Maldeamores (Lovesick) (Heightsbound #0.5) by Mara White Read Free Book Online Page A

apartment. He’s got the key in the door and is holding it open. I follow him in, holding my own shoulders. I feel like I don’t have a choice and I’m not really sure why. I should go upstairs to my own apartment, take off my dirty clothes and wash myself in the bathtub. He tosses his keys onto the table and disappears into the bathroom. He comes out with sanitary napkins and holds the green package out to me.
    I’m dying of embarrassment; I couldn’t possibly feel more humiliated. I take the pads from him without saying anything and head into the bathroom. I pull my pants down to inspect and it doesn’t even really look like blood. It looks dark and kind of scares me and I just sit on the toilet. Luciano opens the door a crack and I scream in protest.
    “ Cálmate , Belén!” he shouts and tosses a pair of Titi’s underwear and some black leggings into the bathroom. He comes back a few seconds later and pushes a plastic bag around the corner.
    “Put the dirty clothes in here. We can send them to the laundry.”
    “Okay. Thanks,” I manage, feeling absolutely mortified.
    I stuff my dirty clothes in the bag and attach a pad to the underwear. Then I pull on Titi’s leggings and carefully wash my hands, looking for traces of blood everywhere.
    When I finally work up the nerve to step out of the bathroom, Luciano is on the couch watching television like nothing out of the ordinary happened.
    “Thanks,” I say, feeling more awkward than ever. “Guess I’ll go upstairs and wait for my mom to come home.”
    Luciano turns to look at me and gestures with his head again. On the table is a glass of water with a pill sitting next to it.
    “Oh, no thanks. I’m okay,” I say. “I don’t really feel anything.”
    “My mom always takes them. You’ll get cramps if you don’t. And if you’re anything like my mom then you’ll be down for the count.”
    I take the pill and it’s hard to swallow. I feel so grateful to Luciano but I also feel stupid and ashamed of what happened.
    “Do you think those guys will make fun of me at school?” I ask, terrified of his answer.
    “If they try to, Belén, I promise to knock all of their teeth out.”
    “I feel so stupid.”
    “Why? Every girl gets it. Better on the stoop than at school or far away from home with no tampons,” he says and shrugs like he’s some kind of period expert.
    “How come it’s no big deal to you?” I ask, stalling the goodbye.
    “’Cause I live with a woman. And it isn’t a big deal, Belén—it was bound to happen sooner or later. You’re not a kid anymore.”
    I say, “Okay, thanks, Luciano,” but it comes out in a whisper.
    He’s looking at the TV again and endlessly flipping the channels. I want to ask him about the kiss. I kind of want to kiss him again. But he seems to have lost interest in me so I leave without really knowing how to thank him.

    Three months later my period is yesterday’s news. I have pads and tampons, Advil and notes for gym at school. Luciano stayed true to his promise that no one would tease me. I’m not sure how he makes them listen to him, but they do and I guess that’s all that’s important. I think maybe it was good to get it in front of Luciano because at least he’s family. Maybe now he’ll take me more seriously since I’m a grown woman. But we haven’t been alone together without Mami or Titi. I want to tell him thank you and I really want to kiss him.
    One night after drama club when I unlock the front security door, I can smell weed in the hallway. I know what it smells like from more than one of Mami’s old boyfriends. The scent gets stronger as I climb up the stairs. When I get to the top floor, I can see that door to the roof is open and someone is smoking up there. I put my key in the lock and push open the door.
    “Belén!” I hear someone whisper. I jump when I hear it and pull the door closed again.
    “Lucky?” I ask, peering up at the dark door.
    “I’m on the roof, Cuz. Come