Mr. No-Name Kid unexpectedly beat both Alfred and Jett in the fight. At Shelby's house, she tells the Bad Touch Trio about how she thinks she might like the kid who fought Alfred and Jett today. Francine ridicules her for being into someone below her social status.

Later that night, on her way to Jett Anderson's house, she sees the kid entering a  7-Eleven, and follows him. He introduces himself as Vladimir Popescu, or "VP" for short. Trying to make conversation, she asks why in the world he's just hanging out at a 7-Eleven.

"I've been through ten high schools. They start to get blurry. No point planting roots, cause you're gone in a hurry. My dad keeps two suitcases packed in the den, so it's only a matter of when." VP explained with a frown, pacing the aisle as Shelby followed. "I don't learn the names. Don't bother with faces. All I can trust is this concrete oasis. Seems every time I'm about to despair, there's a 7-Eleven right there!" He smiled, and Shelby let out a small giggle. "Each store is the same, from Los Vegas to Boston. Linoleum aisles that I love to get lost in. I pray at my alter of slush! Yeah, I live for that sweet frozen rush!"

Shelby laughed as he kissed his slurpee and took a drawing drink. He sighed, leaning against a freezer door, "Freeze your braaaaiiiinnnnn. Suck on that straw, get lost in the pain. Happiness comes when everything numbs. Who needs cocaine? Freeze your brain... Freeze your brain..."

He smiled, offering her the cup and winking. "Care for a hit?"

Shelby raised a brow. "Does your mommy know you eat all that crap?"

VP frowned at that comment. "Not anymore. When mom was alive, we lived half way normal. Now it's just me and my dad, we're less formal. I learned to cook pasta. I learned to pay rent. Learned the world doesn't owe you a cent." He took Shelby by the hand and spun her around. "You're planning your future, Shelby Ferrell. You'll go to some college and marry a lawyer." He pulled her close so they were nose to nose, and her face flushed. "But the sky's gonna hurt when it falls, so you'd better start building some walls!"

He started mock ballroom dance with her. "Freeze your brain! Swim in the ice, get lost in the pain! Shut your eyes tight, 'til you vanish from sight, let nothing remain! Freeze your brain! Shatter your skull, fight pain with more pain! Forget who you are, unburden your load! Forget in six weeks, you'll be back on the road. When the voice in your head says, "You're better off dead", don't open a vein!" They spun to a stop, and VP dipped Shelby low. "Just freeze your brain... Freeze your brain..." He pulled her up, the brunette staring at him with wide, mystified eyes. "Go on and freeze your brain..." He shoved his slurpee into her hands, winking. "Try it."