Elizabeth came toward him, and though she spoke softly, he heard every word. “Mateo. You look troubled.”

“It’s not a great day,” he answered.

Gage tried to cut in. “Since when is the first day of school a great day? Am I right?” He laughed a little too loud, then gave Mateo a look that clearly meant, Why am I talking like an idiot? The poor guy was so into her it scrambled his brains. Sometimes Mateo thought Gage might stand a chance with Elizabeth if he’d try shutting up occasionally.

But at the moment, Elizabeth showed no signs of even noticing that Gage was there. Her attention was only for Mateo. “Do you need to talk?”

“I kinda do. But I don’t want to make you late for class.”

“You’re gonna be late to class, too,” Gage pointed out. “Remember the part about escape through graduation?”

“They worked it out so my study hall is first period. In case La Catrina closes late.” Mateo spoke more to Elizabeth than to Gage. “Unless you guys are in study hall, too—”

“I can skip,” Elizabeth insisted. Her gentle voice could sound so firm sometimes. “This is important.”

Gage obviously wanted to think of a reason he should stay as well, but came up blank. “Okay. So. Catch you later?”

“Sure thing.” Mateo watched Gage lope off across the grounds, grateful there was one guy he could hang with. But he had only one real friend: Elizabeth. She alone understood him; she knew Mateo’s soul.

As they walked together to the broad elm at the very edge of school property, Mateo wondered once again why he wasn’t in love with Elizabeth. He should’ve been. Instead she was like the sister he’d never had. In childhood, when the other kids shunned him for being Lauren Cabot’s son, Elizabeth had played with him. Together they had climbed trees, made cookies, watched TV. She alone was loyal. She alone accepted him no matter what.

They sat side by side, their backs against the elm tree, as the bell rang. When it stopped, Elizabeth said, “Have you been having the dreams again?”

“Yes. Except they aren’t only dreams, Elizabeth. They’re real.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I do.” The next would sound unbelievable, but the proof was here, now, walking the halls of Rodman High in the form of a girl so beautiful she stopped his heart. “I’ve seen her. The girl from the dream I told you about.”

“That could have been anybody in the wreck. It was dark and rainy—you had to be in shock—”

“You keep saying that, and I kept trying to believe you, but she’s here at Rodman High. Today. Her name is Nadia.”

“Nadia. Do you know her last name?”

“No.” He only barely stopped himself from saying not yet.

Elizabeth took a sip from her bottle of water, obviously taking a moment to consider this. “You’re sure she’s the same one?”

“Positive. It’s her. How else would I have known to be there before the accident?”