School Shenanigans [cw]

"The pain killers will only help for a couple of hours before you need to rinse again and take some more, alright?" the nurse instructed her as Zaira looked at the pills in her hand. "Yeah, alright, thank you miss," she said, getting up from her seat but feeling a bit dizzy. It was probably a mixture of the pain meds and the multiple hits she had gotten from Kurtis' merry band of abandoned girls. As she got out, the last person she expected to see was the lycan, sighing as she went to walk past him. If he stopped her or followed she would just try and ignore him until she was back at her locker, unlocking it in silence. "What do you want, Trevino?" she asked, trying to keep her cool because he had promised to help her with Abel, but it seemed like she was the one taking all of the hits that had been meant for him at some point. "If it's to yell at me or something I'm really not in the mood," she said, looking at herself in the mirror hanging in her locker. Damn, her lip looked busted, but hey that was what happened she guessed. "It was your group of girlfriends who wanted to beat the shit out of me - So if you could, maybe ask them to back the fuck off next time you see them?" She was in a shitty mood already from the bad sleep but now it was just amplified with the pain.

As she got out, he really hadnt expected her to be that beat up. This seemed like it was some hits that had meant to hurt. "Zaira." he said but she ignored him and he followed her right until she spoke to him at her locker. "I wanted to check on you." he replied pretty straightforward. As she said it was his girls, he frowned a little confused before he looked around. Fucking shitty rumors. "Hey." he said in a pretty sharp tone to get her to look at him. He looked at her lips and some other fairly visible bruises before he looked back at her eyes. "I'm sorry I did this to you." he said hushed but sincerely, clenching his jaw a little before he just turned and walked off.

His sharp tone made her turn her head to look at him. She just looked angry and frustrated, because what else were you supposed to feel in this situation? He soon seemed to realize that it hadn't just been some light pushing around girl fight, and his apology sounded sincere if it wasn't for the fact that he ran off like a dog with its tail between its legs.
Regardless if that incident she decided to go to cheer practice later that day, and thank the gods for her teammates that all seemed to rally behind her. The others could understand if she wanted to sit out for this round, but she decided to stick around anyways, be apart of the team that she had set out to join. And at least it would keep her from wondering about Abel and Kurtis for a while.
After practice she was sitting on the grass with a few of her teammates, as they were chatting back and forward she kept checking her phone. "Expecting someone to text you?" one of them asked. They had all heard the rumor with Kurtis by now. "Friendly advice, your boyfriend haven't been around for twenty four hours and talking to a player isn't a good way to show your loyalty," another girl budded in. "Kurtis is Abel's friend, I just wanted him to go check on him, that was literally all we talked about," she defended herself, but the squad leader made the other girls shut up. "Girls, we're a team, and rumors have no place here," she said rather wisely, making Zaira send her a half smile as a thank you.

The last thing he wanted was to spark up another rumor and have the girls go after her again. This had already been too much but he couldnt really control what girls did or didnt do because they heard a rumor. He went to go check on Abel like he had promised. Arriving at the lobby, he didnt even have to say anything as the man looked at him and recognized him instantly. "Good day Mister Trevino. I'm afraid that the Tanner's are out. Ms. Anna was in critical condition yesterday, so she has been rushed to the hospital with the rest of the family." the guy in the lobby explained, making Kurtis frown before he nodded and thanked him. He got out his phone and sighed.

[Messages between Kurtis and Zaira]
[Kurtis:] It's about his sister. He's at the hospital with her.

He looked at the message, feeling like he should add more. Warn her to just leave him be for now and wait for him to come back. But a part of him was so certain that she wouldnt listen anyway, so what was the point?

She was just sitting and waiting, and as she got the message she got up on her feet, saying a quick goodbye to her teammates before heading out, calling up Kurtis on they way. "Hey, I know this is hella awkward, but could you maybe go with me to the hospital?" she asked. She knew he had said he wouldn't help her more, but after the beating she had taken today, she was sort of hoping that he would agree. If he did she would get the address to the hospital before jumping in a taxi, picking him up on the way. If not, she would get in a taxi herself, heading to the hospital.

He stood for a bit before he thought about going home. Or at least not just stick around the lobby when Abel wasnt home. She called him up and he picked up, sighing at her new request as he rubbed his face. "Yeah, sure." he just said. He didnt have anything else to do anyway. His house was empty and Jeremy probably had to do homework, otherwise they could have hung out. Kurtis just hated being on his own. He got into the taxi, grunting a little as he adjusted himself, as it clearly wasnt the biggest cab there was around. "Are you sure you want to do this?" he then asked, looking out the window rather than at her. "You still look very much like someone who has decided to joined fight club."

