The next morning Jeanette walked to the bus stop with her sisters as usual. The only difference was that she was no longer speaking to Simon. This dumbfounded their siblings. They rarely saw the pair at odds. They all wondered what was wrong.

“What’s going on between you and Simon?” Brittany asked.

“Nothing,” Jeanette said. “And there never will be.”

“I don’t think that’s true,” Brittany said as they reached the bus stop.

“Brittany, it isn’t true,” Jeanette said. “Simon just doesn’t care about me. He proved that yesterday.”

“What happened between you two?” Brittany asked.

“Oh, nothing,” Jeanette said. “He just went ballistic when Jack asked me out.”

“Wait a minute,” Brittany said. “Jack Harris asked you out?”

“Is someone going out?” Eleanor said, overhearing the last thing Brittany said.

“Jeanette’s going out with Jack Harris,” Brittany said.

“Is that true?” Eleanor asked Jeanette in astonishment. “Wow! Jack Harris. That’s so exciting.”

“Okay, it’s true, but I only said that because…” Jeanette abruptly stopped as Simon came up to her.

“Jeanette, we need to talk,” he said. Jeanette became sielnt. “Please, it’s important.”

“Anything you have to say to me, you can say in front of my sisters.”

“Jeanette, please,” he pleaded. “I just need to speak to you in private.”

“Okay,” she said. The two walked off to a private corner. “What is it?” Jeanette asked.

“It’s this whole Jack situation,” he said. “I just don’t think you should go out with him.”

“Why not?” Jeanette asked, annoyed by him. “Give me one good reason.”

“Because… He’ll only end up hurting you.”

“That’s ridiculous, Simon,” Jeanette said. “And you’re not telling me the real reason. Why don’t you just be honest. What is it that you don’t want me to go out with him?”

“Well, he a jock for one,” Simon said. “And you’re…”

“And what is that? A nerd,” Jeanette said, angrily. “You think I’m so undesirable…”

“No, I didn’t mean…”

Jeanette walked off in tears. The bus had just come, and Jeanette ran to the very back and sat in the corner seat by the window. Simon tried to follow her, but Brittany stopped him.

“Just leave her alone, Simon,” Brittany said, blocking his way. “You’ve done enough.”

Brittany ran to the back of the bus to consul her sister. “Jeanette, what did he say to you?”