AR - You still have a sister

It’s afternoon. You can’t hang out with Kayla at the diner because she works there; she doesn’t want to be there if she doesn’t have to be. But Gurlberg’s a small town with few options… and those few options are complicated in their own way.

A lot of people in Gurlberg know you. You’re a celebrity now. Not a huge one. It’s not like FUTA is Game of Thrones-level popular. But wherever you go, someone will recognize you. And in Gurlberg, a lot of people do. So you can’t just sit and eat hot apple pies and French fries in the town’s only McDonalds. You have to hit the drive-through and eat in your car.

You keep thinking that some part of Kayla has changed, but she hasn’t. Looks the same as she always has, or at least since she hit puberty. Her perky, distractingly top-heavy figure is the same as you remember, although she dresses more conservatively now. Not just because it’s November.

The real change in her is how she acts. It’s not just that she doesn’t dip her fries in milkshakes anymore.

You and Kayla haven’t been close since she discovered boys, which she did at a young age. She bloomed and you didn’t. She was cool and you were awkward. You always thought that one day that could change, that you could be close again. You figured that eventually, you would bloom as well.

It happened. Now there’s a new wall between you. You’ve become the cool one.

Now you’re even farther away from her than you were before, yet your elbows keep bumping as you eat.

“Do you know how to coach?” she asks.

“Enough for this,” you reply. “They’re packing the other team with good players, but not with a good coach. Ellen’s doing it herself. She doesn’t know shit about soccer.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.” You flash her a grin. “I checked Mom’s old yearbooks. Ellen never played anything. I think she was some kind of nerd. You should see the pictures of her. You wouldn’t recognize her. Actually, she used to dress kind of cool. Goth.”

“Oh, real cool,” Kayla says, making a face. She’s avoiding your gaze. What’s up with that? It’s not like this is personal stuff.

“You gonna come to the games?”

“Uh…” she replies uncomfortably. “I don’t know. I work almost every night.”

Right. She’s acting weird. You might not be close anymore, but you’re still sisters.

“Are you allowed to eat that?” she asks as you bite into your burger. She reaches over and touches your tummy. “Are abs in your contract?”

“Shut up.” Coaching this team will be exhausting. Burning calories will be the least of your problems. And you can always burn a few with Adella.

Kayla snorts and you push your worries out of your mind. It’s probably nothing.