“What is all the commotion?” Her mom peeked her head into the open bedroom doorway. It was Monday, and the restaurant was closed. Her mom was dressed in casual clothes.
“Alana is going to the festival with me!” Alicia announced happily. Alicia opened Alana’s closet door and started taking clothes out and throwing them on the bed.
Her mom got tears in her eyes but sniffed them away. “That is nice, girls. Be careful out there, okay?”
Alicia rolled her eyes and flipped her short hair over her shoulder. “Mom, please, we are grown women. I did turn twenty-one two months ago.”
“Plus, Ray will be there, too,” Alana added. She knew her brother would go once he heard Alana was venturing out of the house. She just hoped she didn’t have one of her panic attacks. That would be so embarrassing.
Alana’s stomach was too sore for jeans, so she chose a loose-fitting yellow dress with short sleeves and canvas slip-on shoes. She wanted to put a sweater over it, but Alicia refused to let her.
“It is a hundred degrees outside even though it is evening. You’ll get heatstroke and pass out.”
Alana added some hoop earrings and brushed her long hair. Alicia wore denim shorts with a pink and frilly blouse. She looked so happy that Alana couldn’t help but smile. Despite being three years apart, the two girls were best friends.
“The Garcia sisters are ready to party.” Alicia smiled widely as they went down the stairs.
“Not without me,” Ray announced, coming in the front door. His hair was wet, and he wore black jeans and a gray T-shirt. He kissed Alana’s forehead in a greeting. He looked at her outfit that wasn’t sweatpants and a raggedy shirt and gave her a gentle smile. She felt a little awkward all dressed up.
Alicia groaned loudly, making her parents smile. “Fine. You can come with us, but no bossing us around, Ray. I want to enjoy this night.”
Ray hugged his youngest sister. “Me? Bossy? Never.”
Alana felt nervous as she followed her siblings to Ray’s truck. Please don’t let me be jumpy and embarrass my family. Please don’t let the crowd freak me out and get the gossip mill started.
* * * *
Noah walked around the festival with Liam. The streets were filled with happy families walking all around the area. . White lights were strung everywhere. With the lights from the rides and game booths, it was an energetic scene. The main road had been closed, and booths and rides filled every space available. The noise was loud, and laughter could be heard everywhere. The festival was good for the town. People came from the neighboring towns to enjoy the festivities, and the town made money. Noah and Liam were both on duty tonight. Liam stopped for a third corn dog, and Noah shook his head.
“Where do you put all those calories?” Noah wondered.
Liam was as tall as him and Adam but slender. He kept his light-brown hair short and out of the way. He had dark-brown eyes instead of the golden hazel color he and Adam had.
“Ah, to be young again.”
Liam laughed and rolled his eyes. “You’re thirty-two, not sixty-two, Noah. I’m twenty-five and getting older by the second. I am obligated to eat like this now before I become an old fart like you.”
Noah pushed Liam, and he almost dropped his food. He nodded to a few people who walked by. Even though it was early evening, it was still hot. Texas was hot in the summer. He was leaning against a tree when he thought he saw Alana. Or was his mind playing tricks on him? He hadn’t heard a peep from her all week long. He kept looking at his phone as if he could will her to call. Before his stupid stunt, she had called him every few days to suggest they do something. He had enjoyed her company, always feeling happy. He had taken it for granted and told himself she was much too young and innocent for him. He was cynical and set in his ways. Now it all sounded so stupid.
“Is that Alana in line for a caramel apple?” Noah asked with keen interest, arching his neck to look over people walking by.
Liam squinted his eyes and peered into the distance. “Yeah. She looks good, Bro. I might just ask her out myself.”
Noah glared at his brother. It didn’t help that his two younger brothers thought Alana was hot. Liam was exactly her age, and that didn’t make him feel any better.
“Let’s go get an apple.”
“Weren’t you just lecturing me on eating unhealthy food?” Liam reminded him, throwing his corn dog stick in the trash can. “Caramel apples are full of sugary calories.”
Noah rolled his eyes. “Apples are healthy.”
Noah dragged Liam quickly through the crowd, practically running over people. He finally stood behind the two Garcia girls. The line was long, and they were talking with each other and hadn’t noticed him.
“Hello, Alana.” He hoped his voice didn’t sound squeaky. He felt like a nervous schoolboy. He wanted back on her good side, but he didn’t know how to get there. He was doing his best to develop a friendship with her again. For the last six months, they had avoided each other but no more. He tried having coffee with her and dropping books off to keep her occupied. She hadn’t done much talking, but she hadn’t told him to go to hell either. That was a plus.
Alana turned and looked at him and Liam. Her lips sort of curved upward in a half smile. Not the wide grins she used to give him. He felt a small pain in his heart at the loss of her enthusiastic personality. He prayed it came back.
“Noah,” she said politely. She looked at his younger brother and smiled politely. “Liam.”