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  Text copyright © 2013 by Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.

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  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Fontes, Justine.

  Deadly drive / by Justine Fontes.

  p. cm. — (Surviving Southside)

  ISBN: 978–1–4677–0310–9 (lib. bdg. : alk. paper)

  [1. Drunk driving—Fiction. 2. Dating (Social customs)—Fiction. 3. High schools—Fiction. 4. Schools—Fiction. 5. Mexican Americans—Fiction.] I. Title.

  PZ7.F73576De 2013

  [Fic]—dc23

  2012027177

  Manufactured in the United States of America

  1 – BP – 12/31/12

  eISBN: 978-1-4677-0966-8 (pdf)

  eISBN: 978-1-4677-2964-2 (ePub)

  eISBN: 978-1-4677-2963-5 (mobi)

  S

  ometimes I think I must be the oldest virgin at Southside High School. But I hope to change that soon! My name is Roberto Ramirez. Everyone calls me Rob.

  I’m a seventeen-year-old senior. I’ve got lots of friends at school, and girls tell me I’m pretty good looking. But I’ve never had a real girlfriend.

  My best friend, Adam, says it’s because I’m too shy. Maybe that’s true.

  I think I might have finally met the right girl, though. Gabi Montoya transferred to Southside High this year from St. Michael’s. Too bad her family is so strict. We haven’t had that much time alone together.

  I’m not going to say I’m in love. Still, I can’t get Gabi out of my mind! Her hair is perfect. Her eyes are more than perfect. It’s not just that they’re this dark, intense brown. They also seem to shine whenever she smiles.

  Gabi’s one of the smartest people I’ve ever met too. She aces all her classes, but she isn’t stuck up about it.

  The best part is, I think she’s really into me. She just seems kind of shy, like I am. Gabi isn’t like all the other girls at Southside. She seems sort of pure. Old fashioned, even. I’m crazy for these plaid skirts she wears. I could watch her pull up her knee socks all day long!

  Unfortunately, it’s almost time for class. Everyone else rushes up and down the hall. Lockers bang open and closed all around me. I stand in front of mine like a lovesick zombie as Gabi strolls away.

  Adam nudges me with his elbow. “Dude! You’re staring again.” He laughs. “You have got it bad!”

  Adam and I have been friends for so long that I can’t remember ever not knowing him. So I don’t care if he knows I’m crazy for Gabi.

  “I hate to see you suffering, man,” he says. “Why don’t you just go for it? Girls get horny too, you know. Gabi’s probably waiting for you to make a move.”

  I shrug. He’s my friend, but I’m a little sick of hearing about how many times he’s hooked up with his girlfriend, Vera. Since they got serious last month, Adam hasn’t stopped bragging about it.

  “Hey, I have a plan!” Adam says. “Why don’t you, me, Vera, and Gabi sneak out at lunch on Wednesday?”

  The four of us have study hall together right after lunch on Wednesdays. And our afternoons are pretty light.

  “Remember that patch of woods I told you about?” Adam adds. “We could all go there for a picnic. It’s not far from school. We’d be back in time for eighth period.”

  I remember hearing about the woods. Adam went on and on about him and Vera having this amazing time under the trees after school last week. He gushed, “I thought sex was great inside. But out in the open … it’s like you’re one with nature. Like even the birds are cheering you on.”

  I shrug. “That sounds cool. I wonder if Gabi will go for it.”

  Adam knows I’ve never skipped a class in my whole life. I’d never risk messing up my soccer scholarship.

  Gabi’s even more of a straight arrow than I am. She already has several scholarships lined up. She plans to study premed at college, then go to medical school right after.

  Adam grins his sly, charming grin. “You’ll never get anywhere if you don’t try.”

  “I guess it wouldn’t hurt to ask.”

  “Why don’t you bring along some insurance,” Adam says. “Girls really loosen up with liquor. I never would have gotten into Vera’s pants without a little help from my man Jack Daniels.”

