Falling Too Fast

by Malín Alegría

  “What is going on here?” Alexis gasped.

  “He did it,” Karina said, pointing at Pablo.

  “I didn’t do nothing, you freak,” Pablo spat back.

  “You’ve really done it this time,” AP Castillo said in a threatening manner to Santiago. “No more second chances for you.”

  Santiago raised his arm as if to block a blow. “I didn’t touch them. I swear.”

  “Touch what?” Alexis asked. “Will someone tell me what’s going on?”

  Nikki looked up with tearful eyes. Her voice shook as she spoke: “Someone stole the mariachi trajes.”

  “What?”

  “They took everything,” Nikki cried. Tears spilled down her cheeks. Alexis felt like she’d been punched in the stomach. Nikki wiped her nose on her sleeve and peered up at Alexis. “I came early to Febreze them and air them out.” She held up a little spray bottle. “But when I got here, I noticed the locker had been broken into and all our outfits were gone. They took everything.” She sniffed. “They even took the pita-style belts my dad bought in Tampico.”

  Karina reached for Pablo. “I know you know who took them.”

  Pablo jumped out of her reach. “You’re crazy. You think I would let one of my boys steal from me? That was my traje, too, you know.”

  Karina threw her fists in the air. “Well, somebody took them.” The group hurled accusations and insults across the room like daggers.

  “Please stop,” Alexis cried over the noise. “This isn’t fixing anything.” The shouting stopped. Alexis sighed with relief. “Look, let’s think about what we’re going to do.”

  “Why don’t we go look for them,” Marisol suggested in a quiet voice. Everyone turned to look at her, because she hardly ever spoke up in a large crowd. “Sometimes people steal things just for fun.” She paused, turning bright red. “Maybe the trajes are just stuffed in a Dumpster or a trash can somewhere.”

  “Good thinking,” Alexis said, flashing her a bright smile. “Why don’t you and some of the others go have a look around the school and see if the uniforms got dumped somewhere?”

  Marisol nodded. The twins stood to follow her out of the room.

  “And what happens if we don’t find them?” Pedro asked.

  “Well …” Alexis looked at AP Castillo for help.

  He shook his head and sucked in through his teeth. “There’s no mariachi fund, and the school is already facing major budget cuts. We’re on our own.”

  “Yikes,” Pedro muttered as he, Pablo, and Marisol tramped out of the room.

  “We’ll find the money, if we need to,” Alexis said, trying to sound more confident than she felt.

  “Do you even know how much outfits like those cost?” Karina asked in an exasperated tone.

  She was not helping, Alexis thought.

  AP Castillo sat down in one of the folding chairs. “You don’t need the trajes to perform.”

  “Oh, hell no,” Santiago cried. “The suits were the only thing good about us. You throw us out there in our street clothes, and we won’t have anything going for us. People will laugh.”

  AP Castillo sighed deeply. Alexis noticed that his hair looked grayer than usual. She glanced at the other students. They looked deflated. It’s not fair, Alexis thought. We’ve worked so hard!

  “We have to at least try,” Alexis pleaded. She pulled at Santiago’s limp arm and walked over to Nikki. “We can do this. Let’s start thinking of possible fund-raising activities. We’re starting to sound like a real band now. I want to perform with you guys! Who’s with me?”

  There was silence. Alexis’s heart dropped. Then she heard someone move on her right.

  “I’m with you,” Justin said, stepping forward. She gave him an appreciative smile.

  “Me, too,” Karina said from the back.

  AP Castillo looked up at Alexis. “What do you say, AP Castillo?” Alexis asked.

  The man cleared his throat, trying to bury his emotion. “I like your spunk, Garza. I’m with you.”

  Just then, the trio of searchers rushed into the practice room. Marisol held out a busted sombrero and a ripped jacket. Everyone stared sadly at her, their hopes for finding the uniforms dissolving before their eyes.

  “Well,” Alexis said, forcing a cheerful attitude, “fund-raising starts now, then!”

  The bandmates put all their energy into holding bake sales, doing candygrams, and collecting cans. They even went door-to-door to ask for donations. It was hard getting money, but Alexis tried to keep everyone’s enthusiasm up.

