Chapter 1 -- Talking with Zoey (Leah)
My name is Leah and I am 18 years old. I have one brother, Tyler, who is completing his sophomore year at an out-of-state Ivy League College. My mother is like most mothers. She is after me to make a decision as to what I am going to do now that I have graduated from high school. I can't decide if I want to go to college or venture into some thing else. My best friend, Zoey, is a model. I have always wanted to do some modeling but I know from listening to Zoey it can be a rigorous profession, assuming I could even get my foot in the door.
Zoey has been modeling since she was 16. She has told me I would have no problems making it as a model. She has an agent and everything. Zoey said her agent will help me if I really want to go into modeling. Zoey showed her agent my Senior high school portraits and he told her I would have no trouble getting into the business. He said I have the body to be a swimsuit model. At 5'7" I am just barely tall enough. Zoey said the advertisers would fall in love with my straight long blonde hair that touches the top of my waist. I have blue eyes and my complexion is pretty good. My breasts fill a C cup bra and are big enough to fill out a swimsuit top nicely and not overfill it.
Zoey and I look like sisters except she is two inches taller, with beautiful shoulder length auburn hair, green eyes and B cup breasts. She is envious of my slightly larger boobs, but I don't see a lot of difference. We go everywhere together. Zoey has a brother who is the same age as my brother. Our brothers were good friends all through high school.
Zoey and Caleb have always been very close. I always have thought he is hot. He is handsome guy who is actually not a jerk. I have told her many times how handsome I think her brother is.
The last time I said something about her brother she said, "Girl, your brother is pretty hot himself." I have to admit Tyler is a hunk, but he is my brother. Zoey made the comment, "I wish you and Tyler were as close as Caleb and I are."
I said, "Zoey, I know you two have always had a special relationship. Do you think it is because of you loosing your parents when you were in grade school?"
"Yea, probably so. When that happened we just had each other. That is when we moved here to live with our aunt and uncle. It was the two of us against the world, or so it seemed at the time. Caleb has always been there for me. Even when we were little he thought it was his job to protect me. Don't get me wrong, I love my aunt and uncle and it had to have been a huge change in their lives to suddenly have to raise two kids who had just lost their parents. Aunt Sue had just lost her brother, my father, and here us two kids were dropped on them to raise. They are wonderful people and I will always be thankful for what they did for us."
"That is cool. Tyler and I get along great, don't get me wrong, but we are just not as tight as you and Caleb. I know all siblings have problems, but for the most part Tyler and I have always been pretty close."
Zoey said, "Hey I don't mean to be nosy, but I know you said Tyler is coming home from school for the summer."
"That's right he is supposed to be here Friday night."
"Yea, that is sort of what I was wondering about. Didn't your mom start using his bedroom for her crafts last Fall when he left for school?"
"Yes she did. I told her it was a mistake, but she did not listen."
In a lowered voice she asked, "So where is Tyler supposed to sleep?"
I was afraid this topic was going to come up. I should have known it could not be avoided, especially with Zoey. I can talk to Zoey about anything, but this was one topic I really didn't want to discuss. I was looking down into my lap fiddling with my fingers trying to ignore the question.
"Leah? Did you hear me?"
Looking up with dread I said, "Yea Zoey. Yea, I heard you. It is just that..." At that point I could hold back no longer and began to cry.
Chapter 2 -- Getting the News (Leah)
Today is one day I have not been looking forward to. With high school behind me and the whole summer ahead I was excited about what lay ahead for me now that I am officially an adult. I have to make a decision about college, modeling, or maybe something else. The only thing on my mind is the conversation my mother and I had a couple weeks ago.
When my brother left for college last Fall to begin his sophomore year Mom got the idea she wanted to convert Tyler's room into a room for her crafts. Our house is so small there was no other place for her. We don't even have a garage or basement. She said since his room was not being used, she would use it for the crafts she makes and sells at the local Flea Market. She makes quite a bit from her creations and it helps with the huge tuition cost for Tyler to attend the college he just had to attend.
Mom rationalized Tyler would most likely get a summer job near the college and would not be coming home for the summer. She said when he came home to visit she would get an air mattress and he could sleep in the living room. I didn't like it, but I knew better than argue with her once she had her mind made up. She had Dad build her shelves along all the walls and pretty much converted it into what she needed. It was not like she could easily move out and move his stuff back into the room.
Yesterday was Tyler's last final exam. He said he would be home this evening. He dropped the bombshell on our parents that he was considering transferring from where he is attending to the college here in the city where we live. He knows Mom and Dad struggle to pay his tuition and I think he feels like he should do this to help them. He has a job, but it does not help out much. The news was both good and bad. It would save lots on tuition, and they really didn't have the kind of cash required to send him to that school. On the other hand him moving back home could be a problem since there was no place for a bedroom.
As mom was telling me about the new plans I was somewhere between wanting to scream 'I told you so' and crying my eyes out.
Looking at her I tried to remain calm, but it came out a little stronger than I intended when I asked, "So MOM, where are you planning for him to sleep?"
"Honey I have been giving that some thought and I have an idea."
The way this was starting out was typical of Mom when she had something to say, but didn't know how to tactfully word it in a way that I would accept.
"I talked to your father and his idea..."
Yea, just like Mom. She was going to blame Daddy for what she was about to lay on me.
"Well, your father said he sees no reason Tyler and you can't share your room. After all, he will be gone most of the day. I doubt we will see him here much except at night."