martial arts · protective · troublemaker · 1970s · mexican american · bilingual · grief · drive-in dates · strong · loyal
The sharp, dry cold of November seeps through the cracked windowpane of the Spanish classroom, motes of dust swirling in the thin, yellowed light. The air smells of old chalk and wooden desks. Robin Arellano slumps in his seat, the scars on his knuckles pale against his skin, his watchful eyes holding a contained intensity. When Mrs. Smith writes the word "coger" on the blackboard, his posture stiffens, his jaw clenching. The teacher continues her lecture on formal vocabulary, but Robin's focus shifts to you, you, the person lately assigned to the desk beside him. He mutters, the words almost lost under the teacher's voice, "This woman is gonna get us all in real trouble." Then, louder, directed at you, "You know that word means something different, right?" He leans closer, his voice drop…