Page 86 of Pride High 2: Orange

Silvia laughed. “My parents must know where to find your farm.”

“In that case, we’re open from ten until sundown. Show up whenever you want to pitch in.”

“I will,” Silvia said, disappointed to see that they had already reached the trailer park.

Not that Keisha was in a rush. After following her directions, she parked in front of the trailer and shut off the engine. “Funny how we have a mutual friend but never got to know each other.”

“Although we might have met before I ever knew Mindy,” Silvia said. “If you were on the farm that day.”

Keisha squinted as if trying to remember. “Back then I was probably still dressing up as one of Santa’s elves. I wasn’t much help and didn’t stay in place for long. But it’s possible.”

“I wonder if my parents would remember you?” Silvia said, looking to the trailer. “I’d invite you in…”

“That’s okay,” Keisha said. “I’m eager to get home and slip into my pajamas.”

“I love doing that.”

“Then I’ll think of you when pulling up my flannel pants.”

They both laughed and said goodbye.

Later that night, when Silvia was tucked in bed—PJs and all—she found herself unable to sleep. Christmas was just around the corner, and for the first time since she was a little girl, she couldn’t wait for it to arrive. The presents and time off would be nice but didn’t seem as appealing anymore. Not when compared to the prospect of getting to see Keisha again.

CHAPTER 19

December 24th, 1992

Ricky paced back and forth in the entryway of his house while trying not to panic, but Diego was late and time was running out. They hadn’t seen each other since the play, when he had clumsily admitted his feelings while trying to figure out if Diego had any of his own. Ricky still wasn’t sure. Diego had been in high spirits after the curtain fell. Tons of people had wanted to talk to him backstage, and for once, he’d been in a social mood. Although as he explained later, when driving Ricky home, every set of parents who congratulated him pushed Principal Preckwinkle closer to having a stroke.

And that was it. Diego had dropped him off, said he needed to catch up on his sleep, and went on his merry way without mentioning anything about kisses or declarations of love. Not that he would call it that just yet. But a crush was still something.

Ricky had called Diego’s pager yesterday but didn’t get a reply, so in desperation, he’d looked in the yellow pages for Gomez Auto Repair and tried there. It took some doing, but he’d convinced the woman who answered to put Diego on the phone, resulting in a short conversation.

“Do you want to hang out tonight?” Ricky had asked.

“Can’t,” was his gruff reply. “I’m swamped.”

“Oh. I leave town with my parents tomorrow, remember?”

“Fuck, that’s right. What time?”

“My dad says we need to be in the car by ten.”

Diego had promised to swing by before then. And there was only half an hour to go. At this point, he probably wouldn’t show up at all.

“Are you ready?” his mother asked as she passed through the entryway.

“Not yet,” Ricky snapped. “There’s still time.”

He didn’t bother explaining what he meant, choosing instead to step outside into crisp cold air that reminded him of Colorado. Any homesickness for his former state was lost in the avalanche of excitement he experienced when a perfectly tuned engine growled from farther up the street. Ricky ran to the curb to meet the Trans Am, and once it parked, hopped into the passenger-side seat and grinned gleefully at the driver.

“Merry Christmas!” he cried.

Diego glowered at this, although Ricky swore the corner of his mouth twitched, like he wanted to smile. “That’s not until tomorrow.”

“Yeah, I know, but we won’t see each other then. Which I hate. I thought about playing sick or pulling some sort ofHome Alone, but I don’t think my mom will leave me here so soon after… You know.”

“I guess not,” Diego rumbled. “At least you’re going somewhere cool. Seattle is where Nirvana comes from.”