Quince Clash

by Malín Alegría

Alexis nodded. She grabbed Fabi’s arm and started to pull her toward the door.

  “Sorry,” Fabi said to Daniel. “Got to go.”

  Daniel folded his arms across his chest and said, “Don’t worry about it. Catch you later.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me you had a new ‘friend’?” Alexis demanded as soon as they reached the hallway.

  “I only just met him,” Fabi explained. “It’s nothing. We just talk about books.”

  “Books. Really? Now, why don’t I believe you?” Alexis pinched her softly on the arm. “He’s dreamy.”

  “I know.” Fabi felt her face get hot. “But I’m sure it’s nothing like that.” Fabi thought about his offer to “help.” Did he really mean it or was he just trying to get on TV?

  Alexis stopped and turned to her sister. “And why not? You’re beautiful.”

  Fabi dismissed Alexis’s comment with her hand. “Whatever.”

  Alexis stopped walking and stared at her. “Oh, my God, Fabi’s got a boyfriend,” she teased.

  “You take that back!” Fabi demanded. She could feel her cheeks flush, and raised a fist in Alexis’s face. “You better not say that again if you plan to see another birthday.”

  Alexis laughed, ignoring Fabi’s threat. “This is exactly why you need this show,” she continued in a dreamy voice. There was a small smile creeping up her lips. “You don’t know what a gem you are.”

  Fabi rolled her eyes.

  “You are a princess, and now, through Quince Dreams, the whole world will see it,” Alexis stated, raising one arm in the air with flair and taking a bow.

  Fabi looked for the camera. That sounded way too rehearsed. When Fabi was sure that no one was around, she raised her finger in a threatening manner to her sister. “You better not say anything embarrassing like that on camera or I’ll never speak to you again.”

  Alexis grinned back a bit too excitedly. Fabi prayed that her little sister wouldn’t embarrass her.

  She entered the principal’s office. It was the first time that Fabi had been in there — she’d never gotten in trouble. Dr. Mick Hudson sat behind his desk. His walls were covered in awards and school pictures. He was a small man with hairy hands and a balding head who walked around the hallways scowling at everyone, but today he was all smiles.

  “Miss Fabiola Garza,” he said, getting up and waving her in. He was sitting across from an elegantly dressed, full-figured young woman with supershort dark hair. Fabi liked her immediately. A muscular guy with a cool goatee was standing by the window. He wore a Dodgers baseball cap backward and balanced a big camera on his shoulder. “I was just telling Mrs. —”

  “It’s Ms. Cooper. Ms. Grace Cooper.” She extended her manicured hand to Fabi. “You can call me Grace.”

  Fabi extended her hand to Grace. The woman shook it firmly. Fabi made a note to herself that she had to shake people’s hands firmly like Grace. It showed confidence and sass. Fabi smiled, feeling a bit starstruck. The woman was so polished and sophisticated. She looked like she’d just walked off a magazine cover. Grace smiled sweetly at Fabi.

  “I’m the production manager for Quince Dreams. We’re so excited to be here and to finally meet you. In these next couple of weeks, leading up to your big day, we plan to get some interviews and make sure everything is in order.” She looked more closely at Fabi. “How are you feeling? I know this is a lot.”

  “Yeah, it’s all so overwhelming. I can’t believe you’re actually here. So it’s really going to happen?”

  Grace reached out and gave her a squeeze. “Of course it is. Fabi, from this moment on, don’t you worry about a thing. That’s my job to make happen. You just sit back and let me handle everything.”

  Dr. Hudson coughed softly and said, “I’d like to get back to what I was saying about possible sponsorship.”

  Grace interrupted, “Sure, but first, can you tell me a bit about Fabiola?”

  Dr. Hudson chuckled softly and glanced at Fabi. “Miss Garza is one of our most valued students.” He winked. “She’s such a role model to the young girls of the Valley — a real gem.” Fabi stared at him in disbelief. He was starting to sound like her sister. “Why, I was just telling the staff that we needed to honor her in some way.”

  “I think that’s a great idea.” Grace took out a small notepad and started to scribble a note. “Maybe at the quinceañera, you can present an award to her?”

