I let my tears fall down the sides of my face and into my hair. For the first time since moving here, I didn’t feel so alone.
Untouchable - Chapter 5
Monday
I pulled my backpack over one shoulder and hurried out into the kitchen. I probably would have taken ages picking out an outfit to wear today if I had a choice. But I only had one uniform skirt and blazer. I had taken a while putting on mascara and lip gloss though. Matthew Caldwell had noticed me on Friday night. I wanted to make sure that wasn’t a one-time thing.
I stopped at the front door when I saw my Keds on the floor. At least, I thought they were my Keds. But the stains were completely gone. So was the hole in the side. I lifted them up and ran my finger along the stitching where the hole had been a few days ago.Good as new.
There was no note from my uncle. Just my shoes sitting there. I smiled even harder as I kicked off my other shoes and slid on my Keds. I went across the hall and knocked on Kennedy’s door.
She answered, balancing a plate of food in her hand. “You look hot,” she said and shoved some eggs into her mouth. “You’re also twenty minutes early. What gives?”
I shrugged. “Just got ready fast.”
“Nothing to do with Matthew?”
How could she already read me so well?
“Is that Brooklyn?” Kennedy’s mom called from somewhere in their apartment.
“Hi, Mrs. Alcaraz!” I invited myself into Kennedy’s apartment and walked over to her mother in the kitchen.
“Mi amor, are you hungry?” She gave me a swift kiss on the cheek at the same time she flipped an omelet.
“No, I’m good. Thank you though.”
“Sí sí.” She turned her attention back to her daughter when Kennedy set her plate down on the counter. “Kennedy, you need to finish your breakfast. It’s the most important meal of the day.”
“I’m full. Besides, we have to get to school early because Brooklyn has a crush on this boy and she wants to make sure she gets to see him before classes start.”
Wow. Just the truth then?I thought she might make up a fake project or something as our reason to hurry to school. But I wasn’t mad. Honestly, if my mom was here, I would have told her the truth too.
“A boy?” Mrs. Alcaraz asked. “That attends your school?”
The way she said it made me feel uneasy. I understood her skepticism. But she hadn’t met Matthew. He wasn’t like the rest of the students at Empire High.
“Don’t worry, Mama,” Kennedy said. “I won’t let her get mixed up with the wrong crowd.”
Mrs. Alcaraz laughed. “I was more worried about her heart. But only she can protect that.” She winked at me. “Have a good day, mis niñas. Don’t get into any trouble.”
“Nunca!” Kennedy yelled over her shoulder as she grabbed my arm and pulled me to the door.
“What does nunca mean?” I asked as we made our way outside.
“Never.”
“Are you fluent in Spanish?” I only ever heard her use a few Spanish words when she was around her mother. I knew Kennedy’s father was white from the pictures I’d seen around the house. Kennedy had all her mother’s beauty, but her skin was a little lighter. Looking at her you’d just think she was tan.
“No, not really. But I’ve picked up on the important things. Like nunca,” she said with a laugh. “It’s really the most important word. I tend to use it a lot.”
I laughed as she tucked her arm in mine. We walked down the sidewalk, avoiding the homeless man standing on the corner and licking a slice of pizza.
“I see that you decided to get new sneakers,” she said. “I was really hoping you wouldn’t give in. If you like your old ones then you should just wear them.”
“I didn’t buy new ones. My uncle fixed them.” What kind of money did she think I had lying around? And I loved my Keds. I wouldn’t let one jerk tell me what I could and couldn’t wear. Even if said jerk was intimidating. And awful. And a little scary.
“Really?” Kennedy stared down at my shoes as we approached the school. “Wow, they look almost perfect. Go Uncle Jim. Firstthe gossip thing. Now he’s a cobbler? I don’t know him nearly as well as I thought. He’s really pulling out all the stops for you.”
