They had met at the start of Freshers’ Week, the two of them gravitating to each other on Orientation Day. Orla was small with tight black spiral curls. When she smiled, she revealed a row of straight teeth, a tiny gem winking from one of her incisors. She was feeding books into her locker when Eva stopped to say hi.

They talked for a few minutes about the tutorial and about the test they had coming up next week, a slight coolness perceptible in Orla’s responses. And when Eva said: ‘So-oo, I was wondering: is there any chance I could borrow your CFD notes again? I promise, this is the last time,’ Orla slammed her locker shut, and said quietly:

‘What do you think I am, your fucking amanuensis?’, her cheeks flushing.

‘Of course not!’

‘Why don’t you just turn up for lectures and take your own notes?’

‘I would but … It’s complicated.’

‘Sure it is,’ Orla remarked, turning the key in the lock. When she began to move away, Eva caught her arm.

‘Please, Orla. Look, I’m not supposed to tell anyone, but the reason I’ve been missing is that I’m seeing someone. But it’s difficult for us to meet. He can only really get away during the day.’

‘How come? Is he married?’ A question thrown out but not seriously. When Eva didn’t answer, Orla’s eyes widened.

‘No fucking way.’

‘I’m really trusting you with this, Orla. Ross would kill me if he knew I’d told you.’

‘Is it serious?’

‘Yes! We’re just so in love and it’s incredibly difficult trying to snatch some time together. Any chance we get we just—’

‘What about his wife?’

‘Well, obviously she doesn’t know. I mean, she’ll have to find out sooner or later and we’re trying to figure out a way to tell her—’

‘Does he have kids?’

‘One. A little boy. He’s adopted. Not that that makes any difference. Oh, he’s so cute though, Orla, just adorable! And Ross is crazy about him. He’s such a good dad.’

But then Orla said: ‘So, all this time I’ve been covering for you in lectures, passing you on my notes, you’ve been having it off with a married man?’

Eva’s head jerked back like she’d been slapped.

‘What? No, it’s not like that. It’s—’

‘Jesus, you disgust me.’

‘Oh, come on! Don’t you think you’re being a bit puritanical?’

‘Fuck you, Eva. Just because I don’t want to assist you in your home-wrecking. Well, good luck finding some other sap to help you scrape a pass. Hardly anyone here even fucking knows you.’