  Adam knows I can get booze. I’ve brought some to a couple of parties. My parents hardly drink, but we have a cabinet full of booze because my dad’s a mail carrier. At Christmas, customers are always giving him cookies or bottles of nice liquor. He puts away the booze and forgets about it unless we have company. It isn’t hard to sneak out a bottle now and then.

  Adam smiles. “This is going to be the best picnic ever!”

  I slap his hand high and low. I’m so excited I almost go to the wrong class. What if Gabi says yes? What if we really do take things to the next level? Kissing her has been amazing. I can’t even imagine going all the way…

  As soon as class is over, I race down the hall to catch Gabi before next period. I tell her Adam’s picnic plan.

  She looks skeptical. “Do you think we’ll get caught?”

  “Not if we get back on time for last period.” Then I wink and say, “What’s the point of being a senior if you can’t have a little fun?”

  Gabi looks thoughtful. “How will we get there?”

  “Won’t you have the SUV?”

  Gabi’s only had her driver’s license for a little while. Her parents have been letting her drive their old car to school. She’s been bragging about driving almost as much as Adam’s been bragging about having sex with Vera.

  Gabi smiles. “It would be fun to use the car for a picnic instead of just school and errands.”

  “We won’t be going far,” I add.

  Gabi’s dark eyes twinkle with mischief. “You’re right! Why shouldn’t we have a little fun?”

  Then she presses her lips against mine and everything else vanishes. I forget we’re standing in a crowded hall with students pushing past us. My heart pounds under my T-shirt. Can Gabi feel it? I press closer to her and feel her heart beating almost as fast as mine!

  How will I ever wait until Wednesday?

  I

  can’t focus on anything, not even soccer practice. All my teammates are saying, “Rob, get your head in the game!”

  Benito teases me. “Earth to Rob! Come in Rob!”

  I’m lucky we’re only practicing, not playing another school.

  At the dinner table Tuesday night, my family teases me too.

  Dad shouts, “Hijo! Estas aquí?”

  I look up and realize everyone’s staring at me.

  My younger brother Luis laughs. “Berto isn’t here. He’s with his girlfriend, Gab-eee.”

  When he says her name, Luis flutters his eyelashes and simpers. I want to smack him. Instead, I just blush.

  Mom grins.
“Pass Luis the salt already. He’s been asking for ten minutes.”

  I try to “stay in the game” for the rest of dinner. But it isn’t easy. I keep thinking about the picnic in the woods with Gabi. What if she lets me get to second base—or even third?

  I don’t dare to hope things’ll go that fast. Still, I can’t help dreaming.

  “Hijo!” Dad shouts. “If you don’t help with the dishes, Luis is going to eat your dessert.”

  I can’t let that happen. Mom made flan!

  I scramble to get the plates off the table. After dessert, everyone else goes into the den to watch TV.

  I tell them I’m going to my room to do some homework. On the way, I open the liquor cabinet and grab a pint bottle of Southern Comfort. It’s small enough to hide in my backpack. I cushion it with my soccer clothes so the bottle won’t break. Then I start some homework before my mind drifts back to Gabi’s legs, eyes, lips, hair, voice…

  As soon as I get on the bus the next morning, Adam asks, “Did you bring the insurance?”

  I unzip my pack and push aside the clothes so he can see the bottle.

  He grins. “Perfect! I brought some soda for mixers.”

  I close my pack and say, “It’s going to be a long morning.”

  Adam nods. “And a great afternoon!”

  We high and low five.

  As expected, the morning crawls by as slow as a slug. Gabi sits near me in third period trig. She catches me glancing at her, and then neither one of us can look away.

  Suddenly something blocks the view, a wall of blue fabric. I look up and realize Mrs. Harris is standing between us. She’s tall, strict, and always wears blue. Everyone laughs, except Mrs. Harris. When she frowns, she looks like one of those ugly statues they put on buildings to scare away evil spirits.

