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IT ALL STARTED IN SIXTH GRADE.... Eleven-year-old Marisol confidently strutted through the bustling seventh-grade hallway, her excitement palpable. Suddenly, her momentum was abruptly halted as she collided with another girl, causing Marisol to blurt out an expletive in surprise. "Oh, shit! I'm so sorry," she quickly apologized, her eyes widening as she took in the familiar face before her. It was none other than Sam LaRusso, the daughter of the legendary Daniel LaRusso.

Marisol's excitement bubbled over as she couldn't contain herself. "Oh my god! You're Daniel LaRusso's daughter!" she exclaimed, her grin stretching from ear to ear. Sam let out a weary sigh, her expression confirming Marisol's observation. "Yeah, I am..." she replied, her tone tinged with a hint of resignation.

Marisol couldn't help but notice the exhaustion that seemed to weigh heavily on Sam's shoulders. Concern etched across her face, she furrowed her eyebrows and leaned in closer. "Hey, are you okay?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine care. Sam let out a deep sigh, her frustration pouring out like a burst dam. "Nah, I'm not. It's like everyone only talks to me because of my dad!" she exclaimed, her voice carrying a mix of annoyance and weariness, causing a few heads to turn in their direction.

Marisol's expression softened into a frown as she realized the impact of her words. "Oh, man, I'm really sorry if I came off that way," she said, her voice laced with sincerity. She wanted Sam to know that she genuinely cared and didn't want to contribute to her frustrations.

Sam's face broke into a wide grin, her eyes lighting up with genuine delight. "Wow, you're the first person who's actually apologized," she exclaimed, her voice filled with a mix of surprise and relief. "Hey, you know what? Why don't you come over to my place and hang out? I've seen you around school all the time," she suggested, her excitement palpable.

Marisol couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement herself, her smile growing wider. "Yeah, absolutely! I'd love to," she replied eagerly, her eyes locked with Sam's. Just as the words left her lips, the familiar sound of the school bell echoed through the hallway, signaling the end of the day. Marisol's enthusiasm didn't waver as she quickly realized the urgency of the moment. "Oh, right! I need your number," she said hurriedly, reaching for her phone and offering it to Sam, eager to exchange contact information and solidify their plans.

Marisol observed as Sam swiftly typed her number into the phone and handed it back to her. Sam playfully winked and waved as she walked away, leaving Marisol with a wistful expression on her face. "Cervantes, class!" Demetri's voice broke through the daydream, causing Marisol to groan in annoyance. She reluctantly made her way into Mrs. Georgies' classroom, plopping down next to Eli. He was meticulously organizing his books, going through a phase where everything needed to be perfectly arranged.

Marisol couldn't help but let out a light-hearted laugh, her eyes crinkling with amusement. "You good?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine concern as she noticed how tense Eli appeared. He shrugged his shoulders, his uncertainty palpable. "I don't know. I-" Marisol narrowed her eyes, eager to hear what he was about to say, but their conversation was abruptly interrupted. "¡Clase, guarden los teléfonos! La clase está a punto de comenzar. Este es solo el segundo día de mi clase de español, así que eventualmente solo me dirigiré a ustedes en español. ¿Entendido?" Mrs. Georgie's voice filled the room, commanding attention with a mixture of authority and enthusiasm.

TRANSLATION; Come on, put your phones away! The class is about to begin. This is only the second day of my Spanish class, so eventually I will only address you in Spanish. Understood?

—

PRESENT TIME

It had been two whole weeks since the incident. Marisol woke up a few hours after her surgery, finding herself with stitches in the back of her head. Thankfully, her memory remained intact, and the severity of the injury wasn't too extreme. The only lingering effect she would experience were massive headaches for a few months as the stitches healed. Additionally, she had to limit certain activities like karate and driving until further notice.

Marisol reluctantly went along with Eli's story, but the truth was, she couldn't just brush off what he had done. Today was the day she finally returned to school, her suspension lifted. As she stepped through those school doors, she immediately felt the weight of everyone's gaze on her. Whispers filled the air, and curious eyes followed her every move. But Marisol refused to let it get to her. So what if they were talking? She held her head high, determined to show them that she was unfazed. After her backpack went through the security check, she eagerly snatched it up, ready to face whatever challenges awaited her.

