CHAPTER 10/1.

How do you know Spanish?

Lexie.

With the handle of my bag falling off my shoulder and the coffee I bought for Noah spilling down my forearm, I run to my first class. I'm getting my cotton t-shirt dirty.

As today I will give the entrance exam for the mixed martial arts team, I got up first than Liam so that you can train a little before this afternoon. An hour of boxing and an hour of technique is not enough to make up for all that I have not trained, yet I am ten minutes late for the arts elective.

When I'm around the corner, the classroom door is closing behind a mass of black hair.

The classroom door is closing behind a mass of black hair.

—HEY PUE ...! —I start to scream as I run as long as I can, but before I can get a word out, it's already been closed.

Shit! What do I do now? Think Lexie, think, think.

Agh if only the black-haired idiot had listened to me.

—Fool!

—So early cursing? —I am startled by the sudden voice.

I turn around and, yep it had to be.

—If he's the most stupid in the history of idiots —I say sarcastically— What is the honor?

She looks at me with a raised eyebrow.

—You're cutting off brat.

I look both ways.

—I don't think so, the hallway is quite wide. —I raise an eyebrow in imitation.

—I don't need the hall.

—Already —I say, moving closer.

—No.

—So you admit you're only here to annoy me? —I give him a smug look. Ha! I caught it.

She rolls her eyes.

—You know Lex I didn't think you were so self-centered —she looks at me from head to toe— now move.

Egocentric? She just called me egocentric, who does this guy think he is? if he's the most changeable person in the world.

—It's Lexie, it's Lexie to you.

She moves closer until she is face to face.

—Well!

She grabs me by her shoulders moving me to the side. I resist.

—What are you...? —She tightens her grip on her making me shut up.

—I told you to move, I need to get into this class —she argues, staring at me.

I open my mouth to speak but close it the instant the door opens and an older man appears, tall, thin as celery, with a chest-length beard, and shoulder-length hair in a hippie wave.

He looked like Jesus.

Logan released his hold on him the moment the man appeared and froze in place, just like me, the resemblance was evident.

—What's his excuse? —Jesus asks with his arms crossed over his chest.

—Um ...

Shit, I can't think of any convincing enough lies, she was too busy staring at Jesus.

Logan grabbed my hand, intertwining his fingers with mine.

I felt like all the hair on my skin went goosebumps at the touch of him. I shuddered.

—I'm sorry we're new, my cousin was convinced that the classroom was on the other side and we got lost —he said decidedly.

Cousin? He had said cousin.

I was going to reply but nothing came out of my mouth, I felt him tighten my grip in a warning. I was very busy not blushing and getting very nervous at the touch of him, it was impossible.

Put your head down.

—Well come in, let it be the last time.

We walked in while he let me lead by Logan's hand until he found two empty desks. I didn't want to sit with him, it was either that or sit on the floor.

—Well boys, as I was telling you, my name is Francisco Jiménez and I will be your art and photography teacher throughout the semester, then in the second semester, you will decide whether to change or stay.

He had a weird accent.

—The first job I'll give you will be to copy the names I'll put on the slides and investigate and see their works.— He looked at all of us very seriously.— What are you assholes waiting for ?! Make notes!

Stupid. Well, he was Mexican, I could recognize him.

—How cool is Mexican —I commented to Logan.

He chuckled.

—Now are you talking to me? —He asks, shaking his head.

—Whatt? —I say confused.

—Because all you've done so far is verbally lash out at me like I have the plague.

God, what a difficult boy.

—What? Are you speechless or are you searching your brat head for an insult to tell me? —She attacks.

He was right, I was just insulting him a little while ago. My bad temper is due to the Movida morning and the nerves that I have.

I shake my head.

—I'm sorry ... I ... I have no arguments but I had a heavy morning, I'm late and the nerves I bring more —I sigh —I shouldn't have taken it out on you.

—You have to stop being worse than a tampon. —He whispered in his voice so arrogant it irritated me.

—Sorry?

—What you heard, you're fucking infuriating, that's not attractive babe —as calm as he said it, just as calm I told him.

—And you are aggressive —she emphasized.

—And now what did I do to you?

We were talking in whispers but I could see the blonde girl in front put her ear to listen.

—You held me tight a while ago. —I remind him of the way he tightened his hands on my shoulders.

Laugh softly.

—That was nothing —he shrugs.

—Of course, it was, didn't your parents teach you what personal space is?

