The Horse Farm - Chapter 2-27

Francisco sent a two-letter text message to Isabella's phone: "PH".

Isabella would understand what the letters meant: "Puedes hablar?" - Spanish for "Can you talk?" All of their text conversations began this way. It was their own secret shorthand.

"10 min. dinner"

Francisco placed the phone on the dresser, took off his shirt and threw it onto the bed. He went into the bathroom to wash his face and brush his teeth. 

When he came back into the bedroom, Isabella had already sent two texts: "ok, finished" and "HELLO???". 

Francisco: "Sorry. Was in the bathroom." 

Isabella: "I hope everything came out all right! :-P "

Francisco: "I was brushing my teeth."

Isabella: "Sure you were!"

F: "I was!!!"

I: "Oh, that's right. You're a clean mouth fanatic."

F: "I like the minty taste."

I: "Yeah, but then you smell like mouthwash."

F: "What's wrong with mouthwash?"

I: "It smells like mouthwash!"

F: "Better than the alternative."

I: "I guess. What's up?"

F: "I just wanted to say thanks."

I: "For what?"

F: "For our talk the other day. For setting me straight."

I: "Oh, it was nothing."

F: "No, it helped me a lot!"

I: "Well, you'll be fine whatever you decide."

F: "That's what I wanted to talk to you about. I've decided to go."

I: "Go, you mean...?"

F: "To college. Duh!"

I: "Oh my gosh! That's amazing!"

F: "I'm glad that you're happy."

I: "I'm thrilled! I am so, so proud of you. What made you change your mind?"

F: "You did."

I: "Oh, come on!"

F: "I'm serious! It's totally true."

I: "But you seemed so certain about not wanting to go."

F: "I was being a little stubborn. You helped me to see things clearly."

I: "Well, I'm glad that I could help. I didn't think that you were going to go."

F: "Well, you were right. It's an opportunity that I shouldn't miss. I don't want to blow it."

I: "I'm so proud of you, Francisco! Did you tell your dad?"

F: "Not yet. He's not here right now. Maybe tomorrow."

I: "Okay, but no backing out! ;-P "

F: "Don't worry. I'm good."

I: "Well, that is amazing news! I wasn't expecting that."

F: "I guess you are an amazing influence!"

I: "I don't know about that!"

F: "An amazing friend?"

I: "OK, I'll accept that one. :-) "

F: "And super beautiful!"

I: "OMG, don't you start getting fresh with me, Mr. College Boy!"

F: "So sorry! I'll behave myself. ;-) "

I: "You'd better!"

F: "What are you wearing now?"

I: "That is NOT behaving!"

F: "It's just an innocent question."

I: "Yeah, I remember the last time we started asking each other innocent questions."

F: "I do, too."

I: "I bet you do! You're so bad!"

F: "OK, since you won't tell me, I'll have to guess: white T-shirt and sweat pants."

I: "Ew, gross! I never wear sweat pants."

F: "Yoga pants?"

I: "Nothing so fancy. Gym shorts. And an aqua South Beach T-shirt."

F: "When did you go to South Beach?"

I: "I didn't. Tommy got it for me."

F: "Buzz kill!"

I: "Hey, you asked..."

F: "I bet it doesn't fit."

I: "Well, yeah, it's too big, but it's comfortable."

F: "He doesn't know you like I do."

I: "Are you flirting with me, Mr. Mela?"

F: "Um, that's Señor Mela!"

I: "Are you flirting with me, Señor Mela?"

F: "No, if I were flirting with you, I'd ask what color your underwear is."

I: "How do you know that I'm wearing underwear?"

F: "Because you just came from the dinner table."

I: "Good point."

F: "And because you have boobs."

I: "What's that supposed to mean?"

F: "Well, I figured that you might be uncomfortable without a bra."

I: "Oh my goodness, you're disgusting!"

F: "Why is that disgusting?"

I: "That's kind of personal, buster!"

F: "I just want you to be comfortable."

I: "I'm perfectly comfortable when I'm not wearing a bra."

F: "Oh, really?"

I: "Ugh! I shouldn't have said that last part. :-) "

F: "The cat's out of the bag, now!"

I: "All right, you got me. I'm wearing underwear."

F: "White lace?"

I: "I'm not telling you!"

F: "You said the T-shirt was aqua, so... you're probably wearing that light blue bra."

I: "And why do you think that I have a light blue bra?"

F: "Because you wore it to the spring formal."

I: "Oh my God! Were you checking me out?? Psycho!"

F: "Give me a break! It was totally obvious!"

I: "My underwear is not obvious."

F: "The dress was low cut..."

I: "It wasn't a dress, it was a gown."

F: "The gown was low cut, excuse me! It kind of hung out around the edges."

I: "Wow! I'm never wearing THAT gown again."

F: "You looked hot."

I: "More like a tramp, apparently!"

F: "No, you were totally classy, like always! All of the tops are cut that way these days."

I: "I should have looked in the mirror before I went out."

F: "Well, you looked hot."

I: "Instead of scoping me out, maybe you should have been looking at your date."

F: "Ana?"

I: "Yeah. She's amazingly thin. I'd love to have her body."

F: "I'd love to have your body."

I: "Oh my goodness, Francisco! You are hopeless!"

F: "I want to see you."

I: "You'll see me tomorrow at school."

F: "I want to see you now."

I: "I'm not sure that's a good idea since you're in a flirty mood."

F: "I'll be nice. I'll take you out for an ice cream."

I: "I'd like that, but I can't go out tonight."

F: "Why not? Is Tommy coming over?"

I: "No, he's got tennis practice."

F: "Okay then..."

I: "I don't have a reason to get away."

F: "Tell them that you have to return something."

I: "I don't have anything to return. Besides, if I say that I'm going to the mall, my sister will want to tag along."

F: "Tell them that you have to help me with my college application."

I: "You were already accepted, dumbo."

F: "Your parents don't know that."

I: "I think they'll figure it out. They're not stupid."

F: "You mean not like Tommy."

I: "Shut up! He's not stupid."

F: "You just don't want to see me."

I: "No, I do. I mean, I'd like to."

F: "It's OK. We can get together another time."

I: "Okay, I'll tell them that you decided which college to go to, and we're going to celebrate over an ice cream."

F: "You think they'll buy it?"

I: "Well, it's true."

F: "It is."

I: "I mean, if they want to spy on me and blab to Tommy, all they'll see is us having an ice cream."

F: "Nothing wrong with that!"

I: "Nothing at all."

F: "Not even slightly scandalous."

I: "Maybe I'll even wear my blue bra for you, since you like it so much."

F: "Oh, that would be awesome. I'll even buy you an extra scoop!"

I: "You're funny!"

F: "Just do me one favor."

I: "What?"

F: "Ditch the South Beach T-shirt."

I: "Don't worry. I don't wear that cheap thing in public."

  

'The Horse Farm'

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