"Go ahead and cry, little girl
Nobody does it like you do"

_________________

A typical morning at the Rodriguez household began of course with breakfast. Nana Roberta cooked her famous spanish food while her granddaughters set up the table. It's been 2 years since their father's death and their only relative left was Roberta. Except Esther's mother Daniela of course, she was somewhere in Chicago or New York.

"Are you done niñas?", asked their grandmother. "Yes!", yelled both girls with a smile. "Do you need a ride to school?", asked Esther her younger sister. Florence shook her head. "Hola familia!", greeted Zoe Fernandez her friends. "I brought some peeps with me!" "Hola!", said Ellis Willow. "Hello!", said Zack Rooney. "Come on guys. Sit down!", said Florence to her friends. Her Abuela had nothing against the kids to eat with them. It's a tradition every morning and every second evening. They're a family!

"Let's go chica!", called Zack. Florence stood up and grabbed her backpack. She kissed her grandmother for goodbye and gave her big sister a hug.

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The kids exited the building and made their way to school. "You know, I kinda want to skip school today.", said Zoe honest. Her friends looked at her. "What? It's only for today!", she defended herself. The others smirked. "We have a big test today Zoe. We can't just skip school like that and you know it!", said Florence pointing to her best friend. "Flo is right.", said Ellis. Zack only nodded in agreement. Zoe rolled her eyes and smiled. "Welcome to prison!", said Zack jokingly. Zoe only punched his arm playfully. "Ow!", whispered Zack. Ellis and Florence only laughed and shook their heads at their friends's behavior. "Stop being children and grow up finally!", said Ellis and wrapped his arms around his friends.

Florence became friends with Zoe, Ellis and Zack back in kindergarten days. They spend every day together and even made a promise. Some people tried to separate them, but they all failed.

Zoe is really rebellious. She hates school and would rather go shopping or do something else for fun. Surprisingly her grades are really good even tho she never studies at least that's what she says. Her parents divorced 4 months ago leaving her crushed. Good thing she had her friends around to help her coping with that.

Ellis is the funny one out of them. He's always cracking jokes and tries to please everyone. He also has a very big heart and sometimes people take advantage of that, leaving him broken for days. Zack always tells him to think about himself first before others. But it's not that easy for him. His parents have a stable relationship but sometimes he gets compared to his older brother Lucas which annoys him a lot.

Zack is the crackhead. He always tries to make others laugh in the most serious and critical situations. He used to suffer from depression but his friends helped him through it. Even tho sometimes he still falls into one, he manages to get out quickly. Zack also gives the best advices to people. That's why his friends call him sometimes Mother Teresa. Zack's father left him when he was only a baby, and never came back.

Florence is the mom of the group. She's the most reliable person ever but also kinda rebellious if she wants to. People think she's cold and rude, but she's actually a really kindhearted person. She's only a bitch to the people she doesn't like at all. She's also a big bookworm and loves to read books. Something her friends don't really understand. She suffers from anxiety and insomnia which leads her to many sleepless nights. Florence's mother left her when she was a baby leaving her father and stepmother to take care of her. She and her older sister are very close.

Those four stuck by each others side no matter what. Through highs and lows. Good memories and bad memories. They were inseparable. They were outcasts and they loved it!

●●●

"You ready for this test?", asked Florence nervous. "It's math! Of course not!", said Zack. Ellis and Zoe shook their heads. "We will get through this!", said Ellis and put his hand out. The others put theirs on top of his. Zoe counted to three "We got this!", they yelled and threw their hands in the air. The bell rang on time and the kids sat on their places. Their math teacher walked in happy as always. "Good morning friends. As you know today is our small test so please get your material.", said their math teacher while handing out the tests. "Okay guys, you have 45 minutes to complete it. Go!", said their teacher.

Florence had a few difficulties with math, just like Zack. But Ellis and Zoe did it like professionals, both always enjoyed maths for an unknown reason. Something Florence and Zack never understood. After the test, they had lunch break.

"Ugh look at those wannabes!", whispered Zoe and pointed to a blonde girl. "She's overrated Zoe, you're underrated.", said Zack. Zoe turned to him and made a fist. "Want me to punch you again?" "No ma'am!", said Zack and threw his hands in front of his face. Zoe smirked. "Hey! You with the blue shirt!", yelled the blonde. "I heard what you said about me! Why don't you come over here and say it to my face?", provoke the blonde. Florence knew about Zoe's fights and she didn't want her to get into another one.

"She didn't mean it that way Harley!", defended Florence her friend. "Shut it!", yelled Harley. "I'm not gonna shut up. Zoe didn't mean anything she said! She never does!", continued Florence. "Zoe doesn't need her pathetic friend who grew up without a mother and recently lost her damn father to protect her!", as Harley said that her minions laughed.

Florence's blood began to boil after Harley said that. "It wasn't my fault she left!", defended Florence herself. She began to dig her nails into her palms. Something her friends noticed. "I'm pretty sure it was. You were a bastard baby!", as Harley yelled that Florence couldn't hold herself but to punch her.

Harley touched her nose only to see small little blood drops. "You bitch!", yelled Harley and punched Florence back. Punches were thrown. People were yelling. And teachers were coming.  "Miss Rodriguez and Miss Blue to the principal!"

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"I can't believe I had to leave work for that!", complained Esther as she drove her little sister and herself home. "I said I'm sorry!" "Why did you even punched her?", asked Esther. Florence only looked at her shoes ashamed. "I'm waiting!", said Esther and raised her eyebrow as she stopped the car in front of their apartment. "She said that I'm a bastard baby and that I'm pathetic. And she called me out about dad!", said Florence and began to cry. "Ai hermanita!", said Esther and hugged Florence. "You are not those things. You're my wonderful, talented yet annoying little sister!", said Esther and cupped her sister's cheeks before kissing her forehead. "If something like this ever happens again, please call me okay?" "Okay Esther!", said Florence and nodded her head.

Both sisters went inside their apartment only to hear three voices. One of them belonging to their grandmother. Esther gestured for her sister to wait before she walked in. Florence didn't knew what was going on until she heard her older sister yelling. "You want to take her!"

Florence rushed to her sister's rescue only to find an unknown man and woman sitting on their couch. "¿Que esta pasando?", she asked in Spanish her grandmother. "Who are those people?" "Sol!", said the unknown woman and went to hug Florence. Florence took a step back leaving the woman confused. "Abuela, who is she?", asked Florence confused. Esther looked at her grandmother scared and nervous. "My name is Cristal Carrington. But I believe you know me as Celia Machado.", said Cristal. Florence began to realize who she was. Her eyes widened at the thought. "You're my mother!"

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First chapter for Florence! Hope you like it💜

DEDICATIONS

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TaliaLewis7
Cheryls_Jen
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