Tell Abbie to wear the cute top, and get out of her room before mom walks in.

"Fuck it Abbie, put something on! Mom's home. The cute top — just get dressed already!" You hurry out of her room.

Your sister pouts, "You're no fun at all, beanpole," but she starts pulling on the crop top, without bothering to put on a bra. As you head down the stairs, she calls after you, laughing, "If you wanna get laid tonight, you should adjust your attitude and embrace slutty."

As you get to the bottom of the stairs, you take a few breaths and try to calm down. You don't want to look red-faced and nervous when your mom walks in. You try to think about what you can do to look casual. It occurs to you that you weren't doing anything wrong, it's Abbie who's acting weird, but somehow that doesn't make you feel any less nervous. Your mouth is dry, so you go to the kitchen to get a drink of water.

Your mother comes in the front door. "I'm home, kids." She calls out. She walks into the kitchen and puts her purse and a shopping bag down on the table. "Hi honey." She smiles at you. "How was school?"

You smile back at her, "Hey mom. Not bad — boring — but that's school." You give her your standard answer to the question. "How was work?"

"About the same." Mom says. "I picked up something for dinner on the way home. Would you be a dear and put a pot of water on the stove for pasta?" She pats your back, then she stops and looks at you. "That's not what you wore to school, is it? I haven't seen you in anything but a tee shirt or hoodie for months. Are you dressed up for something special? A date maybe?" she asks, sounding curious and encouraging.

"Yeah, with me." Abbie says with a laugh as she steps into the kitchen. She's wearing the crop top and a short skirt, and she's added a choker to finish off her look. "I'm taking Dave out to meet one of my friends and see her band play."

Your mom raises her eyebrow. "Is this band playing at a bar?" She asks Abbie. "Your brother isn't legal drinking age, and he's got school tomorrow." She says, her voice taking on a sterner tone.

"Relax mom, the place more like a restaurant with a bar. I won't keep beanpole out long. I'll get him in bed before it's too late." Abbie gives you a teasing look as she says that. "Besides, it's a reward. Davie was brave today. He asked a girl out. I promised him I'd take him out to see this band if he did that."

Your mother smiles wide at that. "Really honey? Who's this girl? Where are you going to take her?" She sounds very happy that you've finally got up the courage to ask a girl on a date.

You shake your head. "Just a girl in one of my classes. We're not going anywhere. She said no." You tell her as you're putting a pot of water on the stove.

Abbie moves next to you and slides her arm around your waist. "It's not his fault. Turns out the girl he asked is gay." She leans her head into your shoulder.

Your mom covers her mouth and stifles a laugh at that. "I'm sorry, honey. I'm sure it wasn't easy for you. I wish it had turned out better. I'm sure the next girl you ask will be happy to go out with you."

"Well I'm happy to be going out with my big, strong brother." Abbie says as she gives you a squeeze. "If he's allowed out on a school night." she adds sarcastically. "Really mom, Dave's legally an adult, he doesn't need your permission. Cut him a little slack."

Your mom sighs and relents. "OK, OK, but not too late."

Dinner gets made and eaten with the usual small talk. You're surprised to feel Abbie's toes sliding up your leg from time to time, as she grins at you across the table, but you manage not to **** on your pasta when it happens. When you finish eating, Abbie grabs your arm, and practically drags you from the kitchen. "Night, mom," she calls back. "I'll take good care of beanpole."

She shepherds you to her car and pulls out of the driveway. As she's driving, she strokes your thigh. "You brought condoms, right? We're gonna get you fucked tonight." she grins wide. "And even if you do strike out somehow, you've still got your loving sister to cuddle with as a consolation prize, right?" Her fingers squeeze your leg.

You realize that you didn’t bring the small pack of condoms that you keep in your desk. You never think you’re going to need them. “Um, no. I didn’t grab any,” you admit.

