When you're a stranger

 "I wish I knew what to tell you," Pan could see Gabe was quite deflated at the moment. All he could talk about was that girl Sammie. He even talked about her when their mom was around. Of course, she'd wanted him to come home with her, but he could tell Gabe didn't know how to act around her. He knew it was best if he just had his own space.

"Maybe..maybe you'll hear from her soon," Pan wanted to be optimistic. Although, he wasn't very good at playing the part, but he kept thinking what would Ari do in a situation like this? After all, Ari was at home with Jade and Mona cleared her things out pretty quickly too. Of course, she didn't have to move very far. Still, this Sammie was a mystery. How could she have led Gabe on like that?

"Just..just don't hate her, OK." He looked at Gabe who could barely nod. "You're not coming down with something, are you?"

Gabe shook his head no but the tears emerged and all Pan could do was hug the guy who looked just like him. It felt so deja vu. 

"How come nothing works out for me," Gabe made it sound as if Pan was the lucky one. 

"I'm not that easy to live with, you know." Pan pulled away and looked him in the face. "Remember, Rox knocked me out, cause I wouldn't talk to her."

Gabe nodded. They'd only talked a little about that. It wasn't like he wanted to say these things in front of Roxanne.

"Besides, you need to settle in. It's your place, you know." Pan knew he should leave and let his brother be. "You got coffee for the morning, don't you?"

"Mom left some groceries," Gabe told him as he looked around at the kitchen setup. She'd put everything away.

"You got to see more of her, you know." Pan shrugged, thinking maybe that would mean he wouldn't have to call her every other day then.

"I guess so." Gabe looked at him blankly.

"No guessing about it," Pan pointed a finger at him. "You just ..well, you can eat with Rox and me...if..if you want to."

"Oh." Gabe didn't sound like he would.

"Well, not all the time," Pan said. "Just..just maybe on Sundays. If..If you got time."

"Um." Gabe was still upset about Sammie. Pan only sighed and hoped the kid wouldn't be too lovelorn.