Make a Wish || Rhett and Link

Chapter 55 - Arguments

***** Cooper's Point of View *****

"Hey Jessie...." I asked causually. "Is it okay if I go with a friend to the cinema on Friday night?"

"Hmm?" She asked, not looking up from the dishes. I wandered over and grabbed a sponge and a plate and began scrubbing.

"My friend Reuben invited me to this outdoor cinema thing on Friday night, and I was wondering if it would be okay if I went with him." I said.

"Reuben? A boy?" She asked with a grin.

I giggled. "It's not like that Jessie. We're just friends."

She chuckled. "Alright. Sounds alright to me. Do you need a ride or something?"

I paused. "I hadn't gotten that far. I'll have to call him."

Rhett walked in and grabbed some water from the fridge. "Whatcha talking about girls?"

"Cooper's plans on Friday night." Jessie giggled.

Rhett's face fell. "I already told you that you can't go, Cooper."

"Why not?" Jessie asked, putting a hand on my shoulder. "I don't see that there's anything wrong with it."

"No dating. I made that abundantly clear." He said gravely.

"She's 15, Rhett." Jessie said. "Why not?"

"Because..." He trailed off. "Because I said so."

"That's just stupid!" Jessie exclaimed. "If she wants to date then she can date! She's a responsible young woman Rhett, and she's old enough to make her own decisions."

I blushed with pride slightly as Jessie spoke about me like that.

"She is still under 18 and as long as she lives in this house, then I make the rules!"

"Rhett, you're being silly. Calm down. You were 13 when you started dating."

"But that's different!"

"How?" Jessie accused. "How is it different? Is it because she's a girl?"

Rhett stumbled over his words as he tried to cover what he'd said. "She's sick! She's not supposed to be left alone for long periods of time!"

"Don't you dare bring that into this!" I snapped.

"She's not going to be alone Rhett, she's got Reuben and all the other people around! Rhett, can you stop being stupid and actually consider what she wants?"

"I consider what she wants!" He rebutted. "I do so many things for her!"

"Then why not this?" Jessie asked calmly.

"B-Because!"

"Is it really that hard to let her see a boy? She's not even dating him! They're going out as friends!"

"I don't like the look of him!"

"You know what? I give up. Whatever. Make my life even more miserable than it is. I'm off to cancel." I snapped, storming off to my room.

***** Jessie's Point of View *****

"I cannot believe you."

Rhett sighed. "Jessie, is it really that hard for everyone to understand that I don't want her to go out on Friday night with some kid that we don't know?"

"Would it be different if Locke asked to take a girl out?"

"Well....Locke is a different kid."

"Rhett! For the love of god. Cooper is 10 times more responsible than him and you know it. Rhett, she's got a month left before everything normal gets pulled out from under her feet. The only thing she wants is to feel as normal as she can in this time. She's made a friend, and he makes her really happy. Isn't that what you want Rhett? For her to be happy?"

"Don't you dare guilt me into this Jess." He warned.

"I'm not. I'm trying to get you to realise the truth."

"FINE!" He shouted.

"Fine what?"

He slumped into the chair and rubbed his forehead. "Fine. She can go. But I am NOT happy about this."

I smiled slightly. "Thank you Rhett."

He groaned. "I just don't think that this is a good idea."

"Why not?"

"I broke far too many girl's hearts as a teen Jess. I'm just trying to protect her. This kid doesn't seem like the type who's looking for a serious relationship. Plus, she hasn't told him her situation. She's covered everything with a web of lies, and god knows how he'll react when he finds out."

"What has she told him?" I asked.

"Ugh. Her parents are off in Africa, we're her aunt and uncle, and Locke and Shep are her cousins. She's home schooled because they are. That's what I know."

"Rhett, she's so desperate to be seen as someone other than a kid with cancer." I sighed. "She doesn't want sympathy or special treatment. She just wants to be a friend."

"Am I not being a good enough friend for her?" He asked rhetorically.

"Rhett, you're a good friend. But you've also become her father figure at the same time. She wants to make friends with people her age. She's surrounded by adults all the time Rhett, she deserves a friend her age. Or a boyfriend."

"No! No boyfriends."

"Rhett, you can't stop her. It's her choice. She can date, and that's final."

He sighed. "Fine Jess. Whatever."