The urge to run out of the room intensified and was then overtaken by a hot flash of inspiration. Before she could second-guess herself, she typed: I was admiring your pants, creep. Kmart’s spring collection?

She kept her eyes ahead. Waited for the buzz which, when it came, caused an echoing vibration between her legs.

Unfortch have to get my strides custom made

Off the rack are too tight in the crotch

Lena shot back a vomit emoji bracketed by eye-roll emojis but was thinking of how three years ago she had to get her year twelve formal dress altered because she’d lost so much weight since she’d bought it in the July sales and it cost forty-five dollars and that was just to take in the waist and bust of a dress that already existed. And also thinking that she couldn’t wait to get out of here and take another look at that photo because it did look impressive.

Bet you’d like to have a feel

Of the fabric I mean

It’s really soft

The fabric is

RUOK ur face is red

The room erupted. People standing and shoving laptops and books into bags. ‘Hey, can I borrow your notes?’ she said, so fucking nonchalant. ‘Some idiot was distracting me and I missed, like, everything.’

‘Sorry, Harris, can’t help you.’ They were walking out together, like always. ‘Spent the whole time thinking about this girl I’m into. Maybe you can give me some advice, actually.’

‘I can try.’

‘So we’ve been hanging out a bit, after class or whatever. I think she might be interested in taking things further, but I’m kind of nervous about asking her.’

‘You don’t strike me as the nervous type.’

‘That’s the thing. I’m not usually. But this girl’s different. I can’t figure her out.’

‘Different how?’

‘Well, like, she’s super smart, but she hardly ever speaks up in class. And she’s super beautiful but seems shy about her looks. Always covering up. Hair in her face.’ He stopped and so did she. With both hands he pushed her hair behind her shoulders, then plucked at her sleeves. ‘Wears big baggy jackets on warm days.’

The sun had no right being so hot this late in the afternoon. He had no right.

‘Sounds as though you don’t like her much at all,’ she said, stepping back. ‘Maybe even wish she was a different girl altogether. Good thing you haven’t pushed things further, I think.’

‘Harris, I—’

‘Gonna miss my bus. See ya.’

On the ride home her phone buzzed, making her stomach flip, but it was only Aunty Nic: Sorry you died without taking a ride on those thighs, darling. What a wasted life.