The insistent sound of the alarm clock broke the silence of the early morning, dragging Alex from a vibrant dream in which the Civic roared like a beast through the city streets. For a moment, he remained still, staring at the ceiling of his small room while the image of the car remained vivid in his mind. It was a warm thought, an escape from the daily monotony, but the real world called to him.

With a sigh, he slowly sat up, pushing back the covers. He felt the weight of the usual tiredness, but also something different: a spark of excitement that made the routine more bearable. He had a car. His car. Even though it was far from being in perfect condition, it was the first step towards something he had always dreamed of.

He walked barefoot to the window and opened it to let in the fresh morning air. The neighborhood was still asleep, with the streets deserted under the faint glow of a sun that was just beginning to rise. The worn facades of the neighboring houses reminded him that his reality hadn't changed at all, but now he had something to keep him going: a project that made him feel like his life could finally take another direction.

He quickly dressed in his usual clothes, clean but worn, and picked up his backpack from the floor. He knew he had to leave quietly. As he walked down the wooden stairs that creaked with every step, he cast quick glances toward the closed door of his mother's room. He didn't want to wake her. He didn't want another unnecessary argument.

Reaching the small hall, he picked up his old bicycle, leaning against the wall, and went outside. The cold air hit his face, clearing away any remnants of sleep. Alex glanced around: the streets were still as quiet as ever, with the occasional parked car and a few stray cats strolling along the sidewalks. At that moment, he allowed himself a small sigh of relief. The calm of the morning was a good reminder that there was still time to dream.

He mounted his bike, noticing the familiar squeak of the worn pedal, and began to pedal. Each movement felt automatic, part of a routine he had repeated for years. In his mind, however, he was no longer on a rusty bike. He was behind the wheel of the Civic, feeling the roar of the engine, the curves of the road, and the adrenaline coursing through his veins.

The ride to school, which used to seem endless, now felt shorter. Every mile was a chance to think about the future, about how he would one day trade in that old ride for his dream car. It was the kind of fantasy that gave him purpose, something that made the burden of his days more bearable.

As he arrived at school, the smile he had maintained throughout the bike ride began to fade. The usual bustle of students filled the hallways, a cacophony of voices, laughter, and slamming of lockers. Alex knew the morning calm was not going to last long. In this place, everyday life always brought with it some kind of annoyance.

As he walked to his locker, he heard a voice that stuck like a thorn in his back. It was familiar, too familiar.

"Hey, Rivera! How's your mom this morning?"

Alex barely had time to turn around before he felt a hard push on his shoulder. He stumbled a little, but managed to stay on his feet. When he looked up, he saw Tomas, the most popular boy in school, standing with his group of friends. As always, Tomas had that mocking smile on his face, the one he used whenever he found a new way to humiliate someone. He was tall, athletic, and always surrounded by a court of peers who laughed out loud at anything he said, no matter how cruel.

Alex took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. "What do you want, Tomas?" he asked, even though he knew there was no answer that could save him from the next blow.

"I just wanted to know if your mom went out last night," Tomas replied, raising his eyebrows in a fake expression of concern. "Because I called her, but she didn't answer. You know... I needed her to do one of her private shows for me. But I guess she was too drunk to answer."

The laughter of his friends echoed down the hall like a cruel echo. One of them, a thin boy with messy hair, added in a mocking tone, “Maybe she was busy… with another client.”

Alex’s face tightened, his fists clenching at his sides as he tried to contain himself. He could feel the heat rising up his neck, but he knew any reaction would only motivate them to continue.

“Wow, it seems Rivera doesn’t like us talking about his mommy,” Tomas continued, leaning towards Alex with a venomous smile. “Tell me, does he charge you too when you need some attention? Or maybe he gives you a family discount.”

The laughter intensified, and Alex felt something inside him snap. He wanted to scream, he wanted to hit Tomas, but he knew it wasn’t worth it. Not here, not now. He closed his eyes for a second, took a deep breath, and decided not to give them the pleasure of seeing him lose control.

“Are you done?” He muttered, opening his locker with stiff movements.

“For now, Rivera,” Tomas replied, stepping back with a triumphant smile. “But don’t worry. I can always call her again. Tell her to check her messages, okay?”

As the group walked away laughing, Alex stood stock still in front of his locker. On the outside, he kept an impassive expression, but inside, a mix of rage and humiliation boiled in his chest. He closed his eyes for a moment and forced himself to calm down. It wasn’t worth wasting energy on them, not when he had something more important waiting in the workshop.

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The cafeteria was full of noise and movement. The sound of trays clanking, laughter, and conversation filled the air, but Alex barely noticed it. His thoughts kept flitting around the Civic, as if it were a secret too big to contain. He looked around until he found David, sitting in his usual spot in a corner of the dining room. He was leaning over a tray full of food, a burger in one hand and his phone in the other.

“Bro! Why did you ignore me last night? I was waiting for you on Fortnite all night!” David exclaimed without even looking up from his phone.

Alex dropped his backpack on the chair in front of him and sat down with a smile. “I was busy,” he replied, keeping a casual air as he slid an apple off his tray. “At the shop.”

David raised an eyebrow, finally putting his phone down. “The shop? What did you do this time? Clean Marcos’ tools? Or are you earning points for washing his Skyline’s tires?”

Alex let out a laugh, enjoying the moment before blurting out the news. “Not exactly,” he replied, leaning forward with a mysterious smile. “I have a car.”

