the joy of babysitting

Eric took a couple days off from school just so he could be with Ian. Honestly, he really worked at giving his father the cold shoulder, but when it came to Ian. It was different. Maybe it wouldn't have been like that if Ian hadn't taken such an interest in him.

But he wanted to know what sort of music Eric liked. What sort of movies he watched.

They were both big fans of Shaun of the Dead and the Big Labosky. Eric even gave Ian his copy of Napolean Dynamite since Ian had always wanted a copy but never was able to get one.

"It might not work in your DVD player," Eric told him.

"That's all right, its something of yours," Ian said. After that, Eric made sure his Mom took plenty of pictures of them together. He even took Ian over to see Nico, but it turned out his sisters were more interested and they had a very good time telling him how great High School Musical was and how he had to go with them to High School Musical 3.

It left Eric speechless. We're they in their right mind? Did they even know what good music was?

"Why couldn't you have been mean, or something?" He told Ian later.

"I could do no such thing. You have to be nice to lasses. Its the rule," Ian just looked puzzled. The next thing Eric knew was the idea that he'd be taking all of them to see the movie.

"But, but isn't it like sold out or something," Eric knew he'd be the brat in all of this if he said, "Absolutely, not." Instead he said, "I'd have to bring Ellie, you know."

"Well, of course you would," Nico's mom just smiled handing him over the tickets.

"You bought extras?" Eric looked at them as if this was not possible.

"Of course, I did. Even one for your brother." She smiled.

Eric knew he had to smile. It was the hardest smile he'd ever tried to paste on his face for about thirty seconds.