Don't You Know Who I Am? Read online

  We walked away and kept searching, giggling. We made our way to the corner and waited to cross the street as a very loud, yellow, vintage Camaro drove by slowly in front of us. I couldn’t see the driver because the windows were so dark. The vehicle stood out since the other cars driving around spewed diesel fumes and appeared old and beat up.

  “I wonder who's inside.” I laughed a little bit.

  Dawn laughed as well. “It’s probably one of our neighbors. I bet the ‘help’ keeps that car sparkling clean for whoever is behind the wheel.”

  Dawn’s obvious distaste for our new environment astonished me and I stared at her for a moment. The light turned and we crossed the street. We finally found a place to get Popsicles after walking in and out of several stores asking for directions. Unlike the Popsicles we’d had before, these were creamy with a choice of exotic flavors. I chose coconut and Dawn got strawberry.

  “Good call, sister. These are fabulous.” Dawn smiled, with sincere good humor for the first time since we arrived.

  As we sat on a park bench in front of the market, I spotted the fancy Camaro again. It was at the gas station across the street. I couldn’t help but notice the most attractive guy I’d ever seen when he got out and started filling the gas tank. My pulses sped up just looking at him.

  “The driver is as hot as that car.” While she licked her popsicle, Dawn followed my gaze. “I bet he has to fill the tank every couple miles too.”

  I laughed, still staring. Dawn was right. Handsome was an understatement. He had short black hair, and dark skin. He wore a buttoned-up, white oxford shirt with the sleeves rolled up at the cuff, blue jeans, and sunglasses. He looked expensive and well-dressed with his gold chain and fancy looking watch. He was mesmerizing.

  I wondered who he was. I couldn’t tell if he was my age or older. Could I get lucky enough to meet someone like him at school?

  “If there is more of that at school, I'll be fine,” Dawn declared, breaking me from my thoughts.

  I laughed, thankful to see her back to her old self. “Me too. He must be hot wearing jeans in this heat. It’s like ninety degrees today.”

  Just as I shot out my criticism, he caught my stare. My stomach instantly went into a knot and I quickly looked down. “Oh God, please say he couldn’t hear me.”

  Dawn hit my arm. “You are so busted. He looked right at you.”

  “There is no way that he could hear me from all the way over there.”

  “I think it was coincidence, but it was funny nonetheless. Do you think he is our age or older?”

  “No idea.” I couldn’t help hoping he went to our new school and I’d see him again. Hot or not, he intrigued me and I wanted to know more about him.

  “Well, I’m ready. Let’s go.” Dawn stood up, ready to begin walking back to our SUV. “Stop dreaming, Kayla.”

  I got up, following her. I didn’t look back over toward the mystery man to see if he was still there or not, I just kept walking. I heaved a sigh. “He’s majorly fine and he has a really hot car.”

  Dawn grinned at me. “He’s the best part about moving.”

  “You got that right!”

  Chapter 2

  Monday came all too soon. I stood in my closet trying to decide what to wear. It was hotter than Hades outside and I’d like to wear shorts. I went to see what Dawn was going to wear.

  “I can’t figure out what to wear.” I entered her room, still frustrated. “How about you?”

  “Mini skirt, baby-doll T-shirt and sandals.”

  “Do you think I could get away with shorts?”

  “I don’t know what rules they have about the length of shorts. You know how it is.”

  She was right. Every school had dress codes and none of them matched. It’d be embarrassing to have issues on day one. I went back to my room and pulled out jeans, a T-shirt, and sandals. I’d survive the heat somehow.

  Mom drove us to the school and walked us into the office to pick up our schedules and hand in transcripts. After the admission forms were signed, we made our way to our first classes. The halls were packed with people. There weren’t any lockers here either. We had to carry our books all day. I thought that was weird. It was also a two-story school. That’d take some getting used to.

  I entered my first class, Economics, and paused when I walked in. I was a little early to the class and looked up to find the teacher staring back at me. “Hi, my name is Kayla Johnson. I'm new. Can I sit anywhere?”

  Mr. Martinez was a young teacher that at least acted like he was expecting me. “It’s nice to meet you, Kayla. Yes, please take a seat anywhere, and welcome.”

  “Thank you.” I looked around for a seat. Thankfully there was hardly anyone there. I chose a place in the front since it was always safe. Nobody turned around and asked questions I didn’t have the answers to and I didn’t get distracted. I slid into a seat, set down my backpack and pulled out my book and some paper.

  As I set up my desk, the Camaro-driving, mystery man entered. I tried not to look startled, but I failed miserably as he grinned at me and winked when he walked by. My heart sped up just from the simple acknowledgment.

  What was it about him that made me feel like I couldn’t breathe? As he passed my desk, I glanced over my shoulder to see where he went. He headed all the way to the back of the room and sat down. More people started to file in, talking and laughing. I heard one of them speak to him.

  “Hey, Vato! Where’d you go after we left the pub last night?”

  “Dude, I went home. It’s a school night.”

