"Stay out of this Valdez." Rocky snapped.
"Isn't bullying against the code of conduct? I heard that if you got one more strike, you'd actually be going on suspension this time. I guess I'll confirm that once I report what you're doing to the principal." The boy said calmly, with his hands in his pocket and a smile.
If looks could kill, then the one Rocky was giving the "Valdez" boy would have left him decomposing by now.
"Do that, and you're dead."
He signaled his gang to follow, and the five of them began leaving.
"I'll keep that in mind!" The Valdez boy called after them.
Karla stared at her hero. He was still smiling, but the smile wasn't vindictive, like one that had just won a fight against a school bully would be. It was kind, sweet. The boy's crystal blue eyes sparkled, like a thousand shooting stars were passing by. Karla had a feeling that if she made a wish that moment, it would come true.
"Uh... Hey?" The boy said, making Karla realize she was gawking.
She blinked severally. "Oh! Hi!"
"I'm Kevin Valdez. What's your name?"
"Karla Nightingale."
Kevin placed his index finger on his chin and squinted at Karla. "Nightingale... Aren't you the girl who got the scholarship!?"
"Yah..." Karla replied uncertainly, feeling insecure again.
"That's so cool! So you're like super smart?"
The impressed grin on Kevin face melted Karla nervousness away, and she genuinely smiled back.
"If that's the way you want to put it, then absolutely." She bragged.
Both Karla and Kevin laughed, and Karla decided that she liked this Kevin.
"So," She said. "are you really going to report Rocky to the principal?"
"I don't think so." Kevin kneaded the back of his neck.
An adoring smile spread through Karla's expression. Of course Kevin wasn't going to rat out Rocky. He was too gentle. He probably couldn't even hurt a fly.
"Besides, you've already given him enough punishment." Kevin continued. "That candy spit ball... Epic! You were the formidable Candy Warrior, yielding her blade of supreme candy justice, to smite evil. "
"I think- I'll stick- with Karla for now." Karla said, guffawing in between words.
"Gotcha Candy."
The two of them stood silent, but only for a little while.
"Um. There's still some minutes before the end of recess. Wanna come sit with me and my buddies? They're really nice. Nothing like Rocky." Kevin said.
"Sure."
Happily, Karla walked away with Kevin. She'd finally made a friend.
•~♥~•
PRESENT DAY
"Kevin?" Karla's voice was barely above a whisper.
"That's Lord Raul to you."
Raul had gotten the reaction he wanted. Karla looked shocked alright, he couldn't help a sly smile. The second he'd seen Karla in that auction, he'd known it was her. It didn't matter how much she'd grown, that gorgeous face could only belong to one person. He'd known then that he had to have her, no matter the cost, and maybe with a little flair. Now he had gotten her right where he wanted, and she was his to play with.
Of course! Karla mentally face palmed herself. Kevin had once mentioned his real first name was Spanish, and Kevin was actually his middle name, but had been quite secretive of what it was. He'd insisted he preferred not be called by it, so there was no need giving it away. Still, Valdez was a rare surname in America. She should have connected her Kevin Valdez to Raul Valdez the moment she met him. But she hadn't, and the sudden revelation was weighing in on her.
After meeting Kevin in middle school, he'd left the next year. This had broken little Karla's heart, because he'd grown to become one of her best friends. Nevertheless, they were reunited in junior high school, and their friendship was rekindle. Karla hadn't seen, or spoken to Kevin since they graduated. Dang it! She hadn't seen him since... Since the day, he asked her to be his.
Karla hadn't thought about that day for years, but she could remember it clearly. The words she exchanged with Kevin. The pain in his eyes. All of it. It had been the end of senior year, and Karla had been walking out of her final exams with her two girlfriends, Tasha and Favour.
"God! I hope I didn't flop that paper." Karla had groaned.
"Karla. Chill. You're like the smartest person I know. If you don't pass, then no one is." Tasha hyped her.
"That isn't the least reassuring!" Karla screeched.
Favour giggled. "You always were bad at speeches, T."
"You know what? I'm going to have some ice cream with Kevin. Calms me right down." Karla grabbed the backpack handle around her shoulder and turned to leave.
"Speaking of Kevin... " Tasha exchanged knowing glances with Favour.
"What about Kevin?" Karla asked, facing them again.
"That boy likes you, K baby. You have to be seriously dense, or lying to say you haven't noticed." Favour answered.
"Cmon girls! We've had this conversation a million times." Karla said. "Kevin isn't interested in me like that. He's my best friend for Christ sake, only second to you two of course. If we were meant to be together, something would have sparked a long time ago."
"Doesn't mean it's too late for the spark."
"Okay. You two aren't helping my anxiety right now. I'm going to meet Kevin."
Kevin was right where he was supposed to be, beside his locker, with his pals. Once they saw Karla approaching, they slapped Kevin's back, and left. Gazing at Kevin from afar, she did what she always did, admired his pretty face. Kevin was very cute, she knew it, and so did every female in school. She'd told him he was handsome severally, and he could easily be a hot shot if he wanted to, but all she ever succeeded in doing was make him blush. Who was she kidding? Kevin? A hotshot? He was too shy. Too quirky. And too adorable.
"Bonjour mon amie." Karla skipped the remaining distance to Kevin.
"You do realize I'm part Spanish, not French, right?"
"I don't know any Spanish, so I'm gonna stick with French."
Avoiding eye contact, Kevin rubbed the back of his neck, like he always did when he felt uneasy. Karla scrunched her eyebrows.
"Is everything okay?"
"Yah!" Kevin gasped. "Everything is great actually. I got you something."
He brought out a beautiful pink rock, which was attached to a golden chain, and held it out for Karla.
"It's a rose quartz. It's given to the ones you care about, to say 'I love you' " He said.
Karla's heart raced in her chest. "What are you trying to say?"
"I'm trying to say 'I love you'. I've loved you ever since middle school. You're always in my head, and will never leave my heart. Please. Karla. Will you be my girlfriend?"
Both Karla were silent for what felt like forever. Finally, she heaved a sigh, and folded back Kevin's fingers around the necklace.
"Kevin. I can't." She began. "I love you too, so much, but not that way."
All Kevin did was smile and guarantee that he was okay. However, Karla knew she broke his heart, even though no one said so. A few days later, Big Ben walked into her life, and she never saw Kevin, or any of her other friends, again. So she never got the chance to talk things through with him. Even though it was a long time ago, there had to be some bad blood left over between them, unless she smoothed things out, here and now.
"Look. Kevin. About that time in highschool... "
"Don't you dare mention that time!" Raul lost his cool, and punched the wall behind Karla, scaring her.
He leaned into her ear, and growled. "You hurt my pride Candy. Nothing hurts more than a bruised ego to me, and you can be assured that you'll suffer dearly for it." Raul stormed out the room, leaving Karla to process what had just happened.
TEASER: KARLA'S STAY IN THE VALDEZIAN MANSION IS JEOPARDIZED.