Typeractive Tales: A Collection of Clean Short Fiction Read online

  * * *

  Nix accepted Diego’s offer. She felt guilty for leaving the bike, but she could always return for it later. And after Fawn’s nastiness, Nix suspected Diego might be in need of a little consolation, and the idea that she could be the one on hand to offer such comfort was thrilling.

  On the ride home, however, he didn’t seem at all bothered by Fawn’s reference to his heritage. Or his smell. What must it be like to have that kind of confidence? He laughed with Jordan about their attempts to water ski over the summer while Nix sat quietly between them, not noticing any unpleasant smells.

  After Mrs. Padilla dropped off Jordan the car grew quiet. Nix couldn't think of anything intelligent to say, so she stared out the window, wishing there was some way to scrub the evening from her memory.

  When they pulled up in front of the trailer, her mother was already standing on the steps. Nix was so distracted by the shouted obscenities that she didn’t even answer Diego’s good night.

  Her mother had obviously called Mr. Dibble. And probably the police as well. As Nix stood at the bottom of the steps with verbal fire raining down on her, she realized she hadn't heard the car pull away.

  She glanced back to find Diego standing beside her. His sudden appearance seemed to surprise Mrs. Winkle as well, because she faltered midway through her list of Nix's deficiencies.

  Diego took advantage of the lull and for the next ten minutes, Nix stood mesmerized as he talked Mrs. Winkle from furious to mollified, to chuckling. Nix hadn’t heard her mother so much as snicker in months. Nix looked back at Mrs. Padilla who was watching from the car with a half a smile, as if her son diffused domestic violence situations on a regular basis.

  Once Mrs. Winkle had gone inside and closed the door, Nix hesitantly met Diego’s eye. “Does your dad really have a job for me at the feed store, or was that just to calm down my mom?”

  “They always need help,” Diego said with nod. “But it’s hard work and you might end up smelling like a Mexican.”

  Nix didn't know whether to laugh, but then his grin made it clear he was making fun of Fawn.

  Diego opened the car door. “We’d better get going.”

  “That was impressive,” Nix said before he could get back into the car. “I've never seen my mother take to someone like that.”

  Diego shrugged as if he couldn't help being universally loved. “You helped me out. That whole business at the mansion was messed up.” He climbed into the back seat, and shut the door. Mrs. Padilla started the engine. Diego rolled down his window. “Nix, let me know if anybody at school laughs at you about the Match and Mirror crap.”

  Nix smiled and nodded. It was a nice gesture, however impractical. It was probably the only thing Nix would hear about for weeks.

  “I'm serious,” he said. “I’ll ask when I see you. Write down their names and I’ll have a chat with them. And you can tell me if they're just mean in general.”

  Nix laughed, but her heart had swollen to the size of a balloon in her chest. She managed a nod.

  “I'll see you at school on Monday,” Diego called as the car pulled onto the street and disappeared.

  Nix wiped at her face and started up the stairs.

  She would be looking for him.