“No he didn’t.” Up go her eyebrows. “I mean, the Townie part, yeah, but he’s not the apologizing type.” Dammit, I said that as fact (which it is), not a guess (which it should be).

“How much time did you spend with him?” She doesn’t seem to mind that I insulted him; she’s only curious about how I pegged him so fast.

“I mean … it doesn’t take long to figure out a guy like that.”

She colors. “I know how he looks, but you don’t know his story. And my advice is, on your first day, don’t invite people to judge books by their covers.”

I’m pissing off my own mom. “I’m sorry. Really. He just scared me a little.”

Her posture softens. “Don’t you worry. As long as he’s with me, he has to behave. If he doesn’t, he can be replaced!” That line is so sassy, I would have said it, and it’s hard to believe it came from her lips. While I try to process that, she goes back to her seat, and I hear her whispering my name. It wouldn’t surprise me if she’s now telling him that I apologized. She’s always hated conflict—Switzerland with spray bangs.

Two more periods (chemistry, which I’m bad at in any decade, and gym, from which I’m excused because apparently, you need these hideous high waisted gym shorts and crew socks nearly to your knees), then it’s lunch. I get my tray and hop in line: today’s options are lukewarm hot dogs or wan chicken breasts wrapped in ham, accompanied by two mayonnaise-based side dishes: macaroni salad and potato salad. Only the macaroni salad is vegetarian (the potato salad is liberally studded with bacon), and there’s no vegan option at all (Cheng would starve). Maybe vegans don’t exist yet? You could probably do a paleo diet here, but keto is out for sure. In my day, this cafeteria would beg for a lawsuit. (In my day? Like I’m eighty.)

Now, where to sit. My roommate is at a long table with a lot of empty space between him and the two girls hunched over a copy of Tiger Beat at the other end. He is chewing with his mouth open, eyes fixed on that electronic game console. I can’t.

Leeza saves me, dragging me to the table where she sits with a white girl wearing a Care Bears sweatshirt. “Look what I found wandering the halls this morning.” She’s about basic as possible, which seems an unlikely fit with Leeza. She seems to accept that if Leeza has invited me to their table, I’m worth knowing, and she introduces herself as Tawny. Her eyes are pale blue and untroubled as she burbles a stream of questions.