Sarah did the Valerie, and ran to listen in, leaning against Valerie’s ear.
“... so cancel those plans,” he said. “I’ll pick you up at seven.”
“Alright, I guess.”
“You guess?”
Valerie laughed. “I'm kidding, Alex. Yes, that sounds good.”
There was a long silence on the other end then finally he sighed. “You’re real funny, Z.”
“You’re just too easy.”
“Yeah, well, you’re not,” he said. “I gotta go, I’m up at five tomorrow, but don’t forget.”
“I’ll try.”
“You know what-”
“You see!” She smiled. “Of course I won’t forget. Better?”
“Much better,” he said. “Good night.”
Sarah watched Valerie flip her phone shut. “You are so bad. He was really getting mad.”
“Nah,” Valerie said. “He knows I like playing with him. He just goes along with it, acting the part.”
“Why’d he call you Z?”
“For Zuniga,” Valerie said. “It’s a football thing I guess, he says he calls just about all his pals at school by their last names. But I’ve noticed he only does it when I really push his buttons.”
Sarah cocked an eyebrow “I don’t know Valerie. He saw you all weekend and he’s calling already for another date?” She got off the bed. “And what plans are you canceling?”
“Oh, when he asked if I was busy on Wednesday. I told him I had plans. I’m telling you, it’s probably just throwing him for a loop that he hasn’t gotten in my pants yet. As soon as he does, I can guarantee you he’s gone.”
“So, why give it up then?”
Valerie looked at her sympathetically as she got up in front of the mirrored closet door. “Silly, little, Sarah,” she said “You really think he’s gonna hang around forever, just to get some of this?”
Sarah frowned, but before she could say anything Valerie continued “Besides I told you. I’m not looking for a relationship. I’m perfectly happy with the chance to be with the Alex Moreno just a few times. This is all I’ve ever wanted.”
Sarah wasn’t so sure about that. She didn’t care what Valerie said, she knew what she heard. Alex sounded pissed. But if Valerie insisted, what could she say? Valerie did know Alex a lot better than she did.
The phone rang again and they both jumped, then exchanged glances. Valerie looked at the caller ID.
“It’s him again!” She sat down on the bed and Sarah assumed the position, right next to her ear.
“Hello?”
“Z, one question.”
“What?”
“What were your plans Wednesday night?”
Valerie turned and looked at Sarah wide eyed and covered her mouth. “Um, nothing really,” she said “I was just gonna go out with my girlfriends… Why?”
There was silence again on the other end. “Just wondering,” he said. “Alright, I’ll let you go to sleep now. See you Wednesday.”
Valerie smiled and said goodnight. She looked at Sarah who was giving her a knowing look. “Before you say anything.” She held her hand up. “I’ve already told you, guys are territorial, especially one’s with such big egos. That’s all it is. It means nothing.”
She looked so smug and sounded so sure, but Sarah felt uneasiness come over her. She would’ve never believed it, but she was beginning to worry about Valerie playing games with Alex.
CHAPTER 12
By Monday, everything was back to normal with Sarah and Angel. They’d never spend their morning or lunch breaks together. So, when Angel saw Dana by her locker just before lunch, he figured it was as good a time as any to take care of this once and for all.
Two friends were with her. Her eyes brightened when she saw him approach. She quickly dismissed her friends. "I'll talk to you guys later."
"Hey." She smiled big at Angel, tossing her hair back. “What’s up?”
“Do you have a minute?”
“For you? Of course.”
“I know what you were doing Friday, Dana. It’s gotta stop.”
Her smile dissolved and she glanced into her locker. “I don’t know what you mean."
“Sure you do,” he snapped.
She stared straight ahead. “You gave me that jersey, don’t you remember?”
“No, I lent it to you and you never gave it back.”
She shifted her weight and finally met his eyes. Angel saw right through her attempt to appear injured. “You want it back? Is that what this is about?”
“Yeah I do. And I want you to stop doing everything else you’ve been doing, Dana. It’s getting old.”
