Karina didn’t look up. The class requisition form had been sitting in her backpack for a week, but she’d been avoiding the showdown with her parents. Ever since she’d taken an early interest in science, her parents had guided her toward medicine. At one time, this had appealed to Karina too, the idea of helping people feel better or even saving lives. She used to enjoy taking care of children and animals for her neighbors and the independence it conferred.

But all that had ended with Prem’s death, along with many other things. The idea of being responsible for another living being had become too daunting. On the Olympiad team, she’d learned about earth science, geology, engineering. She saw how much diversity and richness there was in the field of science, with numerous paths that felt as equally noble and important as medicine. The abstract nature of environmental science felt safer, but she knew this discussion would result in another argument with her parents.

“Yes, definitely.” Karina smiled at Mrs. Galbraith. That evening, she forged her mother’s signature on the requisition form, feeling only a small flint of guilt as she did so.

* * *

“Truth or dare, Karina?” Maddie Williams asked before taking a swig from the longneck bottle of Miller Lite.

“Dare,” Karina said. They were in the basement of Maddie’s home, as her parents and younger sister were out for the evening.

“She always chooses dare,” someone in the circle muttered. “Make it a good one.”

Other dares Karina had successfully executed were prank-calling for pizza, taking a swig from a liquor bottle, and downing a full spoon of red pepper sauce. Truth would have been easier, especially since she could always lie, but it wouldn’t give her the same thrill. A joint was being passed around the circle, and Karina feigned taking a drag before passing it on.

Maddie, one of the popular girls at school whom Izzy knew from the barn, scrunched her forehead in concentration for a moment before a glint appeared in her eyes. “You have to spin the bottle, and whoever it lands on, you go into the bedroom with him for five minutes and take off your shirt and let him feel your tits.” Maddie looked around to the rest of the group, who responded with whistles and catcalls.

Karina took a slow sip of her beer. She was new to this group. Many of the girls were paired off with guys, sitting between their legs or curled up with them under concealing blankets. Karina had not yet dated and, truthfully, hadn’t even kissed a boy yet. Everyone was now watching for her reaction. She felt perspiration collect under her arms. “That’s not going to take five minutes,” she said, stalling.

“Well, then use the time however you like.” Maddie grinned. “Or he likes!” Another round of whoops and whistles came from the group, as the guys disentangled themselves to sit in a circle around the bottle Maddie had placed on the floor.