Page 101 of As the Rain Falls
“I think it was sugar for rum, actually,” Mateo corrects me. “I read that the factory shut down after some kind of accident, but I couldn’t find any records of it at the public library.”
My eyebrows shoot up, finding it surprising that he’d use the public library instead of the library at Sainte Madeleine.It makes sense though; the public library is where our archives arekept. You can find old newspapers, magazines, and even records from local artists stored on the second floor.
“My dad once said someone died here.”
Antony rolls his eyes. “Your dad says a lot of things, Rivera.”
“You don’t like him at all, do you?” I mention with a grin, surprisingly enough not taking it to heart. My father is the school’s principal, after all. Of course, someone like Antony Silva wouldn’t be his biggest fan. “How’s that second chance at Sainte Madeleine going for you?”
He hesitates for a second before realizing I’m just joking around. A flicker of a grin pulls at the corner of his mouth as he answers, “Not great. But considering we just spent the past hour together in detention, it’s going just as bad for you.”
Touché.
“Don’t even get me started.” I take another sip, flicking my hair back. “Kayla thinks it’ll be okay, but that report is going to stink.”
Antony relaxes, giving me a low chuckle, “Kayla’s way too fucking nice. She actually believes teachers have the best of intentions towards people like us. I should’ve invited her to my student council meetings last year. Maybe then she’d have seen what they’re really all about.”
“People like us?” I echo, curiously raising a brow.
“You know.” He shrugs, sarcasm dripping in his tone. “Major screw-ups.”
“Ah,” I hum, understanding what he means. “The ones who had to have a meeting to consider whether they were going to high school or not.”
“And who can’t seem to figure out how to shut up in class.”
“Speak for yourself, Silva. I’m not nearly as bad as you are.”
“Right, but that’s because you’re not sitting at the far back,” Antony concedes, sitting on the floor and crossing his legs. “But neither of us are as great as Mister Genius right over there.”
Mateo is quiet, drifting around the old office like he’s not really paying attention to our chatter.I watch him from where I’m seated, noticing how his feet are dragging against the floor that’s covered in dust and old torn papers. One of them flutters when a breeze comes through the broken window too fast, and it rises and falls over his shoe.
“You okay?” I ask, a hint of worry in my voice.
He gets startled, and his head snaps towards me. “Yeah. Fine. I was just thinking about something.”
“I’ve told you to stop doing that, dude.” Antony pulls the zipper of his backpack open and starts digging for something. “Thinking is the reason why you always end up getting in trouble.”
“I’m not thinking about stupid shit this time around.” Mateo rolls his eyes, walking back towards us. “And I’m not a genius.”
I disagree. Mateo might not be a genius, but he is definitely smarter than most people are. I haven’t seen him fail a single assignment since September. And surprisingly enough, Mateo always knows what the teacher is talking about. He justmakes it looklike he’s not paying any attention.
“Yeah, right. You’re just a prodigy or whatever,” Antony snaps back dismissively, takes a pack of cigarettes, and lights up just one. “You hear that, Cassie? It’s the correct terminology for the young and gifted.”
Mateo snorts, shaking his head before he drops to Antony’s side, “If I’m gifted, then what does that make you? You’re the smartest guy I know.”
“I’m street smart.”
“Which is far more important than whatever skills I have.” Mateo grimaces. “I actually get in dumb shit more often than not because I’m too… what’s that word again?”
“Gullible?” I shoot.
“That!” He snaps a finger towards me. “Antony always sees through someone’s bullshit before I do. He was the first person to tell me about Caleb doing drugs.”
Antony exhales a stream of smoke, grinning in a way that’s quite charming. I know exactly why Lucia fell for him from an early age. Beckett might be the prettiest, but Antony is definitely the coolest guy in town.
“Oh, you know me. I’m Sainte Madeleine’s very best.”
“Ok, I’m not giving you compliments anymore.” Mateo nudges him, asking for a cigarette. “Seriously though, I was thinking. Now that Cassie’s one of us, she needs to be initiated.”
