Jimmy hugged her and lifted her up. She still felt like crap, but she felt some weight come off of her shoulders.
They pulled apart. “You did good, sis.”
“Thanks.”
Her phone buzzed. It was Carlos again. A text.
“What now?” Jimmy asked as they both looked at her cell phone screen.
I hate you. All this time you meant nothing to me. You’ll regret what you did. Both of you.
She looked at Jimmy. “Do you think he means it?”
He walked to the bed and back. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he did try something. Especially after I knocked him out in front of everybody.”
“We’ll be careful. Stick together.” She sat down on the bed next to Mayra. She thought about Carlos’ words, and they still stung. I hate you. All this time you meant nothing to me. She forced the tears back with a swallow.
She didn’t know if she had truly loved Carlos, either. But she had definitely cared for him, still cared for him as a person. She thought about everything he had gone though, how messed up he was inside from what had happened with Valerie. Mayra was right. He hadn’t moved on. But she realized there was nothing she could do anymore. Her family and friends, their safety and well-being, were more important.
“Look at my face,” Jimmy said. He showed her his cut lip and bruise. “We’re not going to be able to hide this, Ariana. Not from Mom and Dad. They’re going to find out sooner or later. The pictures. People talking. I think the best thing to do is to tell them and they can help us figure all of this out.”
She covered her face with her hands and began crying. She sat down in Mayra’s desk chair.
“It’s not the end of the world,” Jimmy said as he put his arm around her. “Tell them you made a mistake. You’ll be in trouble for a while, but I think they’ll cut you some slack if we go to them and tell them instead of keeping anything else from them. They won’t be happy if they find out from someone else.”
She took a few deep breaths, trying to regain her composure.
“Okay,” she finally said.
***
Ariana and Jimmy were sitting on the living room couch when her parents came home. Her mother immediately went over to Jimmy and touched his face.
“What happened? Did something happen when we were gone?”
“What happened here?” Her dad, said looking at her.
“I’m okay,” Jimmy said. He looked at Ariana. “I got into a fight.”
“With who?” her mom asked.
“With my boyfriend,” Ariana said. “Ex-boyfriend.”
“Boyfriend?” her dad asked. “You know you’re not allowed to have a boyfriend. We already talked about that.”
“I know. But I was dumb.” She shut her eyes and opened them again. “I went out with this guy anyway, and he wasn’t a good guy.”
Her parents stared at her. She went on. “He got me to drink at a party. I got drunk—”
“What party?” her dad asked. He was sitting beside her.
“A party I went to with him the other night. Mayra went too.”
“What did he do to you?”
“Nothing. But he kept telling me to dance and take my clothes off in front of everyone.” She paused. “I was so drunk I didn’t realize what I was doing. But, Ryan, Jimmy’s friend, was there, and he told Jimmy and gave him a ride there.” She looked down.
“When was this? Why didn’t you two tell us?” He looked at Jimmy, but Ariana continued.
“It last night. It was my fault. I told him not to tell. All this time. I just wanted to have a boyfriend and go out and have fun. I know now I never should have done that.”
Jimmy spoke up. “When I got to the party, the guy was getting her and Mayra to do things in front of everybody, and they were taking pictures.” Their mom gasped, and Ariana started crying again.
“I stopped it right away, and we tried to leave.” Jimmy continued. “But Carlos didn’t like that. He was drunk too. He disrespected them, and we got in a fight. I hit him until he was on the floor. Believe me, this is nothing compared to what he looks like.”
Her dad patted Jimmy on the shoulder.
“I broke up with him today. I promise I’ll never see him again,” Ariana said.
“I know you won’t see him again,” her dad said.
“This is why we told you that you weren’t ready to have a boyfriend in the first place. Many boys this age just want one thing. And it’s hard to tell who.” Her mom got up and walked into the bathroom. She came back with some first aid supplies.
“I know,” Ariana said, wiping her nose with her sleeve.
