This he'd never counted on. Eleven wouldn't have known to ask him, would probably never think to question how he thinks of Joyce and he'd been happy with that. Beverly seems to just leave it alone, too, but she's met Lucy, so it might have something to do with that.

Eponine just asks, though, and he finds himself momentarily stumped.

"Uh... Lucy," he says. "That's her name. She's a, uh, a friend."

He's not sure what else to call her. They've been on a few dates and Lucy has seen him at his absolute worst and she still seems to like him, although he doesn't know why. All of that doesn't mean he can call her anything other than a friend, though. He doesn't want to presume and it's not like he's good at relationships either.