I would like to give special thanks to Amy S and Dan for their input and help on this chapter, and Renee for the previous.
If you are new to the series, I recommend reading the earlier chapters to get an idea of what to expect. There are some references that may be lost without some prior reading.
Please don't forget to vote. I hope you enjoy the chapter. ^_^
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Chapter 4: Need
"Bry... Brian. Come on, you need to get up. It's already eight-ten."
"Hmm? What?" I squinted through my eyes, barely able to make out Ashley's face. "What happened to my alarm?"
"I turned it off. I don't get how you can stand that thing. It sounds worse than nails on a chalkboard, and it's so loud."
"That's kinda the point." I rubbed my eyelids and felt a sharp sting, but the blurry image of my sister kneeling by my bed was well worth the temporary pain. "Why did you wait ten minutes to wake me up? My alarm was set for eight."
"I wanted to watch you sleep for a little bit." She leaned closer and held up a thin red strap. "Why is my bra hiding under your pillow?"
My cheeks blushed a matching color. "Do you know how cruel it is to give me that thing? I looked all over it for you bra size but couldn't find it anywhere."
"Bry, look at me. Seriously." Ashley cupped her breasts and lifted them up. "It's not hard to guess what size they are."
I figured a large A-cup or a small B-cup. I really had no idea. I only knew the earlier letters in the alphabet meant a smaller size.
But as eye opening as it was to watch my sister hold her breasts, I was more surprised by her ensemble. It wasn't something she woke up to and tossed on without some forethought. She wore a very tight white shirt with a vintage design of a butterfly on it, and a light blue hooded jacket. The ends of her hair were curled below her shoulders, looking very sexy, and a golden headband rested neatly on her head. I had never awoken to a more beautiful sight.
I wondered what called for the occasion. "Why are you dressed? You going somewhere?"
Ashley caught my eyes roaming her figure. She stood up to let me see the rest of her. "Yep. With you to school."
I immediately sat up. "What? Why? I'll only be gone for a couple of hours. You need to stay home with Nikky and watch her."
"She's still asleep. Besides, she's old enough to stay home alone."
"She's only twelve. Do you know how much trouble we can get in if mom and dad find out?"
"Don't worry. I talked to Nicole last night about it. I made her promise me she'll behave or else the trip to Six Flags tomorrow is off."
I was appalled, yet also a little thrilled with her intricate scheme. "Why do I get the feeling you've given this some thought?"
"I've been thinking about it ever since you told me about your little errand. You know I can't bear being away from you. I woke up at six o'clock so I could get ready and dress up pretty." Ashley performed an elegant pirouette to show off just how pretty she looked, causing her light pink skirt to float above her knees. It was loose and fluffy, almost old-fashioned in the way it went below her knees, and was made of layers of sheer fabric. The skirt was very fitting for the summer and did an excellent job in accentuating her cuteness and natural beauty.
"I'm really flattered you would do that for me but I-"
"No buts, mister." Her voice was loud and stern; her adorable demeanor had taken a dramatic turnaround. "I'm going with you and that's final. Argue all you want but you're only going to more waste time."
Alarmed for my safety, I replied, "All right, just let me get ready."
"Okay, goodie. I picked out your clothes for you. They're laid out on your desk." Just like that, she went full circle to adorable again.
"Thanks, mom, I really appreciate it."
Ashley stuck her tongue out as she exited my room. Stumbling to my desk to see what she had laid out for me, I found a pair of tan khakis and a white polo shirt. It wasn't too different from my regular attire, but the shirt was nicer than the graphic tees I normally wore. After changing into them, I opened my door, expecting to see my sister waiting for me. The hallway was disappointingly empty, so I made my way to the bathroom.
This time on the way out from brushing my teeth, Ashley was standing right in front of me. She was holding a small plate of jelly-covered toast in her right hand and a glass of orange juice in her left. A sparkling smile lit up her cheery face.
"This is too much," I said. "You didn't have to do this for me."
"I want to. It's no big deal. Hurry up and eat. We don't want to be late, right?" She handed me the plate and glass and I gladly accepted.
As I ate my breakfast on the way to my car, I could barely keep my eyes open in the bright sunlight. Even at eight-thirty in the morning the entire neighborhood was basked in a glaring light. Thankfully the heat hadn't accompanied the sun yet.
I was only half-done with my toast when we reached my car. "Hey sis, you want to drive?"
"Really? Can I?"
"Yeah, of course. I need to teach you how to drive, don't I? Isn't that what I promised mom?"
"Yeah, but you didn't look happy with the idea at first."
"Are you kidding me? I love the idea. Nothing fills me with more joy than spending more time with my gal. So come on, you drive. I still need to finish eating."
"Okay, if you say so. But I'm not responsible for any damages that may occur to your car. It's your idea that I drive so all the blame goes to you."
"Fine with me. Mom and dad handle the insurance anyway."
"Okay, good. Now that that's cleared up, toss me your keys."
I balanced the glass with my plate and threw the keys over the hood of my car. Ashley caught them easily and unlocked the doors. Once we were seated, I watched her fidget in her chair, her left hand searching for something along the bottom side.