“The kids seem pretty fond of you.”
“I’m fond of them too,” Michelle said. “They’re a good group. The Pride Coalition seems to grow every year, which is great to see.”
“I love that too,” Audrey said, giving Michelle a sly look. “I also love seeing this side of you. You seem more relaxed than you are in your classes.”
That was because she actually wanted to be here. Maybe nothere, at a Halloween party. Costume parties weren’t really her thing, but this one was turning out pretty well. “It’s a more relaxed environment.”
“So it is.” Audrey took two paper plates from the stack on the table and handed one to Michelle. “What are you in the mood for? Zombie-brain cupcakes? Witch-finger cookies? Ghost pizza bagels?”
Michelle surveyed the table. She hadn’t had dinner yet, so she needed something more substantial than candy and cupcakes. “I’ll start with one of the bagels.”
“If you want something savory, the graveyard chicken-enchilada dip sounds really good,” Audrey said. “Gia was telling me about it earlier when we were setting up.”
“Perfect.” Michelle filled a plate with various spooky finger foods and grabbed a can of sparkling water, then followed Audrey toward the tables and chairs that had been set up at the back of the room.
“Love your costume, Dr. Thompson,” someone called out. “Yours, too, Dr. Lind!”
“Thank you,” they both responded.
“Got to say, your costume looked even more awesome with that rainbow boa,” Audrey said teasingly as they chose an empty table and sat.
“I’m not sure what Anne Lister would have thought about it.”
“Are you kidding? She’d havelovedit.”
“I suppose she would have.” Michelle picked up her bagel, which was covered in tomato sauce, with ghost-shaped cheese on top. “It’s heartening to see how many of these kids know who she is. That’s the power of the series. I doubt any of them have read her diaries.”
Audrey shrugged as she bit into a cupcake oozing with what looked like brains on top. “They might have discovered her from the show, but with a queer gathering like this, there are probably others who’ve deep dived into her life and diaries. I bet teenage Michelle was already acquainted with Miss Lister.”
“Yes, but I wasn’t exactly your average student.”
“Let me guess.” Audrey studied her for a moment. “You were extra studious, always with your nose in a book, fascinated with art and history even then. Were you out in college?”
“I suppose I was.” She shrugged. “I’ve never ascribed to the idea of coming out, nor have I ever made an announcement about my sexuality. I am who I am, and I’ve never apologized for it or tried to hide it, although in those days, I tried not to draw attention to myself in general. I was more interested in my studies than in dating, but when I did date, it was always women. I knew I was a lesbian by the age of thirteen or so. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t fascinated with women.”
Audrey was listening with rapt attention, completely unaware that she had a glob of faux zombie brains stuck to the end of her nose. “Tell me more about young Michelle.”
“You have ...” Michelle touched her own nose, unwilling to touch Audrey’s.
Audrey mimicked her, smiling as her fingers came away covered in red jelly. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” At Audrey’s expectant look, she acquiesced. She wasn’t fond of talking about herself, but she’d play along, if for no other reason than she hoped Audrey might reciprocate afterward. “I fancied myself an artist when I was a little girl. I was always in my room painting, but alas, as I got older, I realized I had no talent with a paintbrush. By that point, I’d fallen in love with art, though, and I’d started reading about the artists who interested me. But I wondered why the books I brought home from the library largely contained works by male artists. Where were the women?”
“Dammit,” Audrey breathed, touching Michelle’s hand lightly. “You deserved that class so much more than I did.”
She sighed. “What’s done is done, and none of it was your fault. I was wrong to take my frustrations out on you at the start of the semester.”
“It makes me like Stuart a little less to know how he handled this.” Audrey scrunched her nose. “You should be teaching Women in Art. You should have been teaching it for years.”
“But I’m not. You are. Now, your turn. Same questions. Tell me more about yourself.”
“Well, you know a little bit about what I was like in college.” Audrey gave her a silly smile.
“An adorable little teacher’s pet,” Michelle teased.
“Adorable? Aww.” Audrey reached for her water. “I came out in college. Before that, I’d assumed I was straight since I had crushes on guys in high school. It took me a little longer to recognize my female crushes for what they were. Anyway, once I realized I was bi, I wentthrough a phase where my whole personality was pink, purple, and blue.” Audrey rolled her eyes at herself. “I was basically shouting it from the rooftops because I was young and self-absorbed, but also, it was nice to be at a welcoming university.”
“Thatisnice,” Michelle agreed. “Is your family supportive?”