Marisol locked eyes with Hawk, feeling a mix of annoyance and frustration. Without hesitation, she rolled her eyes, causing Hawk's smirk to instantly vanish. Mitch couldn't help but chuckle at the exchange between them. It had been a while since Marisol had seen Sam since the whole incident unfolded. As she reluctantly made her way to her first class, which happened to be in the Computer Lab, she couldn't shake off her lack of enthusiasm.

Taking Computer Science for a credit was not exactly her idea of an exciting subject. But just as she reached the staircase, her eyes landed on Sam, who seemed visibly scared. Marisol approached her cautiously, her hand slowly reaching out to rest on Sam's shoulder. Startled, Sam jumped and turned her head, causing Marisol to quickly retract her hand. Marisol furrowed her eyebrows, giving Sam a sympathetic look. "Hey, take it easy... it's okay. It's just me," she said, raising her hands in a reassuring gesture.

Sam's eyes fixated on Marisol, her gaze filled with concern. She carefully assessed Marisol's appearance, making sure she was alright. The worry etched on Sam's face was evident as she anxiously scanned her surroundings. "I have to go," Sam exclaimed, her voice trembling with urgency, as she swiftly made her way out before Marisol could utter another word. Just as she was about to leave, a voice pierced through Marisol's ears, calling out her name.

Startled, Marisol turned around to face a girl with wavy hair, who bore a striking resemblance to Sam. Marisol's greeting was cautious yet curious, as she uttered a simple "Hi?", unsure of what to expect from this unexpected encounter.

The girl's face lit up with a warm smile, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "Hey there, I'm Therese Alsten, a proud member of the Journalism Club," she introduced herself, her voice filled with excitement. "I was hoping to chat with you about the school fight, if you're up for it." Marisol's mouth fell open in astonishment, her eyebrows shooting up in surprise. "Uh, yeah, sure... but can we maybe do this during lunch? Perhaps in the library?" she whispered, her voice barely audible. Nervously, Marisol scanned the area, noticing the curious gazes of the people around them, which only added to her unease.

Therese's face lit up with an infectious smile, radiating excitement. "Yeah, for sure!" she exclaimed, her voice brimming with enthusiasm. Marisol's heart danced with a mix of anticipation and nerves. She didn't feel like heading straight to the Computer Lab, so she made a spontaneous decision to head to the Counselor's office for first period instead.

—

SIXTH GRADE

George brought the car to a halt in front of the LaRusso household, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the house. Marisol couldn't help but shoot him a curious look, her expression a mix of confusion and concern. "Daddy, why do you hate Daniel LaRusso so much?" she questioned, her voice filled with genuine curiosity. George met her gaze, his eyes filled with a hint of sadness and wisdom. "That's a story for when you're older, okay? Right now, I need to head back to the dealership. Just give me a shout when you're ready to be picked up," he explained, his tone gentle yet tinged with a touch of secrecy.

She hums a cheerful tune as she gracefully slides out of her dad's car, her excitement palpable. Walking up to the door, she gives it a few light knocks, a bright smile on her face. Sam eagerly throws the door open, her voice filled with pure joy. "Hey! Come on in," she exclaims, ushering her inside with animated gestures.

Marisol can't help but giggle, her laughter blending with the sound of the door closing behind her. As she steps inside, her eyes widen in amazement at the sheer grandeur of Sam's house. "Wow, I love your house!" she exclaims, her voice filled with genuine awe. Sam responds with a soft chuckle, her smile slightly reserved but still warm. "Thanks," she says, her voice carrying a hint of appreciation.

Marisol's head swivels around at the sound of Daniel's voice, her curiosity piqued. "Marisol Cervantes?" he says, his tone filled with recognition. She responds with a melodic hum, her excitement evident. "Yup!" she exclaims, her voice brimming with enthusiasm. Daniel extends his hand towards her, a warm smile lighting up his face. "Nice to meet you. Sam's dad," he chuckles, creating an instant connection.

Marisol eagerly shakes his hand, feeling a sense of familiarity. "Nice to meet you too," she says, her words laced with genuine friendliness. Daniel playfully places his hands on his hips, a playful glint in his eyes. "Doesn't your dad own that dealership?" he asks, his curiosity piqued. Marisol nods, her smile widening. "Yeah!" she confirms, her voice tinged with pride. She's thrilled that Daniel knows about her family's business.

He forces a smile, his lips stretching into a strained grin. "Nice. Well, I'll leave you girls," he waves goodbye, his hand swaying in the air. Marisol gazes at Sam, her brows furrowing in confusion. "That was weird..." she trails off, her voice tinged with uncertainty. Sam chimes in, her agreement evident. "Weird? Agreed," she adds, her voice mirroring Marisol's sentiment. The two friends share a moment of shared bewilderment, their thoughts aligning.

