“Yeah, but I don’t see that happening in this case…” Before I could finish the thought, I spied Emily trudging down the hall alone. I nudged Madison’s arm.
“She looks pissed,” she whispered.
“She looks sad.”
“Hey,” Emily said as she approached with a weak smile.
“How was it?”
“Not too bad. My dad has a suite, so I kinda have my own room.”
Her face was pale and her hair was wet from her shower—this from a girl who owned more hair products than most beauty salons. I’d never seen her leave the house without her maple locks perfectly flat-ironed, let alone with them soggy and in a ponytail.
“He dropped you off this morning?” Madison asked, slamming her locker shut.
“No, his work’s car service did,” she grunted. “How pathetic is that?”
“Well, is it better than your mom’s?” I asked, trying to sound helpful.
“Right now, Folsom Prison would be better than my mom’s. I can’t believe her. You know, she didn’t even call me last night to see if I was all right? I could be lying in a ditch somewhere for all she knows.”
I stared at Madison. I didn’t know what to say. I couldn’t imagine my parents ever treating me that way—but then again, about a year ago I bet Emily thought the same thing.
“Well, I’ll drop you back at the hotel after school,” Madison offered.
“Oh, you’re forgetting the big event,” Lilly pointed out as she tossed her book bag over her shoulder. The bell was about to ring to start first period.
“That’s right! The Puerto Rican prince arrives!” Madison teased, her glossed lips gleaming. “Smoochy, smoochy!”
I giggled, before catching the fake happiness Emily was forcing across her face.
“You know, Em, you don’t have to come tonight if you don’t want to. I totally understand.”
“No, it’s cool. I wanna go. I need to get out. And please, one of us deserves to have something good happen.”
Just then the bell rang to start the day. It was odd to think of how differently I would be ending it.
We stared at the arrivals board. Dozens of planes from every destination I could think of lit up the black electronic monitors at Philadelphia International Airport. Lilly, Madison, Emily, and I were meeting Alex in the baggage claim area.
“It says his plane landed.” Lilly pointed to the board.
“Why do I feel so nervous?” I ran my fingers through my auburn hair.
“Because we’re finally gonna meet your Latin lover,” Madison teased.
“I dare you to call him that to his face,” I challenged.
“No, don’t,” Lilly said quickly. “He’ll take it as a compliment. It’ll only pump his ego further.”
The airport was cold, with stark white corridors, glass panels, and a PA system buzzing with the latest information. Dozens of travelers whisked around us with wheeled carry-ons dragging behind them. Babies cried as families hugged good-bye, teens passed by with headphones plugged in their ears, and middle-aged men carrying laptops hollered into cell phones as they rushed toward their destinations. It reminded me of when Vince and I left for Utuado. It felt so long ago.
I scanned the baggage claim monitors and finally caught a flash of Alex’s flight number.
“Are you sure you remember what he looks like?” Emily asked as she tightened her short chocolate-colored ponytail.
After weeks of misery, I had thought I was finally getting my friend back after the secrets that broke at Cornell. But as it turned out, I only got a glimpse of her. She hadn’t smiled in a long time.
“Of course I do. I remember him exactly.” And I did. I was just hoping he still looked the same, with no major haircuts or facial hair changes to alter the comfort between us. I wanted him to stay the same.
About fifteen minutes later, I glimpsed Alex’s face emerge in the crowd. His black hair was trimmed a bit shorter than when I saw him last and his face was a bit tanner. But it was him. His dark eyes frantically surveyed the masses as my heart thumped in my chest. I nudged Lilly.
“There he is!” Lilly yelped, gesturing to Emily and Madison.
It took every bit of self-control I had not to run to him like a madwoman. I willed him to see me with every fiber of my being, and it only took seconds for our eyes to catch. As soon as he saw me, his dimples flashed. I’d missed him.
“Here he comes,” Lilly whispered.
He rushed over and hugged me tight, lifting my feet off the ground. A whiff of his citrus shampoo hit my nostrils, and a chill flooded my skin. It was like I was back in Utuado and no time had passed.
“I missed you, mi amor,” he whispered.
“Oh, you’re just delirious with jet lag,” I teased as he slowly pulled away.
“Well, it’s good to see you haven’t changed. Still not accepting compliments?”
“You’ve been here for thirty seconds and you’re already making character judgments?”
“Well, I think I’m particularly skilled to make this judgment,” he said with a grin.
I stared into his eyes, oozing with happiness.
“What am I, invisible?” Lilly teased, breaking the moment. “Old friend here! Known ya forever, recuerda?”
“Of course, mi otra amor.” He hugged Lilly.
I glanced at Emily and Madison standing awkwardly beside us, fidgeting with their hair.
“So these are my friends,” I pointed out, raising a chin. “Emily and Madison.”
“Hola.”
“Hey.” Madison nodded. “You know, if you’re gonna live with Mariana, you better get used to us. We come with the package. Just ask that one.” Madison curled her lips in a cocky grin and peered at Lilly.
“Yeah, we go way back,” Lilly groaned, pumping her eyebrows.
“Let’s get you home,” I said happily, grabbing his hand. “We’ve got school tomorrow.”
Chapter 5
Alex appeared even more stunned by the sight of Spring Mills than Lilly had. As we roared through the streets, crammed in Madison’s new car (another detail that made his jaw drop), he stared out the window blinking uncontrollably. I sat next to him in the backseat, my fingers laced with his and my eyes glued to his dimples.
“Just normal people live here? They’re not movie stars?” he asked, shaking his head as a gated stone mansion with acres of property whizzed by.
“That kid’s family actually owns the beach house next to mine in Avalon.” Emily paused. “Well, I guess it won’t be mine for much longer….”
Alex looked at me. I shrugged. I didn’t want to explain Emily’s saga at the moment.
“His dad’s a lawyer,” Madison explained.
“For who, the president?” Alex asked.
“No, even better. Big pharmaceutical.” Madison grinned into the rearview mirror.
We roared by another house so large that it looked like a luxury hotel. It was a massive brick estate, swelling across half the block with a grand lighted