Sure. Why not.

‘Um, I guess so,’ John answered before realising what he was even agreeing to. ‘We are. If you’re okay,’ he continued, looking at Louise.

‘Sure,’ she said, narrowing her eyes in confusion. ‘If you say so.’

‘Very well,’ Doctor Harper nodded, turning and gesturing for the pair to follow her. John looked at his sister as they walked through the hallway, struggling to read her features.

‘Sorry, I should’ve asked you first,’ he began.

‘It’s okay. I don’t mind coming in.’ Louise pursed her lips and kept her eyes forward.

‘I only said that because, well…’ he began, wondering himself how to finish the sentence. ‘I guess I’d just feel better having someone in there. Anyone, you know. Not, you specifically or anything. It’s just that, you’re here.’

Louise scoffed. ‘Wow. So I’m not even that important?’

‘No, that’s not…’ John argued, before seeing the twinkle in her eye and realising she was still messing with him. ‘Very funny.’

‘Like I said, you make it way too easy.’ She giggled, the sound sweet in his ears. ‘But, it’s fine, I mean, I get it. You want your little sister to hold your hand while you go into the big scary doctor’s office.’ He shook his head and sighed, hoping it wouldn’t have to come to that. ‘You know,’ she continued, ‘you still haven’t even told me what’s wrong with you. Why we’re here.’

John almost froze in place as her comment reminded him of where the source of his aching was on his body. ‘Right, yeah,’ he said, forcing a weak laugh. ‘You know, you don’t have to come in. If you don’t want to.’

Louise narrowed her eyes again, easily able to see through his pathetic attempt to not appear nervous. ‘No way, man.’ She laughed at his obvious disapproval. ‘I got up early to drive you here, I’m at least going to see why. Especially if the thought of me knowing makes you get all weird.’

Realising the hole he’d dug himself into, his eyes glided back to the doctor. Without focusing, he watched her high heels click on the tiled floor with each confident step. Drifting up her dark-stockinged legs and to the short skirt over her thighs and behind, John quickly averted his eyes lest Louise caught him checking the, albeit very shapely, doctor out. She already had enough things to make fun of him for today.

They entered Doctor Harper’s office and took a seat across from her, closing the door after they’d entered. She tapped a few things into the computer before turning her attention to John with a friendly smile. ‘So, what can I help you with today?’

He turned to Louise, apparently more curious than the doctor to hear the answer, and silently cursed himself for coming up with the great idea of inviting her in to ‘support’ him. ‘Um, it’s well… I’ve got this strange pain, like a dull ache. In my, um…’ Doctor Harper nodded for him to continue while he kept his eyes on her, refusing to acknowledge Louise. ‘Down there.’

‘Ah,’ the doctor nodded, her eyes dropping to the area in question. ‘That’s fine. There’s no need to be embarrassed. I’m sure it’s something we’ll be able to take care of. If everyone’s comfortable with it,’ she said, glancing at Louise and back through her beautiful grin, ‘I’m going to ask you to take off your pants, so I can get a closer look.’

John swallowed and with great struggle brought his eyes to his little sister beside him. To his surprise, rather than the shock, confusion or even disgust he had been dreading, there was no hint of hostility in her features. He couldn’t even find the slightest hint of amusement on her, which he’d expected at the very least. Instead, her eyes had fallen to John’s problem area in question along with the doctor’s, though while the doctor’s gaze had been purely professional, Louise had something else in her eye. Something like, John prayed he was misreading, excitement.

‘Where exactly, down there, is this pain mainly coming from?’ Doctor Harper asked, bringing both siblings’ gazes back to her.