Chapter Five

“The Hunk of the Year goes to………….” The announcer looked at everyone excitedly, feeling the tension and excitement in the air and loving it, “Miguel Sanchez!!!”

The crowd cheered, the vast majority agreeing with the results. Miguel Sanchez, with the Sanchez jet black hair, black eyes and the impossibly handsome looks that Mexicans are born with, gave the crowd that divine smile that was half shy, half excited. He was like a younger version of Luis.  Girls screamed, boys whistled and the older ones shouted delightedly. He saw his sister leading the chant “GO SANCHEZ! MIGUEL IS THE HUNK!!!” and laughed as even adults joined in. Gabriella had told him that if he didn’t win, she’ll know that he wasn’t her brother.

In the crowd, Diana looked at Miguel, thinking that there couldn’t be any guy more handsome in the world. She had always been secretly in love with Miguel since they first had their English classes together. But she was too shy to do anything about it other than to make Miguel her friend. Consequently, Miguel did become her friend and to her annoyance, got along more with Dora. To her chagrin, it was Miguel’s geek of a friend, Jared that was showing a kind of interest in her.

“Can’t you see? He’s definitely a Sanchez.”

“Oh Gabriella, you are such a drama queen.” Whitney Russell said, shaking her head fondly at Gabriella.

“No, I’m not. I would have seriously disowned him if he didn’t win.” Gabriella had to shout to be heard by Whitney in the crowd and she continued the chant she had started and then paused, “Ok, now I’m seriously thirsty. I’ll be right back.”

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“Diana did predict that he would win. Gosh, he looks like his brother.”

“You know the guy?” Sharon asked, loudly. The crowd sure was noisy.

“I know of the guy.” Justin said, “The last carnival I came to, his brother won.”

“Wow!”

“Heard the sister won ‘The Beautiful’ two years ago.”

“Oh I know them! They are Soledad’s kids! The girl is really beautiful and nice.”

“Dora said she’s the prettiest and nicest girl.” Justin tried to remember the girl’s name but failed.

“You’ve not seen her?”

“No. I-”

“Look out!”

But it was too late. His hand had collided with a can of Pepsi and the contents spilled on his jacket. Annoyed, he looked down at the person who had ruined his jacket and was momentarily stunned.

She is beautiful, was his first thought. She is a kid, was his second and that brought him back to the present.

She was also frightened. “I’m soooo sorry.”

“It’s ok. Just watch where you’re going next time.”

She gave him a beautiful smile, half shy and half mischievous, “I will. Enjoy the carnival.”

She pushed through the crowd and once turned back, looked at him and smiled again. He couldn’t resist smiling back.

“That’s interesting.” Sharon teased.

Justin frowned, “Come off it, Sharon. She’s just a kid.”

“You don’t realize it, do you?”

“Realize what?” Justin said exasperated.

“That’s Gabriella.”

“Who?”

“The nicest prettiest girl according to Dora.”

“That’s Soledad’s daughter?” he looked out for her but didn’t see her, “Dora wasn’t exaggerating, she is beautiful…but a child.”

“She’ll be at least eighteen.”

“Still a baby, Sharon. I want a grown up woman who knows what she wants.” Justin said, dismissing the prettiest girl he has ever seen from his mind.