Forgive and Forget.

I did know that Haley was a student of this school, but didn't actually tell her that I was joining today. "Hey there, Rambo. I didn't know that you were coming today.", she said in an almost sing song manner. Aaron had a very funny expression on his face. "Rambo? As in John Rambo?", he asked with a very confused and funny expression. "Oh, that's a name I gave him, as he…", I quickly glared at her as she was about to spill the events of that day. "Knows how to fight", I quickly interrupted before she could complete her words. "She knows that I practice martial arts. So, she calls me Rambo.", I quickly added and just pulled a very perplexed Haley and walked forward. "What do you mean by I knew that you know how to fight? I call you that because of what you did in the mall?", she said in a lowered and confused tone.

'Oh god, she is really slow to pick up isn't she.' I thought warily. "I don't want anyone to know about that Haley. Look, even my parents don't know what went down that day alright. I would like it to keep it that way." I said with clear annoyance in my tone. "Why wouldn't you? That's instant popularity boost. If it was me, I wouldn't hide it." She said it with a 'matter of fact' expression on her face. Is this girl for real? She was probably blinded with clout and popularity that she failed to see my point. "Look, Haley, I am not like everyone else", 'or you' I just said the last bit in my mind. "I like my privacy and please don't spread anything about me around", I said it with a serious look on my face. She just muttered "Okay…whatever", with a bit of dejection in her voice. 

We reached the cafeteria and sat down to have our lunch. Aaron and Haley got acquainted and we were just chatting cordially. Then Haley's phone just chimed indicating the arrival of a message. I didn't pay much attention to that. But Haley just exclaimed. "Did you piss Travis Conner from my year, Miguel? It seems that he's asking about you around." 'Oh, seriously. I just got here for Christ's sake.' I groaned inwardly. "It's not his fault. His ex, Ava, kinda hit on him today. So, I guess he's pissed.", Aaron said with a morbid expression. "Ava… as in Ava Marshall? So, all this was due that skank hitting on you?", Haley's expression was funny. I just scoffed and didn't speak. "Don't worry about Travis. Give me a second." I was puzzled at Haley's statement and looked at Aaron who was equally puzzled.

Haley just started typing on her phone. After a while she looked aback up as she got reply from whoever she texted to. "Well, consider Travis Connor taken care of." She said with a proud expression on her face. "How? What do you mean he's taken care of?", now I was intrigued and confused. I was ready for some confrontations and was thinking of some ways to pressurise him to drop the issue, out of everyone, Haley beat me to it. "Well, Mr. Chick magnet, he won't do anything. Trust me." She said with a laugh.

(Travis Connor PoV);

I was incredibly angry and deeply irritated today. I mean, after Ava publicly ended our relationship and humiliated me, I was mad at almost everyone. Two months later, I still couldn't grasp what I had done wrong. I didn't even look the way of another girl and now she just dumped me saying that I was not paying attention to her. But I don't believe her. Yes, I was a bit busy as I got football try-outs soon and I have to put in my work. But that doesn't mean I was ignoring her. 

That was probably why I started losing my shit if some other dude gets close to her. I feel like I was incompetent. And today, again when I heard that she approached some new kid in school, my fuse just blew. I was angry against the new guy because she made her move first. I am the champ around, but he was a nobody. Why the heck would he get her attention. 

I soon got the answer as I asked around. He was apparently a 'catch'. I decided to pay him a 'visit' after the classes. But as I was returning to the ground with emotions all over the place, I saw George and his friends coming towards me. He was not somebody that anyone would mess with. Especially after knowing his reputation. And now he's coming towards me.

"Hey Travis, how's the practice going?", he said while approaching me. "It's all good, man wassup?", I asked him nervously. "Well man, I heard that you were looking for a kid named Miguel?", he asked without much change in his menacing expression. "Yeah man, I am not looking for any trouble, I just wanted to talk." I was surprised at the direction this was going and I was not liking it at all. 

"Well, there is no need for that, Travis. He's covered by me. So just give it up. Now from what I heard; it was that bitch who is at fault here. Just take it up to her. And here's my advice man, if a girl ever make you feel like some lowlife shit, just dump her and save your self-respect man. I think I made myself clear haven't I Travis?", he said while putting his arm around me. "I get it man, I will not take it to him.", it was not like I have any other choice. 

Even my dad wouldn't be able to save me if someone like George was involved and he just made it clear that the new boy was untouchable. I frustratedly looked at the leaving backs of George and his boys. Phew, I guess I need to cool it off. I was angry, but I was helpless. I guess I will have to drop this. 'F*%k that hoe and her shit. I ain't gonna mess up my life again because of her .', cursing Ava, I just went to the ground to practice and decided to take my mind off all this mess. I guess George is right, I should get a move on from that bitch.

(Miguel James PoV);

How Haley managed to get me off the problem was still a mystery to me. When I asked her, she just shook me off by saying that she cashed in a favour that somebody owed her. I was genuinely thankful to her helping avoid trouble on the very first day at the school. After a while we returned back to our classes and soon my first eventful day was over. I packed my stuff and left after talking to Aaron and completely ignored Ava when she tried to approach me again. I saw my mom wait for me with her car in front of the gate and returned back home. I quickly went upstairs and cleaned up so that I can meet the Dunphys for Luke's birthday party.

"Uh, Son… I think you might have to go for the party yourselves. Your dad and I have a bit more of work and we might be running late today." My mother said with an apologetic expression. That's a bummer. "Don't worry mom, I understand." I said with a smile hiding my disappointment. For some reason, I was reminded of my past life. But I soon I cheered up as I knew I was just being foolish. I now have a family that loves me, and I should be content with them. The dealership was opened recently and it was natural for them to be busy right now. I guess I will have to find a way to reduce the work pressure on my parents in the future. And I did have some ideas for that.

We headed out and my mother dropped me off at the Dunphys' House, and I had Luke's gift in my hands. It appeared that the party is yet to start, and I was a bit early. I stood at the door and pressed the doorbell. I could hear Claire tell her husband that she will get the door, and soon enough, she opened it.

"Miguel... you're early, c'mon in." she said, looking surprised, and she welcomed me in with a warm smile. "Well, my mom had some work to attend to, so she had to drop me off," I explained with a touch of hesitation. As I entered the Dunphy's abode, I saw a very excited Phil coming towards me. "Hey buddy, it was you that Claire talked about? I can't thank you enough man", a very emotional Phil said while hugging me tightly. I was not big on being hugged by a grown man, but I just let him be. "I don't know how it would be if you were not there Miguel. Thank You…", I could hear his sound crack a bit and he let me go. I saw Claire smiling warmly at the scene in front of her. "I got to take the cake out and prepare meat for the grills.", she said while rushing back to the kitchen. "Oh, I have to take care of the grill." Phil suddenly remembered. "Can I help Mr. Dunphy?", I offered politely. "Aww, you don't have to do that M-Boy…", "No, P-buddy, let me help." I just cut him off before he could finish and he was a bit taken aback by how I addressed him and we both just laughed. "Alright then. Follow me." Phil led to me his backyard to set up the grill and I helped him to lift and position things.

"Phew, that was a lot. Thanks M-boy, if it weren't you helping, I guess this would take forever to finish." He said while giving me a high five which I returned. He was sweating from the work but I was not tired at all. The physical enhancement was no joke. " Wow buddy you didn't even break a sweat." Before I could say something back to him, I heard a girlish sound shouting and calling for her dad. "Dad, Luke's not letting me finish my homework." I heard a very angry Alex Dunphy yell as she was walking towards us and stop at her tracks as she saw me.