“There’s got to be a bus. I bet there’s one we can catch today. Or tomorrow! We’ll take the Santa Cruz Transit bus to the campus—I’m pretty sure it goes to all the way to the college.” Or maybe the bus only goes to UC Santa Cruz? I think to myself. “Whatever,” I say aloud. “We’ll just hop on and—”

“No,” she interrupts. She fiddles with her locker and swings it open, stuffing her uneaten lunch inside.

“But—”

“I’m not saying no to this harebrained idea, but I’m not saying yes, either. I will say that I’m only going if we make a plan.”

I let out an exasperated sigh. Fine. “Fine, you win. We’ll make a plan. Come over to my house tonight—”

“I can’t tonight.”

“Mercedes!” I turn around and Gaby and Rebecca are running toward me. They’re both waving and laughing. Perfect timing.

I look from Mattie to my two best friends. Whenever I’m invited to either of their houses for big holidays (Rosh Hashanah for Rebecca and a big Mexican Christmas for Gaby), I feel like a scientist learning about a strange civilization. Rebecca’s family is so perfect—she’s best friends with her older brother, Noah (who Gaby has a crush on) and her parents kiss in front of them. Ew! Gaby has a stay-at-home mom, who makes the best chilaquiles and lets us stay up all night during sleepovers. Even though they know about how I have a single mom and a brother who doesn’t look like me, I can tell they don’t really understand. They always talk about Tristan’s dad as if he were my dad. They don’t get it that people can be siblings and not have the same dad.

“Mercedes!” they shout again, getting nearer.

“Look,” I say to Mattie. “We need to figure this”—I wave my hand between her and me and back to her—“whole thing out. And you’re the one who wants a plan.” I sigh as dramatically as I can. “How about Friday?”

She nods.

I lower my voice. Gaby and Rebecca are almost here. “And remember. Do not tell your mom. There’s no need to get anyone—especially moms—involved right now.”

“What will I tell her, then?”

“What are you doing?” calls Rebecca.

“You never came to lunch!” says Gaby.

I glance up and give them a big juicy smile like nothing is different, like nothing has changed. “Hey!” I yell as cheerily as possible. I whip around and whisper to Mattie. “Just tell your mom we’re working on our social studies project at your new friend’s house on Friday.” Letting Mattie come over will be worth it if she can help me. “But don’t tell anyone else anything!”