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|chapter eight:: all fall down|

"MARINA, what the fuck were you thinking?" I exclaimed angrily at my little sister as we sat a good distance away the school, "I'm okay with you smoking pot, but during school? Are you fucking kidding?"

"Look, I was just stressed." She told me and I rolled my eyes.

"How stress could you be when you missed two periods and come in here smelling like you grew the weed yourself?" I retorted at her, pacing the ground as she sat on the bench, holding an ice pack against her head.

"Adriana, it's not that serious-"

"It is serious, Marina. You want to know why?" I rhetorically questioned, "It's serious because you fucking collapsed and hit your head on the damn locker room bench. It's serious because I'm the only one defending you in the house when they think you're incapable of doing shit on your own, but then you go and do this nonsense! It's serious because if Nadia never found you and Carla never told me, you'd be fucked."

"And how am I not fucked now?" She asked, "If you found out, I know others did, like Guzman."

"Who gives a damn about that? I'm saying that you're not fucked because they didn't find the pot in your blazer. You know you'd be expelled for that and dad can't keep paying the school to cover our fuck ups," I ranted, "If you're going to fuck up your life, then fine, Rina, but don't come to me for help anymore."

"I won't because I never asked for it," She grunted, standing up from the bench, "You and Guzman need to stop acting like your some guardian angel for me."

"Well who else is going to, Rina, because clearly you can't manage yourself and mom and dad don't fuck about any of us." I snapped, clenching my jaw as she looked back at me with stoned and dull eyes, "If you go on like this, I won't stop you.. but I'm also not going to sit around and watch you do the same mistakes like everyone else."

I grabbed my purse from the bench and put it on my shoulder before walking away from her. I watched as everyone left the building since it was finally dismissal, causing somewhat relief to fill my lungs.

I was about to walk to my car until I felt a sudden presence behind me, which caused me to jump until the person spoke, "Guess who?" I heard as my eyes were gently covered by one hand and I relaxed, instantly knowing who it was.

I hummed in thought of the question, choosing to play Ander's game than think of my sister, "Let's see.. Timothée Chalamet?"

"Haha, hilarious." Ander sarcastically laughed and removed his hand for me to turn and face him. I smiled and he smiled too, before pulling his hand out from behind his back to show him holding onto a neatly wrapped box, "Happy belated birthday, hermosa."

I furrowed my brows as he placed the gift in my hand, "You didn't have to give me a gift, Ander."

"I know, but I wanted to," He shrugged a bit putting his hands on his pocket, "It just felt strange to not give you a gift and I wanted to give it to you on your birthday, but my dad had been dying for me to start practicing again, so I barely have time to do anything now."

Lately, we've been in a good place. Guzman was suddenly for us dating after the charity event, and when I asked him what changed his mind, he just said that Ander needed me in his life. I tried to question him about what he meant, but he said it wasn't his place to tell, so I tried to ask Ander, but he just said it didn't matter. I didn't want to push on it anymore and just let it go after that.

I nodded slowly, "You still didn't have to. You know I'm not a big fan of presents or gifts after Guzman put a dead mouse in my new pair of shoes."

"Just open it, Adriana, please?" Ander begged and I chuckled before unwrapping the gift and opening it to see a gold necklace with the letter A dangling from it.

I snap my head up to him, "Ander, this is beautiful." He grinned at my response before I looked back down in awe as the A had diamonds all over. I glanced back up at him, "Is the A standing for you or me?"

He shrugged again before taking the box from my hands and pulling out the necklace, "It's up to you." He then walked around me to put on the necklace for me, and when he finished he stood in front of me again, "I think a happy birthday song is in order. Happy belated birthday -"

Quickly, I covered his mouth, my eyes widen when he sung loudly. He laughed into my hand as I looked up at him, "Please, the necklace was good enough."

He nodded and when I removed my hand, we walked to my car before I noticed him trying to study me, "What's wrong?"

"The question is what's not wrong, but it's nothing," I corrected, glancing down at the necklace, toying with it, "This is honestly beautiful, Ander."

He smiled, "Yeah, Guzman said you would like it," I then look from the necklace to raise a brow at him, "He had helped me pick it out. I didn't want to get something that wasn't your style."

"Well, you both have good taste, so thank you," I grinned, feeling the cold metal between my fingers before I heard my phone ring. I pulled it out to see my mom calling, quickly answering since it was rare for her to call me, "Mom?"

"Honey," She responded, "I need you to come home, now...please."

I furrowed my brows which caused Ander to do the same when I hung up, "Something wrong?"

"Probably has something to do with Marina." I sighed, before nonchalantly leaning in to give him a brief kiss on the cheek, unaware of my actions at the moment, "I call you later."

I watched him nod hesitantly before I got into my car and drive off. My hands gripped the steering will tightly, enough for me to notice them turn white and when I did, I loosened my hold on the wheel a bit. I didn't get why I was so tense. It probably was about Marina because who else could it involve? It was always her getting into trouble. But why does this feel different?

It was because my mom called me.

It took my almost twenty minutes to arrive home, but once I reached the block I saw a crowd of paparazzi in front of my house along with the news. Panic began to rise inside of me. What the fuck is going on?

When I park my car in the garage, I immediately get out to head upstairs to see my father and mother on the couch consoling each other, until they see me, "Adriana, where's Marina?"

"At school still, I think. Why is there so much paparazzi outside?" I asked before I heard footsteps and turned to see Guzman already home and with a change of clothes on.

"They're here for dad," Guzman told me, "And this isn't for good media."

I furrowed my brows, "What does that mean?" I asked but I was interrupted by a knock on the door. Everyone stands still until the doorbell rang, causing me to sigh, "I'll get it." I walked away from them and to the door, only to open it and see police standing in front of me, "Can I help you?"

"We're looking for Ventura Nunier," One of them announced to me while the other held up a paper, "We have a warrant for his arrest."

Regardless of me standing in front of the entrance, the police seemed to still brush past me and into the living room where my family was. I followed the police close behind, watching my father stand up, "Dad, what's happening?"

"It's okay, sweetheart." He gave a small smile as if it were to comfort me, "It's all going to be okay." I watched as the police grabbed both of his arms and lead him outside, having follow quickly behind. Guzman and our mom followed too, now watching as our father hugged Marina, who just arrived, before getting shoved in the back of the police car. Blinded by the flashing cameras, I turn my back towards them. Nausea sat in the pit of my stomach along with anger.

And once again, nothing was okay.

{author's note:: sorry if i keep updating this book like crazy, it's just i am obsessed with this story! i think after i finish season one (this book) i will create another book for the second season}