"If you were a real man, you'd open the door for me instead of blocking my way," I say, admiring my own comeback even as my knees threaten to buckle. Alex steps back, pulls the door open, and bows like he's my butler. He's totally mocking me, he knows it and I know it. Everyone knows it. I catch a glimpse of Sierra, still desperately searching for nothing in her purse. She's clueless. "Get a life," I tell him. "Like yours? Cabrona, let me tell you somethin'," Alex says harshly. "Your life isn't reality, it's fake. Just like you." "It's better than living my life as a loser," I lash out, hoping my words sting as much as his words did. "Just like you." Grabbing Sierra's arm, I pull her toward the open door. Catcalls and comments follow us as we walk into the school.

I finally let out the breath I must have been holding, then turn to Sierra. My best friend is staring at me, all bug-eyed. "Holy shit, Brit! You got a death wish or something?" "What gives Alex Fuentes the right to bully everyone in his path?" "Uh, maybe the gun he has hidden in his pants or the gang colors he wears," Sierra says, sarcasm dripping from every word. "He's not stupid enough to carry a gun to school," I reason. "And I refuse to be bullied, by him or anyone else." At school, at least. School is the one place I can keep up my "perfect" facade; everyone at school buys it. Suddenly pumped about starting my last year at Fairfield, I shake Sierra's shoulders. "We're seniors now," I say with the same enthusiasm I use for pom-pom routines during football games. "So?" "So, starting right now everything is going to be p-e-r-f-e-c-t."


The bell rings, which is not exactly a bell because the student body voted last year to replace bells with music between classes. Right now they're playing "Summer Lovin'" from Grease. Sierra starts walking down the hall. "I'll make sure you have a p-e-r-f-e-c-t funeral. With flowers and everything." "Who died?" a voice from behind me asks. I turn around. It's Colin, blond hair bleached from the summer sun and a grin so large it takes up almost his whole face. I wish I had a mirror to see if my makeup is smudged. But surely Colin will date me even if it is, won't he? I run up and give him the biggest hug. He holds me tight, kisses me lightly on the lips, and pulls back. "Who died?" he asks again. "Nobody," I answer. "Forget about it. Forget everything except being with me." "It's easy when you look so damn hot." Colin kisses me again. "Sorry I haven't called. It's been so crazy unpacking and everything." I smile up at him, glad our summer apart hasn't changed our relationship. The solar system is safe, at least for now. Colin drapes his arm around my shoulders as the front doors to the school open. Alex and his friends burst through as if they're here to hijack the school. "Why do they even come to school?" Colin mutters low so only I can hear. "Half of them'll probably drop out before the year is over, anyway."

My gaze briefly meets Alex's and a shiver runs down my spine. "I almost hit Alex Fuentes's motorcycle this morning," I tell Colin once Alex is out of hearing range. "You should have." "Colin," I chide.

"At least it would have been an exciting first day. This school is boring as shit." Boring? I almost got in a car accident, was flipped off by a girl from the south side, and was harassed by a dangerous gang member outside the school's front doors. If that was any indication of the rest of senior year, this school will be anything but boring.

______________________________________________

CHAPTER 4

Alex I knew I'd be called into the new principal's office at some point during the year, but I didn't expect it to be on the first day of school. I heard Dr. Aguirre was hired because of his hard-ass personality at some high school in Milwaukee. Someone must have pegged me as a ringleader, 'cause it's my ass sitting here instead of another Latino Blood's. So here I am, pulled out of gym so Aguirre can puff up his chest and ramble on about tougher school rules. I detect him feeling me out, wondering how I'll react, as he threatens me, ". . . and this year I've hired two full-time armed security guards, Alejandro." His eyes focus on me, trying to intimidate. Yeah, right. I can tell right off that while Aguirre might be Latino, he knows nothing about how our streets work. The next thing I know he'll be talking about how he grew up poor, just like me. He's probably never even driven through my side of town. Maybe I should offer to give him a tour. He stands in front of me. "I promised the superintendent as well as the school board I'd personally be responsible for rooting out the violence that has plagued this school for years. I won't hesitate to suspend anyone who ignores school rules."

