"Yas, stop. He looks cute in that sweater,"

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im so sorry for all the notifications but please stop being a ghost reader!!!! us writers work hard on these chapters. i know i ask this a lot, but i really don't like ghost readers because i work super hard on these chapters so when i see views going up bt votes not its hard for my motivation!
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Odessa Mae Reyes stood in front of the bathroom mirror, tugging the sleeves of her oversized hoodie down over her hands as she examined her reflection. The hoodie was an old, slightly faded black, the cuffs worn from where she'd nervously picked at the stitching. Good enough. She wasn't in the mood for anything more put together.

Her dark brown hair was still slightly damp from the shower, curling at the ends as it rested against her shoulders. She glanced at the clock. 7:23. If she left right now, she could catch the early bus and avoid her parents' lecture-or worse, the dreaded "family talk" before the first day of school.

Grabbing her backpack from the hook on her bedroom door, Odessa shoved her history textbook inside, the corners of the pages already crumpled from being stuffed in carelessly all summer. She swung the bag over her shoulder and slipped out into the hallway, moving quietly as her socked feet padded along the hardwood floor.

The scent of fresh coffee and toast drifted up from the kitchen, making her stomach twist with both hunger and anxiety. She knew her parents-especially her mom-were waiting downstairs with some kind of speech ready. They always did this on the first day of school. But she didn't have time for it today.

Almost there.

She hit the bottom step, heart pounding as her hand brushed the doorknob-

"Odessa Mae Reyes! Get back here right now!"

Odessa flinched, eyes squeezing shut for half a second. So close.

Her mom's voice echoed sharply from the kitchen, unmistakable in its I'm not messing around tone. Resigned, Odessa released the doorknob and turned toward the kitchen, dragging her feet as she entered.

Charlotte Reyes was already standing at the counter, arms crossed, a disapproving look etched onto her face. She wore a pale lavender blouse tucked into perfectly pressed slacks, not a single dark hair out of place from her bun, as if she were the one heading to school today. Her dad, Kingston, was seated at the dining table, as put-together as ever with his neatly trimmed beard and a crisp button-down, the morning paper spread out in front of him.

And then there was Odessa-standing there in an old hoodie, worn sneakers, and the energy of someone who just wanted to disappear.

"Trying to sneak out again?" Charlotte asked, narrowing her eyes.

"I wasn't sneaking out," Odessa muttered. "I'm just not hungry."

Her mom pointed to the plate already set on the counter-scrambled eggs, toast, perfectly sliced strawberries, and a glass of orange juice. So much effort for a basic breakfast.

"Sit. Eat," Charlotte said firmly.

Odessa groaned but knew there was no point arguing. She dropped her backpack with a loud thud and slouched into the chair, picking up a piece of toast and tearing off a corner. She didn't even taste it.

The silence that followed was unbearable. She could feel both her parents watching her, waiting. And sure enough, after a beat, Kingston folded the newspaper with a crisp snap and set it aside.

"We wanted to talk to you about this year," he began, tone calm but authoritative.

Odessa resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Here we go.

"This is an important year for you, Odessa," Charlotte chimed in, stepping around the counter to stand beside her husband. "Your grades are already solid, but you need to stay focused if you want to maintain your honors classes and keep up with college prep."

"I know, Mom," Odessa mumbled around the toast.

"Apparently not, considering how you barely touched your summer reading until last week."

Odessa's face heated. Seriously? Did they have to bring that up again?

Kingston cleared his throat. "We've already spoken to Mrs. Kessler about your schedule. You'll be in study group every Wednesday afternoon. And we expect you to stay consistent with it."

"Okay," she muttered, focusing hard on the toast in her hands.

Charlotte gave her a sharp look. "No 'okay.' We're serious. And we expect you to be responsible with your time. That means planning ahead if you want to hang out with friends. At least twenty-four hours' notice-and only if your grades stay where they should be."

Odessa's head snapped up. "I don't even do anything! It's not like I'm out partying every weekend."

"That's not the point," her dad cut in, calm but firm. "It's about responsibility. Balance."

"And," Charlotte added, her voice tightening, "absolutely no boys. We've been clear about this, Odessa. You're too young for those kinds of distractions."

Odessa stared at them, toast halfway to her mouth. Was this really necessary?

Her parents' eyes remained stern, unyielding.

Finally, she set the toast back down with a loud plop on the plate. "Can I go now?"

Charlotte pressed her lips together, clearly holding back another lecture, but finally nodded.

Odessa grabbed her bag, pushing her chair back with a scrape against the tile floor. "Love you," she muttered under her breath, already halfway out the door.

