“Never mind,” he had said.

It was about a week and a half later. He still remembered the incident; he was still thinking how he could face Lucas. For the last week and a half he had been avoiding Lucas. How could he possibly face Lucas and say, “Oh, yeah, I could have scored but I am a coward.” He could see Lucas’s face: first, filled with disgust;. followed by amusement; lastly, a sneer across his face.

Juan was considering this and it deeply troubled him. He began to change out of his jersey, when a voice froze him where he stood.

“So how did it go?” said the smug voice.

Juan wheeled around, and found himself looking right a grin… belonging to Lucas. Juan took a deep breath.

“Scared the hell out of me man!” he said, gasping.

“So I did.” said Lucas. “You are way to jumpy, my main man.”

“I know, bad habit.” said Juan, stalling.

“Anyway,” said Lucas, “I asked you how it went.”

“That you did.” said Juan, still trying to stall, to fend off the inevitable.

“Are you gonna tell me?” said Lucas, Juan detected annoyance in his voice; the devious grin was dissipating. If he did not act fast he was going to lose Lucas’s good will. So in an act of desperation, Juan attempted to stall some more.

“Why do you care man?” said Juan with a slightly guilty tone, “What I do with my own life is none of your business.”

Lucas looked at him in disbelief. “Now I would like to make some things clear,” he said, his grin gone and his tone deadly, “I can make you or I can break you. Everything is my business that I make my business. Now I like you, or you might already be dead. No let’s get some things clear my main man.” Lucas’s tone began to lighten and his grin started back. “You are going to tell me what happened. I am going to listen. If I like what I hear, I might hook you up on a date with Carmen.”

Juan opened his mouth about to tell Lucas everything, when the last sentence hit him like a pile of bricks. Carmen was one of the hottest women he had ever seen. Star cheerleader. His friends would be full of envy.

“Did you say Carmen?” Juan said weakly.

“Carmen,” said Lucas in full grin, smug tone returned, “is yours if you tell me what happened.”

Juan’s head was racing. He could tell Lucas what happened, but Lucas might not believe that story and he might not get Carmen. He could make up a lie, that would get him Carmen, but it might destroy Eliza’s friendship and reputation. He was trying to figure out what to do. Thoughts ran through his head. Carmen or Eliza? Which was better? How could he measure them? He was getting frustrated.

“Ok,” Juan said, staring Lucas boldly in the eyes. Neither flinched or even moved, “this is how it went.”