CHAPTER TWO

Abel couldn't talk with anyone in his family about what had happened with Claudia. He wasn't close to his father, and, anyway, Dad shared everything with Mom. Abel could just hear his mother's high-pitched wail. "Oh, poor Abel! I knew that girl was no good for you. Didn't I tell you she wasn't for you? The stuck-up little snob, thinks she's better than everyone else because she goes to that private school. I saw that right away. Poor Abel. You must feel terrible! This is so humiliating!"

The only person Abel could talk to was his best friend, Ernesto Sandoval. Abel didn't want to tell the gang, the kids he hung with every day at lunch. He just wanted to go off somewhere and talk privately with Ernie. Whatever he told Ernesto would go no further. Ernesto wouldn't be gossiping about what happened between Abel and Claudia. Abel punched in Ernesto's cell number.

"Yeah?" Ernesto answered.

"Ernie, it's Abel. Listen, any chance I could pick you up at your house now. Maybe we could hang out at Hortencia's for half an hour? I know it's late but . . . ," Abel asked.

Ernesto didn't hesitate. "I'll be out front waiting, dude. I was just watching some lame stuff on YouTube."

"Thanks," Abel said with relief.

Ernesto was waiting in front of his house on Wren Street. When Abel came by, he jumped into the Jetta, and they headed for Hortencia's. Hortencia Sandoval, Ernesto's aunt, owned Hortencia's restaurant and tamale shop. The place had nice secluded booths for talking. Hortencia was Ernesto's father's youngest sister. In her early thirties, she was young and pretty. She planned to marry Oscar Perez, who had a lively Latin band in Los Angeles. Hortencia was popular with everybody, especially the young people.

"Hey, man, thanks a lot for this," Abel said.

"Anytime, homie. What's going down?" Ernesto asked.

"Claudia, she dumped me, man," Abel confessed. "I knew she was acting weird lately, but I didn't see this coming. Tonight, after work, her father cornered me. He put on this big rant about me and Claudia being too young to be so close. She needed to see other guys. Oh man, it went on and on. It blew me away, man."

"I'm sorry, dude, really sorry," Ernesto said.

"Yeah," Abel murmured. "You know, I been worried about how she's been acting. The other night she turned down going with me to a movie she really wanted to see. Told me some bull about a sick aunt. Anyway, I drove over there and saw her jump into a Ford Ranger with another guy."

"She's already got a new boyfriend?" Ernesto asked in surprise. "That doesn't sound like Claudia."

"Nah, she said this dude, Victor Toro, he was the son of her father's old friend," Abel responded. "She sorta let on that she had to go out with the guy to please her father. But I wasn't buying that. I think she's into this Toro guy. He goes to the boys school nearby her private girls school. He looked like an A-list jerk. Football-player build. Looked way better than me, man. I think Claudia is starting to see who I really am, a wimpy little nobody. She's looking for something better." Abel's low self-esteem was crushing him.

"Knock it off, Abel," Ernesto insisted. "You're a good-looking, smart guy. You're a genius in the kitchen with a bright future. I don't know what's going on with Claudia. Did you ask her how she really felt about you guys?"

Abel just shrugged. They were pulling into the parking lot at Hortencia's. They didn't speak as they went inside and found the most remote booth in the back. Once seated and waiting for their orders, Abel spoke.

"I was going to ask her straight if she didn't want to see me anymore," he said. The waitress put their hot chocolates down.

"And she said?" Ernesto demanded.

"I never got a chance to ask," Abel answered. "Just then her father came along, and he did all the talking. He told me he thought we were too young to be together all the time. I still don't know if he was just helping her dump me."

Abel sipped his hot chocolate with a hurt look on his face. Then spoke again. "I looked over at her while her dad was going on. She was crying. I guess that's something."

"Abel," Ernesto declared, "you need to know what's going on here. I've always liked Claudia, and I figured you guys were good for each other. But Claudia is a kinda sheltered girl, so maybe this is all about her parents. I mean, her parents probably control her a lot more than most parents of the kids at Chavez, you know? So you gotta find out where she's really coming from, man."

"Ernie," Abel responded, "you remember when you first started going with Naomi? Old Felix Martinez didn't treat you right. He would have preferred that thug, Clay Aguirre, for Naomi. He said you were a weakling or something. Same with Carmen. Her dad didn't want her dating a dude with a rattlesnake tattooed on his hand. To them, he was just a guy who hangs with wannabe gangbangers. But Naomi and Carmen, they stood up for themselves. How come Claudia doesn't, you know, stand up for herself-for us?"

"Dude, like I been saying, the girls at Chavez are more independent. They're tougher," Ernesto said.

"Ernie, I really care about this girl. You hear what I'm saying?" Abel said, his voice breaking. "I can't keep on working at that doughnut place with her. I can't keep seeing her all the time, knowing she doesn't like me anymore. I mean, it'd be like rubbing salt in a raw wound, man."

"I understand, Abel," Ernesto responded. "But before you do anything, talk to her. Ask her how she really feels. Last time you wanted to ask her, her father was right there. He did all the talking. When you get the chance at work, ask her. Okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, you're right, man," Abel agreed, nodding yes. "I was gonna call Hector Ponce tomorrow and tell him I wasn't coming in anymore. I mean, my head is spinning. But that'd be wrong. I feel like somebody cut my legs out from under me, Ernie. I really needed to talk to you. Thanks for being here."

"Abel, I got your back," Ernesto assured him. "Don't you ever forget that. You're the best friend I ever had. I'm not ever gonna forget that, man. When I first got to Chavez, I felt like I just stepped off a spaceship. I didn't think I'd make it, but you got me through. You were my rock, amigo."

Abel smiled a little. "I feel a little better. I'm not so crazy in my head, you know. Maybe Claudia's parents have her backed up against the wall. Maybe the worst thing I could do is desert her now. Maybe she needs me now more than ever."

"Right!" Ernesto agreed. "Just go back to work, be nice and friendly like. When you get the chance, ask her how she honestly feels. Don't diss her parents or anything. Just say you know she's a chick who really obeys her parents. Let her know you know what she's up against."

"Ernie, I owe you one," Abel said. "One of these Sundays I'll be over to your house to make you guys gazpacho. I've learned to make it over at the Sting Ray. That dude, Pedro, he's amazing. I'm learning so much from him. This gazpacho has roasted shrimp and piquillo peppers and an epazote leaf. It's got all the things you can only get in Mexican grocery stores. You'll love it."

Ernesto grinned. "You don't owe me, but I'll take it."

The boys finished their hot chocolates, talking about other things. Abel dropped Ernesto home before going home himself.

Abel drove to his house on Sparrow Street. He was still worried about Claudia. But talking to Ernesto had lifted his spirits and given him hope.

"Abel," Mom called to him as he came in. "Why are you so late? I expected you home an hour and a half ago. I was worried sick that you'd had an accident or something. I called and called your cell phone, but you had it turned off! It kept transferring me to voice mail. I was ready to call the police!"

"Everything's okay, Mom," Abel insisted. "I forgot to turn on the cell phone." Abel was usually irritated by his mother's overprotectiveness. Usually, he would have said something. But Ernesto made him feel better, and he didn't want to argue with anybody.

The next day, Abel was walking toward the Cesar Chavez school library. He was still feeling pretty good until he heard a familiar, unpleasant voice. Clay Aguirre's voice was harsh and mocking. "Hey, I guess you know what it feels like now, huh, dude?...