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  He kissed her, then held her face in his hands. “Trust me, baby, if Dana is gonna cost me being with you, she’s gone. Just like that. I’ll make sure of it.”

  A smile slowly lifted the corners of her lips. “Are you gonna have her whacked?”

  Angel smiled, relieved at the change in her mood. “I had something a little less violent in mind. But if you want…”

  Sarah wrapped her arms around him and leaned her head on his chest. “Just take care of it.”

  ******

  The next day was far less emotional. Though thoughts of yesterday’s exchange made things a little tense when he first picked her up, as the hours passed, Sarah seemed a lot better and giving in to her feelings again. They even spent a lustful hour parked in their spot, until she had to leave for work.

  The night before she’d fallen asleep before Valerie got home, and this morning between talking to Sydney, and Angel picking her up so early, she hadn’t had a chance to talk to her.

  Valerie was just out of the shower, and Sarah was finally going to hear about her date with Alex.

  She was about to walk out to look for her when Valerie walked in smiling from ear to ear. Sarah smiled just as big.

  “So?”

  Valerie did a little dance and closed Sarah’s door. She motioned Sarah toward the bed and sat down next to her.

  “I gotta ask you something, Sarah.” She whispered. “Is Angel big? ‘cause Alex is huge. I mean, huge.”

  Sarah’s jaw dropped. “You slept with him?”

  Valerie expression was blank. “Of course not.”

  Sarah exhaled, relieved.

  “I’m on my period,” Valerie said, “How embarrassing would that be?”

  Sarah’s expression made Valerie laugh. “Sarah, how long have I been dreaming of this guy? It’s not like I’m a virgin you know. I slept with Reggie.”

  “You did?”

  “Sarah, I was with him for like six months. There’s only so much you can do before you just can’t stand it anymore.”

  Sarah could feel her face flush thinking about the things she and Angel had already done. Valerie eyed her. “Have you even seen Angel's-”

  “Shh!” Mortified, Sarah jumped up, walked to the door, and peeked out.

  The lights were all out. She tip toed back as if her footsteps might wake someone. Valerie watched and laughed. “What are you doing?”

  Sarah held her finger to her mouth again. She sat down on her bed across from Valerie and leaned over. “Yes, I’ve seen it, and yes, it’s big. But since everything about Alex is bigger, I’m not surprised he’s huge.”

  “I haven’t seen that many.” Varlerie made a face. “But his puts the few I have to shame. I’m almost afraid it’s gonna hurt.”

  Sarah stared at her, still unable to believe what she was hearing. “You’re really gonna do it?”

  “Of course,” Valerie said. “Think about it, Sarah. I’m not dumb. I know it’s just a matter of a couple of dates before he moves on to the next girl, and I’m okay with that. But I’ve been lusting over this guy for years. If I blow what may be my only chance to know what it’s like to be with him, do you know how much I’m gonna regret it looking back years from now?”

  Sarah stared at her. She still couldn’t get over how different her and Valerie thought. “Aren’t you afraid of getting pregnant?”

  “Nope, I got on the pill when I started going with Reggie.” she said. “And I never got off. I figured better safe than sorry.”

  Sarah didn't blink for a few seconds. The curiosity about what Valerie had actually done with Alex was killing her. But the fear of Valerie asking her about her and Angel’s intimacy kept her from asking. As it turned out she didn’t have to. Valerie made herself comfortable on Sarah’s bed and began telling her. “He is absolutely the best kisser ever.”

  Sarah smiled thinking of Angel’s amazing kisses. She’d never had a conversation like this with a girl and she liked it. Even though she could talk to Sydney about anything, there were certain things she knew she never would. Especially about Angel, it just felt wrong. She had told him about them making out and stuff but left out the details.

  Valerie continued. “And oh my God, he’s an animal. From the moment we started kissing he barely gave me a moment to breathe. You’d think with someone like him, who I’m sure can get it anytime he wants, he wouldn’t be so hungry for it.”

  “Where were you?” Sarah asked.

  “Oh, get this.” Valerie smiled. “Earlier, before we even left the restaurant I brought up football, you know asking him how different college was compared to high school, so he gets all into it telling me about it and said his friend has a lot of it on tape and maybe someday he can show me it. So, later in the evening he took me to get sushi and then we walked on the beach, that’s when he first kissed me-”

  “Did you have to stand on something?” Sarah giggled.

  Valerie tried to look mad but her smile, gave her away. “If you must know he was sitting on the brick wall that separates the beach from the walkway, when he pulled me to him and said he had to kiss me.”

  Sarah grinned. “Anyway!” Valerie said. “After he kissed me, he wouldn’t stop and starts talking about how we should go to his friend’s house to watch the tape of him playing. So, I said okay, why not, right? Turns out his friend, who’s not in town, has a bachelor pad not too far from where we were. He left Alex a key. Tell me he didn’t have that one planned.”

  Sarah was still trying to picture tiny little Valerie with brawny Alex. He had to be at least 6’4, and looked every bit the linebacker that he was. Valerie was maybe 5’3, and was as petite as they came. “So, did you watch the tapes?”

  “We started to.” Valerie chewed her nail. “But we hadn’t been on the sofa very long before he was all over me. I swear if I hadn’t been on my period, I so would’ve gone for it.”

  Sarah’s eyes were as big as saucers again. “Did you tell him you were on your period?”

  “No way!” Valerie gasped. “I just told him I didn’t feel comfortable being that I’d barely met him, which was stupid cause next thing you know I’m on my knees, gagging on his massiveness.”

  Sarah covered her face, and laughed. “Spare me the visual, please!" She took her hand away from her face. "So, did he ask to see you again?”

  “Well, he didn’t last night. But he asked for my number and called this morning saying he wanted to see me again.”

  “You went out with him again already?”

  Valerie nodded smiling. “Valerie, maybe he really is into you. You two really seemed to click yesterday.”

  “We went right back to his friends place, Sarah. The only thing he wants to get into is this.” She pointed at her crotch. “And he will, as soon as the curse is gone.”

  Sarah looked at her disappointed. Valerie didn’t seem disappointed at all. She crinkled her nose. “Is that my phone?”

  She jumped off the bed and ran to her room. She was gone for a few minutes and Sarah walked to her room to say goodnight. When she got there Valerie was on her bed talking on the phone with a big smile on her face. “Alex,” she mouthed, smiling.

  Sarah did the Valerie, and ran to listen in, leaning against Valerie’s ear.

  “... so cancel those plans,” he said. “I’ll pick you up at seven.”

  “Alright, I guess.”

  “You guess?”

  Valerie laughed. “I'm kidding, Alex. Yes, that sounds good.”

  There was a long silence on the other end then finally he sighed. “You’re real funny, Z.”

  “You’re just too easy.”

  “Yeah, well, you’re not,” he said. “I gotta go, I’m up at five tomorrow, but don’t forget.”

  “I’ll try.”

  “You know what-”

  “You see!” She smiled. “Of course I won’t forget. Better?”

  “Much better,” he said. “Good night.”

  Sarah watched Valerie flip her phone shut. “You are so ba
d. He was really getting mad.”

  “Nah,” Valerie said. “He knows I like playing with him. He just goes along with it, acting the part.”

  “Why’d he call you Z?”

  “For Zuniga,” Valerie said. “It’s a football thing I guess, he says he calls just about all his pals at school by their last names. But I’ve noticed he only does it when I really push his buttons.”

  Sarah cocked an eyebrow “I don’t know Valerie. He saw you all weekend and he’s calling already for another date?” She got off the bed. “And what plans are you canceling?”

  “Oh, when he asked if I was busy on Wednesday. I told him I had plans. I’m telling you, it’s probably just throwing him for a loop that he hasn’t gotten in my pants yet. As soon as he does, I can guarantee you he’s gone.”

  “So, why give it up then?”

  Valerie looked at her sympathetically as she got up in front of the mirrored closet door. “Silly, little, Sarah,” she said “You really think he’s gonna hang around forever, just to get some of this?”

  Sarah frowned, but before she could say anything Valerie continued “Besides I told you. I’m not looking for a relationship. I’m perfectly happy with the chance to be with the Alex Moreno just a few times. This is all I’ve ever wanted.”

  Sarah wasn’t so sure about that. She didn’t care what Valerie said, she knew what she heard. Alex sounded pissed. But if Valerie insisted, what could she say? Valerie did know Alex a lot better than she did.

  The phone rang again and they both jumped, then exchanged glances. Valerie looked at the caller ID.

  “It’s him again!” She sat down on the bed and Sarah assumed the position, right next to her ear.

  “Hello?”

  “Z, one question.”

  “What?”

  “What were your plans Wednesday night?”

  Valerie turned and looked at Sarah wide eyed and covered her mouth. “Um, nothing really,” she said “I was just gonna go out with my girlfriends… Why?”

  There was silence again on the other end. “Just wondering,” he said. “Alright, I’ll let you go to sleep now. See you Wednesday.”

