Chapter 8: friends

Martín had given us the task to make a profile for our next task in class. Christian asked Ander to be his partner. Samu and Marina built a team and Guzman seemed to catch Nadia with his charm.

„Carla?", I turned to my blonde friend who was flirting with Polo like usual.

„Uh no. One of you is going to be my partner since Guzman asked that.. girl", Lu pointed to Carla and then to me.

„Definitely not me after what you've done to Nadia", I rolled my eyes.

„Okay, Em, you and I? Then it can be Carla and Lu", Polo suggested.

I looked at Carla to see if she was fine with it. So we had our partners.

Polo, Guzman, Ander and I went out for lunch to the restaurant where Samu and now Nano worked. We had decided to stay calm and not pick up a fight with Guzman. Both of us were angry after the party and he hadn't apologized but maybe he would - sooner or later. I'd give him another chance, like always.

„I just have to see where Carla is, she's avoiding me", Polo constantly looked at his phone.

„Have you done anything, huh? You've got to keep her warm. You'll find no one like her", Guzman - the expert in relationships - advised him.

„I'm Carla's best friend and can basically talk for her so just don't annoy her, Polo", I shook my head about Guzman's advice, „Keeping her warm should mean giving her space for herself."

„Guys, put the phone away. We're still here."

„My dad wants me to go to training."

„Sorry", Samu came to bring us our lunch but Guzman interrupted him.

„Finally, man. The service's been faster once."

„There's new staff in the kitchen."

„As long as they are as good as your excuses. It's not well done."

„You know what, Guzman? My punches are better so shut the hell up and eat your damn burger", I gnashed my teeth angrily.

„I can't say anything about you here. That's why you talk big", Samu added.

„Whom is he talking to?"

„Eat, finally", Ander knew what was right luckily, „It looks good."

„She's reading my messages, do you see that? Why doesn't she answer me?", Polo started that talk again.

„Okay, guys, I'm leaving."

„Where to?"

„Training, idiot. Do you never listen to us?", I rolled my eyes, turned to Ander to kiss him, „Have fun, I'll see you later."

„Do you think I should message her again or send an audio?", Polo again, „I'll send her an audio, yes."

„Polo, give her some time. Don't you get that she's annoyed? Man, you two can be incredibly blind", I shook my head.

Guzman had actually asked me to come over to talk. I had no idea what happened to him but I was glad to see that our friendship still made some sense. Their house was like my second home so I would just walk in to see him in the living room.

„Let's talk in the kitchen, alright?", Guzman suggested with a look at his dad who was working next to us.

„Sure, excuse us, Ventura", I nodded following him to see his mom and Marina in the kitchen.

„Hola, mamá. is everything alright?"

„Hola, carino. Emilia, how are you?"

„I'm fine, Laura, thank you. And you?"

„Good. You two can take care of your sister."

„The mother daughter talk about medications?", I looked at my best friend knowingly and felt sorry for her.

„You know how hard it is for her", Guzman said tactlessly.

„And to me it's like vacation, yeah?", she scoffed looking back at her laptop.

„Hey, Marina", the two of us spoke softly and hugged her, „What did we say? In good times as in bad and?"

„Even if it's worse", she smiled lightly.

„Have you apologized already?", Marina turned to her brother who shook his head and wanted to leave so she could have time for herself.

I followed him but took a look at her display, „Nano, huh?"

„Would you be mad about it?"

„Uh, no, obviously not. I love him, I love you, perfect. And no, Guzman will not know about it."

„What the hell has happened here?", Samu's and mine jaw dropped when we saw that our home was vandalized.

„Some guys were here and asked for Nano. I didn't want to let them in but they found their way."

„What happened?"

„Nothing", Nano who tried to clean the room stood up, „They just wanted to scare me. It's not going to happen again."

„Nano, who where these guys?", Mom asked raising her voice, „In what kind of bullshit have you blundered into this time?"

„Come with me and close the door", Nano ordered us so we did what he said when we were in his room.

„Listen, Nano, you can't just let those guys break into this apartment and threaten mamá."

„It's about money, isn't it?", I looked up at the two boys who were fighting again.

„How is that possible? You've just been in prison!"

„These are guys from prison! They've protected me. I've promised them a lot of money for it. Jail is no fun. This should always remind me of it", Nano raised the seam of his shirt to show us his scar, „I didn't want to scare you but I've got to pay my debts now. When they come to me, it's my fucking problem but I can't let them hurt you."

„Are you being serious?"

„Look at him, Samu. Of course, he's serious", I believed him.

„Are you helping me?"

„Of course, we are", I promised him, „I'll ask papá. I'll help mamá to clean now."