“That’s probably accurate,” he said, smiling.
She put the case back, stretching her legs and easing into her seat. “Mind if I crack the window a little?” she asked.
“Of course not.”
Sefira rolled the window all the way down and rested her elbow on the doorframe. The air felt good as it rushed her cheeks and whipped through her hair. The sun felt even better. She closed her eyes as it caressed her skin. So far, this was the best she’d felt all day. If only she could hang on to this feeling.
They rolled over a small bump, interrupting her momentary bliss. Opening her eyes, she turned to see Kaetano staring at her. He quickly looked away, focusing on the road ahead.
Sefira suppressed a smile. “So where are we going?”
“Where would you like to go?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“I’ve got an idea. Just sit back and enjoy the ride.” He looked at her, smiling again, and made a hard left.
Although the guy was a perfect stranger, hanging out with Kaetano felt very natural somehow. He was definitely different than any other guys she’d known. Not that there was a long list, but still. He exuded a calmness that put her spirit at ease. He was laidback and centered in a way that Sefira could appreciate, especially in the midst of her chaotic personal life. The longer she was with him, the more she felt like everything was going to be alright. Equally intriguing was the fact that he seemed completely oblivious to the effect he had on her.
“Hey, you mind if I switch the music a bit?” asked Sefira, competing with the wind.
“Whatever makes you happy.”
She punched through the songs on his playlist.
“Not a Black Keys fan?” he asked.
“No, actually I like them. Just…not into Psychotic Girl right now.” Finally, she settled on an upbeat dance tune. She bobbed her head to the beat and he smiled.
They drove around a bit before eventually hitting the highway. Traffic was usually bad this time of day, but for whatever reason it was quite light. It wasn’t long before they exited the freeway and arrived in a small town.
“Where are we?” Sefira asked, rolling up her window.
“Azusa. Are you hungry?”
“I didn’t bring any money.”
“Money? Don’t worry, I got you. What are you feelin’? Mexican, Italian, Jamaican?”
“They’ve got Jamaican food out here?”
“This is Southern Cali, they’ve got everything.” He chuckled.
“Alright, how ‘bout Mexican?”
“Okay, I’ve got just the spot. We can pick something up before we go up.”
“Go up? Go up where?”
“Right there.” He gestured out the window toward a barrage of mountains that were now much closer than they were before.
“Wow, Mountains? I didn’t know they were so close.”
“Yep, a lot of people don’t realize how close they are. It’s a low mountain range, more of a canyon. Are you okay with heights?”
“Yeah, I should be good.”
“Well alright then.”
They bought a couple of tacos and a burrito from a local spot before ascending a steep, windy canyon. After about twenty minutes, Kaetano pulled over.
“Uh oh, we out of gas?” Sefira inquired.
“Nope, we’ve arrived.”
“Oh. It’s kind of a random place to park, don’t you think?” They were literally parked road-side amongst weeds, flowers and various chaparral.
“Don’t worry, I think you’ll like this.”
Kaetano hopped out of the car and walked straight over to the passenger side to open the door for Sefira. Afterward, he made his way to the trunk where he unloaded a couple of fishing poles, a tackle box and a blanket. “If you don’t mind carrying the food, I think we’ll be good to go.”
“I know those aren’t fishing poles.”
“They are, actually.”
“What are you doing with poles in your trunk?”
“Like you said.” He slammed the trunk door closed. “I’m a country boy. And let’s just say I like to stay ready. You never know when you’ll have an itch.”
“I see.”
“You like fishing?”
“Never been, actually.”
“Well, today’s your lucky day, Ms. Sefira.”
“OK then.” She giggled.
Kaetano slung two fishing poles over his shoulder along with a backpack filled with tackle and some extras. “Follow me.” He extended his hand to Sefira, which she took despite her reservations. Holding hands wasn’t exactly in her wheelhouse. The last time she could remember holding any boy’s hand was when she was in the fourth grade. Her teacher made the whole class learn how to Do-si-do as part of a cultural unit on the Midwest. That being said, this was totally different. This guy was almost a man, one whom she felt she may even have feelings for. She tried to appear nonchalant about everything, but inwardly she blushed. His soft yet rugged hands held hers as they descended carefully down a rocky, dirt path lined with tall grass and weeds.
