Adam was surprised to hear that Alec liked him, at least enough to want to spend more time in his company. "So we both want to be friends but we're not any good at it," he concluded. Taking up a plate, Adam started to fill it with slices of pies, meat, and vegetables. He wanted to try everything, but he limited himself to what he thought his stomach could take without rejecting it.

Then he took a seat, eating hungrily and curling an arm defensively around his plate without realizing he was doing it. "I'm eighteen. I go to a prestigious private school on scholarship." And that was the end of the facts about himself that Adam was comfortable with.