When we get to school the next Monday, Nandita elbows me, pointing out Jayanand standing with Roman, Richard, Paige, and Danica..
"You going to be okay?" she asks as kids whisper among us.
Suddenly, Rizzo races out of nowhere and throws his arms around me, spins me, and kisses me.76Please respect copyright.PENANAs6b8tlmKpG
"Uh, Rizzo, please..." I shrug him off as Jayanand and everyone else watch curiously.
Rizzo retreats slowly then races off.
"Rizzo---I didn't---"76Please respect copyright.PENANA1PUx98a0IF
Saunders stands beside me, disappointment in her eyes. "He was so happy to...have a girlfriend...he got you these..." She picks up a little bouquet off the ground that Rizzo must have dropped behind him----yellow sunflowers.76Please respect copyright.PENANABZK8XN2aIt
"He thought y'all are together."
Erica scoffs, joining us. "Ew, why?" She pauses. "He is a freak, though, and that could prove nice in the bedroom."
I shove her. "Shut up!"
"You don't want to take up a fight, Erica," Nandita warns, setting her backpack on the pavement.
Saunders holds up her fists, bouncing back and fourth, ready for a fight.
Roman seizes my sister. "Hey, chill, everyone."
"This is between me and Madhuri." Jayanand approaches slowly, and part of me feels guilty staring at the light purple bruise on his cheek. "Madhuri---I----my father says that we should keep the betrothal. They want to meet with us this afternoon. They want the business to stay in the family, and I am obliged to agree..." His voice is just loud enough to be heard by our immediate group.
"Jayyy," Erica whines.
"SHUT UP!" Richard growls, and she turns away pouting.
I meet everyone's expectant gazes---duty or my heart? I study the sunflowers in my grip and replay the dejected look on Rizzo's face. "No, today, I will follow my heart." Although most people don't know Jayanand and I are betrothed, they do know that we have been together a very long time.
Jayanand smiles, holding out his arms, and I step into his familiar hug one last time. "Be happy, rajakumari."
"You too, rajah."
"So we're good?"
All of the anger I harbored Friday night disappears as I meet that familiar brown gaze and kiss his cheek. "We're good."
Nandita applauds, and everyone else follows suit until the teachers break up the commotion, ordering everyone inside to begin the day. Jayanand and Erica leave hand in hand.
"You okay?"
"Andi, surprisingly, I feel closure."
"I'm glad. Even though Jay is my best friend, I was pissed at him." Roman shakes his head. "I had your back all the way. I was not down with what he did at all."
I grin. "Thanks, Rome."
He nods.
Danica hugs me, managing to lean down and balance on her stilettos at the same time. "I'm proud of you, girl. Andi, Rome, we better get to class. You know how Mrs. Yu is about tardies. She'll fail you in a minute."
Roman scrambles to the door. "You right!"
"See you, Maddie."
"Bye Andi!"
Saunders and I trail them at our own pace. "Where do you think Rizzo would have gone?"
"Normally the bathroom when he's upset." she sighs. "He ALWAYS talks about you. I could tell he was fond of you after that first day at lunch." She laughs to herself. "Daddy thought I had a crush on him because we always study together, and maybe I kinda do..."
"Saun, I had np idea!"
She grins in her usual perky way. "No girl code violation, Maddie. It really was only a little crush. I mean, he is absolutely GORGEOUS...I hear girls saying all the time if he wasn't slow..." she shakes her head at their rudeness. "Anyway, it doesn't matter what anyone else feels. His heart is yours, Maddie, and he is set on being with you." As she arrives at the 12th grade hall, she frowns at me. "Please don't hurt him, Madhuri. If you're not going to be serious, just let him down easy. He...people LIKE US...have an even harder time dealing wih heartbreak. It's not often that we give our heart out, you know. People don't make that easy for us."
Nodding, I rush to the bathroom even as the tardy bell rings. Standing in front of the boys' bathroom, I stare at the sign for a minute. Should I call him? Finally, I push open the door to find Rizzo crouched in a corner, his fingers buried in his curls. He has on a blue jogging suit today with blue and white striped sneakers, and they make his blue eyes look more vibrant amidst the tears that trail down his face.
"Rizzo..."
He doesn't respond.
"Thank you for the flowers."
"STUPID, STUPID, STUPID..."
"Rizzo." I crouch beside him, thankful I wore blue jeans today. "You're NOT stupid."
He jerks away. "No, I was stupid to think you would ever love me." Snatching flowers from me, he throws them across the bathroom. "I was stupid to think you would EVER love me. Padre told me not to fall for you, but I couldn't help it, Madhuri..."
"Rizzo, what is WRONG with you?!" I storm across the bathroom to collect the flowers, enraged. "I came here to apologize--"
"What is wrong with you, Madhuri?!" He stands up starkly. "Madhuri, what do you WANT from me?!"
"Wha...?"
He frowns, processing this rush of thoughts and emotions, then repeats, "I know what I want, but what do YOU want, Madhuri?"
I stare at the pile of petals beside my feet, then let the bouquet drop back to the floor. Slowly, I approach Rizzo. Without asking, I reach up his 6'0 thin frame to put my arms around his shoulders. My lips tingle with the thought of his kiss, and my whole body waves and cascades and buzzes as he slides his fingers against my ribcage right above my waist---just like he did when we danced.
"If I were different...you would love me, right?"
"I love you," I whisper. "From the very first day, I was drawn to you...I've only ever wanted YOU, and I will always want just YOU. Gianrico Balistreri."76Please respect copyright.PENANAlXajhFy7P4
He lifts me into his arms, and my back presses against the cold tile of the wall, but he doesn't kiss me. Instead, he presses his forehead against mine. "What is your deepest secret?"
"I have many."
"I have only one." Taking a deep breath, he murmurs, "I wish that I was normal."
"I wish I were normal too."
Depositing me softly back on the ground, he offers me his hand. Intertwining our fingers, we exit the bathroom to a very confused look on the janitor's face.
Rizzo studies him curiously, then informs, "I washed my hands."
Laughing, I inform, "So did I, sir."
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