Chapter 23: back to school

„Valerio!", I screamed happily seeing my friend who was kicked from one parent to the other which is why we didn't see each other that often, „You're back!"

„Come here, dulzura", he pulled me into his arms, „I'm back and better than ever."

„Yes or at least as long as we can deal with you", Lu was already annoyed to play the babysitter.

„Don't be so mean, Valerio's great", I grinned, „And if you don't want him, he can stay with me."

„Yes, that's my girl", he clapped his hands eagerly, „Hey, who's the boy with the curly hair who looks at us angrily?"

„That's her boyfriend, idiot. Don't ruin their relationship", Lu hissed.

„Oh, thanks Lu. But no need to worry, your brother is friend-zoned", I laughed with her.

„Wait, am I? No!"

„Yes, baby. I'll go to my boyfriend now. Try to behave on your first day."

„Who's the new rich kid?", Ander asked skeptically.

„You mean Lu's brother who's basically like a brother to me and the boy who I'm definitely not flirting with?", I replied.

„Okay, I get it, no need to be jealous. Sorry, baby", he nodded, „Are you okay?"

„I mean it's been three months.. I have to be okay, right?"

„No, you don't. Take all the time that you need to get over her.. goodbye."

„Thanks, baby."

„What do you want here?", Guzman interrupted our conversation next to us when he saw Samu, great...

„I've got the same right to be here just like you", he defended himself.

Before Samu or I could even add something to that, Guzman had already beat him to the ground into one of the classrooms and Nadia called for Ander's mom. Polo and Ander helped me to stop him but that was really hard.

„Guzman, it's enough!", Ander's mom shouted.

„Calm down", he tried it, too.

„It's going to take a lot of time to heal the wound that came with Marina's death. But I need your help so we can make it, the help of all of you. Guzman, I can't imagine what you're going through right now", she spoke as soon as everyone sat on their seat.

I sat between Samu and Ander who's hand laid in mine.

„No, you can't. And imagine you would see the person who's responsible for all of that pain in the hallway."

„Samuel is not guilty."

„Yeah, you don't bet me to the ground", I muttered sarcastically.

„Because if Samuel didn't go to this school and if Samuel and his damn brother stayed in their small town, nothing would have happened."

„Your father gave them a scholarship."

„And why did you renew it?"

„Because he's a good student. That would be unfair."

„Unfair?", Guzman stood up, „Marina died. My sister died at the age of sixteen. Do you think that that is fair?"

„I won't discuss about that with you."

„From now on, everyone who talks to that fucking waiter is dead to me. Did you all get that?", He shouted, „Either him or I."

„No one has to decide between one of you, Guzman."

„Oh yes and you've already done that", he replied and left the room.

I noticed Ander tensing up and laid my other hand on his leg to show him that I was there for him, too. For him, it would also mean that he would have to decide between Guzman and I because I would definitely not leave Samu again after I lied to him about Nano and Marina.

„Why didn't he go to his mother?", Ander asked Lu when the two of them, Carla, Guzman and I watched Valerio who played with Polo.

„Because she doesn't know what else to do. She already sends him to our dad as often as possible but he's got enough of him after some time, too, and sends him back. They've been doing it for a while now."

„It must be hard when your parents are divorced and send you from the one side of the Atlantic to the other side like a tennis ball", Carla stated.

„Sure. You see how much he'd like to party on the first day already", Guzman didn't feel so much pity for our friend.

„Then I'll go with him. Someone has to take care about him and make sure that he falls as softly as possible if he falls to the ground while being drunk. And that his wallet is still in his pocket the next day."

„So you play his big sister?"

„For Valerio?", Guzman looked at my boyfriend, „It's always been like that. Do you remember how jealous I've been because they've been doing so much together? But he's hopeless."

„I mean, Em could help me if you weren't so jealous", Lu looked to the two of us.

„Even if I could, I would want to have fun with Valerio. I've missed him, a little party won't hurt. Since when do you say no to a party?", I looked at my four friends, „I'm ready."

„Better put your phone away. If they see you, they'll take it", Samu tried to help the new girl during sport lesson, I stayed with him, „Do you've got a scholarship?"

„Do you see this? Real gold, boy."

„You've got money but you're not like the others here."

„I'm proud of that. Is that a problem?"

„It's been a compliment."

„Who's your girlfriend? Can she talk?", the girl looked over at me as if I didn't see or hear her.

„Ew, gross", I shook my head.

„She's my sister and doesn't talk as much since summer", Samu spoke for me.

„No need to act like I'm a child", I rolled my eyes.

„I like you, already", she smiled at me, „Rebeka, with a k but my friends call me Rebe."

„Samuel."

„Emilia", I shook hands in a cool way.

„Hey, you", she already befriended Nadia, too.

„Who's the new girl?", Ander asked me after training when we were getting ready for the party.

„Her name's Rebeka, I don't know much more."

„She looks good", he nodded, „And she seems to like your brother."

„She needs friends and he shouldn't complain about some friends, too."