  Valerie smiled and said goodnight. She looked at Sarah who was giving her a knowing look. “Before you say anything.” She held her hand up. “I’ve already told you, guys are territorial, especially one’s with such big egos. That’s all it is. It means nothing.”

  She looked so smug and sounded so sure, but Sarah felt uneasiness come over her. She would’ve never believed it, but she was beginning to worry about Valerie playing games with Alex.

  CHAPTER 12

  By Monday, everything was back to normal with Sarah and Angel. They’d never spend their morning or lunch breaks together. So, when Angel saw Dana by her locker just before lunch, he figured it was as good a time as any to take care of this once and for all.

  Two friends were with her. Her eyes brightened when she saw him approach. She quickly dismissed her friends. "I'll talk to you guys later."

  "Hey." She smiled big at Angel, tossing her hair back. “What’s up?”

  “Do you have a minute?”

  “For you? Of course.”

  “I know what you were doing Friday, Dana. It’s gotta stop.”

  Her smile dissolved and she glanced into her locker. “I don’t know what you mean."

  “Sure you do,” he snapped.

  She stared straight ahead. “You gave me that jersey, don’t you remember?”

  “No, I lent it to you and you never gave it back.”

  She shifted her weight and finally met his eyes. Angel saw right through her attempt to appear injured. “You want it back? Is that what this is about?”

  “Yeah I do. And I want you to stop doing everything else you’ve been doing, Dana. It’s getting old.”

  “You never complained before.”

  “Well, things are different now.”

  Angel could see the rage in her eyes. Knowing how much she loved making scenes, he was glad they were the only ones left in the hall. He heard the venom in her words loud and clear. “Did she tell you to do this?”

  Angel wasn’t about to give her the pleasure. “To be honest she’s never mentioned you.”

  Dana laughed attempting to sound sarcastic but fell short. She slammed the locker shut and it echoed loudly in the empty hallway. She scowled at him, lips almost quivering. “You think your jersey’s the only one I have?”

  “No, I’m sure you have plenty.”

  “Go to hell, Angel!” She began to stalk away. After only a few steps she stopped and turned around. “And don’t flatter yourself. You don’t have to worry about me speaking to you ever again.”

  “Thank you.”

  With that, she spun around and walked away in a hurry. All things considered, it went a lot better than he had hoped for. He walked out to the cafeteria feeling an enormous weight taken off his shoulders. He smiled smugly. His problems with Dana were over.

  *

  Practice was unexpectedly called off early that afternoon because one of the players was seriously injured, requiring paramedics to be called in. Angel had looked up at the bleachers and saw Sarah completely absorbed in her running. She hadn’t noticed the team was off the field.

  He could wait for her to finish. He hadn’t hung out with the guys after practice in a while. Now he had a few minutes.

  Angel had just stepped out of the gym with Eric and Romero when he saw Dana rush toward him, looking very determined.

  “Can I talk to you?” she said.

  He kept walking. “Go ahead.”

  “I mean alone.” She glanced at Eric and Romero. They both turned to Angel, who shrugged.

  “We’ll be over here man.” Eric pointed. They didn’t walk too far, sitting on a table nearby, in front of where the girls on the flag team were practicing.

  “How dare you dismiss me just like that?” She crossed her arms and stood in front of him, forcing him to stop. “As if I’d never meant anything to you.”

  He bit his tongue not wanting to be cruel, but he had Sarah to think about. “Shit happens, Dana. I’m seeing someone now. I can’t be dealing with you.” He waved his hand up and down in front of her. “With this.”

  “Did you know she slept with Jesse Strickland?”

  Angel laughed, though he didn’t feel the least bit of humor. “Is that what he said?”

  “That’s what everyone is saying. I’m surprised you haven’t heard.”

  “I don’t listen to bullshit.” She’d managed to stun him but he’d die before he’d let on. He knew it was all a bunch of crap but just the idea of a rumor like that about Sarah sickened him.

  “I don’t mean to hurt you Angel. I just thought you should know.”

  The inflated attempt to sound sympathetic was infuriating. Angel was never one to be disrespectful. Especially to girls, but he could feel the blood curdling in his veins. Sarah had been close to dumping his ass. Too damn close, and for this? He was done being nice.

  He glared at her. “Don’t worry. You could never hurt me, Dana. I’d have to care about you for that.”

  She shrugged. “And I suppose she knows about us?”

  Angel chuckled. “There was never an us, Dana. And you know it. You made up all that crap. Not me.”

  The tears welled up in her eyes. He rolled his eyes and backed away. “God, don’t start this shit.”

  He turned and began to walk toward Eric and Romero.

  “You made love to me you bastard!” She yelled. “Don’t you remember that?”