"It isn't like that," I said, my voice sounding choked, "You don't get the things that you deserve." I said and the words came out flat. I failed to capture the idea.

"I deserve to kiss my sister?" He responded.

"No...I mean yeah but not like that," I said, and I realized I was just digging a deeper hole.

"Tell me, just point-blank Rachel, do you pity me because I am less popular than you were?"

"No!" I said, and it really wasn't that. He wasn't really all that much less popular.

"What, because I don't have your grades and I am not great at sports?" He asked.

"No," I...