Free Bait by Alex Sanchez Page A

reminding himself: Breathe! When he glanced at the clock, he was amazed to find half an hour had passed.
    “So, um,” he asked, “do you really want to hang out sometime?”
    “Yeah,” she replied. “How about this weekend?”
    Diego’s throat abruptly clamped up. Had she really said ‘yeah’?
    “Um, I work Saturdays. How about Sunday?” His mom didn’t work Sunday. He could ask to borrow the car.
    “Sunday would be great,” Ariel replied. “What do you want to do?”
    “Do you like the aquarium?” Diego asked. The Texas State Aquarium was his second favorite place in town, the beach being first.
    “I love the aquarium.” Ariel’s voice rang with enthusiasm. “Awesome! It’s a date.”
    The word “date” echoed in his mind. His first date. Ever. The phone nearly slipped out of his hands.
    “We can talk more before then,” she continued, “but now I’ve got to get back to homework. Thanks for calling.”
    After hanging up, Diego stared into space, a little dazed. Had he actually booked a date with—to his mind—the most amazing girl at school, perhaps even in the entire universe? A flash of excitement surged up from his toes, through his body, and erupted in a thunderous whoop.

CHAPTER 10
     
    T HURSDAY AFTERNOON , Diego arrived early for his appointment, excited to tell Vidas about the phone call with Ariel. He said hi to the receptionist and was just sitting down when Vidas stepped out of the elevator, carrying a paper bag.
    “Hi, Diego. Come on back. I just went to fetch some lunch. Had cases all day.”
    Inside the office, Vidas hung up his blazer. After plopping into his swivel chair, he tucked the ends of his necktie into his shirt’s front pocket and pulled a sandwich from the paper bag. “You want half? It’s tuna fish.”
    “No, thanks.” It would feel too weird to eat half of his PO’s sandwich.
    “At least take some chips.” Vidas tossed Diego a pack. “I bought an extra.”
    “All right.” Diego caught the bag. “Thanks.”
    “So, how’re you feeling?” Vidas asked, and bit into his sandwich.
    “Great!” Diego announced, opening the chips. “I did it.”
    “Did what?”
    “Phoned Ariel. And like you said, I kept breathing.”
    “Ah. Good! How’d it go?”
    “Um, okay, I guess. We’re going to the aquarium Sunday. On a date.”
    “A date!” Vidas exclaimed. “I knew you could do it. How do you feel about it?”
    “Nervous. Like, what am I supposed to do?”
    “Same as before,” Vidas said, lifting his sandwich. “Relax. Breathe. Just be yourself.”
    Diego shook his head. He didn’t want to be himself. He wished he could be someone else. Somebody confident, cool, normal.
    “I don’t get it. She could have practically any guy she wants. So, why’s she interested in me ?”
    Vidas swallowed his mouthful. “Could you ask her?”
    “I guess so.” Diego would never have thought of that.
    As Vidas raised his sandwich again, a chunk of tuna spilled out onto the top part of his tie. “Oh, man!” He put his sandwich down, pulled off his tie, and stared at the mayonnaise stain. “I ruin at least one a month.” He opened a desk drawer, took out a stain stick, and rubbed the spot.
    Diego watched him. “Why don’t you just take it off when you eat?”
    “Yeah, I should, shouldn’t I?” Before taking another bite, Vidas asked, “So, what about the contract and your mom?”
    Diego stopped eating his chips and sat stiffly in his chair. He’d forgotten it.
    “Um, she read and signed it. I swear she did. But I forgot to bring your copy. I can bring it tomorrow if you want.”
    “Tomorrow is good,” Vidas said calmly. “Just leave it with Mrs. Ahern. So tell me: How’d your mom react?”
    “Um…” Diego crumpled up his chip bag and lobbed it into the trash. “Fine…until the part about the cutting…When I showed her, she got kind of upset.”
    “What do you mean?” Vidas pitched his crumpled sandwich wrapper toward the wastebasket, actually