“Oh, what, you don’t like pepperoni?” His hands were throw up towards the heavens.

“I can’t be saved,” I said.

“Do you believe in God, Jade?”

“Nope,” I puckered my lips, “My name isn’t jade either.”

“What the fuck,” he sounded angry.

I glanced at him through my bangs. Uhoh. He was definitely angry.

“My name is Lola Friday,” I bobbed my head with each word.

“No, it’s not. What the hell are you talking about?!” He shook his head in disgust.

“I’d appreciate it if you called me Lola,” I said with a wistful look at an empty fishtank.

“You’re completely absurd,” he bit every word, “Lola.”

I smiled.

“What’s your favorite month, Lola?”

“October,” I said, not missing a beat.

He stood up fast and steady. “I hate you, Lola, you’re a motherfucker.”

“Casper,” I said apology on my tongue.

And with that, he stormed toawrds the other side of the room, not a single glance back.

So I crawled my way even farther back, behind the drying racks, and pulled up my knees, and waited.