—

PRESENT DAY

Marisol enters the library, her footsteps echoing against the hushed atmosphere. Her eyes scan the room until they land on Therese, seated at a table. With a mix of excitement and anticipation, Marisol drops her bag onto the chair across from Therese and settles in. "Hey," she says softly, her voice carrying a sense of familiarity. Therese looks up, a playful smile dancing on her lips as she removes an AirPod from her ear. "Oh, hey! Just give me a second to wrap up here, and then we can dive right in," she responds, her tone filled with eagerness. The two friends exchange glances, their shared enthusiasm evident.

Marisol's head bobbed up and down in agreement as she watched Therese carefully tuck her AirPods into her backpack and slip her book inside as well. Taking a moment to survey the library, Marisol realized that there weren't any familiar faces in sight. With a sense of anticipation, Therese placed a petite journal on the table, gripping a pen in her hand. "So, spill the tea! What's the scoop on you and Sam? Tell me all the juicy details," she prodded, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

Marisol playfully raised an eyebrow, a mischievous smile dancing on her lips. "Haha, feels like I'm getting grilled here!" she joked, earning a laugh from Therese. "No worries, girl. We all start somewhere," Therese apologized, her laughter subsiding.

Marisol waved her hand dismissively. "Nah, it's all good! So, let me spill the tea. It's a wild ride, let me tell you. Sam and I have been tight since the sixth grade. But things didn't get spicy until we hit thirteen. Picture this: my fourteenth birthday bash. And guess where we locked lips for the first time? My bathroom, under the dreamy glow of fairy lights. How iconic is that? I'm all about that crafty, aesthetic vibe, you know? Anyway, we started dating after that magical moment, but it hasn't been smooth sailing. We've had our fair share of breakups and makeups along the way."

Therese scribbled down her thoughts in her journal, her gaze lifting to meet Marisol's. "Alright, spill the tea about Hawk," she prodded, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. Marisol's lips formed a slight frown, her expression tinged with a mix of emotions. "Hawk... I've known that guy since we were practically in diapers," she replied, a hint of nostalgia coloring her voice. Memories flooded her mind, taking her back to their childhood days filled with mischief and laughter.

Therese gave Marisol a quizzical look, her eyes narrowing in skepticism. "Wait a minute, hold up. Sam told me you and Hawk go way back to third grade. What's the real story?" she probed, her curiosity piqued. Marisol let out an exasperated sigh, her lips curling into a wry smile.

"Girl, let me set the record straight. Hawk and I go way further back than that. Our moms were tight, like BFFs from high school. And because of that, we practically grew up together. We were inseparable, always hanging out and getting into all sorts of trouble. I remember when Hawk had surgery for his cleft lip in first grade, I was right there by his side, holding his hand and cheering him on. That's the real deal, no third grade nonsense," she explained, her voice filled with a mix of nostalgia and fondness.

The girl with the wavy hair eagerly jotted down her notes, her eyes flicking up to meet Marisol's once again. She couldn't contain her curiosity any longer and blurted out, "Hey, is it true that you accidentally fell into the computers all by yourself?" Marisol let out a thoughtful hum, a mischievous glint dancing in her eyes. "Oh yeah, that's one crazy story," she replied with a sly grin. Therese furrowed her eyebrows, clearly skeptical. "Wait, seriously? How did that even happen?" she questioned, her voice tinged with disbelief.

Marisol chuckled, leaning in closer. "Well, picture this: it was a wild combination of clumsiness, a slippery floor, and a mischievous computer cord. Let's just say I had a not-so-graceful encounter with the technology," she explained, her tone filled with amusement. Therese shook her head in disbelief, but couldn't help but crack a smile. "You never cease to amaze me, Marisol," she admitted. Just as the conversation seemed to be winding down, Hawk's voice suddenly broke the silence, capturing Marisol's attention.

She whipped around, her eyes narrowing as she caught sight of Hawk's piercing stare. "You better keep your distance, Hawk!" she growled, her voice laced with a mix of anger and defiance. With a surge of adrenaline, she pushed herself up from her seat, her movements swift and determined. The sound of her footsteps echoed through the library as she stormed out, the door swinging shut behind her with a resounding thud.

—

ash speaks!

sorry for the short chapter; but im super excited for the rest of this book!!!

thanks for reading and pls continue to comment and vote for the support<333