It was to be my last summer of freedom before I started college. My sister Laura, a year older than me, had taken a year out, some worldwide paid modelling gig, so was going to be starting the same year but she was going out of state and I decided the local technical school would start on the career path I wanted.
Laura and I got on okay, with her being the pretty model growing up I was in her shadow a lot. She'd be taken to beauty pageants, photo shoots and I'd always felt I had to try twice as hard to get half the attention she got growing up. I didn't blame her, it took a huge stress out crash for our parents to dial it back and finally let her go her own way.
I was sitting in my room quietly reading a gaming magazine when I heard Laura having a pretty heated conversation on the phone. We shared an adjoining bathroom (or rather, I had a tiny window I could use said bathroom in the mornings) and I'd forgotten to close my door.
"I told you I'd already fucking paid for it Brad, why do you all of a sudden not want to go? Wait, let me put you on speaker," she said, I could hear she was upset.
"Look, I'll tell you since you're going to find out anyway, last week I hooked up with Bethany, it kinda just happened and I want to see where it goes," he replied.
"What? Are you fucking kidding me? Last week when I had food poisoning and was in bed all week?"
"Well, yea, I got lonely."
"I should have listened, even your cousin thinks you're a piece of shit but I thought I knew better. Fuck you Brad, fucking asshole."
I heard a loud thump, assumed it was her phone being thrown then it went quiet. About ten minutes later she lightly knocked on my opened door and came into my room. Her eyes were red like she'd been crying.
"So I dropped my phone and it broke, can I please use yours, I need to try and cancel my flights to Cancun," she said.
"Why?" I asked.
"Please, like you didn't hear."
"I was trying not to be nosy, I'm sorry sis."
"Can I use your phone or not?"
"Yes but my new battery doesn't come until tomorrow, you'll have to use it on the charger."
"Fine."
She sat on my chair and dialed the number she had on a piece of paper.
"What do you mean I can't cancel... So if I hadn't pre-paid I could have but now you have my money it becomes hard luck? ... Fine, what about a replacement? ... Sure, I'll pay another $50 rather than lose $800, I'll call back," said Laura. "Fucking assholes. I need to make a few calls, can I take this to my room?"
"Sure but no getting mad and dropping that one,"
"That is so not funny," she said then left.
About an hour later, Laura came back into my room and quietly plugged my phone into my outlet with it's charger. She sat down in my chair again with a pained look on her face.
"Spit it out sis," I said. She hesitated a few seconds before she spoke.
"So, I've called all my friends. They all have plans and can't come with me, especially as such short notice. I don't mind spending $800 on one last party vacation before I go back to college but I'll be damned if I just let the money go to waste."
"And?"
"I want you to come with me."
"What? Why don't you just go yourself?"
"Mom and Dad won't allow it, they were fine if I was going with Brad."
"Who all is going?"
"A few friends from my instagram modelling group, we planned our first meetup."
"Sounds like something I'd totally enjoy." I said with heavy sarcasm.
"You'd get to watch a bunch of young models taking selfies in bikinis on the beach. Or help rub lotion on them, or watch them rub lotion on each other."
"You say that like I'm some kind of perv or something."
"Oh please, I've seen your browser history little brother, I don't judge or care. I promise you'll have a good time, I'll even give you some spending money."
"Fine but you owe me, I'll be missing the opening weekend of the new Marvel movie."
"I'll take you when we get back, not like you'll see any spoilers on the beach."
"You can tell Mom and Dad."
"Already have, I'll leave you to sort your clothes, Mom said you need new shorts so go shower and I'll take you to the store."
After shopping we got home in time for lunch and I was sent to wash all my clothes. I packed my case and sat watching a movie on my laptop. Laura knocked on my door and came and sat on my bed.
"I really appreciate you doing this for me. I know we'll have a good time," she said with a smile.
"Well isn't like I had to move a bunch of things off my schedule, you've always been so independent or fussed over by Mom and Dad, I hated seeing you upset that way."
"I guess I can make up for some of that with this trip, I know you were kind of left by the side because of me and I feel guilty sometimes, I talked about you with my therapist last week."
"I didn't know you were seeing one."
