Chapter 32: Treinta y Uno
I set a folding chair near my window so I could open my window to look out at the stars every night as I hear Sun's voice on the line. "I'm wishing on a star right now, Katrina."
My heart jumps as he says one of my full first names. I love how he says it. Like my name is a jewel in the palm of his hand. "What for?" I ask him.
"Well, my school is going to have a Halloween event and I'm allowed to bring a plus one. The only plus one I'd accept is yours." I tilt my rectangular phone horizontal to my ear so he won't hear my heavy breathing. "Katrina, are you still there?"
Glancing up at the stars I tell Sun, "Yes, I'm here." I've been a bit stressed out lately which is a huge understatement. I finally used that blank check that Alejandro gave me and paid not only for the clean carpets with it, but for the cleaners silence on the matter.
When my mom arrived home the other day, she raised her brow at the clean carpet. "What happened here?"
"Weirdest thing. Apparently, Alejandro knows a cleaner who did the work for free."
Mom sat on the couch for a moment, looking at the beautifully stainless rug, before asking me, "Alejandro didn't stop by himself did he?"
"No mama, he didn't."
"Good because he's still not welcome under my roof." I remember feeling taken aback when mom said that. Only because she always referred to where we lived as our roof.
"Katrinaaaaa?"
"Hmm?"
"What's going on in that head of yours?" asks Sun with a smile in his voice.
"I was just wondering what your wish was, but don't tell me! If you tell me, then whatever you've wished for won't come true." After I say that I hear him chuckle.
"You know, if you're stressed out you can talk to me. I'm here with you ready to listen. As are the stars." The stars are glittering beautifully as I rest my chin on the windowsill. "Best part is that the stars and I won't even blab."
The stars I believe, but Sun? Like I want to burden him with the Alejandro situation.
So instead, I tell him the other thing on my mind. "I've been thinking of what to wear for Halloween. My mom is letting me attend a Harvest Festival at my school. My friend Kit gave me some suggestions. Want to hear the list?"
"Sure, get the list!" Sun replies enthusiastically. I pull the half folded crinkled paper out of my backpack.
"Let's see: Top five I've been thinking as I narrowed it down to from Kit's list is Storm Trooper, Sriracha Bottle, Ms. Pac Man, Moana, and Wendy." After I say the list, there's a long pause.
"Wendy from where?" asks Sun.
"Oh! From Peter Pan. That Wendy." Seriously, he didn't know what Wendy I was referring to? There's only one!
"I like you being dressed as Moana though," he replies. "Then again, I'm a guy so any costume showing some skin is one I'm behind."
I wrinkle my nose at this as I say, "Oh? Well what if I want to dress demurely like Wendy Darling?"
"I'm behind that too...I'd feel sad that you don't have a Peter Pan though."
"Wendy Darling it is. I'll be the confident Wendy who doesn't need a freaking Peter Pan!" At this exclamation, I realize I've been too loud. "Whoops, too much? I'm not on speaker on your end am I?"
"No, you never were put on speaker. I like hearing you all by myself."
"I like hearing you for just myself too and I wish you were at the Harvest Festival at my school too! What will you dress up as?"
"Peter Pan. I'll take lots of pictures too and send them to you, Ms. Darling. So you won't miss me. You know, since I'll be in Neverland and all."
"You're willing to go through the humiliation that costume would bring?!"
"It's not humiliating if you look great in tights."
"Pfft! Did you wore tights before?" I ask him.
"Sort of. I wear breeches when I'm fencing so they can't be that different from tights." He laughs as he adds, "Two years ago me and two friends from fencing class dressed up.as the three musketeers for Halloween."
"I didn't know you could fence?" I say with genuine wonder. "I know fencing is in the Olympics, but it's not a sport many schools have."
Sun sighs as he says, "That's why I go to a school known commonly as a private school. What happens in private school stays in private school." I roll my eyes at his words, but smile anyway.
"Don't make going to a private school sound like Las Vegas. Aside from the mandatory uniform, which you looked great in by the way, it's not that cool." Silence is on both sides of the phone line and I'm tempted to fill in the silence with softer words.
"You're right; it's not that cool. After meeting you I wonder how I'd be in a public school setting. The antics we'd get into like you and Kit do. She sounds like an awesome best friend to have." I stand up straighter in my chair and giggle. "What is it?"
"Oh? I thought I already told you but I guess not. Kit's a boy."
"Seriously?" asks Sun. "I'm sorry, I didn't meant to assume. Wow!"
Sun's 'wow' echoes a feeling of disbelief and anger? "Well, if it makes you more comfortable, Kit is currently attached and has a girlfriend. She even suggested we should go out on a double date together. Would you like to do that after I'm free from being grounded?"
"Sure, I'd like that," says Sun back to his normal warm voice. "Does that mean I'm your boyfriend, Katrina."
"I wouldn't know, Sun. I never had one." In truth, I would love to be Sun's girlfriend. However, there's an ever growing concern I can't seem to shake. You see, after that day when Alejandro gave me the blank check, I've been getting flower deliveries.
At first, I thought mom had a secret admirer and so did she. Just yesterday though, I got a delivery of the first pot of flowers with a note attached: You're my inspiration, Kat -Alex. I didn't tell my mom about the note, but before I get another flower delivery I need to speak with Alejandro.
"Well, I'd like to be your boyfriend if you'll have me. No pressure though," replies Sun.
I sigh as I answer back, "You don't realize just how comforting your words are, Sun. Thank you and I'll think about being your girlfriend."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone