Down to the Bone (18 page)

Soli, Tazer and Diego talk up a storm. Diego recites a few original poems for Tazer to hear. Tazer doesn’t seem stuck on not having gotten a reaction from me. That’s a relief.

My eyes scan the restaurant. I see girls holding hands with their girlfriends. I wish I could go up to Gisela and strike up a conversation. I’d ask her to come with me on a long bike ride to the beach, then a picnic under the moonlight. I want to kiss her so badly it burns!

Tazer whispers to me while Soli and Diego take a break to kiss. “I’m jealous. I can tell Gisela likes you. That’s why I kissed you: to get her attention away from you, since you’re straight. I like kissing girls. Don’t worry. It’s nothing serious.”

Whew! Just what I wanted to hear.

He goes on. “Here I am, thinking I’m
her
type, and she ends up going for
you
.”

“Just because a girl looks feminine doesn’t mean she has to like the opposite of her, or that two feminine-looking girls together will act like submissive wimps in bed.” This slips out of me.

“And how do
you
know that?” Tazer squints.

“I’ve heard about it. I bet some butches and guys like you are softies in bed, and some girls who look feminine are crazy-wild passionate and assertive.”

“You’re right. My ex looked feminine and took total control in bed. I loved that about her.”

I quickly change the subject. “I need to speak to you alone, soon.” I’m dying to come clean about everything.

“Okay.” He starts talking about Gisela and how he doesn’t like every feminine-looking girl he meets. “She’s not my type with that hair that looks like a soft ringlet Afro, and the solar energy, intellectual look. Don’t get me wrong. I can get into big curvy girls with junk in their trunk, but I’m just not into the environmentalist-looking types. The braces don’t do it for me, either. You’re all natural, but you don’t look it or flaunt it. Know what I mean?”

“Yeah.” I feel relieved Tazer isn’t into her and change the topic. Now
I
start talking with everyone about that and this.

We finish our meal. On our way out, I sneak a card into my pocket, with the name, phone number and address of the restaurant.

13—H8ing

I’m placing my red tall handlebar bike I painted yellow-orange flames on the frame, in Tazer’s shed. I’m glad Marco isn’t around. Since today’s our last day working here, Tazer invited us for breakfast at six a.m. I’m here fifteen minutes early. Angel won’t be here till seven.

“Hey!
¿Qué pasa?”
Tazer kisses my cheek. “Those are mighty fine looking golfing slacks.” I smile. After I wore down my jade green and black checkered, loose-fitting thrift-shop pants, I turned them into ankle-short hip-huggers.

That’s another thing I learned from my mother: how to transform old clothes into a brand-new look.

“You’re looking mighty spiffy yourself.” He’s wearing a thin silver necklace, loose-fitting blue jeans and a maroon T-shirt with large yellow letters that say “I Don’t Bite.” Underneath those words, in small fine print, it states, “Unless you want me to.” Tazer is gorgeous to look at.

Surprisingly, the moment doesn’t feel awkward.

I plant a kiss on his cheek and sing, “Tazeroni Macaroni was riding on a pony, eatin’ some baloney . . .” The sides of his mouth curl up. “I can’t wait to chow down. I’m starved.” Suddenly, he starts looking at me with a sparkle in his eyes, and I can’t stop thinking about Gisela. How unfortunate is
that
? But I’m such a chicken. I’ll probably never call Gisela—I’m sure I’m not her type—
or
date Tazer.

A few bees buzz by and I quickly move out of the way.

“My nanny went through a beekeeper stage,” he tells me. “For a time, we had bees all over our yard and so much honey we didn’t know what to do with it. Once, I was in my little plastic pool with friends. A bee stung the tip of my nose. For two days I looked as if I’d grown a testicle on my face.”

He entertains me with hilarious stories about when he was a kid. I learn he was the opposite of what he looks like now. When he turned fourteen he sprouted from being short and pudgy. His nanny dressed him as he liked: in boy pants and shirts. After he told his dad he was male, his open-minded father allowed him to have a short boy’s buzzed haircut. His dad always wanted a boy anyway.

We’re interrupted and look toward a sleek black car coming into the half-moon driveway.

Camila’s big brother drops her off and waves goodbye. We greet each other with kisses on our cheeks. I remember Tazer likes feminine girls and hope his focus stays on Camila.

Che honks, “Yo, Dudes!” and parks his rusty, dented, green pickup truck in Tazer’s driveway. Everyone except Jaylene is riding in the back. The rowdy crew piles out next to us.

