The First Snowfall

Chapter 1: The Arrival

Katelyn welcomed the bus trip as a temporary escape from the tensions at home. It wasn't that her parents were openly quarreling; rather, an unsettling silence hung in the air. They couldn't bear to share the same room or engage in conversation, even during Thanksgiving dinner. Her brother's return from college was a brief respite from the frigid atmosphere that surrounded her.

Charlie, unaware of his sister's struggles back in Wilkes Grove, sensed her desperation. Recognizing the weight on her 18-year-old shoulders, he suspected their parents clung to a failed marriage until she went off to college the following year. In the meantime, Katelyn needed a break, and he extended an invitation to visit him at Southern Wisconsin College.

Skipping the goodbyes at home, Katelyn, straight from her eighth-period class at St. Thomas Catholic, headed to the bus station with a packed duffle bag. The three-hour journey to Wisconsin, largely through farmland, offered an unusual sense of peace. She immersed herself in the new Lemonheads CD on her Discman.

Emerging from the dairy farms, Beaux-Arts buildings came into view-- a large football stadium, dormitories, and bustling students. The bus arrived at the Student Union, a massive white building with columned archways at its entrance, serving as the stop for Southern Wisconsin College.

Disembarking, Katelyn, with her duffle in tow, found her brother waiting, a smile on his face.

"Hey, Katelyn! It's so good to see you!"

"Hi, Charlie. Thanks for inviting me," she said, embracing him.

"I see you didn't have time to change after school," he joked, eyeing her St. Thomas uniform.

"Oh, come on, Charlie. Don't make me self-conscious about it!"

"Don't worry about it, Katy-did. You can change when we get to my place."

"Sounds great!" Katelyn responded, oddly enjoying the childhood nickname.

Charlie led the way, taking her duffel as they walked behind the Student Union, overlooking a large lake. They strolled along a wooded path by the lakeshore, with Charlie sharing tales of college life. Katelyn absorbed every word, longing for the distance from her troubled parents that her brother enjoyed. She envisioned herself attending Southern Wisconsin, hanging out with him.

"Well, this is my dorm."

Passing through an archway labeled "Hopp Hall Gatehouse," they entered a rectangular courtyard surrounded by a four-story stone building. Climbing to the third floor, an all-male floor, Charlie pointed out the shared bathroom. He mentioned that women, like Katelyn, often used it when visiting rather than venturing to another floor. Upon entering Charlie's room, Katelyn couldn't believe how cramped the space was.

The dorm room was pretty spartan. There was a twin bed, a mini fridge, a desk, a dresser and a closet. Shoehorned between the bed and the closet wall was a ratty old loveseat that had been in their basement up until last year.

Charlie took her coat and hung it up and was about to put her bag in the closet.

"Charlie, could I have my bag? I'd like to change clothes."

"Oh, sure!" He handed her the bag.

Suddenly, the room seemed smaller to Charlie.

"I guess, umm, I'll step out so you can change."

"Thanks, Charlie."

"It's fine. Just let me know when you're finished."

Charlie stepped into the hallway. The thought of his sister undressing in his room gave him a strange feeling. She was a cute girl, average height and athletically built from years of playing softball. Now the idea of her pulling off her school uniform next to his bed caused something to stir inside of him.

Katelyn unbuttoned her Oxford shirt, shedding her plaid skirt and leggings. Standing in socks, bra, and panties, she caught her reflection in the mirror and appreciated her body. Although she wished for slightly larger breasts than her B-cups, she felt well-proportioned and admired her athletic lines. Her long brown hair gave the illusion of a slimmer, taller frame.

As she bent down to her duffel, a photograph of her and Charlie at the beach during a family vacation from a few years ago caught her eye. Memories of that moment flooded back -- feeling Charlie's arm around her waist and his hand on her hip, along with the tingly sensation of having an attractive guy close. Surprised that Charlie had displayed the picture in her dorm room, Katelyn pushed these emotions aside and opted for jeans and a plain gray sweatshirt over a white tee. She called Charlie back into the room, ready to bury the feelings stirring inside her.

"So, what's the plan, Charlie?"

"I got tickets to the hockey game tonight. We're playing St. Paul State. It should be fun. I thought we'd head out and grab a burger and a beer and get over to the arena."

"Oh my goodness! It's such a huge game against our biggest rivals! How did you get tickets?"

"Oh, I have my ways. We watched Southern Wisconsin hockey together growing up, so I figured you'd want to go."

"I'm so pumped! Do you have a school sweatshirt I could borrow?"

