Break it down to a simple slogan. Like running for the presidency.

Chapter 65

The first thing you see when you step out of the door is of course your sisters, who are waiting for you in different stages of nervousness. Surprisingly, it is Megan who has her arms crossed over her chest and is swirling around quickly as you push the doorknob. Millie stands next to her and seems to pay more attention to Megan to make sure that she doesn't damage her lover and protector any further. You nod to the two and see the same emotions flashing.

"In two hours in Seacrest," you just say. The face of Megan becomes pale again and she comes to you with her lips pressed together and a cramped gait to hug you.

"Thank you." As quietly as she speaks the words, she could have even thought them, and maybe it is only because of your close connection that you heard them. Her heart is pounding so hard that you can feel it in your chest. Apparently Megan is not so sure about your connection right now.

"I thought you wouldn't be surprised that I did what you wanted?" you grin, holding her head next to yours. Your cheeks rub against each other and electrify your body through the contact. But of course you use the healthy cheek and not the one on which Megan has just left her mark.

"I... I didn't want to dictate anything to you... and I didn't want to hit you either. I... was just scared, ”she stutters, digging her body even further into your embrace.

"All good wombat" you giggle and run your hand through her hair. "Even if you pour petrol over me and burn me, I couldn't be angry with you." It easily makes your sister giggle and lets you breathe deeply.

"I never do that again. I promise! ”She puts her hands flat on your chest and runs her fingers up and down again and again to feel you with as many senses as possible. "I was... just afraid." You could say so many things, promise her so many things, and maybe that would be a good plan. You are good with words and could certainly take away the worry that you could feel less for her for a day in your life than a thousand times more as for you. But you choose a simpler, shorter and far better way of conveying your feelings. And when you put your lips on her forehead, pick up her scent in your nose and she tightens her grip on your shirt, she seems to have understood. But you wouldn't be you if you couldn't top it off and Megan almost collapses with the clash of your lips and the whispered words of love for her, her sister and Emma. You actually have to hold her around the waist as her legs wiggle like pudding with relief.

Millie, watching the whole thing and running her fingers involuntarily over her lips, giggles slightly as Megan hangs on you like a doll. After all, you have to stop because you fear that you could spend the rest of the day in bed with them. Emma would surely join soon and then... No. Sorry buddy, but we have a job. Finally Megan manages to straighten up and clears her throat as the body strength flows back into her limbs. She strokes a strand of hair behind her ear and enchants you with her movements.

"Thank you," she says a little louder now and looks nervously at her sister. "I promise I will never do that again. It was worse for me than for him.” Both sisters laugh at it but both have their own reasons to be nervous. Megan took a step into a world she didn't particularly like. Millie would never think of criticizing you and Megan always saw herself as your partner, even when she didn't have your dick in her. "I don't like to be above you" she admits to you and looks at her feet.

“But sometimes I also need a push in the right direction. It doesn't happen often, but when I do, I'm glad you tell me how I can behave better towards you.” You look at your little sister. "This is especially true for you Little One, okay?" Millie looks at you with wide eyes and doesn't understand a word you say. "If you think I could make your life even better, you can always tell me." You rub your cheek. "The emphasis is on 'tell... with words', okay?" You get a nod in response and a thoughtful frown that lasts for several seconds.

"You are perfect for me BB. You are everything I want.” She looks you in the eye and puts on the smile that made you fall in love with her. You have never been able to resist her and you have always done everything she wanted for her. Mostly without having to say anything. The only worry you always had was that you were too blind with love to be the best for her.

"She's really serious." Megan shakes her head in disbelief and gives you the insurance you need. Together, the three of you are simply unbeatable. Maybe it can only work that way? We support each other as a group and give us strength. The strongest form in physics is a triangle. Millie grins and nods her head proudly. "I really can't think of anything you could do better BB. But if I do, I'll tell you before I pound you.” Now Megan has to laugh too and it's a good sign for the three of you and your relationship. Then she thinks for a few seconds.

"But I still want to make it up to you." She looks you in the face with faithful eyes and you know that you are now in a situation in which you could wish for everything from her. It has rarely been the case that you had such power over Megan and it scares you a little. "No matter what it is, I'll do it for you," she says, chewing her lip. She is a little nervous. "I want to do what you say."

