And then Creepy calls Joey "the girl in the 19th-century novel who would say 'yes,' sleep on it, recover her moral principles and break the guy's heart the next morning." He leers that "principles are sexy." I think that, especially in an English professor, knowing that House of Mirth was published in 1905, and is thus not technically a 19th-century novel, is sexy. ["Not missing the point of The House of Mirth by a country mile would be pretty hot, too. Pfft. Idiot." -- Sars] Not to mention the fact that, all such date-related quibbling aside (because I suppose you could say close enough), Wharton and the Bröntes? Fairly different. And they said I'd never use my degree! "Look, can I talk now?" Joey asks. Only if she promises not to explain, Creepy says. Hmmm, an English professor who can't keep his genres straight and who will only allow you to speak on specifically approved occasions? Hot, hot, hot. Not. Joey has to explain, she says. "Then I'm afraid we're at an impasse, here," Creepy declares. Joey's face falls, and she whines that they can't be "over" just because he says so. "We haven't covered endings, yet, in class, have we?" Creepy asks, twirling around in his chair. He demands that she name "the best ending in literature," and instructs her not to say Ulysses, because "everyone says Ulysses." Well, everyone lies, because no one I know has ever made it all the way to the ending of Ulysses. But whatever. ["And 'everyone' says Gatsby, anyway. Look it up, Creepy." -- Sars] "You can't be serious," Joey sputters. Creepy thinks they "both know what happened Friday night." Joey raises both brows. "We do?" she asks. Creepy nods, and tells her that she "saved his life and career." Joey's lips draw into a tight little line. It's beyond me why she doesn't stand up, announce that she was mugged Friday night, and stomp out dramatically. "I guess what I'm trying to say is, I don't need to know why you didn't come back. I just need to say thank you," Creepy says. Because even when Joey Potter is the victim of a violent crime, she helps others. She's staring at him all googly-eyed when a woman pops her head in the door and wonders if Creepy is "done." Creepy turns to Joey. "Joey?" he asks. "Yeah, we're done," Joey says sadly, and gathers her things. "See you in class," Creepy offers. "See you in hell," Joey spits. Wait, that was me.