"Hey, hey! Where are you going?" Johnny asked, jogging to catch up to Angela. "The house is that way," Johnny said, pointing in the opposite direction that Angela was walking.

"I know that. I'm not going home." she said flatly.

"Well, then where are you going?" Johnny said, exasperated. Angela shrugged and shook her head. "I'm just not ready to go home yet." Johnny rolled his eyes and followed his sister down the street.

"Would you slow down?" Johnny said after several blocks. Angela suddenly stopped and turned to face her brother, who nearly crashed into her. Finally, Angela sat down on a nearby park bench, not knowing what else to do. Johnny flopped down next to her.

"Ange, what is with you?" Angela didn't answer. She just stared at her hands for a long time. Johnny looked at her, concerned. "Ange, ya hear me?"

"I don't want to go to school. I'm not saying I don't want to learn...I just don't want to go to school." she said quietly.

Johnny frowned. "What?!"

"What don't you understand?" Angela said, her voice becoming agitated. "I don't want to go to Durham Hall. I don't want to go to school. I don't like it. Do you understand?" she said irritably.

"So...you're saying you want to quit?"

"Yes. I'd prefer a tutor."

"No!" Johnny said, shaking his head vigorously.

"No, what?!" Angela said, confused and upset.

"No, you can't just quit!" Johnny cried in exasperation.

"Johnny, it's my life, I can do what I want." Angela replied, narrowing her eyes as if she were speaking to a child. "I hate it! I have no friends! I don't want to be friends with the people there! I want to leave!" Angela thundered.

"Angela, you can't quit." Johnny said quietly.

"Why not?" Angela hissed.

"Because," Johnny sighed, "it's just not your style. You don't do that. You're not a quitter." Angela rolled her eyes. "I know you think that I'm just your stupid brother and that I don't know anything, but I know you're not a quitter. You don't quit. Whenever I feel like quitting, I remind myself that you wouldn't quit, so neither should I. You're supposed to be a role model, remember?" Angela opened her mouth and looked at Johnny helplessly. Johnny shook his head. "You don't remember."

"Johnny, I..." Angela didn't have anything to say. She sighed, "Johnny," she turned to face him, "you're right. I don't remember." she said, defeated.

"Did it ever occur to you that maybe I'm your friend? That maybe you can talk to me? That maybe you can spent time with me? You always go off by yourself or with someone else. You only do stuff with me if you're forced to." Johnny said quietly. It was obvious that Johnny's feelings had been hurt.

"I'm sorry. I really am. And I know that saying that doesn't really help much, but it's the truth," Angela admitted.

Johnny nodded. "All right. Just don't quit on me, ok?"