. What?” I asked her to repeat the question like a guy who just woke up from a dream.“now that your friend has gone home, shall we leave for home ...oo?” she asked again, this time making sure that I paid attention.‘what!!? No way! You’re never gonna get another chance like this, stupid Varun! In solitude with her and away from home.’ my inner voice screamed at me. I kept thinking for an answer that can convince her to stay. “umm.. If we go home, all we’re gonna do is watch tv or do the chores.. ." She smiled at me.I let my facial expression look like I was questioning, because I didn't quite know what to say."You know what I like about this place?" she asked."What?" I feel...liked, and...cared for. I'm safe here. I can be myself here. And I can feel sexy again. Even though I'm not twenty-five anymore." Huh." You know fifty percent of our membership fee goes to charity right?" Ut-uh." Yeah. It goes to **** crisis help and sexual disease prevention education." Oh, wow." Yeah. The point. She’d read about him when some of her novels had made reference to him. He painted ideal perfect American home life, filled with smiling fat kids bustling around. But this was just dead silent, as if judging her quietly, whispering at her, “Whore. Prostitute.” She shoved her hands in her pockets, feeling the envelope that was proof of her crime and tried to drown out her mind in Normal Rockwell paintings.She pulled open the door and her mom ran to the door, “Oh my God Devin!” She ran up and. When they had made their way half way down the length of the room, they were ambushed from five assailants hidden in the plants. Within seconds they were drenched as Marguerite, Cathy, Sarah, Bob, and Dave opened fire with the water guns. The return fire was lame as both of them were laughing too hard to aim. Sherry shouted out, “Kelly and Ed are out of the game.”The five heads disappeared back into the plants leaving Ed and Kelly soaked. About thirty seconds later, laughter and shouts burst.