  The principal laughed. “I was just thinking the same thing.”

  Fabi didn’t understand what was going on. She watched the two adults plan her party as if they knew her. The principal had never said two words to her before today and now he wanted to give her an award. This was not what she expected. Fabi had to talk to her sister. She looked at the clock. Fifth period had started fifteen minutes ago. Maybe the principal would write her a note?

  “Excuse me,” Fabi said, trying to get their attention. “Um … Dr. Hudson … I think I need to go back to class. I don’t want to get in trouble.”

  “Nonsense, Fabiola,” he said, smiling brightly. “This is a very important event for Dos Rios High School. You only turn fifteen once.”

  “But I’m already fifteen,” she informed him.

  “A technicality. Please, have a seat.” He motioned to an empty chair. “Do you want something to drink? Some soda, perhaps?”

  Fabi shook her head, pressing her lips together. She did not like this turn of events one bit. Grace Cooper read the hesitation on her face.

  “We can continue our interview later,” she said to the principal, closing her notebook. With the flick of her wrist, she motioned to the cameraman to follow. “Right now I’d like to talk to Fabi, and maybe some of her teachers and friends.”

  Dr. Hudson spread his arms out wide. “Talk to whoever you like. Dos Rios High is honored to have you and your camera friend on our campus. Now, this show of yours, will it be televised nationally?”

  “Coast to coast,” Grace said as she led Fabi out of the office.

  “You all come back anytime,” Dr. Hudson said with a grin.

  They walked down the hallway for a couple steps. The cameraman seemed to be having a hard time with the equipment, huffing loudly behind them.

  “Is it always this hot around here?” Grace asked. Her voice was light and playful.

  Fabi nodded, fanning herself with her hand. “April is pretty bad. But just be glad it’s not July or August. That’s when the canícula hits. They say you can fry an egg on the sidewalk. I’ve never tried it. My dad would throw a fit if I wasted an egg. Thank God for air-conditioning, although my abuelita Alpha doesn’t care for the AC; she says it’s not good for her lungs and refuses to get one for her house —” Fabi was babbling and caught herself.

  Grace laughed politely. “Now, Fabi, you’re a very special girl. I must tell you, we chose you over hundreds of other entries.”

  Fabi flinched. Hundreds!

  “You’re just the perfect girl for Quince Dreams. To be honest, I truly loved your story. I pushed really hard to get you selected. Now” — her voice dropped and her face became serious — “I don’t want you to change for the camera. If you’ve seen our show, you’ll know that some girls have been very dramatic, a bit over the top. They become very demanding, start fights with their friends, etc. We actually had a stabbing in the last show. That’s not what we’re trying to do here. Quince Dreams is trying to change its image. Put more heartfelt stories on air. Showcase Latina role models who are making a difference in their communities.”

  Fabi tried to hold her smile even though anxiety was running loose throughout her body — out of control. She didn’t know how to react to Grace’s comment. Role model? Her? Where was Alexis? She should be here. Alexis and Grandma Trini submitted the entry to Quince Dreams. Who knew what they actually wrote. Worry started to fester in Fabi’s stomach. But she couldn’t say anything to Grace. Fabi couldn’t ruin this opportunity. It was her only chance of winning the bet with Melodee. Plus, the whole town was now expecting
the ultimate televised quince experience. One of Abuelita Alpha’s sayings rang out in her mind: “Al mal tiempo buena cara.” She put on a brave face and smiled despite her growing anxiety.

  “I want you to pretend like the camera is not even there,” Grace instructed. “We want some shots of you in class, at home, and at your job — doing normal stuff. I’d like to interview your best friends, the girls who’re going to be your damas.”

  “Okay, that’s easy.”

  Grace reviewed her notes and went on, “I think it’s great that you asked your grandmother to be a dama. I’ve never heard of anyone doing that. But you two sound real close. Grandma …”

  “Trinidad,” Fabi said through clenched teeth. She was going to kill her grandmother when she got home. “That’s me,” Fabi said, harsher than she wanted to. “Good ol’ Fabi.”

