Roads That Cross...

... with the Day of the Dead (Part 2)

After her announcement, almost all the girls from the Roller Team approached Ámbar to ask her who the secret performer was, with Delfi and Jazmín especially pointing their tablets at her, but Ámbar refused to ruin the surprise.

The girls complained but in a playful manner, and honestly? Just the fact that they talked to her so easily and enthusiastically was a huge improvement from how things were a month ago. Even Yam was in a good mood around her. It seemed like working together to bring this event to life had really solidified the truce between them all. Well, that and her apology, of course, which no one had mentioned ever since it happened, but their energy around her had changed. That was enough answer.

Ámbar skated away to escape from their requests for hints and found Ramiro, wearing a bright yellow suit jacket with flower designs and black pants. Another person who had apologized and sought to make amends.

They started dancing, and Ámbar felt once again that mixture of happiness and relief that she had a friend to dance with now.

Someone grabbed her hand from behind and pulled her away from Ramiro after just one song. Ámbar barely had time to recognize Simón's skull mask and Catrín costume before he was making her spin as he'd done earlier, except this time he did it over, and over, and over again at breakneck speed, until it became quite risky to do on wheels really, even for someone with her experience. She let out a little squeal and then a laugh as she lost her balance and Simón pulled her to his chest to stabilize her. Her heart was pounding as they came together, and then he was kissing her.

Ámbar was so happy and so dizzy that, for a moment, she didn't notice anything out of place. Simón's lips were moving against her own and she kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his neck. That was when things started feeling odd. Simón's lips didn't move like she was used to. Didn't feel like she was used to. His hands around her didn't hold her like they usually did. This felt more like—

Ámbar jerked back, frowning, and the sight that greeted her eyes was not Simón's eyes. Even in the dark and with the mask on, it immediately struck her that this was not Simón's face— the visible features were all wrong, and the smug smirk that curled those lips made her skin crawl.

She recognized him just as he took off his mask.

No.

A sharp wave of horror left her paralyzed. No, no, no, it can't be.

"What are you doing with my girlfriend?!"

Suddenly, Simón materialized in front of her, and yes, this was Simón— His voice, his shape, his body language. The one she had just kissed was—

"Oh, sorry, she's still your girlfriend?" Benicio mocked. "I thought you two were done since she threw herself at me, but I guess she just likes to cheat."

The shock and the disgust were so potent that it took Ámbar a second to gather her anger, but when she heard that, it came. And it rose fast.

"That's not true!" The words ripped out of her with such strong offense it almost hurt her throat. "You fucking liar. My love—" She turned to Simón desperately. "Don't hear a word he says, he's lying. I would never kiss him. I thought he was you!" She glanced back at Benicio and pointed at his clothes. "He's wearing the same costume— You have to believe me."

Benicio snorted. "You used to tell me nothing would ever happen with Simón either, and look how that ended."

Ámbar whirled around. "Can you shut up?!" She barked. Her body was shaking from the fury. "You son of a bitch— What is your problem, Benicio?! I broke up with you. I never liked you. Get over it!"