Lily's POV
I couldn't get what I overheard Javi saying to himself the other day in the hall. I feel like the real problem isn't me, it's his father. Now even if Javi and I were on speaking terms he would never tell why his dad went to jail. But I knew someone who would.
I knock on Javi's door.
Juan: Oh hey Lily, Javi isn't here right now.
Lily: That's ok I wanted to talk to you.
Juan: Really? Ok then.
He lets me in.
Juan: So what's up?
He flops down on the couch.
Lily: I need to know why your dad went to jail.
He sits back up.
Juan: Didn't Javi tell you?
Lily: Nope.
Juan: Look if he didn't tell you I don't think I should. I mean you're like a sister to me but-
????: He can't tell you because they barely know themselves.
We both turn around, Miguel is standing behind us.
Juan: Then enlighten us old man.
Miguel: Didn't I tell you to watch how you spoke to me? Ok, when I went to jail Javi was like seven which would have made you ten. I got laid off a job and we couldn't live off of just your mom's pay cheque. Things got really bad and money got really tight until one day I met this guy at a bar wanted to pay me to go on vacation.
Juan: Hold up, you got a free vacation and you didn't take us.
Miguel: Can you let me tell the damn story?
Juan: Sorry, dang.
Miguel: The catch was that I had to bring something back over for the guy's friend. So I did it and I got paid for it.
Lily: So you trafficked drugs.
Miguel: Sweetie I didn't just traffic drugs soon I started selling them. By Javi's eighth birthday I was running a trap house full time. It was hard keeping a secret as big as running a trap house.
Juan: I worked it out for myself when you came to my career's day at school and wrote the chemical equation for lean on the board.
Miguel: I thought I told you not to interrupt me? Running a trap house is pretty stressful too especially when your family want to know where you've been and why we suddenly have money. So I started to beat Javi and Juan's Mom. Fast forward a year later, I get busted, wind up in jail and my family start a new life without me here.
Juan: So you knew what you was doing to Mom was wrong but you still did it?
Miguel ignores Juan.
Miguel: So Lily, since I answered your question why don't you answer mine?
Lily: Sure.
Miguel: What's wrong with my son?
Juan: I'm fine dad.
Miguel: I meant Javi. He never comes down from dinner and we always hear banging and screaming from his room. At first I thought it was you but..
I knew Javi would never forgive me if I told his family the truth so I just told a lie.
Lily: I don't know he seems fine at school. Where is he anyway?
