Romiette and Julio (18 page)

“Don’t say anything, OK, Mom?” Romi whispered.

“Oh, I wouldn’t think of it,” her mother whispered back quickly. “Hello again, Julio. Good to see you again.”

“Hello, Mrs. Cappelle. Romi is going to help me with my …”

“Math!” Romi explained quickly.

“Right, math homework.” Julio looked at the ground. He had no book bag, and no book.

Mrs. Cappelle laughed and said, “Right! And I’m the king of Siam! Look, I’m already late. I’m going
to go down to the shop, check on the delivery, and help Maisha close up. I should be back by eight.”

“Fine, Mom. We’ll be here. We might go for a walk or something, but that’s all.” Romi wished her mother would hurry up and leave.

“You know I trust you, Romi. But you know I’m not real comfortable with just the two of you in the house.” She looked Romi straight in the eye.

“I hear you, Mom. We’re going to check on the puppies, do our homework, then go for a walk.”

“That sounds great. As long as we’re on the same page.” She kissed her daughter on the cheek. “I’m out of here.” She stopped once more. Romi clenched her fists in nervous tension. “Oh, Julio—how’s the puppy?”

“Just fine. We named her Taco.”

“Cute name. See you kids. Dad’s at the station. He doesn’t have to do the late news tonight, so he should be home in a couple of hours.”

“OK, Mama. See you.”

Romi watched her mother’s car ease out of the driveway. She breathed a huge sigh of relief. “I was afraid she would never leave,” she told Julio. “Ben and Destiny are due here any minute.”

Julio tilted his head. “Wait! I hear Ben’s car. You can’t mistake it.”

From the distance they could hear a rumbling, booming sound of bass drums. It got louder as it approached. “What
is
that noise?” Romi asked in disbelief.

Julio laughed. “Ben got his speakers at a garage
sale. They came out of a torn-down movie theater.” The sound was almost deafening as Ben turned the corner. As he had said, Ben owned the ugliest car in Cincinnati. It was brown—the color of dirt. The front bumper was missing, and a huge dent creased the trunk. Rust dotted the sides like blotches of disease. It sputtered and coughed and wheezed as it made its way down the street to Romi’s house, but that noise was overpowered by the sound of the
1812 Overture
playing at the loudest possible volume. Neighbors peeked out of the window to see what had made such a commotion.

Romi covered her ears. “He’s got enough sound to broadcast at the stadium!”

“That’s Ben!” chuckled Julio. “It also covers up the sound of his bad fan belt and reconditioned engine. His car stops every other mile.”

Destiny got out of the car gingerly, checking to see that her jacket didn’t catch on the coat hanger that Ben used for a door latch. The sound of symphonies ceased suddenly as Ben turned the motor off. He jumped out of the other side.

Romi shook with laughter as she watched the expression on Destiny’s face, which was a mixture of disbelief and exhilaration. Destiny looked at Ben with awe.

“Do you drive like this all the time, Ben?”

“Sure! I like noise!” he said simply. “Did you like it?”

“Well, that was an experience I’ll never forget!” Destiny laughed. “Actually, it was live! We’ll have to
do that again sometime when my senses recover.” They walked up the steps to Romi’s house.

“What’s shakin’, Destiny?” Romi was still chuckling.

“My ears! I think I used up all the hearing I’ve got for the next thirty years!” replied Destiny. “But it was pretty awesome too. I could
feel
the drums as they played!”

Ben was pleased. “You got it, Destiny. That’s the idea! I can hear and feel every single instrument.”

“So could the folks in Spring Grove Cemetery!” added Romi. She let them in the house, and for a moment, each one of them was silent. They just looked at each other, thinking of the dangers that might occur that evening.

Julio spoke first. “Did you bring the camera, Ben?”

“Yep, right here.” Ben took a small black box out of his pants pocket. It fit in the palm of his hand. “Just push this button, slip it in your shirt pocket, and forget it. It has a filter that can see through thin material—like shirts—and it picks up any sounds within about one hundred feet.”

Romi was impressed. “This is no regular camcorder,” she said.

“Of course not,” replied Ben. “It was developed for spies in the Middle East. My dad got it from a Japanese dealer of specialty items.”

