The doorbell rings. "I'll get it. Nick, come with. You might need to hold me back." I get off the couch and open the door.

"Hey, oh, it's you," John says.

"Yeah, it's me." I grab his arm and drag him inside. "Nick, where's my Dad?"

"He's at the store. You're Mom's with Rachel."

"Great. You're safe," I tell John. "For now." I drag him to the couch. "Sit down." Jessie walks down the stairs.

"Hey, what's going on? John, what are you doing here?" Lindsay follows her.

"Sorry, I tried," Lindsay says.

"It's fine. I was just about to go get her anyway. Jess, um, sit down," I say. John turns around to face her.

"Uh, hey, Jess..." He says.

"Sit!" I yell.

"Sorry, is this about..." He asks.

"Zip!"

"Okay." He throws his hands up in surrender and sits down.

"This was so much more normal in my head," Lindsay whispers to Nikki. I turn to Jessie.

"Um, Jess, you're my sister, and I love you. I am so sorry to tell you this, but yesterday, at the dance, we caught John, wait. Why am I telling you this? John should be." I look at him.

"He won't crack," Nikki whispers to me.

"You're right," I say. "You deserve to learn this from someone who actually likes you. Jess, when he said he needed to use the restroom last night, he went and kissed another girl. I'm sorry. You had to know."

"Jess, I..." John says.

"Shut up John! You lied to me," Jessie screams.

"I'm sorry, I..."

"Get out of my house! We're done!" Jessie runs upstairs crying.

"Jess!" I run after her. "Jess! I am so sorry. You had to know. Jess, talk to me." I follow her into her bedroom.

"I, I, I'm fine. Thank you. I'm glad you stopped it before we got serious."

"I know it was hard, but you did the right thing. Do you want to go get some ice cream or something?"

"Sure. Why not."

"Okay. let's go."