“That’s a lot of places,” Katherine says.

“We’re just going to need to scout them—” I start to say, before I get overwhelmed, and then I jump when the doors bang against the chair again. The freshman-curfew warning bell rang not too long ago, which means the halls are filling up with noise and snatches of singing. The doors whap against the chairs once, twice more. Taylor arches to his feet in a cat stretch and glides over, peering out.

“There’s no sign-up sheet!” someone says indignantly. It’s Elsie.

“It’s in the laundry room,” Taylor says, leaning against the door, but she’s pushing back.

“You said it was downstairs!”

“Definitely in the laundry room,” he says, and bangs the door shut, then leans against it casually. Outside Elsie thumps a few times, halfheartedly.

“Come sit down,” I say to Taylor. “Where were we?”

“So the problem,” Nevaeh says, “is that most buildings are locked at night.”

“Jack,” Katherine says, so quickly and firmly it’s clear that this is something she’s already thought about.

“Is that a noun or a verb?” Nevaeh teases, and Katherine flushes pink but pushes on.

“Jack,” she repeats. “He was in my trig class last year.” She points at Nevaeh. “He was in your Shakespeare class last year, too, I think.”

“The grumpy one with no friends?” Nevaeh says.

“He is just quiet!” she says. “He is so nice.”

“You like everyone, Kitty-Kat,” Nevaeh says.

“He is,” she insists.

I glance at Taylor, who lifts an eyebrow at me.

“He’s just not a joiner or whatever, but he has always been super nice to me,” she adds. “I tutored him in trig last year. He’s funny, when you get to know him, and sweet, and we talked about a lot of stuff, and we still do, and—”

“Katherine Mary Elizabeth James, do you have a crush?” Nevaeh says delightedly, teasingly, as Taylor sits up and claps.

“I don’t!” she says.

“Are you sure?” I say.

“Yes!” she says in a very dignified way. “I am sure I do not have a crush on Jack.”

Nevaeh and I trade glances. Nevaeh shrugs, the tiniest movement of her shoulders, one perfect eyebrow just the slightest bit arched. I think we both believe there’s something maybe, possibly happening, but we will not push it.

“No one should,” Taylor says, reaching over to take Katherine’s hand. “I heard he has rabies.”

“He does not!” she says, and then she laughs. “Shut up.” She clears her throat. “Anyway! He also does AV things all over campus for teachers. For our performances! You have all seen him plenty of times.”

I shake my head, and Taylor shrugs.

“There are a weird number of Jacks on campus,” Taylor says. “And every Jack I’ve ever met has been grumpy. And hot.”

“He is not that grumpy!” Katherine says.

“Hm, is he hot?” Taylor asks, perking up.