"I had no idea you were in town," Scarlett beams, pulling me into a bone-crushing hug. I pat her on her back as my hands go around her too, even though I'm not particularly fond of physical contact. She wouldn't have it back when we were together. She constantly pulled me into surprise hugs and forced me to cuddle. She still won't have now it seems.

"We met up two nights ago--" I start, stepping back when her hands move from around me.

"The night I ruined your kill, yeah," her face falls and she honestly looks disappointed from the way her small, bow-shaped lips quiver. "I'm sorry about that."

"It's fine, Scar. Next time I find him, he's as good as dead," I assure her, pulling out a seat at one of the tables.

"You're still calling me that." Her head falls back in embarrassed laughter. "Jesus, I see how cringe it is now."

"Nah, it's cute," I counter. "But it was kinda stupid of you to want that as your supervillain name."

"I know," she admits as she pulls out a chair opposite mine. She hand disappears in the pocket of her dark jeans and she pulls out a stick of gum, gesturing if I would like one even though I've never ever taken one no matter the times she's asked. I like that she still has hope though.

"Marco and Liv never let me live that down. They still call me Mufasa's killer instead of Swirl sometimes. And Marco keeps up with the whole joke of me trying to upstage Disney's best villain."

The whole memory of the event brings a smile to my face. One of the fun parts of being a super is picking a name. I'm Ecstasy, because just like the drug, I make you feel good. It starts as warm tingles and lovely sensations that make you euphoric. With heightened sensory perceptions, it almost feels... good. Almost. But those effects never last, because just like the drug, I make you overheat-- except, I go the extra mile and burn you to a crisp. Fun times.

Swirl, however, had a hard time picking her name since all her choices were regarded as childish or just plain dumb-- but Scar was what took the cake. After weeks of her being teased with the worst possible Lion King references, I came up with one for her. It has stuck with her since.

I grin at her. "Scar was not the best name choice."

"I see that now. Besides, it's more a you name, Anne." Anne. I forgot that Scarlett has no idea about my new identity. Well, it's not exactly new. It's an old, tucked-away one that is now getting its time in the sun.

I shake my head way too hard. "I don't go by that again. I use Lucille now."

"I thought you hated that name," she comments, smacking on the gum in her mouth. Tat. Tat. Tit tat. The sound is weirdly irritating, yet welcome. It annoyed the daylights out of me, it still does. But I'm somehow used to it.

"Only because of the way my mother pronounced it. It sickened me." I grit my teeth when my mother's voice floods my head. It's high-pitched and snobby, yelling out my name in a way that sounded like we still lived in the Victorian Era: Lucille, darling, would you like some oolong tea. Lucille, how are your grades, dear? Lucille, do you want to ge punished again?

"Oh, about her. Does she know you're in Providence now? How long are you staying? Two weeks?" Scarlett asks, blowing up a bubble which I pop with my nail.

"No, and I plan to keep it that way. I've moved here even, so there's no time period limit. And it's convenient since Providence is closer to base."

Scarlett's big, doe eyes widen with a look of shock. "When did it happen? Are you staying in a hotel? You can come stay at my house until you get on your feet, my parents like you so it won't be a problem."

This is what I dreaded. I don't have to get in her mind to know what my ex is thinking, it's obvious in her eagerness, in her voice laced with excitement and hope. Hope, something I keep trying to let her go off. Hope in this world that plunges farther and farther towards the level of hell even Dante was scared to enter. Hope in salvaging our relationship. Hope fucked you up, it led to disappointments.

And I'm about to give her one.

"I've already got a place, I'm renting. And I think even my roommate likes me," I add, not knowing how true that is. Who cares though? Scarlett obviously won't know if I'm lying or not.

"What did you do?" The way she asks the question is as though I somehow seduced Kobby. I won't do that, I mean, I won't have to. I have a lot of appeal emanating off me without having to put in any effort.

I shrug in response. "But offered to pick me up after work though." The way I suddenly wince prompts Scarlett that something is up. Or maybe it's the way I'm kicking her under the table. I like to believe it's the first.

"That's sweet. Why are you so worried then?"

"Because I don't have a job." Well, I do. Sort off, so I add, "Not a legitimate one anyway."

"What did you tell him? Where does he think you work?"

Grinning, I say, "Here. With you." I spread my hands, gesturing at the interior of Ground Up cafe, my said workplace. It seems like a chill place if the manager didn't mind Scarlett taking a break since the other two customers had been served. The cafe would be closing soon, anyway.

"Jesus, Anne," Scar exclaims, leaning back in her chair. Her body moves too far back and her chair tips over. It's because of quick reflexes that she's able to summon a small gust from the tips of her fingers to push her chair back up. We both look around to see if anyone noticed.

The couple at the table closest to the door are too lost in each other to have seen. The guy working the counter, Trevor, I think, is staring down at his phone, obviously sucked into the device. It seems no one paid us any attention. Good.

"Lucille," I stress, after Scar is done looking around and rests her elbows on the table.

"Lucille-Anne."

"I didn't think anyone could make it even worse but you managed to prove me wrong, Scar. Just Lucille. Nothing else."

"Alright, Lucille." She says my name like she's trying it out for size. Slowly at first, then quickly.

"I need an apron or something. Like can't your boss just hire me for the night?"

"I dunno. You're the one with brain-peeking powers."

"That doesn't mean I can control or manipulate them to do my bidding." Although I wish I could. That would really be a great help in teaching some people a lesson they'll never forget.  "I can only look."

"Whatever. I hope you're prepared to meet your roommate then."

"Yes, I think." I check my watch. "He'll be here any minute. I told him I got off at 8. It's 5 minutes past."

I'm telling Scarlett about how hearing her gum smacking continuously is beginning to give me a headache when she perks up.

"Uh, is your roommate a he?"

I nod. "Yes. Why are you--"

"Is he tall, dark, and handsome?" Scarlett interrupts.

A nod.

"Broody dark or skin dark?"

"Skin," I say.

"I guess that's him then. He's outside." The bubble gum is out of her mouth now, and she sticks it under the table in a swift move as she pretends to lean closer to me.

"You are so bad," I tease.

"Ugh, it's not like others don't do it." She rolls her eyes, a frown forming. "You don't know how much gum I've had to scrape from under there. At least I should know I had a hand in it so cleaning it up won't feel so terrible."

I weigh her logic and decide it's sensible enough. I hope that level of reason can be invoked again, since Kobby is now walking through the glass doors.