Sefira laughed. “I didn’t wear the right shoes for this.”
“Yeah, I’m sorry, I didn’t think about it earlier. I can carry you if you want.”
“No, that totally won’t be necessary.” It wasn’t long before they finally reached the flattened path below and disengaged their hand-holding.
Autumn was upon them but you’d never know it by the look and feel of the wood. The sun glimmered like a ray of hope as cumulous clouds kissed an azure sky. Sunflowers and Honeysuckle poked through verdant grass and waist high weeds; their sweet perfume wafting through the crisp mountain air. At times, Sefira altered her direction, careful to avoid the bees buzzing lazily around Dandelions and mountain roses. All the while, the melodic voices of birds sang choruses to one another, soaring blissfully in and out of Laurel bushes, Black Oaks, and Sugar Pines. A couple of squirrels ran past them, nibbling on fallen gooseberries growing from the twisted green vines snaking through the grassy terrain.
Kaetano glanced at her, dead leaves crunching beneath their feet. “Well, what do you think?”
Sefira fingered the bark on a tree. “I think it’s breathtaking. So calm and peaceful. How did you find this place?”
“Somebody at school mentioned it because they knew I like to fish. I used to go pond-hopping back in Oklahoma with my older brother. That’s where you go from pond to pond trying to find a good fishing spot.” He placed his hand on her back, guiding her around what looked like Poison Oak. His touch sent sparks up her spine. “We had all kinds of fun sneaking onto private properties where we weren’t supposed to be. Stayed up till the break of dawn sometimes, just fishing. Got into all kinds of trouble too, but it was worth it.”
“I didn’t even know you had an older brother.”
“Yeah.” His expression changed a bit. “I did. My brother, he was like my buddy, you know. When he passed…that was tough. Left a huge hole in my life; all of our lives for that matter.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“It’s okay, I’ve learned how to deal with it.” He repositioned the bag on his shoulder. “I think that’s part of the reason why I love this place so much, though. It reminds me of him.”
“I truly understand where you’re coming from.” She took a deep breath. “Remember when you were asking me about my birth family?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Well, my sister died at birth, and my dad at war."
“Wow.” He looked solemn. “Hell of a thing to have in common.” He nudged her to the side. “Watch that ant hill.”
“Oh, thanks.”
“What about your mom?”
Sefira looked down, twiddling her shirt. She hated talking about this stuff. “She um, she had sort of a breakdown. Probably stress and all. She’s in a mental facility.” She glanced at him briefly.
“Oh man, I’m sorry.” He touched her arm, his eyes apologetic. “I didn’t mean to—”
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“It’s cool.” Her fingers surfed the tall grass as she fought back the sting of tears. C’mon Fira, not now.
Kaetano thrust a hand in his pocket. “You know, life is really unfair sometimes. Just when you think you have it figured out, it takes a turn that just throws everything off.”
Sefira nodded. “I know. Sometimes I wonder how things would’ve turned out if my birth family were around.” She plucked a blade of grass, wrapping and unwrapping it around her forefinger. “It’s not like I’m not happy or anything, but I know what you mean about the emptiness. Even though I don’t even remember some of them,” she patted her chest, “I feel like there’s a piece of me that’s just lost.”
“I get it.” Kaetano glanced at her. She swore he looked a little misty-eyed himself. The wind whistled through the trees, causing leafy branches to brush the sky. “Hey. I didn’t bring you all the way out here to bring the mood down.”
“I know. It’s cool.” She looked at him. “So, why did you bring me?”
He paused. Dark brown eyes stared so deeply into hers she became worried her thoughts might be compromised. As if he might unmask some hidden truth or worse, unearth a hurt that even she was unaware of. She averted her eyes.
