Angel scored an eighty on his Spanish quiz and was happy to be in the game that week. It was an important one too. They were playing their rivals, and both teams were in the running for the playoffs.Sarah sat in the stands with Sofia, Valerie, and Valerie's friend Monica. Angel's parents had flown out earlier that evening to Florida for Alex's game the next day. Sofia was Angel's responsibility until they got back. Rather than leaving her alone at the restaurant tonight, Angel got the go ahead to close up early and have her tag along with them.Sarah didn't mind having her along for the night. She liked Sofia, and ever since Sarah started practicing with the track team, they'd gotten a lot closer. Sarah felt bad though. The relay team never even came close to the times Sarah put on the board when she stood in for the fourth place runner during practice. The coach was always going on and on about how heartbroken he was that she wouldn't be sticking around for next semester. She'd sta
Saturday mornings were always busy at the restaurant. Angel's parents wouldn't be back until that evening, so Sarah offered to come in and help. Angel picked her up an hour before they opened. Sarah smiled when she saw Sofia in the car also. She was anxious to speak with her alone.No sooner were they in the restaurant than Sofia pulled Sarah by the arm. "I'll take Sarah to the back, so she can try on one of the shirts."Angel frowned. "That's okay, Sofie. Sarah, you don't have to wear a uniform, babe."Sarah lifted her chin. "But I like the shirts." She turned to Sofia. "I'll take a medium."Angel smiled, and she blew him a kiss. When they got to the back room, Sofia closed the door behind them and grinned wickedly. "Oh my God, I've been dying to talk to someone about this, and you're the only person I can."Sarah wasn't sure she wanted to be the only one that knew. From the very beginning, Angel didn't even have to say it. It was so obvious how protective he and his brothers wer
Angel"Frances?" Sarah was almost in tears. "Yeah, it's me. How's Sydney?"She clutched the paper Angel had handed to her at her chest and listened. She stared at Angel. "Oh, thank God," she said. "I was so scared."Angel exhaled relieved. "No, no, I'm glad you called." she said. "So, what happened? Why was an ambulance called?"She was on the phone for a few more minutes, and Angel sat down on the desk chair, leaning all the way back. He watched as Sarah hung up and looked at him. He held his arms out for her to come to him. She walked over and sat on his lap. He wrapped his arms around her. "So, she's okay?"Sarah nodded. "The ambulance was called because Sydney complained of pain in the stomach. They wanted to make sure there was no internal bleeding.""Was there?"Sarah shook her head and took a deep breath. "No."Angel leaned his forehead against hers. "How are you doing?"She smiled weakly and shrugged. "I was just imagining the worst.""Sarah." He kissed her head. "Tom
Coach Rudy set up a friendly relay with another school in the middle of the week. Sarah was torn because the football team had made the playoffs and they were starting that same day. The game was during the day and away. Sofia and the coach really wanted her at the meet. Angel told her not to worry; it was supposed to be a pretty easy win. They were playing the wild card team.It had been a while since she'd last competed, and she was nervous. The football team was due to be back just after school around the time the relay would be going on. The boys were in the middle of their relay when Sarah saw the bus with the football team pull in. They were loud and being rowdy, so she knew they'd won. She smiled even though her stomach was doing flips. She hadn't realized how nervous she was about Angel watching her race, until now.There were a few more relays before hers, and she knew Angel would be out of the locker room and in the bleachers in plenty of time. She concentrated on stretchin
SarahThe football team didn't make it to the championships, losing in the second game of the playoffs to a team they'd beat during the regular season. It was a heartbreaking loss, but Sarah had her own special way of consoling Angel.It had been just over two months since she'd started going out with Angel, and already she felt as if she'd known him forever. Still, every kiss they shared felt as exciting and as passionate as that first night, if not more so.Sarah loved the way Angel touched her with such urgency—the way he never even tried to hide his need to feel her, taste her. They'd done things lately that were getting awfully close to the real deal.Because of the circumstances in which Sarah had been born and all that her mom had gone through, the birds and the bees talk had come early for Sarah. She was only eleven when her mom sat her down and told her everything. And ever since, she'd been hammering the importance of birth control and protection from disease into Sarah's
It was two days before Thanksgiving, and the entire Moreno family was scrambling. The weekend after the holiday was always their busiest. Angel never understood it. He knew people's fridges must be overflowing with leftovers. Why would anyone go out and eat?His mom's theory was that people were burnt out from cooking, eating leftovers, and entertaining out of town guests. So, they went out. Whatever the reason, Thanksgiving week was anything but relaxing for the Morenos.Although the restaurant was closed on Thanksgiving and only open half the day on Friday, they always stocked up in preparation for the busy weekend. Now Angel's dad was having a fit because he'd just been informed some of the deliveries might be delayed due to the weather up north."Up north? What the hell does the weather up north have to do with me? We're in San Diego County!" His voice boomed all the way up stairs.Angel couldn't tell if he was on the phone or if he was just talking to himself, as he often did
