"I saw you talking to someone at the assembly."Magdalena's brother said.

"A lot of people talk at assemblies."she replied.

"Is he in your class?"

"Why?"

"I'm curious."

"There's nothing to be curious about! He was asking about our homework."

"Is he the one you're crocheting for?"

"Stupid!"

And she threw a book at him.

"Hey, can't you see I'm driving?"

"Well, don't annoy me. And change the stations! I hate this music!"she exclaimed.

"I'm the one who's driving."

"That's why. You have to concentrate when you drive."she said, changing the station.

"Hey!"

"You're driving."

"Wait a minute, isn't that someone from our old school?"

Magdalena looked up.

"Oh, my! That's your friend's friend. The one, you know."

"Yeah."

"But I thought he was suspended or something."

"No, that was Ivan, another friend of one of my other friends. This one wasn't suspended. Remember Pedro said he just moved. He never said where. Do you think he moved here."

"Dumbass! That's the one I told you, I was surprised when he said he knew him! He's not the one that's gay, he's the other one! Slow down."

"You're gonna get off?"

"Of course not! But slow down. Please."

"This is starting to scare me, Malena."

"You're his friend's friend. You should talk to him. Does he go to our school?"

"I don't know. Looks like it."

"You should talk to him tomorrow."

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"But you should tell him to come over! I'll...I'll do anything! You should get him to come over. Um, I'll clean the yard! I'll clean the fishtank. We'll watch whatever movies you want! Please!"

"But why?"

"Because!"

"You're weird."

"I know, I know, but...you remember I said I liked him. He's...he reminds me so much of some of the guys I've seen on tv before! Don't you see?"

"No."

"You're stupid. Don't you think he's hot?"

"I don't know."

"You're a little blind. But you have to get him to come over. Maybe I can ask that girl at work to put my hair up the way she did to show the someone how she did her own."

"You always stink when you get home from work."

"Well, there are a lot of dogs around. And I don't smell it!"

"I do. Everyone does."

"Well, they're dogs!"

"Maybe he doesn't remember Pedro."

"You could at least check. I'll do anything!"

"You're weird. I thought the guy you were sitting next to was your boyfriend."

"Stupid!"

"Well, you were sitting next to him."

She sighed.

"He's nice. But he's...he's not like the guys I've seen who are...you know.

"You always did like that guy, didn't you?"asked Jose Manuel.

"Of course, Josema."

"Malena..."

"If you said he was one of your friends, I'm sure I'd be allowed. I mean, it worked for the dance. Well, yeah, because I was going with you."

"No! If for any unknown reason, if God wills it, and I do get to go out with him, you can't come."

"But Mom and Dad thought you were going with me."

"Well, you've got to help me."

"I like him. For reals. Do you suppose there's any chance he might like me?"