Planet High School

by Mia Rodriguez

  Fortunately, they move on from me to the twins. I don't know how much longer I can keep a straight face about this boyfriend thing. I keep shifting my eyes over to Benjamin's bedroom to see if he'll open his window, so I can gaze at him.

  "Where's the piñata for my girls?!" Grandfather Chemo questions.

  "Grandpa," Carina says, rolling her eyes, "we're thirteen."

  "We don't play with piñatas anymore," grumbles Casandra. "We're too old."

  My grandparents start twisting their faces comically. "What?!!!!" Grandmother Gloria exclaims. "Since when are you too old for fun?!"

  "There's no age limit for whacking a toy with candies. Muchos dulces! I insist on a piñata!"

  "Okay, Grandpa," Carina says. She knows she can't beat his whacky ideas. She might as well go with the flow.

  "Let's go pick it out," declares Casandra, also resigning herself to the children's game.

  Dad finishes preparing the new brick grill for the cookout and steps over to me with a quizzical expression. He asks me where his parents and daughters are going.

  "They're going to get a piñata," I say nonchalantly.

  "A piñata?!!!" my dad exclaims. "What a great idea! Why didn't I think of it?" He only needs to be in the vicinity of his parents to be completely influenced by them.

  My mom shakes her head. "Aren't we going overboard with this party?"

  "No, Mirta, no!" he yelps excitedly. "This fiesta is going to be the best!!!"

  My mother eyes him with fond indulgence. He's like a little boy with his new backyard and wants to show it off.

  As the guests start arriving, I help my mom take the food to the large picnic table outside. Dad is beside himself by the new grill with a white apron and chef's hat as he grills the steaks.

  "Your dad looks so happy," my mother murmurs with a smile as she sets her potato salad on the table.

  "Very happy," I agree, also smiling as I place the huge dish of guacamole next to the potato salad.

  I had helped her all morning and had actually made the guac with ripe avocadoes. The twins had made a tres leches cake for desert. It looks absolutely delicious with the white frosting and the cake dripping with three types of milk. I'm really looking forward to eating a slice.

  Extended family members arrive bringing specialty dishes. They weren't asked to but they bring them anyway. Aunt Dora brings her ranchero beans with bacon and ham floating with the spicy pinto beans. Uncle Piri brings his deliciously hot salsas. My favorite is the red. Cousin Josie brings her chocoflan—the special custard baked over the chocolate cake makes my stomach grumble.

  All the guests compliment our new backyard. Dad is over the moon. The steaks he's cooking smell delicious as people are taking off their shoes and wading in the large fountain. Mexican music blares from the new sound system installed for the outside.

  I can't help but feel a little sadness. I wish with all my heart that Benjamin could be here with me. It seems that most of the neighborhood is here—almost everyone except the Quintanillas. I wonder about Benjamin's parents. Do they feel left out?

  My Aunt Letty, who had been spending time with her parents, steps over to me. "Quite a fiesta," she states.

  "You know my dad."

  She smiles. "You seem a little off, Zuria. Everything okay?"

  How does she do it?

  "Everything's fine, Aunt Letty."

  She glances over to Benjamin's quiet home. How in the world does she do it?!!

  Her eyes shift back to me and she groans. "It's too bad your neighbors weren't invited."

  I shrug my shoulders. "You know dad," I mumble.

  She rolls her eyes and nods. "Yes, as stubborn as a mule."

  "Yep."

  "There's Benjamin," she murmurs.

  Chapter 15

  My eyes automatically shift to his house. He's taking out the trash, and his eyes meet mine. I gasp.

  Aunt Letty chuckles. I pull my eyes away from him, and he does the same with me. We've got to learn to fake it better.

  "His presence surprised me," I mumble quickly.

  "I'm sure," she states with a grin on her face. "Such a handsome young man, right, Zuria?"

  "I haven't noticed," I blurt.

  "How can you not notice?" she questions with the irritation of someone who knows she's being lied to. "He lives next door to you." Benjamin nonchalantly steps back into his house.

  "Well, uh, well." I'm jabbering like a fool.

  "Admit that he's attractive. Admit it, Zuria," Aunt Letty insists.

  "Okay," I blurt, "I admit it."

