“We don't know if any of US can or really want this. But if you're interested and it does happen, maybe we can work something out. Just don't discount the idea before its hatched. Okay?"

Madison just nodded. Heda sounded indecisive, but Madison was looking with her echolocation, quietly evaluating the members of the group.

They looked enthusiastic . . . the kind of enthusiastic that lent itself to action. The idea was so tempting, which made the reality that much harder to swallow. She was barely scraping by as it was, especially after having lost out on her last gig thanks to Alvin Hannity.

Eventually they were joined by Billy and Sasha, who did not help matters by expressing an interest in this little commune idea. Hope was a two-edged sword, at least in Madison's opinion.

"You were thinking about applying for more loans anyway, weren't you?

I mean, your tuition and all is covered," Sasha was saying.

"Yeah, but --"

Sasha understood her friend's concerns, but she also knew how much this would mean to the girl.

Carla stood up.

"I want to go shoot pool," she said, her voice wavering a little bit.

There was a moment of awkward silence, broken by Peter.

"Carla, is this really a good time?"

“Whoever this fucker is, he already stole part of my life," she replied, her voice still shaking.

"I'm not going to be his prisoner here too."

"She's got more guts than I do,' Madison said, then forced her feet to move.

“I'll go. Not much for pool though."

"You can be my lucky charm," Heda said, grabbing her wallet. She refused to carry a purse, despite their obvious advantages in many regards. And just like that, everyone was going. Heda gave both Carla and Madison hugs around the shoulders.

“Brave girls," she whispered.

When everyone else was distracted for a moment, Madison turned to the horse shifter next to her and whispered, “Does being brave feel Like someone's squeezing your heart so hard that it's going to pop Like a zit?"

“I think so."

"Good. Otherwise, I think I'd need to go see a doctor."

Oh God you suck!" Heda laughed as Joanna flubbed an easy corner shot in their five-person game of cut-throat. Of course, Joanna's goal in playing pool was not to win, but rather to show off her rockin' body and substantial cleavage as much as possible. She was really good at that part. The group of them had gotten a single table at Dizzy's, a restaurant and pool hall close to campus. Joanna was certainly getting most of the boys attention. The few times Madison switched on her echolocation, she had managed to form a topographical map of Joanna's chest without much difficulty. Then she saw Heda scoping the girl out too, and admiration turned to an irrational jealousy.

‘Hypocritical much?' she thought to herself. She felt immensely silly about the whole thing, a situation compounded when Heda leaned over and whispered —-

"She's sweet, but a bit too bubbly for my taste."

Madison's skin shivered delightfully when those words and that warm breath tickled her ear.