Angel waited impatiently for the light to turn green. He was already regretting having agreed to this. But he hadn't been able to stop thinking about Dana's call that night. Breaking up with Sarah was, without a doubt, the hardest thing he'd ever done, and he wanted to make sure he wasn't making a mistake. But when he called Dana this morning, she insisted she wanted to talk to him in person.Alex agreed to cover for him at the restaurant, even telling him to take his time and enjoy—as if he'd be able to enjoy anything the way he was feeling. He hoped Dana would keep it short and to the point. He was in no mood for much more. He was so tired from the lack of sleep the last couple of nights, and just thinking about Sarah made him want to bang the steering wheel.He picked Dana up, and she announced she wasn't very hungry, but she could go for coffee, so they went to Starbucks. She talked all the way there but not about anything he wanted to hear. As soon as they got their coffee, he c

It took a moment for Sarah to realize where she was when she woke. It reminded her of when she was little and she and her mom lived in hotels for months at a time. She'd woken many times by herself, her mom already off to work.Just like when she was little, she turned on the television. She didn't want to watch anything; she just hated the quiet. She sat for a moment on the edge of the bed and thought about the day ahead. She should've done this a long time ago.After showering and having a cup of coffee from the small pot the hotel provided in her room, she was ready to go. She could've taken the transit bus, but she decided to walk. Sarah knew well enough to come prepared. She layered up and wore her boots and beanie. She drew in the crisp cool Flagstaff air and smiled, remembering when she and Sydney used to walk everywhere. The walk was only about a mile, and it helped lessen her anxiety.Sarah arrived at the Coconino Women's Detention center just after nine. She'd called ahead

Christmas had come and gone with no feelings of joy for Angel. The restaurant wasn't nearly as busy the week after Christmas as it had been the week before. His parents were gone for the week, visiting family in Mexico. Every year they left the week after Christmas and came back after the New Year. Angel and Alex had covered the morning shift at the restaurant, and since Sal was there for the week, he and Sofia covered the afternoon shift.Angel was in no mood to celebrate New Year's Eve, especially knowing Sarah's birthday was at midnight and it wouldn't be him kissing her happy birthday. He slid his fingers over the chain Sarah gave him for his birthday, before dropping it back in the sock drawer and slamming it shut.Alex poked his nose in his room. "What's with you?"Angel glanced at him but didn't answer. He sat down to on his bed and began putting the socks on."I got people coming over, so get down here and help me clean this place up."Angel's shoulders slumped. "Who's com

SarahWhen class was over, as much as Sarah told herself to not look back, she couldn't resist. She glanced back to where he'd been sitting, but he was gone. He apparently wasn't planning on even speaking to her. She bit her lip. Though she felt it coming, she forced the anguish away. She was done crying for Angel Moreno.The rest of the day was fairly painless. When she showed up to track practice, Coach Rudy was overjoyed to hear she was trying out for the team. He said it was a mere formality. She was already in.No one was happier to see her than Sofia. Sarah had gotten a little choked up when she'd hugged her so hard she thought she'd never let go. Sarah explained briefly that she would be around for a little longer but told her she had every intention of going back to Arizona as soon as her circumstances changed.The next couple of days were even worse. Angel didn't show up to her physics class, and by the end of the third day, his name wasn't being called during roll call. H

Sarah didn't think there was any part of her heart left to break. She was so angry at herself for crying. Why did he still have so much power over her? It was pathetic the way her entire body went into a frenzy from just seeing him.Being that close to him had such an overwhelming effect on her. She couldn't hold in what she was feeling, but his obvious contempt for her now was undeniable. He didn't even care why she was still here.She tried desperately to shake it off on the ride home. Talking to Coach Rudy about her mom was one thing, but telling him about Angel would be quite another. Sydney would be the first to point that out.She was quiet most of the way, and he finally asked. "Are you okay?"Sarah nodded but didn't offer anything."You don't have to tell me about it," he said. "Just hope you know, even though it feels like you won't right now, you'll get over him eventually. I promise."He always knew exactly what to say. Sarah had always thought it was just a coach thin