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again and removed her cell phone, which was buzzing. I watched her press several buttons and read the text message she’d just received.
    â€œI swear this boy is driving me up a wall.” She stuffed her phone back into her purse.
    â€œGot troubles with your man?” I asked mockingly.
    â€œNothing I can’t handle. He’s just a little possessive—likes to know my every move, which at first I thought was kind of cute, but now it’s just annoying as hell. He followsme around like some crazed stalker on Twitter trying to hook up with a celebrity.”
    â€œSounds like your boyfriend is a real control freak,” I affirmed, wanting to pry into her romantic life just out of curiosity. “What else has he done?”
    â€œSo who are you? A graduate of the Dr. Phil University of getting into other people’s business?” Lori turned snippy in the blink of an eye. I could tell she was the type of person who blurted whatever was on her mind before she placed any thought into how she’d be perceived.
    â€œI don’t even watch Dr. Phil, but if dude doesn’t like to give you space to breathe, that could spell trouble for your relationship,” I answered, genuinely trying to help her. Lori didn’t confirm or deny my doubts about the stability of her romantic life. Instead she twisted the conversation around and began asking me questions.
    â€œSo what’s your story? Where are you from?” she asked.
    â€œIllinois. I live in a suburb called South Holland,” I answered.
    â€œReally?” Her mood seemed to change instantaneously.
    â€œYes, really.” I wondered why her attitude had once again done a one-hundred-eighty-degree turn.
    â€œMy dad lives there. I spend the summer months in South Holland,” she said, using a friendlier tone. “You ever hang out at River Oaks Mall or go to the Tricked Out nightclub?” Lori asked as she draped one leg over the other.
    â€œYeah, I’ve hung out at both of those places. I used to live at the night club,” I admitted.
    â€œYou know, now that I’m looking at you, your face seems familiar.” Lori’s unyielding stare made me feel awkward.
    â€œYou’ve probably seen me around the neighborhood or just hanging out at Mr. Submarine or something. So will you be going to see your dad this summer?” I asked.
    â€œYes, I will. Then I’ll have to deal with all of his rules. God, I hate rules. There should be a new law banning them,” Lori whined as she once again opened her purse, removed a compact mirror and began fussing with her hair.
    â€œWell, if that happened our society would become very chaotic,” I pointed out.
    â€œSo what are you? The social conscience of America now?”
    â€œBoy, you’re really a feisty one, aren’t you?” I asked, releasing a phony laugh.
    â€œI’m bossy, feisty, spunky and sometimes quarrelsome. It takes a certain kind of man to handle me.”
    â€œOh, yeah, and what type of man would that be?” I asked, folding my arms across my chest and shifting my weight to sit more comfortably. I wanted to know what type of dude could subdue a nutcase like her.
    â€œA thug. A man who takes charge and is in command. A man who isn’t afraid of anything or anyone. Someone completely different from you, obviously.” Lori pulled out her cat claws with her last comment.
    â€œOh, no, you didn’t just call me a punk.” I chuckled. “You clearly don’t know much about me at all.”
    â€œPlease! You look like you still need to sleep in your bedroom with your night-light on.” She smirked with unwavering conviction.
    â€œHuh. That’s a laugh. You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover,” I said, defending myself.
    â€œI can’t help it. That’s just the way I am. I can take one look at a person and immediately know if I’m going to be able to get along with