Chapter 60:

Chapter 33.5 – How We Got Together (Part 18)

Crazy life at School, but Maybe…


Alex’s Side – December 1995, Year-End

The last breeze of December carries with it the scent of crayons, school lunch, and the bittersweet farewell to our childhood.

It’s the final week before the new year.
The end of our days as elementary school kids.
Next stop: middle school.

...Which Natalie already signed me up for.
Without even asking. 😑

More like—I never had a choice in the first place.

“Mom, did you even see the form Nat filled for me?” I ask, trying to find someone—anyone—who might question her authority.

But my mom just smiles, flipping through her anthropology journal at the kitchen table. “Natalie’s a smart girl. Trust her.”

Translation: You’re going to that school. End of discussion.

Ugh.

But at least Marina and Faiz are coming with us too.

Apparently, Jamie, Tommy, and Kylie—our unofficial seniors from the playground hierarchy—already go to the same middle school. They say it’s cool. They say it’s tougher.

I just hope they have chocolate milk.

Ah, right. About Luna...
Everything with her finally calms down.

I mean, after the whole disaster with the letter and the fallout, it looked bad. Real bad.

But Mr. Hawk—yeah, Natalie’s dad—sorted things out somehow. Classic Mr. Hawk style: cool, calm, mysterious.

One afternoon, he brings someone to meet us.

A tall, scruffy-looking guy in a trench coat, sipping coffee from a paper cup.

“This is Detective Tracy,” Mr. Hawk says casually. “What do you think?”

Natalie blinks twice, tilts her head.

“Wait a minute… aren’t you…?!”

Yup. I know that face. We’ve met him before.

He was the hobo sitting by the underpass the other day… or so we thought.

I try not to laugh.
Detective Tracy just puts a finger to his lips with a sly grin and a wink. Classic.

Nat's eyes zero in on me, fire igniting in her pupils.
Glaring.

“Alex...” she growls. “No more doing that kind of stupid stuff again! Got it?!” 😠

“Y-Yes ma’am!” I salute instinctively.

Mr. Hawk and Detective Tracy both burst out laughing like it’s some buddy-cop sitcom.

“Alright, Tracy, thanks again,” Mr. Hawk says, giving him a handshake. “We owe you one.”

“No worries, Hawk. Keep those kids outta trouble.”
And with a wave, he disappears like some noir ghost back into the streets.

Later that day, Mr. Hawk shows me a brochure—shiny, laminated, official-looking.

“Time to visit your new school.”

He places it on the table in front of us.

PARADISE VALLEY SCHOOL

Even the name sounds like it came out of a superhero comic.

My jaw drops. “WHAT—THAT IS SOOO COOL!!!” 🤩

Nat and Marina instantly facepalm in sync. 🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️

Meanwhile, Faiz is vibrating with the same energy as me.

“YEAHHHH!! WE GOT TO GO TOGETHER, BRO!!!!”
We both throw up a double BANZAI WAVE like we're launching into battle.

“BANZAI!!! BANZAI!!!”

Behind us, Natalie mutters like a war veteran watching two idiots lose brain cells.
“Don’t look at them. They’re contagious…”

Marina sighs, arms crossed. “Yeah... This time it’s not even cooties. It’s straight-up brain fog.”

I spin around. “Hey! It’s not cooties!! We’ve evolved!!”

Faiz nods, completely serious. “It’s hormones, right? That’s what my brother said!”

“EWWWWWWWWW—COOTIES!!”
Marina screeches, suddenly launching into a double roundhouse kick.

WHACK!! WHACK!!

“AGHH—HEY!!” I go tumbling into the bushes.

Faiz is already collapsed on the ground, eyes spiraling like he just got hit with a Dragon Ball Z combo.

“D-dude...I think I saw God…”

As I groan and crawl back out from the flowerbed, dirt stuck to my shirt, I look up at the sky and laugh.

Middle school, huh?

New place, new friends, new drama.
But if these idiots are with me... I think I’ll survive.

Even if I have to dodge roundhouse kicks to get there.

