Page 108 of Outspoken

“That’s okay. Thank you. I don’t need tea.” After a bite, I fake a happy food moan. “Mmm, yeah, it’s perfect. Thank you.”

She quirks her mouth, studying my expression as I chew. Then she snatches my plate. “You hate this. I’ll get you something else. What do you like? Don’t lie.”

I swallow, trying to look at her dark brown eyes with confidence and failing. “Um, chocolate?”

She smiles. “So does my son. I know where he hides candy bars. One minute.”

She pats my knee and then disappears down a hallway. Though she’s shuffling, she’s quick and returns a few moments later with a Hershey’s bar.

She thrusts it at me and says, “It’s his last one, but he’ll be okay you ate it. Now to my cheesecake.”

Her petite, frail body plops onto the couch as she grabs her plate with a grin.

I stare at the Hershey’s bar.Am I really going to sit here and stuff my face with chocolate next to Miguel’s mom?What a strange situation. And I see now where some of his personality traits come from.

I peel the wrapper back and take a bit. I doubt it will settle my stomach, but solid milk chocolate is pretty good. “Thank you, um, what’s your name?”

“Marta, but you call me Mom.”

I nod, forcing a smile. I also see where Miguel gets his pace. He and his mom like to movewaytoo fast.

I try to change subjects, pointing at the TV. “What are you watching?”

“Ah, detective show. But I’ve seen this episode.” She grabs the remote and turns the TV off.

Now we’re here in silence with nothing to do except talk to each other.

Shouldn’t have mentioned the TV.

“I want to hear about how you are, Amber,” she says. “What have you been up to?”

Her curious yet knowing tone makes me remember what Miguel told me at Rico’s party—he talks about me a lot to his mom. He said it’s mostly about his feelings or minor things, like my favorite color, but I still have doubts. He could’ve accidentally let it slip that I was an addict.

If she knows, I can’t change it. I only hope she doesn’t knoweverything.

I nibble the chocolate, trying to swallow back an acid rising up. “Oh, I’m doing good. I’m going to school and the semester ends soon. I’m looking forward to summer break.”Which will last indefinitely since I’m failing.

I thought about what Miguel said—that I should confront Mr. Williams about his grudge—but I’m not convinced it will do anything. Jerks usually don’t change. Accepting my fate might be my only option.

I smile at Marta. “Tell me about you. How long are you visiting?”

She nods, dodging my question. “Mmm, and what are you studying?”

“Just general courses for now, like Writing 101 and Calculus.”

She nods again, abandoning the cheesecake on a pile of books because I must be more fascinating. “Mmm, and what about after school?”

“I don’t know.” I give a polite laugh. “Guess I don’t think far enough ahead.”

“Mm-hmm, and you like my son?”

I look at my feet, feeling a little flushed from this interrogation. “Yeah.”

“A lot?”

I take a breath, not used to admitting this out loud. “Yeah. I like Miguel a lot.”

She grins so wide I worry she’ll hurt her face. Then she inhales quickly, like she just remembered something. Leaning forward, she opens a drawer in the coffee table, pulling out a tall red candle in a glass container.

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