As soon as the words leave my mouth I regret it. I close my eyes, ready for him to insult me.

I deserve it.

But she just gives me a dirty look as she starts typing the names.

—You should shut your pretty mouth before I do.

And I obey, no matter how bad my day is, I couldn't talk about something personal of his just like that.

Me and my stupid mouth ...

Logan spent the whole class ignoring me the times he tried to get his attention, the teacher talked about the methods of photography until the two hours were up.

Next to me, the seat moved as soon as class finished, Logan left at a hurried pace as if he wanted to escape from me and the thousand demons that I carry inside.

When I went to the cafeteria I met Noah on the way, he was walking behind a boy from the soccer team in the direction of the student residence.

I opened my mouth as she passed by me without even noticing me, she was going with a genuine smile engraved on her face, with the notebooks held by her chest, and her eyes shining as if something did her a lot. delusion.

Do not take too much importance and walk at a determined pace looking for where my boys were.

—Hey lollipop, here! —Zac said with his usual genuine good humor.

I was surprised to see where her voice was coming from.

They were all sitting together with a boy I didn't recognize at the table near the garbage cans, in the corner farthest from the food.

I ran and sat in the empty space between Zac and Liam.

—What happened to the other table?

He made a face.

—These three are screwed —I point to Liam and Logan along with the stranger, who was talking in whispers as if planning something.

I cleared my throat and crossed the black eyes of the stranger who looked at me more than necessary, stopping several seconds on my tits. Logan when he realized that the stranger was not paying attention he looked under his eyelashes, giving me a murderous look.

—Will one of you introduce me to this lady? —He said aloud, earning a sharp look from the Smurf.

—I'm Lexie.

—Hey Lexie, do you have a boyfriend? —I ask, bringing her hands to mine across the table.

He takes them carefully and caresses them.

—SSSS bad question brother — Zac spoke next to me.

—My name is Adair, but you can call me baby, honey, my love whatever you want —I flirt shamelessly.

I was afraid for him.

—Hey, Adair ...

He started talking the asshole.

Adair kept caressing my hands with his in a tender caress, not knowing what awaited him.

—Be careful with those hands, Adair, I'll cut them off —Liam growled at my side with disdain.

I felt his hands tense as I raised them in defeat.

—Fuck man, you could have told me that she was your girlfriend.

Zac and I burst out laughing. Did this guy really think she was Liam's girlfriend? Didn't you see the resemblance?

I could feel Logan's challenging gaze as he drank his water quietly, but furiously in his eyes.

Will he still be angry?

—What are you laughing at, you bastard? —I saw how the bread flew in the direction of my friend.

—You couldn't be more wrong —Zac kept laughing until he ran out of breath.— She's not his girlfriend, she's his sister.

—His ... what?

He looked at both of us like we were playing a joke on him.

—You are ... his ...

—Yup, his sister —I blurted out dismissively as I grabbed my bag.

I had gotten bored of this.

—I recommend you don't even look at her —Logan said, drawing attention.

There was a silence in which no one said anything while Liam was still immersed in his thoughts of him.

—I mean ... why doesn't Liam like Lex being looked at?

Stuttering.

I narrowed my eyes.

You or Liam? Logan.

—Anyway, I'm going.

—Luck! Liam yelled.

Adair jumped to his feet, positioning himself beside me as he walked.

—I'm sorry if I was very ...

—Dared? —I cut it.

—Yes.

—Easy, you didn't know —I quickened my step.

He did the same.

—Are you coming to the party this Thursday? —I ask with my hand in his pockets.

—A party, on a weekday? —say.

—It is for the new ones, on Friday it is not necessary to come to class since the football season begins.

I nodded.

—So ... will you come?

—See you there —I said.

—See ya. Lex.

I went from flirting to being nice to me. These were the consequences of having a brother like Liam was.

**

The sweat ran down my forehead tracing a line to get into my ear, the exams were a nightmare, in the third phase I already ran out of air and felt my extremities heavy but any physical pain finished off the internal pain, between Sam's, no Seeing the boys and putting up with the moron Smurf was exhausted.

But I passed the exam, I would start from the beginning even if I was more than advanced it was not fair to others.

I was waiting for Liam who would come and pick me up when my cell phone started vibrating somewhere in my bag, I searched it pulling out my clean clothes until I found it under the calculator.

A message from an unknown number and a missed call lit up the screen.

I opened it.

From: Unknown number

Calle Arcos del Roble Complex 3 room 78.