During Class — Year-End Homeroom

The mood today?

Heavy.

Ms. Forest stands at the front of class, holding her clipboard a little tighter than usual. Her voice trembles slightly as she speaks, trying to keep it together.

“Son… looks like it’s the end of the year…”

The room falls silent.

No more pencil wars. No more lunch trades. No more dodgeball champions.

Reality hits like a chalkboard to the face—
This is our last day together.

And not all of us are going to the same school next year.

Lam is heading to Oklahoma, his whole family moving because of his dad’s job. He tries to act cool about it, but he’s already packed his like it’s an evacuation mission.

Camile decides to follow me and Keiko to the same school. She says it’s nearby, but I’m 90% sure she just wants to babysit us. Southern hospitality and all.

“Aww shucks, sugah,” she says, already sniffling. “Seems like y’all 'cept Keiko and you is headed to da same school… I reckon I’m fixin’ to miss those boys somethin’ awful, ya hear?”

Keiko, bouncing beside her, twirls a pen between her fingers like a baton.

“Gakki~! Everyone’s gonna be, like, scattered! Ugh, that’s sooo sad ne~!

Will is leaving for San Francisco.
His mom got hired as a programmer for some big-name tech company. He says it might be Apple. Or Microsoft. Or something top secret with lasers.

“Hope I get my own desktop this time,” he jokes, brushing his bangs from his eyes.

I elbow him. “Just don’t forget us when you invent teleporters.”

He grins. “Only if I can teleport away from math class.”

Jasmine is moving to Texas, claiming she’s gonna write poetry under the stars and live like a movie heroine. “New state, new me,” she says.

Francisco’s heading to New Mexico.

He stands up from his seat, a little awkwardly, backpack already strapped on like he’s about to head off on a long, emotional train ride—even though the school day’s not over yet.

He clears his throat, one hand on his chest, and says with deep, noble sincerity:

“Gracias por todo… ustedes son mi familia aquí… y siempre los llevaré en mi corazón.”

The class falls into silence.

Even the ceiling fan sounds quieter.

He bows respectfully, like a dramatic farewell scene from some old-school telenovela. There's even imaginary wind blowing his hair back.

...

Then, right on cue—

Xavier shoots up from his chair with the energy of a busted boombox.

TRANSLATION TIME, BABYYYY!!” he yells, throwing both hands in the air like it’s a concert.

He spins around, then points at Francisco like a game show host.

“What our boy just said was:
‘I’m going to miss y’all so much… but especially Keiko, ‘cause she’s is my type!’”

Francisco’s eyes explode open.

“¡¿QUÉEEE?! ¡XAVIER, NOOOOOO!”

He starts chasing Xavier around the desks, shouting in rapid Spanish while flailing his arms.

Keiko turns pink.

“Wha-WHA?!!! B-Baka!!”

She bonks both of them with her notebook—hard.

BONK! BONK!

Everyone bursts out laughing. Like, 90s anime freeze-frame laugh explosion, complete with dramatic background streaks.

Even Ms. Forest tries to hide a smile behind her attendance sheet.

Xavier wipes a tear, then waves everyone down.
“Okay, okay—REAL translation this time, for reals:”

“‘Thanks for everything… you guys are like family to me… I’ll carry you in my heart.’”

The laughter dies down slowly.

A warm hush follows.

Francisco, now catching his breath, smiles—genuine this time.
Simple. Honest.

I give him a fist bump. “Take care, hermano.”

He nods. “You too, man.”

Then, just like that—he walks back to his desk, one last time.

Hussain and Muhammad? Also going to Oklahoma.
They pack as a pair, like a two-man comedy duo that never breaks character.

Before leaving, Hussain walks up, placing a hand on my shoulder like a dramatic uncle in a soap opera.

“Brother… please… don’t do haram things, okay?”

I blink. “Bro, I’m more worried about you. You thought a turkey sandwich was pork last week.”

Muhammad instantly butts in, laughing.

“Hey! Chicken is halal!!”

