Chapter 16
I turned around slowly so as not to be too obvious. It was hard to see the car at first because of the headlights. Once I recognized the little bread box of a car, I went in a few brief moments from total rejection to terror to gushing ecstasy.
The familiar voice said, “Luz, get in the car. I’ll take you home.”
My ears must have still been ringing from all the music blaring at the party because I swear I thought I heard Swen say, “I’ll take you to the prom.” And that was another three years away! The car stopped with the passenger’s side window rolled down. As I peeked in, I caught a whiff of that inviting new-car smell.
“Hey, I didn’t realize this was your car,” I said, trying to sound all casual-like. This was a big lie, because every day when my parents drop me off at school in the morning, I always run back and check the student parking lot to see if Swen and his cute little coche are there.
Before I opened the door, I slid my phone and pepper spray back safely in my purse. I had a quick flash of my pepper spray going off in the car. I double-checked and made sure the lid was on. Tight.
“You’re dangerous,” Swen joked.
“Oh, you don’t even know the half of it,” I said, not even wanting to go there this late in the evening. I stepped into the car and it was really low to the ground, unlike our Tahoe, but it was definitely cute. And speaking of cute, I checked out Swen for a moment. He hadn’t dressed up for the party or anything. He was just wearing a plain white T-shirt and jeans. And he still looked mucho caliente.
But something was funny. I thought I faintly smelled cologne. I was about to take a deeper whiff when Swen asked, “So, where to?”
“Just go down Lake Highlands and then turn left on Tranquilla,” I directed with my hands. I started to feel a bit giddy.
Swen stepped on the gas and we made our way down the street. I couldn’t get over the fact that I was sitting so close to him. It made me nervous. I wondered how my breath was, so I fumbled for a mint in my purse. Finding my package of Gabber Gum, I thought, Omigod, no way! Not now! Finally, I found a stray peppermint in the side pocket of my purse. I popped it in ASAP.
“So, why are you walking and why are you leaving the party so early?” Swen asked.
“I was, uh ... ready to leave,” I said. Then I quickly added, “I mean, I did what I needed to do for my research.” I didn’t want to tell him that nobody wanted to leave Venus’s fab party with me or that I didn’t want to look like a “nerd alert” and call my mom. Knowing that two could play this game, I then said, “So, why are you leaving the party so soon?”
“Well, I came to the party to help you with your research, but it looked like your hands were full and you didn’t need my help.”
Omigod! He totally thinks you were with Adam! my brain screamed at me.
“No, not really. Oh, make a left here!”
Swen yanked on the wheel and made a quick left turn. I fell in his direction and my mint fell out of my mouth and landed somewhere in the car.
“Sorry about that,” he apologized, recovering.
“Oh, that’s okay,” I said, lifting myself back over to my side of the car. Swen did smell really nice. I tried to spy my mint on the floorboard without him noticing.
“There’s my house, with the red door,” I said as I pointed.
Swen stopped in front of my house and kept the car running. Trying to figure out what to say next, I became fixated on the little hula girl on his dashboard, who was shaking her hips, and on my missing mint.
“You know, when it comes to reporting and writing, I can be really patient. Especially when it comes to finding out the truth, because the truth is really exciting. Like with this science department story, I think you have some really cool theories, Luz.”
“Thanks ...” I smiled and gazed helplessly into his eyes.
Swen frowned. “But honestly, I gotta tell you, it seems like either you are avoiding me or you don’t want me to help. So, what’s the deal?”
I shifted uncomfortably in the car seat and looked down at Bridge’s boring flip-flops hoping for the right words to appear. They didn’t. So, I decided to try a new experiment—telling the truth.
“Look, I’m so sorry, Swen. I’m totally not trying to avoid you. I swear. It’s just that my personal life and my scientific life are kinda all tangled up right now. Especially with the science competition, I feel Dr. Hamrock’s really putting the pressure on. And if I go to Regionals, I’ll totally miss Homecoming,” I explained, getting a load off my chest.
“We all have to make sacrifices sometimes,” Swen said, sounding unsympathetic.
I was a bit taken aback, but I figured if he was going to ask some tough questions, then I would, too. So I asked, “Aren’t you going to Homecoming?”
“Nope.”
“Didn’t Venus ask you?” I asked, fully aware that I was acting like a total freshman now.
“Yeah,” Swen answered without giving any more information. Boy, there’s a reason I’m not in the journalism department, because the only questions I seem to ask get a yes or no answer. So much for my investigative reporting career.
“What are you doing then?” I finally asked, proud of my question.
“I’m working on an important story on Gamma High’s participation in the Regional Science Competition.”
“Well, why are you so fascinated with science? You’re not really the type. I mean, the science type,” I said, hoping not to offend. I looked out the window to make sure no one was coming out of my house.
“I’m interested because of the human-aspect story.”
“Okay ...” I’m sure my face showed that I had no idea what he was talking about.
“Look, Luz. I’m going to tell you something and you can’t tell anyone and I mean anyone about this. The science cluster is not pulling in the students it once did. And the extra outside funds it needs to help cover things like equipment or new programs aren’t coming in fast enough. And because of all that, Dr. Hamrock might lose his job if Gamma is forced to downsize.” Swen sounded truly concerned.
“So, what does this have to do with me?”
“Well, you’re the fresh new face of the science cluster. If you do well in competition, then it helps Gamma and the science department.”
“Really?” I said, caught in a mixture of emotions. “I know that kinda sucks for Dr. Hamrock, but why do you care so much about him?” And then I spotted my mint on the floor and picked it up really quick. It was sticky but I just kept it hidden in my closed fist.
