“Because he makes you damaged goods,” said Taylor, his head still drooping down over his phone. “No one wants to hang out with you anymore.”

That made Héctor angry. “Well, I want to hang out with you,” he said. “And I’ll just stay away from Mike.”

“Good luck,” said Aishah, and the Table of Misfits finished the rest of their lunch in silence.

As Héctor watched Mike goof off with his Minions, his stomach twisted. He didn’t like the way Mike spoke to him. Or the way he’d grabbed him so hard. He might have been desperate to find his place, but his gut reaction was to stay far, far away from Mike.

Héctor had no plans to stray from that.

Chapter Five

Unfortunately, Héctor didn’t really have a choice about that.

He told Aishah he’d meet her in art; he wanted to get there early to introduce himself to Mrs. Caroline. So he drifted past Mike’s table without a single glance. He paid Mike and the Minions no mind.

Héctor had just barely left the noisy cafeteria and stepped into the squeaky-clean hallway when he heard his name being called. Mike burst through the swinging double doors, his two friends trailing behind him. Carlos was short and stocky, and he wore tight blue denim jeans over pointy boots and a white button-down. He had a whole vaquero thing going on. Frank, however, looked just like Nick Royce, the sandpaper singer from Héctor’s old school. Frank’s dark hair seemed greasy, as if he never washed it, and his mouth was curled up in a snarl.

Héctor had a plan, though. Avoid and ignore, right?

But Mike reached out, grabbed at the sleeve of his shirt, and spun him around.

“Wait up!” said Mike. “Where you headed, friend?”

“Me?” Héctor pointed at himself. “You mean me?”

There was no one else in the hallway. He sounded ridiculous. Nice job, man, he thought.

“Of course I mean you,” said Mike. “Tell me, Heck-tor. You thinking of going to the fall dance at the end of the month?”

Héctor shook his head. “I . . . I don’t know what that is. New kid, remember?”

Mike gently slapped Carlos’s arm with the back of his hand. “How could I forget?” He laughed, and it did not sound friendly.

What is this guy’s deal?

“Well, you should roll with my crew and come,” said Mike. “We get all the attention from the girls. They’ll be all over you!”

Ah. Héctor couldn’t stop the grimace that flashed over his face. He thinks I’m straight.

“Yo, Mike,” said Frank. “He doesn’t seem that excited by your offer.”

“Look,” said Héctor. “I’m sure you’re all nice, but I think you’re barking up the wrong tree. I’m not really interested in girls. At least not like that.”