The two sat on the bed. Marcos put on his coat and hugged Lucia. A climate of friendship and mixed feelings surrounded him. They talked about their childhood games. He pulled her hair into a bun with his hand, remembering how he'd cut it once.

She lay down on the bed with her head on the pillow, she was still very sleepy. He smiled at her beautifully, caressing her lips.

-Adonis showed up at the bar where I worked-she commented.

Lucia didn't expect this, her expression changed.

"That disgusting ogre," he muttered.

- He provoked me. He said that ...

- What scoundrel? Maybe I'll spread it to the whole school to finish me off for good - Lucia protested.

- What did he really do to you? He speaks to me.

Lucia hid her face in shame so as not to look at Marcos. But he insisted on the matter. He wanted to know the truth from her.

- He's just a jerk.

Marcos squeezed Lucia's wrist as he did when he was just a naughty kid. She tried to escape his questioning gaze.

- He said that... - Marcos gritted his teeth before continuing. -That moved you right here-he put his hand on Lucia's thigh, almost touching her more intimately. He wanted to pressure her into talking.

- I know you, you can't hide anything from me.

-Take your hand off my thigh, it hurts-she asked, squeezing his hand for him to take it off. - You arrived now, you don't know what I've been through all this time. I even forgot about you. Don't think you have the right to want me to reveal myself to you - he said with tears in his eyes.

He took his hand away, gritted his teeth again in sudden anger.

- I don't even know anything about you. Everything has changed, we are no longer children - Lucia said.

He fixed his hand on her face now. She held it.

- Look here. I'm going to finish that asshole. He will see me. If he messes with you again, don't deny me the will to find out, okay? He-he moved her head with his hand. - OK?

"Fine," she replied.

Marcos got up and went to the window to leave. On impulse Lucia hugged him from behind. She can feel her pectoral muscles through her palms. He just took them off and walked away. Without even turning to her. He then went out the window.

- Sleep a little longer. See you at school-he said goodbye going down the tree.

- You are the same as always, prickly - Lucia said to herself, throwing herself on the bed.

After napping for half an hour, Lucia woke up. She went to the bathroom and turned on the bathtub faucet, put on foaming soap. She took off the glue that was still impregnated with perspiration. She sniffed him to see if Marcos' scent was still on him. She smiled and tossed it into the laundry basket. She got in the shower, put on the headphones and enjoyed her favorite singer. She ran her hand over the part of her thigh that Marcos had grabbed. She couldn't stop thinking about his kisses. She wasn't sure what she was feeling. That kid grew up. But sometimes he behaves with kindness, sometimes with aggression, passion and at the same time like a boy and a brat. But deep down he was still her prickly, her first kiss, her first love and now her protector.

She got out of the shower and got ready. She grabbed her things and went downstairs. She saw her mother in the kitchen cutting corn cake, it sharpened her taste buds.

- What a good smell. I love corn cake and I love my mami.

- You look happy! Do you have anything new to tell?

- Not yet and you?

- Did you know that our neighbor Mayara has returned?

- Yeah, I heard.

- I didn't even have time to go visit her.

- You will have time, we live so close.

- I'll visit her later, she doesn't seem to be in good health.

- Same?

- I'll wait for you to come back so we can go together.

- Serious? Lucia bit her lip.

She hugged her mother and left. She looked around looking to see her prickly. She felt pathetic. She got on the bus, looked for a bench to sit on. She was pulled by someone who made her sit up abruptly. When she saw it, it was prickly from her.

-Rude-she retorted. She thought about getting up.

-Don't even think about leaving my side-she demanded looking at her with a charming smile.

Lucia grimaced, biting her lip. This gesture made Marcos excited. Her beauty really captivated him. Her squire has become an attractive girl. The qualities she had developed as a dancer made him more passionate.

- Do not do that.

- This what?

- Biting your lips is ugly.

- So you found something ugly in me? - He said mocking. - I bite whenever I want, it's my mouth.

- No, it's not yours - He said scribbling his finger in Lucia's mouth. "It's mine," he said.

- You can't... You don't own me.

- I am. I've always been.

- That's ridiculous? Just because you were my childhood friend doesn't make you my owner.

He laughed.

- I am and that's it.

- No.

The two argued until they got down to the central point.

- Stop following me.

- It will be impossible, I also take the same route to school.

Lucia shrugged and ran. They were late. The gate was already closed.

- And now? How do I go about rehearsing? Damn it!

- If that's a problem? I know a really cool place for you to rehearse.

- Same?

- My uncle Gil's gym.

Lucia had doubts .

- It's not a good idea.

- Why isn't it?

- Because it's a boxing gym.

- Prejudiced! He slapped her lightly on the head.

- There. It's not prejudice. It's just that your uncle might not like it.

- I talk with him. I ask for permission.

- Miss Evelyn and Mr Donavan! - Called director Coutinho from inside the gate, who looked at them with an unpleasant mood.

The two froze, staring at the director's imposing expression. He ordered the gate to open so they could enter and took them straight to the secretary's office.

''We're screwed,'' they muttered.