20. Secret

"I know your secret."

Hylla's words made Reyna tense. "What are you talking about?"

Her sister stepped in front of where Reyna was curled up on their living room couch reading. "I know you're dating that boy. Valdez." The older girl's eyes were filled with nothing but concern. "Reyna, what are you doing? You know dad would throw a fit-"

"He doesn't have to know." Reyna interrupted her, glancing around quickly to make sure their dad was, in fact, not within earshot. "Please, Hylla, you don't understand."

"We're not allowed to date in high-school." Hylla stepped forward and took Reyna's hands. "Reyna, that's our only rule. No dating, no kissing, no sex…. nothing to do with boys. Dad said so."

Reyna's face turned red.

"What did you do?" Hylla had always been able to see right through her, this was what Reyna had been afraid of. "Reyna… you- have you kissed this boy?"

"Reyna, have you… had sex with him?"

"Be quiet!" Reyna jumped up, flinging her book to the side. "It wasn't- it wasn't like how Daddy said it would be. Leo was kind and-"

"Please tell me you're joking."

Reyna raised her chin defiantly. "I'm not."

Hylla's eyes widened. "But-"

"I love him."

Reyna's words cut through Hylla's like swords, slicing them to pieces to fall at their feet, leaving only silence in their wake.

"I mean it," Reyna said at Hylla's look. "I'm in love with him."

Hylla stared at her for a few moments before pulling Reyna into a hug. "Then Daddy can't know." She whispered in her younger sisters ear.

Reyna's eyes widened as she gripped her sister tighter. "You won't tell?"

"No." Hylla pulled away. "I'll keep your secret. But you must be careful, Reyna, rumors are going around school about you two, and if someone finds out for certain- if somehow Dad finds out-"

"Help me." Reyna pleaded. "Please, Hylla, you can help me."

Her older sister hesitated. "Well he can never, ever come over here. Not even for school work."

Reyna nodded. "I know."

"Do everything you can to keep Father from finding out he even exists." Hylla's eyes took on a far away look. "Because… if he does find out… there's nothing that can stop him from keeping you two apart."

The thought of never being able to see Leo's warm, teasing eyes again was enough for Reyna to agree. "I understand."

"I don't know what else to tell you." Hylla said, releasing her sister. "Just… be careful."

Reyna nodded, gathering up her book. "I will."

"And Reyna?" Hylla called when Reyna was at the door to the living room, making her younger sister pause and turn to look at her with a question written on her face.

"If you love him," Hylla spoke haltingly, her voice laced with an old, dormant pain that Reyna hadn't heard in months. "Don't let him go. Relish every moment; because Dad might find out." Hylla closed her eyes. "And if he does Leo will be lost to you."

Reyna nodded once more before turning to hurry out of the room.

She needed to find Leo.