It was to be my last summer of freedom before I started college. My sister Laura, a year older than me, had taken a year out, some worldwide paid modelling gig, so was going to be starting the same year but she was going out of state and I decided the local technical school would start on the career path I wanted.
Laura and I got on okay, with her being the pretty model growing up I was in her shadow a lot. She'd be taken to beauty pageants, photo shoots and I'd always felt I had to try twice as hard to get half the attention she got growing up. I didn't blame her, it took a huge stress out crash for our parents to dial it back and finally let her go her own way.
I was sitting in my room quietly reading a gaming magazine when I heard Laura having a pretty heated conversation on the phone. We shared an adjoining bathroom (or rather, I had a tiny window I could use said bathroom in the mornings) and I'd forgotten to close my door.
"I told you I'd already fucking paid for it Brad, why do you all of a sudden not want to go? Wait, let me put you on speaker," she said, I could hear she was upset.
"Look, I'll tell you since you're going to find out anyway, last week I hooked up with Bethany, it kinda just happened and I want to see where it goes," he replied.
"What? Are you fucking kidding me? Last week when I had food poisoning and was in bed all week?"
"Well, yea, I got lonely."
"I should have listened, even your cousin thinks you're a piece of shit but I thought I knew better. Fuck you Brad, fucking asshole."
I heard a loud thump, assumed it was her phone being thrown then it went quiet. About ten minutes later she lightly knocked on my opened door and came into my room. Her eyes were red like she'd been crying.
"So I dropped my phone and it broke, can I please use yours, I need to try and cancel my flights to Cancun," she said.
"Why?" I asked.
"Please, like you didn't hear."
"I was trying not to be nosy, I'm sorry sis."
"Can I use your phone or not?"
"Yes but my new battery doesn't come until tomorrow, you'll have to use it on the charger."
"Fine."
She sat on my chair and dialed the number she had on a piece of paper.
"What do you mean I can't cancel... So if I hadn't pre-paid I could have but now you have my money it becomes hard luck? ... Fine, what about a replacement? ... Sure, I'll pay another $50 rather than lose $800, I'll call back," said Laura. "Fucking assholes. I need to make a few calls, can I take this to my room?"
"Sure but no getting mad and dropping that one,"
"That is so not funny," she said then left.
About an hour later, Laura came back into my room and quietly plugged my phone into my outlet with it's charger. She sat down in my chair again with a pained look on her face.
"Spit it out sis," I said. She hesitated a few seconds before she spoke.
"So, I've called all my friends. They all have plans and can't come with me, especially as such short notice. I don't mind spending $800 on one last party vacation before I go back to college but I'll be damned if I just let the money go to waste."
"And?"
"I want you to come with me."
"What? Why don't you just go yourself?"
"Mom and Dad won't allow it, they were fine if I was going with Brad."
"Who all is going?"
"A few friends from my instagram modelling group, we planned our first meetup."
"Sounds like something I'd totally enjoy." I said with heavy sarcasm.
"You'd get to watch a bunch of young models taking selfies in bikinis on the beach. Or help rub lotion on them, or watch them rub lotion on each other."
"You say that like I'm some kind of perv or something."
"Oh please, I've seen your browser history little brother, I don't judge or care. I promise you'll have a good time, I'll even give you some spending money."
"Fine but you owe me, I'll be missing the opening weekend of the new Marvel movie."
"I'll take you when we get back, not like you'll see any spoilers on the beach."
"You can tell Mom and Dad."
"Already have, I'll leave you to sort your clothes, Mom said you need new shorts so go shower and I'll take you to the store."
After shopping we got home in time for lunch and I was sent to wash all my clothes. I packed my case and sat watching a movie on my laptop. Laura knocked on my door and came and sat on my bed.
"I really appreciate you doing this for me. I know we'll have a good time," she said with a smile.
"Well isn't like I had to move a bunch of things off my schedule, you've always been so independent or fussed over by Mom and Dad, I hated seeing you upset that way."
"I guess I can make up for some of that with this trip, I know you were kind of left by the side because of me and I feel guilty sometimes, I talked about you with my therapist last week."
"I didn't know you were seeing one."
"There's a lot you don't know about me sweetie. Anyways, get a good sleep tonight okay, we're up at 4am."
Laura leaned over and kissed me on the cheek then left.
I took melatonin and was in bed pretty early that night, 4am still felt wrong but Mom and Dad were tired too and didn't fuss over us too much.
"Now son, I'm trusting you to look after her okay, don't be letting her wander off to beach parties without you, I don't care if you drink a little but one of you stay aware and look after each other," said Dad.
"I put some extra money in your bag sweetie, I know Laura gave you some spending money but I'm proud of you for helping her. Have fun okay!" added Mom.
We finally made it through security and sat in the boarding lounge, both sipping on the overpriced coffee. The flight wasn't too bad, the drive to the resort was pretty rough but we finally made it to the hotel and waited to be checked in. Laura had me wait with the bags while she got our room.
"You bring the bags sweetie, I'm going to get us some water," said Laura, smiling as she came back with our keys.
"Don't they have a concierge or something?" I replied.
"It's kinda off season sweetie, If we want to wait 40 minutes. There's an elevator, you'll be fine."
Laura led us into our room, I looked around and put her bag on the bed.
"Your room's nice, is mine next door?" I said, waiting.
"Um, this is our room sweetie. I was coming here as part of a couple remember. You can have the bed, I'll throw these couch cushions on the floor. I've slept on worse."