But he didn’t press her. He had secrets of his own, and he wasn’t exactly forthcoming about them. He could hear his abuela’s voice in his head, telling him that things take time.

So he would give Juliana time. And maybe she’d actually tell him and Sal what was going on.

As the three of them gathered their stuff up to head to the start of classes, Héctor let hope bloom. He could see himself becoming friends with Sal and Juliana. Just maybe! It wouldn’t be easy if they could only meet through the Room, but this was definitely much better than what had been happening to him.

“So . . . after school today?” Héctor suggested. “Should we meet up again?”

“I’m down,” said Sal. “My tita Juana doesn’t pick me up until four.”

Juliana nodded. “Yeah,” she said. “I wanna come back. Let’s do it.”

“Perfect,” said Héctor.

Because it was.

He was the first to leave. He told Juliana to offer Sal some horchata, and she jumped up and down, clapping her hands. “Oh, Sal, you are not ready,” she said.

Héctor smiled at that. He waved to them both and said he hoped to see them soon, then left. He nearly collided with Ms. Heath seconds later. Thankfully, she just looked down at him. “Have a good morning, Mr. Muñoz,” she said, then went on her way.

Well, he’d already had the best morning he’d ever had at Orangevale Middle School.

Chapter Twenty-One

The joy didn’t last long.

Héctor floated through his classes. By the time lunch rolled around, he was still thinking about Juliana, Sal, and that strange place that seemed impossible but was very much real. He joined the line in the cafeteria at lunch, filled his tray up, and then found his usual table in the back, but the Misfits hadn’t arrived yet. Today’s food—some sort of pasta dish, steamed veggies, and a chocolate-chip walnut cookie—didn’t even look that bad. Maybe all it took was a change in fortune to see things differently.

Not long after he sat down, Aishah sat across from him, and Jackson followed her, setting his trumpet case down underneath the table. “’Sup,” he said to Héctor, nudging him with his shoulder.

Héctor smiled at him and, riding the wave of energy his morning had given him, decided to be bold.

“So,” he began, pushing noodles across his tray, “I gotta know more.”

“More about what?” said Aishah.

Taylor sat down next to her and nodded his head at Héctor. “What’s happenin’?”

“Apparently Héctor needs to know,” said Jackson, smirking.

“Do you wonder how they get all that juice inside the Capri Sun packets, too?” Taylor said, excitement spreading over his face.

“Wha-what?” said Héctor. “I—I guess I never thought about it?”