Quince Clash (6 page)

“No way!” Fabi's worries faded as she grew more excited.

“And that's not all. We just signed on the hot new reggaeton dance hall duo from Guatemala, Los Duendes del Don. Have you heard of them? Anyway, they'll be releasing their latest single at your quinceañera. Oh, Fabi.” Grace put her arm around Fabi's shoulders. Fabi couldn't believe her luck — she felt like a winning contestant on some game show. Grace sighed with another heartfelt smile. “This is going to be the best party of your life. I guarantee you.”

Fabi couldn't believe her luck. Maybe her grandma Trini tricked her way into being a
dama
. But this show was going to save her family a ton of money, and she was going to have the most amazing party of all time. People would be talking about her quinceañera for years to come. This was really a quinceañera's dream come true.

“So …?” Grace asked. They were standing in the main entrance. Fabi noticed that they were right on top of the mosaic of the fighting catfish — the school mascot. “There was no mention of a
chambelán
in your story. We were all wondering if there was a special someone you had in mind.”

Fabi felt her cheeks grow hot.

“There is! I knew it. Who is he? Does he go to school here?” Grace was so cool, Fabi thought. She was like the older sister she'd never had. Fabi felt like she could tell her anything.

“Well, there is this boy,” Fabi began.

“Yes?”

She knew that her cheeks were turning bright red. But she forced herself to go on. “His name is Daniel Cruz.”

“Have you asked him?”

“No.”

“What are you waiting for? Fabi, I know we're kind of rushing you. We had to push forward the party to get it in for this season. I really think this may be the best show ever produced.” Grace glanced at her thin watch and then smiled at Fabi again. “There's no time like the present.”

 

They looked up Daniel's schedule in the office. The clerk, Mrs. Galvan, was more than eager to supply them with whatever information they needed. “He has PE in the gym for another twenty minutes,” she said.

As they stood at the doorway of the gymnasium, Fabi paused. She couldn't believe she was actually doing this. But Grace had this super-woman confidence that was rubbing off on Fabi. It made her feel like she was actually in control of her life. Plus, she didn't want to let Grace down.

Her heart was pounding like never before. She swallowed as the cameraman started counting down, “Three … two … one … rolling.”

Grace wanted to capture every important event leading up to the party, and choosing the
chambelán
was number one on the list. “In the event that he says no,” Grace had added as a side note, “we can always cut it out.”
Great
, Fabi thought.

Now Fabi took a deep breath and entered the gymnasium. The room smelled of pine-scented disinfectant. Basketballs were bouncing across the floor. Students were shouting, as the class was in the middle of basketball drills. She couldn't believe that she was actually going to do this — in front of
everyone
. The camera was rolling. There was no way she could back out now.

The gym teacher noticed the camera and blew his whistle for attention. The students welcomed the break. They lined up on their numbers on the floor. Fabi saw Milo and tried to wave. He smiled back. His eyes lit up when he noticed the camera.

“Can I help you?” the gym teacher asked, smiling knowingly. Did everyone know?

Fabi tried to talk but her nerves were getting the better of her. Thankfully, Grace jumped in.

“Sorry to interrupt, sir. We're” — Grace motioned to the cameraman — “from
Quince Dreams
, a new reality TV show, and we're following Fabiola Garza around as she prepares for her quinceañera. There's a special boy here that she'd like to talk to.”

The gym teacher motioned for her to proceed.

Slowly, Fabi walked down the line of students. All the boys smiled at her, hoping to be chosen to be the star of Fabi's show. Milo blushed as she came toward him. He was one of her best friends. She had him to thank for all of this. But that would have to wait until later. Right now she had to focus on her show. Fabi stopped in front of Daniel. He stared back at her with a surprised expression. Her nerves jammed her senses. This was a mistake, she thought. They'd just met. What if he laughed? What if he said no? What was she thinking? He was out of her league — way too cool for her. Fabi tried to step back, but Grace was right behind her.

“Um, Daniel, hi.”

“Hi,” he said back.

