“Cool jacket,” he said, playing with the sleeve.

“It’s my dad’s,” she said, a little smile on her face.

“Oh, that’s cool,” he replied.”But…I mean,doesn’t he need it? It looks sort of expensive, and it sounds like you’re gonna be gone for a while.”

“Nah,” she said, refusing to look into his eyes.”I don’t really see him anymore. He left when I was little. So the jackets kind of…special, you know? That’s why I took it. Besides, it’s not like my mom or my sister will even notice it’s gone.”

“Wow, that really sucks,” he said. “Your family doesn’t sound so great. I kinda see why you wanted to go to New York. But at least you have a family, right? I mean, in some sense, they must love you.”

“Ah, I wouldn’t be so sure. We aren’t exactly the most affectionate family. I mean, I guess my mom loves me…in her twisted sort of way…but my sister…I mean, why would they need me when they have each other?”

And suddenly, she found herself spilling all the minute details of her life to him.