Free Amigas and School Scandals by Diana Rodriguez Wallach

know about this?”
    My father exhaled loudly. “She said it was a possibility while we were in Utuado.” He was clearly fighting back his irritation at having to explain himself.
    â€œWow. That’s just great. I don’t know why I’m surprised. Our family’s just a mountain of secrets lately.” I wiped my mouth with my cotton napkin and stood up.
    â€œMariana,” my mother warned, not moving from her spot behind the stove.
    â€œWhat? Let’s face it, Mom. Every time I turn around, I find out something else you’ve been keeping from me. Why didn’t you just tell us in Puerto Rico? Why the hush-hush?”
    â€œBecause I didn’t know if she would go through with it. And, really, it has nothing to do with you.”
    â€œOh, of course not. She’s just my aunt . I’m just the one who happened to uncover her existence this summer.”
    My father’s lips tightened. “Oh, stop being so dramatic . There are a lot of other people involved here. Not just you.”
    My body surged with grisly defensiveness as my face flooded with heat.
    Before this summer, my father and I had never fought. Vince was his sparring partner. But ever since I was shoved on that plane, I had harbored a lot of unsettled resentment toward my parents.
    Frankly, I was sick of my father acting like the family’s self-proclaimed dictator.
    â€œYou’re right Dad. Why should I care about what happens in this family? Maybe I should just wait for you to tell me how I feel.”
    I spun around and headed for the stairs.
    â€œMariana!” my father shouted.
    It was too late. I was already halfway to my room.
    Â 
    Lilly knocked on my door a few minutes later. I rolled over on my rumpled bed and turned up the radio. Tootsie was the only company I could tolerate right now, and I was thankful Lilly took the hint and retreated to her bedroom. A few minutes later, I heard her hop on the phone with her mother, which only further justified what I was feeling.
    Lilly might be family, but she couldn’t possibly understand the complexity that was my father, anymore than I could understand her parental upbringing. Actually, there was only one other person in the world who had as much experience dealing with my dad as I did. I picked up my cordless phone.
    â€œHey, Vince’s room ... hehehe,” giggled a sultry female voice.
    â€œVince, stop!” she cooed, still giddy. “Oh, yeah. Mmmmmm ... ”
    My stomach turned in nauseating loops.
    â€œUm, hello,” I hissed.
    Heavy breathing filled the line.
    â€œ Hell-O ! Sister here! On the phone! Get off my brother, skank!” I shouted.
    â€œOh, hey, Mariana. Wassup,” Vince panted as he grabbed the receiver.
    â€œYou are so disgusting. Do I even want to know?” I clenched my eyes shut, trying to block out the mental image of what might be occurring on the other end of the line.
    â€œVince, baby, where you going?” whined the pouty female voice.
    â€œI think I’m gonna puke,” I groaned, clutching my abdomen.
    â€œDude, sorry.” He cleared his throat.
    I could hear his footsteps and guessed he was walking out of his dorm room. Loud voices filled the background.
    â€œOkay, if you’ve got some nasty chick in your room, why the heck are you answering the phone?” I asked, still cringing.
    â€œDude, Mariana, did she say what her name was? Because I seriously can’t remember,” Vince muttered.
    â€œHow am I related to you?” I gasped. “It is some freakish biological screwup!”
    Vince chuckled on the other end. “These chicks are so easy that it’s not even funny. It’s like they’re begging me to ...”
    â€œNahahahahahah!” I shouted into the phone, holding the receiver away from my ear. “I don’t wanna hear it! Not listening, not listening!”
    I could hear Vince bellow with laughter. “All right, all