It was only seven in the evening, a little early for Sarah to be home already. But it was a school night, and she had a paper she absolutely had to turn in before the end of the week. Since this was Thanksgiving week, the end of the week would be sneaking up real fast.She thought she heard Valerie get home and stopped to listen. She hadn't expected her home until much later. She was out with Alex and usually got home pretty late, even if it was a school night.It turned out Sarah had been right about Alex. He had been pissed about Valerie having hung out with Romero—very pissed. At first telling her off, then calling her back when he'd calmed down, saying he'd never been jealous in his life and hadn't known how to handle it.With that said, Valerie had allowed herself to continue to go out with him, even at the risk of getting hurt. They'd been going out at least twice a week since. From what Valerie had told her, Alex was a lot like Angel when it came to being possessive. Only the
Thanksgiving felt different this year. From the moment Angel woke up, he was all nerves. Sarah would be spending the day with his family, then he'd take her back to her aunt's for dinner there.It'd worked out perfect because his family's Thanksgivings were always more of a brunch with everything meticulously laid out by one in the afternoon at the latest, buffet style in the kitchen.He was worried about Sarah. He knew this would be her first Thanksgiving without her mom. The only time she'd mentioned the holiday at all was a few days ago and only to ask him to please not be hurt that she wasn't inviting him to dinner at her aunt's. She wasn't looking forward to being with a bunch of family members she'd never met, and she thought having him there might make her even more nervous.He did want to be there to protect her from any unpleasantness, but he respected her wishes and agreed.Angel had big plans for this evening. Depending only on if she was up to it, he wanted tonight to b
The musicians made their way through the restaurant, taking requests. Sarah sat with her mom, aunt, uncle and Valerie in one of the bigger booths. Angel's parents had thrown a graduation party, so the restaurant was open to guests only.Sarah's mom squeezed her hand, and Sarah smiled. Her mom looked nothing like what she'd looked like when Sarah first visited her in jail. She'd gained weight and looked healthy and vibrant.Her mom had been right there for her during the coach's trial. After Sarah pressed charges, several other girls stepped forward to accuse him of the same thing. All in all, he was tried on several different counts ranging from sexual molestation to attempted rape. But many others testified that he'd acted inappropriately with them as well. It took the jury only two hours to deliberate.He was found guilty, and after all the counts were added up, he'd be doing at least thirty years before he'd even be up for parole. Angel couldn't have been happier. But Sarah could
Sarah lay there, tracing the engraving on the chain around Angel's neck with her fingers. She glanced at her wrist and smiled at the charm bracelet. She'd taken it off and refused to even look at it the entire time they were broken up. She almost mailed it to him, when she'd lost all hope. Something in her heart wouldn't let her, and she was glad now she hadn't.After a week of being back together, they still couldn't get their fill of each other. Angel had made sure he closed the restaurant every night ever since, and Sarah was right there with him each night. She wondered if his parents had any idea of the things they did in that back room.Angel lifted himself up on his elbow and played with her hair. "How'd you get so close?" He stared in her eyes. "You and Syd?"Ever since they'd been back together, Sarah made it a point to keep any talk of Sydney to a minimum, and up until now, Angel really hadn't asked too much. She knew once the dust settled it would be coming, and now here
Angel skidded to a stop when he realized it was the coach he'd just seen running up the trail. But he was alone. Where was Sarah? He looked down the trail. Maybe she'd fallen behind. Would the idiot really leave her alone?Eric and Romero had eagerly volunteered to help him find Sarah and were driving around the park as well. He texted Eric to let them know he'd found them and where.Angel peered through his rearview mirror and saw the coach turn into the parking lot he'd just passed up. The rain was beginning to come down harder now. He put the car in reverse and backed up fast.The tires screeched as he turned into the parking lot and saw Sarah talking to the perv next to his car. He was too close to her, and her stance seemed defensive. Angel pulled up next to them, turned off the car, and jumped out.Sarah's expression crumbled when she saw him, and she hurried to him. His fist tightened, and he was immediately between Sarah and the coach."What happened? What's wrong?" he ask
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
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
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.
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
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 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