Page 106 of Pride High

“Let me go look,” Silvia said. She hesitated and glanced at the customer. “Sorry. It was nice talking to you. We’ll have to catch up some other time.”

“No problem,” the man replied. “Thanks for the recommendations!”

She nodded and walked toward the rear of the store until the man had finally gone. Then she turned around, looking expectant.

Omar rushed over to meet her. “I didnottell Anthony that you gave me a BJ.”

“Then why did he say that?” she asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

“He was confused.”

“I am too. I thought we both lacked experience.”

“That’s the only thing I’d ever done before,” Omar said.

“With who?” Silvia asked.

His mouth snapped shut. He didn’t want her to know. She would think he was something that he wasn’t. Plus, he was pretty sure that Ricky might be gay, and that seemed like an important thing to keep secret. Otherwise he’d probably get his ass kicked at school each day, but Omar also didn’t want to pretend it was some made-up girl, because he didn’t want to lie to her at all.

“I don’t want to say,” he replied.

“Why not?”

“Because you wouldn’t like it if I went around telling people about the stuff we do. That wouldn’t be cool.”

Silvia scowled at this. “So instead, you let someone believe it was me.”

“Well no…”

“Isn’t that what happened?”

“Yes!” Omar shot back. “It’s the same crappy situation I’m in now. If I had told Anthony that it wasn’t you, then he would have asked who it really was, and what am I supposed to do then?”

“Tell him to mind his own business!” Silvia growled while shaking her head. “It’s not that hard!”

“That’s exactly what I did just now! You wanted to know who it was, and I told you that I don’t want to talk about it. I’m embarrassed! I wish it hadn’t happened at all.”

“That makes two of us,” Silvia said, brushing past him.

Omar sighed. “You’re right. I fucked up, okay?”

“It’s not okay,” Silvia said, spinning around to face him with ferocity. “I need someone I can trust. Someone who cares about me more than their own reputation. I don’t think this is a good idea anymore.”

Omar felt a jolt of panic. “What do you mean?”

“Us,” Silvia said, gesturing at herself. “I don’t think we should see each other.”

“You want to break up?” Omar moved toward her. “Don’t say that. Please!”

“I’m sorry,” Silvia said. “You don’t understand. And I can’t explain. Believe me when I say that it’s for the best.”

He reached for her hand, but she pulled it away.

“I love you,” Omar croaked. “I really do.”

“This isn’t the time to tell me that,” Silvia said with a sigh.

“Why not?”

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