Ethan’s words had only elicited a narrowed eyed stare from his sister, as if she had made him endure hours of toture when he would often leave her to her shopping to browse the newest video games or to cowardly watch a group of cute girls he would end up not having the courage to speak to. “Yeah, it’s not like I can go bar hopping with you.” 

There was a smug smile on Olivia’s lips as she crossed her arms in victory. She was pleased that Steve was still on “her side” for the mall trip despite her brother’s worried brow. After taking a bite of the slice of pizza he’d taken from the open box he sighed. “Yeah, no bar hopping for you, even when you are of age.” 

“I guess going to the mall will be fine.” Ethan surrendered, “If you don’t meet any of your new classmates in the area here at least you may meet some shopping.” 

Olivia shrugged, obviously not too interested in having to deal with meeting new classmates immediately with all that has been going on the past month. In fact, she'd be okay with not running into any of them at all until Monday morning when she’d start at her new high school. Sure it was a couple districts over but as far as she knew she didn’t know of anyone who had connections to her new school.  “Yeah maybe.” 

Quickly changing the subject, Olivia perked herself back up, “Steve said he would talk to his folks about having his little sister over sometime.” 

Turning to Steve she smiled, “I’d love to have someone to dote on! It could be a girls weekend to even out the gender scale.” The teen teased, both the men before concluding that since she was done eating it was time for her to do a little more work in her room. 

“If you’ll excuse me I’m going to get my bed set up before I’m too tired to do anything else.” With that she left the two men to themselves. 

Ethan’s gaze followed after his sister as she closed herself off in her room. For a moment he stared at the closed door in thought before turning to his friend. “You know, getting her out and doing things is actually a great idea Steve. 

“She hasn’t really been herself lately, despite her managing to keep face.” Ethan shook his head as if he were shaking out his worries. It was impossible to worry when only time would be able to heal her emotionally. 

“Anyway, how are you? I feel like I’ve been gone for more than a month.”