Chapter 3
March 17th, 2018
"Lupe. Walk with us!" Olivia yells grabbing her arm with the one she has free.
"Do I have a choice?" Lupe asks and nods towards Juanma on the other side of Olivia.
She gives a polite laugh.
"Juanma what do you think of Lupe's dress?"
Juanma looks surprised. He's not really asked for fashion opinions often.
"The ruffles are a nice detail."
"Agus was going to wear this same dress, wasn't she?" Olivia asks.
Lupe grins. Where did she even hear anything like that? Eavesdropping.
"Yeah but Agus chose hers this morning. She told me to wear mine."
"That's nice of her." Juanma says, confused.
"Oh, Juanma darling, it's not like guys wearing white shirts with jeans. 6 of you could and not even blink an eye. In fact that may be happening now. But with girls, picking the right outfit and looking nice is so important and difficult to accomplish. If your friend can find the perfect dress, giving yours up for her would be a huge sacrifice."
For forcing me into a party of three I didn't want to join, this girl sure knows how to make me sound horrible.
"Well then I'm sure Lupe is appreciative of Agus."
"I sure am. I need to greet my dad."
"What do you think of these sisters now that you've seen their lifestyle, Juanma?" Olivia asks the moment Lupe is out of earshot.
"I like their place. It's not huge like your house. And not a museum like mine. So you can actually see your family in a day."
"Nothing else? What of their class, Juanma?"
"Their class? It's 2018. What do we care about class?"
"Some still care, Juanma. Some do." And she walks away.
Good riddance.
Martín smiles to himself.
----- ----- -----
"Come on, girls. Dance off!" Olivia says, pulling them.
Maybe she's so aggressive because we're her only friends. That's kinda sad, Lupe thinks.
Everyone gasps.
----- ----- -----
She didn't even sprain anything. Lupe thinks looking around Mia's room.
Tobias almost carried her back to the dorms until dad pointed out we do have rooms here. So he carried her upstairs instead.
Facepalm.
"Do you need anything?" Tobias asks.
"Guys, I'm okay." Mia says, putting pressure on the ice Juanma thought to grab.
"Sure. Until you go to practice on Monday and fall again." Olivia says.
Lupe sits up at that.
"Wait. She's our best performer." Agus says.
"No offense, Lupe." Sofi adds.
Lupe shrugs in acknowledgment. She's more technical anyway.
"We need her." Agus continues.
"And she'll perform m. If you let her rest." Olivia commands.
----- ----- -----
March 21st, 2018
Evidently that means sitting with the Bingley siblings and nightly visits to check in. With Juanma involved for some reason.
He's not so bad. After several semi awkward conversations.
Olivia stated she feels mostly at fault for choosing the music. Tobias is concerned. Dad insists that I stay right next to Mia when I can.
Even Gaspar stopped by her dorm on a school night to check on her. I left as soon as I could. Somehow, dude's a snake.
Mind you, she didn't really get hurt. I know my sister. This is starting to annoy her. I need to put a stop to it.
"Dad this is ridiculous. Mia has fallen before. She didn't even cry."
"I know. But the two schools are united over this."
"Dad!"
"I'm a principal first at school, Lupe. And this us good for the school. Give it 2 more days, okay. Then it will be the weekend."
----- ----- -----
Well that was a bust, Lupe thinks stabbing her food.
"I know this isn't the time to say this but the dance you and Mia did was inspired." Juanma comments, glanninc at her plate.
"It's fine. Mia is okay. I'm upset for a different reason." Lupe whispers back.
Placing - https://youtu.be/r8KUeSCIR-E
"And that would be?"
"None of your business." Lupe says and winces. "Sorry, that was rude."
"No. You're right. We haven't known each other a fortnight."
Lupe raises her eyebrows.
"2 weeks. We haven't known each other 2 weeks. You don't have reason to tell me your inner thoughts."
"Anyway, tell me more about how you liked our dance. How it dazzled you."
"I said, inspired." Juanma smiles. "I couldn't look away."
"So you could look away from her first performance?"
"Can we forget the fact that I was so Frank the first time we met?"
"I'll try. Go ahead."
"Mia's performance on the first day was large but yours was commanding. It told a story. Maybe it's because I simply know you both better but it brought out your personalities. It would win regionals for sure."
"I'll consider your points."
Juanma smiles.
----- ----- -----
March 23rd, 2018
"They are playing for our school." Dad announces.
"Cool." Martín replies.
"Martín should join." Mia says.
"What?" He says surprised. "I'm an artist not an athlete."
"You've always been good at sports." Lupe argues.
"Yes but as a hobby. I've never been interested in a team before."
"We've never had a team before." Mia says.
"I think it would be beneficial for you." Dad says.
"Are you speaking as the principal or my dad?"
"As your dad. I love that you support the girls with Go! but you should have your own thing."
"My outfits is my thing."
"Yes but a thing separate from the girls."
"Hey." Mia and Lupe take issue with that.
"Don't you want your brother to make friends outside of yours?"
"Hey. They're my friends too."
"Sure." Dad says, unconvinced. The girls snicker.
"Wait, dad. Do we need a cheerleading team then?" Lupe asks.
"Dad, yes. We need a cheer team." Martín says.
"Are you already designing their outfits in your head?" Mia asks.
"Lupe we didn't talk about that."
"So this was planned. I knew it." Martín says.
"You'll be on the team with Juanma and Tobias." Mia comments.
"Hmmm. I'll try out. I like those guys."
Lupe is surprised.
----- ----- -----
Lupe: Go! might be a bit stale.
Juanma: she's interesting.
Mia: I don't like being catered but Tobias does it so sweetly.
Tobias: I'm glad Mia is better.
Martín: friends outside of my sisters' will be new.