  They started laughing. Obviously this wasn’t the reason he went home or maybe he didn’t really even go home. Some girls came in and joined them. There must have been ten of them in the back of the class talking and being loud. The bell rang and everyone took a seat.

  “I hope you had a good weekend,” Mr. Martinez said, waving for silence. “We have a new student today. Her name is Kayla Johnson. Kayla, where are you from and what brings you to Nogales?”

  Seriously? He wants me to talk out loud on the first day? Did he really want to set me up for failure? Immediately my face burned hot and I knew it must be red as fire from embarrassment.

  My voice shook and it was soft as I answered. "I'm from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and my dad was transferred here.”

  “Oh really? What does your dad do?” Mr. Martinez asked.

  Can’t we talk about this later? “He works for Philips-Dunaway Mining.”

  “Very good. Welcome. Okay, everyone. Let’s get to work.” Mr. Martinez began his lecture and I felt grateful that people stopped staring at me.

  The rest of the day was more of the same. Humiliating introductions in every class. Nobody was very nice or even tried to talk to me. This was going to be a lonely year. I found Dawn in the courtyard at the end of the day. We walked out together to find Mom’s car.

  “How’d it go?” I asked Dawn.

  “I guess it was fine. Nobody even spoke to me except for the teachers.”

  “Me too. It’s like a secret little cult around here.” I felt a little annoyed that the day was equally bad for both of us.

  “I know. I can’t help but feel like some of them were talking about me when they were speaking Spanish.”

  “I felt that way a couple of times too. I guess it’s because we don’t understand.”

  “I guess.” Dawn shrugged.

  As we walked through the courtyard, I noticed the Camaro man. I’d figured out his name was Javier. He had three classes with me and always showed up with a crowd. I felt like he stared at me, but then again I felt like people were staring at me all day long. I heard a whistle come from that direction. I didn’t look, but Dawn did. They were all laughing.

  “What’s that all about?” Dawn asked, annoyed.

&
nbsp; “Who knows? That group was together all day.”

  “Really? Do you have classes with the Camaro-driving stud?”

  “Three, and his name is Javier. The group he’s with is pretty close and together all the time.”

  “Did you talk to him?” Dawn bumped her shoulder into mine.

  “No way. It was humiliating enough having to introduce myself in every class today. That meant he heard the same story three times.”

  Dawn giggled. “I had to do the same thing. Ugh. I'm glad that's over. Maybe tomorrow I can just blend.”

  We saw Mom parked at the curb and got in the SUV. She turned to look at us in the back seat. “How was the first day, girls?”

  We both mumbled that it was fine. Mom turned back around without a word, but I saw her looking in the mirror at us with concern. We didn’t speak anymore and I was glad when we finally arrived at the house. Dawn and I went to our rooms quietly and did homework until being called for dinner.

  “How was school today, girls?” Dad asked at dinner.

  We were both quiet for a moment. I continued to look down at my plate and push food around before I decided to be the one to answer. “It was fine, I guess.”

  Dad looked at us for a long moment before speaking. “Fine, you guess. That doesn’t sound like a very positive answer.”

  Dawn took it from there. “Dad, everyone speaks Spanish. Half the time I think they're talking about me and nobody even spoke to me all day.”

  “Did you talk to anyone and make the first move?”

  I rolled my eyes. “Dad, we aren’t in kindergarten anymore. They don’t want to be friends with anyone outside their current circles.”

  “I understand your grade level, Kayla, thank you.”

  Great, I made him mad with my sarcasm. “I'm sorry, Dad. I didn’t mean it like that.”

  Dad stared at me without speaking for a moment. “I wouldn’t give any merit to those who speak Spanish. It’s not the official language of this country and if they are going to get anywhere in this world they’d better learn some English.”

  Mom broke the tense silence. “Well, tomorrow is a new day. People will come around. You just need to give them time."

  Chapter 3

  I woke the next morning thinking about what my mom said. It was indeed a new day. I went back into battle with renewed hope. If today didn’t go better, I’d request online school. Dawn and I readied ourselves and Diego brought the SUV around to take us to school.

  Diego was an older man, probably close to retirement. He looked weathered from years of being in the sun and always wore a large brimmed straw hat with his jeans and T-shirt, very mild mannered. I really liked his calm presence.

  As we rode to school, I started a conversation with him. Maybe, he’d give us insight into the culture here. “Diego, have you always lived here?”

  “Sí, I went to the same high school you go to.”

  “Did you like it?”

  “Sí. I made many friends that I still have today.”

  I thought about that for a minute. What would it have been like to grow up with the same people all of the way through school? I couldn’t even imagine it since we’d moved every two to three years of my life. Just when I’d start feeling settled and a part of my surroundings, we’d be off again to my dad’s next assignment. I looked out the window, silent for the rest of the drive to school.

  Dawn and I got out at the curb in front of the school. “Thanks, Diego. Will you pick us up in the same spot?” I asked, before closing the door behind us.

  “Sí, I will be here.”

  I nodded and closed the door as Dawn and I turned to walk back through the gates of doom and gloom. I seriously hoped today would be better.