  “C’mon, guys,” Alexis said one afternoon, leading a couple members of the group to the HEB grocery store on Main Street. The manager was Nikki’s cousin, and he had agreed to let them perform for tips inside. Shoppers stared at the group as they set up by the bakery. Alexis could tell that her friends were nervous. Most of them had never performed for an audience before — not counting the excellent pretend playing they’d done during her serenata. Karina kept looking at the ground, and Pablo and Pedro were pushing each other into shopping carts. “Settle down, guys,” Alexis said, trying to calm their nerves. “Remember that we’re trying to raise money for our uniforms.”

  “We’ll be fine,” Nikki agreed, holding her guitarrón. “Just do your best.”

  “Hello? We suck.” Karina fidgeted from one foot to the other. “No one is going to give us money.”

  “Yes, they will,” Alexis said, giving her a wink. “Watch.” Alexis turned to the HEB customers: “Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. We are the Dos Rios mariachi group and we are raising money to buy mariachi uniforms. We would appreciate any support.” She nodded to Nikki and the twins.

  The three began playing the beginning melody to the song “Serenata Huasteca.” Alexis gave Karina a nod. Karina smiled as Justin began to blow his trumpet. The group was getting better. A crowd began to form around them. Some people threw coins in their bucket. Alexis came in on cue and sang the sweet serenade. She made eye contact with the customers and even flirted with a shy three-year-old boy who hid behind his mother’s skirt. After singing the first stanza, she accompanied Marisol on the violin. Marisol looked grateful. She was still struggling to keep up with the rest of the group.

  Alexis had just put her instrument down to sing the second stanza when a male voice jumped in. Alexis turned, shocked by the interruption. Her heart jumped when she recognized Christian leaning on a shopping cart. His mother stood at the end of the aisle with a grumpy expression on her face. Christian abandoned the shopping cart and came up to the group. He smiled as he continued to sing the song. Hearing his voice come to her rescue made Alexis light up with joy, and she realized how much she missed seeing him. Together they sang the chorus.

  The music ended with a round of applause and customers passing the bucket around. Alexis couldn’t believe that Christian was right here, in her town, shopping. She felt guilty that she’d been avoiding him, but happy to see him.

  “What are you doing out here?” Alexis whispered.

  “My mom needed to get some stuff for my tía, who lives out here near Los Gatos. What are all you guys doing here singing mariachi songs?”

  Alexis frowned. “Our trajes were stolen and we’re trying to raise money to pay for new ones, before our first competition.”

  Christian’s face dropped. “That’s terrible. I can’t believe someone would do that.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out ten dollars. He put it in the bucket. “My contribution,” he said, with a big grin.

  “Christian,” his mother called. She gestured to him sharply.

  He glanced at his mom and back at Alexis. “I got to go,” he whispered. “Call you later.” Christian hurried to catch up with his mother.

  Alexis watched him leave. She wished he could stay and sing more songs with the group. Then she heard someone in the audience request the song “Me Gustas Mucho.” Alexis turned to the group. They smiled back at her, ready to play.

  Later that week, Christian called Alexis
as she walked home from the restaurant. Alexis had been so busy with fund-raising lately that she’d almost been able to not think about how much she wanted to see him, scary overprotective mom or not.

  “Hey,” Christian said. “Where have you been? I’ve been trying to reach you all week. You can’t be singing at grocery stores all the time.”

  The sound of his voice made her heart leap. “I’m sorry.” Alexis grinned. “The group has been going crazy trying to raise money. How are you?”

  “Remember when I told you there was a scholarship I was trying to get? I didn’t tell you the auditions were today, because I didn’t know what my chances were and I didn’t want to get my hopes up.”

  “Today?” Alexis exclaimed. Her whole body started to tingle with excitement.

  “I think I did well. I won’t know for sure for a couple weeks. But I just gave the best audition of my life. I think I have a good chance of getting the scholarship.”

  “Really? That’s great!” Alexis cheered. A warm sensation filled her chest. Now that Christian had auditioned for his important scholarship, Alexis didn’t have to worry that she was distracting him from his dreams. “We should celebrate. Let’s go out tonight.”

