"You look as shitty as I feel, dude," says Alex, stepping past him into the hallway. Out of habit, she kicks out of her boots and stands in her sock feet, looking up at him. Without soles, she's doubly aware of how much taller than her he is.

"I didn't know..." She frowns, snarling her fingers in her black hair. "I didn't know where else to go. Didn't want to go home."