I haven't done anything besides have a little fun with the pom-pom diva and already this guy is talking suspension. Maybe he heard about my suspension last year. That little incident got me kicked out for three days. It wasn't my fault. . . entirely. Paco had this crazy theory about cold water affecting white guys' dicks differently than Latinos'. I was arguing with him in the boiler room after he'd shut down the hot water heaters when we were caught. I had nothing to do with it but got blamed all the same. Paco attempted to tell the truth, but our old principal wouldn't listen. Maybe if I fought more he would have listened. But what's the use in fighting for a lost cause? It's clear Brittany Ellis is responsible for me being in here today. You think her jerk of a boyfriend'll ever get called into Aguirre's office? No way. The dude is an idolized football player. He can ditch class and start fights and Aguirre will probably still kiss his ass. Colin Adams is always pushing me, knowing he can get away with it. Every time I've been about to retaliate, he's found a way to escape or rush to where teachers were in abundance . . . teachers who were just waiting for me to Bleep up. One of these days.
I look up at Aguirre. "I'm not startin' any fights." I might finish one, though. "That's good," Aguirre says. "But I heard about you harassing a female student in the parking lot today." Almost getting run over by Brittany Ellis's shiny new Beemer is my fault? For the past three years I've managed to avoid the rich bitch. I heard last year she got a C on her report card but a little call to the school from her parents got it changed to an A. It would hurt her chances of getting into a good college. Screw that shit. If I got a C, mi'ama would smack me upside the 20 head and nag me to study twice as hard. I've worked my ass off to get good grades, even though I've gotten interrogated more often than not about my means of getting the answers. As if I'd cheat. It's not about getting into college. It's about proving I could get in ... if my world was different. The south siders might be seen as dumber than the north siders, but that 's bullshit. So we're not as rich or obsessed with material possessions or getting into the most expensive and prestigious universities. We're in survival mode most of the time, always having to watch our backs. Probably the hardest part of Brittany Ellis's life is deciding which restaurant to dine at each night. The girl uses her smokin' bod to manipulate everyone who comes in contact with her. "Care to share with me what happened in the parking lot? I'd like to hear your side," Aguirre says. Not happening. I learned long ago that my side doesn't matter. "The thing this mornin' . . . total misunderstandin'," I tell him. Brittany Ellis's misunderstanding that two vehicles can't fit in one spot. Aguirre stands and leans over his polished, spotless desk. "Let's try not making misunderstandings a habit, okay, Alejandro?" "Alex." "Huh?" "I go by Alex," I say. What he knows about me is in my school file, a file so biased it's probably ten inches thick. Aguirre gives me a nod. "All right, Alex. Get ready for sixth period. But I have eyes at this school, and I'm watching your every move.

I don't want to see you back in my office." Just as I get up, he puts a hand on my shoulder. "Just so you know, my goal is for every student in this school to succeed. Every student, Alex. Including you, so whatever biases you have about me you can throw them out the window. Me entiendes?" "Si. Entiendo," I say, wondering how much I can believe him. In the hallway, a sea of students are rushing to their next class. I have no clue where I'm supposed to be and I'm still in my gym clothes.

In the locker room after I change, a song plays on the loudspeaker indicating it's now sixth period. I pull the schedule out of my back pocket. Chemistry with Mrs. Peterson. Great, another hard-ass to deal with.

CHAPTER 5 Brittany
I turn on my cell and call home before chemistry to see how my sister is doing. Baghda isn't too happy because Shelley was freaking out about the way her lunch tasted. Apparently Shelley swiped her bowl of yogurt onto the floor in protest. Was it too much to hope that my mom would take a day off from hanging out at the country club to transition Baghda? Summer is officially over and I can't be there to pick up where the caretakers usually leave off. I should be focusing on school. Getting into my dad's alma mater, Northwestern, is my main goal so I can go to a college close to home and be there for my sister. After giving Baghda some suggestions I take a deep breath, paste on a smile, and walk into class. "Hey, babe. I saved you a seat." Colin motions to the stool next to him. The room is arranged with rows of high lab tables for two. This means I'll sit next to Colin for the rest of the year and we'll do the dreaded senior chemistry project together. Feeling foolish for thinking things wouldn't be okay between us, I slip onto the stool and pull out my heavy chem book.

