Continuing to set the stage

Max set a bowl of generic cornflakes and glass of orange juice on the dining room table before sitting down, fully dressed for the day. Taking his time to eat, the young man looked out the window in contemplation. Before anything else, I need to get some cash to buy the lotto tickets. And if Lea doesn’t have any cash, Meadow certainly doesn’t and I highly doubt our cousins have any either. That means I need to get some from Mom or Aunt Allison. Hopefully one of them comes in first. Particularly since I don’t want to have the conversation in front of others. I won’t know how others would react. Better to keep it as private as possible.

“Morning. Again.”

Max arched his eyebrow, turning his attention away from the window and witnessing Lea stride into the dining room a plate of toast and a cup of coffee in her hands. She smiled weakly at him, walking up to the seat next to him and setting her breakfast down. Pulling the chair out from the table, the blonde slid her hands down her skirt as she sat down.

“Good morning,” the young man lifted his glass in greeting as his sister scooted closer to the table. “I take it you showered last night. I didn’t expect you so soon.”

“I did,” Lea nodded, shifting uncomfortably on her chair. “This is – different. I never gone around – commando – before.”

Her brother arched his eyebrow at her.

“Really, I haven’t,” she blushed prettily. “Braless, yes. But never both.”

“Huh.” The young man lifted a spoonful of soggy cornflakes to his mouth. Taking a moment to chew as his sister sipped at her coffee, he eventually swallowed. “So, what are your plans for the day?”

“I had planned on going to the campus library to study.”

“Ah. Staying home instead then?”

“Yeah,” Lea nodded. “What about you?”

“Not much planned. I don’t have any projects for school, exams aren’t for a while – not that I’m not prepared – I don’t have to be at Fernando’s until three. I will run out to the convenience store sometime before then. I want to get myself a little something.”

“Ooh. What?” his sister asked, perking up.

“I want to keep it a surprise for now.”

“Okay,” she frowned thoughtfully.

“Okay what?”

The brother and sister looked up and saw Lea’s twin stride into the dining room coffee cup in hand.

“Good morning, Meadow,” Max lifted his glass in greeting, noting that she was dressed similarly to their sister, her skirt a red plaid to Lea’s navy blue. Idly he wondered if Meadow was also commando.

“Morning,” the blonde smiled, smoothing down her skirt as she sat down on his left.

“Just coffee today?” the young man asked his sister.

“Yeah,” she lifted her cup to her lips with a shrug. “Don’t start, Max. I get it bad enough from Mom and Aunt Allison.”

Her brother arched an eyebrow, studying Lea’s twin. Fuck, she does look thinner now. “I’m sorry if it seems like I’m prying, but – why, Meadow? Is it because our financial situation?”

The blonde glanced away with a frown. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

His gaze narrowed. Glancing to his right at her twin, Max met Lea’s concerned look and mouthed, “Do you know?”

His sister curtly shook her head no. Shit, the young man cursed silently. I could push it, really push it. Should I though? It could be a risk. But – I have to know. I care about my sister.

“Meadow,” he began, “I’ll give you a spoonful of my cereal to hear why you’re not eating as much.”

The blonde twin jerked her face towards him, a flash of anger in her blue eyes.

“You’re a prick, Max,” she snarled, reaching for his bowl and, grabbed in spoon. His sister scooped up a decent mouthful of cornflakes and lifted it to her lips. Her brother and sister watched her take the bite and begin chewing, dropping the spoon back into his bowl. Swallowing, Meadow glared at her brother. “If you must know, I am trying to lose weight. Tom has commented numerous times about my appearance, sometimes even hinting he might leave me.”

Fuck, Max mentally snarled. That fucking bastard. How he got such a hold over Meadow, I don’t know. I want the bastard gone. Fuck Tom Riddle.

“I’ll give you a second spoonful of my cereal to dump him for good.”

Her face turned furious as she reached again for the spoon.

“You’re a real bastard,” Meadow growled at him after swallowing the mouthful and forcefully tossing the spoon onto the table beside his bowl of cereal. “I’ll call him later.”

“As soon as possible,” Max glared back. “And afterwards, no matter how much he tries to convince you otherwise, no matter how much he fights you, you send him to me.”

“Like that’ll matter,” she said bitterly, rolling her eyes. “I don’t know why you think you can change Tom’s mind. He always gets his way.”

And I’ll get mine now, the young man grumbled.

With a snort, his sister rose from the table. Grabbing her coffee cup, she strode out of the dining room and into the kitchen.

“Wow,” Lea said softly, her voice full of awe. “How did you do that? I’ve been harping about him for a long time now. He’s the reason she changed majors and reduced her class load.”

“Goddamn asshole,” Max grumbled.

“Yeah,” his sister nodded. “Just glad she finally listened to one of us.” Her blue eyes blinked, continuing to stare after her sister. “How are you getting to work tonight? Were you planning on taking the bus?”

“Yeah.”

“Hmmm. I’ll drive you and pick you afterwards.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay,” Max nodded, his attention returned to his breakfast. “Hey, when I go down to the convenience store, want to come with?”

Lea turned her head towards him. “Really? You want me to see the surprise.”

“Yeah.” The young man worked on finishing his meal, spooning the last of his cereal into his mouth and tossing back the last of his orange juice. Finished, he rose from the table, gathering his dishes. Moving towards the kitchen, Max paused behind his sister and lowered his mouth to her ear. “If you want, feel free to put on a pair of panties.”

Without waiting for a response, the high school senior sped out of the room.