"Megan..."

"No honestly!" She hugs you briefly and then looks at you again. "I know you won't ask me anything worse. Just something that does you good. Let's go. Say it!” She is already swinging to poke you in the chest, but then brakes and grins nervously. Instead, she puts her head on your shoulder to be close to you. Millie watches you two and is also a little unsure. Does she think I'm going to punish Megan now? You are feverishly thinking about how to get Megan to forgive yourself and calm Millie down.

"Oh, I've got something!" you exclaim and push your sister away from you with slight pressure. You hold her by her upper arms and your hands are exerting so much pressure that she realizes that you have not let go of her.

"All for you Biggie." You put on a somewhat more dominant look to at least put your words into effect in theory.

"When I get back home, I want you to have the skirt from our first encounter, your hair in a braid and your ribbon in your hair." Your voice suddenly becomes brittle when you see Megan right in front of you bloom and begin to shine with joy. You, on the other hand, feel a little uncomfortable giving her instructions, but damn it, the outfit has always been your favorite and the way she dressed has always made you crazy with lust. "And I want to sleep with you tonight." It is actually rare that you saw Megan so happy. She jumps up and down and jumps at you again to hug you another time. With astonishing ****, she squeezes the air out of your lungs.

"Yes! Definitely! I'll do that!” She comes even closer to you, wraps her hands around your face, while you don't notice the pain on your cheek, and presses her lips tightly against yours. Her tongue thrusts forward, greedily penetrates your mouth and finds her counterpart and no longer lets it go. You can feel her fingers as they bury themselves in the roots of your hair and her leg that wraps around you. You hold her and support her in fulfilling her desires. You enjoy being close to each other until Megan breaks away from you and looks at the other Lynchwood. Millie stands a few steps away, looks at you lost in thought and have put a finger in her mouth, on which she now sucks with a glassy look. A hand is lost in thought between her thighs, which she has pressed together with desire and which rub against each other to somehow provide relief.

You take a few steps away from Megan and you both look at Millie apologetically. As you embarrassedly rub the back of your head and try to swallow the knot in your throat, your other sister sighs apologetically and approaches Millie.

"Oh come here honey. We are sorry."

"It's okay. You d-don't have to stop because of m-me, ”your youngest sister mumbles and her looks reveal the pleasure she feels. Megan hugs her in acknowledgment.

"Oh sweetie. I know it has to be difficult.” She directs Millie a little so that both sisters can look at you. They stand there with their heads touching and almost make you tear your clothes off and jump on these miracles. Megan knows exactly what you like and Millie likes to please you. “It was stupid of us to let ourselves go like this. I'm sorry we scratched you up like this. "

"Me too" You clear your throat.

"But tonight we will..." Again Megan pauses and again the two sisters look at each other.

"Oh damn you two charmers" you grumble playfully. You have to laugh when Millie rushes forward and gives you a knock in the stomach. Megan holds back and when you stand in front of her, the tip of your nose on your chin and unable to look you in the eye, she starts to shiver again. You raise her hand, tense it into a fist and gently kiss each of her cheeks. Then you step back and spread your arms.

"Come on Wombat." With a shy smirk your older little sister hits you too. Well, it's more like her hand falls against your body, but the grin that grows wider on her face is a reward enough for both of you.

The three of you come down the stairs. Again the living room is empty, which is not surprising given the perfect weather outside. You also find most of the others there. Only Carrie and Denise are nowhere to be seen. The thought that the two of them might be in their rooms, just meters away from the tainted bustle you and your sisters had just made in the hallway makes you feel a little awkward. But the bright voice of Claire manages that you do not worry about it.

"Millie said Megan had slapped you in the face?" she asked, hopping towards you. Claire, her sister, Emma, Rachel and Karen have sat on a large blue blanket in the middle of which a large silver bowl with cheeses and grapes stands. In response, you turn your head and show the latest bruise. You like to pay the price of pain when you can be with the three greatest girls in the world. But Megan buries her face in shame and walks past you and Claire without looking at you. "What did you do to deserve this?" Susan asks a little more reserved than her sister, but no less curious. The friends of Megan also look questioningly.

