Ben knew what song would come on after this one ended, and sure enough, “Fire” came on. He looked at the poster above Fitzy’s head—the Hindenburg’s elongated egg devoured by black-and-white flame. Here he was. He tried again to make it feel right.

It was his turn again. He took another shot—this one was much easier. He poured one. He switched with Jed.

A copy of the Student Directory, which everyone called the scopebook, lay on the table, open toward the middle, and Ennis picked it up.

“Oh, dude, Danica Morales,” Ennis said.

“She’s awful, Ennis,” said Fitz.

“Fuck you—it’s not a good picture. Tell me you haven’t seen her ass and wanted to deep the shit out of it.”

“Yeah, but she’s friends with all the track guys.”

“Have you guys seen Lily Jarvis?” asked Ian.

“Who’s that?”

“She’s this newb in Paige. She’s so tasty, she’s got this little blond haircut. She could just tuck it behind her ears while she’s…” Ian demonstrated the hair tuck and laughed, and Ben never would have guessed he could be so playful.

Ennis flipped two pages back. “Yeah. Wow, yeah.” He took a pencil off the table and brought his knees together to serve as a desk. Ben expected him to lick the point of the pencil before he started writing: “Get…your…lips around…my pole.” Everyone laughed. Ben thought he felt good.

“How about Nicole Berger?” Jed said.

“Who?”

“You mean Nicole Rieger,” said Ian.

“No, Berger, the fourth-former.” Everyone was quiet for a second.

“Yeah, she’s all right,” said Ennis.

“She’s cool,” said Ian. Everyone nodded.

“Or the girl with the huge artillery,” Ben started, glancing at Ian. “She’s not like scary pretty, but her boobs are just…Alice…Help me here.”

“Alice Morehead?” asked Ian.

Ennis, Fitzy, and Jed all said at once, “Aaalice Moooorehead! Yes!”

“Jesus, those things are epic,” said Ennis. “Right, dude?” He leaned over and punched Ian in the leg. “You gotten pounded with that artillery yet?”

“Fuck off,” said Ian, scowling.

“Benny boy, write what you feel.” Ennis handed the book to Ben.

He wrote, “These guns will end the Battle of the Bulge.”

He handed it back to Ennis.

“Ha!” Ennis read it to everyone, and they all seemed to think it was okay.

“I hear she wanted to maybe get them reduced,” said Fitz.

“No!” Ennis moaned. “Ugh, what a crime. A crime against humanity, seriously.” Ennis turned to Ian. “So what’s your deal with her, man? You guys scrumping yet?”

“We’re talking,” Ian said. His shoulders were back up and tense. “I don’t know. I just wish she was better in the face. Just like, she’s so close.” Everyone nodded, and Ben detested him.

Ennis turned to Ben. “So what’s it like to be roommates with Ahmed?”