to put them in their place." Guzman sighed, rolling his eyes.

"Guzman, stop, okay? I'm tired of the teasing. It's not right and you know how I feel about those things," she replied, laying the napkin in her hand on her lap.

"I guess I can try or whatever," he mumbled.

"That's all I want."

The two ate their food in about two minutes of silence before Guzman opened up a conversation.

"So, how is your assignment going, the one with Martin." 

Instantly, Alaska was upset again.

"I don't even want to talk about it. That pair work pisses me off to no end."

"Why?"

"I'm stuck with your best best friend Lu and she was so bitchy about it in class that I don't think I ever want to look at her again."

Guzman tensed, and then sighed.

"She's not my best friend, you know that. You're my best friend . . . my best friend and my girlfriend all in one." he joked in an attempt to put a smile on her face. It worked.

"I'm serious. I don't think I can work with her, she's so unbearable."

"Don't forget that once upon a time, we were all friends."

"Exactly. Once upon a time, as in ancient history." 

"So what would you like for me to do to help you? Stop being her friend?" 

"No of course not, I could never ask you to do that."

"I-," Guzman paused. "I actually wanted to talk to you about that, I think that when Ander and Polo get here, you try to -"

"Wait, what? Ander and Polo? Why are they coming to join our dinner?"

"I thought it would be nice for them to come and hang out with us, that's all," he shrugged.

"Look, you know I don't want to hang out with your friends-"

"My friends?" he scoffed. "They were you and Alejandro's friends too. And Lu, and Carla, and Marina." 

"Guzman."

"No Alaska, Ander told me that at Marina's party the other day the two of you had a little situation and I just thought he could come here today and the two of you could have a conversation."

"So you ambushed me."

"It wasn't an ambush, I just thought that it would be nice for old times sake."

"Guzman, come on-"

"Would you be able to do this please, for me? We're getting older Ala, please." Guzman said, staring deep into her eyes. She crumbled.

They were quiet for about four minutes until Alaska wanted a drink.

"I'm thirsty, are you?" 

Guzman patted his lips with the napkin, beginning to raise his hand, probably to signal Samuel.

"It's fine, I can just go to the counter." Alaska stopped, getting up to her feet.

"It's his job to serve us." 

She simply rolled her eyes, and walked towards the counter. For a few seconds, there was no one there and her eyes skimmed around, looking for anyone who could tend to her; but the Samuel appeared.

"Señora, ¿cómo puedo ayudarle?" Samuel said in a formal manner. Alaska looked at him weirdly.

"You absolutely do not have to call me that." 

Samuel looked around nervously.

"My manager is right behind me." He murmured, trying to be as quiet as possible.

She looked slightly behind him and saw that there was indeed a serious looking woman just a few feet away from him.

"Oh, of course," she leaned back on her nude wedges, "I just wanted to ask if I can have some chilled apple and elderflower juice."

"Sure, I will bring that right to your table, please take a seat." 

With that she turned to go back to the porch side table, but her face slowly sunk when saw that it was now taken over with the likes of Ander and Polo.

She took her time walking back.

"Alaska." Polo greeted with a grin when she came into eye view.

She didn't reply.

The three boys watched as she fell into the chair beside Guzman and crossed her jean class legs. 

Guzman cringed.

This was a bad idea.

"Ehm, Polo was just telling us that he thinks Carla is ignoring him."

"Because she is! Look . . ."

Guzman and Ander went off into their own conversation and Alaska's eyes mistakenly met Ander's. He chuckled under his breathe, shook his head, and turned on his phone.

Whatever Guzman claimed was going to be a conversation was clearly not going to happen.

"She's seen my WhatsApp. See? It's blue. Why won't she answer-" Polo went on.

"Boys, I think I'm going to leave." Alaska announced, grabbing her handbag which sat beside her.

"Wait what, why? You haven't even finished your food." Guzman gestured, pointing at her plate.

"I don't feel so good, I think I'll go ask Samuel to put my drink in a to go cup and leave." She stood to her feet.

"Well do you want me to take you? I brought you here." Guzman said, beginning to stand up. 

"No, no, it's fine. I don't want to disrupt your hangout, I'll call an Uber." With that, she was walking towards the front stand again and walked up when Samuel had just finished with a customer. His eyes went wide.

