Camryn sat in her bed staring at the ceiling. She moved her head to the left and heard the faint sounds of chirping crickets. She moved her head to the right and scoffed at the time on her analog clock. 3:44 AM. A ridiculous time to be up, even if it was Saturday morning. She wasn't jumped up on sugar or anything. She just couldn't sleep. For the last few weeks she'd find herself constantly catastrophizing at night.
Camryn sighed before climbing out of bed, slipping her feet in her favorite pink bunny slippers, and making her way to the hallway. She saw light shining under her brother, Andre's door and knocked at it.
"Come in." Andre said, knowing that there was no chance their mother would be up at this time in the morning.
Camryn opened the door before smoothing out her oversized shirt.
"Hey Cam," Andre was in his gaming chair, flicking away at the controller and fighting enemies in the virtual world.
"Hey Andre... um... Are you busy?"
"Not really." Andre still hadn't turned his head from his game.
"Can we talk?" Camryn asked. Andre immediately paused the game and turned around. He was in his underwear, giving his sister a good look at his body. Neither of them cared. This was a normal occurrence. Camryn would walk around in robes that loosened up, giving a clear few of her left boob, or shorts so short they left nothing to the imagination. Andre and Camryn were comfortable around each other, naked or not. Andre still decided to throw on a nearby shirt as a simple formality.
"Sure," Andre answered as Camryn made her way to his bed.
"I can't sleep." Camryn said.
"What time is it?" Andre asked while rubbing his fingers over his red eyes.
"Almost four in the morning." Camryn answered.
"Damn. I didn't even notice." Andre let out a low yawn. Camryn giggled lightly.
"What's funny?" Andre asked.
"You're getting tired because your eyes aren't locked onto that game." Camryn smirked.
"Yeah yeah, you said you wanted to talk?" Andre brushed off his sister's astute observation.
"I did. I do because talking about whatever bullshit is on my mind is..."
"Freeing?" Andre finished Camryn's sentence.
"Yup."
Andre put the controller down and sat next to his sister. Camryn leaned in slightly, feeling the warmth of his bigger body next to hers.
"What's wrong?" Andre asked while absentmindedly putting his hand on the small of her back.
"I'm just... overwhelmed. I've been thinking about my future and... boys..."
"What boys?"
"Like dating. Wondering who's interested and stuff like that."
"Really?" Andre said. Camryn scoffed.
"Yes, Andre. I try to get around."
"I didn't mean it like that. You just never really talk about it, y'know?" Andre explained.
"Really?" Camryn raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. Keep going." Andre urged his fingers lightly rubbing her back.
"Anyway I was talking to this guy... we've been talking for a while but when I finally made the leap and asked him out on a date, he flaked. I don't know what happened, but it just feels like a huge waste of time. I don't want to be that person."
"What do you mean by being that person?" Andre asked.
"The lonely girl. The one that doesn't get picked." Camryn pouted.
"Why would anyone know or care?" Andre asked, trying his best to not upset his sister.
"I care." Camryn said.
"Why?"
"It's important."
"Why do you think it's important?"
"Because, marriage is an important part of life. You need experience. I have none."
"You're not a virgin." Andre said plainly.
"I'm not talking about sexual experience, stupid. I'm talking about learning how to balance and regulate emotions to make a long term relationship work."
"Does anybody know how to do that stuff?" Andre asked.
"Um... maybe... I don't know. I'd like to know."
"Well... I'll just say that Tinder or Snapchat or whatever you talked to that guy on doesn't really teach you how to do that."
"I know..." Camryn plopped her head against Andre's shoulder. She couldn't deny that moping against her brother was helping with her mental health more than anything else. Camryn figured that doing more of it would take her mind off her troubles. So she turned into him and buried her face into his chest before wrapping her arms around his side.
"You just needed a hug?" Andre said as he ran his fingers through his sister's hair.
"Yeah..." Camryn admitted, her voice muffled. Andre just held his sister as he barely held back his yawn. He was very, very aware of his sister's breasts pressing against his body. Blood rushed through his favorite vein. Was it wrong? Sure. But in the context of Andre's sleep-deprived, male brain, a pretty girl was holding him close and not letting him go.
The fear didn't really set in until Andre remembered he wasn't wearing pants. Neither of them were actually. Camryn wore a cute pair of panties under her big shirt, causing smooth, hairless skin to touch hairy skin. Camryn listened to her heart beating, her eyes finally closing. Andre clasped his hands together and gently fell to his back.
"You plan on sleeping?" Camryn asked.
"Yeah. Do you want to get up?" Andre asked, his hands still on his sister's back.
A brief pause.
"No." Camryn answered truthfully.
"Alright..." Andre dropped his head to his pillows. The sweet embrace of sleep was taking over both of them. Their comfort was heightened by their just barely platonic cuddling. Camryn definitely felt something poking her inner thigh, but she was too tired to notice or care. Andre was already fast asleep. The gentle hum of his gaming system still running and Camryn's soft breathing was the perfect combination of white noise.
*
Camryn woke up with her hair clinging to her drooling mouth. Andre's light snores and breathing made her feel like she was on a comfortable raft. Well, a raft with a dolphin poking its dorsal fin through the hull and jabbing her. Andre was hard as a rock and Camryn was frozen. Plenty of sunlight peeked in through the blinds, giving Camryn a perfect view of her brother's... sizeable tool in his underwear.
