Sadie

Tia was ready to get back to familiar surroundings.

And so was I.

I decided to drive us to Seb's much to Doni's and Ash's protest.

Tia was fumbling with the vents in her car when she started to speak. "So, you and Doni, huh? Y'all seem cozy." She wiggles her eyebrows in amusement.

I can't help but smile like a little kid who just got her way.

"Oooh! Look at you blushing and shit. Did you two finally fuck?"

"No, Tia! God. Why does everything have to be about sex with you?"

"He's hot plus Latina sexiness equals…"

"Yeah, I got it," I interrupt before she can finish.

"Listen. For real though." I know how much he meant to you back when ya'll were little kids. But I also know how much he still means to you. And I can't help but see how much he cares about you. Like really cares."

"Yeah, I know."

There's silence between us.

"?Lo amáis?" Tia quietly asks, as she lowers the music enough for us to hear one another.

"Yes, I love him" I say without hesitation as I stare out the window. It really is a beautiful night. I'm glad I was able to share the stars with him once again.

"We kissed on the roof," I blurt out.

"WHAT?! Are you fucking serious?" Tia screams obnoxiously loud. "And you're now telling me!"

"Tia," I yell back, covering my ear to stop the ringing caused by her scream.

"Girl. You better start talking. Cuéntame todo," she says with a beaming smile like a proud mama. I tell her everything from our conversation by the fire and on the roof, and how he leaned over to kiss me underneath the stars. My dream finally came true until reality set in.

"What's wrong? Why the change in your face? Was he a bad kisser? You know, one of those who eats your fucking face and slobbers all over you like a fucking St. Bernard." I can't help but chuckle. Tia and I have had plenty of stories to share about our kissing experiences in middle school when boys didn't know what the hell they were doing.

"At first, I felt guilty because of Addy, and..." Suddenly a wave of sadness and regret ripples inside my gut. The fact that I wanted more. More of him.

"Pfft. They weren't together. After the shit she pulled today, she won't be hanging on your man anymore, Tia turns down a familiar street which means we are getting closer to Seb's. I look through the side mirror and smile like a shy schoolgirl as I watch the guys closely follow behind Tia .

"Yeah. I hope so." I sigh and lay my head against the cold window.

We finally arrive at Sebastian's. Sebastian's bungalow-style house is tucked away from the other homes with a large fence around the front yard that wraps around the backyard. Both sides of the streets are lined up with cars, bumper to bumper. Tia parks behind Seb's Camaro while the guys park their car behind hers.

As I prepare to exit the vehicle, Tia gently grabs my arm, stopping me from going any further. I turn to face her and see her beautiful face covered with makeup that hides her real beauty.

"Listen, I'm sorry for what I said earlier about, you know... but it's probably not what it seems," she says with sincerity.

"What do you mean?"

"People like that, rich kids with rich mommies and daddies, have an image to uphold. You know? So, since he's the jock and she's the queen bitch, it could only mean it's all for…"

"Show," I finish her sentence as she nods in agreement.

Why would he care what others thought about him? It makes me wonder if his life is not all what it seems.

She pulls down the visor as she smacks her lips together and snaps the visor shut.

When she's finally out of the car, she lowers her head back in and says, "Let's go have some fun. Show these muchachos how we Latinos party." She winks and blows me a kiss, closing the door behind her.

Before I can process her words, my door is pulled open. Doni bends down to face me and gives me a huge grin that makes me want to slide down to the floor of the car and hide. The way my body reacts to this boy is insane.

"Hey. Are you going to get out, or do I have to carry you out?" There's that fucking grin again.

"Come on!" Tia yells as she shakes her ass up toward the porch with Ash right behind her.

As we walk toward the house, a few of the kids out on the porch give us a wave and hand salute.

"Me Porto Bonito" by Badd Bunnyvibrates throughout the house as we enter. Girls in skimpy Halloween costumes grind their bodies against the guys that are dressed in normal jeans and T-shirts or dress shirts. South High boys are not into dressing up as much as the girls are. And Seb isn't into decking the house out for Halloween either. He says no one pays attention to that shit anyway.

We walk through the crowd toward the kitchen, knowing where the drinks will be. The kitchen isn't as elaborate as Doni's cabin, but it's homey. Their kitchen counter is covered with a variety of finger foods and orange Jell-O shots. A large plastic punch bowl sits on the kitchen table. That must be Seb's famous Warlock's blood red punch. Who the hell knows what's in that thing.

"About damn time, Reina." The deep sultry voice comes from Lupe. Following behind her is Tiny and Telle. Lupe is dressed like a sexy vampire. Because of her height, the tall black boots cover her long lean legs. The black lip liner rims her deep red lips as she puckers them when she sees me.

Tiny is a foot shorter than me. Her long wavy reddish-brown hair hits her hips as she moves from behind Lupe. Her smile widens when she sees me. She looks adorable in her Red Riding Hood costume.

"Damn. You're looking muy caliente." Telle breathes out the words as she stands besides Lupe with a shocked look on her face. It doesn't surprise me to see Telle dressed up as a Playboy Bunny, ears and all. She is the most sexual person out of the group. Tia comes in second. Telle's long dark hair is pulled back into a high ponytail. She takes a sip of whatever is in her Solo black cup as she moves her eyes over toward Doni and Ash. Her curious smile widens as her plump lips remain on the brim of her cup.

