Bitter Sweet

8. Loco the Poodle

It was ten in the morning and Stephanie felt good. She felt like she could take over the world, she spent the last three hours online applying to several bakeries in Tucson and several grocery stores with bakeries and she felt great, one of those five places were bound to call her back.

She decided to take a stroll down her backyard and visit her father's dog she hadn't seen her since she returned home. She stepped out and found Loco, the toy poodle that seemed that he will outlive everyone in the household, he greeted her with his tail wagging rapidly as if he was still a puppy.

The cold air of January made her want to go back inside. She gave Loco a small pat on his head and stood ready to turn back towards her house. She came to a halt when she spotted Julio messing with the gate. Stephanie threw her hands up silently. Did he not have a day job? She wondered as she hurried to the door trying not to be noticed.

"Good morning, early bird," he said from behind her.

Stephanie froze and cursed under her breath. She didn't want to speak to him, not when she was feeling so great. Speaking to him would only make her doubt herself and wonder if she should have brushed her hair when she got up from bed or changed out from her pajamas.

"Hello," she replied as she turned back to see him. "You, uh, you are here. A lot."

Julio chuckled as he flipped a screwdriver in the air and caught it effortlessly. "You mother called me so I could fix the gate, Loco keeps getting out. I assumed she had your permission."

Loco heard his name and licked Julio's shoe. Traitor, Stephanie thought as she watched him literally kissing his feet.

"Anything planned for today?" she heard Julio ask.

She looked up. "Uh you know, a little bit of this and a little bit of that." If she could kick herself, she would. What was she trying to prove? She heard a buzzing sound so close to her ear, she turned her head thinking it was her ears playing tricks on her.

"Hold on," Julio said as he grabbed her arm and brought her closer to him.

Stephanie had not yet registered this until she was inches away from him and smelled his aftershave. He pulled a small bee from her hair, Stephanie watched him mesmerized by his graceful movements and the way he handled the bee, as if he didn't want to hurt it. Then she noticed his hand around her arm. She pulled away abruptly and said harsher than she intended, "Get your hands off me!"

Julio let go and stepped back with his hands raised as if he was being detained by the police. "Whoa, relax, I didn't realize the bee on your hair was a fashion statement."

Stephanie straightened and looked down at her hands. Why did she have to react like such a wacko? "I gotta go."

She turned around rapidly and ran inside her house hoping to God he didn't see her blushing cheeks.

"What happened to you?" She found Ashley on the couch watching TV.

"Why aren't you in school?"

Ashley laughed as she replied, "It's Saturday, you crazy hag."

"What did you just call me?"

"Hi Julio!" Ashley said jumping up on her feet.

Stephanie froze as she realized he must be standing behind her since she hadn't moved from the door way. She started feeling her face go hot and didn't know what to do since her random outburst a few seconds ago.

"Hello Ash, is your mom around? I finished mending the gate."

Ashley went to seek her more than happy to satisfy the cute guy in the room. Which meant Stephanie was left alone with him. Who still stood behind her.

She had to think of something, and quick. Should she apologize for her abrupt behavior? Or should she....?

"I gotta go," Stephanie said and ran.

She ran to her room bumping into her mom. "Stephanie! I just painted my nails, would you get Julio's money from out of my purse?" She saw her mother's shriveled hands and saw her glittery nails, Stephanie couldn't remember the last time her mother painted her nails.

She shoved her hand in the gigantic purse and pulled out her huge wallet, which made sense to carry such a big purse. "How much are we talking? Twenty bucks?"

"Twenty? He's not a slave! Give him forty."

Stephanie watched her mother hoping she was joking. "Forty?" she asked as she saw that she was not planning to add anything. "Isn't that a bit much for fixing a fence?"

"Do you mind giving it to him?" she replied waving her hands proving her point.

"Can't Ashley do it?"

"Can't!" came Ashley's voice from her room. "I'm getting ready for a date!"

Stephanie walked to the room they were sharing. "A date? With Mr. Long Tongue?"

"Mr. what? His name is Sergio."

"Whatever, he's actually taking you out on a date?"

"Yeah, well, we're meeting at the park."

Stephanie laughed. "Honey, that's not a date, it's just two kids going down the slide."

"Stephanie!" their mother hissed at her. "Go give Julio his money!"

"Oh," she replied feeling a heavy weight on her shoulders. She took the forty bucks and ran back to the living room where he stood watching the TV Ashley had left on. Stephanie smiled as he refused to sit on the couch since he wasn't invited to. It was old fashioned and sweet.

She shook her head refocusing her concentration on the task at hand. "What are you watching?"

"Sabado en la Manana, quite an annoying show."

The screen was covered with dancers in sexy outfits attempting to dance to a Mexican song sung by a Mexican band who all were waring cowboys hats. Stephanie wasn't too fond of that show either. "Ashley is obsessed with that show."

He shook his head as if getting out of the hypnotic trance from the swaying hips of the girls in bikinis. "What do you obsess over?" he said turning his attention to her.

It was Stephanie's turn to shake her head. Was he asking about her? After she acted like a mad woman? "I guess, cooking shows. Master Chef, Cake Boss, etc."

"Why am I not surprised," he smirked.

Stephanie stood awkwardly not knowing what to reply. Why was she so flabbergasted? It wasn't like he had said anything big. "Well, here is your money. Thank you for fixing the fence and I'm sure Loco thanks you too," she added stupidly. She extended her hand with the money and he reached out to grab it. His fingertips grazed hers and she pulled away rapidly as if it electrocuted her hand.

Julio noticed it. He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "Is something wrong?"

"What? No, why?"

He watched her the only way he seemed to be able to watch her. "No reason." He took the money and shoved it into his pocket. "Have a nice day."

He started towards the front door. He walked around her doing his best to avoid touching her, Stephanie noticed and felt terrible. He was probably too scared of her now. Maybe that was what she wanted? Instead of avoiding him, he will avoid her, perfect for her situation. Or was it? She dropped herself on the couch and turned to the annoying show. The hosts were playing a weird game which included fat suits and pies. Why did she feel like a buffoon? She embarrassed herself so badly she wanted to wrap herself in her cocoon and wished to be reborn into someone less of a loser. She grabbed the blanket Ashley brought from their bedroom and wrapped herself like a burrito. That made her feel slightly better.