"So are you bi?"

"What?"

He was locking up the back door so they could head across their backyards and swing by Mae's place to check in with her mom.

"Are you bi? Bisexual?"

"No...why?" he replied, finishing up and turning to look at her.

"I just thought I'd ask, to see what's on the table. I didn't think you were, but you can't really know unless you ask. Also my fantasies have adjusted and now I'm thinking about you and Gregg doing it but...now I feel bad, because it would make Angus sad. And he doesn't deserve that. He's so nice and good for Gregg…"

"Well, you don't have to worry about it," Trent replied.

"Yeah, I guess so. At least from you. Okay, so just girls then. I can live with that." She looked around his backyard. "What Selmers said last night...about making a new memory...could we really do that? Would you do that for me? There's a firepit in your yard…"

For a moment he had no idea what she was talking about. Then he remembered: her crying, telling them about her memory that wasn't a memory but a dream, Ann's suggestion. He nodded. "Yeah, of course. If all or any of your friends will come, we can light a fire and just chill out around it. I'll stock up on food and we can have like a party."

"Like a housewarming party! Yes!" Mae cried. She hugged him suddenly. "I love you."

"I...uh...don't know how to respond to that," he murmured, hugging her back. "I like you?"

She laughed. "Okay, I accept that. I guess...I didn't believe in love at first sight. I thought it was bullshit, but I don't think so anymore. I think I love you, but I don't really get a choice in the matter." She shrugged.

"No choice?…" He thought about it. "I mean...actually yeah, that makes sense…"

"I won't be mad if you don't love me yet."

He laughed. "Yet. Oh, just so long as I love you later?"

"Just be nice to me, Trent. You take care me, and I'll take care of you. Does that sound good?" she asked, looking up at him.

He looked down at her. There was something different in her red eyes now. No, not different. He'd seen it the first night they'd met. God, had that really been within the past two days? It seemed two weeks ago already.

Damn, he hadn't even really settled into his new house yet and…

He blinked a few times. Had he seriously slept with three women since getting to this town? That didn't seem possible.

There was need in her eyes, desperate need. And pain. And fear.

And a kind of exhaustion.

Good lord, what the hell had happened to her that was so brutal?

He was becoming afraid to ask.

"Yes, that sounds good, Mae," he replied.

She smiled. "Sweet! Come on!"

They walked over to her house and in through the back door, finding her mom at the table, reading a book.

"Hey you two," she said cheerily, "how is everything going?"

"Great! He's my boyfriend now!" Mae replied brightly.

"I see," her mother said, giving Trent a meaningful but brief look. "How did last night go?"

"Great! We hung out with Selmers and then Bea came by today!"

"Wow, you're pretty popular already. But I'm glad, those two are good people."

"That was my impression of them," Trent replied.

"I need to go take my brain meds, brb," Mae said and then ran off before either of them could say anything.

Her mother fixed Trent with a surprisingly firm stare. "What are your intentions with Mae?" she asked. Her voice was as firm as her stare, but he was grateful that it wasn't sharp. There was no edge to it. She was asking him an overt question, but he knew she could have made it sound like an accusation. And she hadn't.

"I don't know," he admitted after a few seconds. Then shook his head. "I mean, I intend to date her. I know that much. I, uh...look, I really didn't expect this to happen. I had no real idea of what would happen once I came into town. Mae just...fell in my lap basically. But this is what I can say with confidence: I won't hurt her intentionally, I'll be nice to her, watch out for her, treat her with respect. If we do break up, I'll do my best not to leave on a sour note. I like her a lot. She's made a really strong impression on me. Honestly...I just want to be happy, and I want to make her happy. And, I'm realizing, minimize the trouble she might get into."

Candy stared at him for several long seconds, then nodded once. "I believe you," she said, and then she let out a small sigh of relief. "And good lord, you don't know how nice that is to hear. I was so terrified that she was going to date someone like Gregg...he's a sweetheart, don't get me wrong, but they're a terrible influence on each other. You seem levelheaded enough, and I'll need more time to get used to you, but...I think you'll be good for her. Or, at the very least, I don't think you'll be bad for her...you should have dinner with us soon."

He nodded. "I'd like that, actually."

She laughed. "Normally boyfriends are terrified of dinner with their girlfriend's parents."