“Um, I was thinking. Wondering, actually. So I have this party and I need a
chambelán
. So how about it?”

The room was completely silent as everyone leaned in to hear his response. Daniel glanced quickly around the room and then at the camera that was focused on his face. He turned bright red. Fabi's heart was racing. She started to feel faint. Daniel looked at Fabi and smiled weakly.

“Sure,” he said shyly. The crowd whooped and hollered in approval.

Fabi jumped excitedly with relief and gave him a hug. “Thank you. Thank you, thank you,” she said. Students rushed up to them in congratulations. The rest of the kids made signs with their hands and waved at the camera. Over their heads, Fabi looked for Milo. But she couldn't find him anywhere.

T
he rest of the week whirled by. Grace stuck to Fabi like Velcro, attending all of her classes and interviewing classmates, teachers, and even the lunch lady. Fabi loved all the attention. Her heart was bursting at the seams. She didn't know life could be so good — she wished that every week could be this amazing! But by Friday, Fabi was looking forward to a break.
Who knew that being a TV celebrity was so draining?

Grace dropped Fabi off at the restaurant after school. She had to meet with her director and promised to swing by later. As she was about to enter the family restaurant, Fabi heard the sounds of people arguing. It was coming from around back. The voices sounded familiar, so she decided to check it out.

Fabi poked her head around the building, into the dirt alley behind the restaurant. She ignored the graffiti covering the exterior. She'd already painted over the tags three times in the last couple of months. A freshly painted wall just tempted every boy in town to make public his love for his girlfriend by spray-painting a big heart with “Juanito loves Juanita” (or whatever) inside.

The angry voices grew louder — and one of them belonged to her cousin Santiago. She was about to charge into the backyard, but then she caught a glimpse of the Salinas brothers and she ducked back behind the wooden fence. Their backs were to her, so they didn't see her. Ever so slowly, she peeked around the gate.

“You can't hide from us, man,” Brandon Salinas said. He had Santiago by the shirt collar and shook him roughly. His dopey-looking brother, Travis, was standing next to him.

“Yeah, man, you can't hide,” added Travis.

Fabi grew nervous. The Salinas brothers were trouble. Ever since they were small, they were always stealing bikes or beating up younger kids for their candies or shoes. Now that they were bigger, she knew whatever they were up to couldn't be good.

“Guys,” Santiago began. He smiled as he wiggled free from Brandon's grip. Her cousin looked tired. There was a heavy trash bag at his feet. Santiago glanced over his shoulder toward the back door of the restaurant and lowered his voice. “I already told you. I'm not into that stuff anymore. Leave me alone, all right?”

Brandon spat on the ground. “What? You think you can just drop out and no one would notice? We had a deal, man, and we want what's ours.”

“Yeah, you can't drop out,” Travis echoed.

Santiago looked over Brandon's shoulder. Brandon noticed and turned his head in Fabi's direction.
Darn
, she thought. Fabi took a step into the clearing, unsure of what to do next.

Santiago leaned in to the Salinas brothers. “Look, I can't talk now. Not here. I'll call you guys tonight. I promise.”

Brandon looked at Fabi, then nodded to Santiago. “All right, but you better call. I don't like chasing your punk ass.”

“Yeah, punk,” repeated his brother.

The Salinas brothers walked toward Fabi. Brandon nodded to her as he passed. Travis also nodded.
What a bunch of dorks
, Fabi thought. But they had big egos and guns, and that made them dangerous. Fabi feared that her cousin was in way over his head.

When they left, Fabi walked over to Santiago. He was throwing the trash bag into the Dumpster in the alley.

“Everything all right?” she asked, knowing that things definitely weren't.

Santiago looked down the alley in the direction the Salinas brothers went. “Don't worry about it. I can handle them.”

“Santiago —” Her voice cracked, revealing her anxiety. “I know it's none of my business, but I'm really worried about you. You've been lucky so far, but this can't go on. I'm serious.”

“Don't you think I know that?” Santiago snapped. Fabi jumped. “Don't you see me trying to change? I've been going to school and helping at the restaurant. I told those guys that I don't want to be involved in any more of their business. But you saw them,” he said, gesturing down the alley. “They just won't let me be.”

