Perfect Chemistry

by Simone Elkeles

Page 20

 

  As I pull her kick-ass car into the dark library parking lot, I say, "Thanks for, you know, lettin me kidnap you. I guess Ill see you around. " Taking my keys out of my front pocket, I wonder if Ill ever be able to afford a car that isnt rusted, used, or old. After I step out of her car, I pull out Colins picture from my back pocket and toss it on the seat I just vacated.

  "Wait!" Brittany calls out as Im walking away.

  I turn around and shes right in front of me. "What?"

  She smiles seductively as if shes wanting something more than a truce. Way more. Shit, is she gonna kiss me? Im taken off guard here, which usually doesnt happen. She bites her bottom lip, as if shes contemplating her next move. Im totally game to making out with her.

  As my brain goes through every scenario, she steps closer to me.

  And snatches my keys out of my hand.

  "What do you think youre doin?" I ask her.

  "Getting you back for kidnapping me. " She steps back and with all her might whips my keys into the woods.

  "You did not just do that. "

  She backs up, facing me the entire time, as she moves toward her car. "No hard feelings. Paybacks a bitch, aint it, Alex?" she says, trying to keep a straight face.

  I watch in shock as my chem partner gets into her Beemer. The car drives out of the lot without a jolt, jerk, or hitch. Flawless start.

  Im pissed off because Im going to have to either crawl around in the dark woods trying to find my keys or call Enrique to pick me up.

  Im also amused. Brittany Ellis bested me at my own game.

  "Yeah," I say to her even though shes probably a mile away and cant hear me. "Payback is a bitch. "

  CHAPTER 25 Brittany

  The sound of my sisters heavy breathing beside me is the first thing I hear as early morning sunlight pours into her room. Id gone to Shelleys room and laid next to her for hours, watching her sleep peacefully before drifting off myself.

  When I was little, I would hurry to my sisters room whenever there was a thunderstorm. Not to comfort Shelley, but so she could comfort me. I would hold Shelleys hand and somehow my fears would fade.

  Watching my older sister sleep soundly, I cant believe my parents want to send her away. Shelley is a big part of who I am; the thought of living without her seems so--wrong. Sometimes I feel Shelley and I are connected in a way few people understand. Even when our parents cant figure out what Shelley is trying to say, or why shes so frustrated, I usually know.

  Thats why it devastated me when she pulled my hair. I never really thought shed do it to me.

  But she did.

  "I wont let them take you away," I say softly to my sleeping sister. "Ill always protect you. "

  I ease myself off Shelleys bed. There is no way I can spend time with Shelley without her suspecting Im upset. So I get dressed and leave the house before she wakes up.

  I confided in Alex yesterday and the sky didnt fall. I actually felt better after telling him about Shelley. If I can do it with Alex, surely I can try it with Sierra and Darlene.

  As I sit in front of Sierras house in my car, my thoughts turn to my life.

  Nothing is going right. Senior year is supposed to be a blast--easy and fun. So far its been anything but. Colin is pressuring me, a guy in a gang is more than my chemistry partner, and my parents are going to send my sister far from Chicago. What else can go wrong?

  I notice movement coming from Sierras second-story window. First legs, then a butt. Oh, God, its Doug Thompson trying to jump to the trellis.

  Doug must see me, because Sierras head pops out of the window. She waves and motions for me to wait.

  Dougs foot still hasnt reached the trellis. Sierra is holding onto his hand to steady him. He finally reaches the thing, but the flowers distract him and he falls, flinging his body in all directions. Hes fine, though, I realize after he gives Sierra a thumbs-up before jogging off.

  I wonder if Colin would climb trellises for me.

  Sierras front door opens three minutes later and she steps out in her underwear and tank top. "Brit, what are you doing here? Its seven oclock. In the morning. You do realize its a teacher in-service and we have no school. "

  "I know, but my life is spinning out of control. "

  "Come inside and well talk," she says, opening my car door. "Im freezing my butt off here. Oh, why dont the Chicago summers last longer?"

  Inside, I take off my shoes so I wont wake up her parents.

  "Dont worry, they left for the health club an hour ago. "

  "Then why was Doug escaping out your window?"

  Sierra winks. "You know, to keep the relationship exciting. Guys love adventure. "

  I follow Sierra into her spacious bedroom. Its decorated in fuchsia and apple green, the colors her mothers decorator picked out for her. I plunk myself down on the extra bed as Sierra calls Darlene. "Dar, come over. Brits in crisis mode. "

  Darlene, in her pjs and slippers, arrives a few minutes later since she lives only two houses down.

  "Okay, spill," Sierra demands when were all together.

  Suddenly, with all eyes on me, Im not so sure this sharing thing is such a good idea. "Its not really anything. "

  Darlene straightens. "Listen, Brit. You got me out of bed at seven a. m. Dish the dirt. "

  "Yeah," Sierra says. "Were your friends. If you cant share with your friends, who can you share with?"

  Alex Fuentes. But Id never tell them that.

