My God, what have I gotten myself into?

I open the door to my old bedroom and wave a hand for Alex to enter. He walks in and looks around. Not much has changed in this room since my high school days. My mom keeps saying she wants to turn it into something else, but she appears to be waiting until I finish college.

I watch as Alex just walks about the room taking it all in, my posters, my books... "You're a bigger fan of Anime and Manga than I am, and I didn't think that was possible."

I laugh nervously. "It was an obsession of mine in high school. I have had little time to read since college, so I have fallen out of the loop a bit."

He's running his fingers almost reverently over the titles of books on my bookshelf and lets out a slow whistle.

"Which reminds me..." I walk over to the shelf and stand next to him for a second, scanning the titles until I find one in particular. "For you," I say, handing him the book. It is an Astro Boy Comic from 1965, 1st Series.

"Are you serious!?" he exclaims, looking at me with awe.

"I never really got into the series. I only collected a few, and I noticed you didn't have this one."

He takes the book and sits down on my bed. "Wow, Cat. I don't know what to say."

"I hear, thanks usually works well."

He looks up at me and grins. "Thanks! But are you sure? This book could fetch you over $100.00 on the market."

"I'm sure. With everything you've done for me and are continuing to do for me... plus you're such a fan... I'm happy to know it's in such excellent hands."

He is sitting there on my bed, just shaking his head in disbelief. Alex is sitting on my bed. It seems the thought hits him at the same time.

"Uh, Cat?"

"Yeah," I say. I know what's coming by the way he looks around the room and back at me.

"There's only one bed."

"Noticed that, huh?" I reply, busying myself by putting my things away.

"Yes, I'm very observant in this way," he says. Though I refuse to look at Alex, I can hear the smile in his voice. "So, uh... you slept with William too, huh?"

"Jealous?" I tease, not entirely sure what's come over me. This whole situation is so darn awkward that my defense mechanism of deflecting with sarcasm and humor has kicked in full force.

I sneak a peak in his direction, and he's grin widens. "A little, maybe. I was hoping what we shared the other night was something special."

I nibble the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling. "Sorry to disappoint you, but the truth is you're far from my first."

Alex shakes his head and pouts. "You just had to go there, didn't you? That's hurtful, Cat."

I sit down on the bed next to him. "I'm sorry. Let's hug it out," I offer, holding my arms open to him.

Alex laughs and hugs me, but I realize I have made a strategic error as he tackles me and we tumble onto the bed together. His full weight now has me pinned against my bed, and I'm speechless as I look up at him.

I put my hands against his chest, trying to push him off of me, but honestly, I'm not trying that hard. He's smiling that smile that makes me think of so many wicked things. I swallow hard and ask, "We can be adult about this, right?"

He blinks once or twice and sits up. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," I say, sitting up as well, "I get this situation is far from optimal, but it's not like we haven't," I use the finger quotes again, "slept together before."

"So, wait... are you saying you want us to share the bed?"

"Sure," I say as nonchalantly as I can. "Why not? I did it with William."

He has this strange look on his face that I can't quite read. "Well, it's a little different, Cat."

"How so? We're just sleeping. It's a full-size bed. It's big enough for both of us to share. I guess I could go out and buy one of those blow-up beds... air mattresses... you know what I mean... if you're really uncomfortable about the idea."

Alex gets this irritatingly bemused look on his face. "Nope. I'm good if you are."

"Good," I say, "well, that's settled then. We should probably get downstairs. My mom is most likely expecting us for lunch."

"Okay," Alex says, although he just doesn't stop smiling at me. It feels like a switch has turned on every nerve in my body so that it is practically humming. Okay, maybe sharing a bed isn't a good idea. "Too late now," my brain taunts me.

My mom is in the kitchen preparing lunch for everyone. My brother is sitting at the kitchen table chatting away with her, and surprise, surprise, my father is nowhere to be found.

I'm about to ask my mom if she needs a hand when Alex beats me to it. "Let me get those for you, Mrs. Fischer," he says, grabbing the plates she has in her hands.

"Well, aren't you sweet?" Mom beams at him.

Alex brings the plates over to the kitchen table and starts setting them out.

"Settle down there, Bright Eyes. You're making the rest of us look bad," Dillion says.

I laugh, placing my hands on my brother's shoulders and kissing his cheek. "Is that really possible?" I ask, "I mean, more than usual?"

Dillion laughs. "You got a point there, Tiger. I guess not."

"It's nice to see a young person with some manners," my mom says, frowning at my brother and bringing over a tray of sandwiches and placing them in the middle of the table. "I wasn't sure what everyone is in the mood for, so made a few different varieties. There is turkey, ham, and salami."

Alex looks at me, and I know he's thinking the same thing. I can't eat any of those things. "Hey mom, you got any cheese left?" I ask.

"Sure, Honey. Why?"

"I've been craving a grilled cheese sandwich is all," I say, getting up to grab the cheese from the refrigerator.

