Free 3volve by Josefina Gutierrez Page A

Walking over, he brushes my hair away from my face. Trailing up my arms, gripping my shoulders, he looks into my eyes, and suddenly I forget I’m supposed to be mad at him for hiding whatever it is, but I’m not. I’m not mad at the man standing in front of me because I know he has his reasons.
    Charlie doesn’t say anything. He keeps looking at me, letting his eyes speak for him. He squeezes my shoulders, and all my tension leaves my body. Before my mind has time to catch up to my body, my face is inching towards him.
    He pulls back, shaking his head. “We shouldn’t.” He rubs my arms reassuringly.
    I’m shocked. I thought he wanted me to kiss him. I thought he liked me. Damn Nessa, filling my head with obvious nonsense.
    I reach behind myself and grab my pillow, playfully smacking him in the face. “Get over yourself! I wasn’t going to do anything, I’m still sleepy,” I say, scratching my head.
    If he didn’t stop me, would I have kissed him? I walk downstairs before I have time to dwell on the weirdness that’s sure to follow.
     

 
     
     
    Part II
     
    Winter
     
    The cold has kept me from fleeing my responsibilities.
    I’ve been frozen in place,
    by so much disgrace.
    Hard choices are everywhere,
    in the nooks and crannies laid bare.
     

Chapter 7
     
    Thinking about all the tension in the past two weeks, a special family night might be needed. Halloween is today and happens to be their favorite holiday. I already got my first paycheck—even if it is only for the first week. It’s splurge money.
    Turning up the dial on the radio, I let the music fill up the house. I’m cooking something special for the boys to get those brain cells bumping before they have a tutoring session. They seriously need to pull those grades up before they’re kicked off the team. So pumpkin pancakes, bacon, and green eggs, of course, seems like great brain food. And a little Halloween gesture might go a long way with us.
                  When the boys walk into the kitchen, I’m dancing around waving my spatula listening to Taylor Swift. “Surprise!” I point to the Halloween inspired pancakes.
                  “Why are they orange?” Jeremy asks, prodding them with a fork.
                  “Because they’re pumpkin. They’re really good, promise.” I smile, taking a bite of pancakes to prove my point.
                  “Sweet. You’re letting us have chocolate for breakfast,” Jeremiah says with a grin, pouring chocolate sauce over his pancakes.
    “I was thinking we should do something fun for Halloween, what do you think?”
    “Sounds cool,” Jeremiah says.
    “Sure.” Jeremy finishes his food. He’s trying so hard to be nonchalant, but I know this is his favorite holiday.
    “Great, I was thinking we could make a night of it. When you get home from the library.”
    “Tim Burton?” they both ask. Then, looking at each other briefly for speaking in unison, they going right back to ignoring each other.
    “Like duh! It wouldn’t be Halloween without him.” They nod in agreement. “Alright, you don’t want to be late, hurry up.” I playfully slap the table and run to get my purse.
                  I hear them both groaning from the living room. They both scamper out the door with pancakes wrapped around bacon. I shake my head at their silliness.
    “Be good.” I give them each lunch money. “And call me when you’re on the way back.”
    “We’re not kids man,” Jeremy sneers a little bit. And my phone starts ringing.
    I ruffle his hair, “Yes you are germ, and don’t you forget it.”
    “Gross.” he swats my hand away. I laugh, shoving them both out the door.
    My phone chimes with a reminder of my missed call, and I notice it’s Charlie. And I’m a little too happy it’s Charlie. I dial his number back.
    “Hey, you called,” I say, smiling in spite of myself.
    “I sure did sweetheart. I just got in from Chicago. They wanted me