“At this school? Sometimes.”

She assumed Jordan was exaggerating.

Then little things started happening.

Claire would pass Maya in the hallway and say, “Dayton,” instead of using her name. When Maya asked why, Claire said she had forgotten it.

Someone took Maya’s water bottle from a library table and placed it in a trash can.

A photograph appeared on a student-run social-media account showing Maya sitting alone at lunch with her headphones around her neck.

WHEN YOU THINK YOU’RE TOO COOL TO TALK TO ANYBODY.

Jordan showed her the post.

Maya shrugged.

“I look good.”

“That’s your takeaway?”

“The lighting is decent.”

“They’re making fun of you.”

“I’m devastated.”

Jordan studied her.

“You really don’t care?”

Maya locked his phone and handed it back.

“I care about people I like.”

That answer eventually reached Claire.

Maya never learned who repeated it.

The following afternoon, Claire sat down across from her in the cafeteria without asking.

Two girls came with her.

Maya recognized one as Lexi Morgan, a sophomore who seemed to laugh whenever Claire looked in her direction. The other was Hannah Price, a senior with dark hair who mostly stared at her phone.

Claire rested both forearms on the table.

“So you don’t care about people here?”

Maya continued eating.

“I didn’t say that.”

“You said you only care about people you like.”

“That’s usually how caring works.”

Lexi laughed.

Claire looked at her.

Lexi stopped.

Maya noticed.

That was the first time she understood the relationship.

Claire was not simply funny.

People around her waited for permission to decide what was funny.

“You think you’re better than everybody?” Claire asked.

“No.”

“You act like it.”

“How?”

“You barely talk.”

Maya blinked.

“That’s the complaint?”

Claire leaned back.

“I’m just saying, people think you’re rude.”

“Which people?”

Claire gestured vaguely at the cafeteria.

“People.”

Maya looked around.

“Can you point them out? I’d like a survey sample.”

Hannah covered a smile with her hand.

Claire saw it.

Her face changed.

Maya recognized the shift immediately.

This conversation had never been about learning anything.

It was supposed to end with Maya embarrassed.

Instead, Claire had become the person being laughed at.

Maya picked up her tray.

“Have a good lunch.”

She walked away.

For the rest of January, Claire left her alone.

Then February changed the situation.