Page 2 of Return To You

One year is all Al has left of school; it's how long we have left until he leaves for the military. He dreams of enlisting until he's twenty-five, gaining experience in the world, and helping people, before taking over from our father.

Dad owns the most powerful company in southern California, and Al’s due to take over, but he won’t get to “keep it” because Dad hates nepotism.

The company will go to our children, and then their children….

"You'll do great, Little Rose," Dad says as we pass him, but I don't acknowledge him.

He knows I've been bullied and don't want to do this. He only stepped in the last time because sharp scissors were involved. For the others, I was told to stand up for myself because I'm a Lopez, and Lopez’s should be ruthless, not weak.

He forgets that I'm also a girl who loves to read and be alone, and I know I won't get that at Kings Prep.

With a lump in my throat, and the urge to scream and run back to my room, I let my big brother to guide me to the dark blue 2001 Dodge Ram he spent four years saving to buy.

He works evenings and weekends at the local garage.

Dad has ingrained in us that we have to work to get what we want. Where I'll do the household chores because Dad refused to have staff because it's something Mom never wanted, Alejandro has been working below minimum wage since he was fourteen with Mr. Dillon, the garage owner and his old shop teacher, working his way up.

Though Dad still gives Alejandro money when he's short on gas….

It doesn't take long to reach the black gates of hell.

Alejandro, feeling my tension, squeezes my knee. "It'll be alright, Little Bit."

I nod but don't reply because we both know it won't be.

I heard Piper was grounded for the whole summer, and when I say heard, I mean I was cornered by her friends at the mall when I was trying to find a job for the summer. Her friends said I was on herlist.

Whatever that means….

Ignoring my brother, I climb out of his car, grabbing my bag from the footwell before heading to the large, intimidating cream-colored building, ignoring all the students hanging out around their cars. A few seconds later, I feel a heavy arm slide over my shoulders, and instinctively, I move into the warmth ofmy older brother, who maneuvers me toward a group of people instead of guiding me to the front doors.

"Nah, no fucking way Little Bit is already in high school," Jacob shouts, shoving his scruffy blonde hair out of his eyes, squinting my way, and I grin, my cheeks heating up as eyes come our way.

Alejandro snorts, and I move out of his hold, walking into my cousin’s.

Jacob holds me tight, the girl next to him scoffing, causing him to tense.

"I hope you're not scoffing at my baby cousin, Alana?" he sneers, and the girl standing near him freezes. Her blue eyes widen as she gingerly pushes her blonde hair behind her ears.

She clears her throat. "It's nice to meet you, Rose. Jacob and Al talk about you a lot."

Her eyes narrow a little, but I just give her a timid smile, hoping to take the attention off me. I fail, as Cal, my brother's best friend, warns, "If you look at her like that one more time, you'll be out of our group, Alana."

Alana swallows hard, and I look over at Cal. His dark brown eyes glaring at the girl.

"Um, shouldn't we be heading inside?" I ask to break the ice, causing Cal to look my way and give me a lopsided grin.

"Always the good girl, huh, Little Bit?" he asks, and I grin wide because yes, yes, I am.

Alejandro pulls me out of Jacobs's arms, who instantly pouts, making me giggle as my big brother snaps, "Since when did you two start calling my sister Little Bit? That'smynickname for her."

I laugh as his girlfriend Vanessa pulls me from him, making him grumble.

She instantly links her arm through mine, and I place my head on her shoulder, happy she's only a little taller than me.

She has long, dark brown hair and light blue eyes. She's stunning, and my brother is lucky someone like her even looked his way, though she says he's a catch, which makes me gag every time.

They met after he spilled his soda all over her in the cafeteria, and they have been together for two years, even though our father doesn’t like it.

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