"Hey, look. Fuentes is in our class!" a guy calls out from the back of the room. "Alex, over here, venpa'ca." I try not to stare as Alex greets his friends with pats on the back and handshakes too complicated to reproduce. They all say "ese" to each other, whatever that means. Alex's presence catches every eye in the classroom. "I hear he was arrested last weekend for possession of meth," Colin whispers to me. "No way." He nods and his eyebrows go up. "Way." Well, the information shouldn't surprise me. I hear most weekends Alex spends drugged out, passed out, or doing some other illegal activity. Mrs. Peterson closes the door to the classroom with a bang and all eyes move from the back of the room, where Alex and his friends are sitting, to the front where Mrs. Peterson is standing. She has light brown hair pulled back into a tight ponytail. The woman is probably in her late twenties, but her glasses and perpetual stern expression make her look way older. I hear she's tough now because her first year teaching the students made her cry. They didn't respect a teacher who was young enough to be their older sister.

"Good afternoon and welcome to senior chemistry." She sits on the edge of her desk and opens a folder. "I appreciate you picking your own seats, but I make the seating arrangements . . . alphabetically." I groan along with the rest of the class, but Mrs. Peterson doesn't miss a beat. She stands in front of the first lab table and says, "Colin Adams, take the first seat. Your partner is Darlene Boehm." Darlene Boehm is co-captain of the varsity pom squad with me. She flashes me an apologetic look as she slides onto the stool next to my boyfriend.
Down the list Mrs. Peterson goes, students reluctantly moving to their assigned seats. "Brittany Ellis," Mrs. Peterson says, pointing to the table behind Colin. I unenthusiastically sit on the stool at my assigned place. "Alejandro Fuentes," Mrs. Peterson says, pointing to the stool next to me. Oh my God. Alex . . . my chemistry partner? For my entire senior year! No way, no how, SO not okay. I give Colin a "help me" look as I try to avoid a panic attack. I definitely should have stayed at home. In bed. Under the covers. Forget not being intimidated. "Call me Alex." Mrs. Peterson looks up from her class list and regards Alex above the glasses on her nose. 'Alex Fuentes," she says, before changing his name on her list. "Mr. Fuentes, take off that bandanna. I have a zero tolerance policy in my class. No gang-related accessories are allowed to enter this room. Unfortunately, Alex, your reputation precedes you. Dr. Aguirre backs my zero tolerance policy one hundred percent ... do I make myself clear?" Alex stares her down before sliding the bandanna off his head, exposing raven hair that matches his eyes. "It's to cover up the lice," Colin mutters to Darlene, but I hear him and Alex does, too. "Vete a la verga," Alex says to Colin, his hard eyes blazing. "Collate el hocico." "Whatever, dude," Colin says, then turns around. "He can't even speak English." "That's enough, Colin. Alex, sit down." Mrs. Peterson eyes the rest of the class. "That goes for the rest of you, as well. I can't control what you do outside of this room, but in my class I'm the boss." She turns back to Alex. "Do I make myself clear?"

Nice story more updates pls

Marchborn123:
Nice story more updates pls

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Kwinolly:
Wow! Nyc story...op pls more updates abeg

On it ma'am.

"Si, senora," Alex says, deliberately slow. Mrs. Paterson goes down the rest of the list while I do everything in my power not to make eye contact with the guy sitting next to me. It's too bad I left my purse in my locker or I could pretend to look for nothing like Sierra did this morning. "This suck," Alex mumbles to himself. His voice is dark and husky. Does he make it that way on purpose? How am I going to explain to my mother I have to partner with Alex Fuentes? Oh, God, I hope she doesn't blame me somehow for screwing this up.


