not meant to be

"I just don't get it," Chance winced, feeling frustrated from the Homecoming date with Rosie. "What did I do that was so wrong?" He asked his brother. Not once had Chance ever seen a girl so cold. It kept him on edge now, thinking he needed to find a way for Rosie to like him.

"Don't do it." Casey was straight lipped about it. He poured Chance a cup of coffee and brought him fried eggs and bacon. "She's miles ahead of you, bro. She knows what love is, and you don't."

Casey reminded him that Rosie had a boyfriend in Chicago. They'd even video chatted during the homecoming outing. Even so, Chance felt he didn't even have a chance with the blonde girl. That had never happened to him before. All the girls wanted to go out with him.

It left him kind of blue now.

"You know, what you need?" Casey went back to washing dishes in the open space kitchen.

"What?" Chance's eyes brightened, thinking his brother had a cure for what was ailing him.

"You, need a job."

Chance sat closed mouth, cradling his mug of hot black coffee. He squinted. He'd rather have a cold, but he wouldn't mention it to his brother.

"You know, I don't have any skills." Chance sighed.

"Precisely, a surfer landlocked." Chance told him he better go home.

"No," He didn't mean to wail. "I want to stay. I do."

"So, if I get us a place, I'll ask you for rent." Casey looked at him as if this would be a lesson in progress.

"What do you mean?" Chance wanted to know.

"I won't let you live with me for free. I'll charge you for your room, but you have to find a job first. If you can do that, then, I'll find a place for us." Casey told him they needed to move out before they drove Torry crazy.

Casey then smiled and looked across the room as if he was smiling at someone. Not Chance.

Chance gritted. He'd have to live with his brother who believed his best friend was still with him.