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After a long and eventful day, Marisol found herself exhausted. Life had been a whirlwind lately, leaving her with little time to unwind or enjoy moments with her loved ones. With a heavy sigh, she plopped her backpack onto the table and shrugged off her jacket, hanging it neatly on the rack. Seeking solace, Marisol collapsed onto the cozy rocking chair in the living room, finally allowing herself a moment of much-needed rest.

As Marisol began to drift into a peaceful slumber, her breaths growing steady, the tranquility was suddenly shattered by the loud slam of the door. Startled, she jolted awake, her head snapping towards the source of the noise. Her eyes widened as she witnessed an enraged Mila storming past the living room, her anger palpable. Marisol watched in surprise as Mila forcefully dropped her backpack in the middle of the kitchen and angrily tossed her hoodie onto the kitchen table. The tension in the air was thick, and Marisol couldn't help but wonder what had caused such a strong reaction from her friend.

Marisol's expression shifted with concern, her brows furrowing as she rose from the couch and stood on her feet. She made her way towards her sister, who was rummaging through the cabinets in search of food. Marisol pressed her lips together, her hand gently resting on Mila's shoulder. "Hey, what's the matter?" she asked, her voice filled with worry and compassion.

Marisol's heart sank as she locked eyes with Mila, a fiery anger burning within her sister's gaze. The tension in the room was palpable, and Marisol could sense the storm brewing within Mila's demeanor. "Just leave me alone, Marisol! You're so damn annoying!" Mila's words echoed through the air, piercing Marisol's heart. Taken aback, Marisol slowly withdrew her hand from Mila's shoulder, her own emotions a mix of hurt and confusion. Gathering her courage, Marisol mustered the strength to confront her sister. "What's gotten into you? You've been shutting me out lately, and it's tearing me apart," she questioned, her voice laced with concern and a touch of sadness.

Mila's frustration reached its peak as she let out a deep groan, throwing her head back in a display of exasperation. With a narrowed glare, she locked eyes with Marisol, her anger burning brightly. "It feels like everything revolves around you now! Dad's off living his own life somewhere else, Natasha is always absent because of the cheating situation, and you...you've become distant. And to make matters worse, Anthony has the audacity to like Lia instead of me!" Mila's voice trembled with a mix of anger and hurt, her face flushed with rage.

Marisol's lips curled into a deep frown, her body visibly tensing as she prepared herself to respond. Parting her lips, she spoke with a hint of sadness in her voice, "I'm so sorry, Mila. I feel absolutely terrible about everything. Is there anything I can do to make it up to you? Since it's Friday, maybe we can hang out this weekend and spend some quality time together." Her eyes searched for a glimmer of hope in Mila's expression. Slowly, Mila's demeanor softened, her arms crossing in a gesture of contemplation. Finally, she let out a small sigh and said, "Sure," her voice tinged with a mix of resignation and a flicker of forgiveness.

Marisol let out a soft chuckle, tinged with a hint of sadness, as she looked at Mila. "So, what do you wanna do tonight?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine curiosity. Mila's lips pulled into a tight-lipped smile, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Can we go see 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑮𝑶𝑳𝑫𝑭𝑰𝑵𝑪𝑯? It came out a few days ago," she asked eagerly, her voice filled with anticipation. Marisol hummed thoughtfully, taking a step forward and playfully wrapping her arms around Mila, causing her to giggle. With a mischievous glint in her eyes, Marisol effortlessly lifted Mila off her feet and spun her around, eliciting joyful squeals of laughter.

Mila's face lit up with pure delight as Marisol playfully carried her over her shoulder. "Put me down, Mars!" Mila exclaimed between giggles, her feet playfully kicking in the air. Marisol laughed along, her own laughter filling the room as she walked into the cozy living room and gently set Mila down on the plush couch. "Sure, we can definitely go see it. What time works for you?" Marisol asked, her voice filled with excitement and anticipation, ready to make their movie night plans a reality.

Mila's eyes darted down to her watch, a flicker of anticipation lighting up her face. "Oh wow, it's starting in just half an hour!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement. Marisol nodded, a smile spreading across her face as she reached into her pocket to retrieve her phone. "Alright, let me shoot a quick text to Nat and let her know we're on our way," she said, her fingers dancing across the screen as she typed out a message. With their plans set in motion, Mila and Marisol eagerly made their way to the movie theater, ready to immerse themselves in the magic of the big screen.

When Mila and Marisol finally arrived at the bustling movie theater, their eyes landed on a sight that instantly dampened their excitement. There, in the line to get tickets, stood Sam and Anthony, completely oblivious to Mila and Marisol's presence. Marisol couldn't help but release a loud scoff, her disbelief evident in her shaking head.