"Sure," said Charlie as he pulled a red Southern Wisconsin sweatshirt from a drawer.

Katelyn pulled her old, gray sweatshirt off, and her tee accidentally came with it. She stood in front of her brother in just a bra.

"Oh jeez! How embarrassing," she said with a big laugh. Charlie tried to make a show of averting his eyes, but he certainly got a good look at his sister without her shirt on.

Katelyn got dressed again, and they were off to dinner.

Chapter 2: The Bar

Katelyn and Charlie stepped off the bus and into the bustling parking lot of the Mastiff County Coliseum. Despite the game being a couple of hours away, the lot was already teeming with people, some enthusiastically tailgating as the sun set in the distance.

Navigating through the crowd, they reached Ringer's Stadium Bar, a lively spot with its own sizable crowd. Charlie maneuvered his way to the bar, where an attractive blonde bartender in a Southern Wisconsin tee greeted him with a wide smile.

"Hey, Charlie, good to see you!"

"Hi, Amber. I'll have a Freckled Heifer. Katy-did, what do you want?"

"I'll have a Coke."

"You don't want a beer? I won't tell Mom and Dad. It will be our secret."

"What happens in Wisconsin stays in Wisconsin?"

"Exactly!"

"Okay, then I will have a beer! I don't know what kind to get, so just order one for me. Oh, and can I have a chicken sandwich too?"

Charlie turned back to the bartender. "Make that two Freckled Heifers, a chicken sandwich, a cheeseburger, and an order of curds."

Amber's demeanor shifted upon noticing Charlie with an attractive girl. "Is that it?"

"Yes."

"Your food will be right up. That will be $20," she snarled as she handed him the two plastic cups filled with beer.

Charlie gave her $25, and the bartender quickly turned to the next available male customer. Turning towards his sister, Charlie handed her a plastic cup. They clinked plastic rims.

"Cheers!"

"Oh jeez, I can't believe I am in a college bar having a beer with you."

"I know things aren't great at home, so let's just pretend for the weekend that you go to school here. We can put Mom, Dad, and Wilkes Grove out of your mind for at least the next 48 hours."

Charlie finished his beer and went for another. Getting Amber's attention, he ordered another Freckled Heifer.

"I overheard the conversation with your friend. Is she 21?"

"Sure she is," Charlie responded.

Snarling, Amber asked, "Can I see her ID?"

"She forgot her purse. Trust me, she's 21," Charlie said with a smile, trying to lay down some charm.

"If she's not 21, I am going to have to ask her to leave. She can't be drinking here. It's a liability issue."

Amber handed Charlie a $20 bill and gestured to a muscular man by the door. "You can leave quietly, or I can ask that bouncer over there to escort you out."

Charlie took the money and grabbed Katelyn.

"We have to go."

"Why?"

"The bartender there is being a bitch because you're not 21, even though there's probably two dozen people here underage drinking."

"But we didn't eat!"

"We'll get some food at the game. Let's go."

"What was her problem?" Katelyn asked as they walked to the Coliseum.

"Who knows. She was all smiles until she saw me with you, and then she turned into a bitch."

Chapter 3: The Hockey Game

"What a psycho. Can't a girl have a beer with her big brother?" Katelyn and Charlie strolled across the parking lot back to the Coliseum. A man holding a beer can in his left hand greeted Charlie with a high five using his right.

"Hey, Charlie!"

"Brett! What's up?"

"Just getting ready for the game," Brett replied with a slight slur to his speech. "And who is this lovely lady with you?"

Katelyn blushed at the cute guy's compliment.

"This is my sister, Katelyn. Katy-did meet Brett. We share the same major, so we have a lot of classes together."

Brett and Katelyn shook hands.

"Nice to meet you, Katelyn. Boy, this Wilkes Grove must have the best looking girls on the planet."

Katelyn's blush turned a brighter shade of red, and Charlie laughingly said "That'll do. Brett."

"Yeah, Brett. If you're an economics major like Charlie, then we all know women aren't your forte."

"Ouch! She's feisty!"

"That's my sis," said Charlie.

"Do you guys want a beer?"

"That's ok, Brett, we are going to head in and grab a quick bite. The bartender at Ringer's booted us because Katelyn isn't 21."

"You gotta be shitting me. Half the people in that joint aren't 21. I thought you had a thing with the bartender?"

"We didn't really have a thing. It was more of a rapport."

"Well, you must have blown it. Just like you blew it with Justine." Brett couldn't resist playfully bringing up Charlie's ex-girlfriend from Wilkes Grove.