"Love you too, sweetheart," her dad called after her.

As the door shut behind her, the morning air felt cooler than she expected, a sharp contrast to the heat simmering in her chest.

Just survive today.

The first day of school was always a whirlwind-buzzing hallways, slamming lockers, and the scent of fresh notebooks mixing with the lingering aroma of floor polish. Odessa Reyes adjusted the strap of her backpack, her freshly organized binder tucked neatly against her chest as she scanned the maze of students. Voices overlapped, laughter echoed, and clusters of friends reconnected after summer break, but Odessa stayed focused, dodging the chaos as she searched for Room 202-Spanish 1.

Her heart raced a little faster than usual, the start-of-school nerves kicking in. Sophomore year felt heavier, more important. And with the strict expectations her parents had laid out over breakfast-perfect grades, study group commitment, no boys, no distractions-the pressure sat on her shoulders like a weight she couldn't quite shake.

Almost there.

"Odessa!"

She turned at the sound of her name just in time to see Yasmine sauntering toward her, the familiar click of her designer boots echoing off the tile. Her lip gloss was flawless, her dark hair pin-straight and sleek, not a single strand out of place. Right behind her were Sam and Moon, both looking much more laid-back-Sam with her signature denim jacket and Moon's flowy, boho-style cardigan that practically screamed "hippie-chic."

Odessa smiled warmly. "Hey, guys-"

But Yasmine's sharp voice cut her off, smirking as she tilted her head toward a scene unfolding down the hall. "Would you look at that?"

Odessa followed her gaze, eyes landing on Demetri struggling to shut his locker. He was wrestling with a towering stack of textbooks, one nearly slipping from his grip as he tried-and failed-to shove the locker door closed with his knee.

Yasmine snorted. "Still the same Demetri, huh? It's like, painful to watch."

Odessa blinked, frowning slightly. "Yas, seriously?"

Yasmine raised a perfectly arched brow. "What? I'm just saying-"

Odessa, always the peacemaker, gave her a teasing nudge. "Come on, give him a break. Besides..." She paused, her lips curling into a smirk as she whispered, "You're totally obsessed with him. Just admit it."

Yasmine's jaw dropped, eyes going wide in a mixture of shock and pure offense. "Wha-excuse me?! I am not obsessed with-"

Moon, who had been sipping from a reusable water bottle, nearly choked from laughing. Sam covered her mouth, trying (and failing) to suppress her own giggles.

Odessa shrugged innocently, her grin widening. "I mean, you stare at him a lot for someone who doesn't care. Just go kiss him already."

Yasmine's face turned scarlet, her voice rising slightly. "I-I don't-he's-shut up!"

The bell rang just in time, echoing through the halls. Odessa shot them a wink as she backed toward her classroom. "Gotta go! Try not to die of embarrassment, Yas!"

Yasmine's glare burned into her back as she slipped into Room 202, the door clicking shut behind her.

The classroom was already half full, sunlight streaming through the windows, catching the dust particles in the air. Desks were paired in neat rows, and the whiteboard already had a welcoming "Bienvenidos a Español Uno" written in flowing script.

Odessa slid into a desk in the middle row, pulling out her notebook and pencil pouch, mentally preparing for the lesson ahead when the door creaked open again.

Miguel.

He hesitated just inside the doorway, scanning the seats, looking a little unsure of himself. His dark curls were damp, probably from a quick shower, and he smelled faintly like fresh soap. His backpack hung loosely over one shoulder, slightly lopsided, and the way his eyes shifted around the room made it obvious he wasn't sure where to sit.

Odessa didn't think. She just raised a hand and waved him over, offering a warm smile.

Miguel blinked, like he was checking to make sure she was actually waving at him. His eyes widened slightly, but he made his way toward her with that nervous energy he always seemed to carry.

He slid into the desk beside hers, fiddling with the zipper on his bag as he set it down. "Oh, um...hi-hi, Odessa." His voice cracked slightly, and he looked down, clearly flustered.

Odessa bit back a smile. "Hey. Thanks again for the ride home yesterday, by the way. That was really sweet of you."

Miguel's head snapped up, eyes even wider. "Oh! Uh-yeah! No problem! I mean, it was...cool. Yeah. The ride. I-um-yeah."

Odessa giggled softly. "I've never been on a motorcycle before. It was fun."

Miguel swallowed hard, nodding way too fast. "Totally! My bike's pretty fast, you know. I mean, not too fast. Just, like, the right kind of fast? But, um, safe! Super safe. Totally safe. Safety first."

Odessa grinned, resting her chin in her hand as she watched him ramble. He was adorable when he was nervous.

