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My phone buzzes on the bed next to me.

Nash: FaceTime?

A year ago, if Evan had texted me that, I’d have been out of this room and into the hallway before the second ring. I look at the girls on my floor, Bianca blowing on her nails and Paige flat on her back on my rug, and I type.

Me: Girls are here.

Nash: Ok.

That’s all he says. I put my phone face down and leave it there.

Bianca says there’s a home football game tomorrow and she’s never been to one. Neither have I, which is embarrassing, given that I’ve been here since August. Kenzie says the student section is insane and we’d have to get there early. Paige sits straight up like somebody put life back in her.

“Yes!” she says. “That. That’s exactly what I want.”

“Football?” I ask.

She nods. “Fuck yeah.”

So now we’re going. Bianca’s already texting somebody about the tailgate and asking whether we should all wear matching clothes. Kenzie’s explaining the wristband situation.

I look over at Tessa. She’s minding her own business.

“Hey, Tess. Do you want to come?” I say.

I already know the answer. I’ve asked her to hang out a hundred times, and it’s always some polite version of no. This time she pauses, which isn’t her normal reaction.

“Football?” she asks.

I nod enthusiastically.

“Sure,” Tessa says.

I gasp. “What?”

She shrugs. “Yeah. I’ll come.”

“Wait, are you serious?” I think I’m going to have a heart attack.

She nods, and I jump into her lap and squeeze her face.

“Are you freaking serious right now?” I shriek so loud she tries to push me off. I stand up and start jumping in place. “I am going to show you the time of your life.” I tap her nose, and she’s smiling.

Saturday, we all get ready in my room, which means five people and one mirror. Bianca brings a handle, a bottle of cranberry, and a stack of red cups, and she pours them out on my desk like a bartender. She hands one to Paige, one to Kenzie, and one to me. Then she holds one out toward Tessa the way you’d hold something out to a dog you don’t know.

Tessa takes it.

Everybody in the room stops.

I swear my jaw is on the floor.

“You drink?” I ask.

Tessa looks at me over the cup. “Not all the time.”

“Who are you, and what have you done with my innocent roommate?” I laugh.

She grins over the lip of her cup and takes a sip.