Abbie rolls her eyes and digs into her small clutch purse. “I can’t have you knocking some girl up or catching an STD, mom would never forgive me. Take this.” She hands you a condom package.

You take it with a mumbled, “Thanks.”

The rest of the drive to the club is quiet. Abbie doesn’t take her hand off your thigh until she’s parking. As you walk up, you can see it isn’t what she described to your mom. It’s a bar, and kind of a dive bar.

Abbie pulls you into the alley and to a back door. “They ID at the front door,” she explains. “If anyone asks, you’re with the band. You here to help set up equipment.” She pulls out her phone and texts someone.

The door opens and you see a girl in a tank top and jeans, with short, bright red hair. Her arms, legs, and chest are heavily inked, and she’s got a pair of drumsticks in her back pocket. She and Abbie hug. “It’s great you made it, bitch,” the girl says to your sister. “This must be that brother you mentioned.” She says, looking you over, she nods approvingly. “Nice to meet you. I’m Sin.” She hooks her arm through yours and leads you inside.

You stammer, “Sin? I’m, uh, Dave.” One girl has each of your arms and they guide you into a tiny storage room with crates of beer and booze. One wall has a small couch, and a dressing table with a mirror, making the place into a small green room for a performer.

Your sister snorts out a laugh. “Cynthia is in one of my business classes. She told me about her band, I’ve been meaning to catch them for a while.” Abbie flops on the couch and pats the cushion next to her. “Settle in. You should stay out of sight until the show starts and things get busy. I’ll sneak you a drink or two when I get a chance.”

You don’t know what else to do, so you take a seat next to Abbie, and she curls into your side. Cyn looks at you and Abbie with a raised eyebrow. “Anyway, the rest of the guys are on stage tuning already. We’ll be up soon, so I gotta go. I’ll catch you at the first break though.” She heads out. Soon you hear music.

Abbie leans over and kisses your cheek. “I’m gonna grab us some drinks. Stay put, I’ll be right back.” She leaves you alone on the couch. The first song is pounding out, when she comes back. Your sister has a long neck bottle of beer that she hands to you, and something cola-colored in a glass that she sips. “It’s pretty crowded now. I think it’s ok for you to come out and see the band.” She takes your hand and leads you down a narrow hall into the dingy, dark barroom.

The music is even louder in front of the stage, an **** on the ears. Cyn is going wild on the drums, and the guitars are cranked up and distorted. The singer belting out lyrics you can’t understand in a guttural shriek.

The night goes on like that. Abbie gets you drinks and drags you out in front of the stage to dance. She thrashes around with abandon and grinds against you, while you shuffle and feel awkward. Cyn gives you a nod and a smile from behind her kit from time to time. In the breaks between sets, she hangs around with you and Abbie, toweling off sweat and gulping down beer. You try to join in their small talk, but they’re mostly talking about people they know from their classes.

As it gets later, you mention to Abbie that you’re supposed to get home early. “Live a little, beanpole. Stick around for the last set, and Cyn might reward you for being a loyal fan.” She reaches around and gives your ass cheek a hard squeeze. “Mmmmm… lucky Cyn.”

By the time the last set is over, the crowd has started to clear out. Abbie nudges you with her elbow. “I told the bouncer you’re with the band, so you gotta look like a roadie or a groupie. Either help Cyn pack up her kit… or go down on us in the back room.” She giggles.

You step up on the stage. “Hey Cyn, what can I carry?”Out of the corner of your eye, you see Abbie sticking her tongue out at you.

She hands you a case and tells you to take it out the back door to her van. When you step outside, the night is cool in contrast to the hot, sweaty atmosphere of the bar. As you load the cases of drums into the back of the van, you notice there’s an old mattress jammed in on the floor right behind the front seats.

When your lifting last case into place, you feel a hand slide up your back. You turn to see Cyn, smiling at you. “We’re gonna have a joint. Want in?” she asks. Abbie is standing just behind her smiling. She gives you a big nod and mouths ‘YES’.