Jason continued excitedly, “You know how Mike’s dad’s in the limo business? Well, he’s got one for the whole day. I think it might even be a stretch. He’ll drive us back and forth to the banquet and wherever we want to go after—probably out for pizza...” Jason paused and Mateo knew he was remembering, for once, that he didn’t do pizza anymore. “…or something,” Jason added.
“Sounds good,” said Mateo, “but, I, uh, I’ve got this skating gig the same day.”
Jason shrugged. He looked sad, like it actually mattered if Mateo went to his banquet.
“Hey, sorry,” said Mateo. “It really is cool how far you guys got. You’re a great team.”
Jason’s face brightened. “Maybe I can show you the award later, sometime.”
“That would be great.” Mateo felt like a crummy friend.
Three weeks before Regionals, Ted had a ton of stuff to do in his office. “Don’t practice too long,” he said. “If there’s any problem, interrupt me and give a holler.”
It was easy to get caught up in skating—to lose track of the time, while goofing around trying to impress each other.
“Look at this move,” Mateo said. He marched like a wooden soldier and moved his hands up and down, robot-style.
Hayley laughed and then one-upped him with a tiptoeing chicken strut.
She looked ridiculous. They were both laughing by then.
“You’ve got the best eyes,” Hayley said, staring at him.
“I do?” He pictured the mud-colored eyes that looked back at him in the mirror each morning.
Hayley giggled. “They remind me of a happy puppy.” She skated in a circle as though she were barking at her tail.
“Ha, good one,” he said, glancing at the clock, but thinking about how she liked his eyes. “Whoa, time flies.” Even though it was only half past four, winter was coming and the days had been getting shorter and shorter.
They took off their skates. Mateo always kept his in the back office. Ted was in the middle of a heated phone conversation and didn’t notice Mateo slip his skates under the desk without disturbing him.
While Hayley carefully wiped off each hot-pink wheel with a small cloth, Mateo decided to take a look outside. Ever since they’d been cornered by the gang, he’d made it a habit to check the area before leaving. He went to the lobby and cracked the door open. A cluster of thugs leaned against a beat-up old car at one end of the shadowy parking lot. They were back.
He bolted the door. Hayley was working the combination of her private locker where she sometimes kept her skates.
“Your mom’s coming to get you, right?”
“I called her a few minutes ago.” Hayley glanced at the clock. “She should be here soon. What about you?”
“My bike’s locked up behind the building, but those guys are back. Why don’t we go together when the coast is clear?”
Hayley glanced at the far window and nodded. It was almost dark already. “I should start carrying pepper spray.”
Mateo squeezed open the door again and peered through the slit. They were still creeping around at the far end of the lot—all accounted for. “Maybe you should call your mom, tell her to come around back instead.”
“Good idea. We can sneak out the back door.” Hayley pulled out her phone and made the call. With the last rays of daylight coming through the small high windows, they found their way across the skating floor until they reached the back exit. Ted’s office light shone bright in the darkness. “I’ll tell Ted, too,” she said.
They peeked into his office and waited until he looked up. He was still on the phone, but he covered the mouthpiece with one hand.
“My mom’s on her way,” said Hayley. “We’re going through the back door, but those creeps are out front again.”
Ted nodded. “Thanks for the warning. I’ll put in a call to the police after I wrap this up. Goodnight, kids.”
Mateo squeaked the door open and peered in every direction. “Coast is clear.”
Hayley followed him outside. “Ah, nice fresh air. It gets stuffy in there.”
They heard the door slam loudly behind them and
exchanged looks.
“Uh oh, I think it locks automatically when it closes,” said Hayley.
He tried the handle. “Yep, locked. Well, hopefully your mom will come soon.” He took a few steps away from the building and the overhead motion detector lights came on. The whole area lit up like the fourth of July.
“I didn’t know about the lights,” said Hayley.
Mateo checked his bike—still locked on the rack in the shadows of the building. Then he heard voices. “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.”
“Don’t move,” Hayley said. “The lights might go out before they see us.”
They stood flat up against the building, their arms touching.
“Hurry up, Mom,” whispered Hayley.
But it was too late. Three of the guys came into the well-lit area and headed for them. Mateo turned and banged hard on the door, although he knew Ted probably wouldn’t be able to hear him.
“Let’s get out of here,” said Hayley.
“You said it.” He grabbed her hand. “¡Vámonos!”
They bolted across the back lots until they reached the main road. They cut through a gas station and then came out on the next block. The whole time they ran, Mateo was sure he heard the clomp of footsteps behind them, closing in. He needed to throw them off their route.
Hayley had her phone out. “I can’t get a signal!”
They zigzagged past a couple more blocks, two winos, and a straggly-looking cat. Towering city buildings threw shadows around them, while car horns and sirens blared their warnings.
Where next? Where should we go? wondered Mateo.
“Through here.” Mateo pulled Hayley down an alley. “It’s a shortcut back towards the rink. Maybe your mom’s there now.”
At the end of the short alley, when they were almost back to the road that led to the rink, shadowy figures filled in and surrounded them.
