November passes quickly. For Ethan's birthday we get him a big Batman cake and present it to him at my house after school. My mom gets him a huge gift basket I'm certain that she's adopted him. On the positive side, since Ethan is now eighteen and 'mature' by default, she finally agrees to let me go to New York for New Year's. It's a small victory but I celebrate it like it's huge by eating three pudding cups in one sitting.

Everything sort of changes during November too. I spend a lot of time with the theatre kids (mostly Sarah and Savannah who are really welcoming) as the winter play is coming up but also make sure to talk with the others a few times each week. David tells me one time he misses me and I make note to tease him about it forever.

The biggest change however has got to be Ella. She and Josh get back together a few days into the month and I for one did not see it coming. One morning they were just swapping spit in the courtyard and now she sits with Jessica at lunch.

The Thanksgiving holiday is a welcome change. From Tuesday I'm wearing some of my baggiest sweatpants and preparing myself mentally for all the food I'm going to eat.

Unfortunately, my mom manages to rope me into attending one of her yoga classes on Wednesday because she 'doesn't want me to stop being healthy' and 'my mind is not in the best place for Thanksgiving.' My mind not be in the best place by my stomach definitely is.

But it's okay because my brother Alex is home and he comes with me. It's a little awkward being in the back of mom's class, giggling and gagging when she does anything that could be taken in any way sexually but it's the type of awkward I'm glad to be sharing with him. Mom has to kick us out early but it's cool because we get ice cream and cruise home.

On the way home, he's sharing stories of college and how much fun he's having. It's his junior year and despite all the stress he describes, it sounds like a lot of fun.

"I'm dating someone." He drops on me.

"You have the mental capacity to date someone? Who's the unfortunate person?"

He chuckles. "Her name's Taylor."

"Can I see a picture of her? I bet she's cute. Poor girl."

"Poor girl?" He parks the car in the driveway and laughs. But he has this little silly smirk on his face, like he's truly happy and nothing I say could deter it. "Yeah, she's great. I'm gonna go in and call her actually."

I'm about to sincerely congratulate him when someone knocks on the passenger side window. Of course, it's Ethan, who waves at me and takes a step back, waiting for me to get out.

"How the hell is that boy so tanned?" Alex frowns. "He's been in Portland for what – six years? Ain't he supposed to look as pale as them sparkly vampires?"

"Shut up, he's been here for months. And he's naturally tan. I'll catch you later?"

"We live in the same house."

"Shut up Alex." I say and punch his shoulder. "Have fun talking to Taylor."

He mimics me as we get out of the car. Ethan's on his phone and looks up with a smile on his face.

"What's up, Ethan?" I ask.

"I just wanted to say bye before I head out."

I squint at him. "Head out where?"

"I'm pretty sure I told you about this last week." I stare at him blankly. "I'm going to spend Thanksgiving with my mom."

"Isn't she on a cruise around the world?"

"She's back in Portland now, so I'm gonna go see her." He stretches out his arms. I continue to stare at him blankly. "So you're not gonna give your husband a hug?"

"I'll hug him when I see him."

Ethan puts his hand to his heart and pretends to be offended. "Ouch." Still smiling, he puts his palm up and I high five him, pretending to be a lot more reluctant than I am. "I'll see you on Monday"

"When are you getting back?"

"Late Sunday evening. A grandma like you would be sleeping."

He never misses a chance to insult me.

"Oh. Okay. Have a good time in Portland."

Ethan chuckles. "Yeah. See you soon."

I wave at him as he heads across the street again and gets into his dad's car. From there they drive off in what I'm supposing is the direction of the airport.

It's weird but I feel lonely after the car disappears. I was already planning on going to watch cartoons with Ethan tonight but his thanksgiving plans have ruined my plans. If anything, it tells me I should listen to him more than I do.

My mom's gonna be sad about it. Ethan calls me his best friend but she truly is.

Alex is munching on toast when I get back inside the house. "Your boyfriend leave already?"

I roll my eyes. The first time he came home from college and saw Ethan sitting at the dinner table eating with the rest of the family, Alex wrongly deduced that he was my boyfriend. He didn't even question our extensive friendship and it only got worse when a picture of us in our Halloween costumes surfaced on Facebook.

"He's just not my boyfriend." I snap. He mimics me and I wonder if he really is twenty years old. "He's gone to Portland for the weekend."

"Damn. Visiting his mom?" I nod. "You're gonna miss him."

"What? No, I'm actually glad he's gone. It means the two of you can't tag team and annoy me."

He stares at me like he knows something I don't. I ignore him and go to make some Jell-O.

As much as I'd hate to admit it, my brother's right: I miss Ethan. But not because of him exactly: all my friends are busy and I'm lonely. He's always the one who makes time for me and my lazy day schemes.

