"You try ringing your girlfriend again." She told him.
Isaac barely noticed that she wasn't making him put on the mask. He just dialed the phone.
"Hello?"
"Hi Mrs Johnson, is Karina there?"
"No Ike. She left a few minutes ago with some friends."
"Oh."
"I thought you weren't going to call her this week?"
"Well, I, I couldn't stand it. And the girl I'm being chained to is actually being nice enough to let me call, without listening in or anything."
"Ahh." Isaac was sure he could hear her smiling. "Do you want me to tell her to give you a call back?"
"Umm, no. I'd better call her. Umm, could you tell her I called?"
"Sure."
"Thanks. Bye."
"Bye."
Isaac hung up unhappily.
**********
"So Deanna? Is Ikers a good kisser?" Jasmine asked.
It was the first opportunity she had, and she really wanted to know.
"Oh yeah."
"Did he stick his tongue in?"
"I don't really think I wanna know." Taylor cut in. "This is my brother we're talking about."
"Yeah. We don't really need any detail." Zac added. "In fact, we would prefer none at all."
"Oh c'mon. I bet you guys talk about how far you get with girls all the time." Deanna accused.
"If and when we do, at least we don't talk about it in front of their siblings."
"Yeah, in Tay's case, that could be suicide." Zac grinned.
"Oh, well, thanks a lot."
"No, I mean it. C'mon, I know how far you got with Gwen. If her brother ever found out, he'd smash you like a brick. Like an ant meets a mack truck. Like -"
"Yeah, yeah, I get your point."
"How far did ya get with Gwen?" Deanna asked.
"That's for me to know -"
"and me, and Ike -"
"and you not to find out."
"Or her brother. And the listening audience."
"Listening aud - oh I forgot." Taylor looked a little worried. "Well, hopefully he won't find out."
"Ooh, bad boy Taylor." Jasmine giggled. "Threatened with bashing by older brother. So, is Gwen your girlfriend?"
"No. I don't have one at the moment."