It really wasn't my plan to go to the family reunion, let alone having to sleep over at my aunt and uncle's house. I guess that I can't blame Mom and Dad for making me come along, especially after coming home drunk and obnoxious last weekend. They're still pissed off about that. I'm certainly old enough to stay home alone though, but they say they can't trust me right now. Nineteen years old and forced to tag along with my parents to a lame, out of town family reunion... How humiliating!
My name's Sam. I know. It's kind of a boyish name, but it's what everyone calls me. I was named Audrey Samantha, so you might understand why I prefer Sam.
For some reason, whoever had planned the reunion made it happen on the same weekend as a huge farm machinery convention. Dad didn't think to reserve a room early enough and every hotel within 50 miles was already booked. My aunt was 'kind' enough to offer for us to stay at their house. This worked out well for Mom and Dad, because my aunt and uncle had a guest room. It worked out well for my little brother, because he could take one of my younger boy cousin's bunk beds. I, on the other hand, had to bunk in with my cousin, Sherri.
Sherri and I were good friends as children, but as we got older (and she became gorgeous) we grew apart. I was envious of her long, straight blond hair and thin figure. She was a year older than I and she always had a group of friends around and always had a boyfriend since 7th grade. My curly brown hair and short, stockier figure never had the appeal in the eyes of others that hers did. She was a hottie - wealthy and privileged, popular and attractive... such was not the case for me.
Sherri was home for the summer from her junior year in college. As we pulled into my aunt and uncle's driveway, I saw her red Mustang in the driveway, freshly washed and waxed. Another car with out of state plates was in the driveway as well. I wondered whose car it might be. I suspected that it belonged to yet another of Sherri's long line of handsome, wealthy and intelligent boyfriends brought in the 'meet the family'.
We piled out of Mom's van and walked up the walk to the front door together. She door flew open and out came Aunt Beth; arms wide open hugging and cooing over our family. I guess that it had been more than a year since I had last seen her and she gave me a big hug and remarked that I was all grown up in the way that relatives do that embarrass the hell out of we young adults.
Aunt Beth rushed us into the house and she and my mom began to catch up, leaving Dad, my brother and I to sit and listen. After a few minutes, Dad excused himself and drafted my brother to help him bring in our bags. I've never seen my brother move so quickly to help in my life.
Once Dad and my brother had carried in our bags, Aunt Beth showed us to our rooms. Mom and Dad to the guest room, my brother to the cousin's room and she escorted me to Sherri's room. Sherri had a large room that was in the attic space over the garage. It was pink white and had lace curtains and a queen size canopy bed. A loveseat at one end was covered with stuffed animals and the walls had pictures of Sherri in her flag corps uniforms and pom poms. She even had her own bathroom! Her room was as high school girly as any I had ever seen. On the floor on either side of Sherri's bed were two of those inflatable airbeds, complete with pink sheets and a quilt. Aunt Beth told me that I'd be sleeping on one of the air mattresses and that Sherri's roommate from school was in town; and that she'd use the other mattress. The mystery of the out of state car- solved.
I asked Aunt Beth where the girls were. She told me that they had gone to the amusement park and that they'd be home a little later in the evening. They were going to take me as well, but they didn't know when I'd arrive, so they left.
"They're out with some friends, dear. They'll be home in a while." Aunt Beth soothed. "You can come down and talk to us or relax in here if you'd like. We'll have dinner in an hour or so. Until then, make yourself at home."
I was at once bored and decided that I'd see what was on TV. I flipped out my cell phone and called my friend Bobby. Bobby was a friend from high school and he understood me. I would love to call him... no, that should be... make him my boyfriend, but that just hasn't happened. We are strictly platonic.
Bobby and I talked for a while and then he had to go. His prepaid minutes were almost gone.
Nothing was on TV and I decided I'd go hang with the family. My uncle and boy cousin had since come back from playing golf and my brother now had something to do. The boys were off and running. Dad and my uncle were talking golf and Mom and my aunt were talking kids and relatives in the kitchen... nowhere for me to fit in.
After a while dinner was served and I, all alone, was in for a long evening.
Around eight, Sherri and her friend came back from the amusement park. They were both a little sun burnt and carrying stuffed animals. Sherri's college roommate, Jen, was also tall, blonde and nearly a clone of Sherri, except for her green eyes. Sherri's eyes were pale blue. Sherri introduced Jen to my mom, dad and I and we spoke for a few minutes. The girls seemed to take me in right away and asked if I would like to go out dancing with them. I was surprised that they were as eager as they were to include me. I was so bored and ready to get out of my aunt's house that I accepted right away.
Within a few minutes I was climbing into the rear seat of Sherri's Mustang and heading down the street, toward a bar in some area of Sherri's town that was foreign to me. The girls were chattering between themselves over the blaring car stereo.
Once at the bar, we went through the ID check. We all got black X's on our hand. The dreaded mark of underage...there would be no drinks at the bar tonight. Of course, having two attractive blonde girls with me, we were furnished with beers all night. In the middle of the dance floor, no one was checking IDs.
The girls and I left the bar before the band had played all of their last set. On the drive home, Jen pulled a flask out of her handbag and handed it to me. I took a drink and swallowed hard. I handed the flask back over the seat to Jen. She smiled as I grimaced at the taste.
"What IS that?" I asked after getting my breath back.
"Vodka, 100 proof." Jen answered, smiling widely.
It seemed as though I was in.
Jen passed the flask to Sherri and then took a drink herself. She turned and handed the flask back to me.
"Kill it, Sam!" She said in a slightly drunken slur.
I tipped the flask up and drank to the bottom. Jen grinned widely as she took the empty bottle back from me.
Sherri drove back into her driveway and the girls opened the doors. Jen slid the seat forward for me and I clambered out. She extended her hand to help me and I'm glad she did because I'm not always the most coordinated person in the world.
It was very late when we arrived home and everyone in the house was asleep. We headed up to Sherri's room and closed the door. I figured that it was bedtime and rummaged through my bag to find a nightshirt and excused myself to Sherri's bathroom to change.
When I came out, the girls were also in nightclothes and were sitting on Sherri's bed. Three paper Dixie bathroom cups sat on the nightstand.
"Nightcap?" Sherri asked.
