Quince Clash by Malín Alegría

reddened. He looked away shyly. “So … what are you reading?”
    Fabi blushed and admitted, “My guilty pleasure.” She held up a chick lit book. “There’s no faeries, but it’s set in New York and it’s really cool.”
    He reached out for the book and read the back summary. “Maybe I can borrow it when you’re done.”
    â€œFabi!” Alexis stormed in like a category five hurricane. She paid no mind to the librarian shushing her from the other end of the room. Her sister stopped short when she noticed that Fabi was not alone.
    Fabi waved her over. “Alexis, this is my friend Daniel … Daniel … ah …”
    He extended his hand out to her sister. “Daniel Cruz.”
    Alexis gave Fabi a sly wink. “Very, very nice to meet you, Daniel. Fabi forgot to mention you.” She shook her head at Fabi and crinkled her nose. “Sisters. But I guess there’s been a lot of stuff going on lately that you forgot !”
    â€œThis is the library,” the librarian said out loud, interrupting Alexis.
    Alexis waved and mouthed the word “sorry,” then turned back to Fabi. “They’re here,” she whispered loudly. “The Quince Dreams people are here and they want to see you.”
    â€œHere? Now?”
    Alexis nodded. She grabbed Fabi’s arm and started to pull her toward the door.
    â€œSorry,” Fabi said to Daniel. “Got to go.”
    Daniel folded his arms across his chest and said, “Don’t worry about it. Catch you later.”
    â€œWhy didn’t you tell me you had a new ‘friend’?” Alexis demanded as soon as they reached the hallway.
    â€œI only just met him,” Fabi explained. “It’s nothing. We just talk about books.”
    â€œBooks. Really? Now, why don’t I believe you?” Alexis pinched her softly on the arm. “He’s dreamy.”
    â€œI know.” Fabi felt her face get hot. “But I’m sure it’s nothing like that.” Fabi thought about his offer to “help.” Did he really mean it or was he just trying to get on TV?
    Alexis stopped and turned to her sister. “And why not? You’re beautiful.”
    Fabi dismissed Alexis’s comment with her hand. “Whatever.”
    Alexis stopped walking and stared at her. “Oh, my God, Fabi’s got a boyfriend ,” she teased.
    â€œYou take that back!” Fabi demanded. She could feel her cheeks flush, and raised a fist in Alexis’s face. “You better not say that again if you plan to see another birthday.”
    Alexis laughed, ignoring Fabi’s threat. “This is exactly why you need this show,” she continued in a dreamy voice. There was a small smile creeping up her lips. “You don’t know what a gem you are.”
    Fabi rolled her eyes.
    â€œYou are a princess, and now, through Quince Dreams , the whole world will see it,” Alexis stated, raising one arm in the air with flair and taking a bow.
    Fabi looked for the camera. That sounded way too rehearsed. When Fabi was sure that no one was around, she raised her finger in a threatening manner to her sister. “You better not say anything embarrassing like that on camera or I’ll never speak to you again.”
    Alexis grinned back a bit too excitedly. Fabi prayed that her little sister wouldn’t embarrass her.
    Â 
    She entered the principal’s office. It was the first time that Fabi had been in there — she’d never gotten in trouble. Dr. Mick Hudson sat behind his desk. His walls were covered in awards and school pictures. He was a small man with hairy hands and a balding head who walked around the hallways scowling at everyone, but today he was all smiles.
    â€œMiss Fabiola Garza,” he said, getting up and waving her in. He was sitting across from an elegantly dressed, full-figured young woman with supershort dark hair. Fabi liked her