And text Kat back

You start to walk back towards your dorm through the gathering evening gloom and pull out your phone. You bring up your messages from Kat and see that you have several new ones.

KAT: Hey are you free now?

KAT: Or are you at work with Alice?

KAT: Respond please

KAT: Are you finished now?

KAT: Just text me when you're free to talk

You frown, this isn’t like Kat to pester you, a reversal of a usual sibling dynamic. You feel your stomach tie itself in a knot, knowing that she’s definitely chomping on the bit to chew your ass out for sleeping with Marcy. You sigh and start typing.

YOU: Just got out of work

YOU: Meet at my place?

You keep walking, thinking about how best to diffuse what is surely going to be a very awkward conversation. Your phone dings and you open it.

KAT: Sure

KAT: On my way

You start walking faster, shocked that she responded so quickly, and hoping that you’ll have enough time to prepare for her arrival. You are hungry, tired, and still kinda gross from now about three days without a good scrub down and you can feel it. You make it to your stairs and trot up them, getting into your dorm and immediately turning the stove on and putting on some water to boil. You go to the restroom while the water is heating up, washing your face again and drying off with a hand towel.

“Where’s my towels?” You quiz the air as you look around the bathroom. “Oh.” You sigh, as you remember what you did with your towels and where they are. You kneel down by your hamper and rub one between your fingers. It’s gross and crusty. You click your tongue. Then you hear a knocking on the door. “I’ll be there in a minute!” You shout and do your best to change out of your day clothes into something more comfortable and more importantly, cleaner. You forgo new briefs, pogo sticking through the kitchenette pulling on a pair of shorts and a tank top. You open your door.

“Hey.” Kat says, standing at the door in pants and a puffy sweatshirt, hair up in a messy ponytail.

“Come in.” You say as Kat walks past you and drops her bag on the couch, pulling out her laptop.

“You have any juice?” She asks as she struts the kitchen.

“Orange and cranberry in the bottom drawers.” You answer, and close the door behind her. You enter the kitchen, and get to work making some pasta for yourself while Kat pours herself some juice.

“How were your classes?” You ask as you pour the pasta into the boiling pot. Kat sets herself at your kitchen table, setting her laptop and papers out without even a second thought.

“Eh,” Kat answers, typing away at her laptop, “same old, same old, they’re not teaching me anything that is really exciting to me. It’s just work for work's sake.”

“That’s G.E. classes for you.” You sigh.

“How’s work with Alice?” Kat asks, sipping her juice.

“Cut short tonight, she had to rush off to a meeting.” You state.

“Huh,” Kat says and then adds, “are you making dinner for two?”

“I’ll make a bowl for you.” You sigh, exasperated.

“Thanks John.” Kat replies, and gives you a gleeful little smile over the frame of her computer. Once the pasta is cooked, you strain it and plate it, the lion’s share for yourself and a little bowl for Kat. You eat quietly with your sister, quiet except for the ticky-tacky sounds of her typing.

“Cool, finished with my lab report.” She groans, stretching her arms over her head and closing her laptop and finishing off the last of her pasta just as you finish your much bigger bowl. “Thanks” She says as you take her dishes and put them in the dishwasher.

"No problem." You reply.

"So," Kat begins, "I'm gonna be in your room when you're ready to talk." You feel Kat trot behind you and walk into your bedroom as you start the dishwasher and you follow. You watch, horrified, as she throws herself down on your bed and your very gross sheets like it's no big deal.

“What’s up?” Kat says, looking up at you from where she lies like its no big deal.

“Nothing.” You state. “Do you mind if I shower before we talk? I only got home right before you did.”

“Sure.” Kat says, rolling over on her back on your bed, pulling out and idly playing with her phone. You pause for a moment, and then grab a crusty towel from your hamper and throw it around your shoulders and retreat to your bathroom to shower. You strip out of your clothes, turn the shower on, and set the towel up on the towel rack.