Siblings

Know-It-All

After school, as promised, the trio headed to Denny's in their costumes. Considering how sketchy Denny's usually felt regardless of the time of day, they fit right in.

"So what happened?" Spencer cut to the point. Emily sighed.

"I'm really boutta cry in a Denny's, huh?"

"They've seen worse," Penelope shrugged.

"Well," Emily held her head up on the tabletop. "You know those two girls? The ones that look eerily like Elle and JJ?"

"The twins, yeah," Spencer nodded.

"Guess which class we have together." Spencer and Penelope met eyes before turning back to their friend.

"Gym class."

"Yup, and guess what today was." She paused for dramatic effect and smiled sarcastically. "Mile run." Her two friends groaned in sympathy.

"That's why I skip school on those days," Penelope commented.

"I get to skip it tomorrow," Spencer recalled.

"Yeah, well, it isn't like I can't run or anything. I'd like to think I'm pretty fit. It's just that I sweat so much, y'know? Like my bangs get stuck to my forehead and my skin literally shines. When we were leaving the track after class I overheard them say..." her voice shrunk to just above a whisper, "It smells like wet dog." Emily rested her forehead on her crossed arms. She felt a long arm wrap around her shoulders.

"Well, you know what? I think you smell like a million bucks." Emily looked up and gave him a small smile.

"And what does a million bucks smell like exactly?"

"Um." Spencer carefully leaned closer to her and inhaled deeply. "It smells like bananas." Emily pushed his head away and laughed.

"Bananas? Seriously?"

"Hey, I love bananas. They're my favorite fruit."

"Actually, it's considered a berry," Penelope interjected.

"Actually, it's considered both," he overruled obnoxiously.

"Alright, Produce Man, we get it. You're a nerd."

"Don't ever come at my bananas again, Garcia. Mark my words."

"You're so weird," Emily giggled.

"I know, I know, but seriously those girls are desperate for attention. Don't let them win," he said firmly to his friend.

"I won't," she assured softly.

Now that Emily had actually opened up about what was wrong, Spencer had a decision to make: let Em handle this on her own or tell JJ. He didn't want Emily to believe that she was alone in this situation; that was probably what had made her so vulnerable in the first place. At the same time, he didn't want to undermine her or make her out to be fragile. Because she wasn't fragile at all; She was the strongest person he had ever met.

If he told JJ, what would she even do? Yell at them to get them to stop? Would they stop with a slap on the wrist? Or would they question her sources?

His mind ran rampant with all the possible outcomes during the two-hour car ride to the cabin. He had his earbuds in and stared vehemently out the window. JJ mirrored him on the opposite side of the backseat.

The trip was already awkward and it felt like they were swimming in uncharted waters. The last time they had gone on a family trip was about four years prior, and that was to go to Hershey Park. Spencer thought back to his mother's words: "It certainly will be an interesting experience."