He stopped dead when he walked in the kitchen. Sofia was wearing jeans and heels that made her look way taller, not to mention older, but it was the blouse he couldn’t take his eyes off. It was the same backless one Sarah had worn at that very first party he had talked to her.

Alex walked in after Angel. “Sofia, what are you wearing?”

Sofia looked down at her blouse. “What? Sarah lent it to me a while back. What’s wrong with it?”

“You look…” Alex struggled to find the word.

“Hot?” She teased

Alex’s jaw worked. “You need to change.”

“Why?”

Eric walked in the back door and froze when he saw Sofia.

Alex saw the way he looked at her. “Go change now, Sofia, before anyone else gets here.”

Sofia stomped out of the kitchen and up the stairs. Angel felt bad. He didn’t mind the way she looked but he was glad the blouse would be gone. Just seeing it had brought back memories of holding and kissing Sarah for the first time. It was all too painful and again for as much as he missed her he was glad he wouldn’t have to see her again.

The time went by quickly and before long they were counting down. Angel was outside with Sal, Alex, and a couple of the girls. Sofia had gone inside with Eric and Romero to watch the countdown on the big television.

When they were done with the hugs and happy new year’s, Alex took off to bring some more beer from inside. Angel followed, his mind still on Sarah and what she might be doing right at that moment. She was officially eighteen now.

Alex walked in the kitchen. “What the f**k?”

Angel couldn’t see but Alex was livid. He caught up in time to see Alex charge Eric. “You’re kissing my little sister?”

“It was a New Year’s kiss.” Sofia said stepping in front of Eric.

“I don’t give a shit! You don’t kiss my sister like that. What the f**ks wrong with you?”

“Like how?” Angel tried holding Alex back.

What the hell had he seen? By then other people were sticking their heads in the kitchen and Sal rushed in from the backyard.

“It was just for New Year’s, Alex. Relax,” Eric said.

Alex reached over Sofia and grabbed Eric by the shirt. “I know what I saw f**ker. Sofia move!”

But between Angel, Sal, and Sofia, they held him off. Eric began for the door.

“What the hell, Alex?” Angel asked. “Wait, Eric.”

“No, I want him out,” Alex barked. “I ever see you around my sister again I swear to God I’ll f**k you up!”

Sal winced. “Enough, Alex.”

Alex hadn’t seemed drunk earlier but now Angel could only assume that he was. Eric left in a hurry. Angel turned to Sofia. She looked ready to cry. People had given them their privacy and left the kitchen, except for Romero who stood at the doorway.

Angel didn’t even want to ask. It was too bizarre. But he had to. “How was he kissing you?”

“Your friend had his tongue down her throat!” Alex shouted.

Before Angel could wrap his brain around what he just heard. Sofia spoke up.

“Maybe I had my tongue down his throat, ever think about that?” The tears streamed down her cheeks.

She stunned them all momentarily. “I’m not a baby anymore, Alex. I’m tired of being treated like one!”

“You’re sixteen, Sof,” Alex’s tone was much softer now and Angel knew he wasn’t drunk.

“I’ll see him if I want to, you can’t stop me,” Sofia rushed out pushing Romero as she made her way out the kitchen.

“Like hell you will,” Alex said soft at first and then again louder. “You hear me Sof? Like hell you will!”

Alex turned and glared at Angel. “I don’t want that ass**le around her again.”

*

Sarah was tired and her feet ached. The party showed no signs of dying down. Valerie tried to pull her into the circle of girls where she was dancing but Sarah motioned that she was going to the restroom.

Valerie’s friends lived in a gated community. They had a recreation center and that’s where the party was being held. It was about the size of a small banquet room with a pool just outside.

Sarah passed the restroom and went outside. It was chilly but felt good. She sat down on one of the picnic tables by the pool and searched her small clutch for her compact. Her cell phone was lit. She’d just missed a text. Sydney had already called her to wish her a happy birthday.

When she flipped it over she noticed she also had two missed calls. They were both from Sofia. Sarah smiled. Since the break up, Sofia had called her a couple of times once to tell her how sorry she was about them splitting up. And another just after Christmas to tell her she missed her and wished she was still in California. Both times Sarah had choked up.

She didn’t remember if she’d even mentioned her birthday being on New Year’s to Sofia. She clicked the envelope and read the text.

I hate my brothers. I’m so mad I’m crying.

Second:

Call me please. I need to talk to you.

Sarah thought of the cavemen and couldn’t help frowning. What had they done now? She called Sofia and she picked up right away. She was hysterical. Sarah could barely make the words out. The only thing she could make out was that Alex had ruined her life.

“Sofia, slow down. Take a deep breath,” Sarah did her best to speak in a soothing voice. She remembered her mom doing that to her when she was little and she was crying. “I can’t understand you.”