And the only way to get out from the thumb of the a****** who is really behind everything making everyone else feel like they were was to make yourself the target so you can finally be heard!
Chapter 7: Card Sharks in a Fishy BusinessThe neon lights of Tijuana flickered like broken promises, as if they'd given up trying to illuminate the truth. In this city, where the air felt thick with history and desperation, Ariel swayed her hips down Avenida Revolución, draped in faux designer chaos. Her hair, a crayon box of colors, bounced with every step, a flag for all those who dared to encroach on her turf—though truth be told, her turf was as flimsy as a cheap beach umbrella."Welcome to the cartel, baby!" she squealed, waving a plastic bag filled with colorful, slightly crushed sugar packets. Her real wares? Nothin' but playtime candy, the kind that wouldn't land you in prison but might give you a nice little sugar rush. Bonus points if you could flip it for a quarter!Across the street, Ursula leaned against a streetlamp, straight out of a true crime documentary, all hardened edges and knowing smiles. She'd been around the block a few times, had the scars to show for it—not that she ever flaunted them. On the surface, she was a guide, a mentor in the art of survival in this twisted game. She was an artist of angst, crafting moves that left her opponents bewildered."Ariel," Ursula called, her voice smooth like the tequila they sold in brown paper bags. "You're going to want to stash that sugar in the vault, sweetheart. This isn't Wonderland; it's a war zone."Ariel turned around, her grin freezing like an emergency call. "Come on, Ursula," she shot back with mock indignation, "this is a cartel. We don't need to gussy up with labels! Look at me, I got the charm and the pizzazz!""Charm and pizzazz won't save your ass if you attract the wrong attention," Ursula chided, stepping closer, her burgundy lips curling. "You think you're a player, but you're still learning the difference between high stakes and high fives.""Wow, Auntie Ursula, so wise! Who needs the wisdom of the streets when I've got the sparkle of the soul?" Ariel chirped with her head held high, pretending innocence but masking a sly ambition to prove herself, even if it meant wrestling with the monsters under her bed."Diving into the deep end without floaties, huh?" Ursula smirked. "Let me tell you, little fish; some currents will drag you down before you even realize it was a whirlpool, and suddenly you're singing the blues from a lonely cell. Not all who swim are qualified, and in this ocean, it's the high tide that carries the secrets.""Secrets?" Ariel's brow arched playfully. "Sweetheart, my life is an open book! Chapter one: naive girl chases dreams in a real-life Disney Channel hell."Ursula couldn't help but chuckle. "Yeah? Until you find out that some fairytales are dark as hell, and the princess has to dance with the devil to get her happily ever after. Don't you see? Down here, getting ahead means knowing how to work your angles, and not just your body."Ariel pouted, her bravado fading. "But I want to be like Guadalupe, the queen of the game! I mean, she outsmarted rivals and helped put El Chapo behind bars. Talk about a power move! I can do this!""Guadalupe is a queen, sure, but she's no fairy godmother. She's flipped the script on those who underestimated her. You, my dear, are still the kid trying to sell lemonade in front of a rival's empire," Ursula replied, leaning in closer, sharp eyes scanning the street. "You need to own your territory before you can even think about challenging the kings and queens of this world.""Maybe," Ariel said, a thoughtful look washing over her painted facade, "but I still want to prove I'm more than just… well, a joke. Look, I know I'm no mastermind, but can't I at least be seen?"Ursula faced her, a flicker of something in her eyes—a spark of empathy? "It's not enough to be seen, darling. You need to be heard. You want to be a player? Start by playing smart, not just hard. Understand who's pulling the strings before you audition for the lead role.""Okay, boss lady, I hear you." Ariel crossed her arms defiantly, though her mind played through images of glory she was yet to earn. "But what can I do besides selling sugar? I mean, maybe I can pivot, right? Adapt like the sharks?""Baby, you're more like a guppy at a fish fry," Ursula teased, chuckling as she flicked her hair, a silky cascade of confidence. "But if you want to swim with the big fish, you need to learn the tide and let go of the fantasy. Start small, but don't forget: make waves, don't just swim!""Make waves, huh?" Ariel took a step back; the confidence from earlier returned, each word knitting itself into the fabric of her ambition. "Alright, Auntie Ursula. Let's make some waves! Then, my name will echo through these streets, and before you know it, I'll be reigning supreme!""Reigning supreme?" Ursula laughed loud, her laughter echoing through the chaotic streets. "Sweetheart, listen to me closely. It takes more than just aiming for the crown; it involves dealing with the fallout of every mistake. And trust me, there will be mistakes—you just have to recover faster than the last punchline."With a nod, Ariel took a deep breath. "So, what's the plan? Start with a bodega takeover or work the underground markets?"A sly smile curved Ursula's mouth as she stepped closer. "First, we need to set the stage. A bait and switch never hurt anyone, right?""And we make our grand entrance as the phantom queens of the night," Ariel exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Sounds like a laugh.""Just remember one thing, Ariel," Ursula said, her tone turning serious. "No one warns you about the price of a laugh, especially in this game. You may be the punchline if you find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time.""Now, given those odds," Ariel replied, smirking with renewed determination, "I might just take my chances. Who knows? It could be a better story than I ever imagined. And if I'm going to fall flat, it might as well be on my own terms.""Now that's the spirit!" Ursula said, extending her hand with a wicked gleam in her eye. "Let's dive in!"Together they walked into the pulsing heart of the city, two wild souls plotting chaos in the shadows of corrupt dreams. For Ariel, it was no longer about being a punchline; it was about rewriting the narrative—turning folly into fierce ambition, ignorance into schooled toughness. But as night fell, one couldn't help but wonder: would those waves she aimed to make lead her to glory or to the depths of an ocean far darker than she could ever have anticipated? The tides of Tijuana had their own way of teaching lessons—whether you were ready or not.
I don't like to bleed welcome to my bed type ***t
And here's why because I understand loyalty and needing to trust somebody because I trust zero people right now besides my children and I can't even talk to them quite literally and figuratively! It's cold intelligence by the way strengths and weaknesses some people can handle a beating emotionally and cannot handle one physically some people can handle and physically but will crack the second it gets emotional it just is...m