“YOU FOOL!!” Muhammad slaps Hussain on the back of the head.

“Bro, it was clearly labeled ‘turkey ham!’”

Their bickering continues while the rest of us chuckle behind our hands.

And then there’s Xavier.

Loud, animated, the guy who always starts chanting olé! in class when the teacher’s 5 seconds late.
He's the one we always relied on to translate when the new kid from Mexico showed up and started speaking rapid Spanish.

“Yo, yo, hold up! That means he said he likes cheeseburgers—not your face, Keiko!”

“Xavier!!” Keiko turns red. “Don’t shout that across the class!!”

He's not going with us.

He’s moving to another middle school across Phoenix. One that specializes in music and performing arts.
Typical Xavier. Always dramatic.

“I’m gonna be the next Enrique Iglesias, vatoooo!” he howls from the back row, spinning in his chair like he's already on stage.

And finally—Alejandro.

The proud kid with army blood running through his veins.

“Amigo,” he says to me, resting a hand on my shoulder like a seasoned soldier. “I’m going to West Point, New York. My parents got promoted—one’s a First Lieutenant, the other’s a Colonel!”

“I’m gonna be a Marine just like them. So… I won’t be seeing you guys.”

Everyone goes quiet.
No one says anything.

Then someone stands up.
Then another.

Group hug.

Messy. Sweaty. Overloaded with feelings.

A full 60 seconds of silence.

Camile sniffles, Keiko holds her pigtails down like antennae to stop them from bouncing with emotion, and even Will turns away slightly, pretending to check something in his backpack.

I glance at Ms. Forest.

She’s looking down now.

Probably so we don’t see her eyes.

But we know.

She’s gonna miss us.

Maybe more than we realize.

This class, this chaos, these dumb jokes, the afterschool races, the lunchtime arm wrestling, the hallway pranks—

All of it.

This was our year.

And even if we’re headed to different places—
Even if the names start to fade with time—

We’ll always remember this classroom…

…and the day we said goodbye.

The air inside the classroom is still, the sun casting long afternoon shadows across the wooden floor.
It's our last homeroom with Ms. Forest—our teacher, our guardian, our constant through every tantrum, test, and lunchbox war.

She stands at the front, trying her best to keep her smile steady.

“You all should be proud,” she says gently. “I'm happy to be your teacher here…”

Her voice falters—just slightly.
And that’s when it hits me.

Ms. Forest… she isn’t just a teacher.
She’s like the mom I never had.
A patient one. A kind one.
The kind who stays after class to help, even when you don’t ask.

Alex – Present Day (Narration)

Ms. Forest…
She’s one of the few teachers I ever truly respected.
I’ve lived through gang fights, loss, betrayal—but that moment, that class, I hold onto like treasure.
Because no one else made me feel safe like she did.
That’s why… I cherish it.

Back in 1995

Ms. Forest wipes her hands on her skirt and continues, her voice a little stronger now.

“Xavier… good luck on your new path. Music is the core of who you are. Believe it can change your life, okay? But never forget your roots, son.”

Xavier, unusually quiet, wipes his eyes with his sleeve.

“Si… Teacher. I will.”

“Good,” she says with a soft smile.

“Will,” she continues, turning to him. “I know it’s tough moving out… but treat it as a new opportunity, okay son?”

Will just nods. But I see it—
The tears pooling in his eyes.
The way he bites his lip to keep from trembling.

“Francisco,” she turns to the boy sitting quietly at the window. “Promise me you’ll keep working on your English, okay… son?”

Francisco stands, heart thudding.

“Yeah, Ms. Forest… I promise! ¡Voy a tratar! I’ll speak better English, ¿entiendes?”

She chuckles warmly. “That’s the spirit.”

Xavier, unable to resist, throws in:

“He said he’ll speak better English... but only if Keiko stops calling him ‘Cute Boy’.”

“¡XAVIER!” Francisco yells, turning red.

Everyone bursts out laughing again. Even Ms. Forest shakes her head.

