The muffins were ready and Carmen handed some to me in a basket with ribbons tied on the handles. Told her it wasn't necessary but she has a knack for making things look exceptional.
"Thanks for the muffins Carmen", I say, smiling genuinely this time. Noah always knew how to lighten up my mood and ruin it too.
"I should thank you, I always have a good time baking with you.. although today someone took my place", she says and I'm certain she's referring to her son.
I chuckle a bit and Noah shrugs eating a muffin. My phone buzzes in the pocket of my jacket so I excuse myself taking it out.
"Sorry.. hello?", I ask.
"Hey Ginger, your mum said you stepped out.. um, are you gonna come back soon?", Hernandez asks and I mentally face palm. I can't believe I forgot he was coming.
"Oh uh I'll be right there-", I say but Noah cuts me off, taking the phone away from my grasp.
"She's with me, come get her here if you want", he says into the phone and I give him a look. What in the world is he doing?.
Noah ends the call then hands me back my phone. I take it, side glaring him.
"I'll be heading out now, bye Carmen", I say, waving at her.
"Bye Abby, say hi to your mum for me", she says, fixated on the couch now.
"Will do", I assure her.
"I'll walk her out", Noah says as he takes the basket from me and my hand in his.
I look at him, his face focused forward as he walks me to the door. I bring us to a halt just as we get there.
"Noah please don't", I say to him so he raises a brow.
I sigh, "I already told Hernandez I'd be free today-".
"Oh, so you don't have me on your schedule", he feigns hurt and I scoff.
"Like you have me in yours", I almost exclaim but keep my voice low because of Carmen who's watching the news just a few feet away.
"All the time", he says and I give him a 'really' face so he sighs. "Okay fine, maybe not up till recent.. but I promise-",
"Just..", I trail, cutting him short then sigh, "Don't cause a scene", I say, collecting the basket from him.
We walk out the door and to our surprise.. but maybe not his tho, there was a motorcycle parked right in front of the house.
Hernandez seems like the leader of some dangerous gang covered in all black, with a thick black leather jacket and equally thick black gloves and dark denim jeans with a pair of boots.
"Immigrant", Noah says and I nudge him in the arm, hoping to inflict pain on him but instead I inflict it on myself. Why is his body so strong?.
He takes his helmet off and the shiny piercing on his ear is hard to miss. When did he get that?.
He tilts his head to the side with an unfazed look at Noah, "White boy".
This oddly seems like a cowboy rodeo shoot out.
"Uh, I'll just go now.. bye Noah-", I say, preparing to walk away but he grabs my arm.
I look at him, "What are you-",
"Where to?", he asks, looking directly at Hernandez. I almost face palm, I thought I told him not to cause a scene. Well I should have expected it, not like he listens to me anyway.
Hernandez gets down from his bike then steadies the helmet on it.
He walks up to us, "Yacht club", he says then winks at me. I smile a bit and Noah gives him an irritated look.
"Yacht club?",
"You wouldn't know, white boys aren't allowed", he says then pulls out a hand for me.
I look up at Noah, his eyes seem like they're telling me to stay but I can't.. I already told Hernandez I was free and what kind of person would I be if I turned him down?.
I quietly sigh giving Hernandez the basket instead of my hand. "Bye Noah", I painfully tell him. As much as I want to spend time with him, I have to go with Hernan.
"Take this as the last time you're taking her out", Noah says, glaring at him.
Hernandez smirks evilly taking my hand I didn't give him earlier in his.
"We'll see about that.. Gringo", he says and Noah's brow's bend in confusion. Even I look confused.
"Let's go Ginger",
He pulls me to his bike, getting in and I look back at Noah who has both hands clenched into a fist, looking pissed.
I get into the bike, I'm getting used to it now but I still have to steady myself with the help of his shoulders. He hands me the helmet and I take it putting it on.
"Hang on tight, mama", he says so I wrap my arms around his waist.
Noah's brow's bend up even more, "What did you just-",
Unfortunately, we don't get to hear his last words as the bike comes to life and drives out of there.
I feel his body shake a bit from chuckling.
A familiar house catches my eye as Hernandez zooms pass so I quickly tap on his shoulder. It causes him to slow down and tilt his head a bit, offering me his ear.
"Please stop the ride", I yell over the wind so he does as I say, pulling over.
"What's wrong?", he asks as I hold on to him, carefully getting down the bike. "Is everything okay?", he sounds worried now, given the fact that I haven't answered him yet and I'm taking off my helmet.