Chapter 21
Muchacho,” said a deep voice. “We’ve about had it with you.”
“What did I ever do to you?” Mateo attempted to sound tough, but his voice came out in a squeak as he tried to catch his breath.
“You owe us money.”
He swallowed. “No, no I don’t.” Mateo patted his pockets, willing money to appear, so he could buy himself out of this nightmare.
“Maybe his little chickie friend has some,” said another guy.
Mateo instinctively moved in front of Hayley while he considered his options. Three sets of eyes glared back at him, one pair belonging to Sash.
“Why don’t you guys stop bothering us?” said Hayley.
“Leave it,” he whispered to her. Then he tried a different tactic. “Sash,” he said. “Remember when we played hoops together once in fourth grade?” He hoped he was the only one who noticed the whining plead in his voice.
“Yeah, right, like I’d hang around with…”
Before Sash could finish responding, a siren sounded behind them. It gave them the break they needed. Hayley and Mateo took off for the bright lights ahead.
Just as they reached a safer, less deserted area, Mateo went and fell over a pipe sticking out from a cement stairwell. Mateo’s face smooshed into the pavement and he landed weird on his ankle. For a long second, he couldn’t move a muscle.
“Oh, Mateo,” said Hayley. It sounded like she was crying. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m good.” He struggled to get up.
“Is anything broken?”
He shook his head. “I don’t think so.” As he spoke, it hit him how important this question was since the meet was only three weeks away. How would he ever be able to skate when his leg felt like it was glued on backw
ards?
Hayley helped him to his feet and they slowly made their way back to the rink.
The city streets were full of activity and people going about their business. Hayley paused on one side of the sidewalk while two dressed-up couples swayed past them. They smelled like alcohol. Mamá would have a fit if she saw him wandering around the city like this. The two started walking again and finally reached the industrial park.
“Home sweet home.” He leaned his weight against Hayley more than he needed to, happy they were both safe.
Ted’s car was gone from the front parking lot. They went around back and as they came into view, Hayley’s mom leaped out of her car like she was on fire. “Where were you? Are you okay?” She pulled Hayley into a hug and looked at Mateo with concern.
“We got a little side-tracked,” said Hayley. “And Mateo sprained his ankle.”
“Oh, my goodness. And his face is all cut up. Did you fall?”
He nodded.
“Well, I’m so sorry I’m late. I was waiting in back of the wrong building. I’ve never been back here before and the lots all look alike.” She swept her blond hair out of her face. “Finally it dawned on me to check the signs out front and get behind the right one.”
While Hayley gave a sugared-up version of why they’d wanted her mom to pick her up behind the building, they brought Mateo home.
“Right here’s good,” Mateo said in front of his place. He kind of hoped her mom would think he lived in the house next door that had recently been fixed up.
“Do you need help getting in?” asked Hayley.
“Thanks, I can manage.” He attempted a laugh. “Nobody will dare mess with this ugly-faced dude.”
The only tricky part was climbing all those stairs. His tired feet clomped loudly on each step. He was halfway up when Mr. Obeneski’s door opened. Mr. O. started to speak and then snapped his lips shut. He came over, threw his arm around Mateo, and helped him get up the last few steps.
“Who did this to you?” he asked, as he rapped on their door.
Mamá swung the door open, her face a mask of panic as she reached for him.
“I’m okay, just fell over a pipe.” Mateo gave a weak smile. “Won’t happen again.” And man, he hoped he was telling the truth.
Mamá got him situated on the sofa. Between sobs, she and Mr. O. discussed the extent of his bruises and what the world was coming to, until finally Mr. O. got up, still shaking his head. “Take care, kid,” he said before the door shut behind him.
The phone rang and Mamá and Mateo both jumped. “¿Halo?” she said uncertainly. Then she handed the phone to him.
“Yo.”
“Did you get in okay?” asked Hayley.
“Yep, I made it. You?”
“I’m home, too,” she said. “Turns out my mom had only just got there, like a minute before us, so she didn’t ask any more questions.” He could hear her smile. Then only her quiet breathing for a while. “Goodnight, Mateo.”
“You, too.”
He held onto the phone for a minute and then handed it back to Mamá.
“What are you grinning about?” she said. Mamá’s soft sides shook with suppressed relief and laughter.
Chapter 22
The scrapes on Mateo’s face healed pretty quickly. He’d been babying his bum ankle, but he was still worried about it. After Sunday’s practice, it was killing him. His leg would have to get better if he was going to make it through both of his routines in the meet.
On Tuesday he noticed Jason at school, walking up ahead of him. Mateo did a lopsided jog to catch up with him before he got too far down the hall.
“Hey,” said Mateo. “Do you want to go to that new frozen yogurt place? I mean, I’ll pay, if you aren’t busy with the team, or anything.” Walking home from school the day before, he’d stopped in to check it out for future reference. Not only were there lots of gluten-free labels, but the place had a big allergy poster on the wall.
“Sure, let’s do it,” said Jason. “Glad your face looks normal again.”
Mateo laughed. “Thanks.”