“Alejandro…” she says next. “Be a good soldier, okay son? I heard you’ve enrolled in military school.”

Alejandro salutes, proud and tall.

“Yes, ma’am! I’m going to be a Marine! Protecting this country and SERVING IT WITH HONOR!!

“Hope you find a nice wife too,” Ms. Forest adds with a playful wink.

“HEY!! It’s still too early for me!” Alejandro panics as laughter erupts around him.

Xavier grins wide.

“Good luck, bro! Hope there’s cute military babes!”

Ms. Forest faces the trio next.

“Lam… Hussain… Muhammad. Good luck in your new home.”

They nod politely.

“Well ma’am,” Hussain says, confidently. “I’m gonna be a famous footballer one day!”

“Yeah, well—” Muhammad teases, “better work on your English or your first press interview’s gonna sound like a blooper reel.”

“SHUT UP!” Hussain swings at him while everyone cracks up.

Muhammad turns to Ms. Forest and bows slightly.

“Thank you… for being patient with us.”

Lam just nods, holding back tears.

“Thank you, ma’am. For everything.”

“Jasmine…” Ms. Forest says, softer now. “I know it hasn’t been easy—coming here as a refugee. But I hope Texas becomes a good place for you.”

Jasmine bows quietly. She doesn’t say much.
But her eyes glisten.
Her silence speaks volumes.

“Camile… Keiko… be good friends, alright?”

Camile wraps her arm around Keiko.

“No worries, Ms. Forest, sugah… me and Keiko’s like two peas in a pod! And Alex—he’s our homie, my Southern bodyguard, ya hear? Alex, you got my back, right?”

“Huh? Ugh… fine…” I mumble, crossing my arms.

Keiko giggles.

“He’s blushing~ Alex-chan, so cuuute~!”

“I’M NOT—!”

Finally, Ms. Forest turns to me.

“Alex…”

She smiles.

“It’s been a wild ride with you. You gave me gray hairs, that’s for sure… but I’ve learned from you. Thank you. I truly cherish this moment—with you. And with all of you. I hope we meet again someday.”

Alex – Present Day (Narration)

We didn’t.

A year later…
She passed away due to health issues.

She never told us.
Only Ms. Jackie—her younger sister—explained it to me.
(Yeah… Ms. Jackie, who I later learned was Darrel and Damien’s mom. She passed too.)

Only Natalie and I managed to attend the funeral.

No fanfare.
No big ceremony.
Just two students… saying goodbye.

After Class

Outside, Ms. Forest pulls out an old camera—clicking it on like a magic spell.

“Alright everyone—one last picture!”

We gather together in the schoolyard, messy uniforms, goofy hair, some of us blinking in the sun.

Click.

She printed that photo for each of us.

I still have it.
Faded now.
But it’s there.
A moment frozen in time.

After class…

Camile and Keiko walk with me to the front gate.

“Alright, sugah. ‘Til next time, ya hear? Take care now, cher!” Camile grins.

“See you later, Alex-chan! And Camille-chan too! Mata ne, mata ne~!” Keiko sings, twirling away like a magical girl.

I wave halfheartedly.

Yeah…
This is goodbye.

Natalie’s Side

Luna comes up to me, smiling brightly.

“I’m going to the same school as you!”

I don’t even hide my joy.

“Really?! That’s awesome!”

Jennifer Walker, my friend from art class, is heading to Oklahoma—her parents got transferred.

Matt, Travis, Mylie, Jackson, and even Wan are all going to the same school as us.

Wan, though...

Sigh.

Ever since the “incident,” he’s been more stable.
Still annoying. Still nagging me.
But at least he's not… that version of himself.

As for Ustaz Sharil
He’s never been seen again.

And I hope it stays that way.

The schoolyard empties like the final episode of a Saturday morning cartoon.

Backpacks bounce.
Laughter fades.
Some kids run, others just... drift.

Most of us are going our separate ways now—scattering like marbles dropped on tile.

But not all of us.

“Hey Nat~!”