Before Miguel could embarrass himself further, the teacher, Señora Cruz, clapped her hands from the front of the room, silencing the chatter.

"¡Atención, clase! Bienvenidos a Español Uno. Let's start with introductions."

Miguel shot Odessa a quick, shy smile before the lesson began. She couldn't help but smile back, already deciding that maybe, just maybe, Spanish class wouldn't be so bad after all.

The lunch bell echoed through the crowded halls, signaling the midday rush as students poured into the cafeteria. The air was thick with the scent of greasy pizza, overcooked fries, and milk cartons. Odessa Reyes trailed behind Sam and Yasmine as they made their way into the lunch line, the three girls picking up their trays while Yasmine rambled on about something Odessa had mostly tuned out.

"...and I was like, seriously? That shirt with those boots? I don't care if it's designer; it was giving total farm girl trying too hard-"

Odessa hummed in vague agreement as a tired-looking lunch lady dropped a slice of pizza onto her tray with a dull thud. But her attention had already drifted away from Yasmine's commentary. Across the cafeteria, she spotted Miguel Diaz sitting at one of the corner tables with Demetri and Eli, both of whom looked deeply engrossed in conversation while Miguel quietly picked at his food.

Without thinking, Odessa shifted her tray higher, offering Sam and Yasmine a quick, "I'll catch up with you guys in a sec," before slipping away from the lunch line.

"Wait-what? Odessa!" Yasmine's voice echoed behind her, but Odessa was already weaving through the crowd.

At their table, Demetri and Eli were in the middle of what appeared to be a heated debate.

"I'm just saying, if Spider-Man had been in The Matrix, he could've totally dodged those bullets like-" Demetri stopped mid-sentence, his mouth falling open when Odessa appeared at their table, her tray in hand. Eli blinked, looking equally stunned, though his reaction was far more subtle, his fork dropping from his hand.

Miguel noticed their silence first, brows furrowing as he turned-then immediately straightened up when he saw Odessa standing there.

"Hey, Eli. Hey, Demetri!" Odessa greeted cheerfully as she set her tray down and slid into the empty seat directly across from Miguel. Then she turned to him, her smile softening just a little. "Hey, Migs."

Miguel's face turned a deep shade of red, his grip tightening on his fork. "M-Migs?" he echoed, voice cracking slightly as he fought the instinct to sink lower in his chair.

Demetri squinted, pointing a dramatic finger between them. "Wait a second-hold up- you know our names?"

Odessa tilted her head, amused. "Of course, I do. You guys sit right behind me in Spanish, remember?"

Demetri blinked, clearly struggling to process this. "You remember our names? Do you have us confused with some other nerds, because-"

"Demetri," Miguel groaned under his breath, shooting him a look.

Odessa just smiled, clearly unfazed. "You guys are fun. Spanish would be so boring without your weird little side conversations. Honestly, I wish you'd talk louder so I could hear more of them."

Eli, who had been quietly keeping his head down this entire time, turned pink and shifted awkwardly in his seat. Demetri, on the other hand, gasped like he'd just uncovered the secret to the universe.

"Wait-WAIT-okay, no, this has to be a prank. Miguel, are you seriously friends with Odessa Reyes? Like, the Odessa Reyes-one of the prettiest girls in school? And you didn't think to mention this?!"

Miguel's face was practically glowing red at this point. "I-I'm not-It's not like-"

Odessa, blushing slightly but still smiling, shrugged. "Well, thanks for the compliment, Demetri."

Demetri looked like he was about to say something else, but Miguel cut in, still clearly flustered. "I, uh-Odessa's car broke down yesterday, so I...gave her a ride home. On my bike. That's all."

Demetri's jaw dropped. "WHAT?" He turned back to Odessa in disbelief. "You-You were on his bike? Like, the-"

"A bicycle, Demetri," Miguel groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. "Not a motorcycle. Just...my normal bike."

Demetri held his hands up like he'd just heard the most shocking plot twist in cinematic history. "Still, dude! A girl that cool let you give her a ride on your bicycle?! Do you realize how-"

"Demetri," Eli muttered, shooting him a look.

Odessa just laughed, leaning her elbow on the table and resting her chin in her hand. "It wasn't a big deal. I actually had fun. Miguel's, like, the perfect gentleman."

Miguel let out a noise somewhere between a cough and a choke, his face turning impossibly redder.

Before anyone else could speak, a loud voice pierced through the cafeteria.

"Odessa!"

All four of them snapped their heads up to see Yasmine across the room, arms crossed, tapping her foot impatiently.

Sam was standing next to her, looking more curious than upset, but Yasmine's glare was practically lethal.