Tiny is the first one to jump up and down, clapping her hands in excitement as she runs toward me and grabs me into a tight hug, like she hasn't seen me a few hours ago.

"Oh my god! You're looking so fly girl!"

"Damn right she does. You look good, girl." Gio salutes with his Corona before taking a swig.

Telle walks over and gives me a hug. "Who's this?" She gestures her towards Doni and Ash as she rubs the rim of the cup with her lips. After I

introduce the guys to my friends, Telle continues to test my sanity when she stares at Doni like he's her favorite candy.

"You can call me Telle." Her playful smile is seductive, like a siren ready to lure her next victim.

She takes a step closer until there's only a small gap between them. "Have you…." Tell runs her index finger down the middle of his chest, "ever had a little Latin flavor?"

"Yeah, Taco bell." Doni takes a step back.

"Oh shit!" A loud cackle erupts from the other side of the room. Lupe throws her head back and shakes with laughter. "He just fuckin dissed your ass, Telle."

A small laugh rumbles inside my chest as I look down to my feet to avoid the look in Telle's eyes, but I hear a little chuckle coming from her. Telle's not easy to offend.

"Just making sure he's into my girl." I look back up and see Telle wink, as she raises her lips to the bottle.

"Never thought I see the day Telle's doesn't make a boy's dick move, let alone a white boy's dick." The voice belongs to Josie, Christian's cousin, leaning against the wall with a drink in hand.

"The fuck are you doing here?" Máximo walks in from the back door.

"Nobody said I wasn't invited. Plus, Seb is my family." She sneers at Max.

"Yeah, well, just cause you're blood, don't mean shit. We're his fucking family. You're just a whore begging to get her ass kicked." Tia walks in, shoulder bumping into Josie.

"Oh, look. It's the bitch of all bitches." Josie laughs humorlessly at Tia looking her up and down with disgust.

"Who are you calling a bitch, bitch?" Tia snaps, trying to get into Jo's face, but Ash holds her back by her hips, guiding her against his chest. Surprisingly, she lets him without a fight.

"I'm too sober for this shit." Tiny mutters.

"Looks like some things haven't changed." Josi's eyes land on me. "Still hiding behind their asses?" She tsks. "Reina," she says in a mocking tone.

I'm so sick and tired of people thinking I'm weak just because of what happened between Christian and me. I walk over to Josie and stand in front of her with my chin held up high. "I'm not hiding behind anyone. At least I can take a beating. Can you say the same?" She narrows her eyes and glares at me.

"Yeah, I didn't think so. You were always one to run your mouth but never follow through with your threats. Don't think for one second you can show up here as if you belong. No one wants you here. So, get the fuck out."

Josie's green eyes are full of spite and anger. She just stares at me like she wants to claw my face off. Josie has always thought she was untouchable because Christian is her cousin, but she's not. Christian hates her and never wanted anything to do with her. But she keeps sneaking her way into our group anyway.

Josie takes one step closer until we are nose to nose. I feel Doni tense behind me. "Just because you fucked my cousin doesn't give you the right to talk to me like that. You remember your place, puta."

"The fuck did you just say?" Gio bellows, ferociously inserting himself between Jo and me.

This drew attention from the crowd when I see several party onlookers holding their cellphones in front of them trying to capture this shit show. You could barely hear the music in the background.

"Oh, Lord please give me the strength to hold back the urge to beat the bitch," Tia says beside me.

"You better know your place, puta. Who the fuck do you think you are coming in here like you own the place? You got a lot of balls showing up here. I didn't realize you were that stupid." Lupe calmly says in a chilly tone.

Josie doesn't say a word, but she doesn't look afraid either. She looks at each of us as her face lights up with bitter triumph when her eyes linger on Doni. That shit doesn't sit right with me. She takes a drink of her beer and swallows.

Doni gently tugs on my shirt, pulling me into his chest and his touch eases my tension.

"You're going to regret this. You better watch your back." Before any of us respond, Seb walks into the kitchen looking like a grim reaper ready to harvest Josie's soul with a scythe.

"Get the fuck out of my house." He demands in a low voice with the authority of someone who is not to be crossed.

Josie jumps at the sound of his voice as he stands behind her with his fists clenched at his sides. The whole room goes quiet. No one dares say a word. Josie throws her empty bottle of beer into the sink and walks past Seb but not before she turns to face us with a look I've seen before. The look that says, "you're fucking dead."

"Shorty! When the hell did you get here?" Máximo says, touching the base of his neck and looking high as fuck.

"You're just figuring that out now?" Telle glances at him with annoyance, shaking her head.

He rubs his eyes in shock. "Damn, girl. Bring your fine ass over here and give me some sugar." I walk over to him but take a quick glance at Doni and notice his jaw is set in a firm line. Shoulders pulled back with both hands tucked into his pocket.

"You saw me earlier, Max." I smile and quickly give Máximo a hug, but he holds on to a little bit longer than I want him to. Doni clearing his throat forces us to pull apart.

He laughs. "No need to worry, hermano. She's like a little sister to me. I won't steal your girl." He grins and gently shoves me toward Doni.

He doesn't object when he pulls me into his chest.

"Um, no, I'm not his…" I try to correct him when a boisterous, strong voice interrupts.