Sister's Keeper (For Rapedoll and Friend)

[Friend in the shadows]

Sitting at the kitchen table, with books and papers scattered about, Eric rubbed his temples with his hands. His eyes stung from staring at all the numbers and letters for so long; and the pain from having lost his father only a week ago stung in his heart. True, he had lost his step mother as well, but he didn't care about her that much. And to make matters worse, he now had to care for his step sister. He let out an angry sigh, hating the idea that he was the closest living family member she had.

The only good thing to come out of their parents death was the money. The life insurance policy for both of them paid triple if the accident was accidental; and having a drunk driver slam into you qualified as that. The driver had rich parents who settled out of court, sending more money their way. And the lawsuit with the car company for putting faulty airbags in the car simply added more to their pockets. Not having to move, the only time Eric had to do now was keep up with the bookkeeping. School had been permanently placed on the back burner for him.

Letting out another sigh, he slowly finished up the paper work. 'Thank god they made me the sole heir. The will says I have to look out for my sister, but it doesn't say I've got to give her everything she wants. About time she learns who's boss.' Eric thought as his stomach started to growl at him.

 

[Rapedoll]

The school bell rang as Ashlee gathered her books and headed to her locker. It had been the first day back at school since the funeral last week.

"Hay! Hay Ashlee wait up!" came the voice of her best friend running up behind her. "Did you ask him?Did you ask him if you can spend the night?" Her friend asked still out of breath from running to catch up with Ashlee.
"Yeah, I asked him, and he's being a total dick head. He said i have to come home right after school," she said as she rolled her eyes. "I don't know why he's being such a jerk. You would think that he would be glad i was gone for the night." She said as she slammed her locker door shut and turned to her friend. "Gawd I hate him. I dont know why he thinks he has to be so bossy all the time. He's always been a complete dick wad but he's been even worse since the funeral. I mean i know he lost his father, but I lost my fucking mother too." The two friends left the school and headed down the street.
"Well he is going to let you try out for the cheerleading squad this weekend isn't he? I know you have been practicing all summer and your sure to get a spot on the team" Her friend said.
" I don't know. and i don't care. I'm just not going to tell him, it's none of his business anyways. My mother already bought and paid for my outfit before the accident."

Standing outside Ashlee's house. "Well ok, guess I'll see you tomorrow then. And good luck with your brother." her friend chuckled.
"Yeah, right." Ashlee said turning and walking into the big house, slamming the door behind her. Hopefully the house was big enough she wouldn't even have to see her brother at all that night.
She headed up the stairs to her room dropping her books on her desk then turning on her stereo.

 

[Friend in the shadows]

The slamming of the door shook Eric from his paper work. As the stereo came on, he winced at the music. He had always thought Ashlee had never understood what good music was supposed to sound like. And she seemed to play it just to piss him off more than anything. Letting out a grunt, he pushed back away from the table and set about to getting supper ready. 'Not like she'd ever think about helping out around here.' He thought as his hands set to work in preping the chicken and vegetables. He wasn't the greatest cook around, but his meals always turned out good and edible. Soon, the smell of steamed veges and pan fried chicken filled the air and drifted up stairs.

Taking a moment to step away from the stove, Eric had managed to clean off the table enough for them to eat. Knowing he couldn't rely on her, he had also set the table and placed a picture of water and glasses for the meal.

 

[Rapedoll]

Ashlee laid on the bed, a pile of books in front of her, sucking on her pen when she smelt the food from the kitchen. Closing her books she laid there for a moment. Then with a sigh she got up, she really didn't feel like having dinner with Eric, he had been such a bastard over the past week it was like she could do nothing right as far as he was concerned, if she tried to help him a few times over the past week in the kitchen but that only ended in him arguing with her over some stupid thing or another. She couldn't believe her parents had made him guardian of her, what where they thinking, the guy couldn't stand her.. she didn't think he could stand anybody actually.

His girlfriend just dumped him last month, she really liked the girl and couldn't understand what she saw in Eric.. yeah ok he was good looking, but he used to treat the poor girl horrible. Always bossing her around, telling her what she could do and what she couldn't, who she could even talk to. He used to try to control everything the poor girl did even to the extent of picking out her cloths she could and couldn't wear. And if he called her and she wasn't there to pick up the phone he would have a fit and say she was out whoring around. Ashlee always suspected that Eric had been hitting her, but the girl was always to afraid of him to say anything. Ashlee was surprised when she actually had the balls to dump him, the first smart thing the girl did.

Ashlee changed out of her school cloths and pulled on an old tee shirt and a tight fitting pair of blue jeans.. brushed her long red hair and pulled it back out of her face. Turning the stereo off she left her room and headed down stairs. Walking into the kitchen, "Hello," she said in a cheery voice. Walking to the fridge and pulling a can of Pepsi out and popping the top, " can i help you with anything?" she said as she leaned against the fridge watching Eric.

 

[Friend in the shadows]

Eric heard the stereo turn off and blessed himself that Ashlee's music was no longer assaulting his ears. A second later he heard her feet patter down the stairs and into the kitchen. He cast a side glance at her as she opened the can of pop. 'Her teeth are going to rot out of her head if she keeps drinking that stuff.' He thought as Ashlee took a sip of Pepsi. He was surprised at her offer to help him; it wasn't like her to offer him with anything. "There's nothing left to do; everything is just about ready. So why don't you just take a seat at the table." He said simply, trying to keep things civil between them as much as possible.

Soon, Eric had spooned out the meal and was settling down in his fathers place at the head of the table. His eyes had taken the trouble to look at Ashlee's body a few times, noting that the girl was attractive, and that the jeans she wore seemed to be mean to tease him. Now that he was sitting down, Eric had a chance to look at her better. He said nothing to her, just eating ans watching, waiting for Ashlee to start off any conversation for the night.

 

[Rapedoll]

For most of the dinner they ate in silence which was a blessing for Ashlee. When she had finished she waited for a few minutes for Eric to finish before she slid her chair back from the table. Getting up she started to clear the table. She couldn't help but notice how Eric's eyes kept fallowing her making her self conscious as she leaned over to load the dishes into the dishwasher.

Then with out turning around she said over her shoulder. " I'm going to be spending the weekend at Tammy's house if you need to get a hold of me." she told him. "I'm sure you will be glad to get me out of your hair for the weekend" she said turning around to look at him as she leaned against the kitchen counter.

 

[Friend in the shadows]

'Figures she's wait until the last minute to tell me that she's sleeping at someone else's house. But she's right, I'd rather she be elsewhere than in my life.' Eric thought as she watched Ashlee finish loading the dishwasher. He stayed quiet for a moment, thinking about what she had just laid at his feet, before replying. "There's not going to be any funny business, is there? No parties, no drugs and booze, and no boys, right?" He said, betting on all three happening instead.