hadnât sung much outside of karaoke bars and back alleyways.
Z loved listening to Reagan talk and scheduled as many afternoon double shifts as she could. She needed the money; she was still repaying her aunt for the airfare she borrowed to get here. But more than that, hanging out with Reagan was a periodic cure for the loneliness that dragged behind her like September storm clouds. Z felt completely out of place here, in this jungle, where everyone else seemed so wild and free. She didnât have a thing in common with her own cousins. They were still just kids, and their big concerns were school and those video games they played all day and night. They had only been back home once, and couldnât imagine life without television or a million grams of sugar a day.
She was in no hurry to be rushed into marriage, like her auntâs friends would have her do. She had come to go to school, to try to make a new life. Even if Z wasnât sure what that meant yet, she was beginning to get an idea. She started going for long walks, sometimes even walking to and from work. She would look around at the houses and the people, pass by the restaurants and sidewalk cafés. In the park large groups of men played football, just like back home.
Over the months, Z slowly started to relax into her new environment. She was comfortable with her job. She had repaid her aunt, and was sending money home to her mother and sisters. She was also saving money to start school and had even begun going out to movies and parties with Reagan. Usually she just sat in the corner and watched everything that went on. Sometimes people would come and talk to her, but she was so shy she didnât quite know what to say. Z felt as if she was carrying a big secret that no one hereâno one who wasnât from homeâwould understand.
Reagan pushed her to go on dates, but Z always playfully changed the subject. One afternoon they decided to have lunch together in the park by the hospital. Reagan spread out a sheet sheâd copped from the supply closet, and they lay down and spread out their food. Reagan was midway through the dramatic story of her date last night with one ex when another showed up at the same party.
Now, you remember that Dylan dumped me because I was cheating on him with Shakira? That was, like, a year ago, but we talked it all out. You remember, I told you about it a few weeks ago, how we sat up all night watching the Twilight Zone marathon and talked all about our relationship and how we were both responsible for the breakdown in communicationâ Z knew it was pointless to try to get a word in once Reagan got going, so she just nodded for her to go on.
Yeah, so I was sitting there having a drink with Dylan,
and weâre just talking about this film we went to seeâyou have got to see it, but Iâll tell you in a minuteâand in walks Shakira. Sheâs with her new girl friend and they both look so totally hot I almost dropped my drink. I stopped talking mid-sentence and just stared. Iâm telling you, I totally forgot where I even was and that I was talking, much less what I was supposed to be talking about. And Dylan sees this. And all of Dylanâs friends see this. And Dylan gets all pissed and tries to start an argument with me but, like, Iâm not trying to have an argument with him, all in front of everybody. Especially not in front of Shakira.
Reagan thinks about what to say next, just long enough to put a forkful of salad into her mouth, chew it, swallow it, and reach for another. So anyway, we have to leave and it becomes a big hairy deal, like I was just telling you, until, of course, we wind up in bed having the best sex ever.
You mean, Z pipes in, since last week.
Yeah. Oh wow, yeah. Last week was off the hook. But last night was even better. Iâm telling you. He was so passionate. By the time we got there he was feeling all sorry and apologizing for even getting mad and
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