I glance at my boyfriend, deep in conversation with Darlene. I'm so jealous. Why couldn't my last name be Allis instead of Ellis so I could sit next to him? It'd be cool if God gave everyone a Do Over Day and you could yell "Do Over!" and the day would start new. This would definitely qualify for a DOD. Does Mrs. Paterson actually think it's reasonable to pair the captain of the pom-pom squad with the most dangerous guy in school? The woman is delusional. Mrs. Delusional finally finishes assigning seats. "I know you seniors think you know everything. But never think of yourself as a success until you can help treat diseases that plague mankind or make the earth a safer place to live. The field of chemistry plays a crucial role in developing medicines, radiation treatments for cancer patients, petroleum uses, the ozone--" Alex raises his hand. "Alex," the teacher says. "Do you have a question?"

"Uh, Mrs. Paterson, are you sayin' the president of the U.S. isn't a success?" "What I'm saying is . . . money and status aren't everything. Use your brain and do something for mankind or the planet you live on. Then you're a success. And you'll have earned my respect, which not many people in the world can boast about."

"I got things I can boast about, Mrs. P.," Alex says, obviously amusing himself. Mrs. Peterson holds up a hand. "Please spare us the details, Alex."
I shake my head. If Alex thinks antagonizing the teacher will get us a good grade, he's sadly mistaken. It's obvious Mrs. Peterson doesn't like smart-asses and my partner is already on her radar. "Now," Mrs. Delusional says, "look at the person sitting next to you."
Anything but that. But I don't have a choice. I glance over at Colin again, who seems pretty content with his
assigned partner. Darlene already has a boyfriend or I seriously would be questioning why she's leaning a bit too close to Colin and flipping her hair back too many times. I tell myself I'm being paranoid.
"You don't have to like your partner," Mrs. Peterson says, "but you're stuck together for the next ten months. Take five minutes to get to know each other, then each of you will introduce your partner to the class. Talk about what you did over the summer, what hobbies you have, or anything else interesting or unique your classmates might not know about you. Your five minutes start now."
I take out my notebook, flip to the first page, and shove it at Alex. "Why don't you write down stuff about
yourself in my notebook and I'll do the same in yours." It's better than trying to have a conversation with him.


Alex nods in agreement, although I think I caught the corners of his mouth twitch as he hands me his
notebook. Did I imagine that twitch or did it really happen? Taking a deep breath, I wipe that thought from my mind and write diligently until Mrs. Peterson instructs us to stop and listen to each other's introductions.
"This is Darlene Boehm," Colin begins, being the first to speak.
But I don't hear the rest of Colin's speech about Darlene and her trip to Italy and her experience at dance
camp this summer. Instead, I glance down at the notebook given back to me by Alex and stare at the words
on the page with my mouth open.

CHAPTER 6 Alex
Okay, so I shouldn't have bleeped with her on the introduction thing. Writing nothing except, Saturday night.
You and me. Driving lessons and hot sex ... in her notebook probably wasn't the smartest move. But I was
itching to make Little Miss Perfecta stumble in her introduction of me. And stumbling she is.
"Miss Ellis?"
I watch in amusement as Perfection herself looks up at Peterson. Oh, she's good. This partner of mine knows
how to hide her true emotions, something I recognize because I do it all the time.
"Yes?" Brittany says, tilting her head and smiling like a beauty queen.
I wonder if that smile has ever gotten her out of a speeding ticket.
"It's your turn. Introduce Alex to the class."
I lean an elbow on the lab table, waiting for an introduction she has to either make up or fess up she knows
less than crap about me. She glances at my comfortable position and I can tell from her deer-in-the-headlights
look I've stumped her.
"This is Alejandro Fuentes," she starts, her voice hitching the slightest bit. My temper flares at the mention of my given name, but I keep a cool facade as she continues
with a made-up introduction. "When he wasn't hanging out on street corners and harassing innocent people
this summer, he toured the inside of jails around the city, if you know what I mean. And he has a secret desire
nobody would ever guess."
The room suddenly becomes quiet. Even Peterson straightens to attention. Hell, even I'm listening like the
words coming out of Brittany's lying, pink-frosted lips are gospel.
"His secret desire," she continues, "is to go to college and become a chemistry teacher, like you, Mrs.
Peterson."
Yeah, right. I look over at my friend Isa, who seems amused that a white girl isn't afraid of giving me smack in
front of the entire class.

