"A plan?" Charlie asked, tilting his head to the side.

Estela rolled her eyes, "Oh boy, here we go."

"Hey, don't give me that! It's gonna work, alright?" Diego defended himself.

"Okay okay, calm down. What's your plan?" Estela asked.

Diego looked around the hallway, trying to see if there was anyone else around who might hear them.

He turned back to Charlie and Estela, "We're going to make sure Winston and Monty go to prom together."

Estela immediately held her hand up, "Wait, that's not even possible. Monty has his first meeting tomorrow night."

"I know, but I was thinking maybe we could convince Judge Campbell to move the meeting." Diego told her.

"You really think we'd be able to talk an actual judge into letting Monty go to a school dance?" Charlie asked.

"We don't need to say where he's going." Diego said.

"Well, we probably will have to give some kind of reason as to why Monty needs the day of the meeting to be switched." Estela said.

Diego rubbed his hand across his face, "Okay, well maybe we could... um..."

He frowned, "I don't know. I kind of came up with this plan like two minutes ago, just forget about it, okay?" He turned to walk away.

Estela suddenly thought of something, "Wait! Don't go yet, I think we might actually be able to pull this off."

Charlie quirked an eyebrow, "Why do you say that?"

"If anyone would be able to convince Judge Campbell to do this, it would be someone from Monty's family." Estela pointed out.

"So, that would be you?" Diego grinned, happy that their plan was forming.

"Yeah." She said, "I think he's still in the courtroom. We should be able to talk to him if we hurry."

"Let's go then." Diego said, already beginning to move.

The three of them made it to the courtroom doors just in time to see Judge Campbell walk out.

"Judge Campbell!" Estela called.

He turned his head to see who had said his name, "Oh, hello there. You're Estela, correct?"

Estela smiled, not expecting him to be this friendly, "Yes, that's me." She looked back at Charlie and Diego. They both motioned for her to keep going.

"Uh, I was wondering if I could talk to you. Or if maybe we all could." She gestured to the boys behind her.

Judge Campbell looked unsure, "Maybe another time. I really should get going."

"It'll only take a minute." Estela told him.

She saw him hesitate, "Please?"

Judge Campbell sighed, "Alright. What can I do for you?"

"Well... about Monty, my brother's, anger management meetings. He has one tomorrow night and I was hoping we'd be able to switch it to another day."

"Why would you need the meeting's date changed?" Judge Campbell asked.

Estela thought for a second, "Monty told me that he wishes he had some more time to spend at the house. He hasn't been home in a while and he was hoping he could relax for a little bit."

Judge Campbell considered this, "Can you tell me why Montgomery wasn't able to ask this himself?"

Diego stepped forward, "He didn't stick around long after the end of the trial. Told us all he wanted to spend as much time at home as he could."

Estela turned to smile at him, thankful that he was able to come up with an excuse so quickly.

"You know, I really need a parent or guardian here to ask for something like this." Judge Campbell said.

Estela looked him in the eyes, "Our mom has been crying all week in anticipation for the trial. She's been through so much, thinking her child was dead, an abusive marriage. And you saw what our dad is like. I don't think either of them are in any position to be here right now."

Judge Campbell took a deep breath, "Okay, just let me think for a moment."

Diego, Estela, and Charlie looked at each other, knowing they were so close to getting what they needed.

Judge Campbell turned back to them, "He gets one day. I'll make some arrangements and have the meeting moved to Saturday, so he'll be able to have one more day at home to get settled."

The three teenagers all began smiling, "Thank you so much." Estela said.

Judge Campbell nodded and walked out the front doors.

Barely anyone was able to get any sleep that night. Estela, Diego, and Charlie didn't because of nervousness for what their plan required of them the next day. They had talked over what the next steps would be and were all in agreement. They would meet up at the prom and watch as the people they cared about reunited.

When it was almost time for the prom to begin, the three of them were gathered outside Estela and Monty's house.

"Are we all clear on what to do?" Diego asked.

"Yes, Diego." Estela nodded, "We've only gone over it a million times."

