That Thursday, Dan got a call from his sister Hanah.
"Hello?"
"Dan, it's Hanah."
"Hey, what's up?"
"Not too much. Can't I call my little brother?"
"Umm, when's the last time you called me?"
"Oh. Good point. Then listen, how would you like to come up and visit for the weekend?"
"Why?" he asked suspiciously.
"Why the hell not? You can come up here, drink and party without Mom and Eric worrying, and get to hang with me."
"Not to burst your bubble again, but we never really "hanged." You barely acknowledged me in high school."
"Listen, it was weird enough having my mom marry your dad while we were both in high school. I had enough shit to deal with to throw a new brother in the mix."
"Sounds like a most enticing invite."
"Get off it, Dan. Besides, Ashleigh said you guys had a wonderful time while she was done there, and I can't think of a better reason than to see you too reunited for a little fun."
Dan wasn't really sure where that was going, considering he hadn't treated Ashleigh incredibly well. Sure, he had a great time with her, but he was under no illusions that she completely felt the same, especially after he made her video-tape him and Casey.
"Dan," Hanah said, interrupting his thoughts. "It's already settled. I spoke to Mom, and she said she thinks it's a great idea for you to go 'visiting' colleges. I think she also wants some time alone with Eric, if you know what I mean."
"Please dear God, never say anything like that again."
Hanah laughed. "I'll see you Friday night!" Before he could answer, she hung up.
Well, this should be interesting, Dan thought.
When he arrived at her dorm on Friday evening, he was a little skeptical. He had rushed from school, threw some things into his dad's new Navigator (which seemed to indicated that Hanah was definitely on to something about their parents wanting some "alone time", since he never let Dan drive the truck), and flew down the highway. A few hours later, he had his bag on his shoulder and was knocking on her door.
As he waited for an answer, he noticed a very attractive girl in just a towel walking down the hall, carrying a toiletry case.
She noticed him noticing, and smiled.
Maybe this wouldn't be so bad, after all.
"Dan!" Hanah's voice cried, and before he knew it there were arms around his neck in a very un-Hanah like display of sisterly affection. Deciding to play along, he wrapped his arms around her and gave her a big hug.
Putting her down, the both stared at each other, having not seen one another since last summer (Hanah went to her then-boyfriends house for Christmas vacation). She was very different than he remembered. A small girl, she had apparently lopped off her long black hair to go for a short do with long bangs framing her face. She was wearing a black ribbon around her neck, and instead of her normal jeans and t-shirt that he remembered her in, she was now wearing a tight knit dress, with long sleeves and the hem to mid-thigh. Those thighs were encased in dark stockings, ending in high-heel clogs that still put her about eight inches below the top of his head. The dress fit her wonderfully, and Dan had a hard time remembering that this girl was now his step-sister. Her cute face was giving him a wry grin as she too looked over her not-so-little brother.
"Well, well," she said. "You have grown up!"
Blushing, he could only stammer "What did you do to your hair?"
"I cut it, idiot. Now are you going to stand out there all night, or are you coming in?"
"In."
