Quince Clash Read Free

Filipina woman with an accent. Fabi and the grandmas smiled and acted surprised. The nurse handed Santiago a clipboard with the release forms that he had to sign.
    Alexis pinched Fabi softly on her side. “You always assume the worst,” she whispered.
    Fabi hated to admit that her little sister was right. She did always assume the worst. But she had good reason. Every time life seemed to go her way, like her quinceañera trip to New York City, someone or something would happen to ruin her plans. Although Fabi had forgiven her little sister for getting her in trouble, their father still held Fabi responsible for her sister’s actions. Her dad was big on building character and believed that sacrifice and hard work were the keys to success. That’s why he kept Fabi close to his apron strings — as an example. Now there was definitely no chance that she would go anywhere for the remainder of her teen years. Fabi was counting the days until she graduated high school and went away to college.
    But for now she’d settle for getting out of this hospital and back to bed.

S omething was up. Fabi felt the hairs rise on the back of her neck and shivered, even though the school marquee told her it was 90 degrees. That couldn’t be a good thing, she thought. She watched in shock as Santiago grabbed his backpack from behind the car seat and followed Alexis and her into Dos Rios High School. The parking lot was crowded with trucks and SUVs parking or dropping off students. Usually, Santiago had some excuse as to why he couldn’t go to school. But this time, he climbed the steps with them. He smoothed his curly locks out of his face as if he were nervous about something. Was he called in and going to be suspended? she wondered.
    â€œWhere do you think you’re going?” Fabi teased.
    â€œWhere does it look like I’m going?” He blushed. “To school. I’m still a student, you know. At least, I think I still am.”
    Alexis saw a bunch of her friends gathered by the big fountain (which never worked) and ran over to them excitedly. Fabi couldn’t help but be happy for her sister’s renewed popularity. For a while, Alexis had been taunted and bullied by a couple of football players. They called her a slut and bragged that she did all kinds of freaky things to them. Alexis’s ex, Dex Andrews, had not only tried to ruin her reputation but had also tried to frame Santiago for a crime he didn’t commit. But when Alexis helped Fabi prove Santiago’s innocence, everyone at school realized that Dex was a lying bully. His family quietly transferred him to a military school near San Antonio. Alexis was remarkably thick-skinned, and in no time at all, things had gone back to normal.
    Fabi and Santiago continued their walk into the school together. Just inside the doors, Fabi turned to her cousin, who had stopped abruptly. He looked a bit overwhelmed by the crowd of loud, unruly students in the hall. She was not used to seeing him like this. Santiago was normally a smooth, borderline cocky, charismatic trendsetter.
    â€œYou okay?”
    Santiago gave her one of his disarming smiles. “’Course I am. It’s just been a while, you know, since I’ve been here so early. I think I forgot where my first period is.” He laughed at himself.
    â€œSanti!” a chorus of girls called out at once. The cousins turned to see three girls rush up toward them. It was Violet, Mona, and Noelia. The petite trio was dressed in matching preppy outfits and flower barrettes like some girl band. In a flash, their hands were all over Santiago, playing with his curly locks and touching his arms, back, and chest. The three girls had been friends since elementary school. Even then, the three were boy crazy.
    â€œDid I hear you say you’re lost?” Violet said, touching his arm.
    â€œDon’t you remember that we have home-room together?” Mona cut in, elbowing her