I want you here, now!!

It seemed strange to me, I did not recognize the number anywhere, I only had my parents and the boys.

I know you saw it

Bring your ass here now already!

PS: Logan.

It had to be. Earth swallow me How much longer will you make this situation?

He'll probably want me there to insult me for today. Type a quick answer.

Hi Logan, yes, of course, I am very well, ah what, what do I do?

Well, nothing gets old, thanks for asking.

Answer immediately.

Don't be funny with me and hurry up.

Are you giving me the address where you will kill me?

Lex, don't make me mad.

LAST TIME IT IS LEXIE I AM NOT LEX TO YOU.

You're behaving like a spoiled brat

Bring your ass here otherwise, Liam will be very happy with what I will tell him if you don't come.

AGH he knows how to play dirty.

Where does that take me?

To my department :)

This will be more difficult than I thought, but he wanted me to do it however I owed him, I behaved badly with him and he did not deserve it.

The taxi passed by outside where the large, blinking sign hung high on the building.

ASSOCIATION OF HOMELESS CHILDREN SLOW.

A tear ran down my cheek. My heart clenched.

By the time I make it up all four floors, my heart instinctively races like when I'm nervous about something.

My ears turned hot and red.

I knocked on the door twice before realizing it was half-open, I looked through the opening for a second and then opened it completely revealing an empty room, with a television hanging from one of the walls, the kitchen was open with an island table, but there were two closed white doors and one semi-open, from this came a dog of medium height running at full speed towards me moving his tail and his black and white fur.

He approached me as Logan left one of the rooms with a towel tied around his waist, his torso was naked covering only what was necessary, hiding what was interesting. The dog leaped towards me.

I spread my arms.

—No, no, Scott! —He ran— it's a wild dog...

—Hello, my friend.

The puppy rubbed against my arms licking my face in long licks with his rough tongue.

—Mm, you're licking all my sweat.

Logan was looking at me with no expression on his face.

—What?

He shook his head without saying anything.

He continued to massage Scott until he got bored and ran back to where he came from.

—He was trained to protect us from strangers.

I frowned.

—I'm not a weird Logan.

—But he didn't know.

We stared at each other for an indeterminate time, just like that, two people looking at each other.

—Then...

—Then.

—Me...

—You.

Roll your eyes

—I'm sorry if I offended you in the morning, I didn't mean to mention your parents ...

I look at myself from under his lashes crossing his arms.

I closed my eyes.

—Sorry, I named them again.

—You did it.

I walk towards one of the doors, closing it behind her.

I heard him stir things, I expected him to come back to insult me but she didn't. I turned around in defeat but at least I had served my purpose.

She's out. Dressed in black jeans and a plaid shirt.

He touched up the watch in his hand.

—Where do you think you are going?

Look around me.

—To home?

—It won't be like that. —I walk the remainder of the space between us and take my arm and guide me to the bathroom door.

—Excuse me —I reminded him.

—Do you think you're here to apologize?

I looked at him confused.

—Yes?

She smirked.

—How wrong you are babe, I'll wait for you out here while you bathe.

He closed the door in my face with a bang, I stared at the door thinking about what he had called me.

Babe

I like her to call me baby, I feel a tingling in my stomach when she leaves her lips, she says it with a hint of authority, as if with that word she would say that I am hers ...

I shook my head getting that absurd idea out of her.

Maybe she said that to everyone, according to Liam it's good but I doubt it.

I washed my body with the only soap that was in the shower, apart from that there was only a small bottle of shampoo with which I washed my hair and a sponge. There was no conditioner.

The hot water circled my curves long enough to be clean enough to get out.

—I'm getting old out here. —knock on the door.

Her voice trailed off behind the door.

—Too bad, let me know when you're old and dead enough.

I pulled my panties up my legs wiggling my hips.

—Get out —I hit harder.

I pulled my pleated white skirt up to my waist, it fell to the middle of my thigh.

—I didn't ask to come here.—

—Get out!

I tucked my tank top up my skirt cursing for not grabbing a jacket, stuffed my sweat-soaked clothes into my bag opening the door before Logan could knock again.

He had a leather jacket on and his keys in his hand.

I stay with his fist in the air near my face stopping the action he was going to do.

—Because I am here? —I crossed my arms covering my arms.

—We have a deal, remember?—

He turned in the direction of the exit.

—Where will we go?

I turn to look at my outfit.

—It's freezing out there.

