Helen and Lucy were home first; Helen fumbled for her keys while Lucy opened the door to her own house. Finally Helen found her keys and opened the door to be met with complete silence. That's weird, Jack should be up by now. She thought, wondering why it was so quiet since it was two o'clock in the afternoon by the time she'd got back. Helen shrugged and walked up the stairs to her room. She dumped her shopping bag on her bunk bed and flopped onto the couch. She stretched out on the couch and reached for the TV remote, flipping through the channels. Racing Grandstand ... Hmm, The Rockford Files, nah seen that one ... Record of the Year's still on?! More racing ... Dawson's Creek. Oh fuck it. Helen thought and switched off the television. She went next door to the computer room that doubled as a mini library and switched on her computer. The second she logged into msn, a conversation window popped up. From Amy, she noticed.

Miss Bitch: Hey, what ya doin'?

Llannadh: Not much, so bloody bored.

Miss Bitch: Join the club!

Llannadh: Heh.

Miss Bitch: Have you seen Jack at all today?

Llannadh: No ... why?

Miss Bitch: was chatting to Sue earlier, she said she was wasting her money buying that dress 'cause Jack wasn't going to ask her to the prom after all...

Llannadh: I'll see if I can find out why ... If I can find him, that is.

Miss Bitch: Huh?

Llannadh: He was meant to be home but it doesn't look like he is.

Miss Bitch: Ah right ... Well, hun, I gotta go. Mum's making me clean the kitchen so I can go to Sue's!

Llannadh: Yeah, I had to clean my room. Did it yesterday though.

Miss Bitch: Lucky. Well, do you want me to meet you along Kelvinway as usual?

Llannadh: Sure, see you about half five?

Miss Bitch: Yup! - call me when you're leaving the house - Bye!

Llannadh: Will do! Bye!

Helen quickly checked her emails, replying to a few and deleting most, then switched off her computer. She browsed the shelves adorning the walls in the room and picked out a book she'd read a couple of times before. Settling herself back into the couch in her bedroom, she flicked through a few chapters and closed the book, sighing heavily. Bored, she decided to check if Jack had gotten back yet. Her parents wouldn't be home until after six since they both had to work. Still carrying the book, she wandered downstairs, checking the lounge and kitchen first. Nothing. So Helen walked back up the stairs to the first landing and knocked on the closed bathroom door. Still nothing. Then, arriving at the second floor, she tapped on Jack's bedroom door with her knuckles. Receiving no reply but seeing the dim flickering light of what she assumed was his TV, she opened the door. He was in the middle of the floor with his back against the bed and didn't even glance up as the door creaked loudly open.

"Jack, why haven't you asked Sue to the prom yet?"

Jack didn't answer his sister's question, just kept staring at the TV.

"Jack?" She said again, still receiving no answer.

After saying his name five times; each time louder than the previous, she gave up and threw her book at him.

"Ow! Jesus - what was that for?!" He yelled, rubbing the back of his head where a corner of the book had hit.

"Well if you would have answered me the first time, you wouldn't be about to have a bruise on that thick skull of yours!"

"Huh?" He asked, looking puzzled.

"I said: if you would have answered me the first time, you wouldn't be about to have a bruise on that thick skull of yours!" She yelled louder

"Sorry, I didn't hear you calling me." He replied, taking something out of his ears.

"What the hell is that?"

"Earplugs." He said, shrugging, "I wanted to see what it was like being deaf..."

It was then that Helen noticed the TV was muted and subtitles were displayed across the bottom of the screen.

"You really are nuts, you know that?" Helen stated, amused.

"Maybe." He mused, "So what was it you wanted?"

"I came in to ask you why you haven't asked Sue to this prom thing."

"I wasn't sure if she'd want to go... seeing as she won't be able to hear the music." He told her, feeling very stupid for some reason.

"Well she does." Helen replied, and walked back out of his room to get her stuff ready for the sleepover.