"Millie didn't want to tell us," Rachel tells, evoking a thoughtful look from your princess.

"Certainly something naughty" assumes Karen and looks at you almost greedily. Meanwhile, Megan starts shoveling cheese and grapes into her mouth at such a speed and quantity that you're afraid she might swallow one of the toothpicks stuck in each piece.

"Oh it was nothing" you express halfheartedly.

"Lie!" Karen yells loudly and amused when Emma sits down next to Megan and puts her arm around her. Once again you are proud to see proof that Emma is incredibly intelligent not only at school but also in social terms and that she benefits from the fact that she does not belong to the family and has to share you with your sisters. Who else would have thought of ensuring such a place in your heart by caring for the people you love? For a moment you forget the other girls around you and bathe in the sight that is offered to you. With one arm wrapped around your sister, her body close together, Emma looks back and seems to understand what you're thinking. In any other situation, it would be stressful for a girl to know that there are other people there who can get their boyfriend's love. But Emma realized that this can also be a way to only strengthen the loved one's feelings for herself. It's just incredible and...

"Ouch." A piece of cheese comes flying and ends up in the cutout of your shirt. You look at Karen, who makes no secret of the fact that she was the attacker.

"Lynchwood you horny goat. Stop putting on Emma and tell what you've done so that our dear friend Megan gave you one.” Everyone laughs except for Megan.

"Actually Karen" you start and sit next to Megan so that she is trapped between you and Emma. She nervously throws a handful of cheese into her throat. "Actually, I needed that." You put an arm around your dearest sister and she looks at you as if to ask how far you want to go. Two kisses on her cheeks answer her question and another on the forehead is just for you and her. "It made me not give up a person who didn't deserve not to look after her. I couldn't ask for a better big little sister and I'm glad that she sometimes punches me on the right path.”

"You said that nicely BB," Millie says happily to show you that it's not her who is hurt now. What saves the day of Megan only makes the others look blank.

"Who in the world would you give up on?" Rachel asks, laughing cheerfully. "You still save every jellyfish washed up on the beach after a storm." Apparently Millie used the time here to tell another story from your childhood.

You just say "Maureen" and suddenly everyone understands what's going on. "We'll meet in..." You look at the clock and your eyes widen. "Oh, I have to go right away." You get up and get ready to leave. "Should I bring something from the city with me?" you ask on the way to the car. You almost fear getting a whole list of chores again, but the girls are holding back. Rachel still asks where you want to meet with your older sister and when you answer, she says, "How about you bring us a couple of tubs of ice cream? Then we can treat ourselves in the finest manner to an evening in front of the television and scoop ice cream into us for dinner?” You immediately find the idea solid and your eyes cross with those of Emma at the thought of the movies that you could watch. But Karen comes before you.

"Forget it you lovebirds. We're not going to watch your nerd stuff. You surely have Netflix?” She asks and you nod your head in reign. Emma also pouts something that in return unites you together and raises your mood.

"Carrie could also use an evening with ice cream and a sniff," Rachel says and you turn back to the group and groan. You almost forgot. There is something about Carrie and of course you have to take care of it. You don't want someone to come home with a bad feeling. Not because it's the birthday of Megan.

"Don't worry honey. I will take care of it ”your 'only' friend assures you and sends you a kiss on the way.

"What ice cream do the ladies want?" you ask and are overwhelmed with a tidal wave of flavors that you have never heard of.

"What's so bad about chocolate, vanilla and strawberry for god's sake?" You grumble in front of the wheel of your car. Mango passion fruit, truffle cream with honey strips, 'a hint of summer'? "Is that even a flavor?" But you still have enough time to worry about the challenges of shopping for girls later.

When Seacrest appears between the conifers, you switch in your head. Your hands grip the steering wheel more firmly and your eyes focus. You go through all sorts of scenarios internally and come up with strategies and tactics that you can use to react to your sister's strategies and tactics. Even though it often seems that her only strategy is chaos, she still acts according to a kind of plan. But you can often not recognize him. But something controls this girl. Unfortunately, in the wrong direction, but if you can't see what she's up to, you can't forestall her.

