Welcome to Azulona School, Pride of Espliego

That Lunaris was clear, without wind and clouds. It was a sunny day, but one that predicted a summer that would continue to be warm. The dry atmosphere left people feeling more dizzy.

25 degrees Celsius was the minimum temperature for that day and the morning began with the traditional complaining of Hilda. She fought and muttered to herself to get her hair done well and arrive at her first day of school presentable.Then she strugguled about which outfit to choose.

Caleb waited for them outside.  Javier decided to take them to school. Azulona wasn't that far: 20 minutes walking, and only 10 by car or taxi. This was so Cristina could get used to the route since they wouldn't always be able accompay them.

When they arrived, Javier wished them good luck, and the three of them entered the school. Cristina was nervous, but Hilda and Caleb were with her. Although Hilda got separate almost immediately to meet some friends, Caleb showed her which classroom she would be in.

Caleb also got distracted with some acquaintances; in that moment, Cristina felt she could manage on her own. Just as Javier wouldn't always be there accompanying her, Caleb or Hilda wouldn't be there either. She walked, looking for the classroom she was assigned, when a teacher interrupted her.

"The public section is on the other side," a fifty-year-old woman, thin with gray hair pulled back, observed her.

"I don't..." Cristina tried to say. She didn't understand how she had gotten into such a strange situation.

"You're new to Azulona, right? It's fine, I'll accompany you." The teacher walked, believing Cristina was following her, but when she realized she wasn't, the teacher began to get irritated. "It's better to arrive on time for class, miss." 

The teacher approached Cristina, taking her by the hand. Cristina began to try to free herself, some students began to watch.

"Ms. Martínez!" Caleb had finally arrived and saw the teacher with his friend, forcing her to walk.

“Harper! Is something wrong?" The professor was still holding Cristina, who was already nervous and a bit scared.

"Let me take care of my friend," Caleb said calmly.

"Harper, she..."

"She is Cristina Fablet. Does that name sounds familiar for you?" Caleb challenged the teacher, and the professor stared at him.

The students who were attentive to the scene began to murmur. Did he call her Fablet? Caleb ordered his friend to take out her school ID. As best she could, Cristina took it out of her school bag. There were her tudent info: "Cristina Fablet RedBerry. Grade 1, Group C. Private Section."

"As a teacher, treating students like that doesn't set a good image for the school," Caleb made the teacher release his friend, and the teacher looked somewhat fearful.

"Her... clothes..." the teacher tried to explain. Cristina was not dressed in fine or luxury clothing as the students of the private section usually were.

"Her way of speaking, her skin color, whether she is obese..." Caleb continued. "I remind you how you treated Briner."

The teacher was already irritated and just walked away. The first bell rang, and Caleb pointed to her classroom and ran to his own. Some students who saw the matter said nothing more. She calmed down, and finally, the professor arrived, and the class began.

The first three classes finally ended, and the first recess began. Cristina was invited to a group of classmates who wanted to know more about how she came to be Dolores's adopted daughter. Cristina told her story: the little she remembered of her arrival to Sweet Scent, the adoption by Alfredo, and her arrival in Espliego.

"Adopted by Old Dolores!" commented someone from the group. She was a woman with dyed hair and flashy fake jewelry. She was usually waring gloves.

She knew her name; teachers usually reprimanded her a lot. Karla, like Hilda, was a difficult person to deal with. What caught her attention was that, despite the heat, she was wearing leather gloves.

"Is Dolores that important?" Cristina asked the group.

"It's not that she's 'important'," they replied. "Besides being one of the best civil lawyers in Espliego, she is known for being an old maid. That she is suddenly married and has adopted you... well, it's scandalous."

In the afternoon, after classes, Cristina went to the teachers' office so she could choose two extracurricular activities. Professors gathered in that place before, during, and after classes. Ms. Martínez was there, still angry about the morning's issue.

Although Caleb helped her resolve the matter, she felt that a mere orphan was not worthy of being part of the prestigious Azulona school—at least not the private section. Some teachers encouraged her, telling her to just ignore the comments. Others looked at the new student with some displeasure. Is it true that she is Dolores's adoptive daugther?

"Don't pay attention to them," said the teacher handling her case, the coordinator for after-school activities, who started speaking upon seeing Cristina's discomfort. "It is not usual to see students of your condition in the private section."

The professor explain the extra curricular activities. For first-year high school students, there were two areas that can choose: sports, that include soccer, basketball, volleyball, athetics and swimming. And the arts section, with classes for theater, music and drawing.