"I almost forgot about Callie", I say and he raises a brow.
"Callie?", he asks and I nod.
"Mhmm, we should totally tell her we're going to the yacht club. I mean, she's a member after all", I awkwardly rush my words and it's like he holds a sigh.
"Of course", he slowly says closing his eyes but reopening them as he registers me a strained smile.
"But we can't take her though, the bike can't accommodate that much", he points out.
"Well..", I trail, trying to come up with something and soon a light bulb appears over my head. "Uh, how bout you text me the address and Callie and I will come over", I say.
He nods with the side of his lip in his mouth, with his teeth gnawing at it.
"Okay", he finally says, "I'll text you the location".
I hand him the helmet and he puts it away in the muffin basket in front of him. "I'll be waiting", he tells me before zooming off.
I'm guessing he wanted this to be just the two of us but I have to girl code for Callie. I walk back a few steps to the Jeffersons, knocking once I make it to their door.
I ring the doorbell when there's no reply from the inside. I look behind me, her dad's car is parked outside so they must be inside.
Just as I'm about to ring the doorbell again, Callie opens the door. Her eyes widen when she sees me.
"Abby?", she asks in surprise, probably wondering what I'm doing here.
"Hey, I just wondered if you'd like to um accompany me to the yacht club", I say and her eyes brighten at the statement.
"Of-",
Her dad interjects cutting her quite short as he appears from the inside, pulling the door more open, "Absolutely not",
"But dad-", she whines.
"I'm sorry Abby but Callie's still grounded",
"I know but.. she..", I trail. Shoot I'm blank, should've thought of something before walking here like I owned the place.
"She uh..", Mr Jefferson raises a brow at me and Callie mouths a quick what are you doing.
"Has to come", I finish, still cooking up a lie in my head.
"Well why is that?",
"Because Callie here has missed a lot of activities at the yacht club and she might loose her membership",
Mr Jefferson now solemn faced, looks at Callie and she immediately puts up a sad expression.
"Fine but it's only because it's school related", he says and Callie smiles widely.
"I'll go get ready", she says then runs off, leaving her dad and I.
"How bout you come in Abby? And as you wait for Callie you can tell me about the yacht club",
"Um.. sure", I say but not with a confident smile.
**
Mr Jefferson offers me a glass of juice and I wonder what's taking Callie so long.
Their house is a bit too modern but I can trust that it's due to her dad's taste. The couches perfectly arranged in a U-shape towards the plasma hanging on the wall. The way to their stairs just next to it. The house decor goes by the color blue and brown.
The American flag on a frame hanging above the wall next to the dinner table tells me how patriotic he is. Well I always thought he was really uptight, from his dressing sense to the way he styled his hair and even the way he spoke. Makes me wonder what happened with him and Callie's mum.
Too uptight maybe?.
"So, Abby..", he starts and I give him my attention, stopping my eyes from wandering around their house.
"Mhmm?", I hum in question.
"This yacht club, what exactly do you guys do?", he asks, cross legged sitting directly opposite me.
"We.. well the yacht club has a lot of activities, like fishing, sailing and more interactions with people of your age", I say nodding at the last part because if I remember correctly he wanted Callie to 'fit in'.
"Interesting, these are quite good skills a teenager can acquire", he says and I nod.
"Very", I say with an affirmative nod.
"I'm ready", Callie's voice makes our heads turn and I'm forced to believe she dressed to impress.
Her white and blue stripped dress stopped mid thigh and something tells me she must have taken her time in getting her hair done so perfectly into curls and placing beautiful hair clips on it.
She has mild make up on and her shoes look brand new by the way they shine. Good polish or good oil?.
"You look pretty darling", her dad says with a smile but then asks, "But aren't you a little overdressed?".
"Uh well as they say, it's never a problem to look pretty", I interfere, getting off the couch.
"Yes but not at this age",
"Well look at the time Mr Jefferson, we have to be on our way", I say as I take Callie's hand.
"Why does the club always hold on late evenings?", he questions, getting off the couch as well.
"It's said that night time's the best at sea", I say, pulling Callie to the door.
"Why don't I drop you guys off?", Mr Jefferson offers but we quickly decline with vigorous head shakes.
"Oh no we can certainly cope on our own, bye Mr Jefferson", And we're out the door with him yelling 'be safe' after us.
"He's such a thorn in the flesh", Callie sighs with a roll of her blue eyes. Why wouldn't he like her instead anyway? Why me? She's slimmer, prettier, has more beautiful eyes and.. she's more like Jessie.