“Well, he called me out of rehearsal to see the principal,” I say. This is the most cliché thing ever—me and my best friends squealing over a boy—but I don’t care. “I swear to Cate Blanchett I thought I was going to melt right then and there.”

“You are such a dramatic person,” Claudia says, leaning against the wall of lockers. “I can’t even handle you, or that boy. Why don’t you date someone who actively avoids lacrosse, like a normal person? I think my brother is single.”

My locker is in the same hall as Claudia’s, which is probably the only reason why I was able to find it my first few weeks at Sacred Heart.

“You sound like a commercial,” I say. “And anyway, isn’t Julio, like, five years older than us?”

“Aren’t you supposed to be looking for your welcome packet?” she mimics. “How did you forget who your guidance counselor is?”

“I don’t know.” How do I open the locker again? I spin to the left, right, and left again. It pops open on the first try. Claudia doesn’t seem impressed. “My old school had us assigned according to last name. It’s all messed up over here.”

“It’s not that complicated,” Claudia says. “Here, let me do it.”

“Don’t listen to her.” Lydia huffs. “Tell me what else happened!”

“He actually freaked me out a little bit with the principal thing,” I say, tossing a pile of notes into the garbage. I’ve only been here a couple of months, but it’s already a mess in here. “I thought something happened, like my parents needed me or something.”

“Did you let him know he freaked you out?” Claudia asks, folding her arms. “Because I would’ve.”

“I did,” I say, but I feel like laughing. The kiss lasted maybe a minute or two, and here I am, still thinking about it. “But it was really good, Lydia. You were right—it’s different when it’s with someone you like. It’s better. But listen, you have to promise not to talk about this at dinner Saturday night. My dads will never let it go.”

“Say it isn’t so,” Claudia gasps. “You aren’t telling us just to force your heteronormative agenda on us?

“I’m not,” I protest, looking under a textbook. “I just—I try not to be so straight all the time.”

I’ve only ever spoken to them about my crush on Miles. It would be weird to talk about Sarah now, like I’m backtracking, trying to present myself as a completely different person. Besides, Claudia likes making fun of me too much. Our whole relationship is built around making fun of each other. If she made fun of the way I used to feel about Sarah, I don’t know if I could just brush it off.