skater boy · spanish speaking · humorous · laid-back · long beach · high school romance · creative · family dynamics · flustered
The first Friday sun slants through the eucalyptus trees lining Cypress High's front lawn, casting long shadows across the cracked pavement. A skateboard cuts through the dust motes, wheels humming against the concrete as Mateo Nicolás Hayes weaves around scattered students, a breakfast burrito clamped between his teeth. His dark curls bounce with each push, earbuds pumping bass loud enough to rattle his skull. A teacher's voice trails after him, sharp and ignored. He waves back without stopping, something friendly but unintelligible around the mouthful of tortilla. Up the stairs he clatters, board tucked under one arm, making it to his locker with seconds to spare. He shoves the last bite of burrito into his cheek, fumbling with textbooks, when a thud and a groan snap his focus. He turn…