Miles is bent over this wooden frame taller than me, but I can see everything: the tendons in his arms, the crease of muscle in his legs, and the curve of his ass. I know, I know—I guess I shouldn’t be looking at that. It’s just hard not to. I’m not used to seeing guys all over the place. It was different at my old school. There were tons of pretty girls, but I’d known them for ages and didn’t think to check them out.

Here? I’m not sure where I should look. It’s sensory overload with all the girls and boys without uniforms. All I know is that Miles’s ass is a pretty nice place to rest my eyes.

“Hey, Simone. What’s the play of the day?”

I blink. He’s looking at me now, a smile on his face. Maybe he didn’t see me staring.

“They’re musicals, not plays,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest. “We’ve been doing this a month, Miles. Come on. Don’t tell me my musical intervention hasn’t made any difference.”

“Fine, what’s the musical of the day?” he amends, turning toward me. I forget to breathe for a second, but it’s super quick, so it doesn’t count. “What was it last time? Cats?”

“Ugh, no way,” I groan, climbing up on the stage and plopping down next to him. He slides down so that he’s sitting next to me. His knee, so much bigger than mine, rests against me. I glance up at his face, but he doesn’t seem to notice. It’s not that his touch is surprising, exactly. It’s the warmth of another human, close enough to share, that startles me. “Don’t talk about Cats with me. That show is terrifying.”

He smiles wider, showing a flash of white teeth. I blink extra fast.

“You can’t be afraid of Cats. I don’t believe you.” He shakes his head. “Your favorite musical is about a guy who cuts people up and bakes them into pies.”

“Because it’s amazing, obviously.” I roll my eyes. “The actors in Cats are just creepy as hell, you know? Rolling all over the stage in their weird-ass costumes and trying to slither into the audience and hump your leg. I’m not into that. Keep the acting onstage.”

“I don’t know.” He shrugs. Again, his skin rubs against mine. It’s barely there, but I notice it. I can’t help but notice. “That sounds cool. Like you’re part of the art.”