A Tragic Kind of Wonderful(4)

A guy walks over and sits across from us. He doesn’t look up from his tray but he seems relaxed.

“The tall one’s Gloria Fernandez,” Annie says. “The one who does most of the talking is Tina Fernandez, but they’re not related. The other two are Elena and Sofia. They’re just minions. Gloria’s the leader and Tina’s her muscle. Like you’re my muscle, right, Zumi?”

Zumi turns toward me. Her face is tipped down, but unlike Connor, she looks at me intently, like something creepy from those Japanese horror movies Nolan liked.

“If Team Fernandez ever looks at you again,” Zumi says, “tell them you’re with us: Annie, Zumi, and Connor. They’ll leave you alone.”

She says their names all together like a law firm, like how Dad is a part of Jensen, Hannigan, and Hsu. Maybe Zumi’s mom or dad’s a lawyer, too. Looking around at them, I think they could also be called Sunny, Sullen, and Shy.

Zumi’s still scowling. There are big white letters on her sweatshirt, all caps: DON’T ASK. I wonder what it means … but … there’s no way to find out. Is that the point, like a joke, or …?

She winks. It’s so sudden and unexpected, it makes me laugh. Not Sullen after all.

Zumi points at the untouched corn dog on my tray. “You gonna eat that?”

I wasn’t keen on it but the breaded fish option looked worse. And I guess she wants it. Will I have to pay for this new friendship? Or at least the protection? I shake my head and slide the tray toward Zumi.

She shoves it away down the length of the table. “I was just making sure you weren’t going to eat it.” She smiles. “They taste like shit.”

The next day, I wait in the bathroom stall again before lunch. Yesterday seems ages ago and a little unreal. I don’t know when Annie, Zumi, and Connor will arrive. Even then, what if they’ve forgotten all about me?

I carry my tray slowly by them.

“Mel!” Zumi says. She slides over to make room. “We’re right here! Sit down!”

For the first twenty minutes, Annie does most of the talking. It’s a combination of random bits of everything and filling in basics we didn’t cover yesterday. Then she gets an idea.

“Let’s ride bikes on the beach trail this Saturday.”

I don’t want to say no to my first invitation, but my bike rusted out and got left behind in the move. Nolan’s bike is fine and parked in the garage, but I’ve never ridden it alone.

“I don’t have a bike.”

“Borrow one,” Annie says, as if this were obvious. “You have sisters or brothers?”

I shake my head.

“God, you’re lucky.”

Connor glances up briefly at Zumi and smirks.

Zumi nods slightly. Then she casually says to Annie, “What about your old bike?”

“No, I gave it to Lulu.”

“Your mom just got her a new one,” Zumi says. “Let’s ask her—”

“No, it’s … it’s got a flat tire. We can just walk to the beach; it’s fine. I guess you’re closest, Mel. We’ll meet at your place.”

If we end up doing this a lot, they’ll probably see Nolan’s bike at some point …

“Well, there is a bike in my garage,” I say. “It’s … my cousin’s. But it’s too big.”

“Oh, that’s no problem!” Annie says, brightening. “Zumi’s brother taught her all about bikes. You’re, what, five-seven, five-eight? Probably just need to lower the seat, right, Zumi?”

“I don’t know without seeing it,” Zumi says to Annie. “But I know I can fix the flat on your old bike.”

Connor’s shoulders bounce. He’s looking at his lasagna, picking at it. I think he’s snickering.

“No,” Annie says, annoyed. “It’s not—” She stops and looks pointedly at Connor. “What?”

He doesn’t answer. Zumi leans toward me and says in a low voice, “Lulu’s only eleven and Annie’s afraid of her.”

“I am not,” Annie says, more indignant than defensive.

“Okay,” Zumi says. “It’s just that Annie can’t stop Lulu from following her everywhere, so she has to sneak out of the house. She can’t do that if we all go over there.”

Annie just stares at Zumi like she’s waiting for her to finish.

“I can try and adjust your cousin’s bike,” Zumi says. “Do you want me to?”

I nod.

“Okay, I’ll come over before the weekend, in case it takes a while.”

“Thanks.”

Zumi points a thumb toward Annie and says to me, “But don’t you think sneaking around means you’re afraid of something?”

I don’t think she’s really needling Annie; it seems more like affectionate teasing. Annie stares over our heads, looking perturbed.

When I don’t answer, Zumi adds, “Maybe just a little?”

Connor laughs.

Annie says, “You be quiet!”

Zumi busts up laughing and I join her.

Team Fernandez walks by, carrying trays back to the kitchen. We instantly stop laughing. Annie coolly eats a bite of lasagna while Connor wrestles with the lid of his juice. Zumi scowls, her head pivoting to keep them in her glare as they walk by, like she’s a tracking cannon. The instant they’re gone, Zumi giggles, throws her arm around my shoulders, and leans into me hard.