Okay, so I had spent some time in Prudence's world, now she would have a chance to spend some time in mine. It's funny Prudence is not someone you'd proudly take home to mom and I felt the same way about introducingher to my friends. I was nervous for her, for me, because I certainly wouldn't call my friends laid back.

She wore her usual black and so did I-making me realize we would have looked perfect in a James Bond movie. She didn't seem worried or nervous at all.

While my friends were practically humping each other with hellos, Prudence stood back with indifference. I understood. Or maybe I thought I did.

It was clear to me that everyone noticed her age and intellect, but they didn't seem to care except a cold tension magically appeared every time Prudence opened her mouth. Usually it was to say something that, to my friends, was idiotic, but she didn't really care, or did I.

During Fran's little speech, I snapped at Prudence for asking stupid questions and suddenly felt my body flush with frustration at my reaction.

Steve took away our plates and Prudence went to the bathroom. I followed.

I stood outside the door and I could hear her trying to control her crying. I knocked, "Hey, Prudence, Prudence."

"Wait a minute."

"Please let me in." The door cracked and I slipped inside. She went back to the wash basin and rubbed water under her black painted eyes.

"I'm sorry, I'm an asshole." I pleaded.

"You're not an asshole. I'm just stupid." Her tears flowed quickly. "I know I am. My father was stupid, my mother was stupid, and I'm stupid."

I crossed the brown tiled floor, embracing her. "Hey, hey, what's this about?"

"Nothing just forget it." She turned to get more paper towels, but it was really to get away from me. Things were becoming much clearer. While I thought all along this girl had a superiority complex, it was the total opposite. She was insecure.

"Hey, Prudence you're not stupid. You're young and that's a totally cool thing. As a matter-of-fact, I think you're one of the smartest girls I know. That's why I love you."

"You just wanted to score with a nineteen year old."

"No, that's wrong." I placed each hand on her shoulders and turned her towards me. "It was you. You're lovely and smart." She cried harder. "What's the matter?"

"You know." She walked away again and in the silence I did know.

"I'm too old," I mumbled.

"It's not just that, we're different, too different. You're friends are nice and all, but I don't know what the hell they're talking about and I have a confession, a lot of the time I don't know what the hell you're talking about."

"And I thought I was just boring you."

"You don't bore me. You just make me feel inferior. You don't mean to, I know, it's just that you're ahead of me, and you'll always be ahead of me."

I went to her, touching her face. "Love in the wrong place, wrong time, huh?"She nodded in agreement.

"Friends forever?" she asked.

"Absolutely friends forever. Now how about we finish dinner?"

We headed out the door. "Okay, but I got to tell you, you're friends, for being queer and all, seem pretty normal, except for that Hillary broad. There's something up with her."