A/N: Maxi and I were discussing the chemistry of certain actors on the show and I said "Lauren could have chemistry with a sock if she wanted" and well… this happened.
"Okay, no. No, no, no, no, that's totally wrong."
Shay is shaking her head adamantly from her place on the couch and doing her best to explain to your younger brother the most surefire ways to get women to say yes to a date. You'd been in the living room with them when the conversation began but as soon as you heard the word sex leave your brother's mouth you'd excused yourself to "work on dinner".
You're watching them from the kitchen now and seeing them getting on so well brings a smile to your face; a smile that quickly disappears when Shay starts to beckon you over.
"Hey, come here a second," she calls, her hand extended as if you're actually going to go take it.
"I'm good," you reply, taking a sip of your beer.
She refuses to give in, "No, come on, I need someone to flirt with so your brother can see what I'm talking about."
You nearly choke on the beer in your mouth and you suddenly notice that your brother is hiding his face.
"Oh yeah," you counter. "I'm sure he wants to know exactly how you get in my pants night after night."
"Too much," he shouts, sending both you and Shay into an amused fit of laughter.
She catches your eye after a minute and pouts, but you just shake your head no and cross your arms defiantly. You can't help but grin when she sighs in defeat only to perk up a second later.
"Don't worry," she tells your brother. "I got this."
You watch as she climbs off the couch and runs into your bedroom, though she stays over enough it might as well be both of yours at this point. When she returns she has a tube sock on her hand and you bite back your laughter as she sits down again, completely serious.
"Okay when I say eye contact I mean like this," she says, gazing lovingly at her socked hand. The look on your brother's face is priceless.
"Hey," Shay snaps, catching him sharing a look with you. "Pay attention okay? None of that weak ass eye ducking shit is gonna work, okay?"
He nods.
"You gotta look at her eyes and nod and smile..."
You smile too, seeing Shay look at her sock the way she usually looks at you, and you think your brother may actually learn something yet.
"Now you gotta read the situation, okay, like, if she's receptive and playing with her hair wait for a strand of it to fall and then just…" She reaches up and brushes pretend hair from her sock puppet's face and that sends you over the edge, your laughter echoing through the entirety of your apartment.
"Hey I asked you to do this with me first," Shay says, defending herself with a glare.
"Oh no," you offer. "Please, continue. I can feel the static electricity from here."
Your brother snorts into his hand as he bites back a laugh.
"I mean really, there's a spark between you two."
You can tell Shay's about to crack. Her tongue is in her cheek and her head is shaking slowly back and forth.
"I for one know I'll be shocked if you two don't end up together."
And that's what does it. Shay's off the couch in a flash, sock balled up and launched at your head as you take off down the hall with a squeal.
"Cover your eyes, Junior," she calls behind her. "I'm about to kill your sister!"