“Wow! A spy camera. Let me see it.” Destiny took the small camera and peered through the view-finder in the back. She saw a perfectly clear picture
of Romi’s living room, and when she pushed the little red button on the top, she could see extreme close-ups of her friends. She turned the camera to Ben. He noticed she was looking at him, and he grinned. Suddenly embarrassed, she turned the camera on Max, who had slipped in the back door again.

Romi looked doubtful. “Will my dad be able to transfer that to tape?”

“No problem. He can copy it onto a regular-sized tape. It will play on any VCR,” Ben reassured her.

Romi sat down on the sofa, and Destiny plopped down beside her. Ben grabbed a chair, but Julio still looked uncomfortable.

“Sit here, Julio,” Destiny offered as she scooted to the end of the sofa. “Romi won’t mind.” Romi smiled, and he finally sat between the two girls, grinning at both of them.

Julio began. “OK, what’s the plan? Let’s go over this one more time.”

“We walk. We talk. We hope they show,” Romi said, simplifying the whole matter.

“Then what?” persisted Julio.

“We hope they threaten us like they did yesterday; then we tape them doing it.”

Julio continued, “Suppose they want to do more than push us around? They had at least one gun yesterday, and it looked very real.”

Destiny responded with determination. “That’s where I jump in. I’ve got my cellular phone, and I double-checked the battery. I can call for help with just one button.”

“We’ll be right behind you, driving slowly,” Ben added.

“In Ben’s car. Lord, be with us!” Romi laughed.

“We’ll never let you out of our sight. Promise,” Ben declared, trying to reassure them.

Julio took a deep breath and looked at Romi. He took her hand in his. “Are you ready?” he asked her.

She squeezed his hand and exhaled. “Let’s go,” she said, with more bravery than she felt.

Julio and Romiette walked slowly down the long path that ran past London Woods. Destiny and Ben followed a few yards behind, Ben’s car coughing and sputtering but moving steadily. Ben agreed that his music would make him rather noticeable, so all was quiet except for occasional backfires. The weather was cool, and Romi was glad she had brought her jacket. The sky was overcast and gloomy; heavy clouds covered what was left of the sun, and darkness was falling early. Romi shivered, and Julio placed his arm around her shoulder. She moved closer to him. “Are you cold?” he asked her.

“Not anymore,” she replied with a smile. He kept his arm loosely around her shoulder as they walked. “Julio, I want to tell you something,” Romi began. “I’m really glad we met. Strange things computers do these days.”

He grinned and looked at her. “Me too. You have given spice to my life.”

“Seems like we have plenty of spice these days—maybe a little too much pepper,” Romi joked.

“Or hot sauce?” Julio pretended he had a bottle of hot sauce in his hand and was drinking right from the bottle.

“Yeah, you and your hot sauce!” Romi laughed. “That’ll cure those gangbangers!” Then, remembering why they were out there made her suddenly serious. “Julio? Do you think they’ll show?”

“Yeah, they’ll be here,” Julio replied, thinking back angrily to how they had been treated yesterday.

Everything was strangely quiet. Romi and Julio glanced behind them, looking for Ben’s car. It sat about two blocks behind them; it had stopped. Ben was looking under the hood, scratching his head, and it looked as if Destiny was pointing out what he should check. She glanced often to check on Julio and Romi as well. They slowed down so as not to get too far ahead.

It was almost dark. The streetlights had clicked on, and the shadows from the trees made Sunday’s afternoon walk in the sunlight seem quite pleasant. Julio grabbed Romi’s hand again. The same electricity that she had felt the very first time he held her hand buzzed through her like lightning once more. He felt it too. He glanced at her face—her eyes, which were honey brown, and her nose, which crinkled when she smiled. He touched the soft brown tendrils of hair that curled and circled her face. She sighed slowly. She said nothing, but her eyes never left his.

Julio glanced toward a small dirt path that led from the walkway into the woods. He whispered, “Romi—look. Let’s check out that tree over there.”

She looked to where he was pointing. “Julio, there are a million trees in the distance. Can you be more specific?”

“That one”—he smiled—“the one with the brown trunk and the skinny branches.”

“Oh, sure, that one.” Romi was perplexed. Why was he so interested in trees all of a sudden? She wanted to grow roots right there on that sidewalk and never leave that spot. Still holding her hand, Julio pulled her gently toward the narrow trail.

“This one. Right here down this little path. Look, Romi. You have to see this.”