“But why don't you tell someone?” Fabi pleaded. “What about Officer Sanchez? Maybe he can help. Maybe he can get a restraining order or lock them up.”

“That crap don't work. If I snitch on those guys, then they'll
really
come after me. Those fools know where I live.” He kicked the dirt angrily. “It's not me that I'm worried about. I'd put my mom and all you in danger.”

Santiago laughed, giving Fabi one of his signature “everything is cool” smiles. He turned over a milk crate and sat down, studying the ground. “You know what really sucks?”

“What?” Fabi grabbed another milk crate and sat next to him.

“When I was stuck in that mafioso's closet, I prayed. And you know me. I never pray. I prayed to La Virgen. I swore that if she got me out of that mess, I would change. And for a while it was going good. I've got this new cute English teacher from Chicago. I'm never late for her class.” He chuckled softly. “My mom's even proud of me, you know?” He blew a curly lock from his face. “I used to think that if I made a lot of money, she could quit her job and be happy. But she was happier seeing me all dressed up like a stupid schoolboy, imagine that. She even got me some community college brochures. Ha! But it was all a dream, a lie. I guess I was just kidding myself. I'm a screwup, Fabi, and I'll always be one.”

Fabi reached out to him, but was interrupted by a coughing sound. She looked up and saw Grace Cooper standing in the alley entrance. Grace smiled awkwardly.

“I'm sorry if I'm interrupting.”

Santiago licked his lips, stood up, and brushed his pants. “Hey, you're the TV lady!” He'd switched on the charm as if nothing had just happened. Fabi didn't know how he could do that. “You're here to do a show on Fabiola. Ain't that right?”

Grace smiled brightly. “Why, yes, I am. Are you family?”

“Well, I don't like to brag,” Santiago said, straightening up. “But I am her best-looking cousin.”

Fabi smirked and swatted him on the stomach.

“What?” he said, pretending to be surprised. “It's true.”

Grace smiled, enjoying the banter. “So will you be in the quince party?”

“For sure,” Santiago said, breaking out into a little dance. “I've got moves.”

Grace laughed at Santiago's antics. Then she looked at Fabi and the light dimmed in her eyes. She pulled out a manila envelope from her large leather handbag. “I'm really sorry to have to do this, but my boss really wants you to sign these documents.”

“No problem,” Fabi said, walking over to her.

“It's just some legal documents giving us permission to tape you at home and …” Her face fell completely, and Fabi became nervous. This couldn't be good. “There's no delicate way to say this. My boss wants permission to film you
if
you get sick.”

Santiago shot Fabi a surprised look.

Fabi shrugged back at him. “Okay,” she said.

“I'm really sorry. But he really wants to tape everything, you know.”

This conversation was getting stranger and stranger. What was she talking about? But instead of asking, Fabi just nodded.

Grace let out a sigh of relief and smiled sadly. “Oh, Fabi, you're such a good sport. I really appreciate you letting us do this. You're a brave girl.” She glanced at her watch. “Great! I've got to go. We want to get some shots of the town before the light goes. See you tomorrow.” Grace waved and headed down the alley.

Santiago turned to her. “What was that all about?”

“Beats me,” Fabi said, shaking her head in confusion. Something was up, and she couldn't shake the feeling that things were going seriously wrong. “But I know who does, and I'm getting to the bottom of it right now.”

 

Fabi and Santiago entered the restaurant from the back. A Johnny Cash classic was playing on the old jukebox and customers were chattering excitedly. The usual clanging of pots came from the kitchen, where her father was busy preparing meals. Chuy was rushing between the
comal
and the counter, filling orders for more flour tortillas.

Chuy saw them and called out in Spanish, “Where you guys been? That TV lady was here looking for you.”

“I saw her out back,” Fabi said, gesturing to the alley.

Chuy nodded, then turned to Santiago. “Hey, those dishes aren't going to wash themselves.”

