Falling Too Fast (6 page)

Alexis got ready to sing as the music started again. She tried to calm her raging nerves. All of a sudden there was a hiccup and the song skipped, repeating the first notes over and over again. Alexis signaled for Santiago to turn it off, waving her arms frantically in the air. She glanced over her shoulder, praying that Christian wouldn't choose this moment to appear. This was more embarrassing than if she'd sung off-key. The music finally cut off. The deafening silence that followed created a huge lump of emotions at the back of her throat. Then the quiet night air was filled with howls of laughter. Alexis glared at the neighbors who'd come out to watch.

Alexis sighed.
This was a huge mistake
. Tears blurred her vision. She turned to march back to the car, but Nikki grabbed her arm. Alexis tried to shake her off, but Nikki swung her around and pointed up toward the apartments. Alexis didn't know what she was looking at until she heard the plucking of guitar chords. The tones wove together, producing a heart-melting melody.

Then a figure came out onto Christian's balcony, singing and playing a guitar. Alexis felt her knees go weak. She didn't recognize the song, but it was lovely.

Suddenly, Christian disappeared from the balcony. Was he coming downstairs? Her heart leapt. This was actually happening! What would she say? She should have asked her grandmothers what to do after the
serenata
.

Alexis's train of thought died abruptly as Christian appeared in the driveway. He was repeating the chorus. She tried to look calm and collected — like she serenaded guys all the time. But Christian's presence scrambled her brain. He was now just a couple of feet away from her. He smiled as he lingered on the last note. It soared high above them like a dove flying in the sky.
Aaah! Now what?
The hairs on the back of Alexis's neck were standing on end. She wanted to say something, but her mouth didn't seem to work anymore. Christian looked at her expectantly.

“That was great,” she finally said, in a breathless voice.

He smiled. “You weren't so bad yourself.” He began to chuckle. “I especially like the guy who played the truck CD player. He's going places.”

Alexis blushed.

Suddenly, a woman started yelling in Spanish really loudly. She called for Christian to come back inside. Alexis wondered who it was, but before she could ask, Christian pulled her away from the angry voice and down the street.

A
lexis's mind whirled. A moment ago, she was serenading Christian. Now she was running behind him down the darkened streets of Mission. Christian glanced back at her and smiled. The gleam in his eye made her want to melt. He hadn't let go of her hand.

“Where are we going?” she stammered.

Christian laughed. “Not far, don't worry. I just wanted to talk to you away from our audience.”

Alexis was thankful for the cover of darkness that concealed her hot cheeks.

“Hungry?” he asked, stopping in front of a pizza shop.

The bright, noisy fast-food restaurant jarred her senses. But then she smelled the food. “Starving,” Alexis replied. “I'll have two slices of the Meat-Lovers' Delight with everything on it.”

Christian smiled. “I think I will, too.”

Alexis couldn't help but crack a smile. While he was ordering, Alexis sent a quick text to Santiago, so he wouldn't worry.

They grabbed their drinks and headed to an empty booth by the window. Christian stared at her expectantly. All of a sudden Alexis felt her nerves explode and her face start to sweat.
I'm sitting in a booth with Christian Luna!
She couldn't think of a word to say.

“That was some great singing back there,” Christian finally said, leaning back in his plastic seat. Alexis did a double take.
Was that a compliment or a joke?
she wondered. He noticed her confused expression and started to turn bright red. “I mean, I thought it was cool. I never knew people actually did that sort of thing nowadays, you know?”

She took a big gulp from her drink. “Yeah, it was pretty crazy.”

Christian stared at her from across the table as if she were some fascinating new species he'd just discovered. Then he leaned across the table and asked: “So why did you do it? You hardly know me. We met once, at the college day, right? How did you know I'd come out of my house?”

Just then the pizza arrived. Alexis reached for her slice and scarfed the piping-hot food down, burning the roof of her mouth. “I don't really know why I did it,” she said between bites. “I just thought we should get to know each other. I'm a singer; you're a singer.” She cringed at her words. They sounded lame, even to her ears.

Christian smiled. “You could have just come up to me, you know?”

“Yeah, but I'm sure lots of girls like you.” Alexis blushed, but she couldn't stop herself. “I wanted to do something memorable. There's something about performing mariachi music that makes everything seem more vibrant and alive. When I heard you sing onstage, it made me want to sing back.” Alexis covered her mouth with her hands. She'd said too much. Now she definitely sounded like an insane person.

Christian laughed in a friendly way. Alexis sighed with relief. “You are definitely something else,” he said, chewing on his slice. “I think maybe you've been watching too many old movies. But I know what you mean about mariachi music making you feel alive. When I'm onstage I'm like this totally different person.” He chuckled. “I like to wear all black, and pretend to be all deep, like some kind of rock star, but it's just an act.”