"You and your husband seem...reasonable," he replied.

"Were you going to say normal but then balked at that?" she asked, a grin on her face.

"Uh...yeah."

She laughed again. "Well that's the truth. We're a little weird, but who isn't? I'm just a bit more honest about it. Mae...can't not be honest."

He sighed. "I am getting a crash course in this."

"Oh I do have some sympathy for you, dear. Believe it or not, I was a lot like her at that age. When I met Stan...well, I tested his patience far more than once."

Trent heard Mae moving overhead, he thought she was returning.

"One more thing I wanted to mention. You should come by my place tomorrow. My great-uncle had a bunch of furniture that I don't really want. Bea's helping me sell it, but given how you're my girlfriend's mom, I thought it'd be nice if I offered something or a few somethings for free," he said.

"Are you sure?" she asked.

"Yeah, I'm sure."

"Well okay. Thank you, I really appreciate that. Honestly, Stan and I should come by soon if you and Mae are serious now...we're both off tomorrow. Would that be okay?"

"Yes," he replied, then shifted awkwardly. "Sorry if it's weird that she's spending the night at my place already…"

Candy sighed. "Mae is an adult at this point...legally speaking. But honestly, I like having her nearby, I like seeing her happy, and I like the idea that she's with someone who is, uh, more evened out than she is and is looking out for her. You're both so young, but...I have a good feeling about you. So, you know, just make sure she stays safe."

He nodded. "I will." Overhead, a loud thump, followed by a shouted fuck! could be heard. "Eh...you know, as much as I can."

"I understand. There's only so much you can do to help contain Hurricane Mae."

"I heard that!" Mae called as she bounded down the stairs.

"I know what I said," Candy replied. "Be careful out there, will you? It's getting colder. Put your coat on."

"Ugh, I don't need a coat I've got a nice layer of fat," Mae replied. "Come on, boyfriend!"

"Mae Borowski, put your coat on," Candy said firmly.

Mae heaved a sigh. "Yes, mother."

"Thank you."

Trent was glad he'd already pulled on a heavy hoodie that he'd bought at one point during the long pilgrimage out here. It had been expensive, but worth it. Mae pulled on her coat, told her mom she loved her, and then they were out the door.

"Are you sure you wanna hold my hand?" Mae asked.

"What? Yeah, why?" Trent replied.

They'd been enjoying a pretty nice walk through town. It was indeed cold out, but they had their fur and their clothes, so they were enjoying it.

"I mean, I dunno, people have been looking. Tying yourself to me…"

"Little late for that, Mae," he replied, and gave her hand a small squeeze.

She smiled awkwardly. "I'm just saying, if you wanted to like save yourself, the window is closing."

"Save myself from what, all this hot pus-" he hesitated, cleared his throat. "Well, you know."

She laughed. "Yeah. It's just, I have a rep. And Selmers does, too. She's a great friend now, but even I know that. I don't care, but only because I already kamikazed my rep, like, over a decade ago. But you're new in town-"

"Forget it, Mae. Unless you tell me to go, I'm here, and I'm walking through town, holding your hand, and I don't care who sees it."

She stopped suddenly, forcing him to stop as well. He looked down at her and she looked up at him, a curious expression on her face. Then, suddenly, she hugged him. "I wanted to thank you," she murmured into his chest, "for the night with the trains."

"What?" he asked, hugging her back.

"The first night, when I was showing you the way back, we got onto that hill, and I took your hand, and you let me. You held my hand and listened to the trains with me, just for a little bit. That meant a lot to me, Trent. So thank you."

"You're welcome, Mae," he replied.

She let go of him and they started walking again.

The Snack Falcon was up ahead. He hadn't really heard of them, but he figured they were similar to a chain of small convenience stores he had back home called the Viper Crunch. Sure enough, as they approached the simple building, it looked very similar. And as they walked inside, the bell dinging as the door opened, that was only confirmed further.

Yeah, definitely a little convenience store. The shelves were loaded with grab bags of chips, candy bars, bottles of soda, bags of candy.

"Mae!"

"Gregg!"

Trent saw an orange fox in a black leather jacket standing behind the counter, his eyes wide in excitement.

"You've got a weird dude attached to your hand! Should I call the police?!" he yelled, though his expression of excitement did not match his words.

