Perfect Chemistry

Page 41

 

  Tonight changed him, whether he wants to face that fact or not.

  Ive changed, too.

  I walk into Sierras house. Sierra is sitting on her living room couch. My father and mother are sitting across from her.

  "This looks suspiciously like an intervention," I tell them.

  Sierra says, "Not an intervention, Brit. A talk. "

  "Why?"

  "Isnt it obvious?" my dad says. "Youre not living at home. "

  I stand in front of both my parents, wondering how we got to this point. My mother is in a black pants suit and her hair is in a bun, as if shes dressed for a funeral. My dad is wearing jeans and a sweatshirt, and his eyes are bloodshot. Hes been up all night, I can tell. And maybe my mom has, too, but shed never show it. Shed put in Visine to mask it all.

  "I cant play the perfect daughter anymore. Im not perfect," I say calmly and evenly. "Can you accept that?"

  My dads eyebrows come together, as if hes struggling to keep his composure. "We dont want you to be perfect. Patricia, tell her how you feel. "

  My mom shakes her head, as if she cant comprehend why Im making a big deal about this. "Brit, this has gone on long enough. Stop pouting, stop rebelling, stop being selfish. Your father and I dont want you to be perfect. We want you to be the best you can be, thats all. "

  "Because Shelley, no matter how hard she tries, cant possibly live up to your expectations?"

  "Dont bring Shelley into this," my dad says. "Its not fair. "

  "Why not? This is all about Shelley. " Im feeling defeated, like no matter how many words come out of my mouth to try and explain it, itll never come out right. I plop myself down in one of the plush, velvet chairs in front of them. "For the record, I didnt run away. Im staying at my best friends house. "

  My mom brushes away a piece of lint on her thigh. "Thank goodness for her. Shes been telling us whats been going on with you, giving us daily reports. "

  I look over at my best friend, still sitting in the corner as a witness to the Ellises meltdown. Sierra puts her hands up guiltily as she heads for the door to hand out candy to late trick-or-treaters who just rang the bell.

  My mom sits up straight on the edge of the couch. "What will it take for you to come home?"

  I want so much from my parents, probably more than theyre capable of giving. "I dont know. "

  My dad puts his hand on his forehead, as if he has a headache. "Is it that bad at home?"

  "Yeah. Well, not bad. But stressful. Mom, you stress me out. And Dad, I hate it when you come and go like the house is your hotel. Were all strangers living in the house. I love you both, but I dont want to always be the best I can be. I just want to be me. I want to be free to make my own decisions and learn from my mistakes without freaking out, feeling guilty, or worrying that Im not living up to your expectations. " I choke back tears. "I dont want to let you two down. I know Shelley cant be like me. Im so sorry . . . please dont send her away because of me. "

  My dad kneels beside me. "Dont be sorry, Brit. Were not sending her away because of you. Shelleys disability isnt your fault. Its nobodys fault. "

  My mom is silent and still, staring at the wall as if shes in a trance. "Its my fault," she says.

  Everyone focuses on my mom because those are the last words we expected to come out of her mouth.

  "Patricia?" my dad says, trying to get her attention.

  "Mom, what are you talking about?" I ask.

  Shes looking straight ahead. "All these years Ive blamed myself. "

  "Patricia, its not your fault. "

  "When I had Shelley, I took her to playgroups," my mom says in a soft voice as if shes talking to herself. "I admit I envied the other moms with the normal kids who could keep their heads up on their own and grasp things. Most of the time I got the pity stares. I hated that. I became obsessed with thinking I couldve prevented her from being disabled by eating more vegetables and exercising more--I blamed myself for her condition even when your father insisted it wasnt my fault. " She looks at me and smiles wistfully. "Then you came along. My blond-haired, blue-eyed princess. "

  "Mom, Im no princess and Shelleys not someone to pity. Im not always going to date the guy you want me to date, Im not always going to dress the way you want me to dress, and Im definitely not always going to act the way you want. Shelley isnt going to live up to your expectations either. "

  "I know. "

  "Will you ever be okay with it?"

  "Probably not. "

  "Youre so critical. Oh, God, Id do anything for you to stop blaming me for every little thing that goes wrong. Love me for who I am. Love Shelley for who she is. Stop focusing on the bad stuff because life is just too damn short. "

  "You dont want me being concerned because youve decided to date a gang member?" she asks.

  "No. Yes. I dont know. If I didnt feel like youd be judgmental, Id share it with you. If you could meet him . . . hes just sooo much more than people see on the outside. If you want me to sneak around just so I can be with him, Ill do it. "

  "Hes a gang member," my mom says dryly.

  "His name is Alex. "

  My dad leans back. "Knowing his name doesnt change the fact that hes in a gang, Brittany. "

  "No, it doesnt. Its a step in the right direction, though. Would you rather have me be truthful, or sneaking around?"

  It took us an hour until my mom agreed to try and stop hovering so much. And for my dad to agree to come home twice a week from work before six.