“How about I show you?” Kaetano slipped his fingers between hers and guided her down a short path in the direction of overgrown weeds and brush. Sefira gulped uneasily, stomach fluttering, wondering what exactly he’d planned to do. He looked at her, his full lips forming a grin, then used his large hands to pull a small wall of bush and bramble aside. The reveal was exquisite. Beyond the trees and bushes, a small clearing of white, powdery sand caressed the most pristine lake Sefira had ever laid eyes on. It resembled something out of a magazine. The body of water was huge—at least by Sefira’s standards. And it was deposited between a huge mountain ridge to the east and small flatlands filled with mountainous trees, brush and grass to the west. A warm breeze blew through the air, tickling her hair and disturbing the lake’s cool waters, causing sea-green waves to dance.
“Oh my gosh,” Sefira’s fingers went to her lips. “This place is gorgeous.”
“After you.” He bowed slightly, still holding the bush, inviting her to pass. The exaggerated gesture left her giggling as she eased past his broad shoulders. “There’s a nice spot right over there if you want to put your things down.” Sefira felt like the Queen of Sheba the way he walked ahead, clearing paths and holding thorny brush aside so she could pass unscathed. When they reached the clearing, he eased his backpack off his shoulders. “Hold on, I’ve got a blanket.” Reaching in, he pulled out a thick red blanket and stretched it across the dirt. They both put their things on top and sat down opposite one another. Kaetano leaned back on his elbows, stretched out his long legs and relaxed, surveying the scene. “Great, huh?” he said.
“Yeah,” Sefira sat cross-legged. “Who knew any of this existed so close to home?”
“I know, right? I love it.” He flashed a dimpled smile.
“Me too.”
“Hungry?” he asked.
“Yeah, we better take that food out before it gets cold.”
“I hope you like it. I haven’t been there for a while, but it’s usually delicious.” He sat up, distributing their food.
Sefira picked up her taco, and took a huge bite, mumbling. “Good.” They laughed.
“Let me ask—what do you usually do during your off-time? I mean when you’re not running or at school?” asked Kaetano.
She finished chewing. “Not much, to be honest. I met a girl named Sky, and we’ve hung out a couple times. But it’s not like we’re best friends. I’ve only had one of those in my lifetime, and she’s back home.” Sefira repositioned herself as to stretch her legs.
“Ah, still missing home?”
“Yeah. This place is great, but back home it seems like people are less self-absorbed. I don’t know how to explain it. Out here, it’s just a little…”
“Plastic? Self-aggrandizing?” He bit his burrito.
Sefira nodded. “Maybe. I just don’t know how well I fit in here.” Her head cocked sideways. “Now that I think about it, though, I didn’t fit in that well in Davis either. Maybe it’s me.”
“You seem pleasant enough to me,” answered Kaetano. “Sometimes it’s better to do your own thing anyway.”
“I suppose so,” she said, brushing crumbs from her lap.
Wagging his burrito, he said, “This is good.” He was half-way through at this point. “Oh, I almost forgot about the chips and drinks.” After sifting through another bag, he handed Sefira a soda.
“Thanks.”
“Chips?” he asked.
Sefira nodded no. “But would you mind passing some napkins over?”
“Sure.” After distributing napkins, he opened his soda and took a long swallow. “This drink is strong,” he said, examining the can.
“Yeah, it’ll put some hair on your chest. I hear you can pour it on your car battery and it’ll like, eat the battery acid or something.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, no joke.”
“Will have to slow down on that.” He put his drink down. “Did you do anything for Halloween?”
“Yeah, as a matter of fact I did.” Using the napkins to wipe her mouth, she continued, “I went with a couple girlfriends to an SCU party.”
His eyes widened as he brought his knees closer to his chest, long arms draping over them. “Wow, you just skipped high school and just went straight for the big leagues, huh?”
She smiled. “No, it wasn’t like that. My friend from the Bay area came down and invited me—her cousin goes there.”
“Oh, okay. Nothing wrong with a college party. How was it?”
“It was…eventful.”