There is actually only one place to meet Maureen and you suggested the mall parking lot. You park your car a few hundred meters away at a turning point for the local bus. It is located just outside the commercial area and you have to walk a few minutes until you have reached your destination. If the girls had come with you, they would surely be surprised, because there are still lots of parking spaces empty in the lot of the mall. But you are alone and so you do not have to explain to anyone what you fear. The advantage of walking is that you step into the parking lot from an unforeseen angle and if Josh wanted to watch you, he would surely have an eye on the entrance to the parking lot. Yes, you have to count on the fact that the whole thing was a trap. Maybe Josh had the phone in his hand, or maybe Maureen got cold feet and told him. Maybe the two of them did things together all the time. You can turn it around as you like. Unfortunately Maureen is a person with whom you always hope for the best, but still have to be prepared for the worst.

You let your gaze wander over the parking lot. You are not really hidden behind a corner, but you are leaning against the wall so that you are not easy to see. Together with this fact, your way here and your caution, you should actually be able to go unnoticed and...

Your thoughts are interrupted when you see Maureen entering the parking lot. It is much closer than you would have expected and also comes from a direction that you would not have expected. She hasn't seen you yet and is standing on a strip of green and looking at the vehicles in the parking lot. You follow her obvious path back and your eyes land on the sign of a bus route that runs within Seacrest. Why didn't she come by car? you ask yourself. Or did she use the same tactics as me? You take a minute to watch the surroundings. You don't expect snipers or an Ewok attack, but maybe Josh hid in the bushes like a common thief. Meanwhile, Maureen becomes more and more nervous, scratches her arm and looks around the grounds with searching eyes. Many people pass it without paying any attention to her. Families with whining children, loudly laughing groups of teenagers and some older couples cross her path and with each bypasser Maureen only gets more and more restless. After all, you can't stand to see her like this anymore and leave your cover. You make no move to hide from her that you've been watching her for some time, but she only notices you so late anyway that you're only a few dozens of meters away from her. You wave to each other and Maureen comes towards you. She does not look to the side and is almost caught by a passing car, of which the older driver has apparently not noticed anything and continues unaffected. When you face each other, you also understand why Maureen didn't notice the car. She looks very tired. She is uncomfortable in front of you and does not know what to do. Unfortunately, you feel the same way.

"Hey" she starts again.

"Hey" you answer her again. That makes you grin, she doesn't.

"It's... nice that you're here," you declare.

"Yes?" Oh man...

"Yes. Oh shit, come here.” You spread your arms to hold her against you, but Maureen does nothing to accommodate you. You stop with them still outstretched. "May I?" you ask somewhat uncertainly. She shrugs and looks down.

"If you like." It's like hugging a badly made doll of your sister. In the short time you're away from home, you've found the happiness of your life... three damn times! She, on the other hand, seems to have aged, without strength and without many emotions. You still have pictures in the mind of some excursions that you did with your parents when you were children. You have always found her playful smile sexy and her clever arguments have always been a source that you were only too happy to copy. Her self-confident demeanor has also provided you your first friend and Denise mainly follows you because you managed to get through to her like this. But you now see none of these qualities in the person standing in front of you. It's like you're facing an empty shell that used to be your big sister. Crap! You are beginning to have strong doubts as to whether it was a good idea to meet with her. A temptation takes hold of you to just turn around and run away. But your other sisters wouldn't let you get away with it. So you put on your best little brother grin.

"And? Would you like ice cream?"

"But you have to pay. I hardly have any money left,” she says without emotion. Somehow it cracks your heart. She's not even ashamed regarding me anymore. Otherwise, she was always so proud. But you can't go into that now. You want to get on with this girl and even if there is no rule book on how to approach an injured person, it seems like a bad idea to talk to her about it now. You don't press a panicked horse or a wounded dog if you want to help him. You give him time, stay close to him and show him that you don't want to harm him. At some point the animal comes - and what are we humans other than (sometimes) smart animals? - towards you on its own. At least animals react better to attempts to approach them. You repress the idea of comparing Maureen with a wounded puppy and remember that she is a proud specimen of her breed even if she seems to have forgotten that. You show her the way from the parking lot that leads you to the city's food street. Of course you already have a plan where you want to take her. You need all the support you can get to help this soul. And if she's not there, then I know the area well enough to be able to flee Maureen if I mess it up.