David dropped his burger with a slam, his jaw almost touching the table. “What did you say? A car? You?”

"Yeah, a car," Alex repeated, trying to sound nonchalant, though his smile betrayed him. "It's a '97 Civic. Marcos gave it to me as a birthday present."

David looked at him like he just said he won the lottery. “A Civic?! Bro, those cars are legends. Well, if they’re not completely destroyed… How’s it?”

Alex let out a sigh, remembering the state of the car. “Well… let’s just say it’s a diamond in the rough. Or rougher than a diamond. The engine won’t start right, it’s leaking everywhere, and the brakes are a mess. But it’s mine. And I’m going to fix it.”

David leaned forward, clearly excited. “This is huge, Alex! Do you have any idea what that means? A Civic can become a monster if you do it right! It’s like… like having a blank canvas, but for speed.”

Alex couldn’t help but smile. David’s energy was contagious, and hearing his enthusiasm made the project seem even bigger than he already felt.

“Bro, I have to see it!” David exclaimed, slamming the table in excitement. "After school, you take me to the shop. This is non-negotiable. I want to see that Civic with my own eyes!"

Alex laughed out loud. "You really want to see a car that can't even get out of the shop parking lot?"

David nodded with mock seriousness. "Yeah. I need to see it. Plus, I want to make sure it's not one of those Civics with the rusty paint and the ridiculous spoilers that look like a plastic spaceship."

"It's exactly that," Alex replied sarcastically. "It's got a spoiler that could be used as a trampoline and the paint is falling apart. I'm thinking of leaving it like that. It's the new style."

David laughed, slamming the table again. "You're an idiot! But seriously, I'm excited for you, bro. This is great. You're finally going to have something of your own, something no one can take away from you."

Alex looked down at his apple, his smile becoming more sincere. "Yeah. It's mine. Even though it can't start yet, it feels like mine."

David gave him a friendly punch on the shoulder. “Come on, man. This is just the beginning. Trust me, when that Civic is roaring down the streets, no one is going to dare mess with you. Well, except me, because I’ll always be a better driver.”

Alex rolled his eyes. “Sure, sure. The kid who crashes in the first minute of any online race is going to teach me how to drive.”

“That was a glitch and you know it!” David replied, pretending to be offended. They both burst out laughing, drawing the attention of a few nearby students, but they didn’t care. For the first time in a long time, Alex felt like someone understood him, that someone shared his enthusiasm.

-x.X.x-

The last class of the day always felt endless, and for Alex, it was just another obstacle between him and the shop. As usual, he sat at the back of the room, his usual spot. From there he could remain unnoticed, something he preferred, especially after what had happened in the hallways that morning. This time, however, he wasn’t entirely focused on ignoring the lesson.

In front of him, his notebook was filled with sketches. He had spent most of the class scribbling down ideas for the Civic: a discreet yet stylish spoiler, sporty rims that fit his vision, even ideas for a custom paint job. With each stroke, he felt the project come more to life. His mind was so busy imagining what the finished car would look like that he barely heard the teacher, whose monotonous lecture on geometry seemed like distant noise.

Suddenly, he felt something that made him look up. It was a strange feeling, as if someone was watching him.

His eyes searched the classroom and stopped on a familiar figure a few rows ahead. Isabela.

She was sitting by the window, the evening light softly illuminating her dark hair. Isabela was one of the most popular girls in school, but not for the typical reasons. She didn't need to draw everyone's attention to stand out. She had a calm yet magnetic presence that made her different. She was kind to everyone, even those who weren't part of the popular circles, and seemed completely oblivious to the superficial drama that reigned in the school.

Alex felt a slight heat rise in his face as he realized their gazes met. Isabela didn't immediately look away. Instead, she looked at him with a curious expression, her lips curling into a slight smile. It wasn't a mocking or malicious smile. It was more of a courtesy, a kind gesture that said more than it seemed.

Alex gulped and looked away quickly, his heart beating faster than he'd like to admit. He tried to focus on his notebook, on the sketches that now seemed clumsy and messy. But he couldn't help but think of her.

“It was just a glance,” he told himself, trying to downplay it. “She was probably looking at something behind me.” He knew that wasn’t true, though. Something about the way she had looked at him made him feel special, if only for a moment.

He forced himself to focus on his drawing, but his mind kept returning to Isabela. Had she seen what he was drawing? Did she think it was weird? Or maybe… was she interested in knowing what it was? Each possibility made the heat in his cheeks increase. He wasn’t used to that attention, much less from someone like her.

Out of the corner of his eye, he looked back to the front. This time, Isabela was paying attention to the teacher, calmly taking notes. She seemed completely focused, as if the small exchange of glances had meant nothing to her. But to Alex, that brief moment had stuck with him.

His mind began to wander. What would Isabela think if she knew about the Civic? Would she be interested in cars? Would she want to ride one someday? Alex realized he was imagining too much and shook his head, trying to focus on something realistic.

When the bell finally rang, Alex sighed in relief. As he put his notebook back into his backpack, he realized he was smiling, though he didn't want to admit why. It was just a glance, he kept telling himself. Nothing more.

When the bell rang, Alex walked out of the classroom quickly, meeting David in the hallway. "Ready to go to the workshop?" David asked excitedly.

"Yeah," Alex replied as they both walked out of the school. "There's a lot to do, but I know we're going to get it done."

End Of Chapter 3.