Her dad sighed and gave her a hug.
“There’s something else we have to tell you,” Jimmy said.
“He threatened us,” she said.
Jimmy shook his head. “Let him try to do something.”
Her dad began cussing in Spanish. “Let him try to get near you.” Her mom touched his arm, and he calmed down a bit.
“He knows where we live. Mayra too,” Jimmy said.
“I’ll have a talk with her mom,” her mom said as she dabbed at Jimmy’s cut with hydrogen peroxide. “She can stay here while she’s at work, but you two aren’t to be by yourselves anymore. Who knows what that boy might do? I’ll tell my supervisor at work that I can’t work late anymore so I can be here until your father gets home.”
“And if he tries anything, we’ll call the police. Let them deal with him,” her dad said. Her mom nodded.
“What about Jimmy’s basketball games? The season’s not over until February,” she said.
Jimmy looked from their mom to their dad and back.
“He’ll have to quit the team,” her dad said.
“Maybe mom can pick him up,” she suggested.
His dad shook his head. “Then you two girls would be here alone.”
“We can go with her,” she said. “Dad, please. This is Jimmy’s chance to get a scholarship. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You saw him at the game you went to last week. He’s awesome. He can’t quit now.”
Her dad thought for a moment. “Okay, then.”
“I’ll go talk to Mayra’s mom,” her mom said, stroking Jimmy’s cheek one last time.
***
School was hell for Ariana and Mayra on Monday. But especially for Mayra. She was the one who’d been without a shirt in all the pictures that had gone around school.
Ariana and Mayra had already seen them, and they were trying to forget about the whole thing—but everyone at school wasn’t.
Ariana focused on ignoring the crude remarks and stared straight ahead, but Mayra didn’t always do the same.
As they walked to class, they passed some guys with their phones out, eyeing Mayra. They were laughing. One guy blew her a kiss.
Mayra rolled her eyes, and they kept walking. As they approached the bathrooms, Mayra slowed down. “I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll come with you,” Ariana said as they walked in.
It was packed since it was class change. More than a few girls stared at Mayra as she walked in and dug through her purse, looking for something. Ariana stared back, hoping they got the message.
“Such a slut,” she heard someone say as they walked past them to leave.
Mayra stopped what she was doing and turned in the direction of the words.
The girl who had said them glanced back as she walked out, giving Mayra and Ariana a look like they were trash. The girl’s friend walked more quickly towards the door.
“What did you say?” Mayra asked. She was next to the girl who had spoken, her purse forgotten by the sink.
“I said, ‘What a slut,’” the girl said, looking up at Mayra. She was skinny with tons of makeup and messy hair. The girl’s friend just looked back and forth with her mouth slightly open.
“You don’t even know me,” said Mayra, taking a step closer. The girl with messy hair didn’t step back, but her friend did.
“The picture
s say it all,” she said. “Slut.”
Ariana stepped towards them, but Mayra pushed the girl, and she almost fell. Her friend grabbed her before she could push back.
“Let’s go,” the other girl told her friend.
“You should take her advice. And leave.” Mayra said, turning around and going back to her purse as if nothing had happened. The two girls finally left.
A few other girls who were in the bathroom began whispering. Mayra turned towards them. “You have something to say, go ahead and say it.”
They left without saying a word as Mayra stared them down.
“Are you okay?” Ariana asked.
Mayra was crying now, and Ariana put a hand on her shoulder.
“I don’t know how much more of this I can take,” she said. “It’s not like people haven’t talked about me before, but now…”
“It’s okay. We’ll get through this,” she rubbed her shoulder. “Before we know it, they’ll be talking about something else. I promise.”
But Mayra kept crying. Finally, she grabbed a paper towel and blew her nose. “You’re right,” she said with a deep breath. “I’m stronger than this. I’m better than them.”
Ariana nodded, and they looked at each other in the mirror.
“Carlos hasn’t bothered you, has he?”