"Yeah, I blew it. Just like she blew everyone else!"

Katelyn had known that Charlie and Justine's long distance relationship didn't survive, but she never knew why he dumped the pretty blonde from their hometown.

"Anyway, we'll see you Brett."

"Beer Garden at the first intermission?"

"Sounds like a plan."

Katelyn and Charlie found their way to their seats after stopping off to get pretzels and hot dogs. The capacity crowd was raucous as the Southern Wisconsin hockey team took the ice, with the cheering making conversation almost impossible. The puck was dropped and before the fans could realize what was going on, St. Paul State scored on their initial rush. Eight seconds into the game, and Southern Wisconsin was losing 1-0. It didn't get better from there, as the first period ended with three more St. Paul State goals. The silence in the building was more befitting a library than a hockey game.

"Let's go," said Charlie.

"We're leaving?" Katelyn asked, not quite sure if she wanted to see the rest of the blowout hockey game.

"No, we are going to grab a beer."

The concourse had a section cordoned off with a sign that read "You Must Be 21 To Enter". Charlie grabbed Katelyn's hand and walked past the sign. He went up to a makeshift bar with a tub of ice and canned beers. He ordered two, and gave one to Katelyn. Uncomfortably, Katelyn sipped her beer, and started to walk back to their seats. The opposite side of the "You Must Be 21 To Enter" sign read "No Alcohol Beyond This Point".

"Welcome to the beer garden. We aren't allowed to take beer back to our seats. So, we just ducked down here for a quick one between periods."

"Sorry, I am being weird. This whole thing is just weird. Having beers with my brother, I'm not 21, we already got kicked out of one place."

"Relax, Katy-did. Are you having fun?"

"I guess so. I wish the game were better."

"Yeah, 4-0 is not what I had hoped for. When the games are close, there is such a great atmosphere here. But, the way it's going, you may not get to see it. If it doesn't get better soon, we can leave."

The siblings finished their beers, and went back to their seats. The second period started marginally better than the first. Southern Wisconsin didn't score, but they didn't give up any goals either. Halfway through the game, St. Paul State's defense finally broke down and allowed a goal. The second period was winding down.

"Do you want to grab another beer after the second period?"

Before Katelyn could answer, Southern Wisconsin rushed down the ice and scored right before the clock ran out. The crowd suddenly came alive making it difficult for Charlie to hear her answer. He grabbed her hand as the teams were skating off the ice and led her back to the beer garden.

"I guess I'll have another beer," Katelyn said.

"Hey Charlie, can I get you a beer?" Brett yelled from across the beer garden. Charlie and Katelyn realized they were still holding hands, and quickly pulled their hands away from one another. Brett approached with a beer can in each hand.

"Whoa, I forgot about little sis," Brett said as he handed Charlie a can. Reaching with his free hand to his back pocket he produced another beer can. "Luckily, I always carry a spare." Brett handed Katelyn a beer.

Given her inexperience in drinking, she started to feel the effect. She didn't think she was drunk, but she definitely felt more relaxed.

"How long are you in town, little sis?" Brett asked, as he stepped closer to her.

"I go back home on Sunday," Katelyn said. Not feeling comfortable being close to Brett, she moved next to Charlie.

"What are you doing after the game? If you need a ride back to campus, I can give you one."

"That would be great. It would save Katy-did another bus ride."

"Katy-did. That's cute of you. Well, Charlie, you and Katy-did can meet me where we ran into each other before the game." Brett downed his beer. "Need to get another. Do you need one?"

Katelyn was amazed that he could finish a beer while he talked nonstop. Charlie and Katelyn declined another drink and went back to their seats.

"Charlie, I get a weird feeling from him."

"Yeah, I get it. He is a shameless flirt. Ultimately, he is harmless. He will give us a ride back, but you have nothing to worry about."

The third period started, and Southern Wisconsin looked like a different team. They controlled the puck in the St. Paul State zone, and scored another goal. The crowd started to come to life. After the ensuing faceoff, Southern Wisconsin scored again and the crowd was euphoric. Charlie went to give Katelyn a high-five but instead got a hug from his younger sister.

Now the crowd roared with every shot, and every hit. It was hard to hear conversation. They had to lean over and talk in each other's ears to be heard. Charlie felt a strange sensation as his sister leaned in and he felt her breath on his neck.

Southern Wisconsin took a penalty with five minutes left, and Katelyn and Charlie thought they were done for. But they killed the penalty and hit a player coming out of the penalty box, who scored on a breakaway. Suddenly the game was tied. The building was rocking, and Katelyn and Charlie shared another joyous hug.

