Our Lady of the Wandering Way High School was located at the far end of a quiet street, tree-lined and wide. Sydney parked the car and opened the door, still moving stiffly. Julia followed behind her mother, backpack dangling from its loose straps.

They went up the wide granite steps quickly and entered the school. The interior was cool and dark; their footsteps echoed on the green tile floor, which was flecked with black. The classroom doors were closed and the lockers stood like silent sentinels.

At the far end of the long corridor was the principal's office. The door had a sign affixed to it, reading "Sister Mary Tobias."

"Go wait in the library," Sydney suggested to Julia, who left without saying anything.

The door to Sister Mary Tobias's office swung open and a tall nun peered out. She had a sweet face but piercing gray eyes. Like all of her order, she wore a long white skirt, a long white smock, and a black wimple. "Ms. Bristow," she said without emotion. "Please come in."

There were four other nuns in Sister Mary Tobias's office. Sydney recognized two of them – Sister Hilary Frances and Sister Scholastica Bartholemew. The other two were a student in contrasts. One was older; the other appeared to be no older than 18. The older one had very dark skin and very white teeth. The younger one was pale and wore braces.

"Ms. Bristow, allow me to introduce Sister Elizabeth Andrew and Sister Allegra Paul," Sister Mary Tobias said. "We are all here to talk to you about Julia. And frankly, we're all worried about her."

"Worried about Julia? Why?" Sydney asked. "Isn't she keeping up with her work?"

"On the contrary, Ms. Bristow," Sister Mary Tobias replied. "She has completed all of the necessary coursework for her Algebra II class, but it's not yet half-term. She spends her time in algebra class tinkering with Sister Hilary Frances's computer. And she doesn't have any girlfriends."

Sister Allegra Paul, the older of the two nuns seated on Sydney's left, nodded. "The other girls have paired off into their cliques and groups, but Julia stays by herself, reads during lunch, and refuses to talk except in class."

Sydney couldn't think of anything to say.

"We just want Julia to be happy," Sister Mary Tobias said gently. "Does she have any friends outside of school?"

Sydney knew the kind nun meant teenage friends, not CIA agents and NOCRS hackers. She couldn't remember the last time Julia had gone to a friend's house or had a friend over for the night. It had been awhile. "No," she admitted softly.

Sister Scholastica Bartholomew patted Sydney's knee. "We'd like to help her make some friends here at Our Lady. There are several wonderful girls here she could pal around with."

"We have a new student joining us on Thursday," Sister Mary Tobias said. "I'm going to assign Julia the role of showing her around."

Sydney nodded.

"Julia is a very good student," Sister Mary Tobias said warmly. "We are all very proud of her. She is a good girl."

Sydney, thinking of her daughter's achievements over the weekend, could only agree. "Thank you for thinking of her," she said, standing. "You are all so good to her."

Sister Mary Tobias smiled. "Thank you for coming, Ms. Bristow. God bless and keep you."

Sydney let herself out of the office and went down the cool tiled hallway to the library. She pulled open the door. Julia was seated at the table farthest away from the door, her back to it. Her headphones were jammed down over her ears. Sydney tapped her daughter on the shoulder and was not surprised when Julia started, jumping out of the chair.

"Easy," Sydney said as Julia removed her headphones. "It's just me. We can go now."

They walked down the hallway and out into the bright afternoon. Sydney unlocked the car and looked over at Julia. "Hey."

"What?"

"I don't have to go back to work. Do you want to go somewhere else?"

Julia considered her mother's offer for a moment. "Can we get ice cream?'

Sydney smiled. "Sure."

They drove away from Our Lady of the Wandering Way and headed for the outskirts of town, stopping at a small beach. Sydney bought two vanilla ice cream cones from the closest grocery store, and they sat on the sand, staring at the waves.

"So, the nuns told me all sorts of stuff about you," Sydney said as kindly as possible. "Why didn't you tell me you don't have any friends?"

Julia opened her mouth, but no words came out. She licked her ice cream, swallowed, then said, "I have friends."

"The sisters seem to think otherwise."

Julia paused, seemingly unwilling to pursue the argument. "I just go to school there. I try to do my work and just get home as quick as I can."

"But you're so active there, in band and the French society."

"I don't fit in, Mom. I'm too smart." Julia took another lick of ice cream.

Sydney was quiet. Then she said, "Sister Mary Tobias mentioned a new student. Maybe she'll be someone you can be friends with."

"I have a friend – Finch! And Marshall, and even Mitchell is sometimes my friend. Remember when we went to the movies?"

Sydney nodded. "You had a lot of fun. I just want you to be happy."

Julia stood up. "Well, I am. Can we go home now?"