cking up a
invited her, and since it
aid easily. Her shirt was new, but
w girl, right?
he usual
ch?" Shannon asked, dramatically stro
mirror, Jane r
de there," I said, uneasy
y squealed, "Oh, this song is so cute!" which irritated me by the end. I didn't d
ie ticket counter. Jane greeted everyone and then quietly sat at the edge of the couch. Shannon started chatting with t
wed by a fragile, short yo
. "Glad you're here. This is my sister, S
rs greeted her and then returned to their interrupted conversation. Af
s cousin today, who was visiting for a few days. She was about Am
us too," we boys
hannon said loudly, and the girls, including Paul's sister, s
or?" I turned to Jane. Susy sat next
you boys are in the minority, I offer a deal. I won't vote f
or what you want?" I
lesser of two evils for
I said suddenly. I couldn't let her win. "
the romantic movie," sh
non asked, confused. Some of the girls were just n
on, kitty-it was mine
ney, I'll buy the tic
over to Jane and said, "See, little girl, yo
hat Shannon was on one side and Jane on the other.
ide-she didn't buy anything. Susy and Paul stood together, P
line with two drinks
ay and is drinking something el
ne smiled and a
easier to talk to each other. Brian sat behind me with his cousin. Aaron and Daryl were be
k was hers too. She leaned on me in the chair, stroking my neck th
inutes, but here, I couldn't. The couple on screen suffered through an o
ause she quietly leaned toward me. Her
o lost, Pretty B
d to toe-but not fr
ation, but Jane gave no sign of
ching Jane from the corner of my eye. It seemed
ly, the m
next week" and similar farewells, t
. Susy and Paul will take me home
ou home," I started to protest, b
still have pla
u," Jane turned to Shan
to Paul and Sus
I said to Shannon, and
d at her house, I stopped, and she didn't hesitate before jumping on me.
let's go inside," she s
home today. May
strange, but I just couldn'
t around forever-you're not that big of a prize," she said
't wait for me," I said,
nearly screamed
was ruined. I just wanted to g
at didn'
Dad was still eatin
vening?" he ask
, immediately realiz
, son. Le
nding, but I knew it w
happ
to get us to talk if something was wrong. He never used it against us and didn't
p with a girl, another one almost humiliated me,
movie that wasn't good?"
vie, the girls wanted a sappy one. She-Jane," I emphasized her name, "w
ted for the sappy one so it woul
hat I kicked Shannon out of t
ry. I'm sure you'll have a
don't care. She's so endlessly annoyin
n had herself taken home by the ne
ng ones before," Dad laughed, ignoring the secon
hed. "That was
new everything about dogs and wanted
that. Good night, son," Dad patted m
ght-I fel
myself together
er me up, but he did
't know what I
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