It wasn’t always like this, but after Monday I never talked to her again. She hurt my pride when she dared me to ask her sister out. I didn’t expect her to say no, but she did, and she kind of turned. I’ll explain in a minute, but first, let’s introduce the story.
I’m James, Anthony Rodriguez’s little brother, as everyone else knows me by. I’ve always liked Syriana, but today I learned that she and I quote “ I won’t ever love someone who is related to Anthony Rodriguez. “ So basically I’m screwed. So Syriana Castro, the girl I’ve always liked, will never love me because of my brother. And Syriana’s sister Julianna told me to ask her out. Thanks for the advice, because it was bad.
July 2nd, Julianna and I were walking to the pier to set up for our big Fourth of July block party. We call it a block party even though it’s on the pier we only invite people from our block. We had finally got to the pier after a twenty-minute hike from Julianna’s front porch to the edge of the pier. It’s usually not that long, but someone had to get her “good angled” pictures so that she can “get more likes than usual. “
“ Are you sure she won’t say no? “ I remember asking this multiple times before I finally stopped and grew a pair. I grabbed my phone from my front pocket and began typing. Julianna slapped the phone out of my hands and looked at me.
“ Are you kidding me? You can’t ask my sister out on text, do it at our party! “ She was practically jumping in the air, and I couldn’t tell her no because she was so excited about it.
“ Okay, at the party. I will ask her at the party. “ I imagined it in my head, her saying yes and everyone clapping and then we finish the night dancing and the next day we would get ready for our date.
We went back to Julianna’s house to plan the party and that’s when the knock on the door happened. Julianna jumped up and answered saying “ hello we don’t buy anything from any strangers. Have a nice day. “ She tried to shut the door, but he pushed it back open.
“ Is James here? “ he asked pulling something out of his pocket. My dad was in a gang when he was alive… I thought he was going to shoot me.
“ No. He just left, sorry. “ I’ve always told her to say that just in case, you know… someone actually was trying to kill me.
“ I know he’s here. “ This time he shoved a badge in Julianna’s face.
“ Okay, I’ll get him. “ She mumbled. “ James, Officer Robinson is here for you. “ She came into the kitchen where I was under the table.
“ Just please talk to him. “ She was almost crying.
So I do.
“ Hello, Officer. “ I speak confidently and sit up straight.
“ Hello James, I just wanted to let you know that your father never actually died. He has been held in the Ohio State Reformatory for the last ten years. He wants to see you. “ He got quieter as he spoke. “ Do you want to see him? “ He asks finally after a long pause.
“ No, I’m fine. Thank you. “ I say. I go to Julianna’s bedroom and she says goodbye to Officer Robinson and follows me to the room.
“ Are you okay? “ She asks sitting on the edge of her bed.
“ I hate being lied to, but let’s continue planning the party, I don’t want to think about it anymore. “ I shrug grabbing the papers with our notes on them. Each year we try to get the party better than the last so this one must be completely crazy because we have no ideas left.
“ I’m gonna get some drinks. “ Julianna leaves me alone in her bedroom which is next to Syriana’s room.
“ Hey, I heard the news are you okay? “ Syriana struts in knocking twice before she enters.
“ Umm… uhh, yeah, I’m fine. “ I find my words.
“ I’m sorry they lied to you. “ She whispers sitting next to me. She hugs me and my heart explodes into a million pieces.
“ Do you want to go to the party with me? “ I ask sitting up straight.
“ Ha, no thanks. Sorry, but I am not showing up with you. Your dad was in a gang, and your brother you know, so yeah that’s bad for my reputation, and plus you’re too good of a friend. “ With this, she gets up and leaves, Julianna comes back with two glasses in her hands.
“ What’d she say? “ Julianna asks oblivious to the question I just asked.
“ She said no. “ I get up and drag my feet walking out. I start slowly trudging down the street towards my house when Julianna turns grabs my shoulder and turns me around.
“ I said to wait until the party! What were you thinking? “ She yells.
“ I wasn’t thinking, when I’m around her I can’t think. “ I whispered.
“ Well, maybe she’ll change her mind. “ She shrugs.
“ Yeah right. “ I laugh turning into my driveway. “ Just don’t talk to me. “ I slam my front door and go into my room. Anthony comes into my room as I throw myself onto the bed.
“ Why are you crying, like a little girl? You’re a Rodriguez, your dad was in a gang, we don’t cry pendejo. “ He picks me up off of my bed throwing me back on it. I sit up and wipe my tears.
“ She won’t love me because of you, why aren’t you in jail Anthony, you’re ruining everyone's lives. “ I punch him in the nose and run to my dad’s room. I sit in the middle of the room after locking the door. I light three of the forty candles and pray. I pray for my father, my brother, and my mother, my poor, poor mother. May she rest in peace. I scream and grab one of the non-lit candles throwing it at the wall.
“ Why would you kill her Anthony. She is our mother. “ I scream. I fall to the floor and realize my brother won’t ever get in trouble because no one except me, Julianna, and Syliana know what he did to our mother. I continue crying and thought to myself, “ I can’t ever talk to anyone ever again. “ I listened to my thoughts and until now, because Officer Robinson, you’re the first person other than our little circle that knows everything about the summer that ruined my life, and you now know that my brother killed my mother.
“ Why didn’t you tell anyone? “ He asks writing in his notepad, that he’s been writing in for the last four hours.
“ No questions, you know everything you need to know now. I’ll go back to my cell, please. “ I put my hands behind my back again getting handcuffed. Officer Robinson walks me to my cell for the third time again today. My bright orange jumpsuit labeled Death Row Prisoner isn’t the most comfortable outfit, but I guess I don’t get comfort after what I did to my brother. I couldn’t help it. He pissed me off, but at least he’s with mom and I’m with my father.