The small talk you try to maintain alone is a bumpy attempt at communication and fails almost immediately. Your questions are usually answered with just one word or even a hum. You always reassure your sister that you think it's good to meet her and that you enjoy your time.

"I actually haven't had lunch today," you mean cheerfully. "But you know me. I could eat ice cream all day.” That makes Maureen smile a little and you jump on the opportunity like a kamikaze pilot on a lonely US destroyer in the Pacific. "Do you remember back then?... I hardly remember... ten or eleven years ago? We were here and for my birthday. I was allowed to buy the largest bag of ice cream I had ever eaten.” You have to laugh and after a few seconds you hear a strange sound that somehow sounds like your sister doing something that you can almost interpret as laughter.

"Oh yes, I remember that" she chuckles and rocks her head slightly. Her hair looks terrible. Unkempt and messy and you wonder what made this beautiful person let herself go. But now you don't care, because for the first time Maureen continues a topic that you introduced. "That was eight or nine scoops of ice cream. Four times chocolate! Mom was super angry with you and your dad for allowing you to do that.”

"Do you remember what she said?" You laugh.

"The boy will be fat like a whale later if you go on like this," Maureen imitates her mother in a high-pitched voice. "But your dad just said: let the boy have fun. Your daughters are still making sure that he sweats it down again.” This time her voice is deep as she imitates your father. Then she remembers something else and laughs again, this time even more joyful.

"You couldn't eat all of that ice that day, and when the tower almost toppled over, Mom got more ferocious. But you just ran to the house and put the ice in the freezer."

"And you ran after me so I didn't have to walk the path alone," you think and see a hint of pride on her features.

"Yes... that's right." She looks at you as you walk along the sidewalk on the street and can see the first food stalls a few feet away. "And on the way to the house you gave me some ice cream too." She giggles. "I remember how shy you were."

"Mom had forbidden it." You bite your tongue because it's only now that you remember why. Maureen had once again messed with her and pulled the short stick, which had brought her three hours of no-fun-time. You want to change the subject quickly, but Maureen wipes the argument aside.

"I was quite a beast to her that day," she admits. You don't know how to react to it. Damn it, Maureen is right. Telling her 'no' it wouldn't be a shameless lie. But to say she was right would break even more. Your sister also seems to notice the dead-end into which she has steered you and is visibly darker again. Fuck! It was going so great. But nothing can be done with that. After all, it is Maureen who finally tries to break the stifling silence and points to a burger shop. "We can also eat something there if you like. It's better for your appetite.” You look over to the windowfront and see with horror the furrowed face of Betty, who - more friendly than with you - takes care of some customers. Even your sister realizes something is wrong and looks at you questioningly.

"Uh, nono, everything is okay. I really have a desire for ice.” You clear your throat and speed up your step a little.

"Well, I'm excited about that story," Maureen smiles and sounds really more comfortable this time than before.

"Here I wanted to go with you," you say a few minutes later and point to the sun with a face and an ice cream sundae in hand. When Maureen asks how so here you look at her mischievously. "I have had fantastic experiences with the ice cream here." Maureen frowns.

"How can you experience ice cream... oh I don’t want to know."

"Better so" you joke and are happy to see that you can tickle a laugh out of your big sister. The doorbell rings happily as you let Maureen in before you and draws a few looks at you. Especially that of Giselle, who makes her way to you on delicate legs. Perhaps you are wrong, but she looks a bit shaky on her legs, and when she stands in front of you she doesn't look you straight in the eye but looks at your nose and says with a slightly French accent: "Welcome to Sun and Ice. May I take you to your place?"

"Yes, gladly Giselle" you say gently. "Is..." you look around the room and find what you are looking for "this table still free?" You point to the table where Melina has arranged your life and hope that something of the luck that the table has given you will now spread on to Maureen. At least he still seems to be gracious to you. Giselle nods slightly and leads you to your seat. When you take the handbag of your sister off so that she can sit in the niche, you smile at Giselle gently, which results in a suppressed simper. When you hand your sister the bag and the petite waitress in the same outfit as last time puts the cards on the table for you, you decide on a question.

