Mel sat down next to me, taking Steph’s place on the bench. “Hey, what are you doing Wednesday night?” Mel asked.

“Um, I don’t know, why?”

“Steph’s performing at the open mic at the Bolinas Café in Fairfax. You wanna come?”

“Mel, leave her alone,” Steph said. “She doesn’t want to come to some open mic night.”

Mel looked at me almost slyly. “You sure?”

Lisa stood there smoking and staring at me, and then she slid her free hand into Steph’s, their fingers lacing together.

“Where are you from?” Lisa asked.

“Massachusetts,” I answered. “I’m visiting for the summer.”

Lisa looked a little confused. “But originally, I mean?”

A prickle of irritation went through me. “I was born in Boston.”

“We better get going,” Steph said abruptly. “Thanks for talking, Aria.”

“Sure,” I said.

Lisa still looked confused, but she let Steph pull her toward the parking lot.

Mel stood up and asked, “So you want to come with us on Wednesday? Steph’s got a new song.”

“You don’t have to come,” Steph called back.

Mel waved off Steph’s comment. “Come on, don’t make me be the third wheel again. Only you can save me.”

Mel was joking, but there was a wicked sparkle in her eyes, a challenge I didn’t quite understand. I glanced at Steph, who looked a bit self-conscious.

“I don’t know if I’ll have a car,” I hedged.

“We could pick you up,” Mel said.

“Oh no,” I said quickly. “I’m all the way out in—”

“Woodacre, yeah,” Mel said. “It’s not that far from Fairfax. I’ll come get you. Steph has the address, right?”

“Um, yeah. But I don’t want to make you—”

“Not a problem. What’s your number?”

She already had her phone out. She was very pushy, and if a boy had been that pushy, I would’ve given him a fake number. But there was something flattering about Mel’s interest, so I told her. I heard my phone ding after she texted me.

Lisa ground out her cigarette on the side of a nearby trash can and tossed the butt inside. “Mel, we gotta go,” she said.

Mel gave me a quick grin. “Be ready at seven thirty on Wednesday.”

As they walked out into the parking lot, Steph glanced back at me, mouthing the words I’m sorry. I wasn’t sure if she was apologizing for Mel’s pushiness or for Lisa’s asking me where I was from originally, but I shook my head slightly. It’s okay, I mouthed back.