My Sister's Girl

Happy New Year! I hope you enjoy this cute story. I did try working on lengthening the ending. But if I am being completely honest, allowing my readers to come up with their own versions of how my characters go on to live their lives is half the fun. As always, please leave comments!

XOXO SkylerLuv

******

~Kate~

Oh fuck, I'm going to be late!

I look down at my watch and ignore the glares as I push my way inside. Once I make it through the doors I briefly stop. This is my first time coming to this train station and I don't know what I was expecting, but this is not it. It is a big open space. The conversations around me are being pulled the high ceiling producing a symphony of light murmurs. My walk turns agonizingly slow and now the people behind me are pushing their way past me. I feel insignificant as I step further and further onto the open floor.

I hold on to my luggage bag a little tighter, hoping that it can keep me grounded to the floor. If I am not too careful, I can end up on the ceiling like old forgotten balloons that are too high up to get. The windows all around the top of the walls let in all of the remaining light coming from the sunset. The walls are nothing special but the blood orange tones reflecting off them cause a warm glow to take over the large space. I do a slow 360 turn and notice some warrior looking statues all over the high walls. Up high on their literal pedestals. I want to stay and ask someone about them. I look down at my watch again and curse.

My high heels slap against the hard floors as I make my way across the station. There are hundreds of people in here and yet it is big enough that no one is bumping into each other once they're fully inside. I, of course, manage to find a way to run into someone who unfortunately steps in my way.

Soft, firm hands wrap around my arms and I squeak as they set me up right.

I shake my brown bangs out of my eyes and stare at one the prettiest set of eyes that I have ever seen. They're open wide, trying to get over the fact that I just ran her over. They're a mixture of green and blue with yellow flecks sprinkled in there. I really wish I could say what color they are but their indecisiveness makes it hard to pinpoint if one color truly dominates the other. I finally pull back and look at her whole face. She has an open face, framed by her medium length brown hair that is parted down the middle. There are freckles over her perfect nose. Her pink lips are slightly open. She's wearing a black button up and black jeans with a black belt. The bulky watch on her wrist gives her a touch of masculinity that makes my knees go weak.

"Are you alright?" Her voice has a low timbre but still sounds feminine. I'm slightly shocked by my instant attraction to her.

I nod my head and step out of her touch. Why do I find her so attractive?

"Do you know where you're going?" She seems to look me over and notices the bag I'm hauling with me.

I nod like an idiot, unable to come up with the right words. I've known that I have been attracted to females in the past but I have never acted on it. With her though I am almost eager to see where it could go. I snort at my train of thought and look away embarrassed. I don't know anything about this stranger and if I don't leave right this instant, the car rental place will close and I'll be stranded.

"I'm going to pick up a rental." I point to the car sign behind her.

She leans into me, trying to hear what I say. The talking around us isn't so loud that I have to yell but I don't mind her getting closer. I am a little breathless, so maybe she really can't hear.

"Let me walk you there." Her slight smile is endearing.

The location of the rental place is about 20 feet away but I don't mind. The more time we spend together the more I can appreciate her face. I'm sure I'll be thinking about it on the car ride to my parent's house. I can see myself trying to remember every freckle, every soft curve on her face. Three hours will not be long enough for me.

"So where are you headed?" She offers to pull my suit case.

I take a peek up from my lashes unable to stop staring at her. She is not overtly beautiful and anyone walking by would not stop and ask if she is a model. But I feel this natural attraction to her that is making me anxious. I always do this. But usually, it's with a guy. I find him attractive, let myself fantasize about where it could lead before I even get to know him. It always ends with me being heartbroken once I realize they are not who I imagined them to be.

"Heading up north to visit family." I lick my lips. "How about you?" She looks like she's traveling for business. Does this mean she is not local?

"Heading up north as well. Are you from around the area?" I can tell she is trying to have a small talk but she wouldn't necessarily prefer it. I'm flattered.

"I just moved here actually. How about you?"

She looks somewhere between excited and something else. "I've been living here for almost three years now."

