Chapter 3
Ilena
Harvard University
Twenty-One Years Before the Outing
Ilena met Mallory when she handed her a roll of duct tape.
She followed it with an idea, knowing if things went badly, it would be one hundred percent her fault. As Mallory listened,
her left eyebrow, dark and thick like a couture model’s, rose. They were her best feature, framing those doe eyes of hers,
her second-best feature.
“You really think it’s strong enough?” Mallory asked.
Ilena assessed this skyscraper of a girl who was to be her freshman roommate. She was all boobs and knew she was all boobs,
but she must have been more than just boobs because boobs didn’t get you into Harvard. “If it isn’t, I’ll spring for the rest
of your shirt.”
Mallory fingered the hem of her black, cropped tee that barely covered the hot pink of her underwire as she took in Ilena’s
conservative white button-down, khaki skirt, and tennis sneakers. “Well, well, well, who knew a country mouse could have so
much spunk?”
“The roommate assignment sheet clearly says I’m from Lexington.”
“Right, sorry. You’re a rich country mouse.”
“And where are you from again?”
“East Cambridge,” Mallory said.
“And that explains the chip on your shoulder.”
They stared at one another, each knowing that this was the moment that would define them as archenemies or lifelong friends.
Mallory began to use her gold manicured fingernail to pry the end of the duct tape loose. She paused, released the tape, and
held her finger out to Ilena. “I’ve got your back.”
Ilena hooked her own beige-painted fingernail around Mallory’s. “And I’ve got yours.”
In unison they said, “Pinky swear.”
“Now . . .” Mallory returned to the tape. “Let’s do this thing.”