“Improv is about working with uncertainty and letting go of control. Don’t think too much,” Alexis says as the other students around her nod. Everyone nods whenever Alexis says anything. Within a couple of months of graduating from Georgia Tech, her YouTube comedy sketch series was endorsed by Tina Fey. She teaches a class for aspiring comedians every Saturday that’s about how to use improv as a way to “master the craft of comedy.” Of course, she’s also attractive in a spunky and pretty Mila Kunis kind of way, so it’s only a matter of time before she gets a gig on a hot TV show.

“I’m not thinking too much!” Natasha says. She’s actually doing the opposite. It’s always been a cruel irony for her that when she’s nervous, her thoughts freeze while her heart races.

She glances at her scuffed black Keds and feels the weight of everyone’s stares.

Jump, a tiny voice inside her says. Just jump.

Before she can think anymore, she listens. To her surprise, Chris starts jumping next to her and makes a hand motion as if he’s holding a rope.

“That’s it!” Alexis says. “You’ve taken Chris from running to jump rope! Keep going!”

Alexis seems energized by being able to tell people what to do. That type of bossy attitude reminds Natasha of her sister.

“Natasha, switch it up!” Alexis yells.

Natasha starts hopping on one foot, then the other. This is like a less embarrassing version of middle school PE class.

“You’re playing outside! Hopscotch! Yes!” Alexis cheers.

Within a few seconds, another classmate joins. They enact a hopscotch game that then transforms into all of them making sidewalk art with chalk.

“Natasha, that was great,” Alexis says. “You let yourself just be free.”

Natasha smiles and then sits down on one of the black folding chairs that’s at the perimeter of the otherwise bare room. Even though she’s not really sure what she’s accomplished, for the first time in weeks, Natasha feels something. Or rather, the absence of something, of darkness or urgency or maybe a force she couldn’t quite pinpoint right now.

I can do this, she thinks. I can really do this.

She’s late to meet the girls for brunch when class ends. She throws her phone and black Moleskine into her tote bag, the latest thing she’s “borrowed” from Suhani’s closet.

Alexis stops her just as she’s about to leave. “Hey, can we talk for a second?”

“Sure,” Natasha says as she waves bye to everyone else.

A flutter goes through her stomach. Someone mentioned that at the end of the seven-week block, Alexis picks a couple of students to be her interns. But today was just the first class. Is it possible that she already sees potential in Natasha?