“I don't think it's all an act,” Alexis said softly. She thought back to Christian's words. “I think mariachi shows us our potential. Who we can become if we believe in ourselves and work hard.”

Christian tilted his head at her. “Is that the speech you gave to the amateurs who pretended to play behind you tonight?”

She jerked back and shot him a hurt look.

“I'm sorry,” he stammered, shaking his head. “Sometimes I don't think before I speak. What your friends did tonight was sweet. And I think they did a good job acting out their parts to the music.”

“They may be amateurs, but they have heart. They've come a long way. You should have seen Santiago when he started. He didn't know how to hold an accordion upright at first, and Karina didn't even know what a harp was.” Alexis was a little surprised to find herself defending her group members so fiercely. “They wanted to help me do this, but they weren't quite ready, so they offered to use the CD.”

“I'm sorry I said anything about them. Really. I think it's great that they're learning music.” His cheeks reddened and he turned to gaze out the front window. “I keep shoving my foot in my mouth.” Then he looked back at Alexis and gave her a shy smile. “I guess you make me kind of nervous.”

Alexis gasped. “Me? Make
you
nervous?”

Christian laughed, relaxing a bit. “Yeah, you. I don't think I've met anyone like you.”

Alexis couldn't stop smiling.

Christian reached for Alexis's hand. His touch sent a jolt through her body. She looked up into his warm brown eyes.

He grinned back sheepishly and there was a pause. He took his hand away from hers and sipped his soda.

“Maybe I can do something to help your mariachi group.”

“What?” Alexis was stunned. “You would help us?”

Christian shrugged. “Sure. It's the least I could do.”

He wasn't a jerk, Alexis thought.
He wants to help our mariachi group!
Just then her phone vibrated. It was Santiago. When she gave him the address, he said he was coming to pick her up. Her heart dropped a bit; she didn't want this wonderful evening to end.

As they gathered up their trash, Alexis asked about the woman who had been yelling outside the apartment building.

“That was my mom.” Christian winced.

Alexis shook herself. “We ran away from your mother?”

Christian rolled his eyes. “She's real strict. She wouldn't let me come down or even turn on the lights. I felt horrible when your song ended and I couldn't come out.”

Alexis couldn't believe her ears. What was wrong with her? Didn't everyone like
serenatas
?

“You see,” Christian explained, “my mom raised me all by herself. We left Mexico when I was still a baby. I never knew my dad. My mom worked three jobs and made sure I had the best music teachers. She used to sing in a pop band back in the eighties. They were called Radio Bon Bon. But when she got pregnant, she had to give up her career. She's really protective.” He smiled. “My mom is always on me about music first and stuff.”

“That's the saddest story I've ever heard,” Alexis said. “I can't imagine having to give up my dreams.”

Christian nodded. “Yeah, I know. I owe her a lot. So I try really hard to make her proud. I want to show her that her hard work wasn't for nothing.”

Alexis beamed. “You're a good son.”

Christian's cheeks reddened. “Yeah, I just have no life. School. Mariachi. Homework. Bed.” He shrugged. “That's all I do.”

“Ha!” Alexis laughed, rolling her eyes. “I don't feel sorry for you, Mr. Regional Champ.”

He smiled playfully. “Winning that was pretty cool.”

A car honked out front. It was Santiago, waving from his truck. Alexis and Christian got up at the same time.

“That's for me,” Alexis said, letting out a sigh. She felt cheated. Here he was, her destiny in the flesh, and she had to go home. They stood in front of each other, toe-to-toe. She bit her lower lip. “So I guess your mom doesn't let you see much of your friends, or you know, go on dates.”

Christian smiled. He was so cute, he made her feel woozy. “Well, that's technically true. I'm not really supposed to date … but there are exceptions.”

She gave him a curious look. “Exceptions?” Alexis wondered, feeling her pulse quicken.

He smiled. “And since you happen to be pretty exceptional …”

“Really?”

Christian shrugged. “Absolutely. This is my life. My mom gave up a lot for me, but that doesn't mean I have to do everything her way.”

Alexis wanted to scream, but she tried to play it cool. “So, I guess I'll see you around soon?”

“Definitely,” he said, blushing hard.

Alexis attempted to give him a quick hug just as Christian tried to hug her. Their arms tangled, foreheads bumped, and lips met. Alexis froze in disbelief. Were they actually kissing? Neither one moved. Then the sound of Santiago's honk jerked them free. That was not exactly how she'd pictured their first kiss going. She raised her fingers to her lips in surprise. But still, it had been nice. The memory of the pressure of his lips left her light-headed. Santiago honked again.

