Getting It Read Free Page B

saw Sal glance over his shoulder and spot him, but Carlos quickly ducked away By week’s end, he had Sal’s schedule down pat, but he still couldn’t pick out a good time or place to talk without someone seeing him.
    He noticed, however, that after last period Sal walked home alone. As Carlos’s bus drove past, he watched Sal turn down a side street only three blocks away from school.
    The following day, when the final bell rang, Carlos told his friends he was staying after school.
    â€œWhat for?” Playboy asked, his eyebrows arched in curiosity.
    â€œI’ve got to do something.” Carlos gave an evasive shrug. “That’s all.”
    â€œLike what?” Pulga extended a bag of caramel popcorn toward Carlos, as if bribing him to tell them.
    â€œUm, nothing.” Carlos took some popcorn and tried looking away, but his three friends had surrounded him. “Just something for school.”
    â€œIs it some sort of secret?” Toro dug into Pulga’s bag of popcorn.
    â€œNo, its just—it’s not important.”
    â€œThen what is it?” Playboy insisted with a burp.
    â€œNothing, I told you!” Carlos shifted his feet, worried he’d lose Sal. “You’re going to miss your bus.”
    His buds exchanged confused glances, then Playboy said, “Dude, you’re really getting weird,” before the three of them headed toward their bus.
    Quickly, Carlos hustled in the opposite direction and out the main door, blending into the students walking home.
    He easily trailed Sal’s bright lime-colored shirt. Sal seemed to glance over his shoulder once, but Carlos quickly hid his head inside his hoodie and waited for Sal to turn the corner. Once off the main street, Carlos reasoned, they could talk without anyone from school seeing.
    When Sal turned onto the side street, disappearing behind a tall hedge, Carlos made his move. He sprinted to catch up, but when he turned the corner, Sal was nowhere in sight.
    Carlos stopped and caught his breath. He gazed down the empty street of quiet houses and parked cars. Where could Sal have gone?
    Behind him, the bushes rustled. As Carlos turned, Sal slammed into him, tackling him at the waist. Carlos sprawled onto the grass, the breath knocked out of him.
    Next thing Carlos knew, he was flipped over, his pack jabbing into his back, his arms pinned to the ground. Sal sat astride his chest, shouting, “Tell me why you’re following me!”
    â€œLet me go!” Carlos gasped, struggling to push Sal off.
    But Sal pressed down harder on his arms. “Tell me!”
    Pain seared through Carlos’s wrists as he strained to get free. “Get off!”
    â€œNo!” Sal refused to loosen his grip. “Not till you tell me!”
    Carlos gazed up at Sal, confused by the situation. If Sal were gay, why wasn’t he acting weak and girly? What if he
wasn’t
gay? Clearly, Sal could beat the
caca
out of him.
    Carlos stopped struggling. “I wanted to ask you something,” he muttered.
    â€œAsk what?” Sal clamped down harder on Carlos’s wrists.
    Carlos groaned. In light of the circumstances, did he dare ask? “Are you really, um …” He hesitated before squeaking out, “gay?”
    Sal stared at Carlos, frowned, and loosened his grip, rolling off Carlos. “Oh, God! Not
another
one.”
    Carlos took a huge breath as Sal’s weight left his chest. He quickly sat up and peered over at Sal. “Not another what?”
    Sal propped himself up, then stood, dusting off his jeans. “Another so-called straight guy who wants a blow job. You’re the third one this year. I’m not interested, okay? So leave me alone.”
    â€œHuh?” Carlos scrambled to his feet, pulling his hood onto his head. “That’s not what I want!”
    Sal perched his hands on his hips and gazed at him dead-on. “Then what do you care if I’m gay or