Ariana flinched at his name. She shook her head.
“Not a text, a call?”
“Nothing. And it’s better that way, if you ask me.”
“Definitely. Let me know if he tries anything. I got your back.”
She gave Mayra a small smile. “Thanks.”
Mayra closed her purse and wiped at her nose. “We should get to class.”
***
Ariana was having a dream.
She was in the middle of that annoying commercial that always came on in the middle of her favorite show on television.
All of a sudden, she realized she was a dancing pizza pocket, and she was so hot she felt like she was being cooked alive. The suit was stifling her, and she was screaming for help, but the hysterical, clapping audience didn't seem to notice her. They just kept cheering her on for some reason.
She realized the song was her phone’s ring tone. She opened her eyes and saw it ringing next to her, but she couldn’t answer it.
She was tangled in the thick fleece blanket she had gotten for Christmas last year. She was sweaty and felt feverish. Fingers shaking, she answered the phone.
“Hey, Mom,” she said.
“Honey, there’s a problem at work, and I can’t leave yet.”
Her mom had texted earlier that she would be getting home thirty minutes later than usual. So she had hung out with Mayra and her mom for a while at her house. Mayra had been doing a lot better. A lot of people were still talking about the party and the pictures, but she was learning to deal with it, and with the basketball team going to the state championships, that was occupying a lot of people’s minds.
Ariana had left Mayra’s house after a while and headed home, sure her mom would be home any minute. Apparently, she had fallen asleep while she was waiting. She looked out the window and saw it was almost dark.
“Sweetie, I didn’t have the chance to let your dad or Jimmy know I couldn’t pick him up.” Her mom sounded rushed. “He got out twenty minutes ago. Can you go pick him for me? I’ll be home by the time you guys get home. Your dad too.”
She looked at her phone. He had been waiting a while now.
“Yeah. Don’t worry. I’ll go right now.” She hung up and jumped out of bed. She grabbed her keys.
She had still been allowed to use her car to get to school and back, although her parents had hesitated to agree. But her mom had taken over getting Jimmy, making her and Mayra tag along if Mayra’s mom wasn’t home.
She slipped her shoes on as she grabbed her purse. She hoped Jimmy wouldn’t be too upset that they had forgotten him. She ran out of the house without bothering to lock the door.
She hopped into her car and backed out of the driveway at lightning speed.
As she got out of her neighborhood, she stepped on the gas.
She knew she shouldn't be speeding, but Ariana couldn't stop thinking about Jimmy standing at the school all alone. The last one to be picked up.
She still remembered the time her dad picked her up an hour late after getting back from her fifth grade field trip. It had been embarrassing to stand there with the obviously annoyed teacher who had wanted to get home herself.
Her stomach twisted uneasily inside her, and she stepped on the gas even though she was already going ten miles over the limit. She checked her mirrors every so often, hoping a cop wouldn't stop her.
Finally, she was pulling into the empty school parking lot. She did a round but didn't see him there. She was over thirty minutes late, and it was already dark.
Maybe he had gotten a ride? He would have been home by then if he had, though.
Frustrated, and a little worried, she headed towards the front of the school, more slowly this time. He had to be around here somewhere. Obviously, the coach had already left.
Then she saw him sitting just inside the school entrance. She had been in such a hurry that she must have missed him completely. It was almost completely dark now.
As she got closer, Jimmy got up and started walking towards her, his black gym bag hanging from his shoulder.
She was almost there, so she slowed down. That's when she saw three guys coming up behind him. They were also wearing gym shorts and t-shirts. Her stomach twisted again.
As she got closer, she saw Carlos leading the group. She saw his car parked just a few spots away.
All this time, she hadn’t heard from him, had barely seen him at school. She thought that maybe he had decided to forget about everything and pretend she and Jimmy didn’t exist.
Now she realized Carlos had probably been on his way home from the park with his friends and seen Jimmy here alone, a perfect opportunity to get back at him.