We finally make it to the rental booth and I turn to look at her one last time. I expect her to ask for my number or even give me her name considering we live in the same city but she just stares at me.

I try to hide my disappointment with a smile. "Well, it was nice to meet you. Thank you for walking me here."

I turn around before she says anything else. I could have sworn she had to be interested even a little, but I guess I read the signs wrong. Well, good riddance.

******

~Traci~

I can't stop fidgeting.

I push my black dreadlocks to the side trying to make sure they look perfect. It has been almost a year since I last saw Rachel. I try not to think about how uncomfortable that last encounter was. And now in less than an hour, I'm about to be in the same room as her. I wanted to skip out on the dinner but my parents insisted and since they are letting me live with them temporarily, I want to stay in their good graces. Plus, Rachel's older sister, Kate, would be there so I could talk to her if Rachel decides to ignore me.

I look at myself over the mirror again.

My skin is a couple of shades darker than my sister, Amy, who looks mixed. Having a black mom and white dad placed me in that mixed category but I am closer to my mom's skin color than she is. I love my skin, my locs brush my shoulders, and I work out enough to have a lean body. My lips are full, my brown eyes and high cheekbones make me attractive. And yet Rachel wants nothing to do with me. Well, that's not true.

Rachel and I grew up together. Her parents have always lived in this neighborhood and when we moved down the block, they were the first ones to come and introduce themselves. I always got along better with Rachel because we were close in age. Amy always wanted to tag along when we hung out and sometimes Kate would come too but it was always Rachel and I who had the sleep overs, boys talk, and matching outfits. Then we made it all throughout high school inseparable and then decided to attend different colleges. In state college for me because I got a scholarship in volleyball and out of state university for Rachel because she wanted to go to an all-party school. We remained close and visited each other and talked on the phone constantly but something changed during my first year.

I realized that I liked girls. Guys were always falling over themselves to get to talk to me in college but I mostly cared what that girls had to say about me. My suspicions were confirmed when I kissed my roommate's friend after one night of drinking. We never really went out and kept fooling around after that but we knew it wasn't going to be a serious thing. She taught me most of what I know when it comes to girls.

I didn't tell Rachel about it because I was afraid she would see me differently. I kept on letting her believe I was into guys but was too busy with school and volleyball to date. And then four years passed and we graduated. She found a place to live right out of college because she secured job in some consulting firm, while I had to come back home and look for a job with my marketing degree. I did have some steady jobs but none that made me feel like I wanted to stay long term.

To make matters worse when I saw Rachel a year ago, after we both graduated, I couldn't help but admire how good she looked. It was easier to distract myself while I was in school with other girls who I could hook up with. Once I graduated single, it was hard to deny that I was attracted to Rachel. She has dirty blond hair that is more brown than blond. Her body always looks good in whatever she decides to wear and her strong personality pulls at my core. Ever since we were kids Rachel always spoke up for me and was the dominant one in our friendship, something I didn't really mind. I always looked for that trait in other girls but they were never up to par. It wasn't until I saw her more frequently after college that I realized it was getting harder and harder to deny my feelings for her.

So, one random night I decided to go visit her because I was bored. I never knew that night would change my life. After a couple of drinks at the bar we decided to walk back to her place. We drank some more there and I finally spilled the beans. She looked shocked and was even a bit hurt that I wasn't honest with her from the beginning but she promised nothing would change between us. And then I did something really stupid. I kissed her. It wasn't how I imagined kissing her would be like. She didn't kiss me back, she just sat there frozen in place. When I pulled back to look at her, her hazel eyes were wide open. I ran out like a coward before she could say anything. I haven't even tried to get in touch with her since. She has also made no attempt to contact me.

And now I am supposed to spend a whole night surrounded by her and her family.

******

~Kate~

The lights are on, which is a good sign.