"Tell me, Giselle, do you remember me?" The girl's eyes widen and look into yours for a second, then she looks away again, but nods quickly.

"You are Finn. Melina told me about you,” she says sheepishly. You startle a bit and take a closer look at the girl. The question wasn't that bad. And is that a sweat bead on her temple? Am I so terrible? Then you look over to Maureen who is watching you two curiously. Is it because of her?

"This is Maureen, my older sister." Okay, that sounded odd, didn't it? But Giselle just nods and stops in front of you, the tray on which she serves drinks and ice cream held by her nervous hands in front of her lap.

"D-Do you want to order something?" She then asks in a hushed voice. You see your sister just shrugging her shoulders.

"Surely you have milkshakes?" you ask rhetorically but the joke doesn't seem to reach the waitress and she answers the question in the affirmative and lists all possible options. "We could have read that ourselves, but thanks for the effort Giselle," you say later in a friendly tone and order a chocolate milkshake for yourself and for Maureen one with a banana.

"And no jokes about bananas now, right?" says your sister seriously and actually reveals her old sense of humor. You only raise your hand to your chest in defense. You've really had enough punches lately. Then Maureen looks at Giselle as she turns her back to get your orders.

"Do you know her?" she asks and nods towards the girl in the black leggings, the black and white apron and the white blouse.

"Know her? No. She is a friend… or the girlfriend of someone I met here.” You look around for Melina, but you cannot see her in the room. When Giselle brings you your drinks, you kindly ask her about Melina. But you might also have asked what happened to the goat in Jurassic Park because the reaction is exactly the same as the two scared kids showed. Maybe not exactly the same.

"S-She works today, oui, yes. She is in the kitchen. I told her about you and she has said… that… ” She points to the sundae and when you compare it to the picture on the card you can see almost twice the amount of cream and chocolate sprinkles on top. "She said: More cocoa f-for my favorite guests and said..." Giselle takes a deep breath. "I-I should treat you well." Then she forces a smile and kinks in front of you. Maureen looks puzzled at the girl.

"What was that now?" You shrug your shoulders. Who can say that with Melina?

"Your friend is in a league of her own. Better don't ask me what she thought of it. Drink your milkshake and just hope that she only mixed in extra milk. The looks of Maureen speak volumes, but she shrugs and clinks drinks with you. There is something important to discuss now.

Giselle comes back twice to take the order for the ice cream and then brings you the two large cups. Maureen had actually ordered a small one, but apparently Melina thought it would be funny to send Giselle to you with three kilos of ice cream. The poor girl almost fell when she tried to balance the two servings for you. She almost dropped it, but at the last moment she had gathered herself. The last thing you see of her is her back, which disappears behind the kitchen door. You asked her to thank Melina.

"Okay..." you start.

"Okay..." Maureen continues. Then she looks at you. "Once again. I'm sorry for what had happened. It was embarrassing and unnecessary but... ”She breaks off.

"But Josh insisted?" But she shakes her head.

"No. He didn't tell me about it.” After a spoonful of ice cream, she continues. "He just said he was horny and... well... one thing led to another." For a long time you are silent but at some point you can't stand it anymore.

"You... please don't rebuke me but... how... what... why..." You don't know how to go on.

"What is that between me and him?" You just nod depressed and shovel ice in your throat so as not to make it worse. "I can't tell you either." The oldest Lynchwood finally confesses. She smiles sadly at you. "Would you believe me if I told you that he was funny, nice and kind?"

"N..." More ice cream!

"I tell everyone who asks. And mostly… often… ”She also puts another spoon in her mouth. "Sometimes that's true. He... likes my laugh. And my style."

"That... is something..." Caution buddy. Don't come across as an arrogant ass.

"He's got a car and..." She groans exhausted. "And he makes sure that I don't feel so alone. Isn't that the point of a boyfriend?"

"Well... yes... that's right." Embarrassed, you poke around in your sundae and the next spoon of chocolate ice cream tastes like shoe polish. "But... oh nothing."

