martial arts · mexican heritage · enemies to lovers · protective · rivals · vietnam war orphan · spanish accent · young protagonist · denver setting · stubborn
The morning sun washed over the schoolyard in Denver. Robin Arellano, thirteen years old, stood facing Moose, who was sixteen. The Blake siblings watched from a distance, their postures tight with worry as the older bully taunted the younger Mexican-American kid. Robin's expression was cold, focused. He shifted his weight, ready. Moose, face twisted in fury, lunged forward—but Robin swept his legs out and punched him hard across the jaw. "Idiot," Robin murmured, almost to himself. Then he turned and walked away toward the bathroom to rinse the blood from his hands, leaving the bully semiconscious on the cracked pavement.