PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!
COMMENT AND VOTE. IT HELPS US WRITERS STAY MOTIVATED:)

Marisol settled down at the lunch table, enduring the seemingly endless speech from Counselor Blatt about the seriousness of bullying. She reclined in her chair, feeling a mix of boredom and annoyance, and casually propped her feet up on the table, a small act of rebellion against the monotony of the moment. As Blatt droned on, Marisol couldn't help but roll her eyes at her generic statements. "Cyberbullying is no laughing matter," she declared, her words lacking any real impact.

"Sending a cruel message online can be just as hurtful as saying it to someone's face." Marisol couldn't help but scoff internally at her clichéd advice. "I'm not gonna name names," she continued, "but the other day a mother called me up because her son was crying after some kids online made fun of his facial deformity." Marisol sighed, finding it hard to take the counselor's speech seriously when it lacked any real depth or understanding of the issue at hand.

Marisol's mouth dropped open in shock. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. She stood up, her eyes narrowing as she glared at the woman. "What the hell, lady!? You don't say that kind of thing. You're practically calling out who it was! Learn some common sense. I can't believe you millennials sometimes," she insulted, her frustration evident in her voice.

Counselor Blatt's eyes narrowed in disapproval as Miguel's laughter echoed through the room. Eli, conscious of his scar, instinctively shielded it with his hand, his smile fading slightly. Meanwhile, Demetri sank deeper into his chair, his face flushed with embarrassment. "What's so funny, young lady?" Blatt's voice dripped with authority. "We do not tolerate such behavior here. After lunch, you will find yourself in Principal Brown's office," she declared, her tone leaving no room for negotiation.

Marisol couldn't help but crack a mischievous grin. "Haha, good! My stepmom's gonna flip when she hears about this. She's Russian, and she's a badass lawyer. She'll sue your socks off!" she warned, her voice filled with a mix of satisfaction and defiance. The cafeteria erupted with "ooohs" as the confrontation unfolded. Counselor Blatt let out a frustrated "hmph" sound, clearly not thrilled with the situation. "Fine," she grumbled, giving in to Marisol's persistence. With a forced smile, Marisol settled back into her seat, feeling a rush of adrenaline. "Damn, Mars, that was badass," Miguel complimented, clearly impressed. Marisol winked back at him, relishing in the moment.

Miguel's cheeks turned a faint shade of pink as Counselor Blatt cleared her throat, trying to regain control of the conversation. "Uh, getting back to the topic, our goal is to create a safe environment for everyone in this school," she backtracked, attempting to steer the discussion in a more positive direction. Marisol couldn't help but roll her eyes in response to the counselor's attempt. Meanwhile, Miguel glanced over at Eli and Demetri, a spark of determination in his eyes. "You know, if you're tired of being bullied, my karate dojo is always looking for new recruits," he offered, extending a lifeline to his friends.

Eli took note of Demetri's sarcastic remark, his words dripping with skepticism. "Oh yeah, Eli, did you hear that? A little karate training and suddenly you're a total badass," Demetri quipped, playfully mimicking karate chop gestures, causing Marisol to burst into laughter. Miguel shifted in his chair, determined to make his point. "I'm dead serious, Demetri. My sensei is the real deal. I could definitely hook you guys up with some sweet discounts," he nodded confidently. Marisol let out a sigh, a satisfied smile playing on her lips. "Yeah, I think I'll pass on that offer," she replied, content with her decision.

"As enticing as that sounds, I think we'd rather spend our afternoons playing Crucible Control than getting hit in the face." Demetri enunciated as Marisol nodded in agreement. "I rather watch my Shameless or Stranger Things and many other tv shows than do karate."

Miguel couldn't help but roll his eyes at Marisol's comment. He knew that she still had some reservations about him, especially because of his lingering feelings for Sam, her ex. "Alright, one more thing," Marisol chimed in, her tone surprisingly cheerful. "As we're all getting excited for the Halloween dance, let's make sure our costumes are respectful of different cultures. Instead of going for a sexy nurse, maybe consider a gender-neutral hospital employee," she suggested, emphasizing the importance of cultural sensitivity.

Marisol let out a dry laugh, her amusement tinged with a mischievous tone. "Oh, I'm definitely going to ruffle that lady's feathers. My stepmom went all out and made me an outfit - a sexy cat costume, no less," she exclaimed, flipping her hair dramatically as she chuckled softly. Eli chimed in, his voice filled with anticipation, "I can't wait to see it." Marisol playfully nudged him in the side, adding to the lighthearted banter. "And hey, they better have some pizza at the dance. I'm a pizza lover through and through," she pleaded, eliciting laughter from Demetri. It sounds like you all are going to have a blast!

Demetri pleaded with her, his voice filled with concern. "Please, Marisol, let's not have another meltdown like last time." Marisol couldn't help but smirk mischievously in response. "Oh, I just might, if they don't have pizza," she shrugged nonchalantly. Miguel furrowed his eyebrows, clearly intrigued. "Wait, what happened last time?" he questioned, eager to know more.

