Normal disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Any similarities to persons living or dead is coincidental. All persons depicted in sexual acts are at least 18 years of age and consenting adults. This story involves incest. If that's not your thing, then you should stop reading now. Otherwise, enjoy yourself.
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Although I have never been clinically diagnosed, I suffer from a severe social anxiety. I am sure I could take some medicine or see a therapist and that would help, but I really don't want to. I don't mind it usually. I like being by myself. Strangers generally scare me. I'd rather never have to look another person in the eye If I can help it.
My dad was an only child. My mom has just one sister. So, growing up, I only had 2 first cousins. Shelly is 5 years older than I was. Her sister Aimee is three years younger than Shelly, but still older than me by a couple years. They are polar opposites. Shelly is tall and voluptuous, Aimee short and slender. Shelly is a blonde, Aimee a natural brunette (although mom said they never knew what color hair she would have on any given visit these days.) Shelly is the All-American girl-next door type. Full of smiles and dimples and a bubbly personality. Aimee was the tomboy rebel, chopping her hair short and spiking it. Tattooed and sporting a nose ring, with a sharp tongue and a quick wit. As for me? I'm the ultimate nerd, the geek, the dork. I spend my days in front of computer screens. I'm skinny and short and pale with wiry black hair that never seems to look neat, no matter how much I comb it. I have always been extremely shy, and I find my solace in the numerous online games and worlds I poured myself into. As cousins go, the three of us could not be more different.
Shelly was 25 now and marrying her college sweetheart. Aimee, 22, ran away after graduating high school to live with a boyfriend, and ended up a bartender. Me, I run my own IT service, dropping out of college after a semester, because the computer classes they offered had no real relevance to me. I started doing some freelancing for friends and ended up carving out a nice little niche for myself. At 20, I had a career, a nice SUV, and a condo in the big city.
I was heading to Shelly's wedding. I wasn't overly enthused about going, I really don't like crowds, or other people for the most part, but I hadn't seen my family in almost a year, so I agreed. My aunt's family lived in a small town, a couple hours' drive from the city. I packed a bag and tossed it in the back of my SUV to head for the middle of nowhere-ville.
I made it easily and drove to my aunt's house. I wasn't staying there, as Shelly and her bridesmaids were taking over the place. I had made hotel arrangements for myself for the weekend, no minor feat in this small town. I pulled in and greeted my mom and dad, aunt and uncle, and Shelly. She introduced me to a couple of her friends who were there already. I could barely keep my eyes off the floor. Strangers I didn't know were trying to talk to me. I didn't like it at all.
"Stevie, we have a huge favor to ask of you." Shelly said, grabbing me around the shoulders and steering me to the dining room. I hated being called Stevie. "one of David's groomsmen is in the Army Reserves, and his unit just got activated. He had to report to his base last week."
"That's terrible. I'm sorry." I said quietly.
"It is. David has a small family, like ours, and all his other close friends were already involved in the wedding," she smiled at me hopefully. "So... would you do me the favor and stand in as one of the groomsmen?"
"Uh... I really don't know... I mean..." Shelly gave me a pouty lip and a set of puppy-dog eyes. "Sure. I'll do it." I hated the words the second they escaped my lips.
"Oh yay! Thank you so much Stevie! I'm going to go call David now. Your mom can take you to the tuxedo rental place, she knows where it is. The rehearsal is this afternoon at 3 o'clock." Shelly skipped away happily. I, however, was terrified. I hated being in front of people, even as a background character. And I had to wear a tuxedo. I mean, I had a dress shirt and some slacks I planned to wear to the ceremony, but a full tuxedo? Dammit all. Why did I even agree to come?
As if this was all part of some evil plan, my mother rounded the corner on me and hurried me to her car and off to the formal wear place. I endured the typical motherly prying on the way. How was work going? Was I dating anyone? Was I happy? Would she ever have grandkids? I clearly wasn't dating anyone. I told her I was planning on buying a pet turtle, so that would have to suffice as a grandchild for now. She wasn't really thrilled with that answer, but she dropped the subject soon enough.
An hour or so later, I was fitted with a tuxedo that felt 3 sizes too big, but that the saleslady and my mother assured me fit just fine. We headed over to the church for the rehearsal, only to have a black 80's model Camaro cut mom off from the last parking spot in front. As mom swore under her breath, I looked over and watched my cousin Aimee climb out of that car and run into the church, pulling a sweatshirt on over the sports bra she sported. Her hair was spiked still and tinged purple now. I saw what appeared to be a large dragon tattoo wrapping her back disappear as the neon sweatshirt got pulled into place over it.
"That girl is going to get herself killed driving like that." Mom piqued. We climbed out of her car and made our way into the church. I was forced to introduce myself to members of David's family and the other groomsmen. I tried to make as little eye contact as possible and just get this over with. Suddenly, I was swarmed upon by a blur of neon.
"Little Stevie!" Aimee exclaimed, wrapping her arms around my neck and shaking me back and forth. She smelled nice. Lavender, I think. I don't why I noticed that. "How is my favorite cousin doing!" I reminded her I was her only cousin. "That doesn't mean you can't be my favorite!" She said in her little sing song voice. I noticed she had numerous other tattoos along her forearms of skulls and crosses and even a topless mermaid. They all seemed to merge together. She stepped back to look at me and I saw the nose ring my aunt was ranting about earlier. It wasn't that big, but yeah, you couldn't help but stare at it. At least I couldn't.
She took me by the arm and paraded me around the church to where the rest of the wedding party was taking their places. My aunt was in fill MOB mode, giving directions and pairing up the groomsmen walking the various bridesmaids down the aisle. I was lined up with a very tall black girl named Amaya. She was well over six feet tall and made me look even shorter than I already was. She was nice looking enough and had a pretty smile. I tried not to stare at her huge rack, but they were basically at eye level standing beside me. My aunt looked and me and furrowed her brow.
"Oh dear. I forgot Lewis was so tall, and that's why I had Amaya paired up with him. Collin, be a dear and switch with Stevie there." Collin, a stocky frat boy type, slid down a couple places and nudged me to where he had been standing. I found myself holding Aimee's arm.
"That's better. My neck was hurting trying to look him in the eye." I managed a smile. Aimee was so casual about everything. She stood there making smart remarks about nearly everything her mother said. I had a hard time not laughing out loud at her antics. Her mother yelled at her several times. She didn't seem to mind one bit.
I survived the rehearsal and found myself riding to the rehearsal dinner with Aimee. It was a better choice than riding with my mother, that's for sure. Aimee made small talk easier. She told me about her string of boyfriends, and the people she had met bartending. She was impressed I had my own business and was doing pretty well for myself. She told me I looked nice and fluffed my hair a little in the front. She pulled up and the restaurant and turned to me. "So, I have a question to ask, cuz." Her eyes lit up. "Bridezilla and the rest of her glamour troupe have overrun moms house. And, I promised myself I'd never stay there again after I ran off anyway, but now, sharing the hide a bed with 2 other women isn't a very appealing option for the weekend. You think I could crash with you tonight?"
"I... uh... I could help you get your own room somewhere." I stammered.
"Yeah, that's the problem. You see, there's only the handful of hotels in this Podunk little town. And the big annual strawberry festival going on too. Not a single vacant room to be found in these parts." She put on a drawl in her voice with that last part for comedic effect. I smiled and relaxed.