  "Why dont we watch old movies," Sierra suggests. "If Audrey Hepburn doesnt get you to spill your guts, nothing will. "

  Darlene groans. "I cant believe you got me up for a non-crisis and old movies. You guys seriously need to get a life. The least you can do is give me gossip. Anyone have any?"

  Sierra leads us to the living room and we all sink into the cushions on her parents sofa. "I heard Samantha Jacoby was found kissing someone in the custodian closet on Tuesday. "

  " Whoop-de-doo," Darlene says, totally unimpressed.

  "Did I mention it was Chuck, one of the custodians?"

  "Now that is good gossip, Sierra. "

  Is that how its going to be if I share anything, turning my misery into gossip for everyone to laugh about?

  In Sierras living room four hours, two movies, popcorn, and a tub of Ben & Jerrys Confection Connection ice cream later, Im feeling better. Maybe it was Audrey Hepburn as Sabrina, but somehow I think everything is possible. Which makes me think about . . .

  "What do you guys think of Alex Fuentes?" I ask.

  Sierra pops a piece of popcorn in her mouth. "What do you mean what do we think of him?"

  "I dont know," I say, unable to stop thinking about the intense, undeniable attraction that is always between us. "Hes my chemistry partner. "

  "And . . . ?" Sierra urges, waving her hand in the air as if saying, "So whats your point?"

  I grab the remote control and pause the movie. "Hes hot. Admit it. "

  "Eww, Brit," Darlene says, pretending to stick her finger down her throat and gagging.

  Sierra says, "Okay, so I admit hes cute. But hes not someone I would ever date. Hes, you know, a gang member. "

  "Half the time he comes to school high," Darlene chimes in.

  "I sit right next to him, Darlene, and Ive never noticed him high at school. "

  "Are you kidding, Brit? Alex does drugs before school, and in the guys bathroom when he ditches study hall. And Im not just talking about pot. Hes into the hard stuff," Darlene states like its fact.

  "Have you seen him do drugs?" I challenge.

  "Listen, Brit. I dont have to be in the room with him to know he snorts or shoots up. Alex is dangerous. Besides, girls like us dont mix with Latino Bloods. "

  I lean into the plush cushions of the couch. "Yeah, I know. "

  "Colin loves you," Sierra says, changing the subject.

  Love, I sense, is a far cry from what Colin felt for me at the beach, but I dont even want to
go there.

  Three times my mom tries to contact me. First on my cell, although turning it off didnt deter her because she called Sierras house twice.

  "Your moms coming over if you dont talk to her," Sierra says, the phone dangling from her fingers.

  "If she does, Im leaving. "

  Sierra hands me the phone. "Me and Darlene are going outside so you can have some privacy. I dont know what this is all about, but talk to her. "

  I hold the phone to my ear. "Hello, Mother. "

  "Listen, Brittany, I know youre upset. We finalized the plans about Shelley last night. I know its hard on you, but shes been more and more frustrated lately. "

  "Mom, shes twenty years old and gets upset when people cant understand her. Dont you think thats normal?"

  "Youre going to college next year. Its not fair to keep her home anymore. Stop being so selfish. "

  If Shelley is being sent away because Im going to college, it is my fault. "Youre going to do this no matter how I feel about it, arent you?" I ask.

  "Yes. Its a done deal. "

  CHAPTER 26 Alex

  When Brittany walks into Mrs. P. s class on Friday Im still thinking about how Im going to get back at her for throwing my keys into the woods last weekend. It took me forty-five minutes to find the suckers, and all the while I was cursing Brittany. Okay, so I give her props for dishing it out. I also have her to thank for helping me talk about the night of my papas death. Because of it, Ive called older OGs in the Blood, asking them if they know who might have had a grudge against my dad.

  Brittany has been wary this whole week. Shes waiting for me to play a joke on her, to get her back for tossing my keys into the woods. After school, as Im at my locker picking books to take home, she storms up to me wearing her sexy pom uniform.

  "Meet me in the wrestling gym," she orders.

  Now I can do two things: meet her like she told me to or leave the school. I take my books and enter the small gym. Brittany is standing, holding out her keychain without keys dangling from it.

  "Where have my keys magically disappeared to?" she asks. "Im going to be late for the game if you dont tell me. Ms. Small will kick me off the squad if Im not at the game. "

  "I tossed them somewhere. You know, you should really get a purse that has a zipper. You never know when someone will reach in and grab somethin. "

  "Glad to know youre a klepto. Wanna give me a hint as to where youve hidden them?"

  I lean against the wall of the wrestling gym, thinking about what people would think if they caught us in here together. "Its in a place thats wet. Really, really wet," I say, giving her a clue.

  "The pool?"

  I nod. "Creative, huh?"

  She tries to push me into the wall. "Oh, Im going to kill you. You better go get them. "

  If I didnt know her better, Id think she was flirting with me. I think she likes this game we have going on. "Mamacita, you should know me better than that. Youre all on your own, like I was when you left me in the library parking lot. "

  She cocks her head, gives me sad eyes, and pouts. I shouldnt concentrate on her pouty lips, its dangerous. But I cant help it.

  "Show me where they are, Alex. Please. "