  I agreed to have Alex come by the house so they could meet him. And to tell them where Im going and who Im going with. They havent agreed to approve or like my choice in boyfriends, but its a start. I want to try making things right because picking up the pieces is way better than leaving them the way they are.

  CHAPTER 54 Alex

  The deal is supposed to happen here, at the forest preserve in Busse Woods.

  The parking lot and area beyond are dark, with a sliver of moonlight to guide me. The place is deserted, except for a blue sedan with its lights on. I walk farther into the woods and catch a glimpse of a dark figure lying on the ground.

  I run while dread washes over me. I recognize my jacket the closer I get. Its like seeing my own death in front of me.

  Kneeling on the ground, I slowly turn the body over.

  Paco.

  "Oh, shit," I cry as I feel his hot, wet blood soak my hands.

  Pacos eyes are glazed, but he moves his hand slowly and grabs onto my arm. "I fucked up. "

  I rest Pacos head on my thighs. "I told you to stop interferin with my life. Dont die on me, you better not die on me," I choke out. "Holy shit, youre bleedin all over. "

  Bright red blood streams out of his mouth.

  "Im scared," he whispers, then winces in pain.

  "Dont leave me. Hold on and itll be fine. " I hold Paco tightly, knowing I just lied to him. My best friend is dying. Theres no going back. I feel his pain as if its my own.

  "Lookie here, its pretend Alex and his sidekick, the real Alex. Some Halloween night, aint it?"

  I turn to the sound of Hectors voice.

  "Its too bad I couldnt tell it was Paco I was shooting at," he continues. "Man, you two look so different in daylight. I guess I should get my eyes checked. " He pulls a gun on me.

  Im not scared. Im angry. And I need answers. "Why did you do this?"

  "If you must know, its your fathers fault. He wanted out of the Blood. But there is no out, Alex. He was the best we had, your padre. Right before he died, he tried to quit. That last drug deal was his challenge, Alex. Father-son drug deal. You both make it out alive, he wins. " He laughs, a cackling sound reverberating in my ears. "The stupid motherfucker never had a chance. Youre too much like your old man. I thought I could train you to take his place as a great drug and gun dealer. But no, you really are like your old man. A quitter . . . un rajado. "

  I look down at Paco. Hes hardly breathing, the air barely making
it out of his lungs. Looking down at his blood-stained chest, the growing red bulls-eye reminds me of my papa. This time, though, Im not six years old. Everything is crystal clear.

  My eyes meet Pacos for an intense second.

  "The Latino Blood betrayed us both, man," are the last words Paco says before his eyes glaze over and he falls limp in my arms.

  "Put him down, already! Hes dead, Alex. Just like your old man. Get up and face me!" Hector yells, waving his gun in the air like a lunatic.

  I gently lay Pacos lifeless body on the ground and stand, ready to fight.

  "Put your hands on your head so I can see em. You know, when I killed el viejo you cried like an escuincle, a baby, Alex. You cried in my arms, the guy who killed him. Ironic, huh?"

  I was only six. If Id known it was Hector, I wouldnt have joined the Blood. "Whyd you do it, Hector?"

  "Boy, youll never learn, will you? You see, tu papa thought he was better than me. I showed him, didnt I? He bragged that the south side of Fairfield was a cut above since the high school was in a rich hood. Said in Fairfield there were no gangs. I changed that, Alex. Got my guys to go in and make every household belong to me. It was either come to me, or lose everything. That, my boy, is what makes me el jefe. "

  "It makes you a madman. "

  "Madman. Genius. Same thing. " Hector pushes me with the gun. "Now get on your knees. I think this is a good place for you to die. Right here in the woods, like an animal. You want to die like an animal, Alex?"

  "Youre the animal, asshole. You could at least look me in the eye when you murder me, like you did to my father. "

  When Hector walks around me, I finally have a chance. Grabbing Hectors wrist, I force him to the ground.

  Hector swears and is fast to his feet, the gun still in his hand. I use his disorientation to my advantage and kick him in the side. Whirling around, Hector knocks the side of my head with the butt of his gun. I fall on my knees, cursing the fact that Im not invincible.

  Thoughts of mi papa and Paco give me the strength to fight back through the blur. Im all too aware Hector is trying to get a good shot at me.

  When I kick Hector back, I scramble to my feet. Hectors Clock is pointed directly at my chest.

  "This is the Arlington Heights police! Drop your weapons and put your hands in the air where we can see them!"

  Through the woods and the haze, I can barely see red and blue lights flashing in the distance.

  I raise my hands. "Drop it, Hector. The game is over. "

  Hector holds the gun steady, aimed at my chest.

  "Put the gun down," the police call out. "Now!"

  Hectors eyes are wild. I feel his rage from the five feet separating us.

  _I know hes going to do it. Es un cabron.

  Hes going to pull the trigger.

  "Youre wrong, Alex," he says. "The game has just begun. "

  The whole thing happens fast. I move to the right as the shots ring out.

  Pop. Pop. Pop.

  Stumbling backward, I know Im hit. The bullet burns through my skin as if someone is pouring Tabasco on it.

  Then my world goes black.