Empathy No. 036
ALLISON: Roderick's not out here, is he?
BROOKE: He's in his room, just like is always is.
ALLISON: And Ellie's still at work?
JASON: Yeah. Why? Something up, sis?
ALLISON: Not really, there's just something I wanted some advice on.
BROOKE: From us? What, because there's no one else here?
JASON: Don't you usually chat with your friends about that crap?
ALLISON: Yeah, well this time it concerns one of my friends. And also Roderick. There's something I'm supposed to ask him, and I'm not sure that I should. Can you keep a secret?
BROOKE: Who am I gonna tell?
ALLISON: You might tell Dad or Ellie, and you'd better keep it shut until I make a decision. And Jason, you can't go telling Roderick or anyone at school.
JASON: God, it's that serious?
ALLISON: No, it's not serious, but it might get awkward depending on what happens. Okay...I'm going out with Gary and some of his friends for ice cream or whatever this weekend, I invited one of my friends, and she asked me to invite Roderick. She's got some kind of crush on him, I guess. Can't imagine why.
BROOKE: And what, you don't want him hanging around?
ALLISON: That's not...the reason I'm torn.
JASON: Which friend?
ALLISON: Carlie. Carlie Anderson.
JASON: Does she have a boyfriend or something? Because otherwise I don't see a problem.
ALLISON: It's complicated. There are reasons I don't really want Roderick and Carlie...you know, together.
BROOKE: Why? You don't want your friend dating your stepbrother?
JASON: That's real small, sis.
ALLISON: That's not it either.
BROOKE: You going to tell us why or what?
JASON: Hey, maybe he wouldn't even want to go. I mean, maybe he's gay. Remember Dad going on about how sensitive he is? Isn't that what sensitive means?
ALLISON: Roderick isn't gay. I've had to hang out with him, and he doesn't look up much, but when he does I see what he's looking at. Caught him checking out Carlie at Gary's show.
JASON: He was checking her out? So he's interested in her and she's interested in him? Now I really don't see the problem.
ALLISON: Damn it. Look, Carlie...she's a decent person, we go back years, but she's...What's a nice way to put this? She's a little easy.
BROOKE: Easy at what?
JASON: I think she's saying that Carlie's a slut.
ALLISON: Jason! In front of Brooke? Brooke, get out of here.
BROOKE: Why do I have to leave?
ALLISON: Just go! And remember what I said, nothing to Dad or Ellie!
BROOKE: Fine, geez.
ALLISON: All right, I should explain this anyway because you're gonna hear stories at school. Most of those stories aren't true - boys lie. But some of them are fact. I don't know, a year ago she turned into some kind of sex fiend, lost all her good judgment.
JASON: Wait, Carlie...she's that skinny blonde metalhead with all the black clothes? She's like that?
ALLISON: Yeah. It's not the kind of thing you want to talk about with Dad around. You know, her parents are controlling assholes but they're not all the way wrong.
JASON: Okay, well...say they go out. What do you think would happen?
ALLISON: All sorts of things could happen! Say they do it, okay? He could catch something from her, or she could get pregnant, or he could, like, fall in love with her and then when she leaves him to chase some other guy, he'd end up worse than he is now. Or maybe it wouldn't even get that far - I mean, she could move on him and freak him out.
JASON: But there's gonna be six of you, right? I mean, it's not like she's gonna sex him up at the ice cream place.
ALLISON: That's just where it starts. Then she talks him into a real date and they're out alone, and then who knows?
JASON: How does not telling him stop that? They're in school together. Do they have classes together?
ALLISON: Well...yeah, they have a couple.
JASON: So she could just ask him out anyway! Besides, when you tell Dad you're going out, he's going to ask why you're not taking Roderick. What are you going to tell him? What are you going to tell Ellie? I mean, that's not awkward, telling Roderick's mother that he can't come along because your friend is too slutty?
ALLISON: Ugh...why do you have to make sense?
JASON: Because I'm smarter than you. I'm gonna go get Roderick right now and you can tell him. Hey, maybe it'll turn out great!