Clara was knocking at the door. Eve was at the point where she recognized three knocks: Maya, Sawyer, and Clara. Maya was a bunch of staccato raps. Sawyer was a couple thudding pounds. Clara was four quiet, steady knocks.

She put down her paintbrush and went to the door.

“I decided on engineering at the downtown campus!” Clara practically shouted.

“Hello to you, too,” she teased.

“Sorry. Hi, Eve! I decided on engineering at the downtown campus!”

“Well, great.”

“Also, I’m gay.”

“What?” What?

“I was thinking about what you said, and I think it makes sense to apply to the hardest program—that’s engineering.” She was talking really quickly, almost manically. “And then I can transfer to the Faculty of Arts and Science if I end up wanting to do political science.”

“Hang on. Rewind.” They were still standing in the doorway. “Actually, come in.” She led Clara back to the kitchen and poured her a lemonade.

Clara ignored it in favor of burying her head in her hands. “Oh my God. I did not mean to blurt it out like that. I had a whole speech prepared.”

Eve smiled. “Do you want to give it now?”

“No,” Clara said miserably.

“Clara.” Eve laid a hand on her arm. “This is good news.”

“What do you mean, good news?”

“Well, I’m getting the sense that maybe this is a secret that’s been weighing on you?” Clara nodded, but she still looked miserable. “It’s not a secret anymore. That’s good!”

“But you’re not going to tell anyone, are you?” Clara asked urgently.

“Of course not. Not if you don’t want me to.”

“I don’t want you to,” she said quickly.

“Have you told Sawyer?”

“No.”

Eve wanted to laugh at the vehemence of that no. “I think you could.”

“Not yet. I just…I wasn’t going to tell anyone. I mean, it was all theoretical anyway.”

“Theoretical?” Eve asked.

Clara made a face. “It’s not like I had a ton of prospects around here.”

“Ah. I see.”

“I was going to go away to school and, you know…maybe meet people.”

“Is this what you meant about meeting specific sorts of people?” That conversation all of a sudden made a lot more sense.

“Yeah.” She ducked her head like she was embarrassed. “That’s partly why I think the downtown campus is best.”

“I think you’re right.”

Her head whipped up. “You don’t think I’m weird? Or gross?”

“Of course not! You’re just you. This is part of who you are.” She hesitated. “And I’m pretty sure your brother will think the same thing.”

“I can’t tell him yet.”