Delia shoved her hands in her pockets and focused on the ground, wondering if she could get a counselor’s job instead of heating up Hot Pockets if she gave up on ValleyStart.

Going home and telling her parents she’d failed, here, the one place she could possibly succeed, would end with her folded into their arms, listening as they said how proud they were of her for trying, knowing she’d never feel the same about herself.

Especially after the sacrifices they’d made for her these past couple of years—from her dad’s long drives to Chicago to forgoing theater improvements like the new lighting board to her mom taking on everything from catering to costume repair to save more for Delia’s college fund. Delia helped as much as she could.

But seeing those kids, helping those kids, for once Delia didn’t feel ashamed of who she was and what she could do. All the while, she’d snuck glances at Maddie and Lucy, who seemed to be enjoying themselves as much as she was. When they were all volunteering, they’d seemed almost like equals.

Delia couldn’t believe she’d actually thought they could be a team, that she’d found girls who were like her, that they could all be part of the same club.

She’d never been part of anyone’s club but her parents and Cassie’s. Her town was small, her schools even smaller. Her computer was her second best friend, and her classmates knew it. Everyone liked Cassie and would never have said out loud that Delia couldn’t tag along—at least out loud in Delia’s presence.

“That’s amazing, Delia,” Lucy said.

Delia stopped walking. “What?”

“I said . . .” Lucy looped her arm through Delia’s. “That’s amazing. That you taught yourself. You’re a true unicorn.”

Maddie snorted. “Is that supposed to be a compliment?”

“It is,” Delia said shyly. “A unicorn’s a . . .”

“Programmer or startup that is too incredible to actually exist.” Lucy’s tone had a bit of awe in it.

“A unicorn?” Maddie mimed a long pointy horn on her head. “Pink and blue and swirly?”

“Whatever color you want it to be,” Lucy said. “And horns might only be for the male unicorns.”

“Hmm,” Delia said. “Yeah, I’m not really sure.”

“Are we seriously debating the anatomical correctness of a magical creature that doesn’t exist?”

Lucy looked at Delia and smiled. “I guess.”

“I guess,” Delia repeated.

A lightness in the breeze wafted over them as they crossed beneath an arbor covered in a purple flowering vine and continued on the path that would lead them back to the dorms. Delia had the strongest urge to text Cassie, like she should be here with her, with them.

After a while in silence, Maddie said, “Really? Self-taught, Delia?”