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as comfortable with her as he did with Andi. And he never would have been quick-witted enough to have a conversation like this. As scary as it sounded, maybe there was something to this belonging together business.
    "The reason I called," she said when they'd both composed themselves, "is that we're going camping in the mountains this weekend. My dad and I need to be dragons for a couple of days, and they think it'd be a good time for you to start training with the sword and shield. We'll leave right after school on Friday, and get back late Sunday. Will your parents let you come? Make sure they know it's my parents' idea, and that we'll do homework while we're there."
    "Uh, yeah, maybe. My mom will want to talk to your mom first, though, so expect a call."
    "Yeah, sure, no problem. We have a tent for you, and a sleeping bag if you need it. My dad says you should bring your stuff over Thursday evening or Friday morning so he can pack the car. We'll leave right from school."
    "Okay. I'll ask during dinner and call you later." He'd rather talk to them separately, but if he did that, the one he didn't go to first would be pissed and likely say no out of spite. Hopefully by the time they sat down to eat, they'd be acting civil towards each other.
    "Good. So I guess I should let you get back to your homework. I know I have enough, and it's just my second day."
    They said goodbye and hung up, leaving Ben staring at his math book. Before he got too far along, Dad called him down to dinner. He sighed. Hopefully the stupid argument about stupid paint was over if not forgotten. This would be the best way to ask about the trip this weekend. Neither could accuse him of playing favorites.
    Dinner started quiet enough, with Dad even complementing Mom on the casserole, her specialty, a baked mac and cheese with chunks of potato and bacon. Good, maybe this would prove easy. If he waited too long, though, they'd find something to snip at each other about.
    "I met a new girl at school. Yesterday was her first day."
    Dad nodded as he chewed, and Mom asked, "What's her name? Is she in one of your classes?"
    "Her name is Andi, but she's not in any of my classes. I met her yesterday. We had lunch today, and then walked home together. She hasn't really made any other friends yet."
    "That's nice of you to be her friend," Mom said.
    "Are you going to ask her out?" Dad asked with a wink.
    "Trent, jeez, can't he just be friends with a girl?"
    "What? Yes, of course, but if he goes out with this girl, maybe he'll stay away from that other one."
    "That's not nice one bit," Mom said, and she looked ready to fight.
    Oh no, this wasn't how he needed this to go.
    Dad puffed himself up, ready to go at her, too, but Mom surprised them both by striking a smile. "Melissa is a bit pushy and manipulative, isn't she?" She reached over and gripped Ben's forearm. "Sorry, sweetie, we shouldn't be talking about her like that."
    He wanted to bust out laughing, but played it cool. This couldn't be going any better. He already knew their feelings about Melissa, and though he never saw any of it before, now that he had Andi – forever, if that was to be believed – he could see it now. After all, she'd pushed for them to date, not him; she'd dictated everything they did and everywhere they went; she'd instigated their one and only make-out session. Though he'd enjoyed himself with her, especially that day they'd made out, he wanted to be on level ground with his girlfriend. She always had the upper hand.
    "That's okay. Actually that's kind of where this is going."
    His parents continued eating, but he had their attention. He took a bite himself to draw them in even more. His father bit first. "Okay, so where's this going?"
    "I met Andi's parents today after school, and they're going camping this weekend. They're glad she made a quick friend, so they wanted to know if I'd like to go with them. It's up in the San Bernardino Mountains, near Big Bear. They even have a pup tent