  Gabi looks even prettier when she blushes. I have to force myself to look at the blackboard instead.

  After an eternity, the bell rings. It’s lunchtime!

  As we had arranged, Gabi and I meet Adam and Vera outside the cafeteria. Then Adam makes a dash for it, pulling Vera along by the hand. We run for the car, mostly for fun. Our school has an open campus for juniors and seniors, so everyone with a car usually leaves during their lunch period anyway. Gabi’s long, dark hair floats behind her as she runs.

  We scramble into the SUV, breathless from running. Gabi buckles her safety belt and waits until we all buckle ours. She signals, even though no one’s watching. Then she pulls out of the parking lot. I look over my shoulder. We’re free!

  Adam laughs. “Relax, man. It’s not a jailbreak.”

  “For all anyone knows, we’re just leaving for lunch,” Vera points out.

  I feel excited and just a little scared. Gabi seems jumpy too. I wonder if she’s ever cut class before. The air conditioner’s broken, so all the windows are open. Her hair dances in the breeze.

  Adam tells her where to turn. Soon we’re on this little back road I never knew existed. Weeds poke out of the pavement.

  “Keep going straight for a while,” Adam says.

  Gabi nods. Her eyes leave the road just long enough to meet mine. I smile. Gabi blushes. This is going to be so great!

  Gabi turns on the radio, and we sing along for a few minutes. Then Adam says, “Turn here and park.”

  At first I don’t even see the dirt road. But Gabi does, and she turns and parks the SUV. It doesn’t look very scenic—more like an abandoned lot than some romantic woods.

  Then we walk for a few minutes, and it’s just as nice as Adam promised.

  “This is awesome!” I shout.

  Adam grins. “We were going to keep this place as our little secret, but…”

  Vera punches his arm. “But Mr. Bigmouth had to tell his best bro.”

  “I thought you liked my big mouth,” Adam says. He slides his hand around the back of Vera’s neck and plunges his tongue into her mouth.

  Gabi looks away until they finish kissing.

  “Sorry about that,” Adam laughs. “We can’t seem to keep our hands off each other.”

  “Or our tongues,” Vera says.

  I laugh too, and Gabi joins in. But she seems a little embarrassed.

  Adam opens his backpack. He spreads out a sheet on the ground. Then he says, “Rob brought a special treat. Either of you girls ever tasted Southern Comfort?”

  Vera sits down on the sheet and asks, “Is it as good as Jack Daniels?”

  Adam sits down beside her. “Much sweeter. I think you’ll like it even better. And I brought some sodas to mix.”

  Gabi says, “I can’t drink. I’ll be driving us back.”

  I sigh. So much for the insurance. But I’m not really surprised. Gabi’s family is super strict. They go to church every Sunday, not just on holidays like my parents.

  “Come on,” Adam says. “You won’t be driving for hours.”

  Vera teases, “What are you, some kind of prude?”

  Gabi blushes. I figure she must be a virgin too. But then she shocks us all by grabbing the bottle and taking a big swig like it’s nothing! She wipes her pretty mouth and says, “I’ve been sneaking out of my house since I was fourteen.”

  Vera’s mouth drops open. “Wow!”

  Adam adds some liquor to his soda. Gabi takes another pull from the bottle. Then she says, “The trick is to look like Mommy’s good girl. And if you get caught, cry real pretty and say, ‘I’ve never done anything like this before—I swear!”

  Vera cracks up. “I thought you were some prissy good girl. But you’re all right!’ ”

  Gabi grins this sly, sexy grin I’ve never seen before.

  Vera takes the bottle from Gabi and toasts, “To getting away with everything!”

  Adam raises his cup of soda. Vera pours some booze into mine. And we all drink to that.

  The Southern Comfort makes the cola taste funny. But it goes down pretty smooth.

  “Try it straight,” Gabi suggests.

  I tip the bottle to my lips and take a tiny sip. It’s so strong I cough and sputter. Everyone laughs, even me.

