"I have a new boyfriend."

"Is he taller than me?"

"No, but he's nice."

"Nice isn't me, honestly, so I'm happy for you."

"No, you're not."

"Maybe I'm not."

"I want to tell you about him."

"I'd rather we discuss this in bed."

"I told you. New boyfriend."

"Fine. Tell me about him."

"He has black hair."

"Is it long?"

"No, it's short, but if he grows it, it gets a little curly. I think that comes from his dad."

"Great."

"Jealous?"

"What, of his hair? Nah. I haven't missed it since I turned 21."

"That was a long time ago. Do you even remember what it was like to have it?"

"Nice. Please, keep going."

"He likes to cuddle."

"Yeah? Does he have a job?"

"Not really."

"The fuck? He sounds like a winner."

"He makes me happy, and that's doing a good job, I think."

"Doesn't sound like there's a lot of pay involved."

"Well. I'm naked a lot, so I think you'd consider that worthwhile."

"Yeah, but we ain't talkin about me."

"We do talk about you, though."

"How's that? He knows me?"

"No, but he listens."

"What interesting stories do you tell about me?"

"Well, I told him that you'd likely come over tonight."

"I thought you didn't want company."

"Never said that."

"No, you said you had a new boyfriend."

"That doesn't mean I've died."

"So you want me to come over?"

"Know that he will probably watch."

"Don't care."

"Didn't figure you would."

"What are the rules?"

"Stop and get a couple of McDonald's hamburgers, plain ones, on your way over."

"Sounds like a weird craving. You late? No way it can be mine, right?"

"You're the worst. They're for him."

"So, what? I fuck his girlfriend but have to pay a burger tax? That's a weird pimp kink. I'll play, no judgement."

"Bullshit. You're a judgy prick."

"No, really, I'm into the whole your-kink-isn't-my-kink horseshit."

"Whatever. That's crap people say because they don't want to end up catching shit. We're all silent judges, at least."

"McDonalds plain burgers. Which is worse, the McDonalds part or the plain part?"

"Just do it if you want to get lucky."

"What's this guy's name, where is he from? Any other rules?"

"Yeah. Don't knock. Just come in."

"Hot."

"Well. If you knock or ring the doorbell, shit gets crazy."

"How? Why?"

"Trust me and do what I ask. Dammit you ask a lot of questions."

"I'm a curious guy. So? Name? History?"

"I don't know a lot about him."

"But he's at your place now?"

"Yeah, I left him in the bed."

"Weird."

"His name's Buddy, I think his mom is from Newfoundland. Not sure about his dad."

"Canada? Buddy?"

"Yeah, I didn't name him, man."

"Obviously, but you're dating a Canadian?"

"Not exactly dating, but he's a good boyfriend."

"I'm confused."

"I got a dog, doofus. Bring cheeseburgers so that mutt loves you."

"Fuck me, I'm an idiot."

"True, and I will."

"Let's go."

Amar: Marry me!

[Pulls out ring. Gently places it on the table of their window seat]

Annie: What...but that's so sudden! We haven't even held hands yet!

Annie: Wait! Hold on a second...this is our first date. Don't you think you're getting ahead of yourself...a little bit?

Amar: You know how I fell hard for you the same day I laid eyes on you. Love at first sight...so to speak.

Amar: Ah! I thought it'd be kinda cool but that was probably totally cringey. Sorry!

[Annie chuckles nervously]

Amar: Anyway...before this, I had asked you out seven times and though it ended in rejection each time, seeing that I've landed a date with you, I can say my persistence has served me well and I don't wanna stop here. Not at dating! To be frank, I want to spend the rest of my life with you...even if you don't accept my proposal today but I still hope that some day soon in the future you will.

Annie: You seem like a sincere guy but I don't want to be hasty, rushing into a serious thing like marriage. That's why, I'd like to get to know you better and you, me. So, while I can't accept your proposal today, and I appreciate your honesty, I promise I won't take it lightly.

But I love you

No, you don’t, James. I don’t think you ever did.