"Yeah I'm sure," she muttered. She hadn't had a chance to change out of her cheer uniform, but at least it wasn't the most revealing kind there was. Her leg was jumping, some nervous tick as she just stared out the window. His addition made her scoff, smiling a little. "Yeah well the other girls looked way worse than me," she said, her knee still bouncing up and down. She hated hospitals, the smell the feeling and that sterile environment. She was practically scared shitless of them. Even thinking about the word she had some sort of PTSD where she could smell her father's hospital bed, almost see his sunken in face. Shaking her head a little she started playing with some of her hair, trying to distract herself.

Even if the other girls looked worse, it didnt take from the fact that she looked pretty bruised up. He noticed how she seemed to be restless. "Well you cant tell me about those other girls. Dont you know the rules about fight club?" he then asked, looking ahead with an expression of dismay though he was just trying to cheer her up. He looked at her after a bit and a small smile managed to sneak up on his lips. "You just gonna break the rules like that? Like I'm not trying to anger you, because you clearly know how to throw punches, but you know." he tried, really hard actually which he never did in his life before.

She grumbled a bit at the mention of breaking the rules of fight club, but she hadn't expected him comping back with another try, and she managed to smile, scoffing as she shook her head. "Of course not, I ain't no snitch," she said, turning to look at him. Was he actually smiling right now? It felt like forever ago she had seen him somewhat happy. Maybe the last time was after the party, but she didn't want to think about that. "And you bet I can take you down any time," she said, holding up her fists that were bruised and cut as well, chuckling a bit as she leaned back in her seat. It didn't help on her leg just bouncing, but she was a bit more relaxed.
"Do you think he'll be mad at me?" she asked, because frankly Kurtis knew Abel better than she did. And getting involved in this seemed a bit dangerous, especially as she was about to go through with her words fear just to check up on a guy that hadn't even asked her to be his boyfriend.

Seeing her smile, he at least knew he was saying something right. They mostly budded heads but he felt like it was always him who started it, so now he wanted at least for a short moment to not just be a pain in the ass for her. "I think you'd put up a good fight." he said, though she probably would win as he would never hit a girl, even if she was beating the crap out of him. He sighed at her question and shrugged. "I dont know. Maybe he'll be happy. Maybe he'll be worried." he pondered.

They shortly after arrived at the hospital and Kurtis went to the front desk and asked where to find Abel's sister. The nurse looked at him before she asked what he was to her. Thinking fast he just said the first thing that would let them in. "I'm her boyfriend." which seemed to make the nurse hum before she got her phone and made a call. She told them where to go. Before they went she got up and called for them. Kurtis turned and she looked sad which only made him a bit more worried. They continued and found the room but no one was in there and the curtains were pulled around the bed. "Zaira? K-K-K-Kurtis?" Abel asked a little confused, looking rather worn out and tired.

Hospitals were bad news for her, and the thought of facing Abel made her worried too. Because it wasn't like Kurtis' words helped a lot. As they got in she was happy that the lycan could make up a quick lie, because she was way too freaked out about the smells and sounds. She felt like she was that little kid again, holding on to her mother's coat and hearing the same apologies from the doctors over and over. Getting in to the room she felt her heart stop. Empty room? Oh no. That could only mean two things; Either she was in operations or ...
Seeing Abel she just went to him, wrapping her arms around him and holding him close. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude," she mumbled, just hoping that he wouldn't push her away, even if she would understand it would still hurt. "What's going on ... Your sister?"

Abel was frankly a little too taken aback by it all to really react as Zaira wrapped her arms around him. He looked down at her and carefully hugged her back before he just as carefully let go again. "She got a fever, a-and with her c-c-c-c-condition, it's just about f-f-finding out what the cause is...." he said, stopping as he looked at Zaira with a small frown on his brows. "I'm glad you c-came actually.. B-because there's something I h-have to tell you." he said as he grabbed her hand and just then his mother came as well. Kurtis politely greeted her but then she looked at Zaira. Abel cleared his throat. "Mom, this is Zaira, the g-g-g-girl I've b-been telling you about." he said, his mother smiling shortly before her expression turned tired and she walked off again. "R-re-re.... Remember when I said t-t-that my family was pretty much rooted to t-the city?" he asked, knowing where his words were leading. "A-a-apparently there's a facility in America that c-can help with her condition, but i-it will take s-six months."