“You never complained before.”
“Well, things are different now.”
Angel could see the rage in her eyes. Knowing how much she loved making scenes, he was glad they were the only ones left in the hall. He heard the venom in her words loud and clear. “Did she tell you to do this?”
Angel wasn’t about to give her the pleasure. “To be honest she’s never mentioned you.”
Dana laughed attempting to sound sarcastic but fell short. She slammed the locker shut and it echoed loudly in the empty hallway. She scowled at him, lips almost quivering. “You think your jersey’s the only one I have?”
“No, I’m sure you have plenty.”
“Go to hell, Angel!” She began to stalk away. After only a few steps she stopped and turned around. “And don’t flatter yourself. You don’t have to worry about me speaking to you ever again.”
“Thank you.”
With that, she spun around and walked away in a hurry. All things considered, it went a lot better than he’d hoped for. He walked out to the cafeteria feeling an enormous weight taken off his shoulders. He smiled smugly. His problems with Dana were over.
***
Practice was unexpectedly called off early that afternoon because one of the players was seriously injured, requiring paramedics to be called in. Angel looked up at the bleachers and saw Sarah completely absorbed in her running. She hadn’t noticed the team was off the field.
He could wait for her to finish. He hadn’t hung out with the guys after practice in a while. Now he had a few minutes.
Angel stepped out of the gym with Eric and Romero when he saw Dana rush toward him, looking very determined.
“Can I talk to you?” she said.
He kept walking. “Go ahead.”
“I mean alone.” She glanced at Eric and Romero. They both turned to Angel, who shrugged.
“We’ll be over here, man.” Eric pointed. They didn’t walk too far, sitting on a table nearby, in front of where the girls on the flag team were practicing.
“How dare you dismiss me just like that?” She crossed her arms and stood in front of him, forcing him to stop. “As if I’d never meant anything to you.”
He bit his tongue not wanting to be cruel, but he had Sarah to think about. “Shit happens, Dana. I’m seeing someone now. I can’t be dealing with you.” He waved his hand up and down in front of her. “With this.”
“Did you know she slept with Jesse Strickland?”
Angel laughed, though he didn’t feel the least bit of humor. “Is that what he said?”
“That’s what everyone is saying. I’m surprised you haven’t heard.”
“I don’t listen to bullshit.” She’d managed to stun him but he’d die before he’d let on. He knew it was all a bunch of crap but just the idea of a rumor like that about Sarah sickened him.
“I don’t mean to hurt you Angel. I just thought you should know.”
The inflated attempt to sound sympathetic was infuriating. Angel was never one to be disrespectful. Especially to girls, but he could feel the blood curdling in his veins. Sarah had been close to dumping his ass. Too damn close, and for this? He was done being nice.
He glared at her. “Don’t worry. You could never hurt me, Dana. I’d have to care about you for that.”
 
; She shrugged. “And I suppose she knows about us?”
Angel chuckled. “There was never an us, Dana. And you know it. You made up all that crap. Not me.”
The tears welled up in her eyes. He rolled his eyes and backed away. “God, don’t start this shit.”
He turned and began to walk toward Eric and Romero.
“You made love to me, you bastard!” She yelled. “Don’t you remember that?”
His stomach dropped. Fuck! He spun around and charged toward her. He saw her eyes open wide in alarm, but she stood her ground firmly. He walked right up to her face and spoke through his teeth just loud enough for her to hear, but his words were strong and cutting. “Get this through your head. We never made love. We had sex, cold meaningless sex like you’ve had with many others. It meant nothing to me. You mean nothing to me. Stay out of my fucking life, I mean it, Dana.”
With her mouth half-open she stared at him. Her eyes grew wide then she turned and hurried away, face buried in her hands. Her friends stood by the gym door waiting to console her and he heard her sob as they turned the corner.
He took a deep breath and walked back slowly toward the guys, ignoring the whispers and staring faces of the small crowed standing around.
Romero was shaking his head. “Dude, I hope you told that bitch off.”