Well that’s just bullshit. I did everything for you. I quit school for you and moved back home so that I’d be there for you when you graduated and we could come back to school together the next year. I lived with my drunken grandmother after my folks left. I did that for you. Shit would have been much easier for me had I just stayed.

And you’ve taken every opportunity to remind me how I ruined your life, although I never once asked you to do that.

Jenny. I-I can’t live without you. I won’t make it. I need you. Jesus. What do I have to do? Do you want me to get on the floor and beg? Get down on my knees and beg you?

Not at all. I just want us to be apart, James.

Jenny, please. Don’t. We can make this work.

How many times have we had this exact same conversation? Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me 300 times, shame on me, I suppose. For myself and my self respect, I can’t listen to you anymore. You’re a liar. You’re just a liar.

What have I lied about?

I have to go.

No wait. Don’t get up. Tell me, Jenny. What did I lie about? Christ. What did I lie about?

James.

Tell me

Just a bit of advice. Next time you go out with the guys, logout of your accounts, alright?

Shit.

"Quite nice of you to help me," Livianna said curtly. Her eyes to anyone who dared look, would appear heartlessly cold.

Peck silently nodded. "I'm sorry, about Jimmy. I promise he is better than I am."

"I believe that," she affirmed with warmth, slaking away some of the cold fear that had hardened in his stomach. "However right now," and such a serious look sent yet another dark spiral of remorse, "your brother's the runaway and evading accountability."

"Accountability," he said, tone dark, "for what? His older brother?"

"It's what the adults would say, which is why I took the risk sneaking off from my bodyguards once I could be sure it was the little kid that did this."

"Okay, sorry." Considering she was literally the only option that wouldn't end in prison and exorbitant compensation it was better he behaved himself for once. "Look we can't go to the authorities. I mean, not exactly yet."

"No I quite agree with you on that."

"I, I got pictures. On my phone and from some albums."

"Good making fliers is a good step. Do you have social media?"

Peck just shook his head bitterly. "Too traceable," he whispered, "especially if my Aunt or Mother cottoned on. Peck does though, not too many followers though."

"That can easily change," Livianna said, "with the right message on his feed."

"Oh yeah," he quickly realized himself, if the princess found his brother's account worth following...

"You put up the notice."

Help me, I'm Lost and can't find my way Home.

"Soon as we can get some leads, some area--"

"Then we can worry if I have some contacts there that can point us ahead of the others, stupid Fire Escape guy isn't forthcoming. Something's keeping his lips zipped."

A young employee cleared his throat.

"What for the lovely couple?" he asked smiling indulgently.

"Why am I a disgrace?"

"Just look at you!"

"You have a lot of nerve. I mean — look at you!"

"Well, at least I don't talk with food in mouth."

"Like you're doing right now?"

"Oh, I hate you."

"You're way too hateful."

"Can you blame me?"

"Why are you standing?"

"I've had enough!"

"You have an anger problem, you do."

"I DO NOT HAVE AN ANGER PROBLEM, YOU FUCKING CUNT!"

Waitress: "Y'know, I don't mind if you wanna talk to yourself like this every morning, but this is getting out of hand. I won't bring you even more coffee. I'll call your doctor. I'll give him coffee. He'll need it.

“You’re picking this up rather quickly, and you say you’ve never worked before?”

“No ma’am, I have not.”

“Hmm, interesting challenge…”

“Ma’am?”

“Something wrong, sweetie?”

“You don’t have any questions for me?”

“We are rather short on hands at the moment. Besides, only weirdos are regulars here, anyways. And it takes one to serve one, don’t ya think?”

“...”

“Medic, Spy behind you.”

“Umm, ma’am?”

“Oh don’t worry, Jeremy’s harmless. He usually packs his stuff up in an hour or so, don’t mind him.”

“Okay... I think I know what he’s playing.”

“Really now?

“I’m surprised it’s still around. Hopefully I can kick back myself once things settle down.”

“Dagnabbit, this country’s gone crazy after that old man got elected.”

