Years had passed, every year there mom’s made sure they were in the same class and advised the teachers not to separate them, the principle was okay with this but also confused him. But now they were in fifth grade, they were both pretty smart for kids who had ADHD, Dyslexia, and ADD. Leo and Nico stood in the middle of their fifth grade classroom, people seemed to stare at them, and the teacher scowled from her desk. Mrs. Nyferts didn’t like them from day one but they didn’t care. The raven haired boy moved and tugged on Leo’s shirt some, moving to whisper softly in his best friends ear “I don’t like it here Leo..”
The hispanic boy shook his head a bit whispering back “I agree with you, I don’t either.” Both of them shuffled their feet a bit and moved to sit back down at their seats.
After an hour or so it was lunchtime, Leo and Nico dreaded this part of school, they sulked down the hallway, went through the lunch line and got lunch, moving they went and sat down. Nico smiled softly at Leo “at least the days almost over, then we can go home!” Leo laughed a bit and nudged the other playfully with his shoulder.
After a few minutes of them eating a girl with reddish-brown came over and snarled at them “hey gay kids can you stop being stupid and scram!”
Leo snorted lightly, Nico stared blankly at Leo. The hispanic kid stood up and looked the girl in the face “why don’t you scram? Because I’m pretty sure me and Nicy could take you” the girl reared up her head, she probably decided it wasn’t a good idea to get in trouble because she just walked away.
Nico laughed at Leo and punched him in the arm “Leo! What if she did want to fight? We would have been killed!”
“Would have been worth it”
“One day you’re going to get us both killed”
“As long as I’m killed with you”
Nico smiled slightly. “Wouldn’t have it any other way.”

---

“Leo!” Nico screamed as the other was shoved into the wall by the girl from earlier.
She had growled at the other “this little punk thinks he can get away with trying to intimidate me? I don’t think so.”
Leo coughed and moved to stand up, his body shuddered a bit, but he had a small grin on his face “please, you’re just a loser who needs attention.” The girl growled at him some more, sounding more like a dog than a girl. Nico’s pretty Italian skin seemed to turn pale with each growing moment.
Finally he moved to take his place beside his best friend and looked at the girl with what seemed like a deathly stare “leave him alone! Leo’s cocky, don’t fault him for that!” Leo looked hurt for a moment but he smiled at Nico.
“Y’know what kid, you better watch yourself, when sixth grade comes around you’re both dead!” she snarled at them and turned to leave.
After a few minutes of quiet Nico turned to the other and hugged him tightly “are you okay!?”
A muffled laugh came from Leo, as he shook his head a bit “I’m fine Nicy, calm down,” The two boys sat on the ground near that wall, Nico was busy listing off all the things Leo probably shouldn't do, and then the raven haired boy was cut off when he heard the sweet voice of his mother, “Nico! Leo! I’ve com--” her words were cut short when a car drove by, stuck a gun out the window and shot Maria.
Nico’s eyes widened, he began crying, and then he ran towards his mother “mom!” when he reached her he sat beside her and pulled her head into his tiny lap “m-mommy please don’t die..”
His mother reached a hand up and stroked his cheek “Nico, baby don’t cry, I’ll be alright I promise” as she talked blood poured out the wound, her face became pale, and blood began clinging to his pants and her hair.
Nico jerked his head up and looked at Leo with sad eyes “L-Leo...we have to help her..go get someone!” Leo stood there shocked for a moment before moving to run inside quickly, he was going to get the lady in the front office to call the ambulance and then his own mom, even though he was weary about the idea.
Within seconds sirens could be heard coming, Leo had went back outside and joined Nico again who was trying to hold back his sobs of agony. Leo pressed against his friend trying to comfort him as best as he could, Nico’s mothers breaths had became shallow by the time Esperanza and the ambulance had arrived.
Leo’s mothers breath hitched while her eyes filled with tears from the look of her friend. She watched as the men from the ambulance mindlessly pushed Nico and Leo away and took Maria away.
When both the boys were in the car, they noticed Bianca was in the front seat, she seemed upset and sad all at the same time, so she did what was natural, she turned to her brother and yelled “It’s your fault Nico! It’s all your fault! Mom could die, and i’d be your fault!”
Nico stared at her aimlessly, and then tears began brimming his eyes again, Bianca’s gaze turned soft and she moved to the back with her brother and held him close and mumbled “I’m so sorry Nico, I didn’t mean it! I-I’d never blame you, you did nothing wrong!” Nico shook his head as he cried, finally pushing her away, he moved to curl up against Leo, trying to stop himself from crying.
A silence fell over the car, until Leo’s mother poked her head into the car, looking at the kids with a soft smile “Your mom’s going to be fine, but she’s going to be in the hospital for a week” Nico smiled lightly, and Bianca let out a small sigh.
Leo decided to pipe up “momma? Is it okay if they stay with us while there momma’s in the hospital? I’ll share my room with Nico.”
Esperanza smiled some more at the kindness her son was showing “mi querido hijo, that sounds like a fine idea, I’m sure there momma would appreciate that.” Leo beamed at his mom a bit and then moved to hug Nico, who seemed to be smiling now. Bianca smiled slightly at Leo’s mother as if she was saying thank you.
Esperanza got in the car and Bianca crawled up front, as they began driving to Valdez’s house, Nico had been whispering to Leo, who laughed a bit at every little thing his friend had said. Once they arrived at the household, Leo’s mom instructed the boys to take a bath, they both nodded in understanding and ran into the house and up to the bathroom.
Nico had been unbuttoning his pants when Esperanza came in, smiling “when you two are done just call for me” Leo nodded as Nico fiddled with his pants.
Chuckling Leo moved and helped Nico out, “Nicy! You can’t just try and rip the buttons apart” Nico giggled a bit and slid out of his pants. Now the two boys stood in the bathroom, naked, while Leo’s mother got the bath ready for them.
Within minutes they were both in snickering, splashing each other with water, and making silly little jokes. Leo’s mom left, and Nico moved to help Leo wash his hair, vice versa. After they were done they sang for Leo’s mother, laughing as they did so, Esperanza came in and helped the two out the bath tub and into some big fluffy black towels.
Scurrying through the cold hallways they made it into Leo’s room, then they burst into a giggle fit, they found Nico some clothes while Leo got dressed in his own. Esperanza called from downstairs “mi hijo y su amigo dinners ready!” Nico and Leo squealed and ran downstairs to eat. When they got down there they saw Bianca, she had her hair braided and had pretty black and pink flowers in the braids.
Nico gasped “Bianca!! Sei bella!!” Bianca smiled brightly and nodded in thanks to her brother while Leo and his mother stared at Nico because of the sudden burst of Italian that came from his mouth.
After a few minutes they sat down ate dinner, later they watched a movie, and then they went to bed not speaking a word about that days events.

Notes

|| I almost cried rereading this chapter XD