Page 39 of Pride High

“What’s the quickest way to make money with nothing more than a high school diploma?” she asked with an eyeroll, but to her relief, he took the question seriously.

“Probably the medical industry,” Omar replied. “And if it sounds like I know what I’m talking about, it’s only because my uncle is a doctor, and he’s always telling my cousins how well it pays, and how there will always be demand for that sort of thing.”

“Hmm,” Silvia said, trying to imagine the prospect. “So you’re saying I should be a nurse?”

Omar was sipping on his drink, and for whatever reasonhis eyes bulged out and he coughed. “Almost went through my nose!” he gasped.

“I wasn’t joking,” she said.

“No, but it made me think of something completely unrelated. And yeah, that sort of thing. One of my cousins, who also doesn’t do so well in school, is talking about becoming a pharmacy tech. Don’t ask me what they do exactly, but apparently you don’t need a college degree. It’s either that or the military.”

“For me or your cousin?”

Omar shrugged. “Either way. It’s good money.”

Silvia nibbled her bottom lip while thinking about it. “What sort of background check does the military require?”

Omar smirked. “Why, do you have a criminal record?”

He was skirting a little too close to the truth, and they didn’t know each other very well, so she veered away from the subject. “I used to be a drug mule,” she explained. “Except the guy I worked for was dense, so he made me put on a literal mule costume. I was in the front, the drugs were in the back. It took a lot of practice. Especially when I had to blend in with a herd of real mules.” She did her best imitation of a braying donkey, figuring that was close enough.

Omar just about lost it. “You have to let me film that! Do it again!”

She refused, of course. They joked around a little longer until Omar pointed out they needed to leave if they still wanted to catch the movie. He paid for the meal, just as he’d promised to, and soon they were back on the street again.

The Silver Screen Cinema only offered four movies at a time; two that were brand new, and two that were older. After standing outside and looking at the posters, they decided onDeath Becomes Her. It was either that or a sequel about a giant toddler. Omar paid for the tickets as well as candy from the concession stand. He wasn’t flashy about it. When she thanked him, he simply said “no problem” before changing the subject.

They were walking to the assigned theater when she noticed the door leading to theTwin Peaksmovie. The start time was five minutes ago. She could hear the previews playing as an older couple opened the door and hurried inside. Silvia grabbed Omar’s hand. He looked over in surprise. She smiled slyly and nodded toward the door. He read the sign above it, saw herexpression, and grinned. They hurried after the couple they had just seen. Omar let go of her hand to open the door. When they were inside, he reached for her, and Silvia found that she didn’t mind taking his hand again. Or holding it for much of the next two hours.

— — —

“If they never make another season ofTwin Peaks, that was the perfect finale,” Omar said as they slowly strolled toward the record store.

“Which is weird, since it was a prequel,” Silvia replied. “But I agree. Although all the scenes with Chris Isaac were kind of random.”

“Oh right! I keep forgetting about the beginning.”

After finishing the movie, they’d walked to a nearby park and sat on the swings while talking about what they had seen. Another hour must have gone by because the evening was getting late. Silvia didn’t have a curfew. Mostly because she’d never needed one before. Omar wasn’t so lucky. He explained that he needed to be home soon and offered to get grounded so they could stay out later. Silvia spared him from that fate by saying that she too needed to go, realizing then just how distant her usual worries had been.

“This has been so freaking incredible,” Omar said as they neared the record store. He started to reach for his camcorder. “Hey! We should probably film another—”

Silvia put her hand over his to stop him. “There are some things the grandkids won’t want to see,” she said, proud of how this line could have come from one of Mindy’s novels.

“Yeah,” Omar said. “Yeah!” he repeated a second later when he seemed to get the full gist. He glanced around self-consciously, but most of the nightlife was at the end of Main Street, where the bars were. “I feel weird about dropping you off here. Can I walk you home? Or skate and bike you home, I guess.”

“Your board!” Silvia said before patting herself down for the keys. She had nearly forgotten. She unlocked the record shop, and he was nice enough to wheel her bike out for her, even though she was perfectly capable. Before long, they were right back to where they’d started.

“I don’t mind taking you home,” he pressed. “It’s late and—”

“I’ll be fine,” she insisted.

“Okay.” He took a deep breath and appeared panicked, which was oddly endearing. “Well uh… it was a wonderful night. And I’d love to do it again.”

“Me too,” she said, wondering if Mindy was right about first dates always ending in a kiss.

“Good, good,” Omar said. He finally focused on her instead of glancing around, and this seemed to calm something inside of him. Those dark eyes were vulnerable as they came near.

Silvia locked on to them, only closing her eyes when their lips finally touched, and it was… squishy and kind of wet? That couldn’t be right. Was she supposed to open her mouth more or push harder? One of her teeth collided against his, like people clinking glasses in celebration.

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