thanks for the reviews! this story is kind of slow in starting, but i promise that it will pick up! trust me!

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CHAPTER TWO

That Sad Look

Lilly and I were giving each other knowing looks while my dad was cooking. He was continually slipping out phrases like "hot dog" and "okie dokie". Sometimes I was ashamed of him. I thanked my stars that when I was Hannah, he conducted himself much more professionally.

"Ok, they're on their way," Jackson announced, entering the kitchen with an excited look on his face. Lilly figured this would be the perfect opportunity for a crack at Jackson.

"I heard you have a new girlfriend," Lilly started, "Congratulations. I'm sure you're very happy. Will she be bringing her seeing eye dog with her?"

"That is not funny," Jackson told her, messing up her hair. Lilly waved her hands in the air, completely taken back by this gesture.

"Oh my God. I spent like half an hour on my hair this afternoon!" Lilly yelled.

This made Jackson grin. Her joke hadn't even made him that mad. I was actually pretty excited to meet this Cameron girl. In the past, when Jackson had a date or a crush, nothing had made him this happy. This girl had brought out a completely new person in my brother. Someone that I never had known existed.

It was almost six o' clock when the doorbell rang. Dad had dinner -- and six place settings -- ready to go. Lilly and I were watching TV, but dad had us switch it off. It would be "rude to watch TV while we had company." I gave him a look of disapproval, but turned it off. Dad opened the door, smile on face, and allowed the Canters to come in.

I couldn't help but stare. Cameron was beautiful. How Jackson managed to snatch her eluded me. She had dark blonde, but not quite brown, hair. It was long and straight, and she was tall. She was thin, but curvy, and had sea green eyes. When she saw Jackson, a glorious smile broke out on her face, and she ran to him. Her father stood behind her awkwardly. There was an obvious contrast between him and his beautiful daughter. He wasn't tall and he had brown eyes. However, their hair color was similar and their noses were identical. He offered a fake smile to my dad, shook his hand.

"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Canter," Dad greeted him, "I figured since our kids were going out, we might as well get to know each other."

"Please, call me James," Mr. Canter, James, insisted, "What should I call you?"

"Robbie Ray!" Dad exclaimed, "I'm glad we don't have to be formal. I cooked up some fried chicken and mashed potatoes. Do you guys like chicken?"

For some reason, even though it was Jackson's company, I felt embarrassed my father. Around Lilly and Oliver, I was comfortable and completely normal. But now, I was on edge. Just watching my Southern, outgoing father with Cameron's father was enough to make me want to puke.

"Chicken's great, thanks," Mr. Canter assured him, and we all gathered around the table. At first, everything was quiet. Jackson and Cameron gave each other glances back and forth. Lilly and I exchanged sarcastic looks. Mr. Canter stared at his food and picked at it slowly. My father smiled big, took large bites, chewed with his mouth open.

"So Cameron," Lilly began, breaking the silence in a voice that was peppy and bright, "What exactly do you see in young Jackson?"

"He's just so sweet," Cameron replied, smiling at everyone in the room. She took a drink of her soda very politely, then smiled again, as if she sensed me and Lilly's continual gaze drifting toward her. I glanced over at Mr. Canter then, who was annoying me even more than Cameron, for some reason. He was chewing very quietly and nicely at his food. He was meek, like a rabbit or something soft and fluffy and squishable. I suddenly wanted to ruin that meekness, that fluffliness that for some reason was sending me over the edge.

"So, Mr. Canter," I addressed him. He looked up at me calmly, not expecting the question I had in store for him. "What happened to your wife?"

I was never one for describing things, but the look on Mr. Canter's face was I asked that brutal, unneccesary question, was more than sad or pathetic. It was almost depressing to me, the opener of seemingly healed wounds. His brown eyes looked as if they were about to tear up. Cameron's smile faded and her glowing look at Jackson became a look of concern for her dad. Mr. Canter didn't say anything, but that sad look in his eyes spread to his entire face. Lines of age showed on his face, as if he'd been masking this fake content look for the duration of dinner. As if he showed a constant frown. It didn't matter how hormonal or moody I was at that moment, I had just stepped over the line.