Back and forth play continued, as the clock wound down to the final seconds. The game seemed destined for overtime, when suddenly St. Paul State turned the puck over in their zone. A Southern Wisconsin skater pounced on it and fired a wrist shot into the back of the net. The clock showed two seconds left, and there was bedlam in the crowd.

Katelyn hugged Charlie again, screaming, "I can't believe it! I can't believe it!" The two were still hugging when the final face off occurred, and the Southern Wisconsin team streamed victoriously onto the ice.

Katelyn didn't know what overcame her. Maybe it was the alcohol. Maybe it was the euphoria of the improbable win. But she gave her brother a kiss on the cheek.

"That was amazing, Charlie! Thank you for taking me to the game.

Charlie could still feel his sister's lips on his cheeks as they held their hug. He felt a stirring in his pants. He realized that she would notice it soon and broke the embrace.

"Let's go find our ride home."

Chapter 4: The Ride Home

Katelyn and Charlie found Brett in the parking lot, outside his small Honda Civic. There were three other people there waiting with Brett, two beautiful women and someone who looked like a frat boy.

"Charlie! Do you need a ride? This is going to be a squeeze. Chad, Holly, and Monica need rides too."

"Maybe we should just take the bus, Charlie," Katelyn said.

"The line for the bus will be packed. We probably will have to wait half an hour for a bus to be available, and then it drops us six blocks from the dorm. This will be way faster. We'll be back in ten minutes."

"Ok, I guess. I guess I can deal with it."

The six of them discussed the Tetris of fitting six young adults into an economy car. It was decided that Charlie would sit in the front with Katelyn on his lap, while the other three wedged themselves into the backseat.

They couldn't get the seat belt around them. His hands rested on Katelyn's thighs, and he could smell her hair. Feeling her nice butt on his lap, and thinking of her soft, impromptu kiss had his mind in overdrive about his sister.

Charlie was annoyed with Holly and Monica making comments about how they were hanging out with a high school girl.

Katelyn was aware of every bump and pothole they hit. She tried to maintain enough force to keep her ass on her brother's lap and not fly out of the seat. But she was aware of him under her. She was a bit tipsy, and didn't know if it was her imagination or real, but she felt something poke her. It surprised her, but she was oddly comfortable with it.

"Do you want to join us for some drinks?" Brett asked.

Katelyn cringed at the thought. She already had more to drink than she ever had in her life.

"I think we are going to call it a night, Brett. Katelyn had a long day and a bus ride up here.," Charlie replied.

"All good. Maybe tomorrow," Brett said.

The car hit a bump as Brett pulled into the circle in front of Hopp Hall. Instinctively, Charlie wrapped his arms around Katelyn and pulled her close to him.

"Thanks for the ride," Charlie said as he opened the door. Katelyn spilled out, and Charlie followed. Holly jumped in the front seat and Brett sped away. The siblings went through the courtyard and into the dorm.

Chapter 5: Bedtime

"The girls' bathroom is downstairs?"

"Yep. Directly below this one on the second floor."

Katelyn disappeared down the stairs as Charlie went into his room and cracked open a beer. Katelyn entered the girls' bathroom which was identical to the one on the boys' side. After she used the toilet, Katelyn washed her hands. In walked a woman with tanned skin, long black hair, and green eyes. She wore a bathrobe and flip flops, and carried a towel and shower caddy with various toiletries.

"Hi. Are you visiting someone here?"

"Hello, yes. Charlie from down the hall. I am his sister."

"Oh yes! He said his sister was visiting. Charlie is the sweetest guy. I am Arantxa."

She put her hand out.

"I just washed my hands and they are wet," Katelyn said.

"Ha. That's okay, I am going to take a shower anyway."

Katelyn shook her hand and was about to leave.

"Hey, I didn't catch your name," Arantxa said as she hung her towel and turned on the shower.

"Oh, sorry," Katelyn said as turned around to face Arantxa. "I am Katelyn."

Arantxa shrugged off her robe, and stood nonchalantly naked in front of Katelyn.

"Nice to meet you. I am going out to meet some friends, but maybe we can get to know each other tomorrow? Charlie has talked so much about you. I feel like I know you!"

Katelyn was astonished at Arantxa's casual nudity in front of her. Her body was perfect, slightly shorter than Katelyn, larger, fuller breasts, and curvaceous.

"Sure, I'd like that, Arantxa. I don't know what Charlie has planned for us."