  We keep “sweetening” our sodas for a while, except for Gabi. She drinks straight from the bottle.

  I’m glad Dad doesn’t like the stuff. At the rate we’re going, there won’t be anything to bring home. If we were back at Southside, lunch would just be ending, and the bottle’s almost empty!

  Adam suddenly lets out this huge buuurrrrp! We laugh so hard I almost pee my pants.

  I stand up too fast and fall down on all fours! I stay there till the world stops spinning. Then I go behind a tree.

  At first I feel too embarrassed to pee, knowing the girls are close enough to hear me. Then I hear my three friends laughing, talking, and burping. So I just let it fly. The sun, wind, and chirping birds all add to this giddy feeling of freedom, like we’re escaped convicts reveling in the open sky.

  P

  retty soon Vera’s slurring her words. She tells Adam, “You look handsomer when I’m drunk.” Then she giggles. “Is that even a word, handsomer?”

  “Maybe you mean hotter,” Gabi says. And her dark eyes lock on mine. I feel like I’m falling into them, and I want to stay there forever.

  She finally breaks the gaze, and I realize she’s looking at my lips. This is it!

  Adam grabs Vera’s hand and says, “Come on!” He starts running into the woods, pulling Vera along. Giggling, she stumbles, falls, and drags Adam down with her. They roll on the grass, laughing, then kissing.

  Gabi and I stare at them until it gets so R-rated we have to look away. I know this is the moment. I lean close. I want to make this the best kiss she’s ever had. But suddenly I’m nervous. Gabi’s been sneaking out since she was fourteen … will she be able to tell I’m a virgin? Will she laugh at me if I don’t do it right?

  She leans in to meet me, so close I can smell her shampoo. And then I don’t care about anything else. I’m going for it. Our lips meet, and the feeling is totally intense.

  Before long we’re ma
king out on the blanket. Her warm breath in my ear drives me crazy. I sneak my hand up her skirt. She doesn’t push me away.

  Her thighs feel cool and smooth. How far will she let me go?

  I open my eyes to see Gabi’s face. Is she as into this as I am? Her eyes are closed, and she makes this sort of shuddery moan.

  I can’t believe we’re really going to do this! I realize I better bum a condom off Adam. No way do I want to get Gabi pregnant! And I know that can happen—just last year, this guy Luke got his girlfriend pregnant the first time they had sex. Everyone at Southside was talking about it.

  I’m so hot I can barely breathe. Just as I’m wondering if I should get up, Adam and Vera walk over to us, deliberately making a lot of noise. Adam even says, “Ahem.” We all crack up. The moment is over.

  Vera points to her watch. “We better hurry. It’s almost time for last period.”

  Gabi jumps up and brushes the leaves off her clothes.

  O

  n the way back to the car, Gabi stumbles. I’m not totally steady either, but I manage to catch her before she falls. We walk the rest of the way with our arms around each other. I love the way it feels to have her hip pressed against mine.

  But then I wonder: is she leaning on me because she wants to stay close, or is she too drunk to walk a straight line?

  “You okay to drive?” I ask.

  Gabi hesitates.

  Adam pops the top off a soda. “Here, the caffeine will keep you alert.”

  Gabi chugs it till foam runs out between her lips. She wipes her mouth, then drinks some more. “Thanks.”

  She glances at her reflection in the side-view mirror. “Yikes!” She grabs a brush out of her purse. I watch her run it down her beautiful hair. Her big eyes find mine, and I want to kiss her again. But we really have to go!

  Gabi fishes the keys out of her purse, then drops them in the dirt. I pick them up and say, “I didn’t drink as much as you. Do you want me to drive?”

  Gabi shakes her head. “You don’t even have your license yet.”

  I roll my eyes. “Jeez! Just because I messed up the parallel parking.”

  Everyone laughs.

  Gabi opens the door and bounces into the driver’s seat. She shouts, “Let’s go! Let’s go!”