"For music, which instruments can I choose?" Cristina asked, interested.

"Piano, singing, violin, and guitar. Extracurricular classes start next week. Decide which one you want to join."

On the way home, Hilda was talking on the phone. There were friends who hadn't returned to Azulona, and she wanted to know why. She spoke too loudly, as if she wanted the whole street to know about her anger toward her friends. Caleb and Cristina remained silent; Hilda's personality was intimidating. Finally, Hilda hung up the call, sent a few text messages, and put the phone away.

"That traitor..." Hilda whispered.

"Any problem?" Cristina asked, trying to find out what was happening with her sister.

"My best friend moved to Neige," Hilda replied, hitting the floor hard with each step she took. Caleb remained silent. "That bitch decided to continue studying there without even asking me. We had made a promise to finish high school here. Do you know what she told me?"

Cristina thought about the answer for a moment but shook her head.

"The bitch said she found a fashion school near her father's residence and wanted to go live with him."

"A fashion school?" Cristina asked, trying to change the subject.

"It's a school where you can study fashion design," Hilda replied, somewhat mocking her sister. "I will learn to design, to make my own clothing designs. Since I'm a model, it won't be difficult to become a designer."

"Have you decided which class you are going to enter?" Caleb finally tried to join the conversation. Maybe, just maybe, he could get Hilda to calm down if he changed the subject.

Cristina knows that she wasn’t particularly talented at anything, and unlike Hilda or Caleb, she didn't possessed any talent or ability.

"No... I haven't decided yet," Cristina replied nervously.

Upon arriving home, the sisters said goodbye to Caleb. Hilda went to her room to change, and half an hour later, she left again without saying a word to Cristina. Left alone, she decided to rest for a while. So many experiences and so much information overwhelmed her.

She felt happy; that day she had also made her first friends, among them Alex Briner, an obese student from Eastern Bird, son of Colonel Briner, a military man in charge of the armed forces dedicated to guarding the borders of Neige, Eastern Bird, and Cobalto.

Alex turned out to be talkative, charismatic, and someone who didn't let himself be influenced by his weight. Soon, Cristina discovered that he was popular for his big heart, kindness, and ability to listen.

She got scared when she heard noises in Javier and Dolores's room. The door was closed, but she heard footsteps going back and forth. When she felt they were approaching the door to open it, she moved away a little and saw Javier leaving his room.

"Cristina!" Javier, startled, could barely pronounce his stepdaughter's name. "What time did you get here?"

"Less than an hour ago, I think," she responded.

"I have to assume that my daughter has already left." Javier said. With just a nod, Cristina confirmed it. "Don't look at me that way. I left early today."

Javier went to the kitchen to prepare water for coffee and tea for Cristina. Not knowing what else to do, in silence, she accompanied him. After both drinks were prepared, Javier decided to ask Cristina about her firt day of school.

Her first day of school was strange, from Ms. Martínez and her comments; she told about how esy was to meet and make some friends and the classes were fun. Also told him about the extracurricular classes.

"Have you already decided?" Javier asked. Cristina shook her head again, "What do you like to do in your free time?"

"I don't know," was all Cristina answered.

She looked at her cup. Javier thought about what to answered. He took a couple of sips of his coffee and added: 

"When you were little, what did you like to do?" Javier already knew a little about the life Cristina had before Dolores adopted her, only the few things Cristina could talk about regarding her life with Alfredo.

Cristina had forgotten, or almost forgotten: her grandmother's songs and stories. She remembered she liked to draw when she could. When she didn't have a pencil and paper, in Sweet Scent, she would draw them with a wooden stick on the ground, in the dirt. Thanks to her, she dreamed, and although she was always embarrassed, when she was alone, she also sang.

"I used to draw and listen to my grandmother's songs. She always did it for me,” Cristina answered after a moment of silence.

"The school gives drawing and singing classes," Javier saw how Cristina assimilated this new information. "Think about it well. I will support you in whatever decision you want to make. You are free to choose."

The following five days, Cristina spent time with Javier, who told her about his small art collection. He showed her some postcards, drawings, and notebooks with different drawings. His dream was to have an art gallery that he could call his own and exhibit pieces of art by painters to give exposure to their talent.

By Solinar, Cristina had finally decided. Accompanied by Javier, she went to buy art material. Dolores was skeptical about Cristina taking singing classes. During her youth, she always dreamed of being a famous singer, a dream she never achieved. She felt uncomfortable with the subject.