#bergen_county

" Now Piper has to wear the ugly hat"

"Wait, I didn't agree to a hat! They make my head look tiny."

"Hey, you can make that hat look -good-."

"No one makes the ugly hat look good" Zane insists

Lucia leans over to tell Piper "There is no ugly hat."

She grins. "Can we get one for the NEXT new guy?"

Lucia grins "I kind of want to now. Is that mean?"

"Trust me, new-guy is hard enough without a bad hat."

"Oh come on now, you haven't had it that bad" Lucia says "Sam and Zane are in your corner"

"Yeah." He eats some ice cream.

Zane says "Hey, it's mutual... Adam's had my back on some things"

"Do what I can, man."

"Good to hear," Lucia says

Adam finishes his ice cream.

Lucia's order is offered to Piper.

Zane has finished his , "See you around, Adam?"

"Yeah. Gotta get to work."

He stands. "Nice to meet you." and to Piper. "You too." a cocky grin "See ya at school."

"Oh, I'm sure I will." And she watches him go. And takes a taste of Lucia's ice cream. "Mmm!"

"The sprinkes sell it" She says.

"What is it with girls and sprinkles?" Zane says

"Who doesn't like to be a little extra from time to time?"

"Especially with ice cream" Lucia says

"Ice cream isn't -extra-, it's a necessity!" She remarks as she crunches the cone.

Zane says "And we're back to being out numbered by girls again, which normally I don't mind but ..oh shoot. " He checks the time. "I gotta go... I forgot I'm supposed to meet n.. Tanya. Are you okay, Piper? WIth me going I mean?"

"Oh sure. If you stick along any longer, you'll want a refill and I'm out of cash." She waves. "See you at dinner? Oh, bring her along. I want to meet your gal."

"Well she won't be MY gal for long but... we'l lsee. Later Lucia" And he heads off.