Angel nodded still feeling a little shaky. He hadn’t intended on being so harsh but the words just spewed out. He stood there still reeling from what Dana had said about Sarah. He didn’t want the guys to notice that Dana had gotten to him, but he couldn’t even force a smile.
Eric seemed concerned. “Are you okay, man?”
Angel nodded again and glanced back in Sarah’s direction. He turned back at Eric. “You think I should tell Sarah about this?”
“Hell no.” Romero said.
“Nah, I would.” Eric said.
“You would?” Angel asked.
Romero shook his head, eyes closed. “Screw Dana! Why you gonna get Sarah all upset ‘cause of her?”
Eric made a gesture looking around. “She’s gonna hear about it eventually. I guarantee it. Dana was loud, dude. They’ll probably add to it, too. I’m just saying, if it were me, I’d come clean. It’s not like you did anything wrong. Just leave the part out about her yelling that she slept with you. Sarah’s cool dude, she’ll get it. Just don’t make that big a deal out of it.”
Angel eyed them both. There was no way either of them could know Sarah had almost broken things off because of Dana.
Feeling like he’d swallowed a brick, he turned to see Sarah walking toward him. She smiled and blew him a kiss. He managed to smile but damn he dreaded having another conversation about Dana with her.
***
No one was home, when Sarah and Angel got to his house. Angel walked Sarah to the den and put his book bag down on the coffee table.
“I’m thirsty,” He walked toward the kitchen. “You want something to drink?”
“Yeah, I’ll take water or a diet soda, if you have it.”
Angel walked to the kitchen and grabbed a couple of waters out of the refrigerator. When he walked back into the living room Sarah was on her knees on the sofa looking at the pictures that sat on the shelf behind it. She picked one up to get a closer look. Angel saw her eyes brighten and knew immediately which one it was. He put the waters down on the coffee table.
“Oh my God, is this you?”
“Give me that.” He reached for it.
Sarah pulled away. “You’re so cute.” She giggled.
He tackled her on the couch, but she hid it behind her. He held her down trying to take the picture from her. She squirmed and laughed hysterically.
“What a cutie you were with your little mullet.”
“It’s not a mullet.” His arms were under her now searching for the picture. She could barely breath she was laughing so hard.
“Okay, okay!” she shrieked. “You can have it.”
Angel took it from her and put it back on the table face down. He leaned over her and kissed her. They made out for a while, and straightened out quickly when they heard something outside. It turned out to be nothing, and Angel laid right back against her.
“What time do your parents get home?”
“Different times.” He continued to peck her. “Depends how busy they are.”
“So, they could get home any minute?”
“Um hum,” He began to kiss her neck.
“Then get off me.” She giggled, squirming and arching her back at the touch of his tongue on her neck. She pushed her hands against his chest. “Angel, I’m serious, if your parents walk in, I’d die.”
He kissed her long and deep one last time, then sat up and straightened his pants. “I can’t stand for a while.”
Sarah smiled looking at the tent in his pants. She sat up and rubbed his shoulder. “You’ll be okay.”
“Oh yeah, just give me a few minutes.” He grabbed the remote and turned the television on. The first thing they saw was a heavy older woman being interviewed about her twenty cats on the news. “Okay, I’m good now.”
Sarah gasped. Then immediately burst into laughter. “That is so mean.”
He changed the channel, flipping around for a while and finally left it on an episode of a reality show about building motorcycles. He pretended to be into it. “I talked with Dana today.”
Sarah pulled her arm off his shoulder, but he grabbed a hold of her hand. She’d told him that morning she didn’t need to hear the details about his talk with Dana, so long as he took care of it.
“I’m only bringing up ‘cause you’re probably gonna hear about it.”
She stared at him.
“I’d already talked to her earlier in the day, and thought that would be it,” he said. “But I should’ve known better when she hadn’t said too much.”
He could see Sarah searching his eyes. “She made a scene after practice.”
“A scene?”
