“Oh no,” Alicia says, sitting back in her chair. “You know U equals U, right?”

I nod. I’m pretty sure everyone here knows it. If only the “undetectable” part of the equation still applied to me.

“So we actually got pregnant the natural way,” she says. “My viral load was—has been—undetectable, and my husband was just more comfortable doing things that way.”

“Wait,” I say. “Seriously? No, like, fertility treatments or anything?”

“Nope.” She shakes her head. “It was pretty easy.”

Wow. My back slumps against my chair. I always assumed I’d have to have someone’s help if I wanted kids. I didn’t realize U=U applied to that, too. My mind is officially blown.

“Well,” Julie says, “I’m sure you all have other questions, but we can get to those in a little bit. I think Simone’s question is a great way to shift to our topic of the day: relationships.”

More silence. I can’t read Brie’s expression with her eyes hidden behind her bangs. Jack stares down at his lap. Ralph is cracking his knuckles. A few of the thirteen-year-olds stare at Alicia with wide eyes, but I can’t tell what anyone is thinking. Do they have the same worries as me?

“I want you to know that relationships are completely possible,” Julie continues. “There just may be some challenges. Maybe some of you have already experienced this.”

“Oh, totally,” Brie announces, tossing her hair back. The sight of her bright hazel eyes almost makes me jump. “Whether it’s a kiss or sex, you’re screwed. If you tell someone before anything happens, they might just leave you and start telling other people.”

I flinch. She’s right, but still.

“And if they leave you, the process starts all over again with another person,” she continues, counting each step on her fingers. “So if I wanna have sex with five guys and tell all of them that I have HIV, that’s five extra people knowing who didn’t know before, and I don’t even get laid.”

I haven’t ever gotten laid, and a random creep just left me a threatening note in my locker.

“Tell me about it.” Jack’s voice startles me. He isn’t yelling, exactly, but it’s the loudest I’ve ever heard him speak. “And if you wait until after to tell them, they’d sic an angry mob on you.”

Brie laughs, ducking her face like she’s embarrassed. Jack’s cheeks are tinted pink. Ralph rolls his eyes.

“Well, people are entitled to their reactions and feelings,” Julie offers. “It’s important to make sure that they’re aware of your status before anything sexual happens, even if it’s difficult to talk about. It’s normal for them to be confused. The news could come as a shock.”