They walked out of the building together like old times. They didn’t talk much, but a siren and other street noises filled in until they got to Yogurtland.
The more yogurt you packed into the cups, the more you had to pay, so Mateo didn’t scoop too much into his cup, just in case. A few of the flavors weren’t gluten free and he had to skip the toppings. Jason went crazy piling on candies and sauces. Mateo worried his cup would weigh about ten pounds. He held his breath when they put them on the scale.
“$9.45,” said the girl at the cash register.
Whew, just made it. Mateo slid her the ten-dollar bill he’d been saving for emergencies.
The boys sat at one of the tiny tables and made small talk between bites of ice-cold creamy flavors.
Around the corner from Yogurtland, Mateo said adios to Jason. Mateo hadn’t taken three steps when he saw what was going on in front of the sub shop across the way. His breath quickened. “Hey, Jason, wait up.”
Jason turned and came back. “What’s up?”
Mateo lifted his chin and pointed out the kids from Dudd Street. There were three of them crowded around a kid. “I’ve had it with them.”
“You called me back to see that?” Jason shook his head. “I’m not messing with them. I’m out of here.”
Mateo’s feet wanted to bolt, too, but something stronger kept him planted. “No, wait, go over there with me.”
“What, are you crazy?”
Mateo peered harder. “I think I know that kid they’re picking on.” He started across the street.
Jason stayed with him. Mateo knew he didn’t want to, but with his stomach full of the yogurt Mateo had paid for, he probably felt he owed him. When they were halfway across the street, Jason whispered, “What are you going to do?”
Mateo picked up speed.
When they reached the storefront of Al’s Subs, Mateo had a perfect view of the kid with the pale, plump face reaching into his back pocket. It was his old roller-skating buddy. “Hey, Dan,” he called.
From the middle of the gang, Dan looked back at him. A flicker of relief crossed his frightened face.
Mateo motioned to him. “Come here a second.” The three thugs had also turned at his shout.
“Oh, crap,” muttered Jason.
Mateo took a couple more steps until he could have reached out and untied Bandana Dude’s head wrap. “We’re just talking to the kid,” said the big brute.
A woman pushing a baby carriage jogged past them. It was a sunny day with lots of people around. Mateo could feel Jason beside him. He used his deepest voice. “Leave him alone.”
A man with a briefcase paused to look them over. One of the guys turned and slinked off into the sub shop. After another glance at Mateo, his buddy followed him. Well, this was looking up, three against one.
Dan stepped out from around the big guy.
“Hey,” said Bandana Dude. He was about to say more when he looked behind him and realized he was on his own.
“Stop your bullying,” said Mateo in his meanest voice with his friends on either side of him.
“Whatever.” Bandana Dude shrugged and went off in the direction of the others.
“Unbelievable,” murmured Jason, slapping Mateo on the back.
“Thanks,” said Dan. “You saved my life.”
“Well, not, really,” said Mateo, “but take it from me, stay away from them.”
Chapter 23
About a week before Regionals, Mateo broke the news to his family. Mamá had walked in the door twenty minutes before and wasn’t completely home yet. It always took her a while to switch from the office to home.
“What bad teeth that patient had,” she said.
“So, there’s this me
et coming up,” said Mateo.
Mamá shook her head. He could tell she was still thinking about the last set of teeth she’d cleaned.
“A regional meet,” he added.
Ava appeared in the kitchen doorway. “You mean the big meet with people entering from all over the place?”
“Yeah, I think it includes five states. I’ve got two free tickets.” He looked down. “But, it’s no big deal—people can buy them at the door, too.” Lately he’d been surprised at how much he’d been imagining what it would be like if people he knew, especially Mamá, could see how well he skated.
“But what about your ankle, Mateo?” asked Ava.
He quickly gave her a look to drop the subject of his sore ankle. Besides, it was feeling much better than it had been. He’d kept his aches and pains from Mamá for this very reason—so she wouldn’t stop him from competing. It was bad enough that he wasn’t allowed out on his own past six o’clock anymore.
“I feel great,” he said. “Anyway, the meet’s on the fifteenth.”
“Oh, my gosh. I am so going to this,” said Ava. “Mamá, you’ll go, right?”
“What would I do at a roller-skating place?” Mamá continued to sort through a pile of junk mail.
“Cheer Mateo on,” said Ava. “I’ll bet he hasn’t been skating as long as most of the other kids. He’ll need familiar faces in the audience.”
Embarrassed by how the conversation was going, Mateo whirled into one of his jump spins on the living room rug. Trying to avoid Mamá’s knickknacks, he landed flat on his face with a heavy thud. An echoing thump-thump came from beneath the floor. Apparently Mr. Obeneski didn’t appreciate an elephant crashing onto his ceiling.
Mateo yanked his leg out from under the sofa, stood up, and grinned. “I’m okay, everybody.” While he was on a roll, he took a goofy bow.
Mamá sighed. “Maybe you should give this up, Mateo, before you get hurt—stick to your schoolwork.” She ripped into an envelope and then added in a soft voice the line she knew would strike home, “You would not like the other kids to make fun of you.”
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