Samantha was calling me from outside the bathroom stall.

“Sam?” I said, surprised. “How did you know I was here?”

“Don’t underestimate me, Ana. I have a tracking spell on me, mind ya. What are you doing out here all alone? Are you feeling unwell? Need me to go get a teacher, or a doctor?”

“No, that’s… really not it.”

I got up from the floor, and opened the stall door. She was standing next to me, looking very concerned. I went to the sink and let the cold water run, washing my hands and face. Then I picked up some paper towels to dry my face with, and turned back to look at Sam.

She still looked concerned.

“What’s going on, Ana?”

I took a deep breath, and let out a heavy sigh.

“I kissed Claire.”

“What?!”

“I know, I know. It was stupid, and I regret it.”

“But… the… when… how did this happen?”

I leaned against the bathroom wall.

“We were in front of the dorm building. I was thanking her for the night, and yes, I think Ruth is right, she was hitting on me. I was unsure at first, but… you know… it’s hard not to notice these things.”

Samantha approached me, standing just twenty centimeters or so away from my sorry self.

“Go on,” she asked me.

I nodded, and closed my eyes, rubbing them with my hands.

“It was just… a spur-of-the-moment kind of thing. I gave her a peck on the lips… well, a little more than a peck, but still nothing like a french kiss. Then I said goodbye, and ran away. Tell me how stupid I am.”

“Ana…” Sam’s voice sounded like she wanted to console me, not scold me.

“Tell me how stupid I am,” I asked her again, opening my eyes and looking at her.

“You’re pretty stupid,” she said, and we both burst out laughing. There was kindness in her eyes, and concern, and it kinda made her look really pretty in a way. “Can I hug you now?”

I nodded, and we hugged each other for about a minute or so. I felt a single tear run down my cheeks, but I was happy Sam was there to comfort me.

“There’s more,” I told her, breaking from our embrace. I made sure to check all the stalls to see if there was anyone in them, then went to the bathroom door and closed it. I didn’t want anyone to eavesdrop on this.

“You look gloomy. What’s up?”

“Claire’s girlfriend is cheating on her.”

Sam raised her eyebrows, then looked at me with slight contempt in her lips. “You mean like what the two of you did yesterday? That kind of thing?”

“Please don’t judge me,” I begged her. “I know what I did was wrong, and I regret it. Won’t happen again.”

“Uh-uh,” said Samantha, and I could almost physically touch the disbelief in her words. “So, tell me about Claire’s girlfriend. What do you know?”

I nodded.

“She was at the city yesterday, too. Claire didn’t see her, but I did. She was walking down the street hand-in-hand with an older man. He bought her candy and all, and she gave him a kiss.”

“Wild,” said Samantha, sarcastic.

“There’s more. I actually heard her talking to a friend a while ago, right here. I was in one of the stalls so I don’t think they knew I was listening in on them. Her friend was talking about how she’s always trying people out and never settles for just one person.”

“Isn’t that fine though, if you have that kind of relationship?”

“What are you talking about?”

“An open relationship.”

I wondered about that for a while. Then shook my head.

“I don’t think that’s it,” I told her. “Claire’s girlfriend asked this other girl not to tell Claire about any of it. I’m pretty sure it’s not consensual.”

“If it isn’t, that kind of makes Claire a bit of a playgirl herself, as well, doesn’t it? I mean, she did hit on you, despite being in a monogamic relationship.”

“She didn’t do anything to me. She just said she wanted to be my friend. It was I who made a move on her. And I know, I shouldn’t but… Shit, Sam, I think I’m in love with her.”

“Whoa, take it easy, girl. Are you sure it’s not a… like, passion kind of thing? Something that’s going to die down in a couple of months, after you two have had your fun?”

I shook my head again, and told her the whole story about yesterday. Starting from the corncob charm, then going back and forth as I remembered each of the moments we’d spent together, paying special attention to how it felt to hold onto Claire’s waist as we rode on her bike together, on the way back.

“Damn it, Ana. You’re really neck deep in this. Whatcha gonna do?”

“I don’t know. I really don’t.”

Sam cleared her throat. “So,” she said. “I know this is important and you’re having heartaches and love troubles and all. I’ll be glad to listen to all of it later if you still have anything to tell me about it, but… I actually came to get you because you’re late for your appointment with Mr. Thomas. I figured you wouldn’t know the way.”

I facepalmed. “I forgot about that.”

“I know,” said Sam, smirking. “That’s why I came to get you.”

I nodded. “Thanks Sam. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“I’m well aware,” she said, jokingly.