Juliana closed her eyes. “This isn’t happening. It’s just not.”

“They’re telling the truth,” Héctor said. “Every time we tried to open the door back to our own schools, it kept sending us here.”

“But you don’t go here! What are you supposed to do?”

Héctor smiled. “I think we’re supposed to come with you,” he said. “Just like you wished for.”

Her face warmed at that. “Wait,” she said. “You really want to do that? For me?”

“Yes,” said Sal. “Absolutely.”

There was a burst of awkwardness as Juliana and Sal looked at one another.

“Look,” Sal began. “I said something—”

Juliana held up a hand. “I know. But . . . not now. We have to figure this out. My mom is gonna be here any minute.”

Héctor’s heart flopped. He had never done anything like this before. Was this what the Room intended?

“Juliana,” Héctor said, “we’re here for you. Do you want us in that office with you?”

She stared at the two of them for a brief moment. “You’re really here.”

“We are,” said Sal.

“Am I actually doing this?” she asked.

“You are,” said Héctor, and he reached out, taking her hand. “We’ll be there.”

“Every step of the way,” added Sal, grabbing her other hand.

Juliana looked as if she was going to cry. “Then let’s do it,” she said. “I can’t thank you enough,” she said.

She didn’t even get to try. The office door opened again, and the principal grunted. “Miss Chin?” he said.

It was now or never.

Chapter Twenty-Six

“Please, sit down.”

The principal gestured at the two empty chairs across from him. Héctor glanced at Sal, who shook their head and gave a knowing look. Right, he thought. This isn’t about us. So Héctor then said, “If it’s okay, we’ll stand.”

“Excuse me,” the principal said, “but why are you two here?”

Héctor glanced at the nameplate on the edge of the desk. Principal Edward Stafford. Ah, yes! He’d heard Juliana say his name before.

“We’re here to support Juliana,” replied Héctor.

Principal Stafford grunted. “I don’t recall asking you to bring guests, Miss Chin.”

“You also didn’t tell me not to,” she said. Almost too quickly, and Héctor, who now stood behind her, watched her shoulders go up right after the words came out of her mouth. “I mean . . . I needed my friends with me.”

At that, Héctor grabbed Sal’s hand and squeezed it, hard.

“Do the two of you have passes from your first-period teachers, then?”

Héctor’s eyes went wide.

“Um . . . ,” said Sal.

“They’re in Mr. Franz’s class with me,” said Juliana quickly. “You could call him right now, if you like. He said they could come with me.” She crossed her arms.