South beach (13 page)

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was standing in front of his own car, which was unscathed. He looked to be about twenty. His Florida Marlins hat was pulled down low over his eyes, and his chin was shadowy with stubble. He wore a stained gray T-shirt, baggy cargo shorts, and Tevas. Alexa marched right up to him.

"Thanks, asshole," she spat. "This isn't even my car. Now I'm going to have to explain to the owner how it got destroyed." She was exaggerating a little, sure, but that had never failed her before.

The driver set his jaw. "I didn't intend to hit you," he shot back. "You're parked in an illegal spot. Trying to maneuver around you was a nightmare."

"It's not
my
fault!" Alexa retorted, narrowing her eyes at him. "I was sitting there innocently and
you
rammed into--"

"Stop bullshitting me," the guy cut her off, crossing his arms over his chest. "Your car is barely scratched. I'll pay you for whatever damage -- "

"Keep your money," Alexa spat. "That's not the point. You could have
killed me
and my friends!"

She looked quickly behind her. Holly, Daisy and Kaitlin had emerged from the car and were standing on the sidewalk a few feet away. Kaitlin and Daisy were huddled together, shooting murderous looks at the driver. Holly's head hung miserably; she was probably imagining her parents' wrath. The girls all appeared

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shaken up enough to support Alexa's wild claim. Alexa faced the driver again, smug.

"They seem fine to me -- " the driver began, glancing over at the other girls. Then he paused, and lifted the brim of his cap. Behind his wire-rim glasses, his dark eyes grew round.

""What?" Alexa snapped. She shot a look over her shoulder. Who was he staring at? When she turned back to the driver, he was smiling and shaking his head.

"Holly?'' he asked, taking a step forward. "Holly Jacobson?"

Holly had been pondering how she could explain this mess to her parents. Then she looked up, startled. Had the guy who'd hit them said her
name?
She stared at him blankly, taking in his wrinkled clothes, baseball hat, and glasses. She must have heard wrong. Holly had never seen this guy before in her life.

But now he was coming toward her and smiling, his arms extended, as if he planned to give her a hug. Holly took a few steps back, bewildered.

"Holly, it's me!" the guy exclaimed. "Diego. Diego Mendieta." He stopped before he reached her, and tilted his head quizzically. "Hey come on, Holly. I know it's been a while. But don't you remember me?"

Holly wondered if she might pass out. Ocean Drive swam around her, a mass of colors and sounds. She reached out and grabbed onto Kaitlin to steady

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herself. She opened her mouth but couldn't recall how to speak.

Diego?
Could it be? All this time she'd been searching for him, and now, here he was, in the middle of the street, within arm's reach?

Holly gazed up at him incredulously. He looked kind of scruffy. Not as picture-perfect as she remembered him. The baseball cap was shielding his face, and she wasn't used to seeing him in glasses. But now that he was standing close to her, she noticed familiar features the big black eyes and long lashes, the full lips, the deep dimples that appeared in his cheeks when he smiled. Holly's heart melted. Underneath the scruff, he was still as beautiful as ever.

"I didn't recognize you," she finally said. Her voice came out hoarse.

"I knew it was you right away -- you haven't changed at all," Diego said, laughing as he dropped his arms. Then he paused and glanced at his feet. "Well, your face is the same, anyway," he added hastily.

Oh, God.
Holly tried not to blush. At thirteen, she'd been scrawny and flat-chested, but had definitely developed since then. Suddenly, she was half-glad to be wearing the clingy halter.

"What are you doing in South Beach?" Diego asked. "Are you staying with your grandmother?"

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"Spring break. In a motel." That was all Holly could manage.

"Well... it's great to see you again." Diego grinned. Then he stepped forward and wrapped Holly in a hug. Holly wondered if she was having an out-of-body experience. But, no, this was real her, Diego, their arms around each other. Together again.