  She grins with mischief. "Admitting it didn't hurt too much, did it?"

  "Zuria," my mom says, stepping up to me. "Your cousin Kirsten is looking for you. She's in the house."

  "I'll be right there." Phewwww—saved by the bell! Aunt Letty eyes me with a sly grin as I step away. Trying not to think about the conversation I just had with her, I find my cousin in the kitchen. Kirsten had volunteered to make the jalapeño poppers at my house since Aunt Gina's kitchen is being remodeled. Her little green peppers stuffed with cream cheese and covered in batter are the best.

  "Need any help?" I ask her.

  "No, thanks," she says, putting the cookie sheet with the spicy appetizers in the oven. We sit, waiting for them to bake. They won't take long.

  "How have you been, cousin?" she asks me.

  "Good. How about you?"

  "Good too. How's school?"

  Unfortunately, we were in different school districts. I would've loved for her to go to my school. Kirsten is pretty cool.

  "So far so good."

  She grins. "Your life is about to get even better. I've got a surprise for you, Zuria."

  I eye her with curiosity. "What do you mean?"

  "I've invited a boy over."

  "What?"

  "And he wants to meet you! I showed him a picture of you!"

  I frown deeply. "Why'd you do that?"

  "You're much too serious, cousin. You need a boyfriend."

  I gasp with frustration. "Kirsten—"

  "You're going to thank me! He's in my English class. He's sooo cute."

  "I don't need a boyfriend," I snap.

  "Don't be upset, Zuria. All I ask is that you meet him."

  I sigh with frustration. "Do I have a choice?"

  "Not really."

  As if on cue, the doorbell rings. Standing at my door is a very clean cut boy with a wide smile. He stands almost as tall as Benjamin, has a stocky build, dark-blond hair, and dark-blue eyes.

  "I'm so happy to meet you," he tells me. Kirsten winks at me. "I'm Jerry."

  "Hi, Jerry."

  "Why don't you take Jerry to meet everyone?" she tells me with a wide grin. "I've got to stay here with the poppers."

  I don't know how to get myself out of this one, so I decide it's best to get it over with. I'm going to kill my cousin when this is over.

  "Kirsten showed me a picture of you, and I just had to meet you," he says as we're stepping to the backyard.

  I don't know what to say to that, so I shut up.

  "You're very pretty, Zuria. And I love your name."

  "Thank you."

  I start introducing him to the guests as an acquaintance. Everyone looks at us with sly smiles as if we're an item. Grandfather Chemo, who had just returned with a huge, colorful, burro piñata, pumps Jerry's hand when I introduce them.

  "So my granddaughter does have a boyfriend?!"

  "Grandpa," I rush, "I just met Jerry. He's a friend of Kirsten's."

  He's puzzled. "You're Kirsten's boyfriend?"

  "No, sir. I came to meet Zuria."

  Grandfather Chemo's face turns animated again. "My boy, my boy, que bien."

  "What?"

  "Spanglish," I explain.

  "I said, how great!" Grandfather Chemo gushes. "My granddaughter is very smart, very wonderful, and very beautiful, but I'm su
re you already realize it."

  This is completely getting out of hand!

  "Yes, I've already realized it," says Jerry, eyeing me with a smile.

  Mom steps over to us with a tight face. Thank goodness! She'll save the day with her strictness. "Who's this, Zuria?" she grumbles, her rigid sight sweeping over Jerry.

  "This is Jerry. Kristen invited him."

  He pumps my mom's hand. "I'm very pleased to meet you. Thank you so much for allowing me in your beautiful home and wonderful party."

  I frown. He's a charmer all right. My mom's tight line of a mouth upturns. Shoot! She was supposed to be my salvation.

  "Very nice manners, young man," she comments.

  "My parents taught me to be on my best behavior all the time."

  "Sounds like you have great parents, Jerry," my mom states. I'm a gonner!

  "They're the best."

  "Take him to meet your father," my mom tells me.

  I frown.

  "Yes, he has to meet Fulgencio!" Grandfather Chemo chirps.

  "Okay," I mumble.

  As I'm walking over to the grill, Jerry turns to me. "You've got a great family."

  "Thank you."