  ~ ~ ~

  Classes went the same way they did the day before. For the most part, people sat in the same places class after class, and I just tried to be invisible. I looked forward to my interior design class and entered the room with a little less dread than I had with all of the previous classes of the day.

  “Good morning, class.” Mrs. Smith said, in an effort to quiet the room and get the lesson started. “We're going to start an office design project.” She explained and I felt excited for the first time since entering this school. “I'll give you drafting paper and interior specifications in order to complete this project. You'll work in pairs that I will assign.”

  Fantastic, I thought, no longer excited. Nobody is going to want to work with me. It'll be fine. I’m a good, independent worker. As I completed my silent pep talk, Mrs. Smith announced our partners.

  “All right everyone, find your partner and use the rest of class to get going on this project. Friday after next is your deadline.”

  I looked around. My partner’s name was Veronica. Just then I saw a Hispanic girl with long black curly hair and several gold bracelets walk over to me.

  “Kayla?”

  “Hi. Yes, I'm Kayla. Are you Veronica?”

  “Yes, it’s nice to meet you.” She slid into the seat next to me.

  “It’s nice to meet you too,” I replied.

  She seemed nice, kind of quiet and timid. She took the sheet of instructions that Mrs. Smith gave us and we began looking at the assignment. We brainstormed some ideas and we decided I’d take the prints home tonight to work on the initial design. Then, I’d give them to her tomorrow to add her pieces. After hashing out how we’d accomplish this assignment, there was still some time left in the class so we sat and talked.

  “So, you're from Harrisburg?” Veronica asked, genuinely interested.

  I nodded, smiling.

  “What’s it like there?”

  “Well, greener and cooler. Have you ever been back East?”

  “No, I hope to someday though. I’d like to go to New York City.”

  “It’s cool.” I replied with excitement. “You'll like it.” We were quiet for a minute not knowing what else to say. “What do people do here for fun?” I blurted out in hopes of trying to figure out this new place that seemed so foreign.

  Veronica sighed. “Well, we go to the pub a lot on the weekends.”

  “What’s the pub?” I asked, frowning a little bit.

  “It’s a dance club over the line.”

  “Over the line meaning Mexico?”

  Veronica nodded her head and laughed. “Yes, Mexico. Have you crossed yet?”

  “No. I wouldn’t know what to do if I did.” I giggled a little nervously as I said this.

  “You can come with us if you want on Friday night.”

  I thought for a brief second before answering, “Are you sure it'll be okay with your friends?”

  “Yeah, the more the merrier.” Veronica’s smile was bright and genuine as she said this.

  “Would it be lame if I asked to bring my sister? She's a junior here and we kind of stick together since we don’t know anyone.” I was no longer smiling when I asked, hoping she wouldn’t make fun of me or un-invite me because I wanted to bring my sister along.

  “Sure, no problem. We meet up at McDonald’s and then walk over. Do you know where that is? Right in the center of town before the border crossing.”

  “Yes, I think I remember seeing it. What time do we meet you?”

  “Be there at ten and I'll watch for you. Put my number in your phone in case you can’t find us.”

  I pulled out my cell and added Veronica to my contacts list and shared my information with her too.

  The bell rang and we walked out. It was lunchtime so I went right to the cafeteria. I sent Dawn a text to see if she wanted to eat with me.

  Hey, where are you? Do you want to eat with me?

  Out in the courtyard already.

  After I stopped and got nachos, I went out and found
my sister. She was sitting on the only grass the school has, eating a sandwich she’d packed for herself.

  “Hey, girl. How’s it going today?” I plopped down beside her.

  “Fine. At least a couple of people spoke to me today.” Dawn shrugged, still looking sad.

  “This girl in my interior design class invited us to the pub on Friday night. Do you want to go?”

  “The pub? Where is it and what is it?”

  “It’s a dance club in Mexico.”

  “You want to cross into Mexico?” Dawn asked, with doubt in her voice.

  “Sure, why not? It sounds like that's where everyone hangs out.”

  Dawn took another bite of her sandwich before saying, “Okay, I'm in.”

  “Really? Yay!” Happy, I leaned over to give her a hug.

  Dawn laughed and pushed me away. “Okay, okay, but you need to sell this to Mom and Dad. You know how protective they can be. Especially Dad.”

  “I know.” I nodded, a little concerned. I’d need to pitch this just right to them.

  While we finished lunch, we talked and laughed about our day so far. I saw Javier across the courtyard hanging out with his friends too. Still in jeans, he at least had on a short sleeved T-shirt today. He intrigued me. It was hard not to stare so I tried to steal glances a little at a time. I wondered what he was like away from all of his friends.

  The rest of the day was more of the same. I kept to myself and people left me alone. When the end of the day finally came, Dawn and I walked out together. Diego was right where he said he’d be, and we got into the SUV and said hello.

  “Hi, Diego. How was your day?” I asked, as cheerfully as possible.

  “Muy bien, y tu? How was your day?”

  I liked how Diego gave us a little exposure to the language. “It was good.”

  He pulled away from school as we sat silent for a couple of minutes.