"Don't be ridiculous, Cat. I've already made more than enough food right here. If you still want grilled cheese later, then I'll make you some for dinner. Come on over and sit down and eat."

I sigh, shut the refrigerator door, and take a seat.

"So, what would you like?" my mom asks Alex, who is still looking at me. He turns and requests, "Turkey, please."

My mom hands him a turkey sandwich and grabs one for her. She gives a ham sandwich to my brother since she knows it's his favorite and then stares at me, waiting for me to put a sandwich on my plate. I pick out a random sandwich, deciding just to toy with it. I'll get something else to eat later.

"So, Alex, what are you majoring in?" Mom inquires.

"Photo Journalism," Alex tells her.

"Really? What made you choose that?"

"Well, the reason is personal, really. Something happened a few years ago that I really thought ought to have had more exposure than it did. It seemed like an issue people wanted to sweep under the rug and so I changed my major in order to do something about it."

"Quite noble of you," my brother says.

"Not really," Alex replies, his smile waning just a little. "But I think it's important. I don't know if I can really make a difference, however I won't know unless I try."

"So, what made this change?" my mom asks.

Alex suddenly looks so despondent. It makes me wonder. Whatever happened must have been terrible to have such an impact on him. "Mom," I admonish, "he just got done saying his reason is personal."

My mom looks offended. "I'm not prying, Cat. I'm just making conversation. He doesn't have to answer if he'd rather not."

"She has no filter," my brother says and is rewarded with Mom slapping his arm, making Dillion laugh.

"I do too," Mom says, indignant.

Alex gives a small smile. "Truthfully, Mrs. Fischer, it's a sad story, so I'd rather not bring the mood down."

"I understand," my mom says, glaring at my brother and me.

"So, Alex, how long have you had a thing for my sister?" my brother asks and I kick him hard under the table. Dillion swears, launching my mom into a lecture about the proper way to behave at a table, even though we are all adults here.

Her tirade ends with, "Besides, you know your sister is with Liam. What would ever make you say such a thing? Honestly!"

My brother shrugs. "One can hope, can't he?"

"I take then you don't like Liam?" Alex asks.

"Don't be ridiculous. Of course he likes Liam. We all do. Cat and Liam. Liam and Cat. It's been like that forever," Mom chimes in.

"Yeah, what's not to like?" Dillion says, his words dripping with sarcasm.

"Now you stop it. You'll give Alex here the wrong impression. Besides, I don't doubt he'll be your brother-in-law someday, so just cool it, Mister."

"Yay!" Dillion says with jazz hands and eye roll. 

"Do you know Liam?" Mom asks Alex.

"Not very well. We don't travel in the same circles."

"I should think not." This comes out of my dad, who enters the room at that moment. He reaches over to grab a sandwich. "But that's to be expected, I should think. Liam has been in love with our Cat since she was sixteen. Couldn't have handpicked someone better for her. It'll be a proud moment when I get to walk her down that aisle."

I push my plate away, having had more than enough of the Liam love fest. "Really, Dad? That's when you'll be proud when you give me away. How appropriate."

"That not what I said," my dad growls, obviously aggravated. "Why do you always have to twist everything that I say?"

"Maybe because I've given you so many other reasons to be proud. Not that you've ever said anything," I fling back. I stand up, not wanting to remain, knowing I may say something I truly regret.

"Where do you think you're going?" my Dad barks.

"Anywhere but here," I tell him.

"Sit down!" he orders.

I grab the back of my chair, gripping it so tightly my knuckles are white. I don't wish to make things even more awkward for Alex, and I certainly can't leave him here alone with my parents, so I concede and do as my dad demands.

"That's better," he says.

I silently seethe. We all get back to eating, but the mood is now restrained. On the bright side, no one will question my refusal to eat. My parents will blow it off, believing I am just sulking about not winning the argument.

When everyone finishes, I get up and clear the table. Alex stands up to help me. We have a dishwasher, so it doesn't take long to clean up, especially with Alex's help.

"I'm going to show Alex around town. I won't be back for dinner," I say out loud to no one in particular.

"But you just got here," my mom pouts.

"It's just one night, Mom."

"Care if I tag along, Cat?" Dillion asks.

I really want the time alone with Alex. I need to get a better grip on my emotions, but Dillion has gone out of his way to be here. "Sure," I reply.

"You too?" Mom sulks.

"You have me for the week, Mom. Cat and I need some sister/brother bonding time."

"Fine, abandon me on your first night home. It's okay. It's not like I was looking forward to this time with both of you. Just go off and do your own thing. I'll be fine."

"Thanks, Mom!" Dillion gushes and kisses her cheek, as she looks seriously put out that her guilt trip doesn't work as she had expected.

Dillion puts an arm around Alex and I, "So, where to first?"

"Not sure yet," I say. "Let's just get on the road and we'll decide then."

"Sounds so unlike a plan. I like it," Dillion says, turning us around and pushing us out of the kitchen.

I laugh as the three of us head out the door.