Chapter Twenty-Six

Never in a million years did I imagine I’d hear the familiar, upbeat opening chords of Intonation’s “Girl Be Mine” echoing down the hallways of Elmwood High. So when exactly that happens in the middle of the class exchange between periods five and six, I’m convinced I’m either imagining things or asleep, once again having that recurring dream I’ve had where they visit my school and Rider holds my hand and serenades me in front of everyone. Neither ends up being true.

“Would Liliana Rivera please report to the rotunda?” Principal Johnson’s voice asks over the intercom.

I text Marisol and Sophie immediately.

Me: OH MY GOD. IS THIS A PROPOSAL FOR LILY?!?!

Sophie: AHhhhhhhHhHhHh!

Marisol: I MIGHT CRY bb girl is growing up!!!

I speed-wal k toward the rotunda, the central area in our high school where two staircases spill out onto the right and left sides of the building, dividing it exactly in the center. Already a crowd has formed on the edges of the upper circle, and there’s excited chatter from some of my classmates. I squeeze into a spot right up against the railing and throw down my backpack just beside me, hoping to save a spot for Sol and Sophie. I glance down at the lower level, where there’s a bouquet of flowers— del icate pin k-and-white lilies, just like my sister’s beloved backpack.

A lump forms in my throat at how thoughtful this is. Who is this?

Marisol finds me first, Ari just behind her, and it’s not long before Sophie and Noah snake their way through the crowd to us, too.

“Did we miss anything?” Sophie whispers.

“Not yet,” I say.

It’s then that Lily walks up the bottom staircase, led by her teacher Ms. Kaminski, who instructs her to stand on the landing between the first and second sets of stairs. From up here, it looks a bit like a stage, Lily the central performer. But she’s looking around just as bewildered and curious as the rest of us.

“Liliana Rivera . . . ,” a voice calls. And then it starts to sing along with the chorus of the song. “Girl, be mine, smile like sunshine, girl divine, and so I pine . . .”

Classmates whoop as Lily’s friend Ruby ascends the stairs. She’s wearing a gigantic, person- sized version of the vinyl she borrowed from Lily, featuring all five bandmates. Ruby’s off to the side as if she’s the sixth member.

Suddenly, everything clicks: Ruby’s borrowing the vinyl; Lily constantly talking about Ruby; the regular hangouts; their meetups in the virtual Animal Crossing realm. They like each other! Of course! My baby sister has her first mutual crush, and I can’t help but beam at her, smiling and cheering with my friends, not hiding the happy tears pooling at the corners of my eyes.

Ms. Kaminski cuts the music pouring from the Bluetooth speakers, and in a shaky voice, Ruby asks, “Lily, will you be mine? And go to homecoming with me?”

Lily rubs her hands together excitedly. “Yes,” she says into the mic, and Ruby pumps her fist in the air as the onlookers burst into cheers.

“Yeah, Lily!” I yell. She looks up at me, the purest smile I’ve ever seen illuminating her face. And maybe for the first time, I see her for who she is: not my baby sister, but my sister, a young woman in her own right.

Ruby gives Lily the best side hug she can given the huge cutout, and for the rest of our peers, it’s over. But for Lily, this must feel like the start of something magical.

I grab Marisol and Sophie by the arms. “Come on!” Ari and Noah stay behind with our belongings while I practically yank my friends down the steps in a rush to get to where Lily’s standing. She’s giggling as Ms. Kaminski helps Ruby shimmy out of the costume.

“Lily!” I squeal, holding my hand up for a fist bump. “I’m so happy for you!”

“I’m so happy for me, too,” she gushes.

“Yeah, girl!” Marisol whoops, holding up a hand for a high five.

Sophie grins. “Congratulations, Lily!”

Lily hig h-fives them both and I’m touched by how utterly thrilled my friends are for my little sister, who they’ve watched grow up, too.

I turn to Ruby. “And that was an incredible proposal.”

“Seriously amazing,” Sophie agrees, nodding. “You’re a great singer!”

Marisol points toward the Intonation cutout. “Plus, all of that? Dedication. You nailed it.”

Ruby smiles shyly at us. “Thanks. I wanted to make Lily feel special because she is.” She glances over at Lily with green eyes full of adoration.

“We’ll leave you to it,” I say to Lily. “Just wanted to say congrats!”

Ruby’s fingers reach for Lily’s, and my heart practically explodes when Lily reciprocates.

There’s another whoop from above that catches my attention, and when I look up, I see Isaiah standing just beside Ari and Noah. He waves at me, all smiles, too. I wave back.

And for the smallest fraction of a second, I let myself wonder. What if ?

What if Isaiah were standing there guarding my belongings the way Ari and Noah are holding Marisol’s and Sophie’s?

What if Isaiah handed my bag back to me and leaned in close, smelling like firewood and cologne, and whispered in my ear how happy he was for my sister? For me?

What if Isaiah put his hand on the small of my back, guiding me down the hallway toward my next class, the place where his palm rests warm from his skin?

What if, when I made it to my next class and we said goodbye, he leaned down . . . and his lips touched mine? Gentle, but urgent, a promise for later?

What if ?

But then I see him turn back to Destiny, leaning in close as they exchange whispers, and all those what-ifs evaporate to dust, swept away in the soft September breeze like dandelion seeds.

I take a moment to look back at Lily— my sweet, lovely Lily— and k now that as long as she gets her perfect homecoming, I’ll be just fine.