[ Twins Background ]

[bothbarrels]

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[bothbarrels]

"Trust is earned, you know."

[stackingthedeck]

"Whatever. I can't wait until after graduation and I can live by myself." Then she wouldn't need to worry about him being an overbearing brother and scrutinizing every guy she decided to go out with.

[bothbarrels]

That was the first he'd heard her express that idea. "How are going to afford that?"

[stackingthedeck]

"I got that job at the department store. And maybe I'll see if Reilly wants to move in," she adds with a laugh.

[bothbarrels]

She wasn't serious about that last bit, that much he could tell. "I think it would cost more than you're thinking."

[stackingthedeck]

"I'll make it work. It's better than living at home for the rest of my life." She's young and this is the time to enjoy her life. Living with their parents was not part of that.

[bothbarrels]

He casts his gaze out to the street for a moment before answering. "Well, if you end up needing help with that, let me know."

[stackingthedeck]

"You can come look at places with me. I want to find something soon." And she wants it to be nice. Or least better than what they currently have.

[bothbarrels]

"Moving out right after graduation, huh?" Though he had to admit that sounded nice.

[stackingthedeck]

"If I can. You can't tell me you actually want to stay there longer than you have to."

[bothbarrels]

"I didn't say it sounded bad." He was simply concerned about the logistics.

[stackingthedeck]

"You should do it too before you get stuck there and dragged to their level." Dead-end lives in that crappy place. She's looking for a lot more out of life.

[bothbarrels]

He hated talking about their parents that way, but he had to admit it was true. "I'll help you look. We'll figure out what we can afford together." If it was cheap enough they could save up some.

[stackingthedeck]

That puts a damper on things. "Together? I wanted to get my own place."

[bothbarrels]

"Okay, well, I can help you look for that first. Just don't be surprised if it doesn't work out." Why did she think their family lived in a two-bedroom?

[stackingthedeck]

"I'm at least finding a place where I have my own room." For once. And maybe her own bathroom. That would be the best living situation.

[bothbarrels]

"We can at least manage that, probably." It was adding the utilities and other necessities that would make keeping her own household a bit out of her reach.

[stackingthedeck]

"I just don't need you living with me and nagging all the time." She can make her own choices, even if they are screw-ups in the end.

[bothbarrels]

The corner of his mouth turned up wryly. "Nagging? Who nags?"

[stackingthedeck]

"You, all the time." She punctuates her words with a shove. "Don't even pretend you don't."

[bothbarrels]

He nudges her in the side. "There's nagging and then there's concern."

[stackingthedeck]

"And both get on my nerves." Which should not surprise him. Despite her wanting him to clean things up when they went wrong.

[bothbarrels]

"Yeah, yeah." She knew she needed to hear it sometimes.

[stackingthedeck]

"I've got work this weekend, but we can start looking for places after. And don't tell mom or dad."

[bothbarrels]

"No, I won't." For one thing, it was liable to happen that they wouldn't even cross paths.