“Eventful. Hm.” Finished with his food he wrapped up the trash and placed it in one of the bags, then got comfortable. Turning on his side, he propped himself with an elbow. “Eventful good, or eventful bad?”
Both. “I don’t know.” She tossed her hair and tugged on the hem of her shirt. “The party was cool, I guess. Wasn’t too different than a high school one. What’d you do for Halloween?”
“Took my ‘lil brother trick-or-treating. He had a ball. Afterwards me and some of my boys went to Roscoe’s and hung out.”
“I see.” Repositioning herself, she folded her legs.
“How’s it going at Eisenhower?”
“It’s alright.” Sefira finished chewing her food. “Typical stuff. Friends…haters….”
“Yeah?” He looked surprised. “How could a sweet girl like you have haters?”
“Apparently quite easily,” she replied, taking another sip of her soda.
“That right?” he asked, looking up at her whilst picking at the blanket. “Who’s giving you a hard time?” He asked as if he genuinely wanted to know.
Shrugging, she replied, “I don’t really want to talk about it.”
“Well, I hope Giselle has nothing to do with it.”
“Hm.” Sefira stopped munching. “Why would you say
that?”
“I don’t know—she’s got issues. Probably jealous.”
“Well something’s definitely off.” Sefira shifted, hugging her legs. “I guess you guys used to go out?” she asked, studying his reaction.
“What?” His eyes narrowed. “Who told you that?”
Sefira chuckled. “One thing about rumors, they do fly….”
His face softened. “No, it was never anything serious.”
Sefira smirked. “Hmm. Sounds like the standard issue male answer.”
“No. I’m serious.” He sat up. “We went out a couple times, but that was it.” He paused, smiling to himself. “You checking up on me?”
“No, not at all. Inquiring minds just wanna know….” she pursed her lips, tilting her head. “I do have one question for you, though. And don’t take this the wrong way—but what on earth did you see in her? I mean she’s cute and all, but she’s so ugly.�
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He nodded and reached for his drink, taking a sip. “Yeah, you’re right. Cute comes a dime a dozen.” He set his drink down and looked into her eyes. “In case inquiring minds want to know, I’m looking for a well-rounded type of woman.”
“Oh, is that right?” Goosebumps began to rise on her arms and a flush warmed her cheeks.
“That’s right,” he answered with confidence.
“You got somebody in mind?”
Smiling, he grabbed a few chips from his half-empty bag to munch on. “Oh, no doubt.”
“Yeah? Is she cute?”
“Yeah,” he nodded, “she’s aiight.”
Her eyebrows furrowed. “That’s it? Aiight?”
Kaetano laughed. “Nobody holds a candle to her,” he replied, eyelids lowering.
Her toes curled. “Is that right? Well is she smart?”
“As a whip. Can’t deal with ignorant women.”
Sefira grinned, leaning back, elbows digging into the soft blanket. It could have been the warm breeze blowing off the water, or maybe the sweet perfume of mountainous wild flowers drifting under their noses—something was in the air, causing smiles to grow wider, dimples to deepen and feelings to bloom. She decided to press further. “Hm.” Her eyes rolled up briefly in mock contemplation, “Well, can she fish?”
“I’m sure she reels ‘em in all day long. Question is,” his eyes narrowed, “does she keep the good ones? Or does she throw them back?”
Sefira’s lips pursed. “Good question. What do you do?”
“Oh, I keep the good ones, baby.” They both laughed.
Sefira twirled her hair between her fingers. “So, this…. love interest of yours…does she know you’re interested?”
“I have reason to believe she does. But if there’s any confusion, I can clear it up.” He smirked, looking squarely into her eyes.
Sefira’s forehead creased. “Anybody ever tell you you’re a real flirt?”
“No. No one else could attest to that,” he answered, sounding almost too serious.
Her smile slowly faded. Studying him, she cocked her head sideways and said, “Okay—what’s up?”
“What do you mean ‘what’s up’?”
“Why are you doing this? I mean—let’s face it, you could probably be with just about anybody. So why take an interest in me?”
For Blood & Glory Page 22