  Dad is busy with friends as he barbeques the steaks. They're comparing recipes. They quiet down as we near them, and dad's eyebrows go up.

  "Everyone, this is Jerry. He came to the party with Kirsten."

  Jerry shakes the men's hands. Dad eyes him suspiciously until Jerry asks him about the secret to his mouthwatering steaks. He's such a charmer! Dad immediately warms up to him.

  When we walk away to go find Kirsten, dad is already telling him to visit us when he wants. This is getting so complicated! I'm really going to kill my cousin!

  We find Kirsten already in the backyard with a group of people and in an animated conversation about how she makes her jalapeño poppers. I wait for her to finish to pass off Jerry back to her.

  "Maybe our parents could meet each other someday," comments Jerry. "I'm sure they'd like one another," he tells me.

  I smile politely, wanting my meddling cousin to stop talking so I can get away.

  "Who's that?" Jerry asks, looking at a distance behind me.

  "What?"

  "Your next door neighbor is mad dogging us," Jerry states as he looks towards Benjamin's house.

  Chapter 16

  My stomach does a few flips of anxiety. Is Jerry talking about Benjamin? Is Benjamin witnessing all this? I really don't want to turn around and see for myself.

  "Does he like you?" Jerry questions with spikes of irritation in his voice.

  I have no choice but to turn around and see if my worst fears are true. Yes, it's Benjamin! He's in his yard by the chain link fence furiously glaring at us.

  "He's just upset because his family wasn't invited to the party," I rush to say, thinking of a quick cover.

  "With his twisted face, I don't blame your parents for not inviting him," mumbles Jerry.

  Kirsten thankfully finishes her conversation and turns to us. "I've got to go," I blurt. "I need to make a very important phone call. I'll see you two later."

  I rush away before Kristen can stop me. She stares at me dumbfounded, and Jerry's expression is also puzzled. But I have to do something now. Benjamin looks as if he's about to come over and start a fight with Jerry. I eye him and mouth cell phone and step into my house.

  I had forgotten my cell in my bedroom. When I get it, I find several text messages from Benjamin. He seems very upset.

  Who's the idiot with U?

  Why aren't U texting me back? Too busy with the idiot?

  Zuria, what's with U and that guy? Answer me! I'm going nuts!

  The texts stop there. I guess he figured out I didn't have my cell phone. Instead of texting him back, I decide it's better to talk to him. His fuse seems about to pop.

  "Zuria, what the heck is going on?!" he answers his cell without even greeting me.

  "Hi, Benjamin,' I mutter.

  "Cut the small talk," he snaps furiously. "You've got a few seconds to tell me why you've been walking all over your yard with some guy before I come over and break his face!!!"

  "Calm down, Benjamin."

  "Don't tell me to calm down!"

  "He's a friend of my cousin Kirsten. That's all."

  "Why were you introducing him to everybody?"

  "Kirsten was making the jalapeño poppers," I state.

  "Is he your cousin's boyfriend?" Benjamin demands to know.

  I can't lie to him. "No."

  "I didn't think so," he snaps. "The guy likes you."

  "Benjamin—"

  "The way he was looking at you!—I ought to beat the crap out of him!"

  "Benjamin!" I chide him. "I'm not going out with him! I'm with you."

  The line goes quiet for a few seconds.

  I continue calming him down. "Just like you told me you didn't want anything with Chantilly or Daniela, I don't want anything with Jerry."

  He sighs. "This really sucks, Zuria. Girls after me and guys after you," he grumbles, "when we should be able to tell the world hands off. We're together!"

  "I know," I murmur. "I wish you were here with me at the party."

  "I don't care about the party, but I really want to be near you."

  Tingles rush up my spine. Benjamin can be so romantic.

  "I miss you too."

  "I really hate all this secrecy as if we're doing something wrong," he states, frustrated.

  "We're not doing anything wrong."

  "Loving one another isn't wrong."

  "No, definitely not," I murmur.

  "We have to stop letting our parents' childishness affect us," he snaps.

  "How do we do that?"

  "By taking the bull by the horns," he asserts.

  "What?"

  "Zuri, I'm tired of all this secrecy. Too many misunderstandings come up."

  "What do we do about our situation?"

