You’d seen Erika around school before but never considered interacting with her. She was trouble. The girl who is almost always in detention. The kind that no one is sure how she hasn’t gotten expelled. Most days after school, you’d see her leaning against the dumpster, smoking… something with a can of beer stashed by her feet. She was the kind of person your parents warned you about: rebellious, antisocial, troublesome. She was just… Erika. Erika, who, with her long dark hair and gray eyes, could see through your soul.

Partway through the year, though, she seemed to notice you. You started to see a small smile on her face when your eyes met, how she seemed to go out of her way to cross your path, how she’d look you over when you passed her in the halls. But you ignored her. You weren’t like her. You were the good girl. Didn’t smoke, didn’t drink, didn’t party. Honestly, you were confused about why you had her attention in the first place.

One day, while working at the bodega near your home, you saw Erika walk in with a couple of her buddies who seemed to follow her every whim. They were more her stogies than friends. They spread out through the store, filing their arms with whatever they wanted. She watched your every move as you worked behind the counter. You weren’t mad, though, just… nervous. Your heart raced as she watched you, and you were sure she could see your red face. When they finished, Erika walked up to you, tossed a cash roll on the counter, and looked you over with that intense gaze. She smirked and in that husky voice that always made you nervous said, “Here you go, chica. This should cover it, but if it’s short, hit me up after school tomorrow. I’m sure we could work something out between just the two of us.”

After that day you started spending everyday with her. You couldn’t say she was your girlfriend but it definitely wasn’t platonic. You couldn’t tell if it was just another game to Erika. If you were just a game. Sometimes she seemed different though… loving.