Sarah was a typical twenty-year-old. She was a little rebellious, a little shy, and a whole lot hormonal. Her three brothers were also typical brothers. They were very playful, usually sweet, and always fiercely overprotective. Jeremy was the oldest at 24. He'd truly been her savior when their parents had died six years ago and a barely legal Jeremy had convinced the court to give him custody of his three younger siblings. Next came Eric at 22. He was the average college senior; not exactly a serious student but definitely a serious party-er. Sarah often had the pleasure of fixing breakfast for his latest conquests before he shooed the poor girl out the door. Jeremy often used Eric as an example of how depraved men could be, Eric didn't mind. Finally there was Matt who was a year younger than Sarah at 19. Matt was sweet and shy but had a silent strength that seemed to secretly seduce women. When girls fell for Matt they fell hard.
Sarah loved her brothers more than anything in the world. They had been both mother and father to her for most of her life, even before her parent's death they had been the ones who looked out for her and raised her. Most of the time having protective brothers was great, like when creepy Joey Steppino had pushed her into a locker in ninth grade and tried to feel her up. Eric had been there in a heartbeat and Joey had ended up with a broken nose and a black eye. Other times it wasn't so welcome though; especially when gorgeous football player Jesse Hartford had asked Sarah to Prom and then quickly rescinded the invitation the next day. Sarah hadn't known until several weeks later that Matt had threatened to break both of his legs if Jesse didn't back off. Jeremy had said it was for the best because obviously Jesse wasn't really interested if he couldn't even stand up to Matt. But Sarah couldn't blame Jesse for not standing up to him. Matt was a big guy and could easily have done major damage. She didn't blame her brothers either, they knew what happened after the Prom and they hadn't wanted that for her. Unfortunately at this rate Sarah felt like she'd never get laid.
"Looking at grad schools little sis." Eric whispered in her ear.
Sarah jumped, surprised to have him so close to her when she hadn't heard him come into her room. "I wish you wouldn't sneak up on me like that." She pouted. "And yes I'm looking at a few schools. And don't suggest State again. I know you love it but I don't and I actually might want to go away to finish school." She said the last part a little slower like she was confessing a sin.
"Away? Why would you want to go away? You've got everything right here. Plus State is a great school. And if you really don't like it then there are at least three other universities within driving distance. Who would want to live in a cramped dorm room when you've got a great house right here?" Eric said matter-of-factly. He was leafing through one of her girly magazines probably hoping to catch a peek at a scantily clad celebrity.
"Nevermind. I don't want to talk about college anyway. What are we doing for my birthday? It's in two weeks you know. You'd better start planning! I want a big party this year. 21 is important." Sarah beamed at the idea of finally being twenty-one and able to legally drink. She looked expectantly at Eric.
"Oh no you don't. You're not gettin' nothin' out of me little girl. It's a surprise and you know it. Besides half the fun is in the anticipation." He smirked and tossed the magazine back on her desk as he sauntered to her bed. Lying down next to her he put his head on the pillow and closed his eyes like he might take a nap. "What do you think of a Luau?" He asked peeking out of one eye.
"A Luau! Really! With tiki torches and grass skirts and everything?" Sarah bounced on the bed excitedly making Eric laugh and open his eyes. "That would be so cool! Is that what you guys were building out by the pool last weekend? Something for the Luau?"
Eric smiled at her and then zipped his lips with an imaginary zipper and tossed an invisible key over his shoulder. "No more! You'll get no more information. Just make sure you have a bathing suit that fits." He rolled off the bed and walked to the door. Just before leaving he turned towards her again. "And you better make it a one piece or we'll have to spend the whole night following you around beating the guys off." He smirked but Sarah assumed he was serious and mentally went through her array of swimsuits searching for modesty.
----------
Within a few days, news of Sarah's Luau Birthday Bash had spread over campus. Sarah was popular enough with her great figure and sensual personality, but her brothers were also legendary party gods so the chance to party with them was something almost any one would kill for. Usually it bothered Sarah to be a means to an end at getting close to her brothers, but just this once she didn't care a bit. It was her twenty first birthday and she wanted it to be huge!
"Everyone is coming!" Sarah screeched as she bounded into Matt's room and jumped on his bed, practically landing on top of him as he lay there reading his book. "I mean everyone! Half the frats and sororities are talking about it and everyone in my classes is coming too! It's gonna be amazing!" She laid her head on his shoulder and smiled.
"Good. If you're happy, I'm happy." He said absently running his fingers up and down her spine over the cool silk of her tank top. He kissed the top of her head and turned back to his book.
After a few moments of silence with Matt's hands dragging slowly up and down her back Sarah could hardly think. "Matty? Do you think about mom and dad much anymore?" Sarah was staring into the distance and speaking slowly and quietly.
"Of course. I guess not as much as I used to, but I think about how they'd feel about the things I do. Why?" He had put down his book and was watching her closely.
"I don't know. I just don't think about them very often. I'm afraid I'm forgetting about them, like you guys are my only family and that's the way it is." Sarah said meeting his eyes. Their faces were only inches away and she studied his lips as they formed a thin line and then fell into a frown.
"Sarah you were fourteen. You'll never really forget them and you've always got us to remind you. But it's okay not to be sad and miss them all the time." Sarah's face stayed solemn. When their eyes met again Matt leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips for several moments. Sarah's eyes closed automatically and when his lips left hers she felt a loss that shouldn't have been there after a brother's kiss. "Just enjoy your party and don't worry about how you're supposed to feel about the things you can't change." Matt smiled at her and turned back to his book as if he hadn't just kissed his sister so intimately.
----------
By the weekend the kiss was forgotten. Sarah wrote it off as a comforting gesture on her brother's part and just a hormonal reaction from her. It didn't mean anything. Matt was after all, her brother.