“I have to go,” Alexis said, hurrying out of the pizzeria.

 

When Santiago dropped her off, Alexis found her bedroom crowded with guests. Her sister perched on the windowsill with her grandma Trini. On her twin bed sat her mom and dad and baby brother. Across from them sat her abuelita Alpha and grandpa Frank. All that was missing was Chuy the cook, she thought.

Alexis stretched her arms above her head and yawned. “Wow, am I tired. I had a really long day….” she began, ignoring the desperate looks from her family. “Fabi, will you get the light on your way out?”

“We know you did the
serenata
tonight!” Trini cried, throwing her arms up.

Her mother bounced with excitement. “So, how was it? Did he like it?”

“Did you sing ‘Cielito Lindo'?” Alpha asked. “I love that song.”

“No, ‘Por un Amor,' now that's a real song,” Grandpa Frank interrupted, slapping his gums. He must have come in a hurry, because he'd forgotten to put in his dentures.

Alexis looked at the faces staring at her. Their eyes beamed with excitement.
What a bunch of hopeless romantics
, she thought. She sighed, giving in to the pressure, and took a seat between her mom and dad on her pink comforter.

“Well, at first I didn't think he would show….” Alexis told them the whole story. They listened, captivated, like she was a heroine in her own soap opera. She left out the part about his mother screaming after them and not wanting him to date and skipped to their accidental kiss. The group cheered.

 

That Monday, Alexis couldn't wait for school to end so she could see her bandmates. Her friends must have been dying with curiosity, she thought, when she took off after the
serenata
. Nikki already knew all the details. But Alexis didn't have Karina's or Marisol's numbers, so she had to wait until rehearsal to tell them the story. She also wanted to tell the group about Christian's offer of help. With his expert support, the group was sure to improve.

She bumped into AP Castillo on the stairs. He was cursing under his breath and wasn't watching where he was going.

“Are you coming to practice?” Alexis asked.

“I don't know what to do anymore. Those guys are such a bunch of clowns.” He motioned toward the practice room with frustration. “I thought I could help. I really believed that music would turn them around. The principal is breathing down my neck. He thinks I'm wasting my time. He wants to get rid of the class.”

“Please, don't go,” Alexis said. “Let me talk to them, please.”

“And your cousin is nowhere to be found.” He grunted. “I can't talk right now. I'm really ticked off.”

Confused, Alexis ran the rest of the way to the rehearsal space. The room was in chaos. Hip-hop beats were bumping from the CD player. A few guys were twirling around the middle of the floor, trying to make themselves dizzy. The twins were drawing all over the whiteboard. Alexis was relieved when she noticed they were just using dry-erase markers. Karina was screaming into her phone at someone, and Marisol was in a corner reading. Nikki and Justin stared, wide-eyed, from the opposite side of the room. They were clutching their instruments to their chests like life preservers.

Alexis marched over to the CD player and turned it off. Gripes and groans erupted from the dancers. “What did you guys say to Castillo?” Alexis cried.

Pablo scratched his bald head. “Oh, we gave Castillo the day off. We're celebrating, can't you see? Santi told us about your date, so we thought we deserved a little R & R.” He moved to turn the music back on, but Alexis blocked his path.

“You think this is all some kind of joke?”

He frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Castillo. Mariachi class. You know the principal wants to cut the program.”

Pablo shrugged. “So, why is that my problem? I didn't ask for his help. I don't get why you're so mad. You got the boy. Now we're celebrating. It's a happy ending for everyone.”

“You don't get it.” Alexis groaned, raising her arms in the air. Then she noticed that everyone was looking at her as if she were possessed.

The
serenata
had backfired. It was a success in some ways. She had gotten Christian's attention — and his number! But it was a flop for the ensemble. They hadn't actually played a successful song. Looking around the room, it seemed like everyone had lost interest in the music. She remembered her conversation with Christian. How she'd defended her bandmates and how mariachi music was so full of passion and soul, but the people who needed to feel that the most were right here in this room. Alexis realized that she'd failed her group. In her single-minded attempt to woo Christian, she'd totally forgotten what was most important in all of this — the music.

Alexis had used her bandmates to make her look good. And they went along with it, not because they believed in the power of the music or the team, but because they liked her. Tears blurred her eyes.

“Whoa, whoa,” Pablo said, putting his arm around her. “I didn't mean to make you cry. I just thought we could hang out a little, you know, chill out.”

“It's not that.” She shook her head, wiping her nose on her sleeve. “I feel horrible. I've been just thinking about my career goals and trying to impress Christian and I forgot what mariachi was really about.”

“I liked doing the
serenata
,” Nikki said in a quiet voice behind her.