Diego sighed, "I just want to be thorough, okay?"

Estela's expression softened, "I know. It's really sweet how much you care."

Diego smiled and pulled her in for a hug. As soon as they we're done, Estela got into her car and waved goodbye.

As she drove away, Diego turned towards Charlie, who was shivering more from nervousness than the cold.

"You ready, St. George?" Diego asked him.

Charlie nodded nervously, "Yeah, I think so."

Diego smiled at him reassuringly and began walking toward the door. He knocked three times, before he saw someone approaching through the window.

Monty's mom opened the door and smiled when she saw Diego and Charlie.

"Hello, boys." She greeted.

"Hi Mrs. de la Cruz, is Monty here?" Diego asked.

It was a question they already knew the answer to, but they couldn't look suspicious.

She looked uncomfortable being called 'Mrs. de la Cruz' but she didn't say anything about it.

She nodded, "Yes, he's in his room if you wanted to visit with him."

Charlie and Diego smiled appreciatively and walked inside when she held the door open for them.

She put her hand on Charlie's shoulder before they got to far, "Just wanted to warn you, he's not in that good of a mood." Her voice was full of concern.

"We'll be careful." Charlie assured her.

She nodded and went back into the living room.

Charlie and Diego continued walking until they got to Monty's room. Diego knocked on the door a few times, so he wouldn't be startled when they came in.

"Hey." He said as he pushed open the door.

Monty was laying back on his bed, scrolling through his phone. He looked up, surprised when he heard Diego's voice.

"What are you guys doing here?" Monty asked, putting his phone down.

"Just came to check on you, see how you're doing." Diego said as he walked further into the room, letting Charlie come in as well.

Monty shrugged, "I'm fine, I guess. You know, considering."

Charlie nodded, "Are you planning on doing anything tonight?"

Monty shook his head, "No. I was supposed to have my first meeting or whatever tonight, but someone from the police station called last night and said they had to move the date to tomorrow."

"Oh weird." Diego said, trying to sound confused, "I wonder why."

"No idea. But at least now I get one more day to just relax after everything." Monty said, leaning back onto his bed further.

Charlie and Diego looked at each other, feeling guilty for a second.

"So, prom's tonight." Charlie tried to bring up casually.

"Shit, really?" Monty asked. When they nodded, he frowned, "Call me stupid, but I kind of always thought about going when I was younger."

Diego grinned, "You still can. It's not over for another few hours."

Monty shook his head, "No, I don't think so, man. Plus if people saw me there, all they'd do is stare. I just want one more day where I can pretend to be normal."

"You are normal." Diego said.

Monty scoffed, "I'm not, I'm fucking disgusting."

Diego rolled his eyes, "Come on, this isn't what I think it's about is it? You don't have to worry anymore! Your dad is in prison!"

"Fuck you! You have no idea what I'm going through." Monty told him.

"Maybe he doesn't, but I do." Charlie spoke up.

Monty laughed, "Oh, this should be good. You? You're life has been nothing but perfect. Nothing bad has ever happened to you and you have the audacity to tell me you get what I'm going through?"

"You know what, Monty? That's your issue. You think you're the only one who's got problems, because you're too fucking selfish to listen to anybody else!"

"Charlie-" Diego tried to say in a warning tone.

"I'm not done! You think my life is perfect? Is my mom dying of cancer perfect too? What about the guy I love being in prison for eight fucking months?"

He took a breath, "Oh yeah, I'm bi too. But you didn't know that, because you would never listen to me and you made me think it was wrong! And even after all of that, I didn't go along with Ani's plan to frame you, because I felt bad for you and I still wanted to be there for you."

Charlie was speaking so loud, Diego was wondering if Monty's mom could hear it at the opposite end of the house.

"You have people who accept you and care about you! Your mom, Diego, Estela, me, Winston! But no, it's always poor Monty who has no one. At least the guy you're in love with isn't in prison."

Monty looked up at him, eyes wide, "I-I don't know what you're talking about."

