“Ugh! I don’t know what to wear,” Moni whines as she opens and closes her closet door like she’s trying to get air circulation up in her room.
“Woah! Calm down,” I say, throwing the jacket on her bed and rushing to keep the door closed. Peering down, her normal greenish tint is starting to turn a reddish color. Oh damn, someone is getting frustrated.
“Get your grubby hands off my door unless you want to lose a finger, bubba,” she growls, signaling she isn’t playing. Backing away and raising my hands to signal my surrender, I give her my bug eyes.
“Okaaaay. What’s going on, and maybe I can help?”
She spins in my direction, plops down on the floor, grabs her tail like a blankey, and lets out a wail. “JP, I have a date, and I don’t know what to wear. Hell, I don’t even know how to act! I need help!” She could tell me she killed the Sulks and I would be less shocked than I am over the bomb she just threw at me.
“Wait...did you just say you have a date? With who?” My voice rises enough that I’m sure most people would say I’m yelling. Okay, so I’m yelling. Yes, I joke around with her all the time about dating and needing that big dick or pussy—whichever way she’s inclined to go—but this is my baby sister. She hasn’t ever dated or even shown interest in anyone in the past as far as I’m aware. And when did this happen? She had class all last week and never mentioned anyone before.
Squinting at Moni, all I can see is her toddler self all scared and huddled up. I’m her big brother, and it’s my job to protect her. I can’t let her go out on this date, especially if I don’t know who it is with.
“You don’t know him so just relax.” Moni stands up and goes back to her closet, and again, all I see is her waddling over to the closet, taking baby steps.
“No!” I growl out.
“No? What do you mean no?” Moni turns and gives me a questioning look.
“I mean NO! Who is he, and how do I NOT know him? I know practically everyone here.” My voice rises slightly with each word.
Moni is full-on red like a hot pepper, and there’s that signature steam coming out of her ears. She’s getting to the melting point of throwing things. Thankfully, I didn’t equip her room with anything sharp or pointy. All soft linen and fluffy blankets.See, I have brains too, not just looks.
“Don’t worry, you haven’t slept with him.” She waves off my comment and I’m flabbergasted.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask, placing my hands on my hips waiting for an explanation.
“Nothing, JP. I’m just saying you don’t have to worry about sleeping with him. He’s new to the area.”
“Are you calling me a slut?”
“No.”
“A whore?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“Easy!” she shrieks as I jump towards her, trying to catch her.
“Hey, what’s going on in here?” Rez sleepily asks as she rubs at her eyes.
Moni and I automatically deflate, and I rush over, wrapping her in my arms.
“Ma chérie, what are you doing up? I thought you were resting.”
“Well I was until World War III broke out in here and I had to figure out who was dying and why.”
Moni and I both shrink, me emotionally while Moni truly does shrink down to her two-inch preferred self.
“I’m sorry, Rez. JP just got me heated when he told me no. I didn’t even think that you might be resting. Are you okay?”
Bright pink blooms across her skin as she approaches Rez, regrowing to give her a hug so Rez is sandwiched between us.
“I will be as soon as you tell me why you guys are at each other’s throats like cats and dogs.”
Letting out a sigh, I unwrap my arms around Rez but slip my hand into hers, dragging her over onto Moni’s bed. Sitting, I face her, and Moni, who’s still standing by the closet, stares daggers at me. Before I can paint the picture I’m the good brother and protector, Moni, the little traitor, throws me in the swamp.
