You're not sure. It's not as easy for you as it is for her.

That's easy for her to say, you think to yourself. Abbie has always been confident and popular. She's a pretty girl who is used to getting attention. You shake your head. "I don't know."

Abbie puts her hands back on the wheel and starts driving again. "I'll give you some incentive. If you ask this girl, or any girl out today, and she says no, I'll do something for you." She grins. "Hell, even if a girl says yes, I'd still want to do something for you, just as a reward for being brave. You know, I could sneak you into a club where a friend's band is playing tonight. I was scheduled to work, but I can get someone to switch up with me. Or I'll do anything else you want. You just have to name it."

Even though she's been acting strangely today, you can tell Abbie really wants to help, and you mostly appreciate it, but your sister investing more effort in your social life, or rather your complete lack of one, than you ever did is making you start to feel like you really are pathetic. "OK. I'll think about it," you tell her, mostly to stop her from going on. "Please just drop it." She doesn't mention it again, for the rest of the drive to school, and you get to finish your sandwich and coffee in peace.

Abbie pulls up on front of the school building. Before you can get out, she leans over and gives you a big hug. "You're the best, little brother," she whispers in your ear. You're running late, so you don't have time to even question this, and just add it to the list of weird stuff she's done this morning. You run into school late for your first class, and feel like you're rushed and off-kilter the whole morning. When you see Tracey in the cafeteria at lunch, you think about what Abbie told you. That she'd do something nice for you, just for asking a girl on a date. Then you remember the ridiculous spell you tried to cast last night, and that you had jerked off to the fantasy of Tracey being your sex-****. Your sister's nonsense this morning had distracted you from thinking about it. Now that you are thinking about it, you feel embarrassed that you even considered something so stupid and ****. It makes you too nervous to approach her at lunch. Fuck, Abbie was right about one thing, you do think too much and act too little.

English class is your last period. You're already sitting in your seat when you see Tracey walking in. All you have to do is speak up and say something when she walks by. If she responds, great. If not, then you can at least tell Abbie you tried, and she'll get you into a club tonight, which might be more fun than sitting home alone masturbating. Tracey is walking past you now. Your palms feel sweaty and your heart is racing, but you're going to try.