BACK ON THE HORSE

IT’S TUESDAY. Only three days to go.

I’m shaking as we take off for Luis’s apartment after school.

Who’s to say something like last night won’t happen again?

We’re at the intersection at 220th and Pac Highway, waiting for the light to change. Luis has his hands in his pockets. He’s staring at his shoes. “My brother talked to Frankie. He told him to never show his face at the apartment, or he’d…”

Or he’d what? Stab him? Shoot him? What the hell? It doesn’t make me feel any safer. It just makes it clear how messed up in that world Luis is.

“Frankie promised he wouldn’t come around anymore.”

I shouldn’t be doing this.

I shouldn’t be going anywhere near Luis’s place.

I know that.

But what I tell him is, “Sounds good.”