Keren hasn't exactly meant to get so invested in this whole knighthood thing just an hour ago, but Penelope's enthusiasm was contagious and now it seemed like she might be in for the long haul. "I'd like that, I guess," she said, uncertainty fading from her voice. "Thank you."

She watched Penelope walk away for a moment or two, partially to judge if the other girl looked at all unstable on her feet and partially because she was still trying to process the evening's events. Everything she'd been trying to hide from was coming back with a vengeance.

With a shrug, Keren packed the trash back into the CVS bag and resumed her walk home.