SarahWhen class was over, as much as Sarah told herself to not look back, she couldn't resist. She glanced back to where he'd been sitting, but he was gone. He apparently wasn't planning on even speaking to her. She bit her lip. Though she felt it coming, she forced the anguish away. She was done crying for Angel Moreno.The rest of the day was fairly painless. When she showed up to track practice, Coach Rudy was overjoyed to hear she was trying out for the team. He said it was a mere formality. She was already in.No one was happier to see her than Sofia. Sarah had gotten a little choked up when she'd hugged her so hard she thought she'd never let go. Sarah explained briefly that she would be around for a little longer but told her she had every intention of going back to Arizona as soon as her circumstances changed.The next couple of days were even worse. Angel didn't show up to her physics class, and by the end of the third day, his name wasn't being called during roll call. H
Seeing Sarah had been worse than Angel could've ever imagined. It was completely unexpected, and he was in no way ready for the blow. He had sat in class that first day for all of twenty minutes before he'd ducked out the back door.He almost went home but instead decided to go to the counselor's office and switch his schedule around. He didn't care what classes he got stuck with as long as he didn't have to see her every day. It would kill him.Since then, he'd done everything he could to avoid her. Sofia told him the first night that all Sarah had told her was that there'd been a snag in her plans, but that it was only temporary. She was still going back to Arizona. She just wasn't sure when. Sofia wasn't happy that Angel had no intention of reconnecting with Sarah, much less hang out with her.The whole week had been a nightmare. The more he tried to not think about her, the more nosy idiots asked him about her. It seemed the whole damn school was talking about it.To top it off
Sarah didn't think there was any part of her heart left to break. She was so angry at herself for crying. Why did he still have so much power over her? It was pathetic the way her entire body went into a frenzy from just seeing him.Being that close to him had such an overwhelming effect on her. She couldn't hold in what she was feeling, but his obvious contempt for her now was undeniable. He didn't even care why she was still here.She tried desperately to shake it off on the ride home. Talking to Coach Rudy about her mom was one thing, but telling him about Angel would be quite another. Sydney would be the first to point that out.She was quiet most of the way, and he finally asked. "Are you okay?"Sarah nodded but didn't offer anything."You don't have to tell me about it," he said. "Just hope you know, even though it feels like you won't right now, you'll get over him eventually. I promise."He always knew exactly what to say. Sarah had always thought it was just a coach thin
Playing pool with the guys always helped Angel relax. This was the first time Eric had come over since New Year's. Alex and Sofia were both working the restaurant but would be home soon. Angel wasn't too sure if having Eric there was a good idea. He had talked to Alex briefly about Eric not being to blame, but Alex was dead set against having him around Sofia when no one was around. Angel hoped that didn't mean he'd make a scene even if everyone was around.It had been another slow bitter weekend for Angel. His mind was on the usual, and it was getting real irritating. Being that close to Sarah on Friday made him realize he wasn't even close to being over her. Her resentment toward him had confused him. He was the one that had gotten duped. Did she really expect him to just accept another guy in her life? That wasn't happening. Though being that close to her for the first time in so long made it tempting to accept anything just to be with her.He knew better though. Having to deal wi
Sarah's trip to see her mom went smoothly. Seeing her was still as emotional as the first visit. But things felt brighter. Her mom still hadn't been to court, but the lawyers were even more optimistic about her chances of getting out early, and Sarah could see the change in her mom's appearance. The dark circles and deep eyes were still there but not as pronounced as before. And there was a sparkle in her eyes that made Sarah feel very hopeful.Her mom gave her something to really think about just before she left."Sarah, I want you to know that I think you've been through enough. When I get out of here, it's up to you where you wanna stay. I don't have a job here in Flagstaff anymore, but if this is where you want to be, I'll find a way to make it work. Otherwise, if you'd rather stay in California, your aunt has offered to let us stay there until I get back on my feet. You think about it and let me know."The choice seemed obvious. The only reason she'd want to stay in La Jolla di
Friday morning Angel sat in the kitchen going over last night's Spanish homework. After switching his schedule around to get out of his physics class, he got stuck with the same Spanish teacher as the previous semester. At the time he hadn't cared. All he could think of was getting out of seeing Sarah every day. Now he was seriously regretting it. The amount of homework this lady packed on was unreal.Alex was fixing himself a protein drink when Sofia walked in. "So, dad said if one of you can come into the restaurant for me tomorrow morning I can take the morning off.""I'll go in," Angel said, without looking up from his homework."Where you gonna be?" Alex asked.Sofia stuck her head in the refrigerator and said something Angel couldn't make out."Where?" Alex asked again."Running with the team." She poured herself a glass of orange juice.Angel looked up. Sofia avoided looking at him. "On a Saturday?""Ah huh." She pulled out the toaster and plugged it in.Angel frowned.
Angel was supposed to just drop Sofia off at the restaurant but ended up hanging out and helping out. That happened a lot lately. He had nothing better to do, and the last thing he wanted was to sit around the house dredging up painful memories.Eric and Romero stopped by to grab breakfast. They sat in the bar area that normally wasn't open that early in the morning, but the restaurant was pretty busy, and Alex told them he didn't want them taking up space in the dining room. Romero had snorted that he was a paying customer but shut up when Alex told him to pay his tab.After showing a few more patrons to their tables, Angel walked over to where Romero and Eric ate. They were talking about going to watch some extreme fighting later that evening. Romero's uncle's friend was promoting it, and he could get free tickets. Angel considered it. He hadn't gone out since he'd broken up with Sarah.He was trying to snap out of the nasty mood he'd been in lately, but knowing Sarah was spending
Sarah looked up at him."I mean first love."She hadn't really thought of it that way. But he was. No other boy had even come close to the way she felt about Angel. And she had an aching feeling that no one ever would.She nodded and turned her attention to her water. "It was my fault." She took a small sip. "I was really stupid."Sarah stood up. The pain was still so raw she was afraid she might get all sentimental. But the coach grabbed her hand and pulled her back."Come here. It's okay." He spoke softly. His words were kind, and his touch felt warm. Except for the night of the awful scene and the day she went to see her mom, all the times she'd cried for Angel, she'd done it alone in her room. Sydney was usually on the other end of the phone, but she still couldn't help feeling alone.She sat back down next to him. He kept her hand in his and spoke to her, looking directly in her eyes. "Listen, you don't have to talk about it. But you're a beautiful girl, Sarah, not just on the