Chapter 20: De Diecinueve
When I got on the bus to get home, I was pulled in by Kit. He had a dazzling smile as e told me, "What took you so long, Kat!"
Hernando was already sitting next to Stoner Sal in the seat across from Kit and mine. "Uh, well I didn't know you were waiting for me. What's up, Kit?"
As we both sit down Kit's smile turns from dazzling to goofy. "Guess who has a date with Rona?"
"You do?" I asked him.
"That's right. Me!" Maybelline Struther turns to look at us as she gives us both an eye roll.
"Earlier it looked like you were having a heated argument and I didn't want to get in the middle of that so I didn't approach you guys."
Kit shrugs. "Well, what started as an argument became a pleasant conversation. She has the heart of an activist just like me." I smile to keep the rest of my thoughts from floating to the surface. If I were to make any remark that sounds negative, I would sound petty.
Instead, I brace myself to say, "I'm really happy for you, Kit."
"Aw, thanks!" Then he continues to talk about where they're going on their date while I smile politely and nod. As I glance away from Kit for a moment, I notice Hernando is looking at me and he looks livid.
My eyes widen in alarm as I minutely shake my head in his direction. Hernando has been somebody to fly off of the handle when family is concerned.
That's why nobody picks on his little sister, Madeline. They don't want Hernando to hear about it.
"Kat?"
I whip my head to look at Kit. "Hmm?"
"I'm sorry. I must he boring you with this talk about Rona's date. But you're a girl so I wanted your opinion."
"On what?" I ask.
Kit starts laughing as he says, "Whoa, I didn't know you were not listening for that long!"
"Maybe she doesn't want to hear about your plans with another girl," says Stoner Sal with a huff. "Geez man, get a clue!"
"Oh, I'm sorry, Kat." Kit's face looks so crestfallen a part of me wants to get back at Stoner Sal for being so blunt. Even if it is the truth.
The part of me that knows it's the truth restrains me from doing so. "It's okay. You're excited so it's no surprise to me."
I look pointedly at Stoner Sal as she's prepared to open her mouth again. She gets jabbed in the side by Hernando's elbow. He learned that from me.
"Well, uh, how was your day?" asks Kit with a huge grin.
"Okay. Nobody stopped me in the halls today because they got injured and there's no game tonight so, I get to go home the same time as everyone else." Even though he nods and smiles I knew his thoughts are somewhere else. It's driving me crazy.
Hernando reaches over Kit and touches my shoulder. "Katrina, our stop is here." As Hernando and I leave the bus with the other kids from my neighborhood, relief washes over me.
"Bye Kit," I reply with the best smile I can muster as I'm the last kid leaving the bus.
He waves energetically as a look of concern shadows his face. Why he's concerned about me I have no idea. It's not like I'm the one completely loco for somebody.
All of us walk like a pack of wolves, stronger together than apart. Safety in numbers. However, as we walk further into our neighborhood, the other kids I go to school with split off into pairs as we approach our individual homes.
When finally, Hernando and I are a single pair together. My cousin smirks at me. "What?!"
"Do you know why I was mad on the bus," says Hernando in Spanish.
"Why?" I reply in English, not wanting to switch languages quite yet.
"I wasn't mad because Kit was annoying you; I enjoyed that part." I narrow my eyes at Hernando. "Point is, I was mad because it annoyed you so much that now for me it's clear. You like Kit, don't you?"
"Pfft! Of course not, Nando. You and Kit are both crazy!" Hernando raises his brows at me in disbelief. "He's my best friend. Liking him would be a complete breach of trust. Kit clearly doesn't see me that way."
"Your face says differently," he says as we stand in front of my home. "For what it's worth Kat, Kit Adair is a fool to not see how special my older cousin is."
I whack him in the arm. "Yeah right, Nando. Go on home!" As he starts to walk away, I yell back to him and Spanish, "And if you're hungry, come back!" Hernando only turns his head slightly, but it's enough to see part of his grin.
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