—If only you could have stopped by my house before coming here, I would have brought a jacket —I retorted angrily.

I waited for him to digest something but he just went to his room bringing with him a gray sweatshirt in his hands.

—Put it on and let's go. —I throw it in my face. He walked out the door to the elevator looking at something on his cell phone.

I grunted in frustration.

—Moron.

—Lexie! —scream.

I passed the sweatshirt over my head letting the cotton cover me from the cold, I smelled like a cigarette, soap, and a little of him, the aroma was exquisite, I sank my nose in is meeting with Logan in the elevator.

He lifted his gaze from the device.

—It looks better on you than on me —he said to return his attention to his cell phone, he was typing like a madman.

The sweatshirt was a little lower than my waist, and the arms of this one were too long for my shorts of mine.

I got into her Audi and again the smell of her invaded the place. We drove for ten minutes in silence when a familiar song played on the radio.

—Oh, my God! —She squeals, turning up the volume.

“Bahía azul

Taboo

Ándate a Brasilia

No llores por él.”

Logan next to me looked at me amused, shaking his head, I moved my hips in circles on the seat just enough that the seat belt left me.

I sing the song at the top of my lungs.

“Llorando se fue la que un día me hizo llorar

Llorando se fue la que un día me hizo llorar

Llorando estará recordando el amor

Que un día no supo cuidar”

Logan drove slowly as if he wanted to postpone the time to our destination, he looked at me out of the corner of his eye smiling like a fool.

I stop at the part of the language song that I don't know, I keep shaking my hips, dancing carefree.

—How do you know Spanish? —says.

“Soca en san pablo

De noche, la luna, las estrellas

La playa, la arena

Para olvidarme de ella

Una sirena que hechiza y que está tomando el sol

Uuh-oooh”

—How do you know Spanish? —She repeats, lowering the volume of the music.

—I already told you —I remind him— exchange to Mexico, Latin bars, little mother music— I laughed.

—So you're something like bilingual?— She was joking.

He slapped her hand on the steering wheel.

—Auch.

—I only know how to speak Spanish, but Latin music is the best there is.

She looked at me with a sideways smile, I contemplated how she licked her lips when she looked at me and how she played with her lip piercing.

—Say something in Spanish.

I opened my eyes wide thinking that I could tell him.

Since we left her apartment, she has been quite sociable and has not been a total jerk.

He adds points to it.

Look directly into her eyes.

— Me gustaria saber queue esconden esos vacíos ojos grises —I pressed my lips together, suppressing a smile.

I turn off the car engine, suddenly we had arrived.

He looked at me for the first time after what I told him, but he was neutral.

—Tell me more.

—Siento queue see me va el aire cuando me miras así —she murmured shyly.

He is perplexed looking at me as if that is what life is worth.

For a moment I think he understood my words ...

Lower my head.

—What do they mean.

I raised my head in a dry movement meeting his lopsided smile.

I laughed, he hadn't understood a word.

—That you're an air-headed jerk.

I raise an eyebrow.

—And other.

—That you have so many personalities that I don't know which one to stay with.

It was true.

He smiled sideways shaking his head, I was stunned watching him make that simple gesture, I jump out of the car while I did the same.

We were meeting nothing more and nothing less than a home goods store and I understood my presence in all this, I had promised that I would help him with this if he did not tell Liam anything.

He opened the door and waited for her to enter but instead, he stepped aside for me to go through first.

I raised my eyebrows and smiled like a fool, he looked at me seriously and then rolled his eyes and entered first.

I felt like the attention of the ladies and shop assistants were looking at Logan, he was the good uncle of the place, although he didn't realize it, I could see how they stopped paying attention to their husbands to look at him, how the shop assistants fought to take care of him.

I felt a pinch, could it be jealousy?

I ran to catch up with him just as the salesgirl arrived.

—Can I help you with anything? —Asked the girl, on her badge it said Raquel.

Logan reviewed the place, I stayed with my head down, I was not small in height but Raquel intimates me.

—Yes ... I wanted to see ...

He fell silent and sighed.

—Actually —he took me by the shoulders and put me in front of him —my girl knows what we need.

Had you heard correctly? Had he called me my girl?

I spun around in surprise, but I could only see that he was smiling kindly at Raquel.

—Miss...

His voice was disappointed at how he had called me Logan, I did nothing but smile.

—Lexie.

—Miss Lexie, would you like us to start with the table and the kitchen supplies?

—Of course.