Free Crossing the Line by Malín Alegría Page A

again. Fabi was trapped. Slowly, she flushed the toilet and opened the door. Thankfully, it was just some girl who needed to throw up.
    Back in the living room, Fabi found Georgia Rae dancing with a boy from the debate team. Fabi grabbed her hand. “We have to go.”
    â€œNow?” Georgia Rae stared back at her, bewildered. “I thought we were having fun.”
    Just then Dex walked through the front door with two other jocks. Fabi could feel his eyes on her. He knew! She spun around, looking for another exit. All of a sudden a girl screamed, a high-pitched drunken wail. It was Melodee and she was running to Dex, like a toddler seeing her daddy at the end of the day. Dex ducked under one of his boys and spun away, leaving Melodee to fall headfirst into the couch, where a couple was entangled in each other’s arms. A few of the people nearby laughed at Melodee’s expense.
    â€œPlease,” Fabi pleaded, grabbing Georgia Rae’s hand. “If you don’t give me a ride, I’ll find someone else.”
    â€œFine,” Georgia Rae huffed in annoyance, and wiped the sweat off her brow. She said good-bye to a couple of friends while Fabi went to grab their stuff from under Milo’s turntables.
    Fabi led Georgia Rae to the glass side doors. Her heart was racing. Dex was once again making his way toward her. Thankfully, the mass of dancing bodies was slowing him down.
    Just as she was about to get out of the house, the glass door slid open in front of Fabi and Alexis stepped inside. Fabi stopped in her tracks. She glanced back and saw Dex wave at Alexis. Dex wasn’t coming to get Fabi. He was coming for Alexis, who didn’t even have permission to be out tonight.
    â€œWhat are you doing here?” Fabi cried, despite herself.
    Alexis shot her a sneaky grin. “What does it look like I’m doing? I came to party.” Alexis began to nod to the music, glancing eagerly around the room.
    Fabi shook her head. “Mom said you weren’t allowed to be here.”
    â€œOh, come on, Fabiola,” Alexis groaned, rolling her eyes. “Why are you always trying to ruin everything? Stop acting like my mother.”
    â€œYour mother ?” Fabi yelled. She was livid and couldn’t control herself. Her hand reached out and pushed Alexis out the door, hard. Alexis cried out as Fabi followed her and started pulling her away from the house.
    â€œOuch! Stop it!” Alexis tried to fight her sister off, slapping wildly. But all those years carrying heavy plates had given Fabi strong, solid arms. Alexis didn’t have a chance. Fabi half-pushed, half-dragged Alexis to the street.
    â€œI hate you!” Alexis cried, beginning to sob. “You are such a bully. You never let me do anything. It’s not fair! I wish you weren’t my sister. I wish I didn’t have a sister.”
    Fabi was speechless. She shoved Alexis into Georgia Rae’s truck and jumped inside next to her, breathing heavily as her sister cried and her best friend got in and started the engine.
    The tension in the car was suffocating, but Fabi couldn’t break the silence. She wanted to tell them about what she’d heard, but she didn’t know how to begin. And besides, she couldn’t believe what a brat Alexis was being!
    Georgia Rae drove in silence. The night was dark and empty.
    â€œHow did you even get out here?” Fabi finally asked.
    Alexis stared angrily out the front window.
    â€œAlexis, tell me!”
    â€œI ran, okay?” Alexis shouted back, crossing her arms in front of her chest. “I ran.”
    Fabi just shook her head. Alexis would do anything to get what she wanted.

G eorgia Rae pulled the truck to a stop in front of the Garzas’ old white bungalow. The paint was flaking off the planks of wood like old skin. Leonardo had promised to repaint it, but he never had the time. As soon as the truck had stopped completely, Alexis climbed over her sister