“Yeah, a scene.” He hugged her and pushed her back gently on the sofa. “Sarah, it’s nothing I wouldn’t have even brought it up, but I didn’t want you to hear about it from someone else.
“What did she say?"
Angel tried kissing her, but she pulled away. “Sarah, let’s not do this again, babe. Seriously, the only thing that matters is that I straightened things out and she won’t be acting stupid anymore.”
“Are you sure?”
“No question about it.” He kissed her and hoped he was right.
She stared at him for a moment. “Okay.”
Thankful it hadn’t turned into another dreaded discussion about his feelings for Dana; Angel groaned and buried his face in her neck. He pressed himself against her and his hands made their way down her body. He started putting his hand up her blouse when they heard someone at the door.
Sarah jumped pushing Angel off her. It was Alex. Sarah pulled her notebook out of her book bag and Angel put a sofa pillow on his lap.
Alex grinned. “Did I interrupt your studying?”
Angel ignored him but smiled and drank his water.
Sarah sat straight faced, chin up. “As a matter of fact we are studying. Angel has a very important quiz tomorrow.”
Alex had already grabbed the remote from the table and was flipping through the channels. “Well, you’re not doin’ it here,” He looked back at Angel. “The guys are gonna be here any minute, we’re watching the game.”
Angel was confused at first then it dawned on him. Monday night football. He glanced at the TV "Don't tell me, Chargers are playing?”
Sarah shot him a stern look. “You have to study, Angel. The quiz is tomorrow, no buts about it.”
Alex tsked. “Sucks to be you.” He motioned Angel off the sofa. “Go in the kitchen. I told those guys they better not show up empty handed, and I’m ordering pizza. I’m gonna need this table."
Angel and Sarah moved into the kitchen. They settled down on the counter in the cent
er island. Sarah turned out to be a pretty tough tutor, not wanting to waiver from the task at hand. Although, Angel didn’t make it easy, with all his continual kissing and groping. She pulled away giggling from his ear nibbling.
“Okay Angel, pay attention. This is easy stuff. Donde estan means where are.” They looked up and saw Romero come in the kitchen. He pulled his fingers across his lips to show his lips were zipped.
Sarah continued. “You already know all these words,” She pointed at a list of words in the book. “So, Donde esta mis zapatos? Means, where are my shoes? Donde estan mis llaves? is Where are my keys? Now you try it.”
Before Angel could start Sarah’s cell phone rang. “I’ll just send it to voicemail.”
“Nah get it.” Angel welcomed the break. “I’m gonna grab some pizza anyway.”
She answered and stood up walking toward the patio door. The guys in the other room cheered loudly and she covered her free ear to try to hear better. She motioned to Angel that she was stepping outside. Angel nodded, barely paying attention.
“Did they score?” he asked, turning his attention toward the den.
“Sure did!” Romero said, walking toward him. He’d ran back out when the guys started cheering.
They both walked over to the counter where the pizza was. “Hey, try this one,” Romero said. “Donde estan mis bolas?” Where are my balls?
Angel laughed grabbing a slice and leaned against the counter.
Romero shook his head, his face disgusted. He took a quick look out the window to make sure Sarah wasn’t listening. “Dude, you’re that whipped that you’re missing the Chargers’ game?”
Angel smiled chewing his pizza. “I have to study, man. If I don’t do well on this quiz tomorrow, I sit out Friday’s game.”
Romero shook his head still unconvinced. “Well, you’re missing a hell of a game.” He grabbed another slice before heading back into the den.
Angel frowned and finished up his slice. He glanced out the window and saw Sarah still on her phone laughing. She saw him and stuck her tongue out. He smiled and walked away taking advantage of the time to watch a little of the game.
He was just outside the kitchen when he heard the patio door open. He walked back in and saw Sarah standing at the door facing out. He caught the tail end of her conversation.
“Of course not,” she said. “Don’t be silly, I’m thrilled for you. This is huge. You know me; if I was there I’d be jumping all over you, celebrating.”