Everything Within and In Between by Nikki Barthelmess

Author:Nikki Barthelmess [Barthelmess, Nikki]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperTeen
Published: 2021-07-26T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter

Twelve

The morning of oral presentations, the knot in my stomach twists and eventually starts to gurgle.

As if reading my thoughts, Edgar leans close so only I can hear him whisper. “You got this.”

Carlos smiles at me and looks surprised at the glare I give him. I never responded to his text about not coming to study and haven’t talked to him since. He faces forward, his legs splayed wide, taking up his space and some of mine.

Señora Almanza calls on Nina first. Nina drags her feet to the front of the room, and her eyes dart around until they land on mine.

Nina keeps looking at me and I can’t look away. Does she get nervous speaking in front of the class? When I hung out with Nina at her house years ago, everyone in her family spoke Spanglish, so I thought this would be easy for her. But when Nina answers Señora Almanza’s questions, she fumbles on a couple of words.

I keep eye contact with her and smile. Like I’m encouraging her. Like it’s just us in the classroom. She finishes her answers quickly.

“Muy bien,” Señora Almanza says. Nina shoots me a grateful look before returning to her seat. “Good job,” I whisper, and she smiles at me.

Carlos goes next, his speaking fluid and assured, and then Señora Almanza calls on me.

I stand and face the class, grasping my sweaty hands together in front of me to keep them from shaking. Jorge whispers something to Miguel and laughs. Miguel doesn’t. My whole body tenses.

Nina looks right at me and nods reassuringly.

I hear Edgar’s words echo in my head. You got this.

Señora Almanza repeats the same question she asked Nina and Carlos. “¿Qué te gustaría hacer este fin de semana?”

The answer tumbles out of my mouth fast. Señora Almanza gestures for me to try again. “Habla despacio, por favor.”

I take a deep breath, glance at Edgar and then back to Nina, before repeating my answer slowly. “Este fin de semana, si es posible, quiero ir al cine.” I don’t actually go to the movies that often, but it’s the first thing that pops into my head. I know I don’t sound natural like Nina and Carlos. Señora Almanza asks me another question, and I answer as slowly and calmly as I can, praying my voice isn’t shaking. I feel sweat pooling at my hairline, but I don’t want to draw attention to it by wiping my face. I keep my eyes trained on Nina as I’m asked a couple more questions, and I answer.

And then it’s over; Señora Almanza says, “Muy bien,” mercifully.

I lunge toward my desk, practically falling back into my seat. “You did good, Ri,” Edgar says.

I wipe my slick hands on my jeans. “Thanks,” I breathe. In and out. It’s over.

The bell rings and Edgar and Carlos walk with me out of class. Carlos wraps his arm around my waist. “I didn’t know you don’t speak Spanish. Now I see why you wanted to study so much.”

I look down at my feet as my cheeks burn, despite myself.

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