When I have my change, I grab the bag and just about backflip out of the store. Written in pink ballpoint on the receipt: a seven-digit phone number, 555-2334. Wow. I’ve only lived in a time when you have to include the area code and local exchange, so this is like being handed a letter from a Civil War general. But it gets even crazier. Next to a big smiley face is her name: Malee.

I’m so focused on the realization that my principal lived in Antic Springs as a kid—Mom so never told me that—that I don’t see Gordo until I actually bump into him.

“Watch it, ass wipe!” He does a double take when he sees it’s me. And looks nervous. “What are you doing off campus?”

“I’m with Ms. Silverthorn!” (It’s kind of true.) “What are you doing here?” I’m pretty sure I have him in a bind because even all these years later, boarding kids still need permission to leave the academy, and you have to sign out, even if you’re just going to Faculty Row. It has always been my great privilege to come and go as I please, and it’s also one reason I would never break up with Cheng: dating a fellow day student is like a get-out-of-jail-free card.

Ma Elena comes out of Tape Lab with a red bag—I am dying to see what she bought—and she frowns when she sees me here. “Already breaking the rules? It’s the first day.” Now she sounds like Mom. Or at least that’s what I think before she grins. “I’m only teasing. I work for Frohmeyer, so I get to run a lot of errands, and he wouldn’t love me bringing Gordo along, so we’ll all just agree that neither of you is here! Rules beg to be bent.” And she flashes that smile again. My god, it’s bright. “I’m getting an Orange Julius before we head back. Anybody want one?”

I don’t even know what that is, but I pass, and so does Gordo. Ma Elena shrugs and heads off toward what looks like a smoothie bar and hops in a not-unimpressive line. It occurs to me that if she works for Frohmeyer, she has the same campus job as I will. We’re that alike?

Gordo lets her get out of earshot before asking me, in his lowest voice. “Why were you sitting with the fag?”

Not Leeza. Not Tawny. All his eyes could see was Chaz. And he really wants to know.

“He sat with us, and so what if he did?” I can’t remember if Heathers is out in 1985 or not, but I do my best Veronica. “What’s your damage?”

“My what?”