Mila followed Marisol's gaze, her heart sinking as she recognized the familiar faces. "Oh no," she muttered, a tinge of worry lacing her words. Sensing Mila's distress, Marisol instinctively pulled her arm around her friend, drawing her closer. "It's fine," Marisol whispered, her voice filled with determination. "Let's not let them ruin our night. We'll just ignore them and focus on enjoying ourselves." With Marisol's reassuring presence, Mila felt a surge of confidence, ready to face the evening's adventures with her loyal friend by her side.

They slowly inched forward in the line, eagerly awaiting their turn to get tickets. Excitement filled the air as they approached the food stations, their stomachs growling in anticipation. But fate seemed to have a twisted sense of humor, as they found themselves once again standing right behind Sam and Anthony.

Mila couldn't resist the mischievous urge that bubbled up inside her. With a swift and playful kick, she targeted Anthony's ankle, causing him to stumble and turn around in surprise. "What the fuck, Cervantes!" he scolded, his voice laced with irritation. Mila met his scowling gaze with a nonchalant eye roll, clearly unimpressed by his reaction. The tension between them hung in the air, adding an unexpected twist to their movie night.

Marisol's eyes widened, her eyebrows shooting up in surprise. With a quick nudge to Mila's side, she shot her a scolding look that spoke volumes. "Mila Mackenzie Cervantes!" she scolded, her tone laced with a mix of concern and annoyance.

Mila's face twisted in a combination of confusion and anger, unsure of what she had done wrong. "What?" she replied, her voice dripping with nonchalance, as if she couldn't care less about the consequences. But as the seconds ticked by, it became clear that Mila's emotions were about to explode. Sam, witnessing the escalating tension, furrowed his eyebrows in genuine concern. "I'm genuinely worried," he said, his voice tinged with laughter, attempting to lighten the mood.

Marisol shrugged, a tight-lipped smile playing on her lips. "I'm with you," she uttered, her voice barely audible over the commotion. As Anthony and Mila started pushing each other, Sam and Marisol exchanged a quick glance, their eyes filled with concern.

Acting swiftly, they stepped in and pulled their younger siblings apart. "Mila, stop! We're in a movie theater right now," Marisol scolded, her voice firm but tinged with frustration. Mila, not one to back down easily, rolled her eyes and defiantly pulled away from Marisol's grip. The tension in the air was palpable, and Marisol knew they needed to diffuse the situation before it escalated further.

Sam let out a heavy sigh, frustration evident in her expression. She ran a hand through her hair, trying to gather her thoughts. "I'm really sorry about Anthony," she said, her voice tinged with regret. She gave Marisol a pleading look, hoping for understanding.

In response, Marisol clicked her tongue and waved her hand dismissively, blowing a playful raspberry. "Nah, it's all good. I apologize for Mila too," Marisol replied with a tired sigh. "I've been meaning to talk to you—" Marisol began, but their conversation was abruptly interrupted by the approach of security guards. The guards walked over with a serious demeanor, their presence commanding attention. "Excuse me, girls?" they called out, their voices firm but respectful, causing Sam and Marisol to turn their attention towards them.

They exchanged worried glances, their eyes filled with concern as they turned their attention towards the security guard. "Hold up, you're saying we gotta take our siblings somewhere else?" they asked, their voices tinged with worry and confusion. The guard nodded, his expression serious. "Yeah, they started fighting, rolling on the ground, and even knocked down a snack stand," he recalled, his tone reflecting a mix of authority and concern.

Marisol's jaw clenched, her frustration evident as she looked down at her sister. With a firm grip on Mila's arm, Marisol angrily pulled her out of the building. Once they were outside, Mila managed to free her arm from Marisol's grasp, her face displaying defiance. "What the heck was that all about?" Marisol yelled, her voice a mix of anger and bewilderment.

Mila couldn't help but roll her eyes, a gesture of annoyance and defiance, as she crossed her arms tightly, folding one over the other. "It's none of your business," she retorted, her voice filled with a hint of frustration. Taking a step forward, she closed the physical gap between them, emphasizing her point. Marisol's eyebrows furrowed, her concern evident on her face. "Is this about Natasha and Dad?" she probed, hoping to uncover the root of the issue.

Mila met her gaze with a knowing look, a mix of frustration and understanding in her eyes. "No! It's about the fact that you just don't get it," she yelled, her voice rising with pent-up emotions. Marisol's brow raised in curiosity, eager to bridge the gap in understanding. "Don't get what?" she pressed, wanting to grasp the full picture. Mila clicked her tongue in frustration, exhaling sharply as she tried to regain her composure. Relaxing her shoulders slightly, she began to explain. "I told Hawk not to talk to you because he let what happened happen to you," she confessed, her words carrying a weight of regret and protectiveness.

