It feels like floating. There's no other way to put it for Rachel. It's amazing to be with Hector. But somewhere in the back of her mind, the thought of Ricky bothers her. She pulls away the curtains to let in the light.

"Couch is here," Hector says when two men haul in the wrapped furniture. Rachel picked the tan color. Hector didn't have a preference, and if he did, everything in the house would be black. By evening the place is set. "Wanna break in the bed?" Hector says, pulling her close.

"In your dreams."

"In my dreams, the bed will break."

They do make out, however, and this time comfortably on a mattress, instead of his car seat.

NEXT DAY IN school, Ricky approaches Rachel. "Do we still get to be friends, or am I supposed to never talk to you again?" He says. "Ricky, you know it's nothing like that. If anything, I thought you'd still be mad at me."

"I am. Just a bit. But I also wanted to tell you I got in SU."

Rachel grins. "That's amazing! Wow, congrats."

"What about you? You should've gotten your letter, too."

She did, day before yesterday. But her wish is to join Jeffman university that's closer to Hector's place. She's still waiting for that letter. "Yeah, I got in, too."

"Good. We'll go to the same college then," he says. Rachel simply smiles in return. He continues, "If you need any help in moving, let me know. A friend of my father has an apartment building near the campus. It's popular among SU students. I've already signed a unit."

"I'd applied for a dorm room. But I'll keep in mind what you said."

After their talk, when Rachel turns the corner on the corridor, she sees Hector. "You got in SU?" He asks. His locker is right by the turn. He heard them.

"Yes, but it wasn't like I was hiding it from you." She could guess by his tone he's a little irked.

"Then why didn't you tell me?"

"I'm still waiting to hear from the rest of the colleges I'd applied. I haven't decided yet to go to SU."

"Sounded like you did though."

"I didn't. Are you going to be like this every time I talk to him?"

"Maybe. Maybe not if he knew I'm your boyfriend."

"Not yet," she says and starts to walk away. He catches her arm. "He thinks he still has a chance with you," Hector says. "That's just your imagination. You kept picking fights with him even before I agreed to date him. When it comes to Ricky, you suspect everything he does."

"Don't you?" Hector says, "Otherwise why would you be scared for him to find out about us?"

Rachel is surprised Hector knows how she really feels about it. Rather than to not hurt his feelings, it's more like Rachel doesn't want to rile up Ricky by letting him know she's with Hector. She doesn't want another fight between them like it happened at the school dance.

"Fine. You're right. I don't want to ruffle his feathers over us. What's wrong with that?"

"Like I said, he still thinks he has a chance with you."

"He was being considerate, Hector, that's all. Tell me the truth, who do you really not believe here? Him? Or me?"

"You think I don't believe you?"

"It sure looks like that. Will you always keep holding it against me — that I went out with him?"

Hector pockets his hands. "Yeah, sure, it hurt to see you with him," he says, "but that's not the same as not trusting you. I trust you. But you don't tell me things. You didn't tell me about SU, but you told him."

"Because he asked."

"So it's my fault for not asking?"

"No, it's your fault for thinking I would hold back anything important from you. I want to go to Jeffman, that's why I'm not thinking about SU yet, and am waiting to get accepted into JU. And if you want to know why JU, then you're also at fault for being a dense boyfriend," she says, walking past him angrily.

It takes a moment for him to realize. He closes his eyes and cusses, knowing his mistake: He really is dense.