Chapter 20. Plan in motion.

"Pomeranian dog, Chow chow, Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, Havanese, and French bulldog." The girl ticked off each breed with a finger and gave her friend a 'duh' look.

"What?" She petted the dark, furry dog beside her. "My mom is a vet after all."

"But you didn't tell me she made you learn a gazillion breed names." Her friend retorted still in awe.

"If we stand here all day,  what the hell are we paid for?" Pushing friend down the steps of the park, they shared the leeches among themselves,  agreeing that Adana would take the three small or average dogs while Leilani, the bigger dogs.

"Do we have a routine or something?" Adana paused, yielding to the dull ache in the sole of her feet.

Her friend hadn't been kidding when she told her they would walk six energetic dogs much less under the sun whose mission seemed to be to give her sunburn. Bad sunburn.

"Yeah, we'll walk around the park for a while and let them go then give them five minutes off the leech, round then up and we should be returning them to their owners." She shrugged.

"Yeah, no biggie."

"Come on!" She gave her shoulder a shove. "This isn't so bad you know,  fresh air, good sun, and natural sounds, just a take a moment t—"

"Ugh, I'm dying." She groaned and bit the inside of her cheek.

Sweat broke out on her forehead, underarms,  back,  side rolls, even a mustache and she wondered how those gym models or yoga instructors or whatever they called themselves did it.

All that running and bending and stretching and still being able to do a shoot while at it. Maybe they were some type of superhuman which was a limited edition not for everybody.

"Don't tell me you're not listening!"

"Uh, yeah I-I mean no of course not." Her eyes found the straight face of the girl beside her. "I'm listening."

Leilani squinted her eyes. "Really?"

"Yup." The trees seemed to capture her attention and pique her interest more than the conversation they were having.

"Then what was the last thing I said?"

"Don't tell me you were not listening." Adana shrugged before laughing at herself and Leilani joined in.

"But the event is in two weeks."

"What event?"

They sank into a bench ready to let the dogs loose to either follow the children or just sit and watch while released from their leeches.

"The one Brittany is throwing," she explained, "Rumors have it that her parties start on the last school night and end on the morning of the next day which would be the weekend."

"So overnight partying?" Her stomach grumbled and she held it hoping Leilani hadn't heard.

"Don't worry,  we can grab something to eat when we drop them off," Oh she heard then. "And about the overnight stuff,  I dunno, I've never been invited to stuff like that so I can't wait."

Jumbled messes of hormones moving together, blind drunk, making out, and nice hangover seemed barely her idea of a party. Plus, mother would slice her and throw her in a lake under a bridge and that would be the end of her. First, escape, then parties if she could afford them.

"About that," she started, "I can't come."

"What do you mean you can't come?" Leilani folded her arms,  face holding a stubborn frown. "This is the first time in forever we've been invited to a party by one of the big names at school and you're backing out?"

"You wouldn't understand." She muttered swinging a foot.

"Wouldn't understand what?" She asked. "Then make me understand."

"Never mind, forget I even said it." She dismissed wanting to drop the subject as she rose to gather the dogs and handed her friend two leeches and walked off with three to return them to their respective homes.

Ordering a sandwich to go, she turned to exit the building nearly bumping shoulders with a guy but barely apologized,  avoiding eye contact by keeping her head bowed low.

"Aww, you're not even gonna give me a hug even after spilling my cappuccino over me?"

She raised her head, a smile arresting her tensed features as she accepted the warm bear hug grateful to have her mind taken off the recent argument.

The young man accepted the hug, lingering a little longer but she didn't mind. Still, in her arms, he asked, "What're you doing here anyway?"

"Long story."

His hands rested on his hips and he shifted his weight on one of his foot, an eyebrow cocked in a 'try me' manner. A laugh bubbled from within her. She knew he would wait till the next day if she allowed him.

They found a table smack dab in the middle of the Café and Diego sipped from the cup in his hands, leaning forward on his seat awaiting her answer.

"I'm doing extra work."

"Why?" Not a hint of emotion lined his features but curiosity.

The desire to lie to him waned and she confessed. "I need the extra money."

"What does a teenage girl need extra money for when they've got parents and one job already?"

Words stuck in her throat and her eyes and ears burned. She ducked her head, forcing away the emotions his questions slammed into her memory. Why did everyone make it their priority to make every bad emotion within her bubble up to the surface today?

"I'm sorry." Maybe he had sensed her hesitation or not but she appreciated his understanding when he didn't press her for more answers as he handed her a handkerchief that smelled of him and reminded her of rain and salt. Not a combination she had ever thought of but she embraced the calm it exuded.

"I could ask mamá to give you a raise sí?"

A smile shone through her tears at his involuntary slip-up. She loved when those little words slipped into his speech.

Giving her head a small shake, she said,  "No,  it's fine really, I don't mind."

"Listen." He held up a palm. "You need the extra cash and shouldn't have to go so far for it when all you could do is ask. Mamá is happy to have another female waiter and one who is hardworking at that,  so she won't mind giving you a raise if you need it."

Diego always had a way with words so she nodded and croaked a small thank you before apologizing and running off.

People would get suspicious or curious about her desperate need for more cash sooner than later. Even if they didn't ask,  she saw the question behind their eyes.

An idea stashed in the edge of her memory for this purpose reared its head and she smiled.

"I'm going to leave." She shut the door behind her and the cool breeze only grounded her,  giving her energy for the next set of actions. "Whether she likes it or not."