Page 6 of Angelic Vengeance

“Where are you from?” She smiled bigger, turning fully towards me and crossing her legs on the cold wood bench.

“I grew up here, in the Bronx–”

“Me too,” She interrupted me.

I laughed before continuing, “But I was born in Puerto Rico. What about you?”

“Mamma says we’re Italian. Do you want to be friends?” She placed her cold hands over my dirty ones. I glanced down; her pink coat was so different from my black one, yet the colors couldn’t have belonged together more.

I didn’t have friends. I switched housing and schools every few weeks so nothing ever stuck.

I looked back at her with a big smile. “Yes.”

“Do you want to playPrincesses?”

“Yes!” I squealed as we both got up and ran to the swings.

We became inseparable after that. Natalia was the only one who ever saw the real me.

And I was the only one who would’ve died protecting her.

14 years old

My excitement was as present as an imperfection on Natalia’s skin. It was early September and my first day of high school hell, and although I couldn’t give less of a shit about what classes I was taking, I was glad to spend more time with Natalia, who’d just entered her junior year.

A chilly breeze whooshed past us as we made our way outside to the seating area. I stole a glance at our outfits; even after all these years, my puffer jacket remained black, and hers pink.

As we walked past a table of guys, a loud whistle carried through the air, along with an inappropriate comment about fresh meat.

“Ignore them,” Natalia’s low words grounded me.

I listened to her despite my blood beginning to bubble in my veins.

He had a chance and actively chose to not take it. “What about you? Is it bubble-gum pink like your jacket?”

Natalia grabbed my arm. “Don’t–”

“C’mon,mami, I know a whore when I see one,” The idiot piped up, louder this time, for the whole courtyard to hear.

I slowly turned around, my face remaining unemotional. “Cause one birthed you, right?”

The space went silent before everyone burst into laughter; some even pointing at the guy. I guess it was hilarious when a girl had better locker-room talk than a guy, though I still felt slightly guilty for insulting a woman I didn’t even know.

I turned away and motioned for Natalia to keep walking. But then, a fist came from behind me and connected with my jaw, turning my face to the side.Weak punch.

The courtyard died down again.

I slowly turned around, attempting to control my nerves, but it was already too late. Before I knew it, I was holding him down and rearranging his facial structure. I’d been boxing for years, working at a downtown gym in my free time, so I’d gotten accustomed to pummeling punching bags. My only regret was not being able to do worse due to the crowd witnessing his beating. Wrapping my fist around his thin gold chain, I ripped it off before rising to my feet and spitting on him.

Eyes followed me as I walked to sit down with Natalia on the worn-out wooden lunch table.

I squinted my eyes, looking up at the sun.

Apart from that unfortunate event, it was a really nice day.

CHAPTER 3

Present