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Everyone turned to look at her. Julia smiled. “You know, I’m sure you’ve been there yourself.”

“Nope,” Alli said. Quiet Leslie appeared at her elbow and gave her a mug of hot chocolate. “Never fallen don’t really plan to. What’s it like?”

“You get… warm inside,” Charles said.

“And you can’t stop thinking about them,” Izzy said. “Like they’re the only thing you can think about.”

Julia smiled. “That’s falling in love, not being in love.”

“Alright then,” said Alli. “What is being in love like?”

Julia smiled again. “Like coming home. Like sliding on a comfortable pair of shoes. Like feeling more yourself.”

“That makes no sense,” Alli said, somewhat glad that she didn’t have to go through this.

“It does,” Julia said. “You know how sometimes mixing two foods together makes one taste stronger. Like mixing balsamic vinegar and strawberries, it just makes the strawberries more… strawberry-y. It’s like that.”

“Huh.” Alli sipped at her hot chocolate. It was fresh and good. She wondered how long it would be until Daria came for her. Maybe she should go up to her room and get her things together. “It all seems like a pain in the backside to me, having to consider someone else all the time.”

“It’s not like that,” Marcus said. “You don’t mind considering them, you want to consider them. Their emotions and feelings matter to you more than your own. Like when you see them cry, you can’t help but put your arm around them, like you want to soak in their sadness and take it away from them.”

Alli had a sudden image of Bea crying. Twice now she’d cried. And twice, Alli had touched her because of it. Which was odd because she wasn’t normally a toucher.

“The falling in love part is the best part though,” Izzy said. “That wild, exciting part when you can stay up all night and still dance away the next day.”

“I always found it slightly terrifying,” Charles said. He had a whipped cream mustache.

“Here,” said Izzy, pulling a tissue from her pocket and dabbing Charles’s mouth with it.

“Wait,” said Julia. “Are you two…?”

Izzy and Charles stared at her in horror. “N-n-no,” stuttered Charles.

“I’m married!” Izzy cried.

Julia looked sad. “Oh well. I suppose someone else will.”

“What are you talking about?” Alli asked, curious even though she didn’t want to be.

“In situations like these, there’s always at least one love affair,” Julia said. “I don’t suppose it’ll be me. I’m far too old for that sort of nonsense.” She turned to Marcus. “What about you?” Then her eyes went to Leslie. “And you’re always so quiet, dear. Do still waters run deep?”

“Julia,” Izzy said. “Stop it, you’re embarrassing people.”

“I don’t mean to,” said Julia.

“Just as long as it’s not me,” Alli said, taking another big gulp of chocolate. “I don’t have time for that sort of thing, nor do I have the inclination.”

“You’re a bit young to be an old maid,” Julia said.

“Never had an interest in men,” said Alli. “Don’t have thetime.”

“What about women?” Izzy asked.

Alli froze for a second. “What?”

“Sorry,” Izzy said. “But we are supposed to be inclusive. Inclusivity and representation are important.”

“Right.” Alli shook her head. Izzy was… special. Having all those kids had dislodged a few brain cells, obviously. “Well, if you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll have an early night.” Better to go and prepare herself.