Marisol's grin widened as she recounted the tale. "Well, our homecoming dance last year was a total disaster because there was no pizza. So, I took matters into my own hands and started a riot, complete with a petition to ensure we have pizza this year." She chuckled, remembering the chaos she caused. It sounds like you're not messing around when it comes to your love for pizza, Marisol!

Miguel eyes widened. "Jesus."

—

That night, Marisol was absolutely livid with Counselor Blatt. She couldn't contain her frustration and started venting about the whole situation. "Oh my god, let me tell you, that woman is going to make me want to strangle her!" Marisol exclaimed, her voice filled with irritation. "First, she called out Eli for something ridiculous. And then, to top it off, she had the audacity to tell me that I had to see Principal Browns after lunch." Marisol took a deep breath, her anger still simmering. "But you know what? I wasn't going to let her get away with it. I pulled out the big guns and played the 'My stepmom is Russian and a lawyer' card. And let me tell you, she backed off real quick." Marisol's tone was filled with a mix of triumph and defiance as she recounted the encounter.

Natasha couldn't help but burst into laughter. "You go, girl!" she cheered, giving Marisol a fist bump. "And seriously, who cares about the dress code? You rock that sexy cat costume, even if it's a bit overrated." Marisol added, a hint of defiance in her voice. Natasha winked in agreement. "Absolutely! It's all about having fun and being yourself. Can't wait to see you slay that costume!"

George cleared his throat, his tone laced with a hint of mischief. "You better make sure you're showing off just to get under that Sam girl's skin. I never really liked her anyway. Show her what she's missing!" Marisol couldn't help but crack a mischievous grin in response. "Oh, hell yeah!" she exclaimed, her excitement palpable.

George gasped dramatically, his eyes widening. "Oh, speaking of the dance, guess what? I got this super desperate email from the school. They're practically begging for chaperones," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Marisol couldn't help but shoot her dad a pleading look. "Please, please, please tell me you're not chaperoning," she begged, her tone filled with desperation. George shook his head vigorously. "No way! I was actually considering it, but then I saw that Sam's dad is listed as one of the chaperones. Ugh, I can't be around him. It'll totally ruin Cervantes Car Dealership's reputation. But hey, don't worry. Just text me or Nat if something goes wrong, and we'll swoop in and pick you and your friends up, okay?"

Marisol let out a sigh of relief, her shoulders relaxing as she flashed a bright smile. "No problem, dad!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with enthusiasm. She then took a big bite of her food, savoring the flavors. Mila chimed in with a suggestion, "Hey, why not have Nattie chaperone?" Marisol's eyes narrowed as she gave her friend a deathly glare. George pondered the idea, humming in thought. "You know what? That wouldn't be a bad idea," he trailed off, his gaze shifting towards Natasha.

Marisol's jaw dropped, forming a perfect "O" of surprise. Her eyes widened with a mix of shock and disbelief as she locked her gaze on Natasha. "Hold up, are you being serious right now?" she questioned, her voice laced with a hint of incredulity. "I mean, don't get me wrong, Nat, I love you to bits, but the thought of someone from my own family chaperoning... it's just too cringeworthy! I can already feel the embarrassment creeping up," she confessed, her cheeks flushing with a tinge of pink.

Natasha nodded, her gaze shifting towards George. He let out a sigh, his expression filled with concern. "Alright, Marisol, remember what I said. If anything goes wrong, just give us a call or shoot us a text," he gently reminded her. Marisol nodded in understanding, a small hum escaping her lips. "Got it, dad. You can count on me," she replied confidently.

—

A couple of days passed, leading up to the Halloween dance. Marisol and her dad pulled up in front of the school, where he sternly outlined the ground rules: "No sex, no alcohol, no drugs, and definitely no crying over Sam." Marisol chuckled, reassuring her dad, "Dad, you don't need to worry. I promise I'll be fine." He sighed, kissed her forehead, and reminded her to reach out if she needed anything, asking, "You'll be staying at Eli's tonight, right?"

Marisol nodded, a mix of emotions swirling within her. Her heart filled with love and gratitude as her dad expressed his affection. "Okay, love you, Marisol," he declared, his words wrapping her in a warm embrace. A genuine smile spread across Marisol's face as she replied, "Love you too."

As she slid out of her dad's car, anticipation danced in her eyes. And there, in that moment, she caught sight of Miguel. Excitement surged through her veins, and she couldn't contain her enthusiasm. "Miguel!" she called out, her voice carrying a blend of excitement and longing. She waved her hand, hoping to grab his attention, to bridge the distance between them. But to her dismay, Miguel took just one glance in her direction and carried on, as if she were invisible.

A mixture of hurt and frustration washed over Marisol, tugging at her heartstrings. She couldn't help but let out a light scoff, her voice tinged with disappointment. "Jerk," she mumbled under her breath, her words a quiet protest against the indifference she had just experienced.

