It's Only Fair Pt. 01

Once again, welcome to my ongoing obsession of horrible people doing wonderful things to each other. Or is it the other way around? Anyway, everyone here is over the age of 18.

*****

My whole family was home for the holiday break. It was the first time we were all together in nearly five years. The first few days had been fine, maybe a bit awkward, but copious gifts and heavy meals have a way of smoothing things over...

The third day, however, my parents announced they had a thing that night - my Dad's company's Christmas party - and they insisted my older sister, Amy, had to stay home to keep an eye on us. Amy was not happy about it.

"It'll just be for a few hours, honey," my Mom said, already standing by the front door and pulling on her coat.

"It's not fair, I'm a grown woman with my own life," Amy said, "Besides, I think 'the kids' are old enough to be on their own at this point."

Amy was twenty-six, a good seven years older than me and eight years older than the twins. She had always been distant with us. The age difference, especially when we were younger, was a big deal. When you're nine and your sister is 15, she might as well be another adult. Amy was out of the house before I was in high school.

"It's one evening, pumpkin," my Dad said, tying on his scarf, "I really don't see what the big deal is."

"Luke and I have a date tonight," Amy said.

"You and Luke have been together for three years," Mom said, "I'm sure you can do it another time."

They kept arguing. Amy stomped around the living room and screamed at my parents. In the end, they left her no choice. She was stuck with me and my younger sisters for the evening.

"Be good for your sister!" my father called out and pulled the door behind him.

As soon as the door squeaked shut, I jumped off the couch and grabbed my own coat. With all the tension left lingering in the house, I figured it'd be safer for me to be somewhere else. Besides, I'd be doing Amy a favor, giving her one less 'kid' to keep an eye on.

"Where the fuck do you think you're going, Chase?" Amy snapped as soon as she saw me reach for the front door.

"I'm just going over to Shawn's house across the street," I said, hands in the air like she was about to shoot me, "He got a Switch for Christmas and we're going to play Smash Bros."

Amy rested her hands on her hips. She was wearing a light blue tank top and a pair of sweatpants, already attired for a Friday evening in. My older sister was tall - she even had an inch on me - with deep green eyes and wavy, blonde hair that hung down to right below her breasts. I knew I wasn't supposed to think of my sister as a sexual creature, but I was still a 19-year-old boy and Amy was smoking hot.

But in that moment, Amy appeared too angry for me to subtly assess her assets. So, I made sure to keep looking her in the eyes. For the most part.

"You're not going anywhere," Amy said, "Mom and Dad said we're all stuck here."

"They said you're stuck here," I said, "They didn't say anything about me. Besides, it's only across the street. It's not like I'm going to the Sudan."

Amy sighed dramatically. "I can't leave so you can't leave. Besides, I need your help to keep an eye on Jenna and Brianna."

"Please. What kind of trouble can two twin, 18-year-old girls get into?"

Amy cocked her eyebrow at me as if to ask, 'really?'

At that moment, as if their ears had been burning, Jenna and Brianna rumbled down the stairs and into the living room.

"What's for dinner?" they chorused. The twins were not identical, just born at the same time. Jenna was tiny, thin, with poker straight brown hair and a natural flush to her cheeks. Brianna was blonde like her older sister, but short like her twin. She had more of a heart shaped face with thick lips that seemed to always be curled into a friendly smile.

The twins had very different personalities, as well. Like I said, Brianna always seemed to be grinning about something. She was boisterous and outgoing. Jenna was more serious. Studious. Yet the two of them, by virtue of having been born together, were eternally paired. My Mom liked to say that the twins always ended up in the same place, even if they took totally different routes to get there.

"We're getting pizza," Amy announced and marched away from the door. I hung my coat back up on the hook and followed her, sullenly. I was as trapped as she was.

"Awwww," Brianna whined and flopped down on the dark leather sectional, "I don't want pizza."

"Can't we do something healthy?" Jenna asked, "Like steamed salmon?"

"What?" Amy spun on the girls. Her green eyes flashed murder. "It's bad enough that I've got to give up my life for you little shits, but now you expect me to be your gourmet chef as well? Well fuck that and fuck you!"

Amy stormed up the stairs.

"Ames!" Jenna called after our older sister.

"Wait!" Brianna shouted.

"Where are you going?" I asked.

