“Let me know what happens,” Em says from the couch. “I’m going to catch up onScandal.”
“I will.” Before closing my door, I point at her. “Don’t watch past the episode where I left off.”
Dropping my gym bag to the floor, I check my phone, it’s nine p.m. She should be up. Mom answers on the third ring.
“Hola, mi niña hermosa, ¿cómo estás?” Hi, my beautiful girl, how are you?
“Hey Ma, I’m okay, and you?”
She must notice the tone in my voice. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”
Letting out an exasperated exhale, I answer, “No, Mom, I just have a quick question.”
“Okay,mi niña,what’s up?”
My nerves take over, and I begin to pace the room. “Have you heard anything new about the Kahlo’s recently?”
She hums. “Nothing huge lately. Some of Mrs. Kahlo’s friends are still taking my classes, but they stopped talking to me a while ago. Why do you ask?”
“Are you sure you haven’t heard about any of their kids transferring to Driscoll?” I cross my fingers, hoping that she hasn’t.
“Well, now that you mention it, I overheard something about Driscoll a couple of weeks ago.”
Mierda, he might’ve transferred.
“Mamita, what’s wrong?”
“Cameron was at Roxy’s earlier,” I reply quickly.
“Oh.” There’s a long pause. “Maybe he was visiting a friend?”
Not so sure about that. “It’s possible.”
“Did you tell Ana?”
Does my mom not know me at all?
“Of course not and I do not plan on it. There’s no point.” I take in a couple of breaths, lowering my tone. “How has she been since classes started?”
“She’s better. She got a work-study job yesterday since Ithreatened to cut her off again after you guys spoke. So she’s behaving for now.” Mom’s voice is laced with hope.
Exactly.For now.Ana didn’t have the same ambitions of going to a four-year school like me. She let her grades slip her senior year of high school and my mom’s one condition of living at home was getting some sort of degree. I doubt she would’ve actually kicked her out, but it motivated my sister to apply and go to a community college.
“I’ll give her a call soon.” My mom and I both keep a special eye out for Ana. She always got more attention as a child, although I wasn’t surprised since she was the one who was crazier and harder to handle.
“I appreciate that, mi niña. Are you coming down for your guy’s birthday? Your stepdad wants to celebrate it with you both, as do I.”
My sister and I’s birthday is smack down in the middle of September, in just a couple of weeks.
“Yes, I plan on it, but only for a night.” I yawn into the phone. “Okay, I have to go and get some homework done.”
“Homework on the first day?” she asks, sounding impressed. “At least we’re getting our money’s worth.”
“Yeah, just some readings. I love you. Tell Rafael I said hi.”
“I will. I love you too. Sleep tight. Text me once you wake up.”
“I will.” I toss the phone on the bed, staring at it for a while before stepping out of the room to tell Em about the conversation, only to find that she’s asleep on the couch.
