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. âWe have to go.â
âNow?â Georgia Rae stared back at her, bewildered. âI thought we were having fun.â
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 otherâs arms. A few of the people nearby laughed at Melodeeâs expense.
âPlease,â Fabi pleaded, grabbing Georgia Raeâs hand. âIf you donât give me a ride, Iâll find someone else.â
âFine,â 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 Miloâs 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 wasnât coming to get Fabi. He was coming for Alexis, who didnât even have permission to be out tonight.
âWhat are you doing here?â Fabi cried, despite herself.
Alexis shot her a sneaky grin. âWhat does it look like Iâm doing? I came to party.â Alexis began to nod to the music, glancing eagerly around the room.
Fabi shook her head. âMom said you werenât allowed to be here.â
âOh, come on, Fabiola,â Alexis groaned, rolling her eyes. âWhy are you always trying to ruin everything? Stop acting like my mother.â
âYour mother ?â Fabi yelled. She was livid and couldnât 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.
âOuch! Stop it!â Alexis tried to fight her sister off, slapping wildly. But all those years carrying heavy plates had given Fabi strong, solid arms. Alexis didnât have a chance. Fabi half-pushed, half-dragged Alexis to the street.
âI hate you!â Alexis cried, beginning to sob. âYou are such a bully. You never let me do anything. Itâs not fair! I wish you werenât my sister. I wish I didnât have a sister.â
Fabi was speechless. She shoved Alexis into Georgia Raeâs 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 couldnât break the silence. She wanted to tell them about what sheâd heard, but she didnât know how to begin. And besides, she couldnât believe what a brat Alexis was being!
Georgia Rae drove in silence. The night was dark and empty.
âHow did you even get out here?â Fabi finally asked.
Alexis stared angrily out the front window.
âAlexis, tell me!â
âI ran, okay?â Alexis shouted back, crossing her arms in front of her chest. âI ran.â
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 Garzasâ 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