Read Getting It for Free Online

And he did feel better about himself—so long as he didn’t think about having to face his buds the next day.

Eleven
    T HE FOLLOWING MORNING, Carlos woke as soon as his alarm sounded. His head felt unusually clear as he gazed around his newly organized room. After showering, he put on a clean shirt, underwear, and socks, feeling like a new man. But as he walked toward his bus stop, he filled with dread. Now he had to face his friends, whom he’d ditched the day before.
    â€œâ€™S’up?” Carlos greeted them as he climbed into the back row.
    The boys gazed silently at him till Playboy finally spoke: “So, did you hook up with your butt-monkey?”
    â€œShut up. I told you, he’s helping me with something.”
    â€œLending you a hand?” Pulga made a jacking-off gesture.
    â€œDid he try anything funny?” Toro asked.
    â€œWould you guys grow up?” Carlos snapped. Fortunately, they shut up.
    In between second and third period, Carlos shuffled down the hallway. Turning the corner, he stopped cold. Roxy was marching straight in his direction, her strut seamless and carefree. Her beautiful boobs bounced beneath her tight red top, in sync with the clip of her shiny black boots, as she talked and giggled with her friends.
    â€œWho has time for a boyfriend?” one girl was saying.
    â€œI know,” Roxy replied. “Between cheerleading, choreography class, and chorus, I barely have time to breathe.”
    In his freshly laundered clothes, Carlos felt braver than he’d ever felt near her. Quickly, he pulled the folded notepaper with his screen name from his sweatshirt pocket, his breath quickening as the girls approached. Summoning all his nerve, he stretched out his hand toward her, holding the notepaper. “’S’up, Roxy? Here’s my screen …”
    But Roxy didn’t even turn her head. Her eyes remained focused on her girl friends, as they sauntered past.
    Carlos’s heart crumpled like the paper he shoved back into his pocket.
I may as well not even exist,
he thought, pulling his sweatshirt hood low over his forehead.
    When the lunch bell rang, he waited for Sal at the water fountain alcove. “Here!” He handed Sal the twenty his ma had given him. “How long is this going to take?”
    â€œI don’t know.” Sal casually inserted the twenty into his wallet. “As long as necessary. I’ve got to get some stuff for your room. I’ll let you know how much it costs.”
    â€œHuh?” Did he think Carlos was made of money? “What kind of stuff?”
    â€œI haven’t decided yet.” Sal turned toward the lunchroom. “I’ll go with you tomorrow afternoon.”
    â€œWait!” Carlos shuffled his feet, recalling the previous day’s experience with his buds and Freaky Vicky. “I don’t want to take the bus.”
    Sal turned to stare at him. “Why? You scared to be seen with me?”
    â€œNo,” Carlos lied. “It’s just … I don’t want everyone at school finding out what I’m doing.”
    Sal’s gaze softened slightly. “Okay. Then I’ll come over Saturday.”
    â€œBut, um …” Carlos shuffled his feet some more. “That’s my day with my pa. How about Sunday?”
    â€œNope,” Sal replied. “Can’t do Sunday. I’m in choir at church. After that I hang out with my boyfriend.”
    Boyfriend?
Had Sal really said “boyfriend”? Carlos glanced over his shoulder, desperate to end this conversation
fast.
    â€œSo,” Sal went on, “it’s either after school or Saturday. Take your pick. Hurry up, I want to eat lunch.”
    â€œOkay. How about Saturday morning?” His pa wouldn’t come over till noon.
    â€œAll right.” Sal nodded. “I’ll be over at eight.”
    â€œEight?”
Carlos groaned. He usually slept till eleven on weekends. But before he