Id say you were a short way from home, but everythings far from this place, he said. So, yourea freshman?
Yes. She felt the dreaded blush creeping up again. Early admission.
Yeah? How early?
She tried to shrug it off. Couple of semesters. No biggie.
Whats your major? Ian took the top off his coffee and blew on it to cool it down, then took a sip. Thanks again, by the way, this is really good.
No problem, Eve said. She sounded much more cheerful now, and gave the sorority girls their skinny-half-caff-no-sugar lattes with a sunny, slightly manic grin.
Nobody had actually bothered to ask Claire what her major was before. Of course, it was customary for a freshman to change three or four times before settling on something, but Claire had always been pretty definite. Physics.
Really? Ian blinked. Wow. Thats pretty intense. You must be good at math.
She shrugged. I guess. Modesty in action; shed never failed to land an A, ever.
Gonna transfer out of here, I suppose. I mean, a degree in physics from Nowhere U isnt going to do you all that much good, right?
Im hoping for MIT, Claire said. What about you?
Ian shook his head. CE. Civil engineering. Yeah, Ive got to take physics, but no way would I volunteer to take more. And Ive got one more semester. Then I transfer out to UT Austin.
A lot of students transferred out to the University of Texas; it was a major school for just about everything. Claire nodded. Shed considered it herself, butMIT? Caltech? If she had a chance, shed take it.
Sowhats EEK? A professional fraternity? Because there were some on campus; you paid your dues and went to some meetings and put it on your resume later.
Its a bunch of guys who like to party, really. Ian looked embarrassed. Im in it because Ive got a couple of friendsanyway, they do throw this really cool party every yearits a big bash. Its called the Dead Girls Dance. All zombie-freaky scary-movie stuff. He glanced over at Eve, who was steaming milk. Your friend there would fit right in as is. Most people wear costumes, though.
Was he asking her out? No, he couldnt be. For one thing, shed just met him. For anotherwell, nobody ever asked her out. It just didnt happen.
It sounds neat, Claire said, and thought, I just used the word neat in a conversation with a cute boy, and I should walk away now and shoot myself.
Its at the EEK frat house tomorrow night. Listen, if you give me your number, I can text you the details.
Umsure. Nobody had ever asked before. She stumbled over the digits; he keyed it into his cell phone and smiled at her. A nice smile. A really nice smile, actually. Um, I dont know if I can come, though.
Well, if you can, youd save my life. We geeks have to stick together while everybody else goes nuts, right? See you there tomorrow night at eight?
Right, she echoed. Umsure. Ill be there. Thanks. Um, Ian, right?
I can.
Claire, she said, and pointed at herself. Oh. Did I already say that?
He laughed and walked away, sipping his latte.
It was only when he did that she realized shed just agreed to go out on a date. An actual date. With a boy who was not Shane. How had that happened? Shed meant only to be nice, because he seemed like an okay guy, and then hed been all charming, especially by comparison with the other guys.
She had a date.
With a boy who was not Shane.
Not good.
Hey, Eve said, and motioned her closer. So, what was that? Is he giving you a hard time or what?
Ummm. Claires mind went blank. No. He justnever mind.
Eves eyes turned from concerned to shrewd. He hitting on you?
Claire settled for a shrug. She had no idea how to tell,actually. I think he was just being nice.
Guys arent nice, Eve said. What did you tell him youd do?
Okay, that was scary, how quickly shed nailed it. Claire shifted her weight uncomfortably, and fiddled with her heavy backpack. Maybe I said I might go to this party. But it totally wasnt a date.
Oh, totally not, Eve agreed. And rolled her eyes. Next up! Vanilla latte!which totally describes you, by the way.
Ill, um, be over there, Claire said. Studying.
Eve might have wanted to stop her, but the drinks kept coming, and Claire was able to fade away and go in search of her study table. Which, miraculously, was still unoccupied. She thunked down her backpack on the battered wood and sat, sipping her mocha. The UC seemed safer than most places in Morganville. Anyplace packed with people reading couldnt be that bad.
Almost like a real university.
Claire was reading ahead in her history text when a shadow fell over the page. She looked up and saw a girl she slightly knew from her old dorm, Howard Halla freshman, like herself. Lisa? Lesley? Something like that.
Hey, the girl said. Claire nodded toward the empty chair opposite her, but Lisa/Lesley didnt sit. That Goth at the coffee bar, the one who used to work at Common Groundsis she your friend?
Word got around fast. Claire nodded again.
Might want to keep her from getting herself killed, then, Lisa/Lesley said. Cause shes just pulled the pin from the Monica grenade over at the counter.
Claire winced and closed her book. She checked her watch; well, it was probably close to time to leave for class anyway. It was bad, and shallow, but she wished that Lisa Lesley had decided not to do her good deed of the day. It would have been nice to leave without another crisis.
Claire repacked her book bag and walked back toward the coffee bar. Im just going to tell her good-bye, she thought. No agenda here at all. Totally staying out of it.
Monica, Gina, and Jennifer were leaning on the bar, blocking coffee pickup. The counter was all that separated them from Eve, who was steadily ignoring them.
Hey, Walking Dead, Im talking to you, Monica was saying. Is it true your brother tried to kill you?
Yeah, was that before or after he tried to do you? Hand gestures and everything. Wow, that was low even for Jennifer.
Tried? Gina snickered. Thats not what I heard. I heard they were getting it on all through high school. No wonder they both turned out to be freaks.
Eves face was a still white mask, but her eyesshe looked crazy. In control, but just barely. Her hands were steady as she pulled espresso shots and mixed drinks; she thumped the finished products down on the counter, three across, and said, If you dont go away, Im going to call my manager.
Oh, Monica said. Your manager. Wow, Im terrified. You think some barely-over-minimum-wage brain donor stupid enough to work here is going to scare me? Do you? She leaned to the side, trying to catch Eves eyes. Im talking to you, freak face.
Gina noticed Claire standing a few feet away, and drew Monicas attention with a hand on her shoulder. Two freaks for one, she said. They must be having some kind of special.
Claire. Monicas smile widened. Sure, why not? You angry Im ragging on your little lesbo girlfriend?