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“Nope I’ the ain…someday Well, maybe I won’t After you’ve had your lobotomy, you won’t appreciate all this yumminess anymore So I’ll probably stop forever Sad that today is the last time I’ll ever bake it, and I made it for you, but…oh, well”

When she drizzles the buttery syrup on top and extracts a plate of crispy, thick-sliced bacon keeping warly sentiht You win Hand me a plate I’ll cancel the lobotomy and stay for the movie”

“I thought you rins as she hands me a dish

Despite the dirowl “You’re punishing me, Hope”

“I’m not, Elliot After seven weeks of action heroes, twisted relationships, and sopho nice”

Echo ht have a point She’s the only one who ever introduces ht”

I refill herthe food on the coffee table in front of the “big screen” The gang makes fun of Echo’s TV because it’s an old console set froo In fact, her whole place is full of half-patched, well-loved hand- like my super-sleek bachelor pad, but I’ve spent so much time here this place feels like home

“So what’s the name of your torturous flick today?” I ask as I drop to the floor and position myself in front of the table

Echo is right beside hs as we settle in With my next breath, I s else sweet that’s turningme crazy What is that?

“Pride and Prejudice”

Is she for real? “Didn’t I have to read that in, like, tenth-grade English?”

“You had Mrs Hanover for sophoht?”

“Yeah” I haven’t thought of that woman in years After the end of that semester, I blocked her out

“Then you did It was the best thing we read in class”

“Lord of the Flies ay better”

Echo pins ht be a man, but you’re such a boy”

“What does that mean? I—”

“Eat, so I can start er at me

I really would rather not watch this classic chick-flick, even if Kiera Knightly is on the screen She’s hot, despite the billowing dress and any absence of cleavage But Echo’s words bug me