Unending Love

by Yesenia Vargas

  chapter twenty-three

  Tears flooded Ariana’s eyes as she fully realized what was going on.

  She had gone through this last semester with Wendy. The principal had given her another chance and just given her ISS, but she remembered his warning about this kind of thing happening again. What if she got ISS again? Or got suspended this time? The deal had been not to get into trouble again or it would go on her record.

  UGA would not be happy this kind of thing on her record. What if they changed their minds about her?

  She closed the classroom door behind her and went to the opposite side of the door that Wendy was at.

  She leaned back on the wall and closed her eyes, careful not to let any tears escape.

  She crossed her arms across her chest and waited for the teacher to come out.

  A minute of complete silence went by, and he was still inside the room.

  She glanced at Wendy, who was on her phone.

  She shook her head and stared in front of her.

  “What is your problem?” she asked before she could stop herself. She looked at Wendy when she didn’t immediately reply. She went on. “Can’t you see that Lucas and I are happy? What kind of person are you that you’re going to try to break us up?”

  Before she could even take a breath after she was done talking, Wendy was already facing her. “He was mine first. He loves me, and I know we’re going to be together again. It’s just a matter of time,” she said, dragging out her last three words.

  Some short guy Ariana didn’t know walked by with his student agenda in hand and stared until he disappeared around the corner.

  “Don’t you think that if he loved you, he would actually be with you?” Ariana said, almost laughing. Wendy had to be completely ridiculous, she thought.

  “How do you know he isn’t?”

  At that moment, the door opened and the teacher came out with two yellow slips. He handed them each one.

  “Principal’s office. Now. And if you two decide to cause another spectacle on your way there, rest assured that you will not walk at graduation.”

  Ariana nodded and began walking. She heard the classroom door shut behind her. She tried to focus on taking steps forward instead of the fact that Wendy was right behind her.

  ###

  “Another fight?” Jimmy asked at the end of the day. They were in the parking lot, leaning against their cars. Lucas had his arm around her.

  “Did you get expelled? Because that’s what I heard,” Mayra said.

  She shook her head. “Since it was really just an argument, the principal gave us ISS again. Two days this time.” She looked up at Lucas, who was staring at the ground.

  “But that’s like almost all of our last week,” Mayra said, her hands on her hips.

  “I know. It means I can’t skip on Senior Skip Day,” she said.

  “But that’s like the best part of freakin’ senior year,” Mayra complained. Jimmy laughed.

  “Don’t worry,” he said. “I’ll skip with you.”

  She bumped her hip into his but smiled.

  Ariana kept her arms crossed. How had her life come to this?

  She looked up at Lucas again. He was being way too quiet.

  Mayra suddenly grabbed Jimmy by the arm. “Come on. Let’s go for a walk.”

  Even though Mayra was supposed to ride the bus, she was cheating today since her mom was at work. She realized there was no way for her to find out she was still riding with Ariana and Jimmy. Unless Ariana’s parents caught them. It was a risk they were willing to take, although Ariana had hesitated at first.

  Now that Mayra and Jimmy were temporarily gone, she turned around so she was facing Lucas.

  “What’s going through your head?”

  He sighed. “I don’t know. I just don’t know why you would let her get to you like that.”

  “Well, I couldn’t let her think she can treat me like that,” she said. “You should hear the things she says.”

  “I know. But you could have handled it better. Ignored her, I don’t know.”

  Ariana kept her mouth closed instead of talking, but she spoke up as another question popped into her head. “Do you still talk to her?”

  Lucas looked her in the eye. “Of course not. That’s in the past. I have no reason to talk to her.”

  Ariana nodded. “She is so crazy. She thinks she’s going to get back together with you.”

  “That is the last thing I would do. After we broke up, and she broke up with me, I did get over it. But then she kept insisting we get back together. But I knew it was just not a good idea.”

  “Don’t get offended or anything, but why would you go out with her in the first place? She’s…you know how she is. Always involved in drama.”

  Lucas seemed to be staring off into space as he talked. “She wasn’t always like that. She used to be different. That’s why we eventually broke up. She began caring more about being popular and all that crap. It turned her into a different person.”

  Ariana thought about that.

  She hugged Lucas, and he squeezed her back. “This is all going to be over soon, and we’re going to miss it,” he said. “But I’m happy because it means I’ll get to spend more time with you, even if it means we’re that much closer to you leaving.”

  A few minutes later, he said, “I wonder what your parents are going to say this time.”

  She sighed. “I can’t tell them. I’m not gonna risk getting grounded or something and not being able to see you.”

  Lucas nodded but didn’t say anything.

  ###

  “Come on,” Jimmy begged. “Let me drive. Just five minutes.”

  Ariana sighed and looked at him for a second. He was still supposedly grounded for another week. But their parents had agreed to let them go get something to eat and come right back since it was Friday night. As in they had to get something to go.

  “Ugh. Fine.” She pulled over into a gas station. “I need to get gas anyway. But you pump.”

  “Deal.” She pulled into a spot and got out only to go the passenger side. She handed Jimmy a twenty her parents had given her for gas. He headed inside to pay.

