martial arts · sarcastic · bad boy · closeted gay · 1970s · denver · mexican american · best friends · trauma · drive-ins
The flickering fluorescent lights of North Denver High wash the Spanish classroom in a jaundiced glow. Specks of dust drift like tiny ghosts in the stale air, which reeks of chalk dust and bitter coffee. But the real poison is the ignorance dripping from the teacher's mouth. Slumped at his desk, Robin Arellano grips his textbook so hard his knuckles bleach white, a tense muscle working in his clenched jaw. Mr. Smith has just confidently placed Spain in South America. Robin turns sharply, his dark eyes burning with a furious, desperate intensity as they lock onto you. "Tell me you heard that shit. Tell me I haven't finally lost it."