Snippets

Like Minded (Part 1)

Rylen gaped at her Papa. He called her beautiful. She had never heard this particular word for her. It had always been Reyanna who was the beautiful one, Rylen was the rough and sporty tomboy. But beautiful? Never.

"You just called me beautiful," Rylen pointed out.

"I did," He nodded.

"But you never called me beautiful before," She pointed out again.

"I thought you didn't like girly compliments," He stated.

"I don't. It's just...it's weird. Why call me something I am not," Rylen felt confused.

"Rylen, champ. You are beautiful. It's not always about the makeup and clothes that make you pretty. Beauty is natural and abstract. You are and always will be beautiful," He told her with a warm smile.

"Uh...thanks I guess. I'll keep it in mind," She told him getting a bit emotional by her Papa's words.

"You should," He told her as they reached the venue.

"I'll be with the oldies. You have fun with your friends," Her Papa told her before parting ways.

Her Papa was clear on giving the kids their space. They were free to do anything, anything legal, obviously. They had their space, but not enough to distance themselves from their family.

Rylen spotted her team and made her way towards them. Walking and moving in those clothes were not an issue. They gave her freedom and confidence.

Rylen was greeted with wolf whistles as she reached Juan and her team.

"Never seen a girl, Fuckers?" Rylen rolled her eyes.

"And she's still the same, Valdez," Juan joked as he wrapped his arm around Rylen's shoulder.

"And you all are still idiots," Rylen said flatly.

"What happened to you? When did you become a...girl?" Torres, one of the defenders asked.

"The day you realized you weren't," Rylen's tone wasn't even rising. It was flat as the floor.

"Ooohhh burn!" Juan joked as the others laughed.

"Okay, shut up everyone!" Sánchez, their team captain came in between.

"You are such a fun killer, Sánchez," Torres groaned.

"Do you want your face and the fruit punch to be friends, Torres?" Rylen told him. Torres gulped and others laughed.

They all fell back into a conversation amongst each other leaving Sanchez, Rylen, and Juan separate.

"Your parents are here?" Sánchez asked.

"Only my Pa. Mama had some work," She told and turned towards Juan. "Juan, why didn't you ask my sister to be your plus one?" Rylen asked him.

"I could?" Juan looked surprised.

"Of course, idiot. You can bring a date. Plus one was allowed. Everyone got their plus ones," Sánchez told him pointing at the boys who had their girlfriends by their side.

"Fuck! Reya will kill me now!" Juan cursed realizing he was the only one who didn't know.

"Nah. She was fine. She was assisting Mama on her project anyway," Rylen told him.

"Thank god," Juan sighed.

"What about you, Sánchez? Where's Mérida?" Rylen asked.

"We broke up again," He told them in a dispirited tone.