  “Yeah, let’s go do something fun.”

  Alexis puckered her lips. “I’ll think of something.”

  She hung up just as a truck honked. Alexis glanced over her shoulder. It was Santiago. He pulled up alongside her. “Hey, you, hop in.” He motioned, shaking his dark curls.

  Alexis jumped in and put on her seat belt. They were only three blocks from her house, but her cousin had a lead foot. Better safe than in the hospital with a broken rib, she thought.

  “Hey, so I had this idea,” Santiago started. “You know how we’re raising money for mariachi and everything.” Alexis nodded for him to continue. “Well” — he paused and glanced over his shoulder as if he thought he was being followed — “I got a call a little while ago about a race tonight. I was going to tell the dude to shove it, but then I thought about the group and how we needed money, you know? I was thinking … if I win I could give all the money to the band.” He glanced sideways at Alexis to gauge her reaction.

  Alexis was so touched by his desire to be helpful that she ignored a small twinge of worry about him racing. She gave him a hug. “I think it’s a great idea.”

  “You do?” Santiago relaxed. “Cool.”

  “Hey, maybe Christian and I can come along? You know, to give you support?”

  Her cousin nodded. “I should say no, but who am I to turn down adoring fans?” He stopped in front of her house, braking so fast Alexis thought she might get whiplash. “I’ll pick you guys up at ten.”

  When Santiago, Alexis, and Christian arrived at the race, festivities were already in full swing. A dozen car headlights lit up a central area where people were singing, dancing, and laughing into the night.

  Santiago headed over to a couple of his buddies, who were in charge of the races. Alexis strolled arm in arm with Christian through the crowds. Suddenly, Christian stopped and tilted his head to listen to something. His eyes got bright and he led Alexis to a group of people singing a ranchera.

  The group was hidden behind a cloud of smoke. In the center of the circle stood the Salinas brothers. She could tell they were drunk by the way they were hanging all over each other, singing loudly and really off-key. When they recognized Christian, the brothers hooted.

  “Yo,” Brandon Salinas announced to the group. He put an arm around Christian and pulled him over to the music. “This is the guy I was telling you about. El Charro Negro.”

  Alexis looked around at the rest of the group. Her eyes stopped on a girl with red highlights, violet contacts, and a mean scowl.

  “Karina! What are you doing here?”

  Her bandmate was wearing a tiered gold-colored tube dress that looked out of place in the middle of the countryside. Karina looked up and her frown melted. “Hey — Alexis! I guess I’m babysitting tonight.” She gestured at Brandon, who was falling all over Christian. Behind them, Alexis noticed his brother, Travis, talking to a bunch of mean-looking men behind the truck.

  “I didn’t know Brandon was the boyfriend you talked about,” Alexis said.

  Karina winced. “We’re not exactly dating. He calls me sometimes and we go out and party.” She shrugged. “I don’t even know why I’m still here. I thought … I thought he was going to take me out on a real date, you know?” She looked down at her dress. “I’m such a fool,” she said, kicking the dirt.

  “He’s the fool,” Alexis said, gesturing in Brandon’s direction. He had fallen to the ground and three people were trying to get him back up. “You’re too good for him.”

  Karina glanced sideways at her. “You’re just saying that to make me feel better.”

  “Oh, come on,” Alexis said. “You have a big heart and you’re getting pretty good on the harp. You could have quit a long time ago, but you stuck with it and it shows. Brandon doesn’t deserve you. You deserve to be with a guy who will take you out on real dates, say nice things to you, or even serenade you.”

  Karina smiled. “You’re right.” She looked at Brandon and sighed. “Let’s ditch this group. C’mon.”

  Alexis turned to look back at Christian as Karina pulled her away. He motioned for her not to worry and he’d catch up.

  The girls went to the starting line to get good spots. Santiago waved from his car as he prepared. When he took off, Alexis and Karina cheered until their chests hurt. Alexis watched as Santiago’s red taillights blinked out in the night. She prayed that he would not hit any potholes or small animals.

  “C’mon,” Alexis said, grabbing Karina’s hand. She led her through the crowd toward the finish line. As she snaked through the crowd, she kept an eye out for Christian. Where was he?