"No! This is my boyfriend!" Mae cried, pulling Trent up to the counter.

"REALLY!?"

"YES!"

"HOLY SHIT MAE!"

"HOLY SHIT GREGG!"

"Wow you both are REALLY loud," Trent said.

"We are excited!" Gregg declared. "I'm Gregg!"

"I'm Trent, it's good to meet you."

"And you-oh wait! You're the guy who I thought was hitting on Angus! I remember now."

"Ah. Yeah. We talked for a bit. I wasn't hitting on him," Trent said.

"You bought him tacos," Gregg replied.

"He was just being nice," Mae said. "He's not even bi, don't worry. And besides, he's my boyfriend. You know I wouldn't let anything come between you and Angus, Gregg. I'd crack skulls like eggs if someone tried to break you up."

"Mae, you're the best friend in the world…" He suddenly grinned, the smile splitting his face. "It's gonna suck so much when you get face cancer and your brain explodes through your ears."

Mae returned his grin with one of her own. "Not as much as it'll suck when you get pushed through a wood chipper backwards."

He giggled. "Not as much as it'll suck when you eat lava and it melts your esophagus!" His eyes widened. "Wanna break lights?!"

"Yes!" Mae cried.

"Come on!"

"What's happening?" Trent asked as Mae started tugging him towards the back of the store.

"We're gonna break lights! You should try it, it's fun!" Mae replied.

Trent was hesitant but let Mae lead him after Gregg, who led them out the back where a dumpster awaited them. A random scattering of trash hung around the dumpster and he noticed a ton of tiny slivers and shards of glass.

Mae let go of his hand and snatched up a baseball bat that was leaned against the dumpster, then she climbed atop it while Gregg dropped down and pulled out a long box from beneath it. Trent's discomfort grew as Gregg pulled a long slender glass tube from the box. A florescent light. Mae swung the bat a few times, then tapped it against the top of the dumpster and rolled her shoulders. "Come on, man, throw it home!"

"Whoa! Whoa! What the fuck!?" Trent cried in horror as he realized the situation was exactly as it appeared.

"What? What is it?" Gregg asked, looking around.

"You can't-what are you doing!? You can't do this!"

"Sure we can, we've done it before," Mae said.

"No, like-oh my God, Mae! Do you have any idea what would happen if some of that glass got in your eye!? Or your mouth, your throat!? You could be blinded or shred your intestines if you swallowed some of that shit!"

"Oh...hmm…" Mae murmured, twisting her lips as she planted the head of the bat on the dumpster and leaned against it. "I hadn't really thought of that. What do you think Gregg?"

"I mean it hasn't happened yet," Gregg replied.

"Yeah, and we've busted like thirty of these."

"Thirty?! Are you, like, seriously not worried about getting fired over this?" Trent asked, honestly shocked by how flat-out reckless they were willing to be.

That seemed to get through to Gregg at least, a look of hesitation coming onto his face. "Ehh...yeah...poop. This is fun, but...my boss is starting to get suspicious, I think. And I can't get fired, it'll fuck up The Plan…" He sighed heavily. "Maybe we shouldn't, Mae."

"Ugh, lame," Mae groaned, then she nodded. "Yeah, you're right. Angus would be so sad if you got fired and I'd feel so super shitty if it was even partially my fault." She hopped down off the dumpster and put the baseball bat back.

Gregg sighed and did the same with the lights, then seemed to think better of it and instead started carrying them back in. They followed him in and watched him put the box away in a back storage room, then they all moved back to the main area.

"Ugh, we're all old now," Mae complained.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to freak out, I just...that was like crazy dangerous. Like...do you not realize how dangerous it was or do you just not care?" he asked. "Sorry, I'm still being kind of a jerk."

"No, like, I get it," Mae said. She sat down on the floor suddenly, putting her back to the counter, sighing heavily. "It is stupid. I guess I just didn't care."

"I didn't really think about it," Gregg said after a moment. He leaned forward and poked his head over the counter. "You okay?"

"Yeah. I'm just tired. Headache. Hungry. Sorta. It's okay." She smiled suddenly up at Trent. "You're good, huh?"

"What?" he asked. That could mean too many different things.

"Watching out for me," she said.

"Ooohhh! You found your Angus?!" Gregg cried.