It was her turn to protect Jimmy now. She had to help him.
She stepped on the gas.
chapter sixteen
Jimmy sensed that someone was behind him and turned. Carlos and his two friends, only a few yards away, smiled. They laughed.
As she pulled in, Jimmy let go of his gym bag and ran, but it was too late. Carlos and his friends knew that he would try to run away. They caught up to him and grabbed him in seconds. Now in the parking lot herself, Ariana put her car in park and got out. But Carlos's two friends had Jimmy secured. He wasn't going anywhere.
“Ariana, don't worry about me. Just go back home. I'll be there later,” Jimmy said.
She was staring Carlos in the face now. He was standing in between her and Jimmy. Ariana couldn't stand it. Even when Jimmy knew he was in real trouble, her little brother still thought about her safety and put her first. She felt like an idiot for ever going to that party in the first place, for ever looking at Carlos. Jimmy would be paying the consequences for everything. She couldn't let that happen.
“No, Jimmy,” she said, trying to make her voice sound firm. “We're both going home.” She looked at Carlos, who had a smile on his face. It was weird how his expression still made her heart race, but this time in fear. The bruises Jimmy had left from their first fight had almost faded completely.
“He's not going anywhere,” he said. “He's going to pay for what he did to me at that party.” He walked over to her. They were less than a foot apart. She pulled back, but he grabbed her.
“I gave you so much, and you just threw it away,” he whispered in her ear. “Now leave.”
“Let him go, or I'm calling the police. Help! Someone please help!” She screamed as loud she could. She reached for her pocket, where her cell phone was, but Carlos tackled her to the ground.
“Get off of her!” Jimmy struggled against the two guys, but it was no use.
She tried kicking and punching Carlos, but he pinned her legs with his body and took her phone from he
r pocket.
He got back up and so did she. “Give me back my phone!”
He laughed and turned around to his friends. One was husky, and the other was thin, but they were both still shorter than Jimmy. She recognized them from the park. He nodded. “Teach him a lesson.”
The thin one punched Jimmy’s nose. Ariana heard the smack of fist against flesh and Jimmy’s groan and cough. Ariana screamed and ran towards him, but Carlos stopped her and wouldn’t let go. The other guy threw another punch, this time at Jimmy’s stomach. Jimmy doubled over and struggled to get his breath. They took turns like that until Jimmy was on the ground.
Jimmy covered his face, sticking his elbows out, and pulling his knees to his chest. They kicked him in the ribs and the other punched at his head. Ariana couldn’t hear him groan anymore.
Ariana was screaming as hard as she could, thrashing as hard as she could. Jimmy’s life depended on it.
What must have been a few minutes felt like hours. Carlos held on to her waist, and no matter how much she tried to escape his grasp, she couldn’t. Desperate tears flooded her eyes, and she screamed.
“Stop! Please, Carlos, stop! Tell them to stop! Please!” she begged him.
“I told you I’d make him pay,” he said quietly in her ear.
Jimmy was hardly moving anymore. He was a bloody mess. The two guys finally stopped.
“Don’t you dare tell anyone what happened. Or I’ll kill you and finish him off.”
He clenched her hair in his fist and pulled. She didn’t let herself scream out in pain.
“Do you understand?” He pulled harder.
She cried out and nodded.
He looked at her in the eyes. “I’m sorry it had to come to this.”
He threw her phone over her shoulder. She heard it land with a thud. Carlos walked over to Jimmy and kicked him one last time. Jimmy grunted in pain. Then Carlos and his friends ran towards his car, got in, and sped away.
She ran towards Jimmy and knelt down beside him.
She saw his chest rise but just barely. “Jimmy.” He gave a small groan, but his eyes remained closed. His nose was bleeding, and one of his eyes was already swelling. He had cuts all over his body from the kicks and being pushed around on the concrete. He clutched his ribs. He spit out blood.
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