Daisy and Kaitlin looked at each other, shrugging in confusion. Alexa, who was still standing in front of the Honda, stomped one stiletto regally. What was happening here? How did Holly know this creep? She walked over to Holly and Diego and tapped Holly on the shoulder, breaking up the friendly embrace.

"Hoi, why you are hugging the guy who almost killed us?" Alexa demanded.

Holly pulled away awkwardly from Diego. "He's ... an old friend," she explained, still having some difficulty with the talking thing.

"I used to live in the same building as Holly's grandmother, in Miami Beach," Diego chimed in. He smiled at Holly again. "How
is
Ida?"

"Fine ... oh, God!" Holly giggled nervously, suddenly remembering where they were. Ocean Drive. The car. Grandma Ida. "Actually, this is her car we borrowed it for the night." She gestured to the silver Pontiac.

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Diego's expression filled with regret. "Oh, Holly, I'm really sorry. Should I give Ida a call to explain?"

"That won't be necessary," Alexa butted in, seething.
Now
he was apologizing! "Just give me your insurance information. I'll call Ida tomorrow and figure it out." Ida had entrusted the car to her; Alexa was going to be adult and responsible about this fiasco.

Diego turned to face Alexa soberly "Okay," he said. "I apologize, really. I know I acted like a jerk before." He stuck out his hand. "I'm Diego Mendieta."

Alexa didn't bother to meet his gaze or take his hand. "Alexandria St. Laurent. Incidentally, I'm
also
an old friend of Holly's." She gave him a frosty smile. "But just because we have that in common does
not
mean I'm suddenly cool with this. Ida will be absolutely crushed." She wasn't certain that last part was true, but, again, it sounded good. "I'm going to look at the fender again," she told Holly, then turned on her heel and walked off the sidewalk, back toward the Pontiac.

Holly wanted to crawl into the gutter. She and Diego were finally having their reunion, and Alexa was ruining it by acting like a bitch.

But Diego didn't seem bothered by Alexa's attitude. He continued to study Holly warmly. "Are you okay?" he asked, his dark brows furrowing in concern. "You're not hurt or anything?" He gently touched her bare shoulder.

"I'm fine," Holly whispered. "You barely bumped

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us." But she wasn't fine. Not as long as his fingers were on her skin.

"Were you heading out for the night?" he asked, taking his hand away.

Holly looked down, conscious of her outfit again. "Uh -- we were -- but I don't know now," she said. She glanced over her shoulder at Daisy and Kaitlin.

"We're gonna walk to Mango's," Daisy announced. She and Kaitlin were clearly freaked out by the whole incident. They didn't ask Holly to meet them there, only scampered off into the night.

"I guess not." Holly smiled up at Diego.

He gestured to his T-shirt and shorts. "I'm not hitting any clubs tonight, either," he said, flashing his dimples. "I spent all day helping my buddy Andres and his girlfriend move into their new place -- they go to the University of Miami."

"Oh," Holly said, calculating the time that had passed. That made sense. Diego was seventeen going on eighteen a senior in high school. If he had any older friends, they were already in college. For an instant, he seemed very mature to Holly.

"So I'm ready to go home and crash," Diego continued, reaching into his shorts pocket and pulling out a silver Moto Razr. "Rut give me your cell number. I'm on break this week, too. Maybe we can hang out tomorrow."

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Holly's heart skipped. Everything she'd imagined was coming true. She was going to spend spring break with Diego!

Once they'd exchanged numbers, Diego headed back to his Honda to get his insurance information. As soon as he was out of earshot, Alexa approached Holly again.

"So what's the deal with you two?" Alexa asked, motioning to Diego. "He seems like a total dweeb."

Holly glanced at Alexa. Should she tell her the truth? Holly was so wound-up and trembly, she wanted to broadcast her news to the
world: I found Diego!
Holly shook her head.
Don't,
she told herself. Considering Alexa's foul mood, she'd most likely trample all over Holly's excitement. And Alexa would never understand Holly's feelings, anyway -- she'd dismiss her connection with Diego as a childhood crush. Better for Holly to wait until tomorrow and text-message Meghan and Jess instead.