Okay, he wasn't angry at least, but she had hoped to find him in at least a more cheery state, even if it was make believe. The notion that his sister was still alive was good, but he seemed hesitant. Then his mother walked in, and Zaira felt a little awkward, saying a polite "hello," before the mother seemed to just leave again. Biting the inside of her cheek raw once more she looked at Abel as he tried to stutter his way to explain everything. America? Six months? Okay, this was a lot to take in. What was he expecting? That she waited for him? Or that they broke it off before it got a chance to begin? "Well, it's good that they might have someone who can help her, right?" she said, feeling her eyes water a little because she knew that this was going to hurt like hell. "Abel, you are not obliged to keep up any promises you made me, alright - Really, just focus on your family," she said. They had talked a bit about what they would be like as a couple and he had sort of promised her to ask her some day.
She leaned in, placing a gentle kiss against his lips, "I won't tie you down," she whispered, feeling her heart break a little. You should've thought that by now she would be used to goodbyes, but this was stinging more than she had initially believed. "I should, uhm, probably leave now ... I'm going to miss you," she said before letting go of him heading out the hospital door. The last thing she wanted was for him to see her cry. She wasn't going to put that guilt on him. They would just be an almost couple, a what if, and she was just happy that she had gotten the chance to know him. She headed outside, standing out on the sidewalk as she watched people come and go as she wrapped her arms around herself. This shouldn't be about her, and yet she was hurting too. Closing her eyes she leaned her head back against the wall.

Meet and see? She couldn't really use that to much, and being the age that they were, life just moved so fast. As she was standing outside she was just thinking it all through, trying to let the city noises drown out her senses. She felt someone stand beside her, and at first it was some doctor who might ask her if she was alright, but it was Kurtis. His words made her nod, drying her cheek as a rogue tear had managed to escape. Then he brought up a contract, making her scoff as she chuckled. "I think I could use a contractual friend too," she agreed, straightening out her back as she held out her hand for him to shake on the agreement.

The taxi ride home she stayed quiet, leaning back in her seat as she just looked up at the ceiling. "My old lady might be home ... Do you maybe wanna come in?" she asked, mostly to make sure to tell him that she wasn't trying to do anything with him. "We usually get take out when she has the day off so you don't have to worry about her cooking," she added, as if it would sweeten the deal.

The agreement was set in place as he shook her hand. It was good to see that she could still chuckle. But god how he hated taxi's. He would have thought that she at least had a personal driver or something like that, like everyone else, himself included whenever he couldnt be bothered. He hummed as she mentioned her mother being home, nodding as he made a short sigh. The addition made him wrinkle his nose a little. This probably wasnt the moment where he was supposed to say something about himself. He just didnt do that. "Yeah, sure." he said instead, sending her a small smile. "To be honest, I like any kind of cooking, if there's just a bit of heart in making it." he admitted, looking out the window.

"Well if you like inedible shit, my old lady's your gal," she chuckled, paying for the taxi before getting out and going through the gate after pressing the security code. She felt a slight bit of deja vu having him with her back at her house, but she threw the thoughts to the side. She didn't get far as her mother was standing in the door, her arms crossed as she looked at her daughter. "Mami, te ves bien," she said before a whole slew of Spanish words were flung at her and Zaira just stood a bit surprised but she could understand, "mami, I got guests," she said, gesturing over her shoulder to Kurtis and it seemed to make her mother soften up a bit. "Hola, I'm Emanuelita's daughter," making her daughter frown, sticking her neck out, "mami, por favor," she said making her mother chuckle as she let them in the house.
"Let me see those bruises, mija," her mother said and Zaira walked over, letting her mom inspect it. "They look worse, trust me," she muttered making her mom chuckle nodding as she looked at Kurtis. "He's a friend from school, Kurtis; We just ran in to each other and I invited him for dinner," she shrugged, walking in to the kitchen where she opened the fridge to take out two beers and a white wine for her mother.

He scoffed at her words and followed her. Seeing her mother in the door, he straightened his back slightly. He didnt understand spanish, at least not well enough to follow how fast the two of them seemed to fluently talk. As she introduced herself he chuckled and made a nod. "I'm glad you're pointing it out because that was exactly what I was thinking?" he remarked a little charming in tone, speaking a little more lively than he otherwise would have. There was just something about mother's for him, he had to be the nicest he could be.
Once inside he noticed how her mother was inspecting the bruises and he felt a slight feeling of something he couldnt explain. Jealousy? Probably. "We have geography together, so that's the uhm... connection. Your daughter is pretty good, at least the teachers are proud." he said as Zaira left for the kitchen. He couldnt help but feel a little out of place.

