Yaz coaches me through using the pen. I inhale, hold it, and feel my brain get light enough to float away. I’ve only smoked pot once with Hugo in the parking lot of our sophomore year dance. I had to wear this yellow dress and felt so uncomfortable. I was glad to have some escape. I breathe a cloud out and cough. I can hear someone singing Miley Cyrus in the living room. The city is alive around us with car horns and sirens. Strands of her hair dance in the wind. For no reason, I start laughing.

She laughs at my laugh. “What?”

“One day I’m in West Grove, Pennsylvania, and another I’m on top of the world. With you.” She smiles but looks away. “I mean, you’re here, too. Not with you.”

“I get it,” she says, looking at the bright lights. “This city is magic, but I grew up here. If you’re always surrounded by magic, it’s hard to appreciate it. I want to be new to everything.”

The vodka and pot are partying in my brain and making me a little dizzy. “It’s wild,” I confirm.

“What’s wild was your monologue the other day.”

“Thanks,” I say, blushing. I think of Juliet and her subtle ways of dropping being transgender into conversation. If this is something, I want Yazmin to know. This could be a good time. “Did you think it was good because I’m trans?”

She thinks, and I spiral. Is she processing that I’m trans? Did she know? Will this be over right now?

“I didn’t think of that,” she says. “Honestly, it was the steam coming off you. I felt the anger. The resentment of being forced to go die for your country. Your eyes did things.”

My body lights up like I hit a high score on a game. “Cool,” I say. She looks up at me and our eyes meet. It’s happening too fast to be nervous.

“What’s your favorite part of New York so far?” she asks.

I feel bold. Too bold. “You,” I say.

“Boy, you’re really going for it tonight.”

“Well, I did propose to you,” I remind her.

She bites her lip. “I do owe you a kiss, don’t I?” She leans in. I lean in. Our lips meet, and it’s perfect. She puts her arms around me. I want this to last forever.

“AUGUST,” I hear someone yell. We stop kissing and I see Anna with her arms crossed. I let go of Yazmin and feel like I did something wrong.

“Anna,” I say, but she’s already turned around and walked off.

“What’s her deal?” Yazmin asks.

“She kind of thought we were on a date tonight,” I admit.