  Ariana closed the door behind her and lay back with her eyes closed. A minute later, she heard the beeps as Jimmy pushed the necessary buttons so he could get gas.

  “So where we going?” Jimmy said, fastening his seat belt. Ariana did the same and sat up.

  She shrugged. “I just want some fries. Maybe a smoothie.”

  “Burgers it is.” Jimmy pulled out of the gas station and went a couple miles down the road to the local burger place.

  Fifteen minutes later, they were headed home.

  “So how are things with Lucas?” Jimmy asked with both hands on the wheel.

  “Good,” Ariana said. “How are things with Mayra?”

  “Eh, could be better,” he replied.

  “Told you to tell Mom and Dad,” she said. She kept her eyes on the road too. It was finally getting dark.

  “Yeah, yeah,” he replied, making a turn. “I could say the same thing about you and the whole fiasco at school.”

  Oops, she thought.

  There were a few minutes of silence.

  “Ready for graduation?” he said. “Less than a week left.”

  “Ready as I’ll ever be,” she said. She felt a pit in her stomach.

  “Scared?” Jimmy asked with a quick look. “

  “Yeah,” she said. “It’s really hitting me that I’m moving away. By myself. In a new place. That is damn scary.”

  “We’ll come and visit, though. And you will too. I can’t wait until I’m in college,” he said.

  “I bet. If you get a scholarship and play for a school, you’ll always be on the road, meeting new people.”

  Jimmy nodded. “Just gotta keep it up. And not get injured in the next two years.”

  “Yeah, no pressure,” Ariana said with a smile.

  “Hey, did you ever hear from Carlos
anymore?”

  Ariana looked out the window, the smile gone from her face. “No. Why?”

  “Just wondering. Making sure he never bothered you anymore.”

  They were on their street now.

  “Nope. Don’t really want to see or talk to him after…everything. He just wasn’t good for me.”

  “Got that right.”

  As they turned the corner and came into view of their house, Jimmy turned off the headlights and slowed down in front of Mayra’s house.

  “What are you going?” Ariana said staring at Jimmy.

  “Five minutes. I promise. I’ll be right back,” he said, taking off his seat belt.

  “If mom and dad fi—” she began.

  “They won’t. Please. I need to see her really quick.”

  She sighed. “Okay. Three minutes.”

  Jimmy smiled and ran up Maya’s driveway.

  ###

  A few minutes later, she texted Mayra.

  What was that about?

  Ariana waited for it to send before putting her phone down and getting her food out of the bag.

  A couple of minutes later, her phone buzzed.

  He missed me :)

  Ariana smiled and finished eating. Then she went to her room, passing Jimmy in the living room. He was eating and watching a movie in there.

  “More studying?” Jimmy asked.

  “Not tonight. When are you gonna start studying for finals?” she asked without stopping. She’d study tomorrow night or Sunday. Whenever the senioritis ebbed off a bit.

  “Eh,” he replied.

  Jimmy’s senioritis had started two years early.

  She went to her room and shut the door. She called Mayra as she lay down on her bed.

  “Hey, what are you guys up to over there?” Mayra asked.

  “Jimmy’s watching a movie, and I’m in my room hanging out,” she replied.

  “God, I’m so glad my mom didn’t take my phone or I’d be going nuts by myself over here. After so many hours of cable, you just feel like puking everywhere.”

  “When is she giving you back your car keys?” Ariana said with a smile.

  “After graduation next week. Riding the bus sucks. I’m literally the only senior on there.”

  Mayra’s mom thought Jimmy and Mayra needed some time away from each other.

  “Wow. Yeah, I don’t envy you. Those freshmen must be all over you, huh?”

  Mayra made retching sounds, which made Ariana bend over laughing.

  “Hey, so was that the first time your mom ever caught you sneaking out? Or should I say sneaking someone in? I just thought about that.”

  “Yeah. Ruined my perfect record too.”

  “I bet.” She lay back on her bed. She was starting to get kind of sleepy. Why did she always get sleepy early on Friday nights? She’d never understand that.

  “So less than a week until graduation. Have you found a dress yet?” Mayra asked.

  “Not yet. Doing some shopping tomorrow.”

  “Maybe I can come with you. My mom was supposed to take me. You know, since I can’t drive, but turns out she has to cover some lady’s shift. And she needs the money since I’ll be starting college soon and the senior dues wiped the savings she’d started. The one good thing about community college is that it’s not too expensive, so we should be able to pay for it if I get a part-time job this summer.”

  “That’s good. But yeah, you can come with.”

  “Thanks. Just text me tomorrow. I was looking forward to moving out this year, but I guess it can wait,” Mayra said.

  “So are you excited about graduation?” Ariana asked.

  “Hells yeah,” Mayra replied. “I get my car back. I can go out. I can sleep in. No more homework or tests or projects.”

  “I know,” she replied. “I can’t wait.”

  “We can double date again.”

  “If our parents let us,” she said. “Not sure they will now that there’s a conflict of interest.”

  Mayra laughed. “We’ll figure it out. We always do. Not to mention we’ll both be eighteen and on the verge of going to college. I’ll be working. You’ll be getting ready to actually move out. They can’t tell us what to do anymore.”

