Lexi Vargas

- it to the kitchen. ]

- wasn’t good at this at all. [I looked up and found Marcus standing in the doorway, and I nearly jumped out of my skin. “Are you guys ready to go yet?" I stood up and looked at E waiting to see if he was ready because none of this would be up to me anyway I picked up my plate ready to take -

[I tried multiple times to get this right and kept messing up so like was getting frustrated. Finally after what felt like the millionth time I got it. It sounded horrible so I hid my face because every other time I’ve heard someone else say that word it sounded much better.] See I told you I -

- with us or will he meet us here after?

- stupid. For some reason, even though I barely knew him, I felt like he belonged to me like he belonged by my side, and I didn’t understand any of it.] where are we going first? This town is so big compared to what I’m used to my feet are going to kill me by the end of the day. Is Pedro coming? -

[I looked up at him, finding comfort in his eyes for some reason. ] I can’t even pronounce that word. I’ve tried. Papa says something about Rs. I don’t understand what that means. [I have never felt stupid in my life, but when it comes to this culture and how things are pronounced, I felt really -

- I like my cinnamon stick things. Your friends aren’t mean to other girls that wanna hang around right? It’s been kind of awkward around there lately and it’s hard to explain. I don’t like it. I just wanna feel like I belong somewhere.

[I finished my food and curled into his side, smiling a little.] I’m not used to any of this. I’m used to your dad because I’ve seen him all the time but only for a few minutes at a time and if pop wasn’t home, I couldn’t do that and believe me, I would throw the biggest attitude problem about it. -

- more than I realized it the worst I felt. ]

- Gemma instead of JT in the ground things would be different. I don’t know how to explain it but club changed before the accident anyway. I noticed a lot of things because I got ignored a lot so I paid attention. Does this club have women who sleep with everybody? [I didn’t know anything and the -

[I swallowed my bite of food and looked at him for a minute before I said anything.] well, I had no idea this was even happening. Everything happens so fast. I’m still confused. I don’t understand being godparent if you’re gonna send their children in your care away when things get bad. If it was -

- the idea of losing him, though was more frightening than anything else.]

- legs so that I can finish my plate.] thank you for trying . I really don’t think she likes me. am I going to be sent back now? I really didn’t know how to eat these. I didn’t even know what they were. [I was almost mortified. Now that I knew nothing of my culture and what I was supposed to do. -

[papa nudged me motioning for me to follow E. “Go ahead, baby, take your plate with you so you can finish eating.” I took my plate and walked down the hall, not saying anything to anyone else. as soon as I reached his room, I kicked the door closed behind me.] Hi. [I sat on the floor, crossing my -

- bite of food, resting my leg against E’s. Today was going to be a long day if I was going to be stared at the whole time.]

- already cut it into pieces. This was probably one of the best meals I’ve had in a while “Lexi, when is the last time you saw your dad?“ I tilted my head to the side at Marcus‘s question.] I don’t know. I don’t remember he was acting stupid that day, though I do remember that. [I took another -

[I smiled back at him because now I understood.] I didn’t know you could do that because it was so big. I figured it needed to be cut up. [Carefully I finished eating, trying to ignore the fact that I was being stared at across the table obviously at this point I couldn’t pick it up because I had -

- I needed it]

- I nodded smiling as I swallowed my bite. I saw the look Dianna was giving me like I was some kind of weird child she had never wanted. Was they that weird being raised by white people I didn’t understand and I didn’t want to. I just wanted to fit in somewhere and feel like someone would care if -

[I was confused by the question of hot sauce. I cut up my burrito taking a bite with my fork. Papa smiled putting the hot sauce on my plate. “You can dip it mija.” I smiled dipping a piece and loving it. Pop ate hot sauce but I wasn't allowed to have it as long as Gemma was around. “Is it good?" -

Dinner than more replies

- I hope I can finish it in time before school starts for me.

- five things on it. I know she’s gonna need more than that.“ I looked at E and smiled a little.] hopefully I can figure out something because I don’t wanna get in trouble for not having everything with me on the first day. I still have to finish the packet that they gave Papa for me. It’s thick -

[as soon as I felt his leg against mine, I felt like I could breathe.] there’s some sort of list in my room, but it’s like a stupid list. It doesn’t have everything on it. [Papa was laughing because he knew exactly what I was referring to. “ she’s right, the list they gave me for her only has -

- waited for my plate. I didn’t say anything because I was afraid that I would read lecture or something. For doing it.]

- sit in the chair next to E baby. Do you like peppers?” I’m pretty sure that my eyes got as big as saucers, but I was nodding.] yeah I like peppers. [was this a culture thing or was that just deprived simple enjoyment? This was a question. I didn’t have an answer to. I sat in the chair and -

[I didn’t even know where to sit down because I felt like every time I took a step around Dianna, she had something to say about it. I knew she was adjusting to having me around and dealing with how I was raised, but this was a whole new level of crazy for me. “ I thought so, mijo. Lexi, you can -

- unless pop was home I couldn’t see anybody not even daddy. I don’t understand. I couldn’t see you either.

- “yes baby that’s him. He’s your Tio. He would like to come see you, but I wanted to ask you first would it be OK if he met us at the mall?” The thing that came out of my mouth must have shocked Dianna and Marcus because of the reactions.] I can see him now? Gemma said he was a bad man and -

- for breakfast too. “Lexi, there is a nomad for the reapers, his name is happy. Do you know him?” I tilted my head to the side for a minute before I thought back to how many reapers I actually knew.] the smile man? [This made Marcus laugh, which was something I wasn’t used to hearing very often. -