  They waited nervously until the two trucks emerged around the bend at the same time. Alexis screamed. It’s too close, she thought, biting her nails. The trucks reached the finish line at what seemed like the exact same time. The pressure from their engines picked up dirt and tossed it all around them, creating a dark cloud.

  “Who won?” Alexis cried, jumping up and trying to see past a guy’s cowboy hat.

  “I can’t see a thing,” Karina said beside her.

  Alexis pulled Karina through the standing bodies to the clearing. People were shouting and hooting. But she couldn’t tell who’d won. Then she saw her cousin standing by his truck talking to one of the guys. The guy handed him a roll of bills.

  “He won!” Alexis cried. She leapt into Karina’s arms and the two jumped up and down with excitement. Alexis waved at her cousin, but he wasn’t looking her way. Santiago was paying close attention to a guy next to him and she could tell by the scowl on his face that he didn’t like what he was hearing.

  Santiago looked up and caught Alexis’s eye. He motioned for her to come over quickly. Alexis grabbed Karina by the hand and pushed her way through the spectators.

  Suddenly, the place lit up with red and blue blinking lights. Alexis heard the familiar siren of a police car and felt her blood run cold.

  “Oh, my God,” Karina screamed in Alexis’s ear. “It’s la chota.”

  The crowd was trying to flee. Bodies bumped into her, pushing her back and forth like a palm tree in a hurricane. Alexis looked for Santiago or Christian, but she didn’t recognize the faces around her. Fear gripped her heart. Voices screamed as motors roared to life. Alexis froze, paralyzed by the situation. She didn’t know where to go.

  Suddenly, a hand grabbed hers and pulled her through the crowd. She allowed herself to be dragged to the far end of the clearing and behind a yellow Ford truck. When they were a safe distance from the mob, she looked up and into the eyes of her cousin Santiago.

  “We’ve got to get out of here,” he said, sweating profusely.

  Alexis’s chest tightened with worry. “We have to find Karina and Christian. I won’t leave them behind.”

  “I don’t t
hink we have a choice,” Santiago said, gesturing to the wall of uniformed officers rounding people up.

  “I can’t leave them,” Alexis cried, tears stinging her eyes. This was a horrible mess. I never should have come here.

  “Don’t be stupid,” Santiago said, taking her by the wrist. “We have to get out of here — fast.” He pulled her to his truck. Alexis looked for her friends amid the sea of faces. She had to find them.

  Santiago pushed Alexis into his truck. She understood her cousin’s apprehension. They’d be in huge trouble if they got caught. But that was nothing compared to what would happen to Christian. Drag races were illegal — and Christian didn’t have papers! What would they do to him? Coming here tonight was her idea. Alexis bit down so hard on her lower lip that she drew blood. Her cousin started the engine, but he didn’t turn on his headlights. He had just put the truck in drive when Alexis screamed.

  “There’s Karina! Right over there.” Alexis pointed toward the mob.

  “I ain’t going back there,” he said, shaking his head.

  “Just wait a second.” Alexis lowered the window and waved frantically, calling out to Karina.

  She glanced toward Alexis and ran straight for the truck. Alexis threw open the door for Karina to jump in.

  “Drive!” Karina screamed as she climbed into the seat.

  Santiago pushed down on the pedal and the truck dashed out into the night. Alexis couldn’t believe that they were leaving. She hoped Christian would be okay. She had left him talking to the Salinas brothers — surely they wouldn’t let themselves get caught? Her heart swelled as her lungs constricted.

  Beside her, Karina reached out for Alexis’s hand and clutched it tightly. No one spoke as they drove. Alexis pressed her lips tightly together as they bounced and jerked through the wilderness in the moonless night.

  She shouldn’t have let Santiago race. Her gut had warned her against it. If only she’d listened to it. If only they hadn’t needed the money so badly. This had seemed like such a simple way to replace the uniforms. If only I hadn’t invited Christian! If only we hadn’t gotten separated! Alexis squeezed her eyes shut and tried to push images of officers clubbing him with their batons or arresting him out of her mind.