Odessa winced, sighing under her breath as she grabbed her tray. "Guess I better go before she explodes."

Miguel nodded, still too tongue-tied to say much beyond, "Uh-see you in Spanish?"

Odessa smiled. "Definitely."

She turned to leave, missing the way Demetri dramatically pointed at Miguel, mouthing, What. Just. Happened?! as Miguel buried his face in his hands.

Odessa made her way back to the table where Yasmine, Sam, and Moon were already sitting. As she approached, Yasmine scoffed loudly, her voice dripping with judgment. "God, why were you sitting with those nerds?" Yasmine's lip curled, her eyes narrowing as she shot Odessa a disgusted look.

Odessa, still feeling a bit warmed from her interaction with Miguel, raised an eyebrow and gave Yasmine a pointed look. "Excuse me?" Odessa's voice was calm but laced with an edge. The temperature at the table seemed to drop as the weight of her gaze settled on Yasmine.

Before Yasmine could retort, Sam-sensing the impending clash-shot Odessa a pleading look. She subtly shook her head, signaling for Odessa to let it go, a soft 'please don't' etched across her face.

Odessa sighed, the annoyance bubbling beneath the surface threatening to spill over. "Oh my God, you guys..." She rolled her eyes dramatically and dropped her tray on the table with a soft clink. "You see that guy over there who looks like he went down on a lawnmower?"

Sam, Odessa, and Moon all looked in the direction Yasmine had indicated, and their gazes immediately locked onto Eli, who was sitting with his back slightly hunched, his fingers grazing the scarred lip as if trying to hide the mark.

Yasmine continued her rant with a mixture of disdain and amusement, "He's literally wearing the ugliest sweater I've ever seen."

Odessa felt her blood pressure rise. She glanced at Eli for a split second and saw the subtle way he tried to shrink into himself. She could feel the defensive urge building inside her. Yasmine's words weren't just about a sweater. They were about something much deeper-something Odessa was not about to let slide.

"Yas, stop." Odessa's voice was firm, her jaw tightening as she turned back to her friend. "He looks cute in that sweater."

Yasmine raised an eyebrow, unfazed by Odessa's deflection, and a smirk tugged at her lips. "Shit, not just one nerd, you like all three of them, Dessi?" Yasmine asked, her tone mocking.

Odessa's fists clenched tightly, nails digging into her palms. She felt the irritation burning in her chest. Yasmine's casual cruelty-especially towards people Odessa had started to care about-was like a flickering fuse that could ignite at any moment.

That moment had arrived.

Odessa stood up abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor. She took a breath, feeling the weight of the table's tension hanging in the air. "I'm done," Odessa stated, her voice laced with finality. Without waiting for a response, she picked up her plate with a sharp motion and turned on her heel.

The others at the table watched her go, but Odessa was already focused on something-or rather, someone-else. Her gaze landed on Miguel's table, where he was sitting with Demetri and Eli. Without a second thought, Odessa walked over to them, making her way with a certain kind of purpose.

She paused just before Miguel's table, catching their attention. "Mind if I sit here for now on?" Odessa asked with a soft smile, her voice light.

Miguel looked up, eyes widening slightly in surprise, but his face broke into a warm smile. "Of course," he replied, gesturing to the empty seat beside him.

Demetri, who had been mid-bite in a conversation with Eli, froze. His mouth hung open in utter shock. "Wait, what?" He sputtered, his eyes darting between Odessa, Miguel, and Eli. The air around them seemed to freeze, his disbelief palpable.

Odessa gave a quiet chuckle, brushing past Demetri and settling herself next to Miguel, who shifted a little in his seat to make room. She felt a subtle sense of relief as she sat down, the tension from her table dissipating. Her gaze flickered up to Miguel, who had a mixture of surprise and amusement playing across his features.

"I'll, uh...be right back," Demetri mumbled, still trying to process the unexpected shift in the dynamic.

Miguel smirked and looked at Odessa. "You know, they won't stop talking about you now."

Odessa just grinned, but her eyes remained focused on the trio behind her as they tried to make sense of the situation. The whole interaction had been a statement-a declaration, really-that she wasn't going to sit idly by while her friends belittled people she considered worth getting to know. And maybe it had been a little hasty, but Odessa didn't regret it.

She would never apologize for defending people who deserved respect.

ASH SPEAKS!!!

ergh i cant wait to continue writing miguel and odessa... i dont think i'm gonna have them have any issues. they're gonna be together forever and ever. i'll just insert a new oc in s2 for tory and sam cause miggie will not be cheating our girl odessa!!!!

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VOTE AND COMMENT. IT HELPS US WRITERS STAY MOTIVATED:)