On Thanksgiving, him and his mom skype me and my mom and it's completely weird but also cute. She thanks me for taking care of him and all that and my mom promises him some leftovers when he gets back. He also told me not to miss him too much and I gagged, pretending like I wasn't bored to death without him.

"Alisa, get out of bed, it's a beautiful Saturday afternoon." My dad peeks into my room. "Come sit with the family in the yard."

"It's too cold." I wail.

He blinks at me, eyes magnified through his thick framed glasses. "It's seventy degrees outside."

"That's cold, dad."

Dad scoffs and I sense the 'when I lived in Michigan' speech coming my way. "Well, when I lived in Michigan, this was unheard of in the winter! We would be buried in snow by the time thanksgiving came around, y'all are living lavish here. And you know –"

Just to shut him up, I get out of bed and put on some flip flops. He beams at me before telling me to hurry up and bring some lemonade when I join them.

I take my laptop along with a pitcher of lemonade, dreading the upcoming family time. My parents are giggling about something while my brother's walking the length of the garden, seemingly on the phone.

"Who's he talking to?" I ask, sitting down.

"Taylor." My mom sighs. "Do you think the two of them are having..." She looks around like she's about to spill the government's secrets. "Sex?"

I choke on my own spit, wondering why she'd bring that up to me. "Gross mom!"

"What?!" She looks at my dad for support.

"That was uncalled for, Lisa." He says, shaking his head. Mom rolls her eyes.

"The two of you are childish. It's a valid question!"

"I don't want to hear my daughter talk about my son's sex life." Dad says, pouring himself a glass of lemonade.

"Then close your ears, Alan. Alisa, come on, tell me."

"I don't know? Can we stop talking about this?"

She shakes her head. "Whatever. I have to talk to you about relationships anyway, sweetie."

"Why?! Let's just... stop here."

"No! I have to talk to you about your trip: you're going to New York on your own and though I know you've planned to share a room with Ella... you're still gonna be around boys. Specifically hormonal teenage boys who are –"

"Mom – "

"Lisa, dear, don't say it –"

"HORNY! They'll be HORNY!" She yells. Alex stops talking momentarily to look at the three of us and I almost die of embarrassment. "So don't be tempted by teenage boys because I don't want you to be pregnant before you're able to pull of your acting dream."

The three of us descend into silence. I tap away at my laptop, pretending like the last ten minutes didn't happen while my dad rambles on about the weather. Even though it takes a while, I'm grateful when Ethan calls me out of the blue.

"Hey bestie!" He yells. "Do you miss me?"

"Gross, no way." I lie and head to the kitchen. "Why?"

"Because I miss you!" He says bluntly. "I also forgot how boring Portland is. And you know, the weather's shittier than I remembered. How'd I survive here for six years?"

"Ethan, why are you calling me?"

"I already told you why. I miss you, wifey."

"Don't call me wifey."

"Wifey. Bestie. Boo." He laughs.

"I'm gonna hang up."

"Whatever. Hey, is your mom there? I need to ask for advice."

"You can ask me?"

He keeps quiet. I have to call his name a bunch of times before he finally answers. "It's about Nicole."

I take a deep breath, suddenly nervous. Why does he want to talk about Nicole? Are they getting back together? For some inexplicable reason, my stomach starts doing backflips and I begin to feel nauseous.

"Why do you want to talk to my mom about Nicole?"

Ethan sighs before explaining the situation to me. He and his mom went shopping and ran into her during the day. The two of them talked and he says it was like 'old times', whatever that means. My blood begins to boil just thinking of her and I don't know why.

But then I realise why. And yeah, it doesn't help anything. In fact, it increases the nausea I'm feeling.

"...So what do you think I should do?" He finishes. I realise he's been talking to me while my brain has been speeding at a thousand miles an hour.

"What?"

"See! I knew you'd zone out, let me call your mom, she didn't pick up before but I know she will now-"

"Ethan relax." I take a deep breath and try to ignore the voice screaming at the back of my head. "Don't fall into temptation again."

"I'm trying not to, it's just that..." He sighs. "It was always easy with Nicole. Sure, she hated it when I goofed off but we were good together. I just don't know if I'm gonna find that again."

"You will! You will find a girl that likes you when you're goofy and will goof off with you."

He makes an unattractive sound. "So far the only girl who goofs off with me is you."

Heh.

"Gross." I say but my voice is weak. "Whatever, Ethan, you don't need to go back to her when your future is bright."

"What if she's the one?"

"She's not because she dumped you. Months ago."

"Way to boost my ego."

"You know I have your back! Anyway, I think you should go spend time with your mom and step-dad before they think I've stolen you away or something."

He laughs. "Nah, they won't think that. I told them you were my girlfriend so they're giving me space."

"Why would you say that?!"

"Because we both know you want it to be true."

I hang up on him and head back outside, ignoring his call. A few minutes later he sends me a kissy face.