"Yeah, I guess I did. It's only been a few days but like, I feel like I know so much about you. It's like, um, shit, what's that book? The cyberbook. Necromancer."

"Neuromancer?" Trent asked. "By William Gibson?"

"Yes! That one! I remember reading it, and it was sooo cool."

"Cyberpunk," he said.

"Whoa, that sounds cool," Gregg said. "Although I guess anything you put the word punk onto sounds cool. Like...geriatricpunk."

"What, like, old people kicking ass with like cyber-canes?" Mae asked.

"I don't think the cyber is tied to the punk in this scenario," Trent said. He shook his head. "What point were you trying to make?"

"Oh, right, yeah. The book. It's like, there was something in the book, a part describing some piece of tech that was like a USB stick but for your brain. You slot it in to your head and you just instantly learned all this shit, whatever was on it-"

"Wait, so, you'd just have a USB drive sticking out of your head? Like your forehead?" Gregg asked. He hopped up onto the counter suddenly and sat on it cross-legged.

"No, they're super small and you put them into a slot behind your ear. But that's what it's like with you, Trent. It's like I got one of those tiny USB things slotted behind my ear. It's only been a few days, but it's like I already know so much about you. Like I just get you. And I feel like you get me. I mean, sorta. I mean, as much as my friends get me…" Mae murmured.

"Mae, it's always been hard to get you," Gregg said. "And I mean that with love."

"I know. I'm hard to get. But you get me...right?"

"I mean, I think so," Trent said. "I do get what you're saying. Sometimes I feel like I get you, and sometimes I feel like I really get you, but then sometimes...I dunno, Mae. You're so weird. Mostly in a good way...what'd you mean, about Angus?"

"What? Oh! Angus takes care of me, and watches out for me, and is nice, and responsible." He sighed suddenly. "I'm going to fuck everything up with him."

"No you aren't Gregg. You're awesome. I'm going to fuck everything up with Trent."

"I hope not," Trent said.

"That's a real Angus response," Gregg said, then laughed.

Mae put her hand up after a moment. Taking her meaning immediately, Trent took it and helped pull her back up. "See," she said, "like that. You just got what I wanted, I didn't have to say anything or even look at you. That's like ken-uh, keno-kenesis? Shit."

"Telepathy?" he asked.

"Yes! See! Just proves my point! You're reading my brain. That's why I love you."

"Whoa dude, the big L?!" Gregg asked.

Mae pursed her lips and spun on him suddenly. Gregg had switched positions and was now laying on his back, facing them, his head hanging down over the front of the counter. "When did you know you loved Angus, mister?" she asked pointedly.

"Um...okay, fine, good point," he said. "It was super soon after meeting him. I wondered for a little bit if I was just, uh...I dunno, feeling all the feels? I do that, sometimes. But no, how I feel didn't change. I love him. So I get it." He grinned broadly. "I'm so happy for you dude!" He reached out his hands and wiggled all his fingers at them. Suddenly he lost his smile. "Does this mean we can't, like, do stupid shit or crimes anymore?"

Mae let out a loud, long groan and ran her fingers down her face. "...yes. At least to the crime. Angus and Trent are right. It'd really fuck things up if we got in trouble with the police. Or you got fired."

"Or broke a bone. God, do you have any idea how much that would set you back?" Trent asked.

"Yeah. It'd be pretty lame," Mae murmured, looking guilty suddenly.

"It's getting cold as shit anyway," Gregg said, looking out the front windows. "Maybe we should like hibernate for winter."

"I'm so down for that," Mae said. "I want to just sleep for three months."

Gregg looked back at them and regained his broad grin. "I get that feeling too, but then sometimes I want to stay awake for three months and do ALL THE THINGS!"

"Mostly I just wanna sleep," Mae said. She looked outside and sighed suddenly. "God, why is it getting dark already!? Like Jesus why?!"

"That's winter, unfortunately," Trent replied.

"Yeah...hey! Do you and Angus wanna-" Mae stopped suddenly, girt her teeth, then looked over at Trent. "Would it be okay if Gregg and Angus came to hang out?"

"Yeah, sure," he replied. "And thanks, I appreciate you asking."

She sighed. "Yep, like a lame responsible adult."

"There are worse things than being lame and responsible," Trent said.

