“Turn it up Sof!” Eric yelled.
Sarah glanced at Eric who was standing next to Angel now on the bench, then back at Sofia who was just reaching the third place runner. The other team held an even bigger lead now. She’d been in this situation before and hoped she’d have the usual outcome this time.
She got in position. Her opponent took off and she waited for her team member to catch up. The second the baton was in her hand she took off and felt the familiar adrenaline rush.
The other runner was a few lengths in front of her and running hard. Sarah concentrated gaining speed slowly as she made the turn. She felt it coming and she smiled. On the straight away she did what she’d always done best and gunned it. She gained on her opponent fast and could hear the bleachers going wild.
They were almost at the end of the stretch and were neck and neck. She could hear the girl grunting to stay with her. But a few feet before the finish Sarah took the lead and won. By the time she’d stopped it sunk in. She still had it.
She was still holding her knees and catching her breath. When Sofia came running after her screaming. “That was awesome, Sarah!”
Coach Rudy hurried toward her with a huge smile on his face. Sarah stood up straight and Sofia hugged her. She heaved but smiled. The coach handed her a bottle of water. “Damn, I need you on my team. That was outstanding.”
Sarah took a big drink of the water. It was ice cold and delicious. “Thank you.”
“C’mere,” he said and hugged her hard. “Sarah, I knew you had it, but not all that. You’re a natural.”
The three of them walked back toward the rest of the team. He kept his arm around her shoulders and continued to praise her performance.
He brought in the team for a short speech congratulating the stand outs. The team cheered the loudest when he mentioned Sarah. By that time the guys and Valerie and her friends were standing close enough to hear, so they cheered as well.
The coach smiled but shook his head in despair. “Sarah, sweetheart. I gotta find a way to keep you here. You’re breaking my heart.”
Sarah hated being put on the spot like that and she blushed. He put his arm around her and laughed. “She’s blushing. Will you look at that? Fast and adorable.”
Sarah felt her face burning. She didn’t even want to look at Angel. She could only imagine what he would say.
“Alright, bring it in.”
They all put their hands in a circle for the usual cheer and the meeting finished. She walked toward the guys.
Eric and Romero high-fived her as soon as she reached them. “Girl, you were smokin’!” Romero said.
Sarah smiled and finally looked at Angel. To her relief, he didn’t look as mad as she’d thought he’d be. He walked up to her and leaned his forehead to hers. “You were amazing.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m so proud of you right now. You don’t even know.”
That really made her feel good and she kissed him.
“This is your moment. I won’t ruin it.” He kissed her again. “But if I ever see that pervert’s hands on you again, I’m gonna kick his ass.”
Sarah laughed. For a moment there she actually thought he was going to let it go.
***
The football team didn’t make it to the championships, losing in the second game of the playoffs to a team they’d beat during the regular season. It was a heartbreaking loss, but Sarah had her own special way of consoling Angel.
It had been just over two months since she’d started going out with Angel and already she felt like she’d known him forever. Still, every kiss they shared felt as exciting and as passionate as that first night, if not more so.
Sarah loved the way Angel touched her with such urgency. The way he never even tried to hide his need to feel her, taste her. They'd done things lately that were getting awfully close to the real deal.
Because of the circumstances in which Sarah had been born, and all that her mom had gone through, the birds and the bees talk came early for Sarah. She was only eleven when her mom sat her down and told her everything. And ever since, she’d been hammering the importance of birth control and protection from disease, into Sarah’s head. She used herself as an example, reminding Sarah how one moment of weakness could bring enormous life changing consequences.
Her mom called that night, and after gushing about Angel for the umpteenth time, her mom wasted no time getting right into the subject. “Sex is a huge responsibility,” she said. “You have to be prepared not only physically but emotionally.
Sarah became defensive immediately when her mom asked if Angel was pressuring her in any way. “Of course not!” she snapped. “He’s not like that, mom.”
“Listen to me, Sarah.” She paused. “Trust me. I know how fast things can happen. And I can already tell you’ve really fallen for Angel. If it was up to me, I’d tell you to abstain from having sex and everything would be just fine. But I’m not naive. I’ve already talked to your Aunt Norma about this. She’s taking you to get on birth control.”
Sarah was speechless. She knew how important it was to her mom that what happened to her didn’t happen to Sarah, but she wasn’t expecting this.
“Did you hear what I said?”
“Yeah, I heard.”
“You’re going tomorrow.”
***
The next day, Sarah skipped track after school. She told Angel her aunt was picking her up because they were going out for her uncle’s birthday. It was partly true. Her aunt did pick her up and did accompany her to the clinic. And they did go to dinner after, which would come in handy if Angel asked her about the dinner. She wouldn’t have to fumble around trying to come up with more lies.
Sarah hadn’t realized how many forms of birth control were available until she got to the clinic. She decided the pill was the best choice for her. After her pelvic exam, they gave her a prescription for the pill, along with reading material on safe sex and sexually transmitted diseases.
She felt weasely about lying to Angel, but at least this lie was for a good reason. After thinking about it so much the night before, she decided it was a good thing. She wanted to surprise him. Besides, she had a feeling he’d find it in his heart to forgive her once he knew the truth.
