Just Roll With It: a Just Us novel by Niki Hager Page B

hang out in the living room watching TV. Sometimes with Enzo and sometimes just by himself. I'm liking how comfortable I've become with our new routine.
    My mom, my grandpa Joe, and Enz have made it insultingly clear how happy they are I finally have friends. What's more is, I haven't had a single panic attack since meeting Roman. Sometimes I forget I even have a problem. I'm hopeful that he may ultimately be my cure. I have never felt better. I am getting better.
    We've started spending a lot of time at The Coney , a twenty-four-hour diner down the street. We go for coffee almost every day, whether it's before or after we work on our speech. Sometimes both. It's quite nice, and I'll be the first to admit I am happy.
    The thought is put on hold when I hear Lyle loudly proclaim, "Keanu, I'm tellin’ ya. He's the tits."
    "Absolutely not. No way. I won't get about that. Ever," Roman severely states in return.
    "One word, Constantine ."
    "Several words, Dracula , 47 Ronin , Johnny Mnemonic . Shall I continue? Chain Re —" Roman counters.
    " Matrix ! Devil's Advocate . Fucking Speed ," Lyle interjects, more enthusiastic with every title he names.
    Roman rolls his eyes. "Still."
    " Babes in muthafucking Toyland !" Lyle argues excitedly.
    "It physically pains me you've even seen that movie."
    "What?" Lyle puts his hands out to his side and shrugs. "I have a kid sister."
    "Don't care. He's still possibly the worst actor on the planet."
    "You're delusional. He's brilliant."
    "The way Kanye is a genius. I'll get on that. Seriously there are no excuses for Dracula ."
    "I firmly believe his acting and accent was for shit on purpose," Lyle maintains, with his chin up and firmly set.
    "For what possible reason?"
    "Media"
    "Media?" Roman challenges.
    "All press is good press," Lyle justifies.
    Roman lets out an aggravated breath and then replies effortlessly, "You're a dipshit."
    Just when I think their absurd argument has reached its end, I hear,
    "All right then, Nicholas Cage."
    Roman scoffs, "You've got to be kidding."
    " Lord of War . And I stand by Constantine ." Lyle points his finger at him in state of his case.
    "One decent fucking movie each and you … you latch on to it like it's a goddamn tit, a literal breast of acceptable precedents on which to base an entire professional resume."
    "Keanu."
    "Shut up," Roman's comeback, though lacking in originality comes across firm.
    "Nicholas Cage."
    "Vin Diesel," a new voice chimes. A welcome development.
    We all direct our attention to Enzo, who aimlessly walks back from the bathroom with his head down, pen in one hand and crossword puzzle in the other.
    He looks up from the paper. "What? Did I do it wrong? I thought we were shouting names of bad actors. Is that not the game we're playing?" Enzo asks.
    "No."
    "Yes."
    "Kinda."
    Lyle, Roman and I reply in unison but with three different answers.
    Enzo shrugs us off and continues his mad focus on the grid of squares.
    "Vin Di—"
    I cut off Lyle before he starts. "Enough! I'm so over listening to you two. I am no longer playing party to Lyle's strange symbiotic relationship with bad acting and your provoking of such behavior."
    I get stares from all three men.
    "Are you done? You good? Do you feel better?" Roman heckles me.
    "I believe so," I rival, crossing my arms to show I mean business.
    "Then drop the mic and step off," Roman demands, his voice light with amusement.
    "This battle is not yours to fight," Lyle adds.
    Unbelievable .
    Lyle is an oddball to say the least. Not in a bad way, But in an unconventional way. He is very tall and skinny, lanky even, with brown shaggy hair. Not unattractive at all, however he's quite a character. Half of the time he is making the funniest jokes, winking and flirting with the waitress. The other half of the time is spent spitting fire about his, apparently evil, ex-girlfriend. I've already decided I like him. He seems to accept me too.
    Roman gets up to pay the bill, when Lyle tells me how the first