In the back corner of the barrack, Anne watched the curves of Kyle's agile fingers shape chords along the neck of his guitar. Anne smiled and waved at Shira, who began walking toward them. Kyle glanced up. Shira remembered Kyle's concern and awkwardness in the corridor. She felt a smile push up the corners of her eyes.

Kyle stared at Shira with a blank face and then turned his attention back to his guitar. Shira turned to Anne. Then Kyle glanced up through the fringe of his dark hair, his eyes like mischeviously smiling crescents, to smile at Shira. She saw his expression through the corner of her eye. Anne waved to Shira again, and she went to talk to the two.