Angel scored an eighty on his Spanish quiz and was happy to be in the game that week. It was an important one too. They were playing their rivals, and both teams were in the running for the playoffs.
Sarah sat in the stands with Sofia, Valerie, and Valerie’s friend Monica. Angel’s parents had flown out earlier that evening to Florida for Alex’s game the next day. Sofia was Angel’s responsibility until they got back. Rather than leaving her alone at the restaurant tonight, Angel got the go-ahead to close up early and have her tag along with them.
Sarah didn’t mind having her along for the night. She liked Sofia, and ever since Sarah started practicing with the track team, they’d gotten a lot closer. Sarah felt bad though. The relay team never even came close to the times Sarah put on the board when she stood in for the fourth place runner during practice. The coach was always going on and on about how heartbroken he was that she wouldn’t be sticking around for next semester. She’d started to keep some of the comments to herself because Angel would get so annoyed by them.
The entire week had gone without incident, and now the game seemed to as well. There were a few guys from another school who sat near the girls. One of them was hitting on Sofia, making Sarah a little nervous. She’d looked out onto the field several times, but as far as she could tell, Angel hadn’t noticed anything.
When the game was over, Sarah stood against Angel’s Mustang in the parking lot. Valerie and the girls, including Sofia, talked to the guys they’d met at the game over by Valerie’s car parked just a few spaces over.
Angel had given Sarah the keys to his car in case she and Sofia wanted to sit in it while they waited for him after the game. Sarah had the door open and the radio on. She motioned to Sofia to come over, and she did right away. “What?”
“You’re making me nervous,” Sarah whispered, trying not to sound like a nag.
“Why?”
“You don’t think Angel is gonna be mad if he sees you hanging out with all these guys?”
“That’s Alex.” Sofia smiled. “Angel’s not so bad. He won’t be thrilled, but he wouldn’t do anything, unless the guys are being disrespectful, and they’re not. They’re really nice.”
Within seconds, Sarah regretted having called Sofia over to her. The guy who seemed most interested in Sofia followed her, while everyone else followed him. Now they were all standing around Angel’s car, five guys and four girls. None of them were nearly as intimidating as Angel and his friends, with two of them being short and chunky, and another looking like he was too young to be with them. Sarah knew Angel still wouldn’t be happy about it.
The one interested in Sofia was the tallest, best-looking of the bunch. Sarah looked up and saw a group of guys walking toward them. It was dark, and they were still relatively far, but Sarah could tell it was Angel, Eric, and Romero just by the way they walked.
When they got close enough, Sarah made eye contact with Angel. He glanced at her then at the group of people standing around his car. Sarah was the only one standing away from everyone. He raised an eyebrow, but smirked.
She knew he couldn’t possibly think she’d be dumb enough to stand around his car, flirting, but was still nervous for Sofia. She was off toward the front end of his car, talking to the guy who had been hitting on her all night.
Romero made the first comment. “What is this a fucking party?”
Sarah saw Eric speed up when he saw Sofia talking to that guy. “What are you doing over there, Sof?”
Angel hadn’t noticed Sofia until Eric said it and turned to them with a frown. The other guys stepped away immediately to let them get by.
Angel walked straight to Sarah and kissed her. “What’s going on?” His voice was hushed. “Who are these crumbs?”
Sarah turned toward the group. “I don’t know them. They’re just some guys the girls were talking to at the game.”
“The girls?”
She smiled and hugged him hard. “Yes, the girls.”
“Who’s that with Sofie?”
“I dunno.” She shrugged. “But they all seem nice enough. She said you wouldn’t mind.”
Angel frowned, looking over at the boy who was making Sofia smile. “Yeah, well, her ass better get in the car before I do mind.”
Sarah didn’t have to hear it twice. She turned in Sofia’s direction. She was going to tell her they were leaving, but Eric was already there. She couldn’t hear what Eric said, but whatever it was, it made the guy she was talking to angry.
“Who are you?” the guy asked with an attitude.
“Who the fuck are you?” Eric barked back.
Sofia jumped in between them, and in a second, Angel and Romero were there at first holding Eric back then having to be held back themselves when they saw the other guys headed toward Eric.
The girls tried holding them back. Monica helped Sofia with Eric, who was the most adamant, although, Romero was, as usual, the hardest to hold back. The poor guy tried to stand tough, but still looked terrified. The guy’s friends managed to get him away before he got hurt.
Sarah struggled with Angel, pleading with him, “Stop it, Angel. He was just talking to her for God’s sake.”
When the guys were finally far enough away, Sofia let go of Eric. Looking very disgusted, Sofia stalked away to Angel’s car. She climbed in the back seat and slammed the door.
Angel’s head spun around, and he was about to say something to Sofia.
“Let’s go,” Sarah said.
“She slammed my door.” He looked at Sarah in exasperation.
“Let’s just go, please.”
Angel and Sarah walked back to the car. Romero and Eric followed.
Once in the car, Angel turned and glared at Sofia. “What’s the matter with you?”
“What’s the matter with you?” Sofia shot back.
Sarah sunk in the passenger seat. Eric stuck his head in Sarah’s window. “Who was that, Sof?”
“Nobody.” She crossed her arms in front of her.
Romero stuck his head in Angel’s window. “What happened?”
Sofia exhaled loudly, sounding more like a groan.
“What’s that about?” Angel asked.
