Sarah laughed. “Now why doesn’t that surprise me.”

“Can’t imagine,” Chase said as she rose to go upstairs. “’Night, Sarah.”

“’Night, Chase,” Sarah called softly after her.

Chase let herself into the plainly furnished but serviceable apartment, shucked her clothes, and stretched out naked on the narrow bed below the window. She could see the moon above the trees when she turned on her side. She smiled to herself. She’d started out the evening with plans that didn’t include sleeping alone. But rather than be disappointed, she felt weirdly content. She’d see Lily in the morning, and for right now, that was all that mattered.

* * *

Marty tensed as the cabin door opened and closed softly behind them. They’d made a bet with themself as to who it might be, and won when Ford dropped down on the top stair beside them.

“Hi,” Marty said.

“What are you doing out here?” Ford said, drawing her knees up toward her chest and wrapping both arms around them.

At just before midnight the night was cool, the sky clear, and the stars a billion flashing points of brilliance scattered across an inky sky. The moon played hide-and-seek behind clouds that raced by as if on their way to some other world. Why wouldn’t they want to be out here instead of in a twenty-by-twenty-foot dorm with seven other people and a couple of windows that barely let in a pathetic breeze? That didn’t sound like something they could say, though. Just something else to make them seem weird.

“I was finishing a book,” Marty said, pointing at the closed e-reader beside them. “It was nice out here, and more comfortable than the bunk.”

“You got that right,” Ford muttered. “I can’t believe my parents even knew about this place.”

“Couldn’t sleep?” Marty ventured to ask, not really sure if Ford would welcome conversation, but they were sitting out there together, and pretending otherwise seemed silly.

“Oh, it was hot in there and…” Ford’s voice drifted off, and after a second she said, “What are you reading?”

“A book about an alternate ancient world with sorcery and dragons.”

Ford snorted softly. “Really? A fantasy.”

“Yep.”

“Kind of surprised. You don’t strike me as the fantasy sort of girl.” Ford hesitated. “Guess that’s not really right, is it, the girl part?”

“Well,” Marty said slowly, wondering if the question was serious or just snark, “I don’t really identify with being a girl or boy.”

“Yeah, I got that part. So, are you bi?”

Another unexpected question, but Marty didn’t detect the usual condescension or ridicule. “No.” They decided to take a risk. “Ace. How about you?”

“Cis and straight.” Ford paused. “Mostly.”

Marty laughed. “Fluid, right?”

“That. Yeah.”

“Do you really hate being here?” Marty asked.

“Yeah,” Ford said. “Not really as much as I thought, though. But jeez, rock climbing?”