"Do you have any plans while your brother is gone?" he asked causally once it became apparent that silence was my weapon of choice.

Yup! I had a list lined up.

Sulk.

Cry.

Moan to Patch about how unfair Isaac leaving me was.

Play the Sims until I was reminded that I was lonely and alone.

But I doubted they were the answers he was looking for, and ended up shaking my head no. "Eat nuggets?" I guessed, offering a weak smile. It earned another one of those half-smiles in return.

"You know what I meant," he said, rolling his eyes. He was about to say more, but the waitress...