An image popped into Héctor’s head then: his school’s New Year’s party last year, held in the gym. It was the first time he had ever stayed up to midnight, and it was worth it. As the clock struck twelve, streamers and balloons fell from the ceiling, raining down a colorful chaos on everyone’s heads.

Standing there in the Room, Héctor felt his heart leap as the same kind of balloons and streamers and glitter fell from the ceiling, covering the three of them, and soon, Sal and Juliana were up on their feet, dancing, kicking balloons, and Héctor never, ever wanted this moment to end. It felt like the sign he needed: this was where he was supposed to be and who he was supposed to be with.

He did not feel empty. He felt incredibly, beautifully full.

The hallways were packed with other students, all rushing to their destinations, but Héctor was floating. Sometimes, it was hard being at Orangevale, but if he hadn’t come here, he never would have met Sal and Juliana.

That was the thought that was occupying his mind when the first bell before homeroom rang, and Héctor dashed off so he wouldn’t be late.

And then Héctor turned a corner and ran directly into Ms. Heath.

It wasn’t very hard, but Héctor still froze and grimaced. “I’m sorry, Ms. Heath,” he said. “I just didn’t want to be late to class.”

She held a hand out and placed it on his chest. “Just a minute, young man.”

Héctor’s heart fluttered.

“Where do you go?”

He frowned at her. “What?”

“Where do you go, Mr. Muñoz? I’ve been keeping my eyes on you since you arrived, and you just . . . aren’t around.”

“Um . . . when?” he asked, the panic building in him. “Like . . . in general?”

“You know that’s not what I mean, young man,” she said, her hands on her hips. “You keep disappearing. Every time I need to talk to you.”

He gulped and looked around as other kids made their way to homeroom. “I don’t know,” he said. “I’m either in class or at lunch.”

“Where did you just come from?”

“Uh . . . I was at home before this?”

She stepped back and sighed. “I don’t appreciate you getting smart with me.”

He frowned. “I don’t get what you mean.”

“Don’t act like I don’t know that you have been hiding from me,” she said.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said, and he stepped around Ms. Heath. There were only five minutes between the first bell and homeroom, so he tried to join the flow of kids going to class.

And Ms. Heath grabbed the back of Héctor’s shirt.

The collar stretched out, and he froze again, worried Ms. Heath had just ruined it. Yo, what is she doing?