"But. There's always a 'but' in my life.” You look at each other and it seems that Maureen has been waiting a long time to get this far. "I'm happy with Dad, but not with Mom. I'm happy alone, but only when I'm looking for friends. I like my siblings but they don't like me. I get along fine on my own, but only with help. I'm looking for help, but it's... well... you know what I mean."

"But your siblings like you Maureen. I like you, Millie definitely and without Megan, I wouldn't be here now."

"Yes, you already said" she grumbles. "I can't imagine." You hum also amused.

"Yes I believe you. But it is so. I don't know what to say to you. I think I'll only make things worse when I'm with you."

"You're only making things worse?" That surprises Maureen.

"I said to Megan, the two of us would just pull each other down and I wouldn't be able to care for her and Millie in this mood." You have to grin at the thought of earlier. "Megan slapped me for that."

"I was wondering who that was," Maureen giggles and looks at your still somewhat red cheek. Then she looks more serious again. "I don't want to make you or her feel bad either. I also want you to be there for them. It is good for them to have an older sibling that is there for them.”

"I am also happy to be there for you Maureen."

"Yes I know."

"And there is no 'but' after that."

"But that should be my role." Ah. This is where the anger comes from? Maybe more.

"Age doesn't matter."

"Do you think so?" You nod.

"Everyone needs help sometimes." Mauren seems to be thinking about that for a while. You notice that the thought does not let her go.

"Why is it so easy for you?" asks your older sister. "I mean to be there for others."

"Honestly? I don't know what you are talking about. It is one of the hardest tasks in my life. You know me. I'm always looking for shitty jobs."

"Like to take care of your big sister too?" She laughs and so you step on it.

"Exactly. But honestly. It is not always easy and most of the time I wonder what I did wrong.”

"But then why do everyone like you so much?"

"It's not all of them."

"All that matters you stupid man" Maureen grins and seems to be in a slightly better mood.

"It..." You think a few seconds, think of Millie and Megan, Emma and Denise. “It's usually the others who make it so easy for me. When I think of the people who mean something to me, it is usually the others who ensure that I can be the hero I always wanted to be."

"You and hero? Didn't you always want to be like Darth Vader?” Now Mauren laughs really energetically and you shake your head in amusement too. "Cut up people with the lightsaber and strangle them with the ****?

"He only became like this because he wanted to protect the people he loved... and couldn't..." You are silent when you imagine that Maureen could be the reason why you fail in life. At the moment you don't care how much you've already achieved. The main thing is that your girls are happy. But for you, now, only the +1 counts. Another girl you can take care of. Another girl you have to save.

"I don't often make it easy for you, do I?"

"No, most definitely not," you giggle and shake your head. "But I don't blame you. I have Millie and Megan who are counting on me. Because of them, I get up every morning and go through life. Because of them, I face my demons so that I can get better. Without them... I don't know... "

"Would you be in my place?" You look at your sister for a long time. You hadn't spoken to her so openly since... well, never actually. Damn it. Something is happening here.

"Is Josh counting on you too?" A simple question that means a lot.

"No." A simple answer that says a lot. You nod slowly. You two sip your milkshakes for several minutes and eat your ice cream.

Finally you say: "Maureen. I don't know what you think of yourself. I don't like to imagine that you don't think well of yourself. I can't think of thinking badly of you." Really? Are you sure? Your drill sergeant looks at you reproachfully. I did what I did out of love and not out of self-worship. And now, thanks to my sisters' love for Maureen and me, I have a possibility that I would not have achieved on my own. So shut the fuck up and let me do it! "I wasn't there for you as you deserve it. I have often treated you wrong and I have made many, many mistakes."

"You don't have, Finn" she simply says.

"I am happy to hear that, but it is still so. I should have done so many things differently, better, rightly.” Before she can answer you direct the conversation to the important points that you hope will save everything you have done wrong. "But Megan and Millie see in you what I should have seen for a long time. Not a stranger in the group or someone who doesn't fit in. But a sister who will always be part of our family. Not the real family.” You arm yourself and speak a truth that is somehow true, if not quite as you say it is. But you can still save that afterward. "Our little family. The Millie-Megan-Maureen-and-Finn-family.” Now you have to laugh out loud when you realize something that you moron should have known for a long time. “We were both idiots here Maureen. We both thought we had to put two pieces together that didn't fit. But in reality, you are only a part of the whole and has always belonged to it. We just forgot about it. It doesn't matter who holds a party on his birthday. It doesn't matter who brought which friends. It doesn't matter who lives with which parent. The only thing that counts for the four of us is that we are siblings. And siblings always stick together."

