"You make me feel like a video-game master when you play against me," he said. "Besides, you make funny comments about the creatures. Taylor and Isaac get really serious and don't speak."
"What about Jessica?" Jocelyn asked.
"She whoops my butt," he said flatly.
Jocelyn grinned. "Then play with Avery or Mackenzie."
"UGH! THEY BEAT ME TOO!"
Jocelyn cackled and stood up. "I've really gotta go, Zac."
"I know," he replied.
"You've really got to go to sleep, too," she told him. "I'm gonna go tell your parents thanks for the dinner. I'll see you this summer."
"Write me some interesting letters about Mr. Smith, okay?" Zac asked.
She rolled her eyes. "Will I ever."
She then turned and walked out, just as easy as that. Zac turned off his video game and looked around the semi-empty room. Most guys his age had collections of stuff on the walls. Car collections, shelves of trophies, posters of half-naked women and football players...
"Hey, Zac," someone said. Zac jumped, and looked at Isaac.
"Can you cover for me?" Isaac asked.
"Isaac, you're 19 for God's sake. Why do you need anyone to cover for you?"
Isaac rolled his eyes. "If Mom or Dad asks, I'm over at Jon's apartment, cleaning out his compartment in the basement."
"What?" Zac asked, bewildered.
"Just say it," Isaac said.
"What's in it for me?" Zac asked.
"I'll buy you lunch twice a week until the tour is over," Isaac said.
"Oooh, Isaac," Zac said in a high-pitched girly voice, "I didn't know you liked me like thaaaaat."
Isaac made a gagging face. "I'm out. Cover me."
"I will, I will," Zac said. It occurred to him after Isaac left, that he didn't know where his brother were going. Jon's place might as well be the truth. At any rate, he was getting free food. But where could Isaac be going at 11 o'clock the night before they hit the road again?
"Where were you last night?" Zac hissed the next morning on the plane.
"I went to see Conna," Isaac said.
"Conna?" Zac asked. "Why?"
"Because, we wanted to hang out," Isaac told him.
"Is hanging out all you did?"
"Is it any of your business?" Isaac asked.
"It is unless you want Mom to find out..."
"Fine," Isaac grumbled. "We kissed a bit, and mostly we talked about our families. We've both led very deranged lives..."
"I can imagine," Zac said, looking out the window. "Don't forget, you owe me a lunch."
"Don't worry," Isaac said. "I won't forget..."