I'm so following this...

I love Latinos!!!
Ride on brother!!!

Brittany flashes me a triumphant smile, thinking she's won this round. Guess again, grina. I sit up in my chair while the class remains silent. "This is Brittany Ellis," I say, all eyes now focused on me. "This summer she went to the mall' bought new clothes so she could expand her wardrobe, and spent he daddy's money on plastic surgery to enhance her, ahem, assets." It might not be what she wrote, but it's probably close enough to the truth. Unlike her introduction of me. Chuckle come from mis cuates in the back of the class, and Brittany is as stiff as a board beside me, as if my words hurt her precious ego. Brittany Ellis is used to people fawning all over her and she could use a little wake-up call. I'm actually doing her a favor. Little does she know I'm not finished with her intro.

"Her secret desire," I add getting the same reaction as she did during her introuduction, "is to date a Mexicano before she graduates." As expected, my words are met by comments and low whistles from the back of the room. "Way to go, Fuentes," my friend Lucky barks out. "I'll date you, mamacita," another says. I give a hgh five to another Latino Blood named Marcus sitting behind me just as I catch Isa shaking her head as if I did something wrong. What? I'm just having a little fun with a rich girl from the north side.

Brittany's gaze shifts from Colin to me. I take one look at Colin and with my eyes tell hime game one. Colin's face instantly turns bright red, resembling a chile pepper.

I Don't Normally Comment But Please update! I Commend You For Your Hardwork,I Know It's Not Easy To Type But Pls Don't relent.

kennedith9:
I Don't Normally Comment But Please update! I Commend You For Your Hardwork,I Know It's Not Easy To Type But Pls Don't relent.

Thanks for your comment. I'll see what I can do.

You Are Welcome.

I have definitely invaded his territory. Good. "Quiet down, class," Patterson says sternly. "Thank you for those very creative and . . . enlightening introductions. Miss Ellis and Mr. Fuentes, please see me after class." "Your introductions were not only appalling, they were disrespectful to me and the rest of your classmates," Patterson says after class as Brittany and I stand in front of her desk. "You have a choice." Our teacher holds out two blue detention slips in one hand and two pieces of notebook paper in the other. "You can either serve detention today after school or write a five-hundred-word essay on 'respect' to hand in tomorrow. Which is it?" I reach over and grab the detention slip. Brittany reaches out for the notebook paper. Figures. "Do either of you have a problem with the way I assign chemistry partners?" Patterson asks, "Yes," at the same time I say, "Nope." Patterson sets her glasses on her desk. "Listen, you two better work out your differences before this year is up. Brittany, I won't be assigning you a different partner. You're both seniors and will have to deal with a plethora of people and personalities after you graduate. If you don't want to go to summer school for flunking my class, I suggest you work together instead of against each other. Now hurry to your next class."
With that, I follow my little chem partner out of the room and down the hall. "Stop following me," she snaps, looking over her shoulder to check how many people are watching us walk down the hall together. As if I'm eldiablo myself. "Wear long sleeves on Saturday night," I tell her, knowing full well she's reaching the end of her sanity rope. I usually don't try to get under the skin of white chicks, but this one is fun to rattle. This one, the most popular and coveted one of all, actually cares. "It gets pretty cold on the back of my motorcycle." Listen, Alex," she says, whipping herself around and tossing that sun-kissed hair over her shoulder. She faces me with clear eyes made of ice.

