Street Love (An Interracial Love Story)

Chapter 3

Evie’s POV

“You really think he’s cute?” My best friend Keisha is always so loud.

“Can you keep your voice down?” I look around the cafeteria and realize that no one is paying attention to us. I sigh then continue poking at the brown mac and cheese. This cafeteria food is killing me but not all of us make enough money doing illegal things to buy a car and go off campus. 

All my diner money is going towards the SAT I’m taking in three weeks. I’m going to have to take the bus to the next city over because my school doesn’t offer it. My diner money is also going towards college. Even though I’ll be eligible for scholarships and federal aid, I still need some pocket money for everyday.

“Why you so sensitive Evie?” Keisha swirls her soggy fries in ketchup and continues talking with her mouthful. “I think y’all would make a cute couple to be honest. One of them interracial couples you always reading about on that Wattpiss website you always on.”

“It’s called Wattpad,” I say, looking towards the cafeteria entrance.

“Speak of the devil,” Keisha mutters.

Walking through the door is Tony, Juan and three other kids I don’t really know. I can’t decide whether or not to keep looking and by the time I try to pull my eyes away, Tony is walking towards our table.

“Hola mamacita.” Tony’s eye are covered with dark sunglasses and he’s wearing a Raiders snapback. “You don’t got your books with you today?”

I shake my head. Why do I feel so shy when he’s around? “I’m caught up on my studying.”

“Oh really?” Tony looks at his boys. “I’ll talk to you guys later.” The boys make some sex jokes in spanish then wander off. Once they leave, Tony slides onto the cafeteria bench next to me and come face to face with me. When he speaks again his voice is low and his breath smells like alcohol. “Come out to the parking lot with me.” 

“Why?” I ask, quietly.

“I just wanna talk with you some more mamas. You’re fine as hell.” His lips are inches from mine.

“I’m just gonna go now.” Keisha takes her tray of food and scoots a few tables down.

“I… I’m okay here Tony. I need to finish my lunch.” As soon as I pick up my fork, Tony slips it out of my hand and finishes my mac and cheese for me.

“I was eating that!” I say frustrated.

Tony laughs and gets close to me again. “Will you come with me now?”

“Uh. I guess.”

“Gracias Evette.”

“It’s Ev—”

“Evie. Yeah. Sorry.”

“Are you drunk?” I ask as we walk to the parking lot.

“I’m always drunk Evie.”

I look at Tony sideways and he smiles. His smile is a little crooked but it’s cute. I smile back, shyly.

“Well. We’re in the parking lot,” I finally say. “What did you want to talk to me so bad about?”

Tony slips off his sunglasses and his eyes are bloodshot. I try to look him in the eye but can’t knowing that he is drunk out of his mind.

“I want you,” he finally says with a goofy grin on his face.

“Excuse me?” I say, stepping back.

“You heard me Evette.” Tony steps toward me and wraps one of his arms around my waist and touches my cheek with the other. “I want you. Your lips, your mind, your body. Everything. I want you to be mine.”

I pull out of his embrace and frown, hard. “I don’t know who you think I am Tony. I’m not like these girls at school who only care about sex and how high they can get.”

“What does that have to do with me?” Tony steps forward and I step back again.

“You—” I try to think of words that won’t offend him but since he’s so drunk, I decide to just be blunt. 

“You’re not for me Tony. You’re always drunk or high or roaming the streets at odd hours.”

“So I’m not good enough for you?” Tony smirks again and steps towards me. I try to back up but am stopped by a parked black car. And now I’m trapped. Tony puts his arms on either side of me and rests them on the car behind me. 

“That’s not what I meant Tony.” I should feel nervous being trapped and all. But I know Tony would never hurt me. Well. I don’t think he would. “I need to focus on school and college and don’t have times for relationships.”

“What if I was one of them white boys from West Side? Then you’d probably date me huh, negrita?

“Did you just call me—”

Tony cuts me off with a swift kiss to the lips and I am paralyzed. His lips dance around mine and soon his mouth opens mine. He pulls back slowly and smiles. 

“It’s a term of endearment en español Evie. Chill.”

“Tony.” I feel so… breathless. 

“Dame una oportunidad. Por favor.” Tony’s forehead rests on mine.

“I can’t. I really can’t.”

“I can change, Evie.”

“What?” I ask. Everything is happening so fast, I don’t know what’s going on.

“Do you want me to clean up?” Tony insists. “Like no more acid and beer?”

“I mean.” I look into Tony’s eyes and notice the redness is going away. “If that’s what you want.”

“I want you Ev.”

Ev? I like it but I'm distracted by the feeling of Tony’s hands moving up and down my back.

“But why?” I try to maintain eye contact with him.

“You want me to be sappy?”

I smile and nod, shyly.

“You’re different, like you said before. You’re the only girl at this school who wouldn’t drop your panties for a few bucks or a bag of weed. And you smile. And you’re smart. And to be honest? Your body is incredible.”

“Well, I do dance,” I say laughing.

Tony laughs too and then it’s silence again.

“I want to see you get clean first,” I say after a while. “Then maybe we can talk.” 

“¿Sólo tal vez?” Tony asks, flirtatiously.

“I have to see it first,” I flirt back. 

“Okay.” Tony smiles. “Just for you negrita.”