I'm about three hours late but I am sure everyone is already fed and probably ready to retire. I grab my bag from the trunk and make my way up the short set of steps. I hear the laughter coming from inside and I know everyone is here. I grind my teeth and plaster a fake smile on my face. It is just one week. Every year we come home to celebrate my mother's birthday which happens to fall on a weekend this year and then stay through the rest of the week to celebrate my father's which is a couple of days after. We consider birthdays more important than other major holidays, so I can never back out of coming home for it. But this year something feels different. I just have to make it through this week, I remind myself. Then I can go back home and continue living my own life.

"Katie!" My mother is the first to see my walk through the door. Everyone in the living room turns their head and greet me with warm smiles. It feels much warmer here than it does outside. I place the bag near the door and start to make my rounds around the room. I hug my mom first, then my dad. I look like a mixture of both of them. I have my father's brown hair but my mother's crystal blue eyes. My little sister got my mother's slightly blond hair but my father's hazel eyes.

Speaking of the devil.

"Well, it took you long enough." She sounds just as bratty as I remember.

"Nice to see you too, Rachel." I give her a brief hug.

Rachel and I don't really get along as sisters should. Living under the same roof as her was more difficult than it should have been growing up. She was three years younger than me and was doted on by everyone. And I mean everyone. While I grew up with strict parents who gave me curfews and didn't let me date until I was almost 18, Rachel got spoiled and did basically anything she wanted to do. She got a free pass at school for being beautiful and had no problem getting dates. I had to work hard for my grades and rarely got attention from boys. Now that we both have our own respective space, I can finally tolerate her enough to be cordial. We still don't talk often.

On the couch across from her is her best friend Traci. I lean over and hug her and give her a kiss on the cheek. I move on to her parents, Lisa and Tom, and answer some of their questions about my job and where I live now. I ask about Amy and they remind me she's in her third year of college.

I'm apologizing to everyone in the room about my tardiness when a movement in the corner of my eye catches my attention.

Rachel stands, tugging on her short blue dress, and walks to the stranger coming out of the restroom.

"Katie, I want you to meet my girlfriend, Sam." She grabs Sam's hand and smiles brilliantly.

My mouth drops and I feel my stomach tighten.

My train station girl is Rachel's... GIRLFRIEND? She is wearing the same outfit she was wearing earlier. Same black button up and same black pants. My eyes hone into her wrist, and sure enough, there is a black watch on it.

I stick my hand out lamely and give her a quick 'hello'. She looks just as surprised as I do and I see a faint blush color her cheeks.

I turn to my parents and give them a questioning look. My mother smiles and my father shrugs. None one of us ever thought Rachel would be into girls. She never said anything before but maybe I just missed out on the big coming out story.

"I'm going to put my bags away. It has been a long drive, and I am beyond tired. So, I will see you all tomorrow." I know it is very rude of me to leave them after I just got here but I cannot imagine having to stay down here and pretend everything is ok when it is not.

"I'll help you with your bag." Sam says.

I frown in her direction but don't say anything. I want to glare at her and give her a piece of my mind but maybe it is best to get away from our audience first. I give everyone a quick goodbye and make my way up the stairs. Sam follows close behind. I stop outside the second door on the left, right across from Rachel's old room. Probably where they will both be staying during this trip.

I snatch my bag out of Sam's hand and turn the knob to open my door.

I shuffle in and feel her body pressing against mine from behind. She shoves her way into my room.

"Hey!" I turn to kick her out but she is standing uncomfortably close. She shuts the door behind her and puts both of her hands up.

"I'm sorry." I can see her struggling with her thoughts.

"Get out." I point to the door behind her.

"I didn't know..."

"You should have said you had a girlfriend." I cross my arms. I try to ignore how beautiful she looks. Her black shirt doesn't hide the swell of her beasts and her hair looks ruffled. I wonder if Rachel runs her hands through it.

"I didn't think we were ever going to see each other again." She tries to reason.

"Well after this weekend I will make sure of that." I don't know why but I feel hurt. Not only because the only person who has caught my interest in long time has a girlfriend but because it is my sister. Which means I will never be able to pursue anything. I try not to think about that fact that she is into superficial girls like my sister, who are nothing like me.

"I'm sorry." She apologizes again.

"Please get out. And stay away from me."

She looks down and her cheeks flare up. With her head hanging she leaves my room.

