“Wow... you DO exist! I was beginning to think I had just imagined having a Little brother.”

“I haven't been gone that long," I muttered as I headed for my room.

“David, when was the last time you slept here?" Danielle said in a concerned voice as she stood up to face me. "I swear you have more clothes at Amber's place than you do here.”

I stopped in my tracks and turned around.

“What... am I supposed to say sorry?"

"No, it's not that." Danielle sighed and then sank back down onto the couch.

“We just miss you," Cherys' voice cut in as she came out of the bedroom. She walked right to me and gave me a welcoming hug.

“Hey, gorgeous..." I said sweetly.

“Hey, yourself. Long time no see." Cherys fixed me with a sad Look.

Now I was confused.

“What?™

Cherys headed over to the couch to join her girlfriend, shaking her head.

“Sorry, we don't mean to get all melodramatic on you. It's just that we don't have any finals that count and with nothing but dead air until the graduation ceremony, we've had plenty of time to get introspective."

Cherys sat down with Danielle and leaned forward onto her elbows. "It's just that we were talking about how little we got to hang out with you these last couple of quarters. One minute, we're drinking beer and cuddling on the couch. The next, you're falling headlong into love and spending all your time at Amber and E- Beth's house.”

Danielle picked up the narrative.

“We'd really gotten used to having you around but we knew there wasn't much time left before we graduated and moved on. In a way, it felt like you were growing up and moving on.

You don't need big sister around anymore."

I shrugged.

“I can't help it. And I really am sorry if you thought I don't need you guys anymore. But I'll tell you what. I've got to go back and study with E-Beth and Amber for my final tomorrow. But tonight

I'Ll come back here; we'll do dinner and just hang out."

“Sounds great. We've got plenty of beer..." Danielle Laughed.

Cherys sighed, “You know, you're the only guy I ever enjoyed being with. You've grown up to be a good man, David. I only wish you were like this when I was younger. Maybe things would have been different..." She stared off into space.

"Yeah..." Danielle was following Cherys' train of thought, but I was lost.

"Anyways," Danielle snapped out of it first and squeezed my legs. "Go study and get back here. Or we'll start the party without you.”

I was still in a contemplative state when I returned to Amber and