The mother smiled, taking a liking to a guy that was seemingly nice, but she knew to beware, especially with a young daughter in the house. "Niño, is okay - you do not have to explain everything," she said, lifting her index finger to her nose poking it a bit as to say she didn't need to know all the things about him nor him trying to impress her or anything. "Mami, what are you telling him?" she asked as she rejoined them, handing the glass of wine to her mother and a beer to Kurtis. Zaira's mother spoke in Spanish, waving her arms a little before taking a sip of her wine and Zaira chuckled, shaking her head at her mother. "Don't believe a word that woman is saying," she said, gesturing with her hand to say her mom was crazy making her mother burst out laughing, "Mija, le comediante," she said ushering her daughter to pick something to eat as she was clearly hungry. "Aight, let's order some good shit; You know any good spot we haven't tried yet?" she asked Kurtis, standing beside him as she flipped through her phone.

He sighed at her words before he made a thankful smile and a nod. Zaira returned and he got to see some more of that healthy bond they seemed to share. He felt the tension in his jaw as he thanked Zaira for the beer. So this was what a relationship that wasnt build on money really was like. He took a sip off the beer and tried not to dwell on his thoughts. "I'll try." he said. He was pretty good at hiding those negative feelings, but it was usually behind an attitude. Maybe he could excuse it on the fact that his friend was going away for a long time. He thought for less than a second before he listed the restaurant that his mother usually ordered from. "I need a smoke." he excused himself before he asked for the directions for the balcony, even though he knew. Outside he stood for a bit with his eyes closed before he sighed deeply and took out his packet, placing the bud between his teeth before pulling it out of the packet. He lit it and wasted no time on drawing in a deep drag.

Zaira noticed how Kurtis seemed down, but she guessed she was doing better because her mom was here. The restaurant he mentioned looked nice, so she ordered a lot of different shit. "Imma go change real quick," she told her mother before running up the stairs. She didn't want to spill on her uniform and get it dirty.
Meanwhile Zaira's mother joined Kurtis on the balcony, taking out her own cigarettes that were long and slim. Like the kind a real lady smoked in movies. "Emanuelita never brings home friends," she said with a small sigh, lighting her cigarette before inhaling as she looked out at the garden. "But it is nice to know that she has managed to make some here," she said, her accent a little heavy, but that was what you got from growing up in Madrid. Looking around before she looked at Kurtis she smiled. "You are sad, niño, tell mami Rojas what she can do?"

"Niño, a mal tiempo, buena cara," she said in a reassuring voice, probably realizing that he didn't get the saying. "Bad weather? You put on good face," she said, winking at him pushing the corners of her mouth up. Did he get it? She wasn't sure, but perhaps when Zaira returned she could translate if it was a problem. Zaira returned, joining them on the balcony, "if she's boring you, she can understand," she said in a teasing voice, making Zaira's mother pop her cigarette between her teeth lifting her fists at her daughter. Zaira did the same before cracking down laughing a bit. Her mom's phone rang in the other room and she put out her cigarette before going inside. Biting her lower lip Zaira just leaned against the railing, looking down to the garden. "I'm sorry I'm acting super lame, but she's like all I got," she said, frowning as she shrugged a little. "Listen, just because Abel is going away, he isn't gone for good, right?" she said, although it still hurt to think about him. She had really fallen for him and now she felt like she had opened her heart for no reason other than to be hurt again.

Whatever they had. She swallowed at that because that was just going to be a regret now, wasn't it? The fact that they hadn't even made it official or anything. "Yeah ... I, uh, actually had plans to ask him to go steady the night we were supposed to have our date," she muttered, looking at the garden with a small frown. Why was she saying this? Perhaps because she hated that she couldn't do anything about it. That she couldn't fix this situation for anyone. The silence between them weren't too bad, mostly because she felt like she was deep in her thoughts. But then he said not to apologize regarding her mother, nodding as she noticed how he looked away. "Aight, I won't," she said, scratching her neck a little.
"Listen I know I'm not easy to be around and all that shit ... But I can be there if you need to talk, even if it's not about Abel," she said. Fuck, this heartache wasn't going away any time soon, huh? That knot in her stomach was probably going to be there for a while. "Enough about this sad shit, okay, just start pissing me off again, please?" she smiled, poking his side a bit with her elbow.