Meet the Teachers of False Friends

Not everything can be learned in a classroom.

If you read my first blog post, you’ll know I’m working on a new thriller series called False Friends — set in a Spanish language school here in Málaga, where not everyone is quite who they claim to be.

This week, I want to introduce you to the teachers. The ones who will guide the students, ask all the right questions, and quietly lead them into chaos.

On paper, they’re precisely what you’d hope for in a language school — friendly, dedicated, a little quirky. But look closer, and the cracks start to show. Because in False Friends, it’s not just language being learned. Secrets are uncovered, lies exposed, and every conversation might carry more than one meaning.

Here they are — the five teachers at the centre of the story.

🦎 Ramón

The musician-turned-language teacher. Ramón might not look like much, but his presence is difficult to ignore. A former guitarist and vocalist in a band (a fact he rarely mentions), he now moves through life with quiet precision. In his late forties, he’s got a calm, watchful air — like someone who knows how to read a room without saying a word. The large chameleon tattoo wrapped around his arm? Let’s just say it’s more than a conversation starter.

🔥 Lola

The one with a spark — sometimes literal. Blonde, quirky, and always darting from one idea to the next, Lola is in her mid-thirties and can usually be found outside on a smoke break, chatting to one of her Italian students (her favourites, though she’ll never admit it). There’s something flickering beneath the surface — an intensity that sometimes feels like it’s looking for a match. That tiny Roman numeral VII tattoo on her finger? She shrugs it off. But it lingers.

🍲 Pedro Andrés

He’ll cook for you, charm you… and keep you guessing. Pedro insists on the full name — Pedro Andrés. Not Pedro. Never just Pedro. Late forties, bald with a neat white beard and thick-rimmed glasses, he’s all charisma and humour. A former actor and cameraman, he tells stories like he’s still on stage — and they’re good stories. Maybe too good. He’s famous for cooking paella for his students, and he never stops talking about his beloved dog. Oddly enough, no one’s ever seen it.

📷 Soraya

Loud. Lively. And just a little too polished.Soraya is the kind of person you hear long before you see her — booming laughter, dramatic storytelling, the occasional shout across the courtyard. In her late fifties, she teaches with flair, drinks gin with enthusiasm, and rarely goes anywhere without her camera. She’s endlessly chatty and seemingly everyone's best friend — including the school owner’s mother, with whom she’s suspiciously close. She’s fun. Generous. Larger than life. But something about it all feels… rehearsed.

✍️ Francisca

The quiet one you shouldn’t ignore. Originally from Barcelona and now in her early sixties, Francisca is unflappable. An ex-editor and writer, she speaks quietly, listens constantly, and makes you feel like every word you say might be filed away for later. She seems unaffected by drama, immune to gossip, and always one step removed from the surrounding noise. But when she does speak, it’s clear she’s been paying very, very close attention.

These are the teachers at the heart of False Friends. They’ll teach you Spanish. They’ll make you laugh. Not only that, but they’ll keep you guessing. And they’ll each do whatever it takes to keep their secrets buried — until someone starts digging.

So… who would you trust? Who’s hiding the most? And what happens when the past finally catches up?

We’ll find out soon enough.