Tammi worked at the restaurant on the wharf with Maya. She was 26, with long brown hair that she wore in a braid. Tammi loved the sound of her voice more than anything in the world. She tried to talk to Maya several times a day, and despite herself, Maya didn't really mind it, because Tammi didn't get annoyed when Maya didn't answer her, which was most of the time.

Tammi even sort of liked it, because it meant that she could talk more.

Tammi liked to talk about all sorts of things. Her romantic exploits were usually the priority.

And boy, did Tammi have a lot of romantic exploits.

"John was just so immature," Tammi said as she and Maya set tables together.

Maya nodded.

"He texted me to ask me on a date. Isn't that insane? Like, what kind of real man even does that? 'What's up babe lol date tonight'. What a joke!"

Maya nodded.

"But Wesley…" Tammi shivered with delight. "Now Wesley's a real man. I mean, he hasn't gotten my number yet, but when he does, he's definitely not going to text me to ask me out on a date. You definitely have to go with me to the club tomorrow night, though. Anna's sick, and I need someone else with me, or else it'll totally look like I only went to run into him again. It's kind of far, but I'll drive and pay for gas and drinks and everything. Sound good?"

Maya nodded.

"Thank you so much, you're a lifesaver!"

Maya hadn't been listening when she nodded, so she was beyond surprised when Tammi showed up at her house the next day in a black dress so tight Maya wondered whether her whole body would eventually turn blue. Tammi sighed when she saw Maya's worn jeans and college t-shirt. "I knew this would happen." She went back out to her car and returned with a huge bag.

An hour later, Maya was outfitted in black jeans, heels, sparkly tank top and short leather jacket. Her eyes were appropriately smoky. "Perfect," Tammi said.

They set out. Tammi babbled about how nervous she was, while changing lanes and executing turns with military precision. Maya stared blankly out at the moon, wishing that she was asleep.

The club was much more crowded than Maya expected. She assumed this was because it was one of the only clubs in Maine. They got in without any trouble. Purple lights flashed everywhere, and the music was so loud that it made Maya feel like she was going to explode. Tammi spotted Wesley within seconds of walking in, and in five minutes had maneuvered herself into conversation with him.

Maya stayed in one of the corners and watched people. People think this is fun. You don't. There's something wrong with you, not them.

A guy was standing in the corner opposite her. She caught his eye accidentally, and he smiled. She tried to smile back, but it didn't happen. He walked over to her anyway. "Hi," he said, sticking his hand out. "I'm Henry." He gestured to Tammi, who was now dancing with her romantic exploit. "Is that your friend?"

"Yeah," Maya said.

"That's mine," he said, pointing out Wesley.

Maya nodded, looking into the sea of young, beautiful, dancing people and wondering why she felt so heavy inside.

"Dance with me," Henry said, with a charming smile. "I need someone to help me kill time."

Maya looked at him, actually looked at him this time. He seemed nice. Normal, and not like he might stalk her afterwards. "Okay," she said.

He grabbed her hand and pulled her onto the floor. Maya wasn't good at dancing, and he wasn't either. He was laughing, purple lights illuminating his face. The crowd grew denser and denser, pushing the two of them closer together. Then he was kissing her. Maya didn't stop him, but she didn't kiss him back either. Kissing him was the same as not kissing him. It didn't make a difference to her at all whether she was kissing him or not kissing him. Her heart rate stayed steady, and the heaviness didn't lift.

Normal people feel something when they kiss a stranger, she thought.

He leaned and yelled in her ear, because it was too loud to talk normally. "Let me buy you a drink."

She let him.

She knew vaguely that drinking was a bad idea, but she didn't care.

Drinking wasn't the same as kissing him. Drinking and not drinking were definitely not the same.

Drinking, it turned out, was wonderful.

All of a sudden, she wasn't so sad. Dancing was fun. Kissing Henry was fun. Life was fun. Life was wonderful! Maya was wonderful. Look at her, being normal and feeling things and having fun and being wonderful. She had another drink.

And another.

And another.