  “True.”

  There was a brief silence as Ariana imagined summer and beyond.

  “So have you and Lucas done it yet?”

  Ariana scoffed and looked around.

  “You have, haven’t you?”

  “No,” she said a little too loud.

  “Maybe you’re really telling the truth. Second base, minimum. Am I right?”

  Ariana stuttered.

  “I knew it!” Mayra said with a laugh.

  “Mayra,” Ariana said with a smile. She shook her head. “What about you and Jimmy, huh? Not that I really want to know, but you two haven’t done it yet, right?”

  “No way. Taking things slow, remember? Especially right now.”

  “Good.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Mayra said with a laugh. “If we’re together long enough, it probably will happen, you know.”

  “I know. Just give me more time to process that first. Not to mention you’ve only been going out—”

  “Like over a month now.”

  “Wow. Seems like longer.”

  “Yep. You and Lucas are at like, what, seven months?”

  “Six.”

  “Things are getting serious, huh?”

  “Yep.” Ariana stared at her ceiling.

  “Do you think you’re gonna do it soon? Like after graduation? I thought for sure you’d do it at prom."

  “Nah. Too cliché.”

  Mayra laughed. “God, prom sucked. Biggest waste of money, dress, and make up. Seriously, though, aren’t you running out of time?”

  They laughed, but Ariana hesitated. “We’ve gotten close, but it’s still a little scary, so I think we’re going to wait.”

  “Is Lucas a virgin too?”

  Ariana fidgeted with the corner of the pillow case. “No.”

  “Oh. Well, make sure he uses a condom. I don’t care if you’re on birth control. You never know.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Ariana replied.

  “Don’t mean to be a downer over here, but do you think you guys will do it before you leave in August?”

  “I don’t know. It just depends. If it feels right, you know? I’ve sent my confirmation letter, so there’s no doubt now that I’m going to UGA. I just want us to make the most of the time we have left.”

  “But you two are doing long distance, right? You’re not just breaking up after summer’s over.”

  “No. Never. It’s just gonna suck when I have to leave. Not seeing Lucas every day is going to kill me.”

  ###

  “I missed you, mall cafeteria,” Jimmy said, his arms wide open like he wanted to give it a hug. They were at the mall.

  He was still grounded, but her parents had agreed he could accompany Ariana and Lucas to the mall to hang out. Ever since the whole Jimmy/Mayra fiasco, they had been a bit stricter with her too. Jimmy still wasn’t allowed to see Mayra on his own, though.

  The mall would be closing in a few hours, but Lucas was gonna be out soon. So they were going to grab something to eat and watch a movie. The theater was open late tonight, and her parents had given them permission since Jimmy was there too.

  “I’m so hungry right now,” Jimmy said, looking around at all the tiny restaurants. “Where do y’all want to go?”

  “I don’t know. Why don’t you find us a table while I go get Lucas? It won’t take me long.” She glanced at her phone for the time.

  Jimmy nodded and they started walking in different directions.

  She walked a minute and turned right to go into the clothing store Lucas worked in. He was walking out. He smiled as he walked in her direction.

  “What’s up?” he asked as they went in for a hug.

  “How was work?” They began walking back to the cafeteria han
d in hand. His hand was soft but strong, and Ariana liked how he held onto her firmly.

  “Work was work. Where’s Jimmy?” Lucas said.

  “Getting us a table. So what movie do you want to watch?”

  “I honestly don’t care as long as it’s not a chick flick. I’m thinking me and Jimmy would outvote you anyway.”

  Ariana laughed. “Action it is. You hungry?”

  “Starving,” replied.

  “Another thing you two agree on.” Now Lucas laughed.

  A few minutes later, they were contemplating what to get.

  “I think I want a couple of burgers and a milkshake,” Jimmy said.

  “I don’t know,” Lucas said staring at all the menus. “I could go for some egg rolls.”

  “And I want pizza,” Ariana said. “I know. Let’s each go to where we want, and we’ll meet back here.” She began walking and the other two did the same without another glance.

  She was wondering what kind of pizza she wanted when she heard someone behind her call her name.

  For a split second, she thought it was Lucas. Maybe he had changed his mind.

  A split second after that, her heart skipped a beat when she realized she recognized the voice. It wasn’t Lucas.

  Her breath caught, and she fought shivers as she turned around.

  “Carlos.”

  chapter twenty-four

  “How’ve you been?” he asked quietly. He was standing right behind her, not two feet from her. She looked up at him.

  He looked different. Older.

  And there was no smile on his face. But he smelled the same, his cologne bringing back memories.

  “Fine and you?” she asked. She realized she had taken a step back.

  Carlos glanced away, and Ariana didn’t know what to say.

  She heard him exhale, and she realized she needed to take a breath.

  “I’ve been thinking a lot about you and what I would say to you since…” he started. “And now that you’re here in front of me, I honestly don’t know what to say.”

  He had a hand in each of his pockets.

  She agreed with him. She still thought about him sometimes, wondered how his life had changed and where he might be.