I should be home right now. I should be studying, or sleeping, or taking some time to myself. Everything has been moving so fast, I haven’t had time to think. But how could I pass up an invitation to a party from Yazmin? When I told Anna about the party, she freaked out. According to her, Riley isn’t the best actor, but he’s popular. She swore the “VIPs of SPA” would be at the party. How could I miss that? And even if I don’t meet cool people, I can get pictures and look like a cool person. I’m typically shy at parties unless I know the people, but that won’t get me noticed. Tonight, I will play the role of the Party Guy.

I invited Anna to the party—didn’t feel like I had a choice after telling her about it—but she might have taken it the wrong way. I realize now, as we eat dinner, that she might think this is a date.

“Thanks for inviting me out, Augustus,” Anna says with a big smile.

“No problem.”

“I’ve never been to Riley’s, but I hear his parents are super rich. Like, they own a hedge fund rich. My god, this matzo ball soup is too salty.”

Maybe she doesn’t think this is a date. I’ve never been on a date, so I wouldn’t really know what one feels like. But she’s acting flirty. “How’s your burger?” she asks.

“Good,” I say with my mouth half full. “My aunt is vegan—it’s a struggle.”

She looks around at the diner, then claps her hands together. “This is such a cute first date.”

Yes, this was a mistake.

I like Anna. But I don’t like like Anna. I don’t think of her at night. Or get nervous when she looks at me in class. All those things happen for Yazmin. Too bad she’s with someone.

Anna steals a fry. “How do you know Riley anyways? How did you find out about this party before me?”

I pop the collar on my button-up short-sleeved shirt—a score from the thrift store down the street from my aunt’s place. I went shopping today—I needed a party shirt for the Party Guy. “Guess I’m more popular,” I say.

She rolls her eyes playfully. “I guess so,” she says. “But you did put people on notice with that monologue.” She takes another fry, thinking. “It was just so smart. Everyone was talking about it yesterday.”

“Everyone?” I ask with a slight crack in my voice. I’m up to two hundred followers—it’s totally going to my head.

“Yeah, dude, you put yourself on the map.”

I clear my throat. “Does everyone at school know I’m trans?”

Anna shrugs. “I’m sure not everyone. That’s dramatic. But some people might. Does it matter?”