The Cloud: Tina Cheng

"No," pleaded Paul. "I would never ..." *Who was "I" now,* thought Paul. *Me, the* real *me, or this other ... guy I've become? Neither of us would haven't cheated on you. But you and I were never together ... not like that ... yet we ...* Part of him shuddered at his memories of ... dates with Nadine ... and Tina. "Like you said, she's my ... ex ... *now."* Those words failed to extinguish the rage that was increasingly evident in Nadine's eyes. "'Now'?! You mean like this very second?!" Paul shook his head. "No! I mean since she and I ... broke up." Faint visions of an argument flashed inside his head. He reached out and embraced Nadine. "I swear ..." *God, this ...* she *... feels so good,* thought Paul. *I've taken His name in vain!* "What the hell is wrong with me? Hell? Did I just say ..." "Yeah," snarled Nadine as she broke free from his grip. "Go to hell! Go be with Tina Cheng if she's who you really want! You always had a thing for Asian girls! I should have known!" "Tina ... Cheng?" "You can't even remember her name now?" "I do remember her name! It's Shepard!" "It *was* Shepard. Just like mine *used* to be Ferguson." *This can't be happening,* thought Paul. *But when I think of Tina, I think of .... a* Chinese *Goth girl.* "W-what's your last name ... now, babe?" That last word flowed so easily from his lips. He couldn't deny it. Nadine was *hot,* especially when she was mad. "Don't you dare call me that!" Nadine turned away in disgust. She spat out her new surname. "I'm a ..."