Page 83 of Espíritu

“I second that,” Maritza added. “There’s no way Rio could afford military school. More likely he ships you somewhere cheaper.”

Julian frowned. “Like what?”

Maritza’s grin widened. “Like one of those weird farming boot camps where they make you dig potatoes all day.”

Julian squinted at her. “That’s not a real thing,” he said flatly.

“Oh, it’s real,” she replied with an exaggerated nod. “One potato, two potatoes, three potatoes, jail—”

Yadriel rolled his eyes. “Please stop.”

“I’m just saying!” she teased, leaning into him with a wicked smile.

“Honestly,” Yadriel said, changing the subject, “all things considered? Rio’s being kind of chill.”

Julian sat up so fast he nearly toppled off the bench. “WHAT?!”

“Think about it,” Yadriel replied with a shrug, carefully peeling back the foil from the husk of his tamal. “If my dad ever caught me sneaking out at night? I’d be dead. Like, literally. Six feet under. He’d bury me in the cemetery himself.”

Maritza nodded in agreement. “Oh yeah, absolutely. If my mom caught me? Forget it. I’d never see the light of day again. She’d lock me in my room, and I’d have to learn Morse code with a flashlight out the window to communicate with people.”

“You guys are NOT making me feel better,” Julian muttered, slumping in his seat. “And I don’t need Rio getting any ideas about burying me alive or potato boot camp!”

Yadriel smothered a smile behind his hand. “Well, look, maybe I can help. I could come over after school today. We’ve been at my place a lot. If I start showing up at yours more, maybe he’ll chill.”

Julian’s eyes lit up. “That’s genius! Emotional camouflage! He won’t go full dad mode if you’re around—you’re like the ultimate good influence!”

Yadriel didn’t just make Rio calmer—he made Julian calmer. Having him around was like turning down the volume on all the noise in his head. Not to mention, Rio actually listened to Yadriel. Trusted him. Sometimes Julian wished that kind of calm could rub off on him like secondhand sainthood.

“I don’t know about all that,” Yadriel said, his ears turning pink.

“Maritza, you in?” Julian asked.

She shook her head, packing up the remnants of her lunch. “Can’t. I have plans.”

Both boys blinked at her.

“What?” she said defensively. “I have friends other than you two, okay?”

“Since when?” Julian asked, genuinely baffled.

“Oh my gods, rude!” Maritza shot back, scowling at him. “Do you think I just sit around waiting for you two knuckleheads to entertain me? I have a life!”

“What, do you go hang out with the stray cats behind your house?” Julian teased with a grin.

“Those cats are cooler than you,” she said, deadpan.

Julian cackled. “Okay, that’s fair.”

“Let her hang out with her cats, Jules,” Yadriel said, giving him a reassuring pat on his arm. “We’ll handle Rio.”

Julian flashed finger guns. “Teamwork makes the dream work.”

Maritza groaned. “You two are so cheesy it physically pains me.” She slung her backpack over one shoulder and stood up. “Try not to get grounded for the rest of eternity, Jules. I’d hate to have to visit you at potato camp!”

“It’s not a real thing!” Julian called after her as she walked away, her laughter echoing back to them.

Yadriel smiled at Julian, shaking his head. “You ready to survive the rest of the day?”