Colby found herself fixated on a single leaf fluttering outside her classroom window while her students took a quiz on World War II. Her peers seemed to love teaching World War II because of the breadth of available materials, but she much preferred the obscure. Ironically, this was the exact opposite of her personal life. She blew her bangs out of her eyes with a huff and checked the thrifted Mickey Mouse watch on her wrist.“Finish up your thoughts! The bell is gonna ring in a minute,” she half-screamed in her teacher voice.

As the time sifted through her chipped (by her own doing) nail polish fingers, she became more anxious about the impending weekend. She had planned an all-day celebration for her partner Aelia to commemorate seven years together. While Colby was straight forward and preferred quiet nights in, Aelia was unpredictable and favored spontaneous nights in foreign countries. This celebration was also about Colby pushing herself out of her comfort zone to conquer her fear of heights. They would start at the only Peruvian place she could find in town for lunch, lounge at a coffee shop, check out a bookstore if they had time, then head out on a hot air balloon ride in the evening.

When they got home, Colby had ordered a private instructor to teach the pair Latin ballroom dances while a private chef cooked them a late-night dinner. Colby knew this was too much, and it wasn’t what Aelia would expect. But they weren’t just celebrating an anniversary, they were also celebrating finding a surrogate, so she knew she wanted to make this a big deal.

Colby had always wanted to be a mother. She didn’t have any siblings but longed for one, especially when she saw pictures of all her cousins back in Peru. She had her second family (her friends), but it wasn’t the same. So to finally find someone who could help out her and Aelia was a triumph in and of itself.

She thought about all of this class period after class period. At one point, she didn’t realize she was drumming her fingers against the desk, and a student appeared before her to tell her to knock it off so they could focus. The students became more brazen each year.

When she got home, she could smell grilled cheeses cooking in butter and mayo with two different kinds of cheese, just as Aelia knew Colby liked. “Cariña, taste this,” Aeliasaid, shoving a wooden spoon with tomato soup into Colby’s mouth the moment she stepped inside.

Colby winced, “That was way too hot, and you know it.”

Aelia grimaced apologetically. “Was it? I’m sorry, Cole.”

“Needs more salt,” Colby said, taking off her jacket. She watched as Aelia nodded and scrambled back to the kitchen, shuffling along in her slippers and apron.

“Got it!” Aelia shouted back, getting quieter as she shuffled away.

Colby smiled and pushed her hiking boots out of the way then she sank into the couch. She glanced up at the wall where they had their bucket list taped. “I’m coming for you,”she whispered, smirking contentedly.

Colby yanked at the gobs of pink tulle on her dress. The color wasn’t her top choice, but the way her dad smiled when she descended the staircase made it worthwhile. She alternated sides, grabbing a rose from her chambelanes and blowing out each candle held by her damas. To her, Quinceañeras felt excessive. She much preferred bundling upin her room and reading books. But tradition was tradition.

Colby’s dress bobbed and swished as her and her father spun around the dance floor. He had surprised her with his grace, but she knew he didn’t want to mess this up. They shared a quick, rare smile before the song ended, and Colby’s escort Sebastián stepped in. The promise ring in Sebastián’s pocket rattled around as they stepped back and forth and side to side. Colby could feel the shakiness in his hands, and she wondered why this—of all things—made him nervous when he could get up in front of a crowd with no preparation and sing.

The night flashed by, with towers of presents and kisses on the cheek from relatives she didn’t care to know. After the Change of Shoes, her shoes were a bit too snug, but she worked through it, looking forward to swapping her high heels for high tops at the end of the party. The music became dizzying, and Colby felt a wave of shivers course through her body. Sebastián saw her face blanch from across the room and rushed over with a glass of water as she sat down on the dance floor. “Dancing too hard?” The corner of his mouth turned up in a half-smile.

“That must be it,” Colby chuckled back.

“I wanted to give this to you, by the way,” Sebastián pulled the promise ring out of his pocket. “Ya know, so everyone can know I like you.”

“You know I don’t like everyone to make a big deal over me,” she responded with a shrug. “But thank you.” When Colby tried to put the ring on her finger, it didn’t fit. Her face scrunched apologetically as she placed it back in his hand. She could feel the eyes of her chambelanes on the ring. “I’m so sorry, but I don’t think I can take it.”

Sebastián stood up and brushed off his pants. “It’s okay, Cole. I understand.” He jogged back over to his friends who patted him on the back in support. Moments later, everyone was together on the dance floor doing the Cha Cha Slide.