"Joder," he whispered, "your drink, I completely forgot. I'll get it for you right now. "

"It's fine if you haven't poured it out  yet, I was just leaving anyway." 

"I apologise once again." 

She gave him a forced smile and waved. 

She walked towards the exit, not before waving goodbye to Guzman first.

The air was warm with a slight breeze on her skin which she felt as soon as she stepped outside. From the clouds, rain was clearly coming.

On her phone, she saw the time was 6:18pm which made perfect sense because she had arrived about fourty five minutes ago. However, this also meant that Alejandro was in the gym, so calling him for a ride was not an option.

She manoeuvred to the UBER app and requested one which would come in six minutes. 

"I get it, I get it!" a deep voice was heard coming from the back of the restaurant. Her curiosity peaked when this was followed by a slamming sound.

"Is it clear?"

"Yes!" 

The conversation grew clearer when she finally got to the back of the restaurant, and her eyes went wide when she saw two men aggressively holding another man by his shirt. He was in trouble. 

"Hey!" she yelled, grabbing the attention of all three men.

Like she said, she absolutely loathed bullying.

"Is there anything going on here that the police would just love to know?"she crossed her arms, approaching the scene closer.

"I don't know, is there?" the man holding the boy's shirt turned to face him again.

"It's nothing, whoever you are, just leave," the boy with blue eyes replied.

"No actually, we will." The man aggressively let go of him and the two of them turned to walk away, not before glaring at Alaska however, who glared right back.

When they were out of sight, she asked.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, but that's no thanks to you. You can get back into your Ferrari now." 

"Excuse me? I just saw that you needed help." She felt herself getting angry.

"Yeah, well, I didn't ask.

He spun to walk inside.

And then Mauricio called to confirm that he was at her pickup point.

-

"Buenos tardes, mija." Mariposa Velazquez greeted when she saw her daughter pass through the living room, making her way towards their grand staircase.

"Buenas." She replied simply, casting her mother a side glance. However, her head spa back she she realised her twin sitting next to their mother on the white sofa. The look on his face said it all. It was the same one she'd been giving Guzman since the term began whenever he would make snarky remarks at the new students.

She let out a breathe.

"Buenas, mama. ¿Cómo te va?" she repeated again, walking closer to the two of them.

Mariposa's eyes lit up.

"It was very well, Ala. Thank you for asking. How was yours?"

The younger blonde walked to the other sofa on the side of the room, sat down slowly, and crossed her legs. Alejandro noticed.

It had been a habit she was doing for as far as he could remember. She crossed her legs on top on one another whenever she was becoming uncomfortable and/or annoyed with her surroundings. 

"It was good too."

"What were you up to tonight?" Alejandro intervened, attempting to carry on the conversation. 

"Dinner, with Guzman." 

"Oh you were having dinner? I guess you won't be joining as then." Mariposa replied, trying to hide the look of disappointment on her face.

It was quiet.

"I guess not." Then she stood up.

"Buenas noches." She said as she walked towards the stairs, to her room.

"It's barely 7, do you not want to join us until-"

"No."

-

"Alaska," the door to her room barged open, "what the fuck did I tell you about being nice to mommy?"

"I could've been naked."

"Did I not specifically tell you to be nicer to her Alaska-"

"You told me to to try, Alejandro. I am trying." She shut her eyes, attempting to control her breathing, even though he was making no attempt to relax his own frustration.

"Ala, can you honestly look me in my eyes and tell me that you're trying."

"Alejandro, yes," she stood up. "Yes I can look you in your eyes and tell you I am doing everything I can to control myself when I am around her, I swear to you." Against her will, her voice cracked at the last part as she looked deep into his eyes. 

They stared at each other for a few seconds, just staring. 

And staring.

"Alaska," Alejandro sighed, "Alaska, on her behalf, on her behalf I'm begging you, to forgive her for everything. She is so sorry-"

"Ale, no, I'm sorry that I'm not as forgiving as you when it comes to our mother. I am sorry that I'm still hurting, and you aren't. I'm sorry." And then the tears began to prickle slowly in her eyes.

Alejandro went quiet again, this time surprised. He had spent so much time trying to protect the world from his sister that he just about forgot that he needed to protect her from herself. 

