Sam has an idea

Sam paused on the stairs, listening to the soft sounds of his sister crying, waiting for the inevitable offer from their mother to help out. This wasn't the first time Kate had found herself in debt, her compulsive shopping racking up debt that their mother would help alleviate after a tear filled confession. Their mother always said it was a loan, that Kate had to pay her back, but they all knew that that would never happen.

"What am I going to do, Mum?" Kate asked tearfully. "Craig will leave me if he found out how much I owe, how much I've spent..."

This is where Mum offers to pay, Sam thought to himself with a grim shake of his head. Their mother didn't have the money to pay off Kate's debts, she was undoubtedly incurring debts of her own every time she bailed her shopaholic daughter out of debt. Sam waited for the expected offer, as Kate was obviously anticipating it as well, but their mother remained silent.

"Mum?" Kate almost sobbed, clearly expecting their mother to make an offer to help her out.

"I'm sorry, Kate," their mother sighed softly, "I... I don't know what to tell you. I can't... I won't help you out this time," she told her daughter firmly.

"But Mum?!!" Kate almost shrieked in surprise.

Good job, Mum, Sam thought with a smile as he continued up the stairs, bypassing the kitchen and his despondent sister. Reaching his bedroom, Sam flopped onto his bed, shooting Chloe a quick text, asking her if she wanted to get together. As he awaited her response, Sam found himself thinking about his sister and her predicament. Seems Kate has gotten herself into it this time, he mused with a slight smile, remembering all the times that Kate had gotten preferential treatment, all the times their Mum had shelled out money she didn't have while Sam had to work hard, had to save for everything he had. As he thought about his sister, Sam had a wicked idea... he'd been saving money for a while now, saving up for a place of his own, and he had quiet a nice little stash going. While moving out on his own was still appealing to him, getting back at his sister was even more enticing. He wondered how far she'd go to get out of debt, what she'd do for enough money to pay off her credit cards so Craig never found out.

"Only one way to find out," Sam murmured to himself, sending a text to his sister.

I've got £5000 to settle your debts. What will you do to get it?

He didn't even have to wait 30 seconds before Kate replied.

Kate: You've got £5000?! I'll do anything to get it!

Sam: Anything?

Kate: Anything.

"Well, let's see if she really means anything," Sam murmured to himself, a smile playing across his face as he sent another text to his sister.