  Grace smiled. “Now, there’re a couple of other things you need to know about our show. Our sponsors provide all the items for the party. They’re amazing and we’ll just need to do some product placement, nothing major. We’ll weave it into the event. You won’t even notice. We’ve got the runner-up on America’s Top Fashion Designer to make the gowns. She’ll be calling this week to set up fittings and talk themes and colors.”

  “Really!” Fabi loved that show.

  “Tarjay will be providing all the decorations, mementos, tableware, dishware, everything you can imagine. They’re even covering the choreographer for the dance. Who is” — she paused for emphasis — “none other than Jennifer Lopez’s personal dance choreographer!”

  “No way!” Fabi’s worries faded as she grew more excited.

  “And that’s not all. We just signed on the hot new reggaeton dance hall duo from Guatemala, Los Duendes del Don. Have you heard of them? Anyway, they’ll be releasing their latest single at your quinceañera. Oh, Fabi.” Grace put her arm around Fabi’s shoulders. Fabi couldn’t believe her luck — she felt like a winning contestant on some game show. Grace sighed with another heartfelt smile. “This is going to be the best party of your life. I guarantee you.”

  Fabi couldn’t believe her luck. Maybe her grandma Trini tricked her way into being a dama. But this show was going to save her family a ton of money, and she was going to have the most amazing party of all time. People would be talking about her quinceañera for years to come. This was really a quinceañera’s dream come true.

  “So …?” Grace asked. They were standing in the main entrance. Fabi noticed that they were right on top of the mosaic of the fighting catfish — the school mascot. “There was no mention of a chambelán in your story. We were all wondering if there was a special someone you had in mind.”

  Fabi felt her cheeks grow hot.

  “There is! I knew it. Who is he? Does he go to school here?” Grace was so cool, Fabi thought. She was like the older sister she’d never had. Fabi felt like she could tell her anything.

  “Well, there is this boy,” Fabi began.

  “Yes?”

  She knew that her cheeks were turning bright red. But she forced herself to go on. “His name is Daniel Cruz.”

  “Have you asked him?”

  “No.”

  “What are you waiting for? Fabi, I know we’re kind of rushing you. We had to push forward the party to get it in for this season. I really think this may be the best show ever produced.” Grace glanced at her thin watch and then smiled at Fabi again. “There’s no time like the present.”

  They looked up Daniel’s schedule in the office. The clerk, Mrs. Galvan, was more than eager to supply them with whatever information they needed. “He has PE in the gym for another twenty minutes,” she said.

  As they stood at the doorway of the gymnasium, Fabi paused. She couldn’t believe she was actually doing this. But Grace had this super-woman confidence that was rubbing off on Fabi. It made her feel like she was actually in control of her life. Plus, she didn’t want to let Grace down.

  Her heart was pounding like never before. She swallowed as the cameraman started counting down, “Three … two … one … rolling.”

  Grace wanted to capture every important event leading up to the party, and choosing the chambelán was number one on the list. “In the event that he says no,” Grace had added as a side note, “we can always cut it out.” Great, Fabi thought.

  Now Fabi took a deep breath and entered the gymnasium. The room smelled of pine-scented disinfectant. Basketballs were bouncing across the floor. Students were shouting, as the class was in the middle of basketball drills. She couldn’t believe that she was actually going to do this — in front of everyone. The camera was rolling. There was no way she could back out now.

  The gym teacher noticed the camera and blew his whistle for attention. The students welcomed the break. They lined up on their numbers on the floor. Fabi saw Milo and tried to wave. He smiled back. His eyes lit up when he noticed the camera.

  “Can I help you?” the gym teacher asked, smiling knowingly. Did everyone know?

  Fabi tried to talk but her nerves were getting the better of her. Thankfully, Grace jumped in.

  “Sorry to interrupt, sir. We’re” — Grace motioned to the cameraman — “from Quince Dreams, a new reality TV show, and we’re following Fabiola Garza around as she prepares for her quinceañera. There’s a special boy here that she’d like to talk to.”

  The gym teacher motioned for her to proceed.

