"Why am I here?" Frank asked as he looked at the crowded stands with unfamiliar colors on either side. His brother was laden down with concession goodies, and had the widest grin on his face.
"I have the answer to that question," Joe stated, nudging him over next to the band. "Alicia got two free tickets and absolutely hates football unless it's her own team, and she has an instrument in front of her, and she gets in free. Besides, she has a date or something tonight. You, on the other hand, as a dutiful senior, had your Friday blocked out for studying and being boring, and your girlfriend is home for the weekend, and I very easily convinced you not to be lame on a Friday night." Frank sighed and looked up as a girl in a short crop top and matching mini skirt tapped him on the shoulder.
"Excuse me, but we're having a raffle fundraiser for the dance team, all of the proceeds will fund our trip to nationals this year. Our goal is to fly our entire team to Las Vegas, and we would really appreciate anything you could donate. If you donate fifty dollars, you are entered into our amazing raffle. We've got an amazing grand prize this year. A spring break trip for you and five friends to the Caribbean. You also get your name on our sponsor page."
"Sorry," Frank said with a shrug.
"I'll donate," Joe said quickly. "Since you asked so nicely."
"Joe, you don't have fifty bucks," Frank said with an eye roll. Joe smiled and put his arm over his brother's shoulder.
"Oh, most amazing brother of mine—"
"No."
"Supreme—"
"No."
"Mastermind—"
"No, and let me think about it—"
"Please?" He stood up and whispered something to the girl, then turned back to Frank. "Could you really say no to a group of girls trying so hard to make it to nationals?"
"Yes."
"Even though they've worked so hard to go, and they can't because they are fifty dollars short?"
Frank frowned, trying not to look at his brother, or the girl, who had moved closer to sit next to him, giving him big puppy dog eyes.
"You would really be helping us out," she said softly. Frank sighed and reached for his wallet. She beamed. "Thank you, Thank you so much!" As he handed her the money, she gave him a peck on the cheek and handed him the raffle ticket. "You are super sweet." She gave Joe a peck too, then ran off down the stands, trying to sell more tickets.
"Thanks Bro," Joe said, reaching for the ticket.
"Uh-uh," he chided, holding it away from him. "This is mine. My fifty, my Friday, my ticket."
Joe snorted and sat back down. "Selfish…"
"Shut up and watch your football game," he said with a laugh. "You've got your snacks."
Joe smiled and picked up a hot dog. "That's right, and I'm not sharing."
Frank was spacing off during half time, trying to remember differential equations of some importance for the upcoming test, but the noise level had kept him away from figuring out what he was actually trying to study for. He hadn't even heard Joe calling his name, although he was admittedly tuning his younger brother out.
"Yo! Space case! Your raffle ticket! Dance Team is reading the numbers of the winning tickets!"
Frank sighed and pulled out the ticket, staring blankly at the ticket. 167562
"And finally, the winner of the grand prize… 167562!"
"Frank, are you even paying attention?" Joe asked, grabbing the ticket from him. "Dude! Frank, you won! Get down there, Winner!"
"What?" Frank asked, looking up.
"Cruise to the Caribbean! Here we come!" Joe cheered, Dragging Frank down to the field. Frank sighed and followed blindly, smiling slightly.
Cruise to the Carib… finally, a chance to relax. Maybe I'll leave Joe on an island and find some study time.
Nineteen year old Alicia sat at the kitchen table, staring at her untouched toast. She had been sitting there for five minutes, not even flinching when Joe came barreling down the stairs of their parent's house, shouting triumphantly.
"Alicia! Spring break in the Caribbean, on a cruise ship! In one of those giant suites in the floating hotel! And we're leaving in ten minutes! Are you eating this?" he asked, scooping up the toast and popping it into his mouth. He blinked. "Alicia? Your toast is cold, and I don't see your bags."
"I'm not going," she whispered.
Joe stared at her in disbelief. "What? Of course you are…"
"Callie is going."
"As is Nancy, so…."
"So I'm not going!" Alicia said sharply, slapping her hand down on the table. "I'm not going to ruin Frank's spring break, and I'm not going to ruin mine by rooming with her for an entire week!"
Joe sighed and put a hand on her shoulder. "Alicia, you are over reacting, so forgive me for this. This is the first time all three of our spring breaks actually line up." He stood up and walked casually up the stairs. Alicia heard drawers slamming and her closet door opening, and Joe came back down the stairs with a suitcase fully packed, her passport in hand, heading for the door and the car. "If I forgot anything, we'll buy it before we get on the ship. Now come on." Alicia smiled a little, but shook her head.
"I'm still not going."
Joe packed her suitcase in with his bags, as well as her backpack, then thought for a moment. "Well at least come give me a hug goodbye."
Alicia, who rolled her eyes as she gave him a quick hug, found herself thrown into the trunk of the van with the luggage and the door closed. "Joe!" she cried, climbing over the back seat towards the side doors.
"Don't bother," he said with a smile, climbing in and starting the vehicle. "Child proof locks are on. Now, I'm already guessing this is going to be grossly couple-ish, with the Frank/Callie Nancy/Ned thing, and could be very explosive if something goes wrong. I need you to keep me sane and keep me company. I'm not fifth wheeling alone, okay?" Alicia sighed and sat down in the passenger seat, and Joe grinned. "Thank you, Alicia. You are my favorite little sister."
"I'm your only little sister," she said with a small smile. "I guess this can't be all that bad, then, if there will be three of us in a room."
Joe pulled out of the driveway with a grin. "I've got good news and bad news."
"What's the bad news?" Alicia asked warily.
"You're not rooming with Callie or Nancy."
Alicia sat up and stared at him. "Are you kidding?! Not rooming with Callie is good news!" At Joe's smirk, she narrowed her eyes. "What's the good news?"
"You are rooming with me!" Joe said happily. "Or Frank. See, sticking Frank and Callie in one room and Nancy and Ned in another would be…"
"Unorthodox?"
"Well, not in today's day and age, but yes." Joe shrugged. "We have three rooms, three guys, three girls…"
"So sticking one brother and one sister in a room would solve the issue of the third room. Got it," Alicia said with a nod.
"And we called in and asked them to have all the beds split, so no sneaking guys into our room, missy," Joe scolded. Alicia laughed and reclined in her chair.
"I guess this might not be so bad after all."
A/N: I have to give a huge thanks to Corkybookworm for letting me bounce ideas off her, and for giving me my brain blast! If you haven't already, you should check out her A Misty Mystery. Please Review.
Lots of intro things to get through, but don't worry, things will pick up soon enough.
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