"Yeah, like being an asshole...so whaddaya say? Hang out at Trent's cool house?" she asked, turning back to Gregg.

"Yeah! We're free tonight. We'll come by after work if Angus is okay with it. Uh, where do you live?"

"Right behind my house!" Mae declared.

"Whoa! That must be so cool!" Gregg replied.

"Yeah! Our backyards touch and everything! We can hang out and eat dinner and talk about shit and maybe watch something!"

"Speaking of dinner, I should probably actually like buy groceries, although...shit, I'm not exactly looking forward to dragging an entire cart of groceries across town through the cold and the dark," Trent said. "I need a car."

"Yeah. Maybe my mom can help," Mae said. "Can I borrow your phone? I'll call her."

"Sure," he replied, passing her his phone after unlocking it.

She took it and walked across the store. She plugged one ear and started calling, staring out the windows at the darkening city beyond.

"So, uh, how'd you and Mae meet?" Trent asked.

"Middle school, we were both about twelve," Gregg replied. "Some assholes were messing with me cuz I'm gay and Mae punched one of them in the face. It doesn't seem like it, but she has a wicked right hook. Like, for real, dude lost a tooth."

"Wow...I believe it, actually."

"Got in so much trouble. She was grounded for a week, but like...it was really nice of her. I started talking to her after that and we just, you know, clicked. She's crazy, but so am I." He sat up suddenly, got to his feet, then collapsed. "Whoa!" he cried, then laughed. "Headrush like crazy."

"Gregg, are you okay?" Mae asked, rolling her eyes as she looked back.

"Yep," he said as he got up and leaned against the counter.

"You didn't like split your head open or something?"

"Nope."

"Are your brains leaking out like broken water mains?"

"Nope."

"Too bad."

"Yep!"

"What? No, mom, I'm not…"

"You two are so weird," Trent muttered.

"Like I said," Gregg replied. "But I'm glad she found you. Uh...where'd you come from, anyway? I don't think you're from around here."

"No, I'm from Nebraska. Great-uncle lived here, he died recently, I inherited everything. I hate my family and my hometown so I just grabbed my shit and moved out here to his house."

"Oh wow man, that's crazy. I'm sorry about your great-" Gregg froze suddenly and his eyes widened a little. "How'd he die?"

"I don't know! Mae's mom said he was all smashed up...or maybe not? She said several corpses they got in had been smashed up. I actually talked to a cop about it and she got all weird, saying they couldn't tell me anything. I still have no clue what happened. Like at all...what's wrong?"

"I…" Gregg opened his mouth, stared at Trent for a few seconds, then cut his gaze to Mae, then closed his mouth. "I don't know," he said finally.

"You don't know," Trent replied, turning to face him more fully.

"Yeah."

"Mae said something happened...and that you were there."

He winced, then readjusted his jacket. "It was, uh...um...Mae should really be the one to tell you about that."

Trent sighed. "Bea said the same thing."

"Oh, you met Bea?"

Trent thought back to the shower. "Oh yeah, I met Bea all right," he replied, then caught himself before he said anything stupid.

"Wait, what does that mean? You said it a certain way…" he grinned suddenly. "Did you have a fight with Bea or something? She's kinda...fighty."

"A small one," he lied. "Otherwise we got along pretty well. She's cool."

"Yeah, Bea's real hardcore but real cool."

"Okay!" Mae said, walking back over. "My mom will meet us at the Ham Panther. It's not too far of a walk from here. We can buy groceries and she'll drive us home."

"Sounds good," Trent replied.

"Aw, aren't you two cute?!" Gregg said, grinning fiercely at them. He clasped his hands together and tilted his head. "Buying groceries for your home like a married couple!?"

"Gregg," Mae said.

"Make sure you buy doilies!"

"Gregg."

"And make sure you buy diapers for your baby!"

"Gregg shut up or I'm going to rip your spine out through your mouth," Mae said.

"You'll be too busy making babies and watching soap operas and arguing over which welcome mat is the best!"

"Argh! Come on, let's get out of here before I falcon punch Lord of the Snack Falcon," Mae said, marching for the door.

"It was cool seeing you dude!" Gregg called.

"You too dude!" she called back.

"Good to meet you Trent!"

"You too!"

They walked back out into the frigid twilight.