Castillo. “I’m great,” she said with a little too much enthusiasm.
As soon as we crossed the threshold, the stench of rotting wood and farts filled my nostrils. Ah, how I’d missed the smell of education! The three of us walked into the hallway, which was already packed with students rushing back and forth. When they saw Javi with us, most of them paused as if they couldn’t believe their eyes. How could Javi not notice? If he did, he certainly didn’t care. He waved and smiled at everyone as we walked through the sea of disbelief.
“Claudia, would you do me a favor?” Javi asked once we made it to the foot of the stairs that would take me up to my locker.
She practically beamed. “Of course.”
“I’ve got to run and see coach before class. Would you mind escorting my new friend, Tru, to class?”
What the hell? Even though the gesture was appreciated, I didn’t need a babysitter. I’d gotten through many days all by myself before meeting Javi. Why would today be any different?
But before I opened my mouth to say something I’d regret, I remembered Mr. Castillo’s words from last night. Sometimes a man did need to lean on others. Javi was just trying to be a good friend. After all, he hadn’t pushed me for details about the fight yesterday even though he could have. He was just making sure that I’d be trouble-free today.
Still, I couldn’t shake the need to resist at least a little bit. “I don’t think that’s really necessary.”
Javi switched his gaze from me to Claudia, who nodded in agreement. “I can do that,” she said. “We don’t want Tru falling off his bike anymore, do we?”
Javi laughed while I stared blankly at them both.
Claudia hooked her arm in mine and tugged me up the stairs. “Let’s get going,” she said. “And I want you to tell me about the quote and the photo.”
As I ascended the stairs with Claudia, I glanced over my shoulder to see Javi salute me a good-bye before being swept away by a wave of friends who had been waiting for me and Claudia to depart.
S HORTLY AFTER arriving to first period, Claudia marched up to Mr. Rodriguez to announce I’d be sitting next to her from now on. Since there was an open seat to her right, Mr. Rodriguez nodded.
“You didn’t have to do that,” I said as I moved my stuff to my new seat, but I wasn’t very convincing. It was nice to feel as if I had the beginning of a safety net in this school.
“Yeah, well, we aren’t dating or anything,” she said, trying to be her usual indifferent self. “So don’t get any ideas.”
I chuckled. “I’ll consider myself warned.”
“Besides, anyone who can get a quote and pic from Javi Castillo is an investment I intend to keep my eye on.”
The noisy entrance of some of our classmates drew my attention to the classroom door. I held my breath. Within the next few minutes, Rance Parker and his twisted scowl would enter and drain all light from my world.
“He’ll be late,” Claudia said. “He always is.”
I turned to face her. “Rance?”
Claudia’s face scrunched in disgust. “Oh, God no! I’m talking about Javi,” she said. “Not Rancid Puker. I loathe that idiot more than I do misogynists and bigotry. Of course, with Rancid, that’s just being redundant.”
I laughed so loudly, I drew Mr. Rodriguez’s silent disapproval. Rancid Puker? That was perhaps the funniest name I’d ever heard in my life. “Yeah, well, I’m not a big fan either. And the feeling’s mutual.”
“I thought so,” she said with a nod. “Rance is responsible for your face, isn’t he?”
Crap! I should have been more careful. Now that I’d been asked a point-blank question, I couldn’t lie. “Just don’t tell Javi.”
“What? Why not?”
“They’re best friends.”
She stared at me as if I was stupid. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“I just don’t want Javi to know. Okay?” The desperation in my voice was apparent. Hopefully, it would be
As soon as we crossed the threshold, the stench of rotting wood and farts filled my nostrils. Ah, how I’d missed the smell of education! The three of us walked into the hallway, which was already packed with students rushing back and forth. When they saw Javi with us, most of them paused as if they couldn’t believe their eyes. How could Javi not notice? If he did, he certainly didn’t care. He waved and smiled at everyone as we walked through the sea of disbelief.
“Claudia, would you do me a favor?” Javi asked once we made it to the foot of the stairs that would take me up to my locker.
She practically beamed. “Of course.”
“I’ve got to run and see coach before class. Would you mind escorting my new friend, Tru, to class?”
What the hell? Even though the gesture was appreciated, I didn’t need a babysitter. I’d gotten through many days all by myself before meeting Javi. Why would today be any different?
But before I opened my mouth to say something I’d regret, I remembered Mr. Castillo’s words from last night. Sometimes a man did need to lean on others. Javi was just trying to be a good friend. After all, he hadn’t pushed me for details about the fight yesterday even though he could have. He was just making sure that I’d be trouble-free today.
Still, I couldn’t shake the need to resist at least a little bit. “I don’t think that’s really necessary.”
Javi switched his gaze from me to Claudia, who nodded in agreement. “I can do that,” she said. “We don’t want Tru falling off his bike anymore, do we?”
Javi laughed while I stared blankly at them both.
Claudia hooked her arm in mine and tugged me up the stairs. “Let’s get going,” she said. “And I want you to tell me about the quote and the photo.”
As I ascended the stairs with Claudia, I glanced over my shoulder to see Javi salute me a good-bye before being swept away by a wave of friends who had been waiting for me and Claudia to depart.
S HORTLY AFTER arriving to first period, Claudia marched up to Mr. Rodriguez to announce I’d be sitting next to her from now on. Since there was an open seat to her right, Mr. Rodriguez nodded.
“You didn’t have to do that,” I said as I moved my stuff to my new seat, but I wasn’t very convincing. It was nice to feel as if I had the beginning of a safety net in this school.
“Yeah, well, we aren’t dating or anything,” she said, trying to be her usual indifferent self. “So don’t get any ideas.”
I chuckled. “I’ll consider myself warned.”
“Besides, anyone who can get a quote and pic from Javi Castillo is an investment I intend to keep my eye on.”
The noisy entrance of some of our classmates drew my attention to the classroom door. I held my breath. Within the next few minutes, Rance Parker and his twisted scowl would enter and drain all light from my world.
“He’ll be late,” Claudia said. “He always is.”
I turned to face her. “Rance?”
Claudia’s face scrunched in disgust. “Oh, God no! I’m talking about Javi,” she said. “Not Rancid Puker. I loathe that idiot more than I do misogynists and bigotry. Of course, with Rancid, that’s just being redundant.”
I laughed so loudly, I drew Mr. Rodriguez’s silent disapproval. Rancid Puker? That was perhaps the funniest name I’d ever heard in my life. “Yeah, well, I’m not a big fan either. And the feeling’s mutual.”
“I thought so,” she said with a nod. “Rance is responsible for your face, isn’t he?”
Crap! I should have been more careful. Now that I’d been asked a point-blank question, I couldn’t lie. “Just don’t tell Javi.”
“What? Why not?”
“They’re best friends.”
She stared at me as if I was stupid. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“I just don’t want Javi to know. Okay?” The desperation in my voice was apparent. Hopefully, it would be
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