Searching for Love, Found Wealth

He waved to me and I wanted to ignore him but then someone called “Martinez”. I looked over and sighed.

Would my English teacher be calling me by my surname? I didn’t like it. She seemed to be obsessed with the name? Is she into one of my family members?

These thoughts and more swarmed my thoughts as she walked me over to… the backyard?

“Kiera Martinez?” she pinned me to the wall. Now, that was weird. She looked me in the eye and I looked back at her blue eyes I didn’t know she had.

“What’s your relationship with the name Martinez? You aren’t a member, are you? That family owes me blood, everyone knows” she sounded dreadful.

My throat went dry. So, if I was a Martinez, which I was but wont dare say I was, this woman would kill me? I gotta deny this family.

“Ma’am, I lived outside Washington. I was always a Martinez then. I just changed my name cos, as I told you, my mom divorced my dad” my voice was quiet. It wasn’t a lie.

She released me slightly.

“Martinez family. They owe me blood. I made sure none of their kids schooled here. They killed my mother” she sounded pitiful.

I wanted to ask why and how she was sure but I kept shut.

“I’m sorry ma, they must have been horrible people. I don’t even know any Martinez other than me and my mom really” I added a smile. She patted my head and left.

Wasn’t she going to apologize for harassing me? But no, she just left. I didn’t plan to make a rumor of this.

She did say “everyone knows” so it might not be much of a rumor if everyone knew. It could just get me into trouble.

I sneaked back into the class and sat down. Sheena wanted to say something but then the teacher spotted me and asked me to stand up.

Like if she knew the life threatening (technically) experience I just went through, she’d let me sir in peace.

I stood up and faced her.

“Name? And where you are coming from?” the teacher flicked the desk.

“Um… the English teacher wanted to speak with me. I’m Kiera Martinez Bob” I answered.

She looked confused, “The English teacher wanted to see a Martinez?”.

Well, it does seem like everyone really knows about her hatred for Martinez.

“Yeah, I cleared that up. I’m just an ordinary Martinez” I stressed on the ordinary.

Either way, that name should be ordinary and if it was associated with murder, more reasons I should keep my mouth shut on who I really was.

“Seat. Martinez is just a name. No ordinary or unordinary” she pointed her book to me.

“Yes, I always said that!” Reuben slammed his table. Everyone turned to him.

“Don’t I.. don’t I always say that? That a name is neither ordinary nor unord.. unordinary?” he was now looking at Jasper.

Jasper held his hands and nodded, “Yeah, Reuben used to say so. And we all agreed with him. Even with you ma’am. A name is neither ordinary nor unordinary” he chuckled at the end.

Few students joined him. Reuben being a happy pill didn’t amuse me anymore. My graph.

The class continued and I made my mind not to even join a topic about the Martz.

My earlier plans of finding a way to be friends with even one of my Martz cousins were cancelled. I have to protect this new agenda. Martz were murderers also.

“So did Reuben tell you why he didn’t give you your graph?” Sheena and I were walking to the cafeteria.

I saw Reuben and Jasper coming from ahead of us. I awaited for them to pass by before answering Sheena.

“I didn’t need the graph. He can have it either ways. I don’t need to ask him why. He just needed attention that I’m not giving” I sighed. He froze beside us.

I pushed Sheena and hurried inside the cafeteria. I knew he turned to us.

“He heard you” Sheena exclaimed as we took a seat besides Chloe that was already there.

“I know. I need an explanation. I don’t think he’s one to be rude but he can be playful at times. He should know I didn’t play along” I answered back.

Chloe looked at both of us as she wasn’t getting our story. When Sheena wanted to explain and spoke of Reuben she immediately stopped her.

“Reuben ignored Kiera early today. Is that what you’re still talking about? Well, it could be cos the principal didn’t give him complete graphs for the students. Last year we were twenty four, Kiera is new at our class and the principal might not have remembered. Reuben should have explained still”.

She continued munching on her food.

Sheena nodded and left to buy her food.

I still felt left out despite Chloe’s explanation. Yes, Reuben should have explained but why did the principal forget me. I was in his registrar.

I hated the feeling of being neglected. My inferiority complex began banging in but I muttered positive things to keep it out.

“Don’t curse at the principal. Don’t forget he’s turning sixty three today. His brain could be older” she sniffed.

I smiled. That was true. But sixty three wasn’t that bad. My mom was forty-five, well, it was a long way to sixty three anyway.

Reuben and his cousins walked into the cafeteria. Three girls began gushing on them. The three girl wore identical skirts so I guessed they’re cheer girls. It was a Wednesday.

“Jasper is hot as…” she swore. I tried lip reading.

Wasn’t Jacob the hot one? Jasper looked more handsome and smart to me.

Girls did have their taste.

“Sports training are starting. Cheer girls are looking for guys to hit on this year” Chloe slurped her juice.

She was looking at my direction and must have seen the girls gushed. They had turned pink and licked their lips.

She made a disgusted face. Disgust for the juice or the girls? I didn’t know.

From the table, Reuben walked to ours.

I braced myself for an angry outburst or emotionless apology. But wait, why was a flower behind him?