  Slowly, Fabi walked down the line of students. All the boys smiled at her, hoping to be chosen to be the star of Fabi’s show. Milo blushed as she came toward him. He was one of her best friends. She had him to thank for all of this. But that would have to wait until later. Right now she had to focus on her show. Fabi stopped in front of Daniel. He stared back at her with a surprised expression. Her nerves jammed her senses. This was a mistake, she thought. They’d just met. What if he laughed? What if he said no? What was she thinking? He was out of her league — way too cool for her. Fabi tried to step back, but Grace was right behind her.

  “Um, Daniel, hi.”

  “Hi,” he said back.

  “Um, I was thinking. Wondering, actually. So I have this party and I need a chambelán. So how about it?”

  The room was completely silent as everyone leaned in to hear his response. Daniel glanced quickly around the room and then at the camera that was focused on his face. He turned bright red. Fabi’s heart was racing. She started to feel faint. Daniel looked at Fabi and smiled weakly.

  “Sure,” he said shyly. The crowd whooped and hollered in approval.

  Fabi jumped excitedly with relief and gave him a hug. “Thank you. Thank you, thank you,” she said. Students rushed up to them in congratulations. The rest of the kids made signs with their hands and waved at the camera. Over their heads, Fabi looked for Milo. But she couldn’t find him anywhere.

  The rest of the week whirled by. Grace stuck to Fabi like Velcro, attending all of her classes and interviewing classmates, teachers, and even the lunch lady. Fabi loved all the attention. Her heart was bursting at the seams. She didn’t know life could be so good — she wished that every week could be this amazing! But by Friday, Fabi was looking forward to a break. Who knew that being a TV celebrity was so draining?

  Grace dropped Fabi off at the restaurant after school. She had to meet with her director and promised to swing by later. As she was about to enter the family restaurant, Fabi heard the sounds of people arguing. It was coming from around back. The voices sounded familiar, so she decided to check it out.

  Fabi poked her head around the building, into the dirt alley behind the restaurant. She ignored the graffiti covering the exterior. She’d already painted over the tags three times in the last couple of months. A freshly painted wall just tempted every boy in town to make public his love for his girlfriend by spray-painting a big heart with “Juanito loves Juanita” (or whatever) inside.

  The angry voices grew louder — and one of them belonged to her cousin Santiago. She was about to charge into the backyard, but then she c
aught a glimpse of the Salinas brothers and she ducked back behind the wooden fence. Their backs were to her, so they didn’t see her. Ever so slowly, she peeked around the gate.

  “You can’t hide from us, man,” Brandon Salinas said. He had Santiago by the shirt collar and shook him roughly. His dopey-looking brother, Travis, was standing next to him.

  “Yeah, man, you can’t hide,” added Travis.

  Fabi grew nervous. The Salinas brothers were trouble. Ever since they were small, they were always stealing bikes or beating up younger kids for their candies or shoes. Now that they were bigger, she knew whatever they were up to couldn’t be good.

  “Guys,” Santiago began. He smiled as he wiggled free from Brandon’s grip. Her cousin looked tired. There was a heavy trash bag at his feet. Santiago glanced over his shoulder toward the back door of the restaurant and lowered his voice. “I already told you. I’m not into that stuff anymore. Leave me alone, all right?”

  Brandon spat on the ground. “What? You think you can just drop out and no one would notice? We had a deal, man, and we want what’s ours.”

  “Yeah, you can’t drop out,” Travis echoed.

  Santiago looked over Brandon’s shoulder. Brandon noticed and turned his head in Fabi’s direction. Darn, she thought. Fabi took a step into the clearing, unsure of what to do next.

  Santiago leaned in to the Salinas brothers. “Look, I can’t talk now. Not here. I’ll call you guys tonight. I promise.”

  Brandon looked at Fabi, then nodded to Santiago. “All right, but you better call. I don’t like chasing your punk ass.”

  “Yeah, punk,” repeated his brother.

  The Salinas brothers walked toward Fabi. Brandon nodded to her as he passed. Travis also nodded. What a bunch of dorks, Fabi thought. But they had big egos and guns, and that made them dangerous. Fabi feared that her cousin was in way over his head.

  When they left, Fabi walked over to Santiago. He was throwing the trash bag into the Dumpster in the alley.

  “Everything all right?” she asked, knowing that things definitely weren’t.