Chapter 30: Veintinueve
Yesterday I asked my mom if Kit could come over. She was thrilled as I have never asked her if a friend of mine could come over. After I told her my best friend Kit would stop by her answer was, "Great! I can't wait to meet him." My mom's enthusiasm also had a hunger in her eyes. I feel really sorry for Kit.
As I step on the bus this morning, I take my seat in the back waiting for Kit. When he get's on the bus, he quickly approaches me. Before he even sits down he says, "Okay, so I'll see you next weekend! Where do you live?"
"I'll text you the address," I reply with a smirk.
"Okay great...so, does your mom know a little bit about me?" I raise my brow as he adds, "You know, our escapades and such."
"No. Like my mom needs to know how many times I've been summoned to the principal's office." Hernando's eyes light up at this and I grumble at him in Spanish, "Don't you dare!"
Kit puts his hands up in mock surrender, "No need to mumble at us in Spanish, Kat. I'm curious how much your mom does know, though." As Kit waits for me to answer, the bus hits a speed bump, causing everybody to jump in their seats.
"Road turbulence," exclaims Stoner Sal with an eye roll.
"She knows nothing. So don't start telling her. You too Nando!" Hernando frowns in response. I narrow my eyes at Kit as I say, "Besides, your parents don't know much about me either."
"True. My mom thought you were an imaginary friend I made up and not even a human friend. Like, a spiritual cat friend." Hernando and Stoner Sal both roars in laughter at what Kit just said.
"Well you know what Kit. My mom thought you were a girl. Because she never heard of a boy with the name Kit. Or if I want to be accurate..."
"Awe Kat, c'mon!"
"Kitrick."
Kit sighs at my use of his full first name. Meanwhile, Hernando and Stoner Sal snickers and does a fist bump. Were they keeping score or something? It's not like I call Kit, Kitrick everyday.
"Well Kat, for what it's worth, I can't wait to walk around your neighborhood."
"What?!"
"You don't remember the part where I'm getting a tour and you're the guide?" I wrinkle my nose at the memory of my reluctant yes.
"Oh right," I reply.
Kit frowns at me for a moment. "You didn't remember did you?" When I shake my head, Kit chuckles. "You know Kat, if I didn't know any better I'd say you wouldn't want me to see your neighborhood. Is that it?"
"Yeah Kit, get a clue!" yells Maybelline over her shoulder. "Kat's neighborhood is also known as the ghetto," Maybelline chirps. Maybelline's girlfriends giggle and look at Kit and I in sneers.
I feel Kit tensing up as he sits next to me and I know he's about to say something. Till, Hernando says, "Yeah, you're right May. We're from the ghetto so watch out! We know how to use our machetes and know how to make gringos disappear!"
Maybelline gasps and says aloud, "Bus driver! Hernando threatened me!!!!!"
The bus driver stops at a red stop light and whips his head around. "Hernando, apologize or get off of my bus."
Hernando's face is one of shock. "What?!"
"You heard me, boy!" yells the bus driver.
I whisper to Hernando, "Just apologize." Hernando shakes his head at my plea. Instead, he stands up and even though the light has just turned green, the bus driver opens the door. As I see my cousin start to walk the last two blocks to school, Kit looks livid.
"STOP THE BUS!" yells Kit. The bus driver looks in his rear view mirror. "YOU HEARD ME! STOP!!! I WANT OUT!!!"
"Kit? What are you---"
"I'm not going to let your cousin walk to school alone, Kat. You can stay on the bus if you want. Or, you can walk with me and Nando." As the bus screeches to a stop again, and a chorus of cars from behind the bus starts honking, Kit and I approach the front of the bus to get off.
"You're all crazy!" yells Maybelline as we pass by.
"No May, you are," Kit replies. He moves his arm up towards her and I snatch it so it's in my grasp instead. I know he's taken to the habit of flipping the bird. He learned that sort of behavior from Rhett because flipping the bird at people is not stuff I do.
When we get off of the bus, I let go of Kit's arm. I see Maybelline's look of outrage and don't even have to glance at Kit to know he's flipped her the bird. "Just because Rhett thinks it's cool to flip the bird like a child doesn't mean you have to follow in his steps, Kit."
"What are you my ma?!" exclaims Kit as he butts his elbow with my arm. "Nando!" he yells and waves wildly as my cousin is a fast walker.
Hernando turns to look and smirks. "What are you guys doing here?"
Kit pats his back as he says, "In the name of friendship we leave no man--" I clear my throat, "Or woman, behind." All of us stop walking when the school bus stops again. As the doors pop open, Stoner Sal runs out.
We hear the bus driver holler on the bus, "NOBODY ELSE LEAVES THIS BUS!"
Stoner Sal waves at the departing bus before walking towards us. "Hey muchachos," she says aloud with a peace sign. Kit puts on a dazzling smile.
"Hello Sal, how are you today?" Hernando raises his brow as he looks between Kit and Sal.
"I'm better than great. I got off the bus...with some difficulty but...I managed it."
"How did you get off of the bus?" asks Hernando.
Stoner Sal shrugs as she replies, "Oh, I just caused a disturbance is all. Would you like to know more or just forget about it?"
We all start walking together as we all say, "More."
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