"I'm going to take a bath and try to pretend like I'm not stuck here for another *sigh* eight hours."

"What about dinner?" Brianna asked.

"You little fuckers can eat whatever you want," Amy said, "I don't give a shit anymore." Our older sister stomped off down the hallway. The slam of her bedroom door reverberated throughout the house. Jenna, Brianna and I were left behind in the living room, looking at each other, nervously.

"She had a date with her boyfriend tonight," I said, "I guess she was really looking forward to it."

"I overheard her talking to Mom and she said they've been having problems. Maybe tonight she was going to try and fix things," Brianna said.

"I don't care what her deal is," Jenna said, "She doesn't get to treat us this way."

"Yeah, we're not the ones who made her stay home," Brianna said.

"Well, she can go throw a tantrum," I said, "But we still need to eat something."

"I bet we can rustle up something awesome here in the house," Brianna said.

When Amy was growing up, my parents lived in a tiny townhouse. I barely remember the old place, but Amy spent almost her entire childhood there. By the time me and the twins were going to school, my Dad's career had skyrocketed, and we now had a McMansion in a new development outside of town. The house was enormous with vaulted ceilings and hardwood floors. We all had our own bedrooms, even the twins, and there were three palatial bathrooms including a master with a big hot tub.

I think Amy resented all that, too. She felt like her childhood had made her hard working and successful, while we'd grown up spoiled and soft. It added to the separation between us and Amy. Like we were from completely different families.

The twins and I walked into the kitchen to forage. It was an open concept with a Vulcan stove like you see on fancy cooking shows and a monolithic fridge. The girls started picking through the supplies and leaving things on the counter. They were doing that twin thing where they barely used words yet had whole conversations.

"What about?"

"Oh yes! And the radishes."

"Definitely."

I stood to the side and let them work. It was fun watching them. Not in a dirty way! OK, maybe a bit in a dirty way. My younger sisters were both really cute and the way they worked together, it was kind of hot. In a completely chaste, totally appropriate sibling way.

It was something I didn't get to see that often anymore. Now that I was going to State, the twins were the only ones living at home full time. They were both headed to UCLA the following fall. That meant this might really be the last time all four siblings would be together. At least until we started doing life stuff like getting married and having babies. And that was probably decades away.

"Hey Chase," Brianna asked, her head buried in the fridge, "Speaking of relationships, how's it going with Sarah or Lara or whatever?"

"Tara," I corrected her. My blonde little sister had her sexy butt sticking straight out and I couldn't help but appreciate the position. "We broke up."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Jenna said, distractedly. She was staring at the food on the counter like evaluating an ongoing science experiment.

"What happened?" Brianna asked. She stood up from the fridge, a jar of mustard in her hand.

"She's a whore," I said.

Jenna nearly fell over.

"She spent the whole fall telling me how she was very religious and saving herself for marriage," I said, "Then I found her fucking some frat dude at a party."

"Holy fuck," Brianna said.

"That's what I said when I found her," I said.

"Bro, that sucks," Jenna said, "I'm so sorry."

"I'm not," I said, "I'm glad I found out before I fell in love with her."

"That's a good attitude," Jenna said.

"You'll never find us acting that way," Brianna said, "We'd never cheat on our boyfriends."

"We'd have to have boyfriends first," Jenna said, "Or, you know, do anything with them beyond kissing."

I understood where the girls were coming from. I'd dated other women before Tara, but I didn't have very much experience. I was too passive, that was the problem. Girls seemed to want a man to drive the action and I never exactly knew the right pedals to press or when. Instead, with my girlfriends, we would idle until she found someone else who knew how to hit the accelerator.

I wondered if the twins had similar troubles. Growing up with each other as best friends was nice, but it also kept them isolated. Insulated. Not that they weren't social - Brianna especially seemed to make friends with everyone - but neither girl was seriously dating, either.

"You're both very pretty girls," I said, "I'm sure you'll meet someone soon."

"Oooooo, Chase thinks we're pretty," Brianna said, flouncing around the kitchen.

"Bree, he has to say that, being our brother and all," Jenna said.

And here I was thinking I was wrong for checking out my sisters. Apparently, it was my brotherly duty.

"Don't be such a downer, Jen," Brianna said, "Just enjoy the fact that our big brother thinks we're sexy."

