Chapter 30
The best thing about having gone to school on Monday for Selena was watching Cherise’s bright pink lacquered mouth fling open when she witnessed Selena and Xavier together and as attentive to each other as always. Selena wouldn’t have missed it for all the expensive designer jewelry the It girls wore with such superiority. Who could resist having front row tickets to Cherise’s down turned face, full of scorching fury, and naked longing for Xavier? Selena almost felt sorry for her—almost.
Xavier, oblivious to Cherise as usual, closely scanned the cafeteria, trying to catch every specific detail. “Have you seen Sebastian today, Selena?”
“I haven’t seen him at all.”
“He must still be in the hospital.”
“Worried about him?”
“Yes.” And they both knew that they weren’t talking about being concerned just about his health.
“I’ve been thinking about Socorro,” Selena announced.
“You have? Why?”
“Your mom was also surprised that you didn’t find clues there,” Selena stated.
“Yes, and . . .”
“Tell me about your trip.”
“You think I’m missing something?” asked Xavier, in deep thought.
“Maybe. It’s worth a try.”
“Tell me about Socorro.”
“There’s not much to say,” assured Xavier.
“Tell me everything.”
Xavier grew more pensive. “My uncle and I got there and then . . .”
“Then what?” Selena asked
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
“Uncle Paul finished his business—nothing out of the ordinary.”
“Xavier, think harder. Did anything strange happen?”
“No, nothing except for . . . It’s silly.”
“What is?” Selena asked impatiently.
“Uncle Paul wanted a hamburger so we went to a fast food restaurant. Some little kid started fussing.”
“Fussing?”
“Yes, he started carrying on until his brother gave him some car keys. Then the little guy quieted down.”
“Anything else?”
“No, not really.”
“Xavier, think hard,” Selena stated.
“His brother was with a friend, and they started talking about their favorite things.”
“Favorite things?”
“The friend said his favorite food was watermelon.”
“Watermelon?”
“Yeah,” stated Xavier. “He liked watermelon in everything, from candy to gum to fresh from his mother’s garden.”
Selena grew pensive. “That’s a very hard clue. It could mean anything.”
“That was a clue?”
“I think so. First the baby brother cries for a key, and then they mention watermelon.”
“What do we do with those clues?”
Selena shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know,” she said, scanning the cafeteria.
She couldn’t help focusing on the ugly table. Cherise pushed the food on her tray without putting anything in her mouth. Then Selena noticed what Asher was eating.
“Your cousin,” Selena said simply.
“My cousin?” Xavier turned to look at Asher. She had a glass container in front of her she had brought from home. Sticking her fork into it, she pulled out red squares.
“She’s eating pieces of watermelon,” Selena said excitedly.
“Do you think she’s got the Key of Hearts?” he asked anxiously.
“Maybe,” Selena expressed. “Either that or she may be able to lead us to our next clue.”
“Selena,” he said quietly, “do you think Asher may be . . .”
“What are you trying to tell me?”
“Do you think Asher is in with the greedy gifted,” Xavier questioned, finally pulling the words out of himself.
“Maybe, but we can’t put all our eggs in one basket.”
“What do you mean?”
“I just remembered who lives for the watermelon season,” stated Selena, sounding worried.
“Who is that?”
“Moonflower.”
“Moonflower?” Xavier asked.
“Yes, she loves watermelon.”
“She does?”
“Enough is enough. I’m tired of ignoring each other. I’m going to talk to her.”
“You are?”
“Maybe I can talk some sense into her. She can’t like being in that vicious club.”
“Selena, don’t take this the wrong way but . . .”
“What do you want to tell me, Xavier?”
“She seems at home with them,” he said gently.
“That’s where you’re wrong.”
“I am?”
“I know her better than she knows herself. She’s very unhappy with the mega-uglies.”
“Are you sure about that?” he asked, doubtful.
“Positive. She acts all confident, but she’s more insecure and miserable than ever.”
“How do you know all that?”
“I know my friend, and I can see it in her eyes.”
“But she looks like she loves the popularity,” Xavier stated.
“She’s confused.”
Xavier nodded. “You know her better than I ever will.”
“I’ll go over her house tonight to talk to her and also try to search her room for the Key of Hearts.”
“Asher is going out with Steve tonight. I’ll look through her stuff.”
“I hope we don’t get in trouble,” Selena sighed.
“You’ll be very careful, won’t you, Selena?” he asked, concern dripping in his voice.
“I’ll be very careful. You will too, won’t you, Xavier?”
“Asher won’t know a thing.”
“What are you doing here?” asked a surprised Moonflower when she opened the door to find a fidgety Selena on the other side.
“We need to talk.”
“What about?”
“Our friendship.”
“Our friendship?”
"Yes."
Moonflower stared at Selena with a dumbfounded expression.
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The Key of Hearts Page 30