***
Almost three weeks later Sarah stood in front of the mirror. Somehow she thought she’d look or feel different. But after examining herself everything seemed the same. And she didn’t feel any more mature than before like she’d imagined.
She got in bed but couldn’t sleep, too much on her mind. So much had changed in just a matter of months. Just a few months ago the only thing she could think about was her mom and getting back home. Now here she was utterly consumed with the fact that she was so close to losing her virginity to Angel. She smiled, inhaling deeply. The thought alone was enough to arouse her.
She hadn’t told anyone about getting on the pill yet. Her aunt told her it was her business and she wouldn’t be telling anyone, not even Valerie. She was glad. She wanted Angel to be the first to know. She hadn’t even told Sydney.
Sydney. She winced, just thinking about him. She still hadn’t told Angel the truth. Valerie had been right again. The longer she was with him the harder it got. At this point Angel’s unwillingness to share anything about her with anyone was irrefutable. As far as he was concerned he was her best friend now.
Still, she thought if she only told him sooner. Things were going from bad to worse. She was more worried now about how he would feel knowing that she’d deceived him all this time, than what he’d think about Syd being a guy.
After Sydney’s accident, she’d gone out of her way to avoid the subject of him altogether. She even made a point of putting her cell phone on vibrate, whenever she was with Angel, afraid even a phone call would solicit conversation about her.
She might have gone a little overboard killing off Syd though, because just the other day Angel asked, 'So, what’s up with Sydney?
You still talk to her?'
She’d just shrugged and said, “Yeah, sometimes.”
Since that first night Angel kissed her, they hadn’t gone a day without seeing each other. The more time she spent with him the more she couldn’t imagine leaving him.
But how could she do that to Sydney. They’d made a pact. He’d already questioned her a few days ago if she really thought she could go back to Arizona and leave Angel behind. She assured him she could and would. But in her heart she knew if she didn’t feel so obligated to Sydney and his family she’d stay without question.
The following day he called her to tell her he needed to talk to her in person. That worried her because Sydney knew her better than anyone. He would see right through her.
The calls with Sydney were cut shorter, but she still talked to him daily. Tonight however had been a long call. Their conversation was a strange one. They debated whether or not she should go back to Arizona. Sydney insisting she should stay. Sarah knew what a congenial sweetheart Sydney was and that he would put aside his own happiness for hers.
All those years he spent in her miserable life keeping her company when he could’ve been out having fun with others. His parents had money that allowed him to do the things other kids did. He could’ve gone to camp in the summers, to his grandparents skiing for the holidays in Colorado, or anywhere he wanted over spring break. But no, all those years he chose her. He stayed and kept her company.
She felt an overwhelming shame. How could she even think of dismissing their plans just because she had a boyfriend now? She swallowed hard. She wouldn’t be seeing Sydney until Christmas. She had time to work on her poker face.
***
It was two days before Thanksgiving and the entire Moreno family was scrambling. The weekend after the holiday was always their busiest. Angel never understood it. He knew peoples fridges must be overflowing with leftovers. Why would anyone go out and eat?
His mom’s theory was that people were burnt out from cooking, eating leftovers, and entertaining out of town guests. So, they went out. Whatever the reason, Thanksgiving week was anything but relaxing for the Moreno’s.
Although the restaurant was closed on Thanksgiving and only open half the day on Friday, they always stocked up in preparation for the busy weekend. Now, Angel’s dad was having a fit because he’d just been informed some of the deliveries might be delayed due to the weather up north.
“Up north? What the hell does the weather up north have to do with me? We’re in San Diego County!” His voice boomed all the way up stairs.
Angel couldn’t tell if he was on the phone or if he was just talking to himself, as he often did when he was mad.
He finished putting on his shoes and pulled a hooded sweatshirt over his head. He rushed into the restroom and ran a brush through his hair.
“Hey, Sofi,” He yelled toward her bedroom as he walked down the stairs. “You got five minutes. I’m gonna go warm up the car.”
His dad still cursed in the kitchen. The smell of his mom’s biscuits lingered. She made the absolute best biscuits, completely from scratch. He walked into the kitchen to grab a few. “Hey, Pop, bad morning?”
“I’m gonna need you to keep your plans open this weekend.” His dad frowned. “Alex made the schedules for this weekend and gave too many people the weekend off. We’re gonna be really busy. If anyone calls in we’ll be short.”
Angel grabbed three biscuits, biting one. “Sure, you got it.”
His dad sat down on one of the barstools. Angel could tell he was winded. “You okay, Pop?”
His pop nodded. “Hey.” Angel said. “You gotta take it easy. Why do you do this every year? Just relax. You get yourself all worked up and it always turns out fine.”
His dad’s expression was dreary. “Alex won’t be here this year. He’s got a game out of state.”
“Yeah, so?” Angel shrugged. “I’ll be here and so will Sofi and Sal. Don’t worry about it. You’re gonna make yourself sick.”
Angel put his hand on Pop’s shoulder. Pop patted it and smiled. “I’m getting too old for this shit.”