"I didn't..."

"I'm just teasing you, Chase," Brianna said and kissed my cheek.

"My brother finding me pretty doesn't exactly help with the whole boyfriend thing," Jenna said.

"Honestly, you might be better off waiting till college," I said, "People are way more mature there. My own experience excepted of course."

"I guess," Jenna said.

"Don't mind her," Brianna said, "She's just feeling a little 'frustrated' if you know what I mean."

"I am not!" Jenna said, and her usually pink cheeks went bright red. She grabbed a big slotted spoon off the counter. "You take that back!"

The twins started chasing each other around the kitchen, shrieking like maniacs. I let them make a few circuits before I intervened. Finally, I caught them, panting, and separated them both.

"You know I was only teasing, Jen," Brianna said.

"It's OK, Bree," Jenna said.

Then, as if nothing had happened, the two of them went back to work on dinner.

*

The twins were like a cyclone in the kitchen and eventually I had to get out of there before I was swept away. Instead I jumped on the couch and went back to enjoying my Dad's latest big-ticket purchase: a 70" 8K behemoth with surround sound that could cause earthquakes in nearby towns. I dropped in Mad Max, sat back, and let it blow me away. I was so engrossed in what I was watching, I didn't even hear my sisters sneak up on me.

"Dinner's ready," Brianna said. She was holding up a large plate with a seared steak, roasted potatoes, and a mixed green salad. It looked like something from a master chef, not two teenage girls.

"Holy fuck," I said, "You girls made that?"

"Well we found the steaks in the freezer and there was all this stuff for a marinade, so we whipped that together and then..."

"I don't need to hear about it," I said, "I just can't wait to eat it."

"Well go get Amy and tell her dinner is ready," Brianna said, "We'll set the table."

"Yes, hopefully she'll see all the work we've done and won't feel bad about staying anymore," Jenna said.

"Then, after dinner, we can all watch a movie together," Brianna said.

It was a good plan, I had to admit. Plus, I was excited about the chance to win Amy over. We may have been at odds, but she was still my big sister. That's something hardwired, I think. I wanted Amy to like me, kind of idolized her honestly. It hurt that she was so upset about having to spend time with us.

I bounded up the stairs, excited to tell Amy about what we (well, what the twins) had done.

*

The hallway was dark. Only a bit of light slipped out of my parents' bedroom. I assumed Amy had been in there, making use of the big whirlpool tub. I don't blame her. I'd snuck in there lots of times.

I padded down the hardwood floor. Past the doors of my bedroom, of my sisters'. I was only wearing socks and so I sort of skated my way along. I started to shout, to tell Amy about dinner, but something held my voice in. Amy was singing to herself - a bubbly, nonsense tune - and it echoed softly down the hallway.

My parents' room was cracked open, no more than an inch. Wan, yellow light escaped down the hall. I walked up to the doorway. Looked inside. And there, in a halo of golden brightness, I saw my blonde big sister. Standing in front of a full-length mirror. Completely naked.

Oh my God.

I knew Amy was attractive. But I really had no idea until that moment. Watching her through the crack in the door, it was like that old Greek myth about finding a goddess bathing in the forest. Amy wasn't just attractive or even striking. She was fucking incredible. Her tan skin and perfectly formed butt. The way her golden hair hung down in waves to the middle of her back. I watched as she flexed every muscle. The way her toned, thin core gave way to her wide, womanly hips. I couldn't even see her front, although it would only take a little shift in the mirror to...

"CHASE?! What the fuck are you doing!"

I startled. Amy was looking right at me, arms covering her most secret parts. Her face contorted with rage.

I stuttered. I tried to explain. I had come to tell her about dinner. I wasn't creeping on her through the door. I'd only seen her by accident and now...

I scampered back down the hallway. My heart ripping through my chest.

*

Dinner was a strained, somber affair. The food was exquisite, the meal straight misery. We ate in the dining room at a long, dark wood table with high backed chairs, under a jangling chandelier. I forced myself to focus on my plate. Every time I looked up, Amy glared me back down.

The twins had set us up in there with the nice dishes and cloth napkins, expecting a fun family supper. They had no idea what had happened, but they could sense the tenor of the moment, and so they ate quietly, as well. The clatter and scrape of silverware seemed almost deafening.