Santiago grabbed Fabi's elbow and said, “Promise me you won't mention what you saw back there, you know, with the Salinas brothers. I meant it when I said I'd take care of it. I don't want you to worry about it, okay?”

“But, Santi —” Fabi protested.

He pinched her cheek softly. “You just focus on being amazing for the cameras. Okay,
guapa
?”

“Fine,” she agreed. “Promise me you won't do anything crazy without talking to me first?”

Santiago smiled just as Mr. Garza repeated Chuy's request for him to wash the dishes. “Got to go. Boss man wants his dishes clean.”

Fabi shook her head as Santiago hurried into the kitchen. She couldn't help but worry about her cousin. But this wasn't the time. Fabi looked across the room at her grandma Trini and Alexis. They were flipping through some fashion magazine and ripping out pictures they liked. She marched over to them to get some answers.

“Hey,” Alexis said with a big smile, “what do you think of this dress? I like off the shoulders, but Grandma Trini wants a mermaid-style
dama
dress.”

“I have to show off what God gave me,” Grandma Trini said, gesturing to her bosom. “You know, before they go down to my knees.” Alexis started to giggle. But Fabi wasn't laughing.

“What's the matter?”

“What's the matter?” Fabi cried.
“What's the matter?”
The customers nearest her stopped eating to see what was going on.

Grandma Trini smiled with a pained expression and pulled Fabi down into the chair next to her. The crowd lost interest and went back to socializing. “Who stuck a burr under your saddle?” Trini asked curtly. “This show is called
Quince Dreams
, not
Quince Malcriada
. We do all this for you and then we get yelled at like children.”

Fabi was not going to let her grandmother bulldoze her into feeling guilty about something she didn't even do. Not now, when what she really needed were answers.

“Fine. I will not act like a brat. But you guys need to tell me what's really going on here. Why did Grace Cooper just give me a stack of release forms for when I get sick? And why does she keep saying that I'm a brave girl? What
exactly
did you guys say in that application?”

Grandma Trini and Alexis shared a glance. Then they both blushed as if caught in a lie. The hairs on Fabi's arms shot up. Was this all a lie?

“I want to see the letter you guys wrote,” she said.

Alexis sighed. “Oh, what does it matter what we said? The important thing is that it's happening. In just two weeks you are going to have the biggest, coolest quinceañera in the Valley. People will be talking about it for years!”

Now Fabi knew she had reason to be
really
worried. “The letter!” she demanded, holding out her hand.

Alexis turned to Grandma Trini, who frowned as she reached into her bosom and pulled out a folded piece of paper. “It's only the rough draft,” she said. “I kept it as a memento.”

Fabi reached for it. But her grandmother wouldn't let it go. They tugged back and forth for a minute until Grandma Trini finally surrendered. “Fine. But we only did it because we love you. And we wanted you to have the quinceañera you deserve.”

Fabi didn't want to hear the excuses. She wanted the facts. What exactly had her family gotten her into? Her hands started to shake as she unfolded the letter that was stained with Jean Naté perfume. Fabi bit her lower lip as she read. She noticed her sister's small handwriting.

Okay
, she thought.
This doesn't sound too bad.
She continued to read.

Okay, so that's stretching the truth a bit. But not horrible …

“Dying?!”

Alexis and Grandma Trini squirmed under Fabi's rage.

“We had to make it good!” Alexis cried.

Fabi dropped the letter. She couldn't read any more. It disgusted her. How could they? How could they lie like that? But then the fog in her head cleared. The pieces fit into place. Grace's comment, the legal documents — it all made sense now. Grace thought that she was dying, and she wanted to give Fabi her last dying wish.

Her stomach knotted up and she balled her hands into tight fists. It was all a lie.

“Guys!” she cried, beside herself. “How could you do this? This is … this is … I don't know what this is, but it's wrong — so wrong. I can't believe you lied. Lied to
Quince Dreams
! When they find out …”

“How are they going to find out?” Alexis said. Her voice was light and indifferent. “We told them it was a secret. They won't mention anything to Mom and Dad, I know it.”