Become more aware of what's really worth your energy

 Jay was going out of his mind. Naturally, Amanda came later but set with Angel and talked to her forever. He couldn't imagine what that was about. He didn't want to know.

Of course, he went outside the hospital. He needed a break from all the family. Funny, how something like this could make him a nervous wreck. No way could he vape. He got out his usual nicotine to sooth his pangs of adulthood.

Yes, he was no help to Jared who looked like he needed everyone to leave so he could take a nap. Really, Angel looked comfortable in the hospital bed and was quite used to all the monitors. Evidently.

But here he was pacing, smoking one cigarette after another. And then as the night wore on and even a flash of lightning in the distance, he still hesitated to go back in. Then his phone rang.

"Hullo." He practically yawned and wished he had at least gone for one more puff before he stomped it out. 

"Jay, it's Andrew."

"I know." Obviously, he wouldn't have picked up if he didn't know.

"Um, uh, I..I've been trying to reach Jody. Is everything all right?" Andrew wanted to know.

"Oh..well...Angel's having her baby." Jay kept watching the smoldering cigarette between his sneakers.

"Angel?" Andrew sounded as if he didn't know who that was.

"You know, Jared's Angel."

"Oh." It was silent then, but Jay didn't make conversation. He didn't know what to say to him. He always felt so much more uneducated when he was around Andrew. He could imagine Andrew trying to correct his syntax or something.

"Um..you see..I saw Cara."

"Cara?" No way did Jay want to talk about her.

"She..she was telling me about Jody." 

"What would she know about my little sister?" Jay started to fume as if this was the last thing he needed. "She's fine. Everything is fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Why wouldn't I be? She's been busy, with Mom, getting stuff done, making fast food runs," Jay explained.

"Oh." Suddenly it was as of Jay popped Andrew's big ego and he could just chill. "I see." It sounded like a sigh of relief.

"Don't listen to Cara, she doesn't know anything."

"OK." Enough said. Evidently. Andrew clicked off the phone. 

The last thing Jay ever thought he'd be doing, would be keeping a secret. His little sister's secret. She probably didn't even know she had one.

He direct-dialed Cara's number, but of course, he didn't get her. It went to voice mail. That's when he left the rudest message he could to Cara to leave his little sister alone.