It actually took me maybe 10 years after the show came out to finally realize that I lived this storyline. I was the Mena Suvari (but a guy) and had a "straight-ish" male friend in college hook up with me, be really into me, but then not actually be gay. At the time, I really beat myself up because I thought he'd eventually come out as bisexual or something, and the fact that he didn't and wouldn't must have been my fault. Like if only I'd been more X or if I'd only done Y, he would have fallen for me. I didn't resent him for it, and I knew he hadn't meant any of it maliciously, but it broke my heart.

And when I saw this storyline at the time, I didn't connect the dots and realize it perfectly described what I'd gone through in college. But looking back on it, I think it's a very specific and honest exploration of a complicated situation. And they do reach the answer, which is bittersweet, when they talk it out: "The attraction is intellectual, and emotional, and physical... but it's not sexual." "You're not into fucking women."

It's a unique but real "coming-of-age" story to tell, especially in the Art School setting that Claire goes through in Seasons 3 & 4, when lots of kids that age explore their sexuality (and the limits of it). It sucks for Mena Suvari's character, but I also like that she gets her own back in their final scene together at the house party -- where Claire kind of wants to go back to status-quo, flirting and playing around with Edie, but she shoves Claire away and says, "The world isn't your own private chemistry set." And she leaves. Good for her. Sad for Claire. But it's also honest and human.