Page 138 of Something in Between

For a second Danny doesn’t move, then he gets a big smile on his face and jumps up with Isko, nearly tackling him.

I’m trying to text Royce,Your dad did it!!! The judge reversed his decision!!! We don’t have to leave!! We can stay! And I’m going to Stanford! With you! Oh my God!!!I really can’t believe it. It feels like a dream.

Royce answers back:yes!!!!! i knew it!!! YES!!!!

I don’t really believe it, and it feels as if this great weight is lifted from my shoulders. I didn’t realize how much stress I was carrying until it was gone. I’m so thankful.

Mr. Alvarado tries to talk over our shouting. “If you play your cards right, within a few years your daughter can apply under a different visa that has to do with persons of exceptional ability. She will of course have to obtain an advanced degree. Considering the path she’s currently on, I don’t foresee any problems with that. In addition, these visas mean you will all be eligible to apply for green cards, and later on, citizenship.”

We’re hardly listening. We’re all jumping up and down cheering and hugging.

“And actually you do also have to sign some papers,” Mr. Alvarado says.

We’re still not listening.

“I told you this lawyer was going to pull through for us!” Dad says.

“I just can’t understand how this happened?” Mom cries.

But I know how it happened. I think about Congressman Blakely and the phone call Royce asked him to make after his fight with Mason. Royce did it for me, for his family, for himself. He always offered his help, and I’m glad I finally accepted it.

Mr. Alvarado sits back and shakes his head. He’s grinning like we’re the most insane people he’s ever met, but I don’t care what anyone thinks about us. The de los Santos family will always stick together.

49

When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.

—MALALA YOUSAFZAI

IT’S JUNE,the month I thought I’d be dreading because it would mean having to leave America forever. But instead, my future, my glorious future, lies in front of me, as perfect as it was at the beginning of the year. Even more perfect, maybe, because it was even more hard-earned. The sun shines brightly over the hundreds of people packed into the stadium and on the field for my graduation. It’s a beautiful Southern California day, with a perfect cloudless sky and a comfortable seventy-five degrees.

A few days before, I’d attended Royce’s graduation and watched with pride as he took the top prize in Language Arts. His graduating class was much smaller than mine, and the ceremony was held at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. The girls all wore white dresses underneath their graduation robes, like the bunch of debutantes that they are. Royce spent the whole time texting me from the stage.

royceb: i’m so bored. glad i’m not giving a speech like you.

jasmindls: You look cute up there.

royceb: thanks you look cute from up here too.

Meaning he can see down my cleavage because I’m wearing the red dress I wore to Spago, naughty boy.

* * *

Now I’m sitting up on the stage at my graduation and going over the speech in my head. From where I’m sitting, I can see that the stadium is packed with everyone’s family and friends. I can barely make out my parents and brothers near the fifty-yard line. Royce is sitting with them, looking so handsome with his hair slicked back and wearing the tie I bought him with the Philippine flag on one side and the American flag on the other. When my phone buzzes, I remove it from the pocket of my gown as surreptitiously as I can. The ceremony hasn’t started yet—I feel safe doing this. It’s Royce, of course.

royceb: you look cute up there.

jasmindls: Wait till you see what’s under my gown.

royceb:man, you’re killing me.

royceb: my imagination has gone wild.

jasmindls:Good things come to boys who wait.

royceb: all right, now I’m not going to be able to listen to a word you say.

royceb: good luck, you’ll be great.

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