[at least that got a long-overdue grin out of Anna. it felt good knowing that other people had shitty parents, too, in a commiseratory kind of way and not a schadenfreude-y one. but the bigger reason for the grin was what she said about flirting.]

You sure as hell haven't. Can't promise anything will come of it, but at least it's fun, yeah? [she looked back out in front of them, trying to push other thoughts to the back of her head and focus on things that were maybe a little more pleasant.] Queer disasters, both of us. Most of my friends, now that I think of it. But I'm glad, you know? It'd be a shame for someone who looks like you to be out of the question for girls.

[maybe she wasn't so great at all of this, but she could talk about being gay no matter how depressed she got.]