Episode 754: How You Get The Girl

Caroline had two dates lined up for Valentine’s weekend, Charlie was going all out, some community dance the night before, and tonight, a dinner date at like, an actual grown-up, adult restaurant.

It left Jesse in a totally foul state of mind, and he took it out on Nate when the younger boy strolled into the bedroom and asked if Jesse wanted to play a game.

"Why would I want to do that?" Jesse barked, and he felt sorry for saying it the minute his little brother shrank back towards the closed door.

Jesse leapt off the bed and pulled Nate’s hand from the doorknob.

"You can stay; I didn’t mean to yell at you like that, I’m sorry. It’s just not a great day. It’s Valentine’s Day, so I wanted to see Caroline, only, I’m grounded." Because he hadn’t been able to call home to say he’d be late. Because he’d been stuck in an empty classroom at school. Because he couldn’t move. Because of this stupid sickness.

"How come you were late getting home?" Nate asked as both brothers sat on the end of Jesse’s bed.

"School library, like I said." Jesse made sure to keep eye contact to a minimum. "It’s not like I don’t call all the time. This was one slip and they act as if I’m totally untrustworthy. They should believe me."

"I believe you," Nate said.

"Thanks, bud," Jesse replied, though his brother’s belief in him made him feel worse, not better.

"Hey, I know what to do," Nate enthused. "I’ll talk to mom and dad; it’s the truth so I’ll get them to believe you."

His little brother’s puppy eyes occasionally did work magic on them. But it wasn’t the truth, and so, basically, he’d be using Nate, and he wouldn’t do that, would he?

Episode 755: Your Love Is A Lie