Page 58 of Pride High 3: Yellow

“Keisha Hart. She saw you holding hands with her.”

“No,” Omar said firmly. “Faith was holdingmyhand. It was one-sided, believe me. Her and her sister were dragging me around and asking me to film them. It just kind of happened. I know that sounds like bullshit, but it’s true.”

“That’s fine,” Silvia said, having no reason to doubt him. “I just felt a little jealous when I heard about it.”

“Why would Keisha tell you anyway?” Omar grumbled. “She must think I’m the kind of scuzzball who cheats on his girl.”

“Not really.” Silvia hadn’t gotten that impression. Keisha hadn’t accused Omar of indiscretion or suggested they break up. “It was more of a warning,” Silvia explained. “She thinks Faith is interested in you. And that she didn’t know about me yet.”

“I told her right away!” Omar said, pulling on a Metallica T-shirt. “You’re right that she didn’t know before, but when Keisha brought it up, I told Faith how much I love you. Right in front of her!”

That was sweet. “I’m not accusing you of anything. When guys flirt with me—”

“Wait, what?”

“Girls get more unwanted attention than you probably realize,” Silvia explained patiently. “When that happens to me, I make sure to tell them upfront that I’m already seeing someone. So the next time some girl gets grabby with you, find an excuse to mention me. That’s all I’m saying.”

Omar exhaled. “I’ll have to be on guard, now that—” He glanced at her self-consciously and clamped his mouth shut.

“Now that what?” she pressed.

“Girls can tell, can’t they? When a guy is having sex?”

“I mean, considering the level of involvement, I should hope so.”

“Huh?” He thought about it and laughed. “No, I mean in general. Because ever since Valentine’s Day, the Song sisters have been all over me, and some girl smiled at me in the cafeteria the other day.”

Silvia squinted. “Wait, you think we can magically sense when a boy has had sex before? And even if we could, why would that turn us on?”

“I don’t know,” Omar replied sheepishly. “I figured you activated my pheromones or something.”

Silvia laughed. She couldn’t help it. “Those girls are flirting with you because you’re handsome.”

“I am?” he asked before grinning. “I mean, my mom always says that, but she kind of has to since she’s the one who made me.”

Silvia shook her head, feeling a surge of affection for him. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Maybe a little. Either way, the next time a girl makes eyes at me, I’m going to tell her all about you.”

“Good.”

“And uh… you’ll do the same? We could get lockets with our photos inside and wear them open all the time.”

“I think we can simply keep trusting each other,” Silvia said, kissing him before they left the room together.

They ran into Mindy on the way down the stairs. “Omar!” she said. “I was just looking for you.”

“See?” Omar whispered. “This is what I’m talking about.”

“I don’t think she’s flirting with you,” Silvia said, barely repressing a smile.

“What?!” Mindy cried. “Gross! I wanted to talk to you about dancing. You’re really good.”

“You shouldn’t be surprised,” Omar said as they continued downstairs as a group. “We’ve shaken our booties together. Remember that double date we went on?”

“How could I forget?” Mindy muttered.

“Oh right. The dress.”