"I don't date guys in gangs, and I don't use drugs." "I don't date guys in gangs, either," I say, stepping closer to her. "And I'm no user." "Yeah, right. I'm surprised you're not in rehab or some juvie boot camp." "You think you know me?" "I know enough." Se folds her arms across her chest, but then looks down as if she realizes her stance makes her chichis stand out, and drops her hands to her side.

This is different but different in a good way,I'm guessing the author is not a Nigerian but he's wonderful and thank you so much for sharing The Forsaken. Lemme call my people; pearl05, cbella, oly0511, Gloryejims, Austinsamekpo, Chigold, purples25, Jadedgrace98. And to the readers, comment na!

Continued...

#TheForsaken

---

I'm doing my best not to focus on those chichis as I take a step forward . "Did you report me t o Aguirre?"
She takes a step back. "What if I did?" "Mujer, you're afraid of me." It's not a question. I just want to hear from her own lips what her reason is.
"Most people at this school are scared that if they look at you wrong, you'll gun them down."
"Then my gun should be smokin' by now, shouldn't it? Why aren't you runnin' away from the badass Mexicano, huh?"
"Give me half a chance, I will." I've had enough of dancing around this little bitch. It's time to fluff up those feathers to make sure I end up wit h the upper hand. I close the distance between us and whisper in her ear, "Face the facts. Your life is too perfect. You probably lie awake at night, fantasizing about spicin' up all that lily whiteness you live in." But damn it, I get a whiff of vanilla from her perfume o r lotion. It reminds me of cookies. I love cookies, so this is
not good at all. " Gettin' near the fire, chica, doesn't necessarily mean you'll get burned."
"You touch her and you'll regret it, Fuentes," Colin's voice rings out. He resembles a burro, with his big white teeth and ears sticking out from his buzz cut. "Get the hell away from her." "Colin," Brittany says. "It's okay. I can handle this." Burro Face brought reinforcements: three other pasty white dudes, standing behind him for backup. I size up Burro Face and his friends to see if I can take them all on, and decide I could give all four a run for their money.


"When you're strong enough to play in the big leagues, jock boy, then I'll listen to the mierda flyin'
out of your mouth," I say.
Oth e r students are gathering around us, leaving room for a fight that is sure to be fast, furious, and blood y. Little do they know Burro Face is a runner. This time he's got backup, though, so may be he'll stay to duke it
out. I'm always prepared for a fight, been in more of 'em than I can count on my fingers and toes. I've got the scars to prove it. "Colin, he's not worth it," Brittany says. Thanks, mamacita. Right back at ya. "You threatening me, Fuentes?" Colin barks, ignoring his girlfriend. "No, asshole," I say, staring him down. "Little dicks like you make threats." Brittany parks her body in front of Collin and put her hand on his chest. "Don't listen to him," she says. "I'm not afraid of you. My dad's a lawyer," Collin brags, then puts his arm around Brittany. "She's mine. Don't
ever forget that." "Then keep a leash on her," I advise. "Or she might be tempted to find a new owner."
My friend paco comes up beside me. "Andas bien, Alex?" "Yeah, Paco," I tell him, then watch as two teachers walk down the hall escorted by a guy in a police uniform. This is what Adams wants, perfectly planned to get my ass kicked out of school. I'm not falling into his trap only to end up on Aguirre's hit list. "Si, everything's bien." I turn to Brittany. "Catch ya later,
mamacita. I'm looking forward to researching our chemistry."
Before I leave and save myself from suspension on top of my detention, Brittany sticks that perky nose of hers in the air as if I'm the scum of the earth.

Haba! This is too short na, please try and make the updates longer. God bless!

TheForsaken:
To whoever is reading.

Yeah, its been quite a while I visited here.

No apologies whatsoever. No one seemed interested. Lemme just continue typing from where I stopped.

#TheForsaken.

Yeah its nt encouraging at all..buh trust me i will be here till dis stoory is done..
AryEmber ahm here finally...

More update ooooo

Pls can I get the perfect chemistry epub or pdf pls