Everything at home remained the same. Her brothers’ overbearing natures hadn’t changed at all. With them feeding off her dad’s old school mentality about the importance of the older brother role, their interferences began to reach new heights.

Sofia waited for Angel to leave the kitchen before asking her mom about the after-school dance that Friday. Her mom chopped onions while Sofia helped with the guacamole. She glanced back to make sure Angel had walked out.

“They’re having a Valentine’s dance this Friday after school. It’s just a two hour thing. I was thinking of going. Is that okay?”

Her mom turned to her and smiled. “Did someone ask you to the dance?”

Sofia shook her head. They weren’t noticing her that much yet, but someone had asked if she would be there. “No. It’s just going to be me and Tricia and some of the other girls from the running team.”

“I don’t see why not.” Her mom rinsed her hands in the sink.

Alex walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. Sofia pressed her lips together, willing her mom not to say anything about the dance in front of him. But all her mental efforts were in vain.

“Are you going to wear anything special to the dance, or is it just casual?”

Sofia kept her eyes on the avocado she mashed in the bowl, but from the corner of her eye, she saw they n ahad Alex’s attention. “What dance?”

“The Valentine’s dance at Sofia’s school,” her mother said matter-of-factly.

Alex made a face. “You going to the dance, Sof? With who?”

Trying her hardest to hide the attitude, Sofia didn’t bother looking at him. “With my friends.”

“What friends?” Alex pressed.

She turned around, no longer able to conceal her agitation. “Tricia and some of the other girls, Alex.”

Alex frowned. “School dances are lame, Sof.”

Sofia rolled her eyes, adding salt to the guacamole. “Well, I’ve never been to one. I just want to try it. Do you mind?”

“Maybe I do.”

“Alex, go throw the trash out and tell your brothers it’s time for dinner,” her mother said, dumping the onion she’d been chopping into the guacamole.

Alex grabbed the trashcan and headed out the kitchen door.

“Sofia, never mind your brother, let me know if we need to get you anything to wear. You go and have a good time.” She kissed Sofia on the head. “Just be sure you come straight home after.”

Sofia smiled. Finally, her chance to mingle with boys, and her brothers wouldn’t be anywhere around.

*

Eric waited with Alex, Angel, and Romero outside Kennedy middle school. He wasn’t sure what to expect when Sofia walked out, but he was glad Alex and Angel were there. Any guy she might be with wouldn’t stick around for long after seeing them. Everyone knew about her older brothers, part of the reason he’d never had to worry about seeing Sofie with a boy.

Over the years, Eric’s affection for Sofia had taken a bit of a scary turn. It had gone from being brotherly, to thinking of her in ways he knew he shouldn’t. It didn’t help that she was blossoming at an alarming rate. Most of her baby fat was gone, but she had more curves now than most of the girls Eric’s age. The nerves he’d begun to feel around her now were partly due his attraction, and partly for the fear of one of her brothers, especially Alex, noticing the way his eyes would involuntarily wander.

Kids began spilling out of the front gate. Angel circled around in the street on his bike.

Something caught Alex’s attention. “Is that Asia?”

Eric followed Alex’s stare. “Yeah, that’s her.”

“Damn,” Alex smiled, “hard to believe she’s only in the eighth grade.”

Asia, one of the girls who had grown up with them on the same street, had moved several blocks away last year. She wore a mini skirt with boots es with bthat went to her knees. Her tight blouse and low neckline showed just how much she’d grown up in just one year.

Angel stopped his bike and watched as she crossed the street. “That’s Asia?”

“Yep.” Eric nodded.

Romero circled around Eric. “What’s the big deal?” Just as he was going to pass by Alex, he added, “Yeah, she’s filled out pretty well for an eighth grader, but she ain’t got nothing on Sofie.”

Alex kicked Romero’s tire, causing him to lose his balance for a second. “Don’t be stupid, ass. Sofie doesn’t dress like that.”

Eric laughed and watched as Romero nearly lost it, but recovered last second.

“I didn’t say she did. I just meant… ”

Alex glared at him.

Romero frowned. “Never mind.”

“Yeah, never mind,” Alex muttered something else and Eric couldn’t help chuckling. Romero would never learn.

Sofia walked in a group of four, but the fact that her two girlfriends were in front, and she was behind them with a boy, wiped the smile right off his face. She also wore boots to her knees, but with jeans, not a skirt. Her long, straightened hair made her look older.

“There she is.” Angel started toward her. “I’ll go get her.”

Eric waited with Alex and Romero. There was no hiding her annoyance as she realized they were all there waiting for her. Angel rode right up to her. She said something to him, then something to the boy, before climbing on Angel’s handlebars. Eric smiled. This was precisely what he was counting on.