Jane Stockman

"What's wrong?" you ask Amy. "Are you worried about Ellen?"

Amy tilts her head. "You tell me," she says. She spits out her gum onto the pavement. "Just a f'rinstance. What if two weeks after you set up your naïve little blonde roommate on a hot date with the coolest, classiest rich girl in school -- a hot, successful date, mind you -- she flees into the arms of Miss All-Weather Nylons, Jane Stockman."

"Jane Stockman?" you ask.

"Business major. Pretentious bitch, and a troublemaker. I thought she was Cathy's girlfriend, you know, our bitch of an R.A. That's why I didn't put it together till Ellen said..." She looks down and away.

"That she was bi, but you're not her lover," you say. "Are you sure it's Jane? I mean, Ellen's pretty easy to embarrass. Maybe it's one of your friends or something?"

You rub the back of your neck. First sex, then drama. They seemed to go together too much. You wonder if you're going to find yourself sleeping in your car tonight.

"Shit, I don't know," Amy says, looking down. She looks back up at you. "What the hell, Prince Charming. It started out to be a fun evening. Let's see if we can save it. I'll worry about Ellen's virtue tomorrow."

"'Cause tomorrow's another day?" you can't resist.

"Just call me Scarlett," she says, shaking her red tresses. "C'mon, prince, back to the fair maiden before I have to bite your tongue off."

You follow Amy through the back door of the diner. Madge, your waitress, is still absent. You wonder if Ellen got her diet cola.

A few steps ahead of you, Amy makes a "Hm?" of surprise. You walk up until you can see your table.