James was rolling on the couch, making out with his latest girlfriend, Gwen. They had started out watching a rom-com, and things had progressed naturally. As they kissed, his hands roamed her body, gently kneading her breasts through her blouse.
They were interrupted by the sound of someone drunkenly stumbling into the house, and they heard tires squeal as a car pulled away from the house quickly.
Frustrated, James called out, "Emma, is that you?"
"Yes, it's me, big brother, I'm alright, just clumsy," his younger sister called out, her words horribly slurred. She had obviously been drinking.
He got up to confront his baby sister, Gwen reaching for his wrist, "Leave her be, Jimmy..."
"His name is James, you slut," Emma slurred at the new girl.
"You're going to let her talk to me like that?" Gwen hissed at him.
He shrugged, "What do you want me to do? She's my kid sister, and I've got to look out for her."
Gwen felt that James always took his sister's side and was way too involved in Emma's life. She never quite understood. James and Emma lost their parents eight years ago when James was 18, and Emma was 10. He'd had to take on the father's role way too young, and while he'd made his share of mistakes, any reasonable person would recognize he'd done the best he could with the hand they'd been dealt.
"I've had enough; I'm leaving. Don't call me again," Gwen shouted as she grabbed her things and stormed out.
"Good, riddance, bitch," Emma continued, sloppily mangling her words.
"What the fuck, Emma? Why are you behaving this way? You're drunk and smoking?" he asked bewildered.
"I can do what I want. I'm 18, and you're not my father," she screeched.
He closed on her, and she involuntarily took a step back to the wall. "Goddammit, Emma. I know I'm not your father, and I've done a crap job replacing Mom and Dad, but I've done my best to look after you and bring you up. It hasn't always been easy for me, you know." He put his hands on the wall on either side of her shoulders so she couldn't escape this confrontation.
Startled, Emma looked at her big brother; even in her drunken state, she realized she'd hurt him. "I'm sorry, James," He was right. It had been hard, taking on the care of a ten-year-old at eighteen. Truth to tell, she knew no one cared for her more than he did, and they'd been extremely close until she turned 16 and started to run with a rougher crowd.
She looked up at him and quailed. Nearly six feet tall, with an athletic body, he towered over her. She was only 5'1" and looked tiny next to him. He looked so stern, so powerful, and she thought to herself guiltily, so masculine. She resisted the urge to touch him and apologize.
James looked down at his sister and wondered what happened to the sweet, innocent girl she'd been just a few years ago. She was wearing too much makeup and had taken to drinking and smoking when she could get away with it. She was such a beautiful, young girl, with an easy, mischievous smile, silky brown hair, and soft brown eyes that burned like hot coals. He noticed she was wearing a dress with a neckline that displayed her breasts to perfection, and he began to feel an uncomfortable warmth in his pants. He ran a hand through his own dark hair, kissed her on the forehead, and said, "Emma, I don't want to fight with you. Can't you see? I only want what's best for you. Go to sleep, and we'll talk about this when you're sober. Oh, and drink a lot of water before you go to sleep. It will help with the hangover I bet you're going to have."
She gazed up at him and licked her lips. She felt like a deer in headlights as her eyes darted quickly between his blue eyes and his lips. She could see the mixture of hurt and concern in his eyes, and she resolved to try to give him an easier time. Things had been so much simpler when it had only been the two of him. As she got older, he got more comfortable dating and leaving her alone, and her behavior and attitude had taken a turn south. It had been so long since he had genuinely laughed, and it dawned on her that she was the cause. She felt a lump in her throat and swallowed.
She embraced him quickly, fighting back the tears, "I'm so sorry, James. I don't mean to be so difficult. It's just a rough time for me right now."
Seeing the tears well up in her eyes, he softened. "Hey, Emma, it's okay," he whispered. He kissed her again on the forehead and hugged her back. "We'll talk more in the morning, and seriously, don't forget the water."
She nodded and ran off to bed. All she could think of was being held in his powerful arms, and she got ready for bed. She remembered his advice about the water and made sure to set her alarm so that she'd be up first. She wanted to make amends and planned on making him breakfast in the morning.