Free Crossing the Line by Malín Alegría Page B

and jumped out, slamming the passenger door in Fabi’s face.
    â€œAlexis, we have to talk!” Fabi cried, yanking the truck door back open and following her sister up the front walk.
    â€œI’m not talking to you!” Alexis slammed the metal gate to their yard, making a loud clang. Inside the house, their baby brother started to cry. Then a light blazed on behind the curtains. Fabiola squeezed her eyes shut in frustration.
    â€œCan you at least try to keep it down?” Fabi hissed. “People are trying to sleep.”
    â€œBe quiet. Go to class. Talk to these people. Don’t talk to those,” Alexis spat in a mocking voice. “I’m tired of you always bossing me around, telling me who I can and can’t be friends with. You’re such a hypocrite. You think you’re better than everyone, but then you go and party with those same people and tell me I can’t!”
    â€œAlexis — ”
    The porch light came on, illuminating the sisters standing toe-to-toe.
    â€œNo, Fabi. You can’t tell me what to do anymore. I’m not a little girl.”
    â€œI know that.”
    â€œDo you? Do you really? Look at me.” Alexis stood taller in her too-tight shirt and painted-on jeans. “I’m practically grown. I can make my own decisions.” She locked eyes with her sister. “I’m not like you. I’m sorry high school sucks for you. I really am. But I don’t want to be you. I want to be my own person. Why can’t you just understand that?”
    Her words stung like a hard slap across the face. Fabiola wanted to shrink into a little ball and cry, but just then the front door opened. Their dad, wearing a faded Spurs T-shirt and boxer shorts, filled the doorway with a menacing frown. Behind him, their baby brother wailed as Magda tried to rock him back to sleep.
    â€œWhat is the meaning of this?” Leonardo demanded.
    â€œI don’t want to talk about it!” Alexis said as she pushed her way past her father. “I hate you. I hate all of you!” she cried, storming down the hall and slamming her bedroom door.
    Leonardo turned to Fabi for an explanation. He folded his arms in front of his chest. Fabi cowered under his disapproving stare. She couldn’t stand to disappoint her family.
    â€œIt’s not what you think —”
    â€œSo, what is it?”
    Fabi paused and licked her lips. Her throat felt really dry. “I’m the one who dragged her home.”
    â€œWhat was your sister doing out? You know she is not allowed to go out.”
    â€œI don’t know. I was just as shocked to see her show up at the party.”
    â€œFabiola.” Her father sighed. She could feel the disappointment in his voice. “You are responsible for your sister. You know that. Your mom and I can’t do everything. It’s hard enough running the restaurant, especially with your new baby brother …. There are a lot of people depending on us.”
    â€œI understand.”
    â€œI don’t think you do.” Leonardo sniffed. “Have you been drinking?”
    â€œNo, I swear. Okay, so maybe a little sip.”
    His eyes blazed with anger. “Don’t lie to me!”
    â€œI’m trying not to!”
    â€œJust stop! Stop talking. I can’t trust you just to watch your little sister. You can forget about the trip to New York with your aunt.”
    â€œBut, Dad, that’s my quince —” Fabi reached out to him, but he jerked away. She tried again. “You don’t understand. I had nothing to do with what Alexis —”
    Leonardo raised his calloused hand in a threatening manner and Fabi jumped back instinctively. Her dad caught himself and stopped. He would never hit her, but the moment startled them both.
    After a moment Leonardo glanced at his watch and cursed. “Get changed.”
    At first Fabi thought he meant she should put on her pajamas, but then he added,