“Where’s Jaylene?” I ask.

Che bites off his gloves and stuffs them in his blue jean shorts pocket. “That stinking jerk? I asked her out because she was giving me too much attention the other day. Some girls act like they hate you when they really want you. She blew me off and called me a ‘misogynist’ yet again. That was uncalled for. You’re out of your mind if you think I’d let her ride in
my
truck.” As if his vehicle were his teeny ding-dong! I’d rather ride on a mule to work than in
his
nasty truck! Jaylene is right. The guy seems to not respect girls too much.

Tazer dives in. “Hey, I’ve been rejected by many girls. So what?” He turns to look at me and his eyeballs land back on Che.

“Why can’t you two see she’s a man-hater?” Che says. “I don’t buy that she likes guys. She’s a lesbian separatist with an agenda disguising herself as bi. Don’t you hear the shit she talks about males being inferior to females?”

“She says that to piss you off, not because she hates all guys,” Tazer says.

“I don’t buy it. She’s a Nazi feminist dyke who give guys a bad name.”

“Only
you
can give yourself a bad name,” I tell him. “I’ve heard her talk about boys she’s dated she really cares about and respects. It’s not as if she’s going to rub her gayness or politics on your truck and leave a big queer smudge.” I’m surprised Che hasn’t talked bad about Tazer, yet. It’s probably because he’s working for his father.

I lie and tell Che my cousin Manny is gay and I love him to death. I ask him, “So, what event in
your
life caused your heterosexuality, and why do you insist on telling people you like girls?”

Tazer laughs, but Che just stands there shaking his head.

Out of nowhere, London, better known as Luscious Lez, drives inside the gates in a black Jeep. My jaw drops open. He gets off and introduces himself by shaking hands with everyone. “I’m London. Just came a sec to talk to Shai.”

I look to Tazer, who seems as confused as me. What the heck could this guy be doing
here
?

He takes me to the side, away from everyone, under a tall coconut palm tree. “Soli told me you were working at this address today.” He goes into his pocket for a rubber band and ties his long wavy hair back into a ponytail.

I look up at him and sway from foot to foot. “So?” My heart is racing something fast. I don’t know why I’m giving scum the time of day.

“Just wanted to tell you how sorry I am. I didn’t know Jon was spiking the drinks with X’s.” His dark eyes meet mine and they seem honest. “That was horrible.”

I take a few steps back. “What a jerk of a friend. It’s disgusting. Does he do that to
every
girl?” I’ve heard of guys drugging girls and riding them to their apartments then taking advantage of them. Sicko pervs aren’t my idea of fun.

He shrugs his shoulders, lowers his eyes, and stuffs his large hands into his tight black jean pockets. “It was my birthday. I turned eighteen, and he gave me and all my friends free drinks.” He stares at his red high-top sneakers. “I didn’t know he was spiking the drinks with X’s. Trust me, Shai. You’ve got to believe me. He knows I’m not into drugs.” He shakes his head. “I’ve already cussed him out. I’m really sorry.”

I take a closer look at him. Something about his large, dark eyes, plump red lips and flushed cheeks remind me of a boy I had a mad crush on for years, before Marlena. Thai Buenavista was one of my mom’s best friend’s son. Our families got together on holidays on his parents’ boat for barbecues and cruises around Miami to watch fireworks. Once, I asked Thai out to a movie with my friends CC, Olivia and me. He said, “Okay. Can I bring Carina, my girlfriend?” My heart dropped.

I wonder if London or Tazer would still be into me if I still looked like I did just a few years ago.

I dig holes into his eyes. “It sucked.” I don’t feel much like talking to a guy who has a friend who’s a perv, even if he looks like the biggest boy crush I ever had.

“I know. But you’ve got to believe that I had nothing to do with it.” He kicks a rock out of the way. “Soli told me you’re sixteen. I thought you were my age. You look older.”

“So what? Does that mean it’s okay for that imbecile to drug me without my knowledge?” I’m getting really pissed now. Who knows? Even though I highly doubt it, I might have tried X one day on my own, but not having a choice wasn’t cool.

“That’s not what I meant. I told Jon he could be put in jail for drugging a minor. He’s really crazed. I’m not talking to him again.” He grabs my hand and blurts, “I hope he didn’t screw it up for me and you. Can we go out sometime?”

