Page 175 of Pride High 2: Orange

Omar turned to the others. “Here’s the deal: In a couple minutes, everyone is going to be looking that way.” He pointed down the hall. “Anthony, you help Silvia get her dad into the wheelchair. Ricky, you stand guard at the door. If anyone tries to come into the room, do whatever you can to stop them. Don’t wait for us once you’re in the truck. Just get your dad home ASAP. I’ll hitch a ride back with Diego.” Assuming they didn’t get arrested. “Got it?”

Everyone nodded in unison. He was a born director! This was so his calling.

“Break a leg,” he said, winking at Silvia.

She didn’t swoon and fall into his arms like he’d imagined. But she did look hopeful, which was close enough.

“Come on,” Omar said. “Let’s do this.”

He walked down the hall with Diego. They passed the nurses’ station. No one there looked like they lifted weights or could take them down easily. Unlike his soon-to-be opponent. “Remember to throw your punches,” he whispered.

“No promises,” Diego murmured.

“How’d you get so big anyway? You’re huge!”

“I take my vitamins.”

“You look good,” Omar said, eying his former friend. “Are you doing better?”

“As if you care.”

“I do, actually.”

Diego raised an eyebrow at this but didn’t respond.

Omar stopped and turned to face him. “Would you stop being such a dick?”

Diego looked genuinely offended. “What the fuck?”

“You’re acting like a spoiled little nun!” Hopefully he would recognize the insult from one of their favorite shoots. When they used to talk smack, it was always improvised, resulting in some really weird insults. They had laughed so hard when watching the tape that tears had blinded them. It became one of their favorite catchphrases.

“You’re one to judge, you elongated dwarf!” Diego shouted back. He got it! That was another line they used to throw at each other back in the day.

“Is everything okay here?” a man in scrubs asked as he neared.

“Stay out of it!” they shouted at him in unison.

That really got everyone’s attention.

“Now look!” Omar said, poking him in the chest. “You made another scene. Just like you always do!”

“Don’t pin this on me!” Diego fired back. “You’re the one who stole all the apples from my tree and sold them to a con man from Delaware.”

He still remembered the bit! It wasn’t enough that they got into a fake fight. The reason had to be ridiculous. “I thought he was a little girl,” Omar growled. “I told you that at sea!”

“Suck my monkey knuckle!” Diego yelled.

“Eat a light bulb!” Omar screamed.

He pretended to punch Diego while stomping the ground to make a loud noise. Except they were out of practice, so he accidentally clipped Diego on the chin…

Who huffed like a bull, just like he used to in the old days when he was legitimately angry. Diego spread his arms wide and came at him. Omar winced as his head was clamped between two beefy arms, the hands behind his head clapping for the sound effect. Diego spun while still holding on to him, letting go once they faced the opposite wall, which Omar intentionally ran into. He pretended to fall to the floor before launching himself at Diego’s legs. They ended up in a pile. That much weight falling on him genuinely hurt, but it didn’t matter, because Omar caught a glimpse of the growing crowd. They must have the entire floor’s attention! At this rate, Silvia would be able to casually stroll down the hall with her dad.

Diego climbed on top of him and pulled back a fist. Omar winced again, worried that Diego would use this opportunity to get revenge. But fortunately, the fist only punched the empty air next to his ear, Omar grunting each time.

“Headbutt,” Diego murmured.

Omar whipped his head forward. Diego’s rocked back, and even though there wasn’t any contact, he rolled off of him with a groan.