Canto Contigo by Jonny Garza Villa

Author:Jonny Garza Villa
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group

29

“YOU’RE RAFIE,” CAMI SAYS, WALKING UP to me in the lobby of the Fine Arts Building after the performance, catching me by myself. Rey went to go find a bathroom, and Sra. Peña’s coming (eventually) with the important people who want to talk to us, and our parents left to wait outside for us, which is the worst part of the whole night. I don’t need Amá and Apá making friends with Rey’s parents. I’d have to run away and go live in a cave.

“I— Yeah. Hi,” I answer as they hug me. “You were— You did really great tonight.”

“Gracias, chico. You come up all the way from North Amistad to see us?”

“What? No. I’m … you didn’t hear that I transferred to QPA?”

“¿Qué? I hadn’t. Then … huh. I bet Rey was happy to see you walking into that rehearsal room on the first day.”

My arms cross, eyes squinting, and my head goes back a little at that. “Why would he have been happy to see me?”

“Because, I mean, he never gave me all the details about what happened last year the night before Extravaganza, but he was looking really happy the morning of. And then, when Alma and you got onstage, his whole body was all on the very edge of his seat. I saw the way he looked at you. The way someone who’s got it bad for a boy looks. So, you know, seeing you two up front together, I’m assuming something’s going on between y’all. I thought, ‘Oh, they got together and Rafie’s up here visiting his boyfriend.’”

“Oh, no. Not— There isn’t. I’m not— It’s complicated. You don’t know anything about what Todos Colores is up to this year?”

“Not really. College life’s keeping me busy, but I’d like to see y’all sometime if I can. ¿Por qué? Dame el té.”

Oh, you know, I was heart eyes over him too back then and all the way up until we ran into each other again for the first time in eight months but that all got shit on because he is single-handedly keeping me from doing what I need to do, and I hate him for it, but also I could never hate Rey, and as much as I told myself that the need to make my abuelo proud and not destroy his entire memory takes priority, I can’t help but still feel something else that’s not hate for Rey because he’s also been the reason for the sole few hours of actual happiness I’ve felt since I said goodbye to my abuelo, and as much as I try to fight it, something about being around him, about seeing him, about knowing he’s close by feels right. Feels meant to be, as much as I still mostly hate being a Todos Colores. Feels perfect, as much as the rest of my life wouldn’t agree with that.

Or, you know, something.

“Nothing, it’s just—”

“Cami!” Rey calls out from behind me, rushing toward them into a hug. And right after that, Sra.

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