Falling Too Fast by Malín Alegría Page B

detention center way out in the rural countryside. Alexis’s heart sank as they approached the facility. A series of officelike gray buildings surrounded by a menacing barbed-wire fence loomed ahead of them. Alexis couldn’t imagine Christian in this prison.
    But Christian was there.
    When Alexis, Fabi, and Santiago made it inside, they learned that the police had turned him over to some Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. They were keeping him isolated while they questioned him about the drug bust. He was not allowed any visitors at the moment, except for his attorney.
    For a minute, Alexis thought her heart had actually stopped. Her sister reached for her hand, just as Alexis burst into tears. Thankfully, her sister was there to do the talking. Fabi was good at keeping a cool head in tough situations. She managed to get the name of his attorney from the staff. As they headed out of the building, Alexis recognized a woman coming through security. She had a stern expression ironed on her face and caught Alexis’s eye right away.
    Alexis swallowed. She tried to give Christian’s mom a comforting smile.
    â€œHave you no shame,” his mother said, walking up to Alexis. Her eyes were swollen from crying. “This is all your fault. I knew nothing good would come from his hanging with you!” she snapped. The group of people in the waiting area stopped to stare at the scene. “You bewitched my son. You put a spell on him. I know it, and now look what you’ve done.” Mrs. Luna crumbled, falling into the arms of two security people who had approached her from behind.
    Fresh tears pricked Alexis’s eyes. This was her fault. She wanted to tell Mrs. Luna how much she cared for Christian and that she never meant for this to happen. But Alexis didn’t dare. Mrs. Luna was like a wounded animal, ready to snap and dig her claws into the closest person.
    â€œLet’s go,” Fabi said after a while. “There’s nothing more we can do here.” Alexis nodded and followed her sister and cousin.
    At the door, she glanced back. Someone had brought Mrs. Luna a cup of water and another person was helping her to a chair. Alexis’s heart felt heavy. She wished that she could have talked to Christian, or even just gotten a glimpse of him.
    On the drive home, Alexis was haunted by Mrs. Luna’s words. They cut deeply. Not only because she blamed herself for his arrest but also because of the love spell she had used to bring him into her life. The memory of her visit to the botánica came back clearly. She had wanted a love story of her own — but she hadn’t wanted this.

A week later, Christian was still in custody. No one but his mother and lawyer were allowed to visit him. Alexis tried to stay positive. They have to release him , she told herself. Christian was just at the wrong place at the wrong time .
    She tried to busy herself with rehearsals for the upcoming mariachi presentation. Even though the group hadn’t raised all the money to purchase new mariachi suits, Castillo was still making them perform. However, all the performing they’d done in public to raise money had helped make their ragtag group a bit more confident. At the rate they were collecting money, they would be able to afford replacement uniforms very soon.
    The night before their first competition, the ensemble piled into the yellow Dos Rios school bus. They were scheduled to begin at eight a.m. sharp, so they would have to drive all night to get there. Alexis took a seat near the back. Her cousin slid into the seat across from hers and put his legs up. The rest of the group filed in, taking seats, playing around, and shouting excitedly until AP Castillo yelled for everyone to be quiet. Alexis smiled at Nikki as she sat next to her with her backpack in one hand and a bag of home-cooked goodies in the other. The smell of brownies made Alexis perk up.
    The bus roared to life. Alexis felt