"Give it up, Monty! Why do you still think people will care? You have a chance right now to be happy. Do you get that? The one thing you thought you'd never be able to feel and you're giving it up for what? So you can give your dad exactly what he wanted? For you to be ashamed of yourself?"

The room was silent, neither Diego or Monty had ever heard Charlie yell or talk that much.

"I just... I don't know what I'm supposed to do." Monty almost whispered.

"Go tell him you love him." Charlie said in a stern voice.

"I-I can't." Monty said as tears fell down his face.

Charlie sighed and turned to walk out of the room. Once he was gone, Diego looked at Monty. He'd never seen him look so defeated.

"When you come to your senses and realize you could be so much happier if you let yourself, we'll be waiting at prom. It ends at midnight." Diego said and walked out after Charlie.

Diego found him waiting outside and shoved him in the shoulder, "What the hell, dude? That wasn't the plan."

"I know. I'm sorry, I just got mad." Charlie apologized.

Diego shook his head as he pulled out his phone and typed out a message to Estela.

By the time Diego and Charlie left Monty's house, Estela had just arrived at Winston's.

"Holy shit." She said under her breath as she made her way up to the front door.

Estela walked up several stairs to get to a grand entrance and rang the doorbell. While she waited, she looked around. It was without a doubt, one of the nicest houses, or should she say mansions, she'd ever seen. It had three stories, a pool, and a water fountain in the middle of an elegant driveway.

Estela heard footsteps approaching and Winston opened the door.

"Estela? What are you doing here?" He looked down at his gold watch, "Shouldn't you be at prom by now? Or did you decide not to go because of Monty's meeting." Winston looked sad when he mentioned Monty.

"Oh, I'm still going." She walked past him into the house.

"Come in, why don't you?" He said sarcastically as he closed the door and followed her inside.

"If you're still going, then why are you here?" Winston asked when he found her standing in the middle of his living room.

"I came to get you. You're pretty fashionable, I'm sure you have a suit lying around here somewhere, go put it on." Estela told him.

Winston almost laughed, "Are you kidding me? I'm not going. That would just be sad."

"Okay." Estela said, then flopped down dramatically onto his couch.

"What are you doing? You're gonna miss the dance." Winston tried to remind her.

Estela shook her head, "Nope. I'm not going if you're not."

Winston gave her an irritated look, "Really? You're going to guilt me into going?"

Estela shrugged, "I wouldn't have to if you just came with me."

"I wouldn't know anybody there." Winston reasoned.

"That's not true. You know me. Diego and Charlie will be there too."

"Oh cool. Three people." Winston shook his head. "I don't understand how you and Charlie are even able to go. Isn't this senior prom? You're both sophomores."

"Anybody can go." Estela told him.

"That makes no sense." Winston said.

"Whatever, okay?" Estela said, "Why don't you want to go?"

"Well, for one, I don't go to Liberty. And two..." He paused, looking down at the ground.

"What is it?" Estela prodded.

Winston looked up, "The one person I want to be there with doesn't want anything to do with me."

Estela frowned, "You don't know that-"

"Yes I do. And trust me, Monty hates me." Winston said, tears beginning to form in his eyes.

"He doesn't." Estela said, standing up and walking over to him. "He could never hate you."

Winston shook his head, "I really appreciate you trying to come here and make me feel better, but I just feel like wallowing in sadness right now."

Estela shook her head, "I think you just need a distraction. What better distraction is there than a dance?"

"I don't know, Estela." Winston said.

"How about this? If we get there and you still feel sad, then we'll leave."

Winston huffed in annoyance, "Why do you have to be so stubborn? Do you always just wear people down until they say yes?"

Estela smirked, "I'm not hearing a 'no'. Does that mean you'll go?"

Winston tried his best to still look annoyed, but there was a hint of a smile behind it, "Fine."

Estela's face broke out into a smile, "Yay! Let's go find you something to wear." She said excitedly as she ran in the direction of Winston's room.

Estela was so happy that she was able to convince him, that she didn't even feel her phone when it vibrated in her pocket.

We might have a problem -Diego

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