Erin had little experience with video games, but much to Hailey’s delight, she was a fast learner. Maybe Hailey would soon have a formidable opponent, rather than the computer players that were either so predictable or so perfect that she got bored with them quickly.

As they talked and played, Hailey began to realize that Erin was reasonably intelligent. This was a breath of fresh air after the likes of Emily and most of the other kids at school. She had found very few people worth talking to at school, and even fewer of them felt she was worth talking to, as intellect often breeds arrogance, even if she was likely their equal. Erin absolutely wasn’t arrogant — in fact, she was humble to a fault — so now that she had become comfortable enough to talk to Hailey, Hailey felt she had a new best friend.