Page 14 of Derivation

“I thought you went to college there. That was your plan. I couldn’t remember what your major was or the name of the school, though.”

“The plan was a gap year, start school there at nineteen, graduate at twenty-three, and find a job there, but… My dad died right after my freshman year, and my mom and I didn’t want to stay there anymore. So, I applied to MIT as a transfer, and we moved back to the US.”

“I’m sorry,” Sarai said. “I didn’t know.”

“Why would you?” she replied. “And it’s okay. It was a while ago.”

“Well, do you want to see the bedroom that used to be mine but will be yours if you decide to move in with us?” Arlowe asked.

“Yeah, sure.”

Enya then went back into the kitchen without saying anything else, and Sarai stood in the living room, looking at Gabi curiously for some reason. Arlowe took her down the hall and pushed open a door.

“So, it’s just a square with a closet. Nothing fancy, but I lived in this room for nine years, and it treated me right.” Arlowe pointed across the hall. “Bathroom is right there, which you already know. Bathtub, two sinks, which is helpful because three of us share it, and we try to have a shower schedule just to keep things civil, but it’s not a hard and fast rule that you shower at a certain time or anything. The water pressure is good, and the water heater holds strong when Enya takes thirty-minute showers, and I need to hop in for five.”

Gabi walked into the room and pictured her old apartment that was nine hundred square feet and all hers. She did know she’d have to adjust her expectations if she only rented a room in a house with other people.

“Can I still check out the bathroom?”

“Sure. And Enya and Sarai’s doors are open right now, so I’d say their rooms are fair game. You might want to know if we’re slobs who attract ants or something. You can see my room, too, if you want. I’m not done with it, and I kept some of Vi’s old furniture because she didn’t need it, but I’m pretty thrilled about having more space and my own bathroom.”

“Okay.”

“So, you mentioned before that you moved here on your own, but you have a friend in town or something,” Arlowe said as Gabi took a look at the bathroom, which was slightly larger than she’d expected and well-kept.

“Chase, yeah. He recommended me for the job. He’s a friend from college.”

“I don’t think I asked, but… You’re okay with all three of us being gay, right?”

“Did Sarai not tell you?”

“Tell me what?”

“That I’m gay,” she said.

Arlowe squinted and replied, “Will she be in trouble if she did?”

“What? No.” Gabi laughed a little.

“Then, yes, she told us back then. But I didn’t know if you were okay with us knowing, so I pretended not to know just now.”

“I’m out everywhere, so I’m fine with people knowing. And, obviously, it doesn’t bother me that you three are. It actually makes it better.”

“Yeah?” Arlowe asked, lifting an eyebrow at her, and if Gabi didn’t know any better, she’d think that Arlowe might be flirting with her.

“Can I see the rest of the place?”

“No problem.”

Arlowe let her leave the room first, and she glanced into what was undoubtedly Enya’s room, because there was a wall covered with note cards. Then, she looked into what had to be Sarai’s room, and she found herself smiling. It was nice. It was somehow reminiscent of Sarai’s dorm room, with her choice of colors, but a much more grown-up version. It felt like it would be a comfortable place to hang out, and she liked the thought of that, but Sarai was still acting strangely around her. Gabi wondered if maybe the Sarai she’d known so briefly back then was still around. So much had changed for both of them since they’d met, though, that it was possible that Sarai was really a different person altogether now.

“So, this is the garage,” Arlowe said. “Sarai, get out of my chair.”

“It’s comfortable, and you’re not sitting in–” Sarai paused when she noticed her with Arlowe. “Hey. I thought you left.”

“Nope. Still on the tour.”

“What do you think so far?” Arlowe asked.