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