“Hey, get away from her!” Troy snarled as he grabbed Mindy’s shoulder to push past her.
She mentally recoiled at his touch, one of her hands clenching into a fist. She never got to punch the jerk because Diego appeared out of nowhere, seized Troy by the front of his T-shirt, and swung him away from her.
“Who the fuck do you think you are?” Troy snarled while struggling to free himself.
“The last thing you’ll see before you die,” Diego growled.
“THAT’S ENOUGH!” a new voice shouted. Ms. Deville pushed her way through the onlookers. “Let go of him!”
Diego released Troy with a flinging motion that sent him stumbling backward until he ran into the same clothing rack that Faith was still trying to untangle herself from.
“What is going on here?” Ms. Deville demanded. Silence fell over the entire group as instinct kicked in. Nobody wanted to get in trouble, regardless of which side they were on. Her focus narrowed to Diego, who was the only one who had been caught red-handed. “Well, Mr. Gomez?”
“We were play-wrestling,” Cameron said, leaping onto Diego’s back and wrapping an arm around his neck. “Like on TV.”
Diego grimaced but managed to remain on his feet until Cameron hopped down. “Yeah,” he grunted. “Wrestling.”
Ms. Deville raised an eyebrow. “Why, pray tell, would you do that?”
“Because of the big fight scene at the end,” Troy said while helping Faith to her feet. “We thought it could use more action and less dancing.”
“But this turned out to be a bad place to practice,” Cameron added.
“I can’t imagine your parents being pleased with such a direction,” Ms. Deville trilled, “nor do we have the time or resources to make such a change. No more rough housing or I’ll shelve the entire production. Do I make myself clear?”
They all nodded glumly.
“Good. Now I suggest you redirect this excessive energy into perfecting your choreography. Immediately!” she added when they failed to move.
That did the trick. They all dispersed. For the most part. Diego stayed close to Mindy, as if wanting to protect her. Which she appreciated because Faith came right back once Ms. Deville had gone elsewhere.
“You can have your stupid jacket,” she said, tossing it to the floor.
Mindy squatted to pick it up. “Where are the sleeves?”
Faith’s smile was cruel. “I threw them away during lunch. Have fun digging around in the dumpsters.” And with that, she turned around and stomped off.
“I’ll help you,” Diego rumbled from next to her as she stood.
That was sweet of him, but ultimately pointless. “It’s okay. The jacket is ruined anyway. I just didn’t want her to have it.” Mindy looked down at it and sighed. “My sister is going to kill me.”
“Maybe we can find one she likes better,” Diego suggested. “I’ve got some money. I can help.”
It was basically the same offer Troy had made, but coming from him, was much more appreciated.
“That’s okay,” Mindy said. “I was going to get a summer job anyway.”
“Yeah? Where at?”
“I’m not sure yet.” She laid the jacket out on her table to assess the damage. “I have to finish my lifeguard certification first.”
“Get a job at Oceans of Fun,” he said, referring to a waterslide park on the Missouri side. “That way you can sneak me in for free.”
She smiled at his attempt to lighten the mood, but her heart was dragged back down again as she considered the jacket. “I hope they hire skeletons, because I’ll be dead by then.”
“Maybe you could make something else out of what’s left. Like a wallet.”
Or a purse or a belt!
“You’re a genius!” she said, turning around to hug him.
Diego was stiff and unyielding in her arms, but that was okay. He had to leave afterwards, since he was being called to rehearsals. Mindy was straightening the wardrobe racks and returning fallen clothing to hangers when Faith marched over.
“Is he your boyfriend?” she asked while helping herself to a different leather jacket.
“What are you doing?” Mindy demanded.
“Ms. Deville wanted to know why I’m not in costume,” Faith said. “So is he?”
“No,” Mindy replied.
As casually as someone commenting on the weather, Faith said, “You’re both going to be sorry,” before walking away.
Mindy watched her go, and with an exasperated sigh, murmured under her breath, “I already am.”
— — —
Diego parked on Ricky’s street. Then he considered the house, remembering how safe he had felt there over the holidays and while hanging out with Ricky in his room. Until the universe decided that Diego didn’t deserve such things. Taking his dad away and driving his mom nuts wasn’t punishment enough apparently. He had been cast out of the Garden of Eden yet again.
Most people experienced an existential crisis when doubting the existence of God, but for him, the world made a lot more sense. Otherwise, anyone paying attention had to wonder why he would allow so many travesties. Diego had heard all the freewill bullshit, but that was like watching your children mutilate each other with knives and not lifting a finger to intervene. For their personal growth. God was either powerless or an asshole. If he existed, it had to be one or the other.
He continued to eye the house warily, bracing himself for more righteous judgement. Although he only had Ricky’s parents to contend with and not a heartless divine being. Diego honestly wasn’t sure which he’d prefer as he grabbed the present off the passenger-side seat and walked up the path. He rapped his knuckles against the door and turned around, watching his car while wishing he could escape in it with Ricky. The door behind him creaked open.
“Diego!”
His boyfriend’s voice came as a tremendous relief. He turned around just in time for Ricky to slam into him.
“I’m so glad you’re here!” he was saying. “Hey, is that for me?”
“Yeah,” Diego said, shrugging Ricky off before handing the box to him.
“Wow, where did you find solid-black wrapping paper? And a matching bow?”
Diego smirked. “When I described what I wanted, the lady who wrapped it thought you were turning forty.”
“It looks cool,” Ricky said, turning the box over a few times before shaking it.
Diego nodded at the gift. “Go ahead. Open it.”
“No way! I have to blow out my candles first.”
Diego shook his head, not understanding. “Who cares?”
Ricky smiled up at him. “I do.”
He couldn’t argue with that.
“Come inside.” Ricky grabbed his hand and pulled. “Everyone is here already.”
Diego tensed. He knew who was on the guest list and didn’t like most of them.
“Don’t be nervous,” Ricky said, reading his face. “Just be yourself.”
“People only say that when they want you to act different than how you would naturally.”
“Or when they want you to know that you’re accepted,” Ricky said, tugging again. “Come on!”