21 Questions

Chapter 1 (Santiago)

All it takes it one mention of her name to grab my attention. My attempt to be subtle and turn down the music in order to hear the conversation is not missed by my best friend. I sense Alex's eyes on me but I keep my eyes on the road. He knows how I feel about his cousin, Noelle. 

"All I'm saying is that a party would help Noelle keep her mind off that dirtbag" Ericka, says from the back seat. 

Alex turns his body towards the back seat to reply to his sister "Do you even know when her flight lands? What if she's too tired from the flight to attend a party?" I look over at my best friend quickly and give him a quick smile because I've been wondering about her arrival. He does this often. Asks questions to get me the information I too stubborn to ask. 

"Her flight lands in an hour. She's 17 Alex and not 77. I think she can handle a 3 hour flight and not be tired" Ericka says sarcastically. 

While it's annoying that Ericka is planning a party against Noelle's wishes, I can't help but be thankful for her meddlesome personalty since it will mean I will have the opportunity to see Noelle tonight. Ericka goes silent and focuses on her phone to start the preparations for tonight's part. 

My heart begins to beat faster as the thought of begins to invade my mind. I haven't seen her in since Spring Break. She only comes to visit her dad during schools breaks since she lives with her mom in a different state. 

It's summer so I'll have 3 months with her. I've thought about her nearly every day. Now  that she's finally single, it's my chance to win her over. I vow put aside my fear of rejection and finally tell how I feel. To tell her I'm willing to change for her. Leave all the meaningless one night stands and be in an actual relationship with her regardless of the miles apart. I should also vow to keep it in my pants. I won't mess it up again my a short stint of horniness. I need to behave so that Noelle knows that I can be trusted in a long distance relationship. 

I wear a smile on my face as I plan all the ways I can win her affection. I turn the music back up for the remainder of the drive to Roberto's house. 

Roberto is a new addition to our circle. We met him a fews ago at the gym.  I haven't talked to him much and don't have much interest to talk to him but Alex and Ericka seem to like him so they invite him to tag along most of the time. He's kind of a boring nerd. I overheard him talking to Ericka once about anime. He also doesn't seem to have friends. He's decent at basketball and quiet so I mind him around. 

"Hey Beto" Ericka greets him and he gets into the back seat. 

"Hey" he replies. He proceeds to greet each on of us individually, which is annoying. I don't know why. Maybe it's because he's my complete opposite. There's no need to be so nice all the damn time.

Ericka proceeds to invite Beto to the party at her house tonight. "You should meet my cousin, Noelle. You'll love her! She's also gorgeous and your type. Here let me pull up her insta"

My blood begins to boil at the thought of Noelle with Roberto. Alex's eyes meet mine and I give him a death stare. Behind my coldness, I plead him to intervene.

"Stop trying to play cupid and sticking your nose where it doesn't belong" he says. 

Ericka huffs but continues to show Robert her phone. I begin contemplating if Noelle would go for a guy like Roberto. My jealousy seems futile since Noelle enjoys being in the spotlight and is usually the life of the party. She wouldn't be interested in someone that's always on the sidelines. The thought that Roberto isn't Noelle's type puts me at ease.