Marisol's eyebrows furrowed, creating a deep frown on her face as she tried to grasp the situation. "Wait, hold on a second. I don't understand. Are you saying that what just happened has absolutely nothing to do with him?" she questioned, her tone filled with genuine confusion. Her eyes softened with concern as she looked at Mila, waiting for an explanation.

Mila's guilt was palpable as she nervously bit her bottom lip, her gaze fixed on the floor. "I... I also like Anthony," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I bully him because... because I like him," she confessed, her words laced with a mix of vulnerability and self-awareness.

Marisol's confusion deepened, and she looked around, her eyes darting back and forth as if searching for answers. She resembled a lost puppy, desperately trying to understand the tangled emotions and motives at play. "I'm absolutely, completely confused, Mils," she sighed, her voice tinged with a mix of frustration and exhaustion. "Let's just go home and try to make sense of all this," she suggested, hoping that a change of scenery would bring clarity to their complicated situation.

After that weird inconvenience at the Movie Theatre, Marisol was desperately in need of a break. She longed for a moment of peace, but it seemed like the universe had other plans in store for her. Just when she thought she could finally catch her breath, Marisol's phone buzzed with a text from Natasha, urging her to come downstairs as soon as possible.

With a mix of worry and curiosity, Marisol bounded down the stairs, her heart pounding in her chest. Thoughts of someone being hurt raced through her mind as she jogged towards Natasha. "What's wrong?" she blurted out, her voice filled with a sense of urgency and concern.

Marisol's brows furrowed together, creating a deep crease on her forehead, as she caught sight of her cousin Hollis and her aunt Holly. "What the heck..." she mumbled, her voice laced with a mix of confusion and disbelief. Taking a determined step off the stairs, she made her way into the living room, her eyes scanning the scene with a suspicious gaze. "Seriously, what is going on here?" she questioned, her voice trailing off as she waited for an explanation, her suspicion hanging in the air like a thick fog.

Holly, Marisol's maternal aunt, entered her life briefly when Marisol was just six years old. It was during this singular meeting that Marisol got to know her cousin, Hollis, who was a year older than her. The unexpected reunion was fueled by the strained relationship between Marisol's mom and aunt, as they harbored a deep-seated animosity toward each other. Consequently, Marisol never envisioned encountering Holly and Hollis again, considering the intense dislike between the two sisters.

Amidst a soft sniffle, Natasha delicately wiped her nose with a tissue. Her strained smile hinted at the weight of the news she was about to share. "They're going to be living with us for a while," she revealed to Marisol, who turned her gaze towards Aunt Holly and Cousin Hollis, curiosity and confusion etched on her face. Perplexed, Marisol questioned, "What changed? I distinctly remember you saying we'd never see each other again because of my mom. What happened to make them stay with us now?"

Holly let out a heavy sigh, her expression weighted with the gravity of the revelation. "Ari, there's more to what your mom told you. She expelled Hollis and me from her life when I urged her to seek rehab. It led to her cutting off all communication, denying me the chance to see you three. I spent so long asking about each of you, and only recently did I discover the truth about Sophie."

Marisol's entire demeanor shifted as she physically tensed, her eyes hardening with a mix of anger and mistrust. "Don't even mention her. I won't buy into anything either of you says. My sister had a deep-seated hatred for you. She disclosed the things you did – like taking money from my mom when she was in financial turmoil during the time our dad was seeking help for his own drinking problem!"

Holly's eyes held a weight of guilt as she looked at Marisol, acknowledging the tension in the air. Hollis, with a furrowed brow, processed the situation. Being well aware of his mom's penchant for dishonesty, this particular revelation fueled his frustration. In a mix of disbelief and anger, he cleared his throat and sharply questioned, "What the heck, Mom?" The exclamation captured Hollis's astonishment and displeasure at the unfolding situation.

Marisol shook her head, a bitter, sarcastic laugh escaping her lips. "I'm retreating to my room. Save your words," she spat, her tone laced with resentment. Giving Holly a final piercing look that conveyed her displeasure, Marisol left, leaving the lingering tension behind.

—

ash speaks!

i literally wrote this during school, so i'm sorry if its shit. i also apologize for not updating in a week. i have had writers block. i apologize for the short chapter!!!

also wanna thank for 3k views on this book! i hope you're enjoying it.

but obx s3 came out yesterday and it was so good! i see people saying it was terrible but like how!? i think it was good. the scenes, the ships, the acting, the entertainment, the plot twists! idk what you guys saw but i loved it :)