Then Swen connected the dots. “He’s my uncle.”
The classic lightbulb came on in my head just as the front porch light did. And I was terrified that my mom (or worse, my dad) would storm out. And not only would that be totally embarrassing but then there could always be the parental grounding factor because of the boy-bringing-me-home thing. Aye Dios!
“Luz, I don’t want to put pressure on you too,” Swen said, as he patted my hand with the dead mint. “I just think you’re smart and talented. And you could really be the shot in the arm that Gamma needs.”
“Wow. That’s so wild. I don’t know what to say to that.” I was too freaked out to look at him.
“Just let me help you, Luz.”
“Okay ...” I glanced back up from my Pic Purse at him.
And then that crazy dangerous thing happened. Just like you see in the movies. Just like they tell you in the magazines. We looked into each other’s eyes. The streetlight was streaming in the car just enough to see his amazing blue eyes with just a speckle of gold in them.
There was a long pause. It was terribly exciting and uncomfortable. It almost made me want to throw up. But I didn’t. Hallelujah! He just smiled at me. But—and this is an important “but”—he didn’t lean in for the kiss like they tell you he is going to do in those magazines.
And even though everything in my DNA said to give him a big ole smooch, my brain kicked in and told me, Don’t even think about it!
When I thought I heard my front door unlock, I knew I’d better get this brown butt inside.
“Thanks for the ride, Swen, and the offer. I’ll have a better idea of where this project is after they announce who makes the five freshman finalists on Monday afternoon.” Then I quickly started to make my way around his car to the sidewalk.
“Okay, and Luz ...”
This was absolutely killing me. I wanted to hang out, like, the whole evening with him but I knew it wasn’t possible. I paused for a second and prayed that no one would come running out my door to drag me inside by the hair.
“Call me if you need me.” He was being really sweet. Or at least it felt sweet to me, or a little bit more than just being nice. Whatever.
I nodded and ran inside my house and shut the door quietly. I was twittering around as if I had been jolted with electricity. My brain was spitting out all the glorious facts to me: He’s not going to the dance with Venus! Ha-ha. Dr. Hamrock is his uncle! What happened in that gene pool there? He said I was gifted! I wanted to shout it out, but instead I decided to spy on him through my living room curtains and watch him drive away.
My mom was in her big, fuzzy, white bathrobe and was deep conditioning her hair in a shower cap. I didn’t hear her come up behind me until she said, “So ... that didn’t look like Mrs. Joiner unless she’s bought a new car. Who was that?”
“Umm, that was my new science partner,” I said giddily.
“Well, it’s a good thing your father wasn’t up to meet him,” my mom said suspiciously.
“Nice outfit,” I said, moving off topic.
“Escuchame. Don’t try to change the subject with me, lady,” she replied, turning it back around and totally busting my chops.
My mom just shook her head and walked back to her bedroom. I, on the other hand, defied gravity and floated back toward my room but decided to grab a snack first and get rid of the peppermint that was still stuck to my hand and covered with Swen’s floorboard carpet.
What a night! I went to the kitchen and tried to figure out what I wanted to eat but I couldn’t even think. I texted Bridge to tell her the amazing news. I waited. And I heard no reply. So I did it again. She finally hit me back, “Cnt tlk hre. Wl tlk L8r.”
I was flabbergasted. Like, what did she mean she’d call me back? I was her best friend, for crying out loud.
So, I did the next best thing. I called Adam on his cell phone. I received a message that his phone was disconnected.
That was weird, I thought, since I had reached him earlier in the evening. I opened the fridge door looking for a snack and decided to try to reach Adam on his Licky Sticky. I was afraid that because of the distance he wouldn’t be able to catch my signal, but thought I’d try anyway. I mean, I believe in miracles and all.
“Adam?” I called softly. “Adam?” I repeated a bit louder, trying not to wake up my mom again. “Hey, it’s Luz, I don’t know if you can hear me or not, but I have some really juicy news about Venus and ...” And before I could continue I heard another voice. It was definitely not Adam’s.
“Hey, Luz, Adam had to leave in a hurry but he did happen to leave your little gizmo behind. Cute invention, but you could totally stand to engineer better reception on this thing. Maybe next time you won’t buy your components at the Dollar Store. Oh, well. Now, what was the latest and greatest news you had to share about me and my life? I’m really anxious to hear,” Venus dripped with sarcasm.
“Uh ...” I took a careful moment to figure out what exactly to say next. Lives depended on it.
So I continued, “Well, V, I was just surprised to find that you sent a mass e-mail invitation and how funny it was that I didn’t get one.”
“Yes, that was ‘funny.’ But you know what’s even funnier, Luz? It’s the fact that you are trying to call people who are no longer your friends. If I were you—and thank God I’m not—I would leave Bridget and Adam alone, especially if you don’t want them to blame you for ruining their lives,” Venus said bluntly.
“Is that a threat?”
“No, Luzy Lu, it’s a promise. A juicy one. Over and out,” Venus finished with an ominous tone.
Either her walkie-talkie had faded out or the battery had died, neither of which was a good sign. None of this was good. Alone in the kitchen, I started going over the events of the party, the ride home with Swen, and why nobody had called me back. What had happened at the party after I’d left? Suddenly nothing in the kitchen looked appetizing. I shut the fridge door and stood in the darkness.
Why didn’t Venus want me to hang with Bridge and Adam? And what would she do to them or me to ruin all our lives? I walked slowly down the dark hallway to my bedroom. My body became very tired, but my mind wasn’t about to stop racing trying to figure out what was going to happen to me and Bridge and Adam next.