Luna skips up beside me, flashing her usual energy-filled grin.

“Wanna do a sleepover at your place tonight?”

I blink, then grin back. “Yeah... that actually sounds really nice.”

Jeniffer slides in from behind like a Southern ninja.

“Well, bless my heart, I gotta get all riled up and pack my bags for a sleepover at your place, partner!”

I laugh. Classic Jen.

“Alright, let’s do it,” I nod. “Girls’ night. It’s official.”

Luna pumps her fist in the air. “Yayyy! I’m gonna go pack, like, everything!! Pajamas! Face masks! Chocolate!! See ya soon!”

They both race off toward the bus stop.

Meanwhile…

I wait near the school gate.
The sun’s lower now—painting the fence and road in a nostalgic orange glow.

That’s when I spot him.

Alex, walking up casually with Marina and Faiz like it’s just another chill Friday.

He sees me first.

“Hey Nat!! What’s up!?”

We high-five, that smooth slap of connection that always makes my chest feel… weird.

“Nothing much. Just planning something dangerous,” I smirk.

Marina grins and suddenly hugs me. “Nat~!! My favorite danger buddy!”

I lean in, whispering in her ear, “Hey, wanna join us for a girls-only sleepover tonight?”

Marina winks, whispering back, “Heck yes, queen. Count me in.

Suddenly, Faiz leans in, squinting.

“Yo… what are you two whispering about?”

Marina turns dramatically.

Blehh!! GIRLS STUFF. You wouldn’t get it~”

“Geez, cool girls,” Faiz rolls his eyes.

Alex watches, then casually speaks up.

“Well then—hey Faiz, let’s call Adinor. Elder Muzaffar said he’s going fishing later, remember?”

Faiz’s eyes go full sparkle mode.

“WHAAAT!? Let’s gooo~! I want dibs on the biggest fish!!”

I glance at Alex again. His collar’s crooked, as usual.

Without thinking, I step forward and gently fix it.

“So… be careful, alright?” I say quietly.

His eyes widen. We’re close—too close.

We both freeze.

My fingers are still at his collar.

His eyes are locked on mine.

We blush at the same time.

Thump-thump.
Why is my heart acting like this?

Marina breaks the moment with a smirk. “Geez… you two. Get a room already~”

Faiz laughs.

“Honestly, Nat… I’m not even worried about him anymore.”

He says it like a joke, but I bite my lip.

I am.

Because behind my back…
Alex always does reckless stuff.
Scary stuff.

That’s what makes me worry.

“So, hope you enjoy the sleepover,” Alex says as we near my street.

“Yep,” I reply.

He grins lazily. “See ya.”

I wave back. “Yeah… see you.”

At Home – Natalie’s Side

I open the door to see Phylis, my big sister, standing in front with that all-knowing smirk.

“Uuu~ my little sis is all smiles today~ What happened? Did Alex finally hold your hand or what?”

“SHUT UP,” I groan, pushing past her. “Tonight’s PJ night with the girls, okay?!”

“Ooooh, sounds cozy. You need snacks? Ice cream? Flamethrower?”

“We’re good!”

“Lame.”

In the kitchen, Mom pops out from behind a counter.

“Hey Nat! I’m getting everything ready for your friends—blankets, cookies, hot cocoa. Got it all covered!”

“Thanks, Mom!”

Then Dad appears, sipping coffee with that calm-cool-dad energy.

“Looks like you girls are going to have a fun night.”

“Definitely.”

“Well, while you’re giggling and braiding each other’s hair, I’ll be out with our neighbor, Mr. Muzaffar.”

“Wait… you’re going fishing too?”

“Yup,” he chuckles. “He says the lake’s calling. Can’t say no to a fishing trip.”

I blink.

“Wow… didn’t know you two were that close.”

He just smiles, walking off.

Maybe everyone’s growing up in their own way.

Tonight, it’s just us girls.

Tomorrow…
Middle school.

But for now—
I just want to laugh, eat candy, and maybe gossip a little too much about a certain tsundere idiot.

to be continued