  "It's time to go out in the open," he affirms.

  "But—"

  "Zuri, let's just talk to our parents."

  "They're going to freak!" I blurt.

  "Probably, but we have to stand up for ourselves."

  "They're going to be furious with us."

  Zuri, do you love me enough to stand up to your parents?" he asks quietly. "I love you enough to face mine."

  "Yes, Benjamin, I love you enough," I say without missing a beat.

  Chapter 17

  Having planned some sort of a strategy, I go to my Aunt Letty's house after school on Monday. Having seen Benjamin a few hours ago in Social Studies gives me the strength to come clean.

  My favorite aunt is glad to see me, but I can't fool her. She knows something's up and eyes me suspiciously as I try to make small talk. I exhale with relief when her doorbell rings. She stares at me quizzically when she answers it.

  "Benjamin," she says when she opens the door, "what a surprise." Eyeing me, she chuckles.

  "Thank you, ma’am."

  "Come in, come in." She leads him to the sofa where I'm at and indicates for him to sit next to me. "Want a soda or something, Benjamin?"

  "No, thank you."

  She sits on her beige recliner. "I imagine that this isn't a coincidence."

  Benjamin takes my hand and intertwines his fingers in mine. Tingles rush up my arm. Aunt Letty's right eyebrow rises.

  "No, it's not a coincidence," Benjamin states. He doesn't sound at all nervous. I'm the one freaking out inside.

  "Didn't think so," she smirks.

  "Zuria and I care about each other and we're tired of hiding."

  Aunt Letty's eyebrows shoot up. "So you've been seeing each other in secret."

  Benjamin nods. "We have, but we don't want to do it anymore."

  "I told Benjamin that we needed to ask for your advice and your help with dealing with our parents," I state, breathing somewhat raggedy.

  "Of co
urse I'll help you," Aunt Letty remarks. "The silly feud between your parents has gone on long enough."

  "Dad will be furious," I mutter.

  "Yeah, and so what?" Aunt Letty smirks. "Don't worry about him. I can handle both your mother and him."

  "What about my parents?" asks Benjamin.

  "I can handle them too, but the both of you have to stay strong and firm."

  Benjamin puts my hand to his lips and kisses it. "We will."

  "What I'm afraid of is that our parents will order us not to see each other," I murmur.

  Aunt Letty nods. "That can happen."

  "What'll we do then?" I blurt.

  "Talk."

  "Talk?" Benjamin asks.

  "The world is full of eggheads. You have to choose the right words and the right tones to make them understand. I'm convinced that your parents will iron out their differences if they have the right arbitrator."

  "That would be you, Aunt Letty," I burst.

  "Yes," she states with confidence. "Believe me, I've gotten people to see sense who were a lot more stubborn than you parents."

  It isn't that Aunt Letty is an annoying braggart or hugely egotistical. She's in no way a snob. She's just very aware of her abilities. We set up the talk for this coming weekend.

  That evening, I breathe a lot better before going to bed. Benjamin texts me. I read my screen before hitting the pillow.

  Nothing 2 worry about. A few more days and everyone will know and have to accept us. Luv ya.

  Suzy and Lorena have more gossip about Daniela Lopez. During lunch I just listen but decide not to get upset no matter what they say. I mean, of the three of us, I'm the only one who knows what's really going on with Benjamin.

  "Daniela says she doesn't care if she makes the cheerleading squad," murmurs Suzy, in full gossip mode. "She told Shanika Whitaker that she finally has a shot at Benjamin and isn't going to let Chantilly ruin it for her."

  "Oh, that Daniela!" snaps Lorena. "Why is she trying to get in between Benjamin and Chantilly?"

  "I hope that she realizes that the whole school is going to hate her for it!"

  My mouth turns dry. I wonder what will happen after this week when my relationship with Benjamin is out. Will everyone hate me? Will my BFF's despise me? I know for certain that both Lorena and Suzy will freak out, but will they be the friends I'll need? I had been concentrating so much on my parents that I hadn't allowed myself to think about the other people who would have to accept us too.

  In Social Studies, Peebo arrives before Benjamin. He gives me a huge grin.

  "I think what you're going to do this weekend is a great idea," he whispers to me.