Searching for Love, Found Wealth

So since the ‘letter of kidnap’ came in. I sure have been treated a lot better.

Charles was now my personal driver, too and fro school. And he helped in grocery shopping.

I liked it as he always complained how much his rest time was being abused. Like duh, my safety is important.

I didn’t feel scared of anything. Did kidnap threat wasn’t feeling real yet. I had codedly asked Chloe if she received any mail and she answered in the negative.

I didn’t go out on normal days so staying at home all day was not a problem. Also, Cara was coming to school now so she’d fuel my thirst for drama.

“Hey, what was your math score?” Chris asked me as I dropped his book in front of him. I was helping Jennifer share out the books.

Strangely, she had called me to help do it.

“I got seventeen out of the twenty. Good score to me” I shrugged as I went back to Jasper, who wasn’t in class earlier.

“Won’t you ask me mine?” Chris called my attention back, pouting.

I came back, after tossing Jasper’s book on him and giving a sorry smile when it fell on the ground.

“Okay, what was yours?” I tried to match his excitement. He turned his book to reveal a full mark. Twenty to twenty. Wasn’t he the dull one?

I paused and played myself, “Nice one. You must have really wanted to prove yourself this time” I gave a thumps up.

“Yeah, with a motivation in mind” he winked.

I didn’t get it but I smiled and walked off. Reuben eyes stayed on me and I checked the books on my hand to know if his was among it.

I sighed when it wasn’t and had already been delivered by Jennifer. What did the dude want then?

“Who’s the bastard that has my book? Frigging bring it” Cara shouted while raising her middle finger in the air.

I saw Jennifer roll her eyes and search for Cara’s book within her bundle, she looked at me when she couldn’t find hers and I frowned. I must be with it.

“No one is a bastard here, honey” Chris said, whilst flipping through his pages.

Maybe recounting the days he had lower marks. What exactly dud he do this time?

“Shut the frigging mouth, Chris. Whoever has it should bring it or…” I slapped the book on her desk so she’d shut up.

“No one is a bastard here” I repeated Chris’s words. My fists were balled for her next reaction.

Cara’s eyes darkened, “Don’t rub your Martinez dirt on me, demon” she pushed me away from her table.

What demon? I wanted to advance to her but then caught the eyes of everyone in class watching at me.

Even Sheena and J-twins? What happened?

“C’mon, we know Kiera isn’t like the real Martinez. She’s just an unlucky angel born to the home of demons” Chloe declared, holding my shoulders.

Real Martinez? Unlucky angel? Home of demons?

“Speaking of Martinez dirt, weren’t you at Isabella’s birthday taking pictures with her. You have enough dirt on you already” Chloe turned to Cara.

The latter rolled her eyes while glaring at the beautiful ‘six over twenty’ that was pasted on her book.

“You’re still friends with that bitch, Cara?” Chris tsked.

If bitch was Isabella then I felt sorry for her.

The class attention turned to Cara. But she didn’t mind. I quietly distributed the remaining books and sat on my seat quietly.

“Are you really a Martinez. The real ones?” Sheena asked, wide eyed. Are we back to the real Martinez stuff, really?

“I am Kiera Bob Martinez. Related to that family but not of that family” I answered her. She tilted her head but said nothing.

“I didn’t know until recently” I added. She made an ‘hmm’ sound.

The class had fallen silent from there. I was beginning to believe Charles weird talks.

Like in nooks, were Mafia men are being feared, this Martinez family seemed to shut up the widest of mouths.

And then the kidnap threat started to feel real. But couldn’t we just involve the police, why did Charles say it was useless.

Or Mafia did have dealings with police?

Was this really turning to a Mafia book?

At lunch I sat alone on a table. Sheena was sitting with her sister, Jennifer. Even though she’d made up with us, she still ate with her sister.

It was good anyway. Jennifer was less toxic and it looked like Sheena had really moved on from Jasper. I hope.

Chloe was at the sick bay taking some injections. She had malaria.

I played with the spaghetti on my plate. I didn’t usually eat the food but I wanted to try it out that day.

“Hey” Reuben sat besides me, so close.

“Hey Reu” I raised my fork up.

“Reu? I like it” he chuckled, “Where’s Chloe? Mind if I occupy till she’s back?”.

I shrugged, “The chair is for humans. You’re human. Do sit”.

He smiled and began digging into his food. I stretched to see his usual table with Jasper and Jacob.

They were both there. I wonder the explanation Reuben would have given to leave them. I hope I’m not being caught up in something.

“Do you know much about the Martinez family?” Rueben just had to ask to further destroy my appetite.

“Enlighten me then” I pushed my food away from me, facing him.

He faced me too, “Well, they’re scary. Really scary. And strict”. He nodded as he spoke.

I was becoming quite aware of that.

“They’ve been rumored to have killed too”.

My eyes expanded, “What? Who?”.

Reuben looked around us, “Our English teacher’s mother. It isn’t quite proven. But there’s a girl. Jennie. She seemed to be also a victim too” his voice were in hushes.

“Why?” I hushed back.

“It had to do with… well, I guess the girl had gotten pregnant for a Martinez. They didn’t want the baby and the girl refused abortion”.

“Martinez really hate it when an outsider marry their children. They’re Spanish you know. And I wonder how you were born. You’re so American” he smiled.

He began nibbling on his meat while I stared into space.

They killed a girl who carried an illegitimate child? What if it’s true? What if they killed my mother’s mother?