10:55. I slide out of bed with the grace and stealth of a panther. (Okay, sure, I have never seen a panther and can’t really distinguish the big cats, but it’s always a panther in a metaphor.) Ernie remains a fallen log as I crack the door open. The hall is empty. I can hear only the humming of window fans and an old-school wall clock ticking ridiculously loudly. Or is that my heart?

My options are complicated: the end of the hall farthest from my room has two doors leading outside, but is also directly opposite the dean’s apartment. The end of the hall nearest me has only one, which leads to the basement and then out, but because the universe hates me, Gordo’s room is closest to that exit. I think I have to choose that option and hope Gordo doesn’t catch me, and if he does, I hope that having seen him at the mall is a teeny bit of leverage.

I’m barefoot and almost tiptoeing as I pass his room and find, to my relief, the stairwell door propped open. What was I worried about?

The basement stairs descend to a landing then reverse direction to lead to the exit. It’s in my pivot that I see them: Vin Weasel and some redheaded giant blocking my escape. I could pee myself.

Nobody moves for a second. Surely as I’m sneaking out, they’re sneaking back in, which means we are canceling out each other’s rule-breaking. Vin’s surprise gives way to amusement, and he advances, noiselessly clapping me on my back. “Just got here and already a player!”

Oh my god, really? I give them a thumbs up and scurry away, safe in the knowledge that they won’t report me, and now sure there’s no alarm. I slip outside in the cooling air, and the night is mine.

I don’t know where Leeza wants to meet. There’s an on-all-night light by the main entrance that’s currently a rave for frenzied moths. She can’t possibly want to meet where we can be seen, so I try to stay in the shadows and head around back. It’s so dark at first that I think she’s not here until I see the tip of a cigarette glowing like the target of a laser. Sis, I want to say, that stuff will kill you and ruin your teeth, but then again, half my classmates are permanently scarring their lungs vaping, so public service announcements never work.

I can see her smile once I’m closer. Her greeting cracks me up. “You put your big girl panties on and came.”

I love her sass. “I never take them off, sis.” I wave away the cigarette when she offers it.