******

~Traci~

I feel betrayed.

I look over at Rachel and her new girlfriend sitting next to each other on the love seat. My stomach keeps turning, I'm going to be sick.

"I think I better leave as well." I get up hoping no one makes a big deal out of it the way they did with Kate.

My parents kiss me on the cheek saying they'll be home soon. Her parents, Karen and Robert, also kiss me on the cheek and hope they can see me tomorrow for Karen's actual dinner party. Tonight was just a welcome home dinner for both of their girls. After tonight's turn of events, I highly doubt I will make a recurring appearance during Rachel's stay. I know this whole week I am going to be busy with doing anything else but coming here.

I shake Sam's hand and try to do the same with Kate but she stands. "I'll walk you home."

I want to shake my head without being rude but I can't help but want some alone time with her. Even though I feel like she has just kicked me in the gut I want to talk to her. It has been a year and there is so much I want to tell her. So much I want to apologize for.

She turns to give Sam a kiss and I have to look away. She follows closely behind as we step out of her parent's home.

We pass two houses before I have the guts to say anything.

"So, Sam?" Saying the name burns my lips. There is anger and hurt bubbling just under the surface. But I don't want to fight with Rachel. I want to be a good friend for her. I want to go back to the old days. I miss my best friend.

She turns to look at me but I keep staring at the ground as we walk.

"Yeah Sam," She says it like she's explaining it to a child. "She's hot."

"Where did you meet?" I want to ask when did they meet considering Rachel never let on she was into girls, especially not when I accidentally kissed her.

"I was at work when I was given this assignment to help a tech firm transfer all their data from paper to digital and get everyone on board. Sam was the one I worked with the most, she had been working in the company longer than most. And I couldn't help but admire how sexy she was. And still is."

We are getting closer to my place. The street lights are on and it is pretty dark. Had we been anywhere else I would have been scared for Rachel to walk back alone but this neighborhood is harmless. We've never had to worry about getting mugged or kidnapped. I wish I was getting kidnapped right this moment though. There is only one conclusion I keep coming to. Even after Rachel knew I was into girls and even after I kissed her, she knew she didn't want to date me. She never called to say she was okay with me being gay and she never said she would like to date me. I guess I can see how I am not as charismatic as Sam is or as 'hot'. This is just a stiff kick to my ego.

"Well, thanks for walking me home." I stop at the bottom of my steps.

She stops abruptly when I block her path. I am guarding my door like I'm guarding my heart. I never thought I would have to do it from my own best friend but here we are. Maybe we are not even best friends anymore and I'm just delusional.

"You're not going to invite me in?" She seems genuinely surprised. Sometimes she can be so out of it. I will admit that Rachel lives in her own little world. Everything revolves around her and sometimes she doesn't see how her actions affect everyone until it's too late. I used to be passive about it because I knew there was no point in fighting her on things but right now, I can't deal with it. I don't want to give her an easy pass. I want her to know how annoyed I am.

I look down at her. She has such a kissable mouth with her pouty pink lips. Her dirty blond hair is parted to the side brushing past her shoulders. She's wearing a long sleeve shirt that hugs her body and displays her bountiful cleavage. Her jeans also look like a second skin. I feel my body heat up in response and take a step back. Her hazel eyes watch me take her in but she doesn't respond the way I think she should. She's not disgusted or confused. She just shakes it off as if it's nothing. I grind my teeth.

"I have an early start tomorrow morning." I can smell the citrus shampoo rolling off her hair when she brushes it aside.

"I'm not asking to sleep over. I just want to come in for a while."

"To do what?" I ask, harsher than intended. "Look Rachel I wanted to apologize for kissing you a year ago." I might as well get it over with now if she's going to be here all week. "I was drunk and I don't know why I did it. I understand why that might have affected our relationship and I am sorry I didn't reach out to you after it happened. I should have never kissed you." This apology doesn't sound like an apology. My anger is clouding my ability to be completely sorry. Our friendship works both ways. She could have tried reaching out as well. She could have told me she was now into girls.