“You look like a considered connoisseur of crossover cyber grindcore.” A young man shoved a flyer into Esther’s hand.

“Er . . . this says it’s for something called ‘Rock Night,’ and you’ve listed . . .” Her face contorted in horror. “The Killers???”

The man shrugged within his duffel coat and pulled a wry smile.

“Thought I’d try to give it a positive spin.” He ruined it by winking. “Just for you, sweetheart.”

“No, thank you.” Esther handed the flyer back, but she’d barely walked another step before she was accosted by someone asking if she’d ever considered becoming a Mathlete.

She had not and would not.

“What is all this?” she asked.

The math enthusiast pointed across the forecourt to the squat red building next to the union. “Activities Fair. In the Octagon.”

Of course. Daisy had said something about that at breakfast and—now that she was here—Esther considered trying to find her. It might be fun to sign up for something safe. Something that didn’t involve the words Black or Metal. Or a tattoo gun. Maybe something like tiddlywinks or origami . . . Who knew? Maybe she’d find Goth Girl queuing up for a bit of Minecraft action.

That made her smile.

As if someone that cool would go to an Activities Fair.

As if Esther would. Turning away, she went in pursuit of hot food.

Elise was as easy to talk to as she was hard to look at, a confusing combination that left Daisy flustered and jittery. Once the two of them had collected all Daisy’s things, they walked together down the next aisle. This time, Daisy found herself so distracted by Elise that she barely noticed any of the booths they passed.

“. . . it’s not that I’m looking for new friends, it’s just . . .” Daisy paused, not quite sure how she’d stumbled into this line of conversation.

“Of course not,” Elise said, her offhand smile warming Daisy’s cheeks and easing her conversational anxieties. Daisy watched as Elise drew a strand of glossy black hair behind her ear, painted nails smoothing it into place before she said, “But it’s natural to want to belong somewhere—and you don’t feel that way yet.”

“I don’t?” Daisy hadn’t realized she’d said that. She’d been too distracted by the perfect shell of Elise’s ear, wondering how everything about her managed to look so neat and precise and finished. Like she knew exactly who she was and what she was doing.

When Elise laughed, it was low and husky and made Daisy’s skin prickle with excitement.

“If you did, would you be here?” Elise waved at the booths around them. “Your friends didn’t come with you because they’ve found their groove already.”