Rachel sighed unhappily, kicking her legs slowly as she sat on the stool near the counter. Andrea was making them coffee and a light snack before they logged in tonight for the first series of official matches, including Rachel's own, to unwind a bit after all the hassle that her younger cousins had given them tonight. The red-haired girl was wearing a pair of loose sweatpants and a hoodie with kittens on it, and the younger girl was wearing one of her boyfriend's sweaters that she had snagged on one of her last visits to his house. She wasn't much smaller than him, but it worked like a dress-tunic for her. She had put a soft pair of leggings on anyway, though.

“Ray-chel.” Andrea said as she sighed again. “I bet Sean's feeling as glum as you are about tonight.”

“Maybe... but don't boys seem to get over that sort of thing too quickly?” she asked.

“Hmm... some do, I agree.” the older girl said, checking on the cookies in the mini-oven as the coffee pot filled with a whurgling noise. “But come on, now, do you really think our Sean would 'get over it' that quickly?” she said with a grin as she turned back to Rachel.

“Mm... I guess not. You mean 'our Sean' in the guild-slash-friendship sense, right?” she said with a softly suspicious look.

“Oh, Rachel. Of course I do.” the other girl smiled, reaching over the counter to pat her hands. “Besides which, you know he sees the rest of us as sisters.”

“Lucky guy, having so many cute older sisters.” Rachel smirked back.

“Isn't he though?” Andrea winked. “Except Anhe is younger than you two, isn't she?” she then wondered.

“Hmm? Oh right, she is, a year younger,” Rachel nodded.

“Must've been bumped up a grade for good marks.”

“Come to think of it, her mother said something like that once. You think that's part of why she was so shy?”

“Oh definitely,” Andrea said. “I know I'd be spooked if I was suddenly rushed up a grade or two.”

“Hmm... so she's younger than me and Sean, he's about a month older than I am... you're a month ahead of Ellie, aren't you?”

“Thirty-three days exactly.” the older girl said with a nod. “And we've never let the other forget it!”

“You're almost a pair of lovers yourselves.” Rachel grinned.

“Pfft! I love you.”Andrea giggled, as did Rachel. “And of course Mary's a year older... I wonder how old Belle and Lysandra are...?” she then mused. “Hmm... Belle definitely gives off a more adult vibe,” Rachel said as she pondered the thought, “But Lysandra seems on the border of that realm!”

“Not a teen or an adult, huh? Even though she's so cool about things.”

“Right?”

“Soft agree with your Belle theory, too.”

“Not a definite or hard agree?”

“Hmm... she does give off that vibe, but she's also so playful and cute, you know?” the older girl pointed out.

“Oh, true... hmm...” Rachel pondered again as Andrea turned to the sound of the mini-oven dinging. She then carefully set out a plate of peanut-butter, sugar, and chocolate chip cookies, and went to get a couple of mugs for the coffee. “You want cream or sugar?” Andrea asked.

“Hm? Oh, the cinnamon creamer,” Rachel replied.

“Ditto for me!” the other returned as she dug it out of a special fridge used just for creamers or beverages. When the coffee (and creamer) had been poured, Andrea sat on a stool opposite Rachel, the two of them snacking away contentedly. “Next time we do this we should invite Sean... or maybe make it a girls only thing and have Anhe and Mary over. And Ellie of course, if she can squeeze in a day.”

“Oh definitely. These are good!” Rachel agreed, smiling as she continued slowly devouring cookies.

“Thanks!” the other girl beamed. “I'm used to my cousins liking them, but it's so nice to have someone around my age around here who appreciates a good cookie.” she said with a more content smile. Rachel reached over and took her hand.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

“I can never thank you and your parents enough for this, you know.” the younger girl said as her eyes began misting with tears. Andrea's started tearing up a second later.

“H-hey, we're both gonna start crying again at this rate!” she said with a gentle laugh.

“Hm!” Rachel grinned, softly wiping her eye with her other hand as Andrea gazed at her fondly. “My little sister.” the red-haired girl softly said. “Speaking of which, how's Josh?” she then asked.

“Oh, he's doing good!” Rachel replied. “Sounds like he's getting really serious about Jane, too,” she added.