"Nothing," Holly replied, her voice shaking slightly. "I kind of hung out with him the last time I stayed at Grandma Ida's. But I totally wasn't expecting to see him again." She was astonished at how easily the blatant lies rolled off her tongue.

Alexa rolled her eyes. "Well, I wasn't expecting this crap, either. I cannot
wait
to get back to the motel. I'm exhausted." She was brooding over the fact that the

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car accident had cut her night short. If stupid Diego hadn't crashed into them, she might be hooking up with some cutie in Mango's right now. If that was what she really wanted.

Diego returned, handing Alexa a slip of paper with his insurance information written on it. He seemed about to say something else, but Alexa gave a short nod and marched back toward the Pontiac, dragging Holly with her.

"Wait I -- Diego --" Holly called over her shoulder, but Alexa was hurriedly depositing her in the passenger seat and slamming the door. Holly thought she heard Diego yell "I'll call you tomorrow!" a second before Alexa sped away.

They drove to the Flamingo in silence, Alexa still stewing in anger, and Holly too delirious to think of anything to say

Back in the motel, they headed to the bathroom to wash up. Alexa brushed her teeth and washed her face in a minute flat, then flounced out of the bathroom in a huff, leaving Holly there alone. Holly was splashing water on her face when the bathroom door opened and Aaron walked in, wearing only his boxers. He looked tired and drunk, but when he saw Holly his expression brightened. Holly immediately faced the sink again, her heart pounding. Aaron was the last person she wanted to see right now.

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"Hey," he said, standing at the sink next to her. "Have a good night?"

You have no idea,
Holly thought, patting her face with the towel. "It was all right," she answered.

"Yeah, mine blew, too," Aaron replied, watching her in the mirror. "What are you doing tomorrow?"

Seeing a boy who puts you to shame,
Holly thought. But she only shrugged, and floated back to her room.

Alexa, wearing her silk nightie, was in bed, lying flat on her stomach. Holly locked the door, sat on the edge of her bed, and changed into her PJs. She slipped a soft cotton tank over her head, and slowly pulled on her plaid boxers. She noticed how the tank top rode up her belly, revealing a sliver of freckled skin. She suddenly felt so aware of her own body where it curved, and where it lay flat. Usually, Holly thought of her body only in terms of exercise: whether or not she had stretched properly, if her breathing rhythms were correct. But now, even the texture of her skin felt different. Lightly, Holly caressed the spot on her arm where Diego had rested his fingers.

Maybe we can hangout,
Diego had said. Holly imagined meeting him on the beach. Would she want him to see her in that boring old Speedo? Holly curled up on the orange bedspread. Meghan had her tankini, so Holly could probably use some extra swimwear. And perhaps it was time to start playing up her assets.

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Alexa rolled onto her back and squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the glare of the overhead bulb. She wished she'd remembered to pack her sleep mask.

"Hoi, are you going to turn off the light?" she asked.

"In a minute," Holly replied faintly.

Alexa opened her eyes and saw her friend tucked into a ball on the bed, wide awake and staring into space dreamily

"What are you thinking about?" Alexa asked.

Holly paused. "I want to get a bikini," she replied, surprising Alexa. She sat up straight, as if she'd surprised herself, too.

Alexa propped herself up on one elbow. "Why didn't you tell me before, silly?" she asked, laughing. "We'll go shopping first thing tomorrow." Alexa remembered spotting a trendy-looking bikini shop on Collins that afternoon.

"Okay," Holly said, hiding her grin as she slid off the bed and walked over to the light switch. As the room sank into darkness, Holly felt a shiver of anticipation. If only this night were over already Morning would bring more Diego. And Holly could hardly stand the wait.