Bertha is a blue Nissan Cube, compact, and yes, rather ugly, but I’m certainly not complaining.

We drive into town, which is far more convenient than waiting for the bus—although there’s one every hour. About half an hour later, I am devouring a plate full of grease and carbs like I’ve never seen food in my entire life.

“You definitely were right about breakfast,” I admit. “Or lunch, I guess.”

“I’m often right, especially when it comes to hangover cures. Trust me, they’re needed after comic cons and ren fairs. You gonna answer that?” she asks, pointing to the vibrating phone on the table I’m actively ignoring.

“No.” I leave it at that.

The screen is facing down. That doesn’t change that there are only two people who would call me on a Sunday at twelve—or three in the afternoon, for them: Noah and my grandmother. I don’t want to chat with either. First of all, the food might have contributed to making me feel slightly human again, but I’m still miserable. But also, I am deeply ashamed of both my behavior, and the fact that I enjoyed what happened last night.

Crap. I will disappoint them both. Besides, what sort of person breaks up with their boyfriend over the phone? Less than a week after leaving the state? All of that is highly distressing and I simply don’t have the mental space for it.

“So what’s the deal with Cross and you? You’re seeing him?”

Lily laughs so hard, for so long, I think I’m going to have to put my Heimlich maneuver knowledge to the test night, but she eventually gets a hold of herself. “Erm, no. Cross likes to fuck with me, that’s all. I like ice skating. I’ve been doing it most of my life. There’s a rink on campus, and they have a pitiful hockey team he belongs to. He heard me talk shit about them with a friend one day, and has decided to be a dick to me ever since. It’s all very immature.”

“But you like him?” I guess. “It looked like you liked him a bit yesterday. Especially when I told him to back off and you took his side.”

She sighs deeply. “No, Claire. I took your side. It’s one thing to push back against the teasing; but threatening them with exposure? That kind of stuff, they take seriously here. If you’d posted that video, they would have ruined your life, and your reputation, before the end of the night. Made it so you run out of here crying, and no other college would ever accept you. I’ve seen it.”

My jaw falls. “Seriously?”