CH 02: Bloodstream

## Appearances

### Characters

Ana SophíaMiggyEnzo DeAndreEmma AllenJulie WilsonHunter DuboisAlma RamosSarah Bernardo

## Background

### Setting

San Francisco

}}**Bloodstream** in the second chapter to ***Darlin'***. Bloodstream is also the second chapter of *Phase I*, continuing Ana Sophía's high school adventure and centers around the friendship development with Emma & Julie as her small group of friends welcome Enzo & Hunter into their social life. The chapter's title is inspired by The Chainsmokers 2017 song release, Bloodstream.

## Summary

### **Career Opportunity**

Ana Sophía & Miggy meet up at Peet's Coffee & Tea as they casually do through their school week. Miggy unexpectedly offers Ana Sophía the proposition of being the main player for the idea of constructing a female team that would compete in the Women's Super League, an under-18 soccer league. Ana Sophía initially perceives the idea as another one of Miggy's jokes but accepts upon realizing it is a truthful offer. Together, they work alongside to make it happen with documentation and franchise fees.

Ana Sophía proposes the idea to her best friends, to which Emma & Julie both accept joining. Despite sharing excitement over building a team consisting her friends, Enzo suggests asking Sarah. Ana Sophía is not on board with that idea, going as far as to questioning why is that even an option. After consideration from Enzo's points regarding resolving her feud with her high school bully, Ana Sophía pushes through and asks Sarah in class, to which she accepts after reading the offer on Ana Sophía's phone.

### **Advancing Relations**

Ana Sophía experiences her first official practice as a paid athlete in the following weeks, meeting foreign teammate Alma as part of the players that Enzo has selected to fill the vacant spots as experienced reinforcements. After practice, Ana Sophía & Miggy join Enzo & Emma. Hunter & Julie also join, heading all together to the local Walgreens for snacks, only to surprisingly discover that Emma is dating Enzo. As everyone parts ways to head home, Ana Sophía & Miggy stay together. She states she enjoys Enzo & Hunter's company, positively opening up on thinking positively of Miggy's friends.

### **House Intruder**

Ana Sophía arrives home, finding food prepared by her mother. She heads upstairs to shower, eats in her bedroom and falls asleep. When she wakes up past midnight, she hears noise downstairs that is certainly noise of someone inside the house. With her mother away from home, she texts Miggy on Telegram due to not having signal. He instructs her to slam her door at a certain time and when the time comes, all the lights in the house flicker on and off once. She hears fumbling and wrestling, forcing her to rush downstairs in worry but discovers Miggy sitting on the floor, confirming it was a raccoon that had climbed through the living room window that Ana Sophía left open when she arrived home earlier that night. Miggy carries Ana Sophía back to bed, placing her to rest and heads for the door before he is invited to stay for the night. Ana Sophía ends the chapter with Miggy, closing her eyes to sleep.

### **Review**

**Bloodstream** received a median rating of **9.8/10** amongst the ***Darlin' beta readers***, placing as the 2nd most popular chapter. Well received for the teenage feel to Ana Sophía & Miggy's relationship stories, **Bloodstream** was highly rated for delivering well-structured perspective of how Ana Sophía's social life is changing as she takes in the small details of joy as part of her memories.