Disclaimer: I own nothing.

***A girl of about 18 with purple hair was walking alone through the mall.

Devi.

She stopped into the art gallery, where Nny was gone from now. He'd left about 15 min. ago, to get a cherry doom brainfreezy.

She went in the back, to see if her painting was still there. It was, of course. She looked at it for a moment. She was surprised at her emotions when she thought back on a few...OK almost a year ago.

"Oh Nny, why did you have to ruin everything? I know somehow you didn't mean to, but things felt so good between us. I guess I was stupid to give guys a chance again. Just like all the other times. I'm gonna die single. No question. 'Cause guys just don't get me. But I think you did. You were different. Maybe in bad ways too, though. Oh man, I'm talking to him like he's with me or something. I should really see a shrink. Or at least Tenna," Devi said, shaking her head and exiting the gallery.

An hour later Devi and Tenna were walking through the mall.

"So, what's the problem?" Tenna asked, squeaking a small rubber skeleton doll that she called Spooky.

"I told you a while ago, I think I'm going crazy. And now I'm going even deeper," Devi said, staring at a window display as they passed. Mannequins creeped her out somehow.

"And how's that?" Tenna asked, giving Spooky another squeeze to make him squeak.

"I miss Nny. And I keep talking to him, even though he's not around. It's like I think there's some mental connection or something so he can actually hear me. I'm going even more nuts," Devi said.

"Oh come on, how's that make 'ya crazy? It's normal to miss a guy you went out with," Tenna said calmly.

"Are YOU crazy, Tenn? He tried to kill me!" Devi said, flabbergasted.

"Yeah but-"

"Tenna please! We both know he's completely crazy! But he was so nice, and I liked him a lot. And then he tried to kill me and I had to kick his a**, and I think he's hurt about things not working out just like I am. It's usually easier to get over guys I dated for me. But I can't forget how it was when I was with him. It was like he was different than most guys. And I guess he was," Devi said.

"Yeah, he's a homicidal weirdo!" Tenna said, squeaking Spooky.

"Yeah, I guess. But I still feel sort of bad. But I shouldn't. I still feel like...maybe he deserves another chance," Devi said.

"hmm, maybe he does," Tenna said, examining a small piece of dirt on Spooky' s head.

"He'll just try to kill me again," Devi said.

"Maybe, maybe not," Tenna said.

"Uh," Devi said.

"Come on, sleep on it," Tenna said.

"I might," Devi said.

"Yay!" Tenna said. She loved when Devi took her advice.

"Well, I still have to get back to the bookstore. I started working there again, part time. The NERVE work isn't paying for everything yet," Devi said.

"OK, bye bye," Tenna said, ducking into Vampirecrombie and Bitch, the local goth/punk clothing store. (ha ha, I hate Ambercrombie and Fitch. Ugh. Not offense to people who do)

Devi headed toward the exit. Then she headed toward the bookstore where she had again begun to work, Dragon Books.

Devi was behind the counter later, waiting for people to come in and buy books. She sat, reading a new release science fiction novel. Suddenly the bell on the door tinkled, and Devi looked up. She jumped three feet in the air when she saw that it was Nny who had entered.

He headed toward the back, as Devi watch suspiciously. But soon she noticed that he wasn't doing anything alarming and went back to her book.

Minutes later Devi looked up. Nny wasn't looking for a book at all. He was watching her. But not like he was stalking her. Like he was just there so he could see her.

Like before they'd gone on that single date.

Now it was the ONLY way he could see her.

His face was sad, sadder than she could have ever imagined that anyone could look. When he saw her looking he quickly ducked behind the shelves. Devi shook her head. Minutes later he left. Devi went back to her book.

But she couldn't get that sad face out of her head.

More soon.