“You said it pardner, all these bright-haired crazies protestin’ every single day.”

“You at least know who the president is, right?”

“Yes ma’am, I’ve watched a lot of TV.”

“Honestly, I don’t really see eye to eye with those guys anymore. Raising a kid really opens a parent’s worldview, you know? She was much braver than I was at her age.”

“Ma’am, if you treat her like how you are treating me now, I’m sure that’s why she was comfortable opening up to you like that.”

“Try that on someone younger, sweetie. Also, stay in the back for a bit.”

“Umm, sure thing, ma’am.”

“He doesn’t seem to be there.”

“I can’t make out much in that corner, I’ll give it a once over to be safe.”

“Sorry, we don’t have any donuts here. But I can get you and your pals some coffee, officer.”

“No need, ma’am. Just want to check if this man has come through.”

“Oh, he looks scary.”

“Yeah, broke out of jail a few days ago. Make sure to lock this place real good when closing.”

“Aye aye, sir. Did you get what I asked you to?”

“No ma’am.”

“So, did it involve kids?”

“No! I walked in on my girlfriend…”

“Ahhhh… So, which one did you…”

“Both.”

“Eh, I’ve had worse walk through.”

“Really ma’am?”

“Like I said, takes a weirdo to serve a weirdo. You'll fit in well enough.”

“I knew I’d get a juicy entry from this place.”

"Man, what is the deal with these shops"

"huh?"

"Bro, pay attention. These shops, look around. Everyone's on a goddamn computer. Everyone that's 'someone', they ain't typin' shit."

"...Maybe that's the only thing they're typin'"

"Hehehe, yeah. Nah, but seriously, people come here with their groups and laptops and for what? For shit they can do at home."

"Well, maybe they're extroverts."

"People like parties, I get that, but study sessions in a room where I can't hear myself think let alone the guy across from me? What kind of shit is this?"

"20's. I mean, before the 20's so 10's? Well, it looks productive."

"Whatever man."

"I think you needed this."

"Sorry, I got better things to do than drink some hard to pronounce bean juice and flip through stories that'll be on Netflix anyway."

"I meant, when's the last time you've been anywhere? Like a place meant for...talking?"

"Just came from class... Social studies or, ah, history. Enough social activity for ya boi."

"Bro, we talk on discord over WOW and League everyday. Concurrently."

"..."

"Fix your face."

"Fix your vocab, fuckin' alien."

"We yell jargon into the void night after night and Concurrence is where you draw the line?"

"Lines been drawn since the fucker who submitted it to webster clicked his heels together and said, 'Yippie'"

"Alright, whatever. Point is, if it's not about games, you never talk. Think about it."

"I'm not friends with you because I like thinking. We're friends because you can Jungle and your WOW PVP is insane. Also, your families better than my family, objectively."

"Why's that?"

"I don't know."

"I could tell you."

"Bullshit."

"It's cause you don't talk to your family."

"Ah, ding ding ding, captain obvious."

"You sa...Nevermind."

"Well! I said that because my family stop talking to me first. Who needs em? Drunk bitch mom and Deadbeat--asshole--scam artist dad. They still alive, you think?"

"Danny..."

"I'm deadass."

"Bro, I even know she was doin' that cause your... Look, but that's...Stuff happens man. My family ain't all nice and prim either."

"Nicer than that bullshit."

"Your cowardice knows no bounds, dude."

"You got too much time on your hands. Honestly, how do you even know about this place?"

"Starbucks? In Barnes and Nobles?"

"...Ah."

"We have to do this again."

"I'm busy, class shit and other worse shit. Like, existence."

"I'll buy you something."

"I don't read. I'll think about it. And while I'm thinking, I think you should get somemore hangout spots. These people? URK "

"God forbid people enjoy being around other people."

" urk! Stop saying that word, man. I...I don't know the layout THAT well."

"Well. See ya then."

"...Yeah...See ya. It was....Bye."

"Bye."

"You're gonna stay h...Oh, yeah ok. I'll see ya tonight, dude."

"If i got time..."