Page 101 of Pride High

“I figure guys aren’t so different from girls,” she said. “When it comes to being friends, I mean. You tell each other everything, right?”

“Yes,” he said guardedly.

“Omar must talk to you. About me.”

Anthony furrowed up his brow and nodded curtly.

Silvia moved closer. “Nothing you can say will get him in trouble. That’s not what this is about. I just need to know what he’s thinking.”

“Oh, isthatall,” Anthony said with a mad chuckle.

Silvia didn’t laugh. She felt too vulnerable but forced herself to press on. “Is he… frustrated with me?”

“Omar?” Anthony shook his head, not understanding. “Why would he be?”

“Sexual stuff,” she said with a sigh. “I’m sure he’d like to do more than just kiss. Be honest! I won’t be upset if he does. I simply want to know how he feels, so I can figure out howIfeel. As dumb as that might sound.”

Anthony blushed and resumed fiddling with the stereo. Shedidn’t blame him. The subject was awkward for them both. “But you guys have done more than just kiss,” he murmured.

“He told you about that?” Silvia said, not intending to sound so upset.

Anthony shot her a look.

She raised both her palms. “Sorry. It’s fine. Really. I told Mindy. Like I said, best friends talk. But I didn’t take my bra off, so he probably thinks I’m a complete prude.”

Anthony went wide-eyed before he fumbled a cassette out of its case. “Why would that matter?”

“What?”

“If you had your bra on or not.”

He really needed her to explain? “If you were going to feel up a girl,” she said, “wouldn’t you want her to take off her bra?”

“Oh. I’m sure he was focused more on the other stuff.”

“Other stuff?”

“Yes.” Anthony’s voice was strained. It was clear he wanted this conversation to come to an end.

But she had to know. “What other stuff?”

Anthony squirmed.

“Tell me!” Silvia insisted.

“Nothing. Forget it.”

Silvia marched over and took his arm, tugging on it so he’d face her. “Please,” she said. “I’m not asking you to betray your friend. I only want to understand him. You can be honest with me.”

“Then you should be honest with me,” Anthony retorted.

“About what?”

“You’ve done more than just kiss.” He swallowed self-consciously. “Or the other thing you just mentioned.”

“What didhesay we did?” Silvia asked.

Anthony shook his head. “You keep promising that Omar isn’t going to get into trouble, but you sure don’t sound happy.”

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