Joey finally makes it to the school to show Esperanza his mural of her - when -

My blood goes frigid, my heart surges up, and nearly jumps out of my freaking throat. The good feeling, the pleasant trance, is smashed to pieces. God. I’ll look like a total asshole if I bring her all the way down here for nothing!
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Frantically, desperately, I pound the door.
“Somebody open the door!! Somebody open the door!! It’s not four o’clock yet!! It’s not four o’clock yet!!” I shriek, in a sustained blood curdling mania.
I keep banging like that for about a minute, until the bound of heavy footsteps come thumping down the stairs inside. The door crashes open, and the burly figure of Hoss, the security guard, fills up the doorway. His eyes flash with rage.
“What the hell is wrong with you boy?! Are you crazy?!” He rants in his deep southern drawl.
“Hoss – Hoss – listen - I gotta get in, man - please! It’s real important!”
“I said the damn school is closed!!
“But – but –“
“I don’t want to have to tell you again!”
Now, Esperanza appears before him, sashaying sexily up the steps.
Hoss’s eyes light way the fuck up. His attitude does an instant and complete 180, as he just gawks at Esperanza. He’s totally mesmerized.
After about thirty seconds, he regains his composure.
“Well, well now! Why didn’t you just say you had such a beautiful young lady with you, son? Now, that’s a horse of a different color.” he coos in his best Southern gentleman manner, opening the door, and practically bowing.
A horse of a different color? What? Had Hoss just watched The Wizard of Oz, or something?
“Come in, come in - watch your step there now, Miss.”
He takes her hand as he leads her in.
“Archibald Dawkins at your service, ma’am, but you can call me Hoss.” He kisses her hand, as Esperanza steps into the building.
“Hi Hoss, I’m Esperanza,” she giggles flirtatiously.
“Miss Esperanza, if you don’t mind me saying so, may I declare that you are the finest young lady I have ever had the pleasure to lay my eyes upon.” Esperanza titters. I can’t believe she’s tittering at this bullshit.
“Oh, thank you, Hoss, that’s very nice of you.”
“Mmm-mmm, yes indeed”.
I have never heard Hoss say much of anything before, let alone get all fluffy like this.
“We need to go up to the art room, Hoss, OK?” I cut into the hypnosis.
“Sure! Sure, not a problem, young man. Not a problem at all! Come on up.”
His eyes are laser-focused on Esperanza. We bounce up the stairs, Hoss following. His gaze is cemented on her ass, as he is whistling softly to himself.
As we approach the art room, he detaches the ring of keys from his belt loop. Searching for the correct one, he never averts his eyes from Esperanza, a permanent smile creasing his face.
All my hopes, aspirations, and intentions are locked up in my breath, right before we enter. This is the proverbial moment of truth. He opens the door, we glide in, and he turns on the lights.
“Um…there it is, Esperanza,” I choke, as I point to the mural in the back. She looks up at it and stares, her face going completely blank. I’m panting, trying to figure out what she’s thinking.
“Do…do you like it?” I question hesitantly.
“Boy’s a fine artist, Miss Esperanza, a fine artist, yes indeed.” Hoss cuts in.
Suddenly, she just breaks out crying! I mean, really bawling, as she puts her hands up to her face. I stand there paralyzed. Confused, not knowing how to react, and not understanding anything.
“There, there, now, Miss Esperanza, it’s alright, it’s alright.” Hoss offers her the handkerchief from his pocket, and puts his arm around her, comforting her! She melts into his chest, burying her head, weeping, as he continues to console her.
What the fuck?! What the hell is going on here?!
“Es – Esperanza…what’s the matter?”
“Oh papi!” She pries herself away from Hoss’s arms, and now hugs me tightly, sniffling as she talks.
“Oh my God…nobody…nobody ever done anything like this for me before,” she sighs deeply, and begins kissing me all over my face.
“Oh, Dios mio, you are the sweetest thing…”
“You…you like it then?”
“Oh baby, I love it!”
Now she kisses me right on the lips! Sticks her tongue in there, and we are frenching away, for, like, I don’t know, maybe five minutes! I feel like I’m going to faint, and have to make a tremendous effort to steady myself. She recognizes it, and holds me tightly.
Hoss stands there in the background, probably stunned, definitely wishing he was me right now! Now this is the best moment of my life.
“It is so beautiful, baby…thank you, thank you, thank you…”
She alternates from kissing me, to wiping her tears away with the handkerchief.
“I gotta give you another trim, papi,” she says as she gazes at me, running her fingers through my curls