Earlier that night, Miguel was hanging out with Johnny when he stumbled upon a surprising revelation. It turned out that Marisol had actually dated Sam, which explained her recent behavior towards him. The pieces of the puzzle fell into place, and Miguel understood why she had been a bit distant and rolled her eyes whenever Sam was mentioned. He discovered this unexpected truth by casually scrolling through Sam's Instagram and stumbling upon a photo of Sam and Marisol together, a picture that Sam had forgotten to delete. It was also captioned: my loves fifteenth birthday<3

As she stepped into the building, she made her way towards the gym. The moment she entered, a thick cloud of smoke enveloped her, and a sudden gust of wind from a fan brushed against her face. Sam's eyes were fixed on her, and a warm blush bloomed on her cheeks. She couldn't help but take in Marisol's appearance, scanning her from head to toe. However, before Sam could fully process her thoughts, Yasmine came rushing over, interrupting the moment and yelling at her.

Marisol sauntered over to Miguel, Eli, and Demetri, a mischievous smirk playing on her lips. "Hey, boyssss," she greeted, her tone dripping with confidence. Eli couldn't help but blush at the sight of her. "Whoa, you look hot, Mars," he stammered, his words filled with admiration. With a playful wink, she replied, "Thanks, Metri." Marisol dramatically flipped her hair, capturing Eli's attention completely. "You look really pretty," he managed to compliment, his voice filled with awe. Marisol's smile grew wider as she responded, "Thanks, E... wanna dance?"

Elis' eyes lit up with excitement. "S-Sure!" he stammered, unable to contain his enthusiasm. Marisol's face broke into a wide grin as she gently took his hand and led him onto the dance floor. Sensing his nervousness, she tilted her head slightly and smiled. "Don't worry, I'll show you," she reassured him. "Put one hand on my waist and the other on my shoulder." Elis followed her instructions, looking at her intently. "Now, let's move our feet back and forth together, and sometimes I'll twirl around," she explained, guiding him through the steps.

He nodded slowly, a mix of nervousness and determination in his eyes. As they began to move their feet back and forth together, he carefully stepped back, causing her to twirl around. The sound of her giggles filled the air, bringing a smile to his face. However, in the midst of their dance, he missed a step, causing her to stumble slightly. Instinctively, he reached out and held onto her arm, his eyes widening in apology. "I'm sorry!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with genuine concern. She chuckled softly, her laughter putting him at ease. "It's okay," she said reassuringly, her words washing away his worries.

Eli's heart raced as Marisol's eyes flickered to his lips. Without hesitation, she pulled him into a passionate kiss, their lips meeting in a moment of pure bliss. It was unexpected, but Eli couldn't help but feel a surge of happiness and butterflies in his stomach. This was the moment he had been longing for, and he savored every second of it. Closing his eyes, he allowed himself to melt into the kiss, feeling as if there was no tomorrow. However, their intimate moment was interrupted when Sam caught a glimpse of them locking lips. Instantly, a wave of unease washed over her, causing her stomach to drop.

Eli couldn't contain his smile as the Cervantes girl pulled away from the kiss, her eyes shining with happiness. "I like you," he admitted, his voice filled with sincerity. Her smile grew wider as she responded, "I do too." The air was thick with anticipation as Eli trailed off, unsure of what to say next. But before he could finish his sentence, she leaned in and kissed him softly, sealing their unspoken agreement. "Yeah, you're my boyfriend," she declared, her words filling him with joy.

His smile widened even more, unable to contain his excitement. He had been waiting for this day, longing for her to be by his side. "I've liked you since I first met you," he confessed, his voice filled with nostalgia. "You saved me from those bullies that one day in kindergarten, and you've always been there for me, even when we weren't that close for a few years. But I always hoped and manifested - yeah, thanks for getting me into that in seventh grade - for you to come back."

She grinned, her eyes filled with warmth. "I've liked you since I first met you too-" she began, her voice filled with affection. But before she could finish her sentence, Demetri suddenly appeared, panting and out of breath. He urgently interrupted their conversation, his words tumbling out in a rush. "Guys! W- We gotta go. Kyler and his goons caught us eavesdropping on their conversation!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with panic.

"Dude, seriously? You just had to go and interrupt my heartfelt confession to liking Eli!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with a mix of frustration and amusement. With a playful smack on his arm, she expressed her annoyance.

Demetri looked at them both, a perplexed expression on his face. "Wait, what?! You guys are actually together!?" His eyes widened in genuine surprise. "Yes, genius! I've been dropping hints left and right!" she responded, half-jokingly. Demetri panted, trying to catch his breath from his sudden arrival. "Okay, okay, well, we definitely need to get out of here! Call your stepmom and let's get her to drive us to Eli's place, pronto!"

Marisol eyebrows raised. "Jesus, okay!"

—

ash speaks!

i still don't know whos endgame. but im so tempted for it to be eli.