After they finished their set, Madchen came out to sell merchandise at the tables set up near the food trucks. Tasha said she wasn’t hungry, so I went over to buy some tacos and a water for myself. When I returned, Tasha and Mel were seated on a bench under a tree.

“Where’s Lisa?” I asked.

“Bathroom,” Mel said.

I unwrapped my taco, and Mel and Tasha went back to talking about the show. I had wondered if Mel would be jealous like Lisa, but she didn’t seem to be. I ate my taco—al pastor, with hot salsa—and watched the crowd milling in front of the merch table as my tongue burned. I caught glimpses of Roxy, Jasmine, Talia, and Steph signing CDs.

“I’m not exactly straight,” Tasha was saying.

Startled, I tuned back in to her conversation with Mel.

“Really?” Mel exclaimed. “Dude, I didn’t know.”

“Why would you? It’s kinda new to me, too.”

“New, huh? Should I ask for the story?”

“I had a thing with one of my friends. That’s all. She says she’s not gay.” Tasha’s nonchalance was hard-edged.

“What ‘thing’?” Mel asked. “I need more details before I can accurately assess this. Was it just you, was it mutual, what?”

“Oh, it was mutual,” Tasha said. “I mean, we hooked up.”

“By ‘hooked up,’ do you mean you made out with her? Or did you have sex? Sometimes girls hook up with other girls, you know, and it’s not like they’re queer.”

I was taken aback by the directness of Mel’s questions, but Tasha didn’t seem to mind. Maybe it was easier for her to talk about these things with a near-stranger.

“We had sex,” Tasha said. “And she was definitely a willing participant.”

“Hey, TMI,” I said. “Don’t forget I’m here.”

Tasha glanced at me. “Sorry! I know this is probably weird for you, but she asked.”

Mel chuckled. “So what happened then?”

“She freaked out and said she’s not gay.”

“That sucks.”

“Yep.”

Mel reached over and patted Tasha’s knee. “I’m sorry.”

Tasha gave a short laugh. “Me too.”

“She still loves you,” I said.

“As a friend,” Tasha noted bitterly.

“I know you didn’t ask for this, but let me give you a piece of advice,” Mel said. “Don’t get involved with your friends.”

“Too late for me,” Tasha said.

“For the future,” Mel said. “Because there will be a future, and when you start to fall for Aria, just say no.”

“Don’t worry, I’m not in any danger of falling for Aria.” Tasha looked at me and grinned. “No offense.”

“Hey, what’s wrong with me?” I joked.

“You’re like my sister,” she said, making a grossed-out face.