Angel laughed. “Nah, something tells me you’ll be around kickin ass for a long time still.” He took a drink of his dad’s coffee and almost gagged.
“Damn.” He grimaced. “Too much sugar in that pop, I’m telling mom.”
His dad waved him off, frowning.
***
All day Angel got a strange vibe from Sarah, but he couldn’t put his finger on what it was. It wasn’t a bad vibe, just different. She was more bubbly than normal. Although lately she’d become quite the aggressor. He was always the one unable to contain himself around her, sometimes, interrupting her mid sentence, because he couldn’t look at her lips very long without kissing them. Today, however, she’d done that to him several times.
After school when they got in his car, she leaned over and kissed him long and with such passion and eagerness it nearly put him over the edge right there.
When she was done she licked her lips. “Wow. What’s with you today? Not that I’m complaining.”
“I have a surprise.” She smiled.
His mind raced, searching for clues in her beautiful eyes. Had she decided to stay? He hadn’t asked her about it ever since the day he’d made her cry. He hardly allowed himself to think about her leaving, much less hope that she’d stay. But it’d been a while since she stabbed him in the heart by mentioning anything about going back, and she’d all but stopped talking about her friend Sydney.
His heart thumped against his throat. “What?”
“Not here,” she said, “Let’s go to our place.”
He peered at her for a second then turned on the car. It took everything in him to not drive recklessly, but he did go over the limit most of the way anyway.
As soon as he parked, he turned the car off and leaned against his door to face her. She still had that giddy smile which made him smile with her. “What is it?” He tried hiding his impatience.
She took her seatbelt off and turned to face him. “Okay, remember the day I left early to go have dinner for my uncle’s birthday?”
Angel nodded “Yeah?”
“I lied.”
Angel’s eyes narrowed a bit. “Okay? Why?”
She bit her bottom lip. “I went to a clinic.”
He stared at her clueless.
“I got on the pill.”
Angel still didn’t get it.
“Birth control!” She blurted out.
Angel’s eyes widened. He felt like an idiot. His lips slowly curled up into a smile. “So, does that mean-”
“Yes.” She leaned over to kiss him. “I’m ready.”
Angel couldn’t get the stupid smile off his face. Just the thought had him rock hard. He wanted to take her right there. But he had to control himself. He wanted her first time, their first time together, to be special.
He grazed his lips across hers, feeling a tenderness inside him that almost scared him. He held her face in his hand. He could hardly believe soon she would be his, completely.
His hands were all over her, his heated eyes penetrated her. He wasn’t sure what would’ve been better, to hear her say she was staying or this?
How was she able to keep something this big from him for so long, that must’ve been three or four weeks ago. “How long have you been on the pill?”
“Almost three weeks.” He remembered the day she told him about her uncle’s birthday dinner. She’d looked him right in the face and he hadn’t caught even an ounce of insincerity. Even when he’d talked to her that evening and asked how the dinner had gone she’d told him all about it without a flinch. He smirked.
“What?” she asked.
“You’re good. I had no clue.”
Sarah laughed, “I could tell. Even after I told you, you looked lost.”
He kissed her again then met her eyes, raising an eyebrow. “Since when did you get so good at keeping things fr
om me?”
She stiffened and he thought he saw her expression change. Then she smiled “I just wanted to surprise you.”
“Well, you did a hell of job. So, why now?”
Her coy expression made him hotter. “I thought maybe we could take advantage of the long weekend.”
He stared at her soft pink lips, his own mouth slightly parted. The words still danced in his head. She wanted it all weekend? Not just any weekend, a four day weekend. His mind spun into overdrive. The things he’d do to her. All the ways he’d take her. Then his thoughts came to a screeching halt. The restaurant. Although he loved the way she was thinking, Sarah’s timing couldn’t have been worse.
He tightened his lips and thought.
“What’s wrong?
“This weekend is gonna be a busy one for us at the restaurant.”
“That’s okay. We can wait until next week then.”
Was she insane? “No way. Trust me, I’ll think of something.”
With the wheels spinning out of control in his head, he was already getting an idea.
***
It was only seven in the evening, a little early for Sarah to be home already. But it was a school night and she had a paper she absolutely had to turn in before the end of the week. Since this was Thanksgiving week, the end of the week would be sneaking up real fast.
She thought she heard Valerie get home and stopped to listen. She hadn’t expected her home until much later. She was out with Alex and usually got home pretty late, even if it was a school night.
It turned out Sarah had been right about Alex. He was pissed about Valerie having hung out with Romero. Very pissed, actually. At first telling her off, then calling her back when he’d calmed down saying he’d never been jealous in his life and didn’t know how to handle it.
With that said, Valerie allowed herself to continue to go out with him even at the risk of getting hurt. They’d been going out at least twice a week since. From what Valerie told her, Alex was a lot like Angel when it came to being possessive. Only there was one big difference. There’d been absolutely no mention of being exclusive.
Angel hadn’t been able to believe that Alex was so mad at first. But had no choice to believe it when Alex had let Romero know under no uncertain terms that Valerie was off limits.