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“We ain’t living through Bella again. Remember how clingy she got?” said Isaiah.
She flicked the ashes. “Yeah, I forgot. Bella’s off the list. What about Roseanna? She basically ran out the door anytime Isaiah and I came downstairs. ”
“I screwed Roseanna, not Noah. He had Rose. ”
Our stroll down memory lane reeked like a garbage dump. “I’m not lonely and I don’t need a girl. Drop it, Beth. ”
“I don’t mind if you hook up with Echo. Have at it. In fact, I’ll stay the night at my mom’s house and let Isaiah have the bedroom if you need an all-nighter with privacy. But here’s the truth, Noah. Echo might be on the outs since she became a cutter and all, but she’s still a popular chick. She’ll bail on you and treat you like shit in the end. ” She took another draw. “There’s only so many times people like us can have our hearts ripped out. She’s a ripper. ”
The muscles in the back of my neck knotted. “For the last time, I’m not screwing her or anyone else. But call her a cutter again and I’ll set fire to every single pack of cigarettes you buy. ”
Beth laughed. “Jesus, Noah. You’ve got it bad. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. ”
“If you two are done, I’d like to get some lunch. Only thing left in the fridge this morning was a slice of bologna and mustard,” Isaiah said.
Beth flicked her cigarette out the door and shut it. “Mustard. I ate the bologna for breakfast. ”
SHE NEVER CAME TO LUNCH. Her entire table full of porcelain doll rejects did, but not Echo. I didn’t sweat it, at first. I waited patiently for her to show in physics and then business technology. No show in either class. Echo’s favorite gal pals went out of their way to snub me, though. Each stuck their little china noses in the air while staring in my direction. I simply smiled, aggravating the shit out of them.
“‘Sup, man,” said Rico Vega, joining me in the back of Spanish class.
“‘Sup,” I answered. “How can they let you take Spanish when that’s what you speak half the damn time?”
“Why they let a bunch of gueros take English? You gringos gotta be stupid if you ain’t got it down in eighteen years. ”
Before I could hand crap back to Rico, Echo entered the room. She had that bunny-locked-in-a-pet-store-cage look, but at least she made eye contact this time. Until her stuck-up friend breezed in and redirected Echo to a seat in front.
“Why Lila glaring at you, hombre?” asked Rico. “Though I wouldn’t mind a hot piece of culo like that acknowledging my existence. ” Rico puckered his lips, sending a mock kiss in Lila’s direction. I laughed when she flipped her golden hair over her shoulder and stared at the dry-erase board.
Mrs. Bates, a real-life condom ad, waddled through the doorway. She was knocked up with triplets. “Hola. Today we are going to work on our conversational Spanish. ”
Excitement rippled through the room. Conversational Spanish meant picking a partner and doing nothing for the rest of the period. Rico and I bumped fists. I needed some sleep.
“Yeah, yeah. Don’t get too excited. I’ve already picked your partners. I expect to hear Spanish flowing in my room. ”
She eased back into her chair and it squeaked when her ass hit the seat. “Lila McCormick—you’re partnered with Rico Vega. ”
Lila groaned, “No,” while Rico pumped his fist twice to his heart and then raised a finger to the sky. “Gracias a dios. ”
Lila approached the desk. “Please, Mrs. Bates. I’ll do anything. Let me and Echo partner. ”
Mrs. Bates winced and rubbed a hand over her stomach. “Miss McCormick, do I look sympathetic to your plight? Go find a seat next to Rico. Noah Hutchins, you’re paired with Echo Emerson. ”
Lila clutched her hair as her voice dropped. “No. ”
Mrs. Bates continued with her list of assigned partners while Lila knelt next to her, begging for a change of heart.
Rico chuckled. “I’m off to peel my partner off the floor. ” He yelled to Lila as he walked toward her, “Casate conmigo, diosa. ”
Echo gathered her books and made the long trip down the aisle to me. The universe had a strange sense of humor. Last semester, Echo and I barely made eye contact. Now, we were thrown together at every turn. Not that I minded. She sat in Rico’s seat and stared at the fake wood desktop.
“First trip to the back?” I asked. Everyone partnered out, most moving their desks together so others couldn’t hear their screwed up Spanish. When she didn’t say anything back, I continued, “I’m impressed. The rule-follower skipped a few classes today. ”
“No, not skipped. Mrs. Collins excused me so I could prep for the ACT this weekend. ” She inhaled deeply, causing her cleavage to expand. Lines worried her forehead. “Noah, about yesterday …”
Echo had permitted me a peek into her world yesterday. The least I could do was let her into mine. Even if the thought made me nervous as hell. “Mi primer padre adoptivo me pegaba. ” My first foster father hit me.
Her wide eyes met my gaze. “Lo siento. ” I’m sorry.
