Если я останусь

           First-personsingularorplural.Ipromise."

           "Good,"Kimreplied."Becauseifyouturnintooneofthosegirls,I’llshootyou."

           "IfIturnintooneofthosegirls,I’llhandyouthegun."

           Kimlaughedforrealatthat,andthetensionwasbroken.Shepoppedahunkofpieintohermouth."Howdidyourparentstakeit?"

           "Dadwentthroughthefivephasesofgrieving—denial,anger,acceptance,whatever—inlikeoneday.Ithinkhe’smorefreakedoutthatheisoldenoughtohaveadaughterwhohasaboyfriend."Ipaused,tookasipofmycoffee,lettingthewordboyfriendrestoutintheair."Andheclaimshecan’tbelievethatI’mdatingamusician."

           "You’reamusician,"Kimremindedme.

           "Youknow,apunk,popmusician."

           "ShootingStarisemo-core,"Kimcorrected.Unlikeme,shecaredaboutthemyriadpopmusicaldistinctions:punk,indie,alternative,hard-core,emo-core.

           "It’smostlyhotair,youknow,partofhiswholebow-tie-Dadthing.IthinkDadlikesAdam.Hemethimwhenhepickedmeupfortheconcert.Nowhewantsmetobringhimoverfordinner,butit’sonlybeenaweek.I’mnotquitereadyforameet-the-folksmomentyet."

           "Idon’tthinkI’lleverbereadyforthat."Kimshudderedatthethoughtofit."Whataboutyourmom?"

           "SheofferedtotakemetoPlannedParenthoodtogetthePillandtoldmetomakeAdamgettestedforvariousdiseases.Inthemeantime,sheorderedmetobuycondomsnow.Sheevengavemetenbuckstostartmysupply."

           "Haveyou?"Kimgasped.