“How many brothers do I have anyway?”
Angel was about to say something when Sofia put her hand over her face and shuddered. “Sofie?”
“Is she crying?” Eric stuck his head in further.
“She’s crying?” Romero asked.
“All right!” Sarah sat up. “That’s it. All of you out.” She pushed Eric’s head out the window and shoved Angel to get him out of the car. His head clunked as it hit Romero’s.
“Ow!” Romero yelped.
“Well, move your ass!” Angel said.
Angel got out, and they all walked away grudgingly. Valerie and Monica were still there, and they joined them.
Sarah turned around to face Sofia. “Are you okay?”
Sofia shook her head, her hand still over her face. Sarah reached over and rubbed her knee. Sofia’s big chest rose high as she inhaled and fell as she exhaled slowly. “They mean well,” Sarah offered.
“I know.” Sofia sighed. “But just once I wish I could be like any other girl and hang out with guys, without all of them turning into cavemen.”
Sarah chuckled. “They’re just not used to it. They still see you as their little Sofie. They’ll get used to it eventually.”
Sofia rolled her eyes and wiped her face. Sarah handed her a tissue. Sofia blew her nose and sat up. “You know what the stupidest thing is?”
“What?”
“They have nothing to worry about anyway.”
Sarah wasn’t so sure about that. She’d seen the way the boy looked at Sofia. “What do you mean?”
“I’m saving myself for one guy, and I’m beginning to think he knows it.”
Sarah’s eyes opened wide. “Really? Who?”
Sofia held the tissue to her nose, looking at Sarah apprehensively. She looked out the window to make sure the guys were far enough not to hear. “You promise you won’t tell Angel?”
Sarah nodded but gulped, not sure she wanted to know anymore. Sofia shut her eyes tight then stared at Sarah again. She whispered something, but Sarah didn’t catch it the first time. Sarah peeked out the window to make sure they were still far enough. She saw Eric glance their way then back at Angel. She leaned closer to Sofia.
“What?” Sarah whispered.
“Eric.”
Sarah stared at her speechlessly. They both glanced out the window. Angel and Eric were on their way back toward the car. “Please don’t say anything,” Sofia pleaded.
“I won’t.”
What made her think Eric knew she was saving herself for him? Sarah wanted to ask a lot of things, but the guys were too close. It’d have to wait until the next time they got a moment alone.
They went to the beach and made a bonfire. Sarah watched and observed the whole night, careful that Angel didn’t catch on. She couldn’t believe she’d never noticed before. Well, she had, but she’d never made anything out of it. It’d always seemed so innocent. It still did, only after what Sofia had said tonight, some things seemed a little questionable.
Eric lingered around Sofia the whole night. They even went for a walk just the two of them, and Angel hadn’t thought anything of it. She wouldn’t have, either, before tonight. She always thought Eric was just being a sweetheart. Eric knew Angel was busy with Sarah, so he was just keeping an eye on Sofia. Right?
Sarah thought about how Eric always offered to give her rides to and from the restaurant and how many times she’d spoken to Angel on the phone and he’d mentioned that Eric was there hanging out early in the morning or late in the evening but always when Sofia was home. Still, she thought of how Eric seemed so loyal to Angel and his brothers. She just couldn’t picture him actually doing anything with Sofia.
Between watching Sofia and Eric and being disgusted with Valerie’s outrageous behavior, Sarah had been pretty quiet the whole night. She watched Valerie, who’d had way too much to drink, let Romero peck her softly on the lips. She’d been flirting with him since they got there.
“What’s wrong?” Angel asked.
Sarah’s eyes met his, and she shook her head. But he knew better. “You haven’t said much tonight—something bothering you?”
Sarah sighed and motioned toward Valerie and Romero. Angel glanced up at them. Romero was sitting on an ice chest, and Valerie was on his lap, giggling. He turned back to Sarah and shrugged.
Angel and his brothers obviously didn’t talk too much about their romantic affairs. Angel knew they’d gone out but didn’t realize Valerie had finally gotten what she’d wanted. Just this past Tuesday she’d “bedded” Alex Moreno. And now here she was, shamelessly carrying on with Romero.
Sarah frowned. “What’s Alex gonna say?”
“Sarah, babe, I hope you don’t think Alex is really into Valerie. I mean . . . she’s cool and everything, but it really doesn’t matter with Alex. He’s never been into the relationship thing.” He chuckled. “I’m sure he’s making full use of his hotel room tonight.”
He must’ve seen the disgusted look on Sarah’s face because his smile immediately dissolved. “Of course, I think it’s appalling.”
Sarah rolled her eyes. “I know he’s not into the relationship thing, but you don’t think he’s gonna be upset at all that she’s doing this with one of his friends?”
“Nah.” Angel shook his head. “Alex isn’t like that. He could care less. I mean . . . don’t tell Valerie that. I don’t want to hurt her feelings or anything. But I’m sure Alex had his fun and is already on to the next. That’s just the way he is.” Sarah stared at him. “That’s him, Sarah, not me.”
“That’s not what I was thinking. I’m just hoping you’re right. I’d hate for his feelings to be hurt.”
“Trust me, babe.” Angel smiled. “I know my brother. He’s gonna be just fine with it.”
Sarah remembered hearing Alex on the phone with Valerie, and how he called back just to ask what her plans hadbeen that Wednesday. Something told her Angel might be wrong about this.