“You’re not running away from home, are you? I’m not going to turn on the news tomorrow and see your missing person report?” She leans over to flick some stray ash off the toe of her shoe. “That would be tragic. I’d have to testify that I saw you here and I didn’t even try to stop you.”

If Anastasia Peters were an animal, she would be a black mamba snake – highly aggressive, very fast, and prone to attacking without provocation. Anastasia is one of those girls who knows how to game you. She games teachers into believing she’s a good student, she games her parents into thinking she is a good daughter, she games her friends’ parents into thinking she is someone they want their kids to hang around with. But she is a criminal, plain and simple. Her father runs a construction firm that everyone knows is connected to the Mob, so maybe it runs in the family, maybe it’s, like, embedded in her genetic code. London has seen Anastasia blackmail people; has seen her commit assault, fraud, theft, and vandalism; has seen her perjure herself on the stand, possess with intent to sell, and impersonate a police officer, even.

Anastasia gamed London for years. She pretended to be her friend, linking arms with her in the hallway, letting her eat lunch at her table, inviting her to her house after school to hang out in her enormous rec room and play Guitar Hero and eat nachos. She made London trust her – and then she got London arrested. London and Anastasia have known each other since kindergarten, but it wasn’t until a few months ago that London discovered who she truly was. That’s a long game. The longest game in the universe, maybe.

“Fuck off and die, Anastasia” London says, getting into her Nana’s car. As she drives away, the last thing she sees is Anastasia’s arm above her head, waving goodbye.

—

PONYO: It didn’t work.

PONYO: They wouldn’t let me buy a ticket cause I’m only 16.

SHARKBOY: That’s bullshit.

PONYO: I know.

PONYO: I don’t know what else to do.

SHARKBOY: I still don’t get why your grandma can’t take you.

SHARKBOY: I thought you said she was excited about the idea?

PONYO: She just can’t.

SHARKBOY: Did something happen?

PONYO: No.

PONYO: I don’t want to talk about it.

SHARKBOY: London, if we’re going to be together there can’t be any secrets between us.

SHARKBOY: Don’t you trust me?

SHARKBOY: London?

PONYO: Yes, I trust you.

SHARKBOY: Well?

PONYO: You promise you won’t tell anyone?

SHARKBOY: Of course not.

SHARKBOY: Besides, who would I tell?

—