1.10

"There's something poetic about that, don't you think?" he said, causing Penelope to silently agree on the "stupid question" issue.

"Your foot crushing his foot? I suppose." More awkwardness. She hated when strangers spoke to her, even attractive ones. Which probably accounted for her general loneliness and outrageous co-dependency. She studied his nondescript shoes in the hope that they would suddenly walk away, and she could mourn mini-Edward in peace.

"These aren't Payless sneakers, by the way. They look like them but really aren't. It's a statement on bland, mass consumerism."

Penelope wished (not for the first or last time) that she could roll her eyes. She lacked the motor skills and coordination. It was, perhaps, a good thing. She did not, however, lack the motor skills to walk away. So she did.