Page 17 of The Statistically Unlikely Reunion

I can’t help but ask, “Why try out for ICPC? Not a lot of girls code.”

Brody slouches a little more, letting his legs open wide; he’s definitely that guy on the subway who takes up way too much space and doesn’t apologize. “Problems are fun, worlds will be in Azerbaijan, and let me quote my mother here: ‘It’s just not where our circle vacations.’ So I figure it’ll be an interesting trip.” He leans forward and stage-whispers, “My allowance is decent, but not nice enough to maintain my normal needs and first-class tickets plus the Four Seasons in Azerbaijan.”

“Azerbaijan’s in two years,” I can’t help but point out.

“This year is practice.” Brody shrugs, as if it’s a given that we’ll be qualifying.

“Also, you know they’re not putting us up at the Four Seasons, right?” I should shut up, I really should. But it’s just so fun to needle this guy.

“And only standard ticket fare will be reimbursed.” Lucas, too, has clearly read through the rules.

Brody’s smooth baby face falls for a moment before he recovers. “Yeah. Duh.”

Lucas and I both laugh at Brody’s crestfallen expression, and I can feel some of the tension leave my body. A man-whore who’s intellectually curious and likes to crack jokes? I can definitely work with this.

Lucas half raises a hand. “I’ll go next. I already said I’m a transfer student, which hopefully isn’t a problem for anyone here.”

“Why should it be?”

I’m not sure if Brody is actually this dense or if this is the bro/dude patented way of laughing it off to demonstrate it’s fine.

For every curve Lucas has broken, for every whispered damn I’ve heard about my new teammate, there’s been at least one whisper, sometimes more, about the fact that he’s a first-generation admit, that Caltech likes to give socioeconomically disadvantaged kids an edge in admission.

The implication, of course, is that Lucas wouldn’t have gotten in on his own.

Ridiculous.

Lucas waits a beat before continuing. “I live off campus, which means practicing at Lloyd or another, maybe quieter, dorm would be my preference.”

Brody looks surprised, but I try not to react. All freshmen and most transfers live on campus. Caltech guarantees housing for at least the first year. Usually, exceptions are only made if there are serious financial constraints, something I thought about petitioning for and which I’m not sure Brody (with his talk of the Four Seasons and social circles) would understand.

“And you’re a computer science major, right?”

Lucas nods, and Brody is momentarily distracted by my question. “Booooooring.”

Lucas is quiet, and I can’t tell if he’s done or if his vocal cords are stuck on the loading screen. I shouldn’t care, and he’ll probably give an answer as flippant as Brody’s, but I decide to indulge my Lucas-specific curiosity. “And your life goal? I’m guessing kindergarten art teacher?”

Because yes, it’s been difficult not to notice the origami Lucas is often folding and unfolding before competitions, the paper he’s working even now between answers.

“It’s a focusing exercise. I get anxious in new situations. And my life goal?” He puts the paper down and scratches at his beard before running his thumb along his lower lip, a detail I really shouldn’t be noticing. “Security. I believe in, uh, girlfriends and eventually I want to be able to provide for my family, to be comfortable enough to have a couple kids, maybe a few fish.” He must see the face I make, but instead of being offended, Lucas again offers me that small, almost timid half smile, the one where his lips tilt up so little you have to be really paying attention to tell it’s there. “Let me guess, you’re a cat person?” he says.

“In that they’re low maintenance, yes. If I ever really settle down, it’ll be judgmental felines I surround myself with. Not sure why anyone would choose carp as a pet.”

“I have a lot of allergies.”

“So your dream pet”—Brody points to me—“wants to eat Lucas’s for dinner. You’re basically the predator to his prey. That’s like a beautiful metaphor.”

“But also, since you used like, now it’s a beautiful simile.” At Brody’s disgusted look, I gesture to the library books spilling out of my bag, only half of which are math- and computer science–related. “I enjoy English.”

Might have even considered pursuing it as a major, if I lived a different life.

“Probably the most important thing I need to tell you guys is that if we qualify for nationals⁠—”

“Good luck to us. Arjun and Xinzhe recruited Dmitry, so that’s now a fully stacked team of people with international medals.”

“Big if, I know, but if it happens, we’d need to schedule practices around my work.”

Both guys nod; it’s Lucas who asks, “And your one-word life goal?”