Midway through eating, the phone rang. It was so sudden, the atmosphere so tense, I nearly fell backward out of my chair. Amy answered it, speaking tersely.

"Yes," Amy said.

"No," Amy said.

"OK," Amy said. She hung up the phone and placed it gingerly on the table like she was afraid it might explode.

"Mom and Dad are going to be out all night," Amy said, "Apparently it's snowing, and they're worried about getting trapped somewhere."

I looked out the window. There were a few flakes, but it was hardly a blizzard. I wondered if my parents had been planning this little weekend getaway all along.

"Conveniently, they've found a hotel room out near them," Amy said, clearly reaching the same conclusion, "They'll be home tomorrow morning." Jenna started to ask something, but Amy glowered at her. The unsettling stillness washed back over us.

When we were finished eating, Amy announced that we would be having a family meeting in her old bedroom after we cleaned up. I washed the dishes while the twins dried. I could tell they wanted to ask me what had was going on, but no one said anything. Then we tromped upstairs like prisoners to our fate.

Amy barely used her bedroom. It was furnished for a high school girl who no longer existed. My parents had left it that way, I suppose hoping it might entice their daughter to visit more often? Or maybe, with so many other rooms in the house, they forgot to redo it? I don't know.

Amy had a big, white bed with pink carpeting and light pink walls with white trim. There was an old, lacquered white dresser and a desk. The room was otherwise empty. There were no toys or posters on the wall. It looked like a model or a magazine photo shoot. Girl Teen's Bedroom. Use code T1835 to order now! (Actual teen girl not included. Stop calling us, creepos.)

Amy stood in the center of the room. She motioned for me to line up against the wall, like I was getting in front of a firing squad. The twins sidled up to our older sister.

After her bath, Amy had changed back into her blue tank top and sweats. Her long, honey gold hair was up in a ponytail. The twins both had on dark leggings and oversized sweaters - Jenna's was gold and Brianna's was green. Jenna's brown hair was up in a ponytail like her older sister's, but Brianna's blonde tresses hung long and loose.

"What's going on?" Jenna asked.

"Yes, what's up with you and Chase?" Brianna asked.

"Apparently, your older brother likes to spy on his naked sisters." Amy pointed at me, accusingly, as she spoke.

"Amy, I swear I didn't mean to. The door was cracked open and I..."

"That door was shut tight," Amy said, "I made sure of it myself before getting in the bath."

"I'm sure it was an accident, Ames," Jenna said, "Chase wouldn't intentionally perv on you."

"Yes, Chase isn't like that," Brianna said.

"Oh, come on," Amy said, "You can't tell me you've never noticed our brother checking you out. I swear he's got, like, a permanent crick in his neck from looking at our tits all day."

To my shame, my younger sisters nodded ruefully. Damn. Well, she had me there. I knew I wasn't supposed to notice my sisters but, I mean, come on! You try being chaste around all that fantastic female flesh. I had to glance every now and again. I still felt bad about doing it, though.

"I'm sorry, Amy. Girls. I really am," I said, "What can I do to make it up to you? Seriously, I'll do whatever it takes to make this right."

All three sisters crossed their arms in the exact same way. It would have been cute if it wasn't so mortifying.

"I'm glad you feel that way, Chase," Amy said, "Since you spied on your naked sister, I think it's only fair that we get to see you naked now, too."

My heart stopped. Something about standing there in Amy's girlie-pink room, all three sisters staring at me, I couldn't bear the thought of being naked in front of them. I know that sounds like a double standard from a guy who was just waxing poetic about his older sister's bare backside. But there it is.

"Well?" Amy asked, "Get on with it."

OK, I knew I didn't want to get naked in front of my three, fully-clothed sisters. But I doubted that flat out refusing would get me anywhere. I needed to bargain this sentence down at least a little bit. "Why does it have to be all of us here?" I asked, "Shouldn't it be just you and me?"

"You've been staring at all of us all week," Amy said, "All of us should get to see you."

I looked over at the twins, expecting them to protest. Instead they stared back at me. Not completely angry, but not exactly pleased, either. Instinctively, I looked down at my outfit. I had a black, concert t-shirt on and a pair of blue jeans. I felt naked already.

"I only saw your bu... Your backside, Amy," I said, "And it was for, like, a second. So, what if I just turn around, pull down my pants, and, you know?"