“His girlfriend?” Andrea said. “She seemed super nice, the one time we met.” “She really is.” the other girl agreed.

“It's indirectly her fault I ended up with this!” she grinned, patting the sweater.

“Ha!” Andrea softly cackled as they let go of each other's hand, clapping.

“Right? She said to me one time, 'Rachel, it's no good to ask a guy sometimes if you can borrow their shirt or sweater; sometimes you just have to give them no choice!' -- so I did just that!” Rachel recounted, and they both laughed.

“Poor Sean! How did he deal with that?” the older girl wondered with a smile. “He was too absorbed in how cute I was to think straight about it!” the other beamed.

“Pffffft! That dork. But he's our dork -- especially yours.” Andrea grinned.

“Thank ya.” Rachel grinned back, thinking back to that day.

***

“Hmm? So this is your room, huh?” Rachel asked Sean as they entered.

“Such as it is, yeah,” he replied somewhat nervously.

“I half-expected it to be littered with gaming consoles!” she smirked.

“They're all packed away,” he shrugged. “I just use the computer and the Dream Machine anymore now,” he added.

“Oh, true.” Rachel nodded. They spent a few more minutes talking about stuff as she explored his room a bit more, and when he was suddenly distracted by his father coming up to check on them she began rummaging through his closet. There was a green sweater in there with some pretty patterns knitted into it, almost like Celtic knots. Remembering her conversation with Jane a few days ago, she let out a mischievous grin, took off her hoodie, and slipped on the sweater.

“W-we'll be down for dinner, honest!!” Sean retorted to his dad, who cackled heartily.

“I know, buddy, I know. See you in twenty, then!” the older man said, and when he had gone Sean heaved a sigh of relief, and then turned around to see Rachel in the sweater.

“W-wh-wha?” he stammered.

Oh you're so adorkable.

“Does it look good?” she asked him. She watched as his face turned a low shade of red, his eyes admiring her sudden outfit change, the smile slowly coming to his face.

“It does. It really does.” he told her. “Better than it did on me, too,” he added, and she smiled.

“Maybe!” She was sure he had low-key forgotten the sweater was his by the time he walked her home, which made her happy to no end. I did it! I did the thing! Rachel silently cheered as they walked along the streets. When they got to Andrea's house, which was where she was now living, he smiled at her again.

“It really does look good on you. I think Grandma Maisy would approve.” he then said, and she suddenly felt embarrassed to high heaven.

“H-huh... w-w-wait, Sean? This, th-th-th-this is... was made by--”

“Yep! Grandma made it as my last Christmas present; but I want you to have it, and I know she'd say the same thing if she saw you in it.” he said to her with a smile as radiant as the sunset. Rachel suddenly burst into tears, and they wrapped each other in a big hug before kissing each other good night.

***

So less of a choice and more of a present, huh? Rachel thought to herself as she took another sip of coffee.

“Still... I'm amazed he let you have it after all; it looks handmade!” Andrea then said.

“Hmm... it is!” the younger girl grinned back.

“Huh?! I was right?!” Andrea exclaimed.

“His grandmother made it.” Rachel said, and Andrea sat there stunned for a moment. The older girl then smiled, taking off her glasses to brush them off.

“Girl. Don't ever lose him.”

“I won't.” Rachel softly promised, a smile on her face. They looked over at the clock. It was almost seven-thirty.

“Drain it and log in?” Andrea asked. Rachel raised her mug in reply, and Andrea did the same; they clinked them together, and downed the rest of their coffee, getting up to head for their rooms. When they got upstairs, Andrea poked Rachel and turned her around, wrapping her in a hug. “Thanks for all the help tonight, by the way. Sorry they're such a handful!”

“Aww. But they're a cute handful!”

“Some days!” she replied, and they giggled. “I don't know what's in your head for tonight, but... I know it'll turn out for the best, somehow.” Andrea told her.

“I know.” Rachel smiled, and they let go of each other.

“Let's not keep them waiting, then!” the older girl said as she went to open her door. “You got it, sis!” Rachel replied, diving into her room.

“S-sis?” Andrea turned back, but the other door was already shut. She let out a smile, and softly sighed. “I love you... little sister.” she whispered, and went into her room to log into the game.