I’m taken aback. Suddenly, out of nowhere, this guy comes here to ask for my forgiveness
and
a date? Weird. What else can happen? Is Neruda going to start talking? Will Viva begin to bark and howl in the middle of the night? I tell him the truth. “I’m going through a breakup right now. It’s painful and I’ll probably be a terrible date.”

He steps in closer to me and says with a twinkle in his eye. “I don’t mind being your rebound.” I feel I’ve been a tourist in a labyrinth with borders, and now I can step outside territories once closed to me.

If I date him, I bet it’ll hurt Tazer’s feelings, though. I don’t think I should. I need to stop being a coward and ask Gisela out. That’s who my heart really feels like spending time with.

I get back to the old topic. “Why did you walk away at Papaya’s and not confront Soli?” I thought he was a punk-ass-chicken to do that. I wouldn’t date such a wimp.

“You saw how Soli got. We work together, for crying out loud, but she hasn’t even let me say a word to her till today. I thought I’d have a better chance at seeing you again if I left Soli alone so she could let out steam. I even had Jon call her and talk to her. He told her I knew nothing, that it was
his
fault.”

“Oh.” I don’t know what to say. I guess he’s being honest. If Soli talked to him it must mean he’s all right. It’s too bad we aren’t allowed cells on the job and can’t text anyone or I’d ask Soli what’s going on.

Just as I think I might muster up some courage to call Gisela or even give Tazer a chance, this happens. A genetic
guy
, of all things, comes into my upside-down life!

There’s a profound silence between us and he breaks the ice. “So, what’s your sign? I’m a Libra. I bet we were meant to meet.”

“I don’t know a thing about astrology, but it seems to box and label everyone. I’m not a robot or a puppet of the cosmos. I’m a free spirit and don’t want to know the course of my life on a daily basis. I prefer surprises.” I won’t give him an inch. “I don’t act like my sign says I’m supposed to, anyway.”

“I’m not really into astrology, either, but most girls are so I laid that one on you.”

“Genius move, player.”

As he speaks I think about walking with Gisela on the beach at night, until the sun comes up. We’ll go on paths through wooded areas with a speckled sky and moon glowing above us . . .

I glance at my watch. “Hey, thanks for coming and explaining, but I need to get back to work.”

“I’ve got Soli’s digits. She says you’re living with her. Can I buzz you?”

I veer my eyes away from his, toward the crew. “Yeah.” I don’t want to give him my cell digits. He can call me at Soli’s house phone.

We say our goodbyes and walk toward his car.

As London is about to climb into his Jeep, Che grabs him by the arm. He slaps his back. “Dude, you’re a lucky dog. You’ve got the prettiest girl in Miami.”

London shoves his hands in his jean pockets. “Me?” I stare up at a cloud and watch the sun slide out from behind it.

Che winks at me. “My friend Pincho El Flaco was at Papaya’s on Sunday.” His friend Pincho comes here on his lunch breaks. He and Che smoke weed and shoot the shit when Angel or Marco aren’t around. “Pincho goes to mixed clubs to try to pick up
tortilleras
and bi’s for threesomes. He saw you kissing a thin tall guy with long black hair.” He slaps London’s shoulder. Must be you, no?”

London cracks his knuckles. “I don’t kiss and tell.”

Tazer’s eyes show disappointment. He hadn’t seen him kiss me.

Jaylene drives in with her little blue truck. Saved by the
belle
! “Hey, guys!” She’s always cheery.

Tazer gives her a big husky hug. They slap each other’s backs like football players do. They’re becoming close friends. I kiss her cheek. “Hey, Keen Mean Jaylene.” London introduces himself and they shake hands.

Jaylene greets everyone else. Che doesn’t greet her back. I guess she doesn’t care
what
he thinks of her.

George pats my back. “So you and London, eh? Nice couple.”

“What’s going on?” Jaylene asks.

Tazer shrugs. “Your guess is better than mine.”

“It’s not what it seems.” London tries to explain.

Everyone teases him. “Yeah. Yeah. We know.”

He stops brushing aside the comments. I think he’s liking the idea because he can’t take the big grin off his face.

Everyone keeps teasing us, so I cave in with a triumphant smile. It feels great to be getting so much positive attention. I goof off. “A’ite. A’ite. So we kissed, okay? So what?”

London looks to me with gleaming eyes. I slowly look away.

El Tigre sings in Spanish, “Love is in the air!” He slaps London on the back a few times.