She tried to peer through the dark woods. “What is it?” she asked. But she didn’t protest as Julio led her about two yards down the trail. Romi shivered again, not from fear, and not from cold, but from the closeness of Julio in the darkness. “If we leave the road, Ben and Destiny can’t see us,” she said weakly.

“If we leave the road, Ben and Destiny can’t see me kiss you,” Julio replied softly as he pulled her close to him. She inhaled slowly. His lips touched hers lightly, then the kiss became a flower that blossomed and bloomed in the darkness.

“Oh, Julio,” was all Romi could say. He murmured her name as he held her. All his anger, fear, and frustration melted on that dark evening as he held Romiette in his arms. She had never felt so alive, so aware of the sounds of the branches swaying in the chilly wind, of the smell of the damp earth below them.

He touched her face with his fingers, traced her lips
with his fingertips. She could tell he was smiling in the darkness. “Yep, it was hot sauce,” he teased her. “Right there on your lips. I had to get it off, you know.”

“That was lipstick,” she teased back.

“Hot sauce,” he said slowly.

“Lipstick,” she protested weakly.

His lips searched for hers once more in the darkness. They forgot about their problems, the gang, even Ben and Destiny, who now seemed so far away. They were only aware of each other, of the bright and sparkling warmth of that moment, of the fresh new joy of that kiss.

“You are my hot sauce,” he whispered in her ear.

“I love the way you say things,” she whispered in return. Romi wanted that moment to last forever, but she knew they’d better head back. “Let’s get back on the road,” she said reluctantly. “We don’t want Ben and Destiny to get worried. Hold my hand.” Julio held her hand tightly as he led her back to the sidewalk.

“Do you see them?” Romi asked. Very little light remained in the sky. It would be night soon, and the darkening clouds and increasing winds indicated a storm was on its way. Romi, though, felt safe and warm—the whole world glowed in spite of the oncoming storm and night.

Julio peered into the darkness. “Yeah, I see them. They’re
pushing
the car!”

“A lot of good they are for protection! I can’t wait to hear Destiny complain about this one! Should we go help them?”

“No,” Julio answered. “They’re doing just fine. They’ll be here in a few minutes. So that gives us time for just one more taste of hot sauce!” He grabbed her waist and quickly kissed her once more. They gazed at each other in the light of the street lamp and grinned.

The moment was shattered suddenly by the blast of a car horn. Julio and Romi jumped with surprise and moved very close together. It wasn’t Ben’s car that pulled up next to them, however; it was the black Cadillac of the Devildog gang. It approached from the north, spun around, did a sharp U-turn, and rolled smoothly to a stop directly in front of them. The car had never even passed Ben and Destiny. Romi’s heart, which was still fluttering from Julio’s touch, began to pound. Julio, determined to protect Romi at all costs, planted his feet firmly on the sidewalk and angrily awaited the approach of the gang members. He reached into his front shirt pocket and clicked the video camera on. All was silent. There was no sign of Ben and Destiny.

“Stay calm and relaxed,” he whispered to Romi. “Make them talk. The more they say, the more we have to use against them.”

“Where are Ben and Destiny?” Romi worried. “Shouldn’t they be here by now? Suppose they don’t get here in time?”

“Relax.” Julio’s voice was soothing and soft. “They’ll get here. They’ve got the phone to call for help.”

The doors of the Cadillac opened, and as before, the four boys got out in unison. They looked serious
and threatening in the dim light of the street lamp. The last to step out of the car was Malaka. Romi gasped. Malaka took her place next to Terrell.

Terrell spoke. “Romiette,” he said in a lazy, gravelly voice, “I thought we had you schooled. What’s up with this Tex-Mex boy? Why you still hangin’ with him?”

“I told you, Terrell, I will not be intimidated by you, or the Devildogs, or anybody else!” Romi was so angry, she was close to tears. Julio stood protectively next to her. “And Malaka, what are you doing here? You’re going to be sorry you got involved in this. You’re way out of your league, girlfriend.”

Malaka replied viciously, “No, honey.
You
the one who’s gonna be sorry. This
is
my league!”

Terrell smiled and put his arm around her. He looked relaxed and in control. “The Devildogs rule, and you gotta learn that.”

Julio took a step forward. “Look, Terrell, why don’t you and the Devildogs just leave Romi and me alone. We won’t bother you and we won’t report you to the cops.”