He watched as she crossed her arms, glancing around the room. She was uncomfortable.

So he embraced her.

-

"No mas, no mas!" Alaska pleaded as she felt hands and flour everywhere around her face hand her body as she laughed so hard her ribs began to hurt.

"Basta! E-Enserio!" They didn't listen. Nadia began to attack her sides as Alejandro rubbed his flour covered hands all over her face. 

"Not until you admit that I'm blonder." Alejandro protested.

"Ale, it's not a good thing to be blonder, it's a fac- Get off me!" she tried to explain. 

Alejandro laughed menacingly. 

And Nadia followed.

After, realising how down she was feeling all night, Alejandro decided to dedicate his afternoon after school to spend time with his sister and cheer her up. However, Nadia thought that they could begin work on their pair assignment. Deciding to kill two birds with one stone, he invited Nadia over so they could work, but so they could also work together on their project. It just so happened that on the way home, Alaska began to crave chocolate chip cookies, but she didn't want them store bought, she wanted Alba's. 

But Alejandro didn't want Alba to lift a finger.

So they decided to spend the first two hours making some.  Before they knew, they were having a debate about who was blonder.

"All I'm saying is I've had my hair like this all my life. Yours is darker, so you have to keep dyeing."

"Okay, okay! I admit, now the two of you, get off of me!" 

Nadia smiled as she retracted her hands when Alejandro did the same. 

"Look the cookies are done, can I just take them to my room in peace?" Alaska asked after she had calmed down.

"What, why? Let's watch a movie." Her brother suggested.

"No, come on. The two of you need to work on your project and I seriously need to shower, no thanks to you guys." She giggled, wiggling out of their loose grasp and towards the counter where they had left the cookies to cool down.

As she put five aside for anyone else who wanted some, she heard:

"So what are you going to be doing all day while we're working?"

"Guzman is coming over in like thirty minutes. He had to take Lu to IKEA for some reason."

Nadia tensed.

"IKEA?" Ale asked.

"Yeah, you know they're best friends or whatever, and Lu loves making him an errand boy." 

Nadia tensed again.

"I have to admit, she really does." Ale laughed.

"Lo que en la tierra le pasó a esta cocina?!" she froze, turning right to face Alejandro and Nadia who also had their eyes wide open at Alba who had suddenly walked in. 

"Alba, mi vida, we can explain . . ." 

As Alejandro stuttered over his words, Alaska with the plate in her hand, sneaked behind him and crawled towards the exit of the kitchen. 

When she got out, she quickly got to her feet and set off as fast as she could out of the kitchen, ignoring the protests that Alejandro called out to her as soon as he saw her sneak off from the corner of his eye. 

As soon as she got to her room, she set the cookies on her bedside table, and turned on the fairy lights in her room to make it dim, and switched on the air conditioner. 

Downstairs, Nadia grew quiet as she had now relocated to the living room with Alejandro to begin the project. But whether or not she was working, she didn't think that she even deserved to be in the house, let alone for the first time. She wasn't an honest friend.

"Do you think we should have stayed to help clean up?" Nadia asked nervously.

"I really wanted to," he laughed, "but knowing Alba, she's happy that someone's using the kitchen who's not her or my mother." He replied as he sat down on the sofa.

Nadia nodded slowly.

"Alba is your grandmother?" she asked, to which Alejandro laughed.

"No, but she might as well be. She's been with and in my family since before Alaska and I were born. She's our housekeeper." he smiled.

Then the doorbell rang.

Nadia noticed how Guzman looked at the entrance of the living room, even though he couldn't see the front door, and as much as he tried to hide it, he was tense.

Did he not like Guzman?

Did he not like Guzman for Alaska?

Did he know about him and Lu?

When the boy in question came through, he soon waved to Alejandro, who gave a small wave back. 

Then he recognised Nadia.

As he continued to walk across the living room and to the stairs, his eyes were stuck on Nadia's, nothing but threat and dare in his eyes.

A/N: How am I doing? 

I'm sorry by the way if it's a bit slow. This is only chapter 5 and I want you guys to understand some bit of background information on my Ala and Ale before I can keep things going. The next chapter will hopefully be more I guess, hyper?

THANK YOU! xx