Nothing happens for a long time and Maureen only looks down, lost in thought. Now. Approximately now would be the time when she retreats. Right now she should tell me that it will be lead to nothing, that I have lost and that she is a bad person. But nothing happens. You owe your sisters the world if that works now. You don't care what difficulties Maureen, Megan, Millie, Emma and you might face if Maureen came back to all of you. Megan was right! Maureen is your sister too goddammit! And no matter how challenging she is, and no matter how many other difficulties you have to face, she is your sister. And in the end, it will only result in something that is even greater than what you already have. And even if your poor little brain can't understand how it can get better, it will happen. She should have left about a minute ago. And she's still sitting there.

"What kind of stupid saying is that?" Maureen grins, smiling tenderly and drawing patterns on the table with her fingers. You have to laugh so loud that some guests in the room turn to you, which is a little embarrassing for Maureen but still makes her chuckle a little louder.

"I couldn't think of anything better! It is just the message that counts, not the stupid phrase.“ Now you both have to shake with laughter.

"So what do we do now?" you ask when you have calmed down a bit. The ice is still in front of you and when Giselle comes back to you to pack it up for the way back you both remember a past, a meeting and a trust that may soon be your future. Giselle progresses to the kitchen with the remains on shaky legs and lets you get together for a few minutes. Then something happens that you didn't think you'd ever experience. Slowly, very slowly, Maureen extends one of her arms to you across the table. First, she flinches, pretends to flick a crumb of chocolate away. You put your arm on the table with your hand pointing upwards and smile encouragingly at her, which hides the fact that your heart is just beating itself to **** in nervousness. And when your fingertips touch it is like the ****, the good ****, the bright side that brings your hands together by itself. And then the hand of Maureen Lynchwood is in yours and the cold of the desert is replaced by the warmth of your body.

"Are you taking me home please?" she asks and you immediately fall in love with her.

"Thanks Giselle" you say absent-mindedly and without looking at the girl. When you say goodbye, a red glow comes out of the corner of your eye into your field of vision.

"Well if that's not the gay Finn. Still looking for the right fragrance?” Melina approaches you and waves Giselle to the side, which the girl seems to be liking. Then there are only three of you standing in the restaurant.

"Gay?" Maureen asks, confused.

"Is that the middle or older sister?" Yes, of course, don't even go into her.

"The older one. Maureen, this is Melina. She made me persist here... somehow."

"It was a pleasure." Melina bows low and extends her arm far to the side. A middle-aged man sitting behind you almost has his eyes dropping out of his head as he looks over at you and has **** but to stare at her butt. Maureen doesn't understand the world anymore but you just hug the girl. "I assume you have good news to tell me?" You clear your throat somewhat nervously, but nod your head. "Nice. Get some!” She holds out her hand and answers the fist punch with a loud “Bang!” which she calls into the room. "I'm looking forward to hearing your story. Do you still have my number?"

"Uh... yes."

"Well then. I'm waiting,” says the woman somehow threatening. "And don't disappoint me." Then she looks at Maureen. "It was nice to talk to you." She turns and disappears astern. While already cruising, she turns around again and relates to you. "If I were you, I would warn the chicks of what will happen." Then the swinging doors of the kitchen close behind her.

"Don't ask" you just say and pray that your sister will do just that. Your prayers are answered.

"This... girl is right. We should... warn the people."

"Do you think? Okay, we'll do it.” Mauren smirks happily and leans on your shoulder, which makes your heart almost explode with joy. "Then at least tell them we're coming alone."

"Okay, that's a good idea." You pull your phone out of your pocket... and almost drop it. "Fuck!" You almost roar and Maureen is so startled that she clings to you even tighter.

"What happened?" she asked startled.

"We have to go. Immediately."

This chapter was written with the help of Grammarly and is dedicated to Notlok. Thanks for giving me my words back.

# Praise the Sun

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