"There's a lot you don't know about me sweetie. Anyways, get a good sleep tonight okay, we're up at 4am."
Laura leaned over and kissed me on the cheek then left.
I took melatonin and was in bed pretty early that night, 4am still felt wrong but Mom and Dad were tired too and didn't fuss over us too much.
"Now son, I'm trusting you to look after her okay, don't be letting her wander off to beach parties without you, I don't care if you drink a little but one of you stay aware and look after each other," said Dad.
"I put some extra money in your bag sweetie, I know Laura gave you some spending money but I'm proud of you for helping her. Have fun okay!" added Mom.
We finally made it through security and sat in the boarding lounge, both sipping on the overpriced coffee. The flight wasn't too bad, the drive to the resort was pretty rough but we finally made it to the hotel and waited to be checked in. Laura had me wait with the bags while she got our room.
"You bring the bags sweetie, I'm going to get us some water," said Laura, smiling as she came back with our keys.
"Don't they have a concierge or something?" I replied.
"It's kinda off season sweetie, If we want to wait 40 minutes. There's an elevator, you'll be fine."
Laura led us into our room, I looked around and put her bag on the bed.
"Your room's nice, is mine next door?" I said, waiting.
"Um, this is our room sweetie. I was coming here as part of a couple remember. You can have the bed, I'll throw these couch cushions on the floor. I've slept on worse."
"No, I'll take the couch, it's fine."
I walked over and went to pull the cushions off but they were fixed.
"Well fuck," I said, showing Laura.
"So, I'll stick to my side, we'll have a row of pillows down the middle and we'll share the bed. Come on, it'll be fine."
Laura was pretty upbeat about the whole thing, I was a little concerned but brushed my fears aside.
"What about getting changed and stuff, we haven't shared a room since I was 5,"
"How many times have you walked into our bathroom to see me in just a bra and panties? Relax, we're here a week, I'll shower first in the mornings and while I put on makeup, you shower. I want you to have a good time okay, don't stress about this," she replied.
I took her advice and looked out of our window, the resort looked pretty cool, private beach, no kids and wasn't very busy. We changed into our lounging clothes and went to meet her friends in the lobby, one girl recognized Laura and greeted her with a smile.
"Hi! It's so good to finally meet in person, can't believe it's been 2 years!" said the woman.
"I know, have you heard from the others?" replied Laura.
"Yes, I have, you didn't get my texts?"
"No, I broke my phone."
"Well shit, you're waaay out of the loop. Amber, Kendra and Lucy aren't coming, is just us 2. I was coming with my boyfriend but he's on a fucking no fly list thanks to some posts he made online, those three thought it would be fine trying to bring weed on the plane so they were all arrested and not allowed to fly either."
"Wasn't Amber bringing the cameras?"
"She was, all I have with me is this 4 year old iPhone in case I lose it but I paid for this trip already, no way I was cancelling. We'll still have a good time, just more time drinking and tanning and less time taking pictures. Your poor boyfriend will be bored."
"Oh he'll be fine, he can go to the bar for us if the waiters are slow, won't you sweetie?" said Laura to me.
"Uh, sure."
The woman paused a second.
"So, I don't even know your name," she said.
"Shit I'm sorry, Maya this is my boyfriend Josh," said Laura.
"Well it's wonderful to meet you. I hope I don't become like a 3rd wheel, I was really expecting the guys to do their own thing but with just us I don't know what to do."
"We're all legal to drink down here, I vote relax and enjoy this weather," said Laura.
"Sounds like a plan. Let's go eat then see which bar is nicest."
We ate at the lunch buffet, the food was pretty good but I waited until Maya went to the bathroom before I said anything to Laura about my new status.
"What the fuck Laura, why didn't you tell her the truth?" I said, trying to keep quiet.
"I have managed to keep my shit together, I just found out my now ex boyfriend is a cheating asshole. I want to enjoy this trip and I want to do it without dealing with the emotions that will likely have me in tears until we get back. Let's call it a thank you okay? You play along and let me save face and I can keep myself from breaking down. Will you do that for me?" she said, I could see the pain in her eyes.
"Okay fine, sorry, it just caught me off guard. I'll do it for you."
"Thank you, I love you, I promise this stays between us okay."