Chapter 101: score to settle 2
None of them went into a pocket, but they were spread out fairly nicely on the far side of the table. Robbie smiled as he drew mental lines between the balls he needed to hit. The first one, the gold number 1 ball, was almost perfectly lined up for him.
"Wait," Nora said as he moved to drop the ball into the side pocket.
"Huh?" He asked, looking up at her across the table.
"Let's make the game more interesting," she suggested.
Robbie's clueless expression made her laugh. For a normal college girl to say something like that, he would assume they were drunk and trying to get into his pants. But this was his sister!
"I mean let's put some stakes on it, you know, like a bet."
Robbie straightened up and raised an eyebrow. "What do you want to bet?" He asked cautiously.
"Truth or dare!"
Rob's eyes widened and his bottom jaw actually dropped a little. He laughed after a moment, not believing what she had suggested. "Aren't we a little old for that?"
He watched as some of the light he had noticed in her eyes started to go out of it. She glanced away and shrugged. "I just thought-"
"Let's do it," he said, changing his mind. He realized that, though it might mean he was destined to go to Hell, he could possibly use the game to his advantage. He could finally get some answers from her. And maybe, just maybe, he could let her know how much he missed her.
She looked at him suspiciously. "You mean it?"
Robbie nodded. "Yeah, I do. I think it's a good idea."
"Okay, I'll ask you before you shoot, if you make it then you get to shoot again or pass it to me without me asking the question," Nora explained.
Robbie nodded that he understood and took a healthy drink from his beer. He suspected he was going to need as much liquid courage as he could get.
"So, truth or dare?" She asked him.
"Truth," Robbie said, not ready for whatever vengeance she might have planned for him. His sister was an angel on Earth, and she looked every bit like something fallen from Heaven, but he knew she had a temper and a wicked imagination too.
"Now shoot and if you miss I get to ask my question," she said.
Robbie nodded and lined up the shot again. After taking aim he let the cue ball go, sinking his targeted ball decisively. Unfortunately, in the excitement he forgot to control the rebound of the cue ball to line up his next shot. The two, his next ball, ended up behind the number five ball.
"You can shoot again or pass it to me," Nora said.
Robbie studied the table for a long moment, thinking. Aided by the beer, no doubt, he decided that he could bank the cue ball off the edge of the table and knock the two into the corner pocket, which was a good eight inches away from it. "I'll shoot," he said, a cocky tone to his voice.
Nora just smiled sweetly and let him line the shot, which he missed by a lot. "You ready?"
Robbie scowled at her but nodded, already reaching for the fortifying drink. Suddenly his knees felt a little weak and wobbly as he realized he had no idea what she was going to ask him.
"Why haven't you talked to me in two years?" She asked, not beating around the bush.
Robbie blew out a breath, feeling like he had just been punched in the solar plexus. He looked at her and saw a very serious and very interested little sister looking back at him.
He opened his mouth to respond, then realized he was not sure what to say. Finally he just forced words to tumble out. "I was scared."
"I was afraid I'd make you angry... and of getting hurt again because of it."
She opened her mouth but then closed it, nodding. "One question at a time, we stop whenever you say so."
Robbie watched, surprised, as she moved to the table and lined up the two ball, which now was a direct line to the corner with nothing else in the way. She looked up at him and asked, "well?"
"Oh! Um, truth or dare?"
"Truth," she said, then sent the cue ball straight into the two ball, sinking it. Her next shot was a long cross table shot, and the three was cloistered in next to a couple of other balls.
"Your turn, I'm not that good of a shot," she admitted, gesturing at the table. "Truth or dare?"
Robbie looked at the table. It was possible, he realized. He didn't know if he could thread the cue ball between the other two, but it was worth a shot. "Truth," he said.
Concentrating on the shot was difficult, now that he suspected what Nora's game was. Still, he did his best and let loose the stick, sending the ball rocketing into the seven instead of the three and knocking several balls into different positions. Robbie straightened up and looked at her, a miserable look on his face.
"I was just confused," she said. "Okay, maybe a little hurt too. Why were you so afraid of hurting me? You've picked on me and made my life miserable for years before that."
"I didn't want to hurt you," Robbie admitted, confusing her because she thought he had already said that. "What I meant was I didn't want to get hurt again. You were a pest, but I loved you and wanted the best for you. I still do, you know. I was afraid that if I found a way to get in your life again I'd get in the way again... in the way of letting you live it the way you want to."
"What... damn, I have to wait," she said, stamping her pool stick into the carpet.
"Go ahead, I'll give you a freebie," Robbie said, happy about the questions in spite of how vulnerable he was leaving himself.
"Alright, what makes you think I wasn't living the way I wanted to?"
"You hated when I got in the way," Robbie stated, surprised at her question. "You hated when I scared your boyfriends away. You hated when I got in the way of you going out partying. You hated when I'd tell mom and dad and get you in trouble... I wasn't being a bitch, I was trying to protect you... and I'm sorry."
Robbie looked up at her, realizing he had been staring at the pool table. He saw a strange look in her eyes. It was not the anger or resentment he had feared, but something else. Sadness, perhaps?
"And I still think and feel that way," he admitted, crossing what he suspected was a line he should not cross. Still, the disclosure felt good to him, cathartic in a way. "I saw your underwear in the hamper last night and I thought to myself how inappropriate they were. I wanted to take them and throw them away. I wanted to tell you not to wear stuff like that because of how guys will think of you if they find out."
"That's bullshit," Nora said. "I've seen the magazines you used to hide in your room! I've seen the websites you looked at on your computer! You love girls that dress up like that!"
Robbie was embarrassed and irritated at the same time. What right did she have to snoop through his stuff? He almost called her on it then realized she had as much right to it as he did to look through the dirty clothes at her underwear. Still, his had been an accident, and she did it deliberately.
Robbie opened his mouth to respond, feeling justified in his anger, but then he remembered how much he did not want to push her away again. As it was, she was hardly back as being his friend, and lashing out at her might only forever make her hate him.
"That's not it," he said, changing his pace and trying to help her understand him. "Sure, I'm a guy, and I'm one of those guys. I like girls to act like a lady when it's appropriate, and I like them to act like a slut when it's appropriate... or when I want them to. That's my idea of a dream woman, in fact."
He took in a breath after admitting he was a pig and pressed home his point. "I know how I am, and how most guys are... and I want something better for you! I don't want you settling for some jerk that just wants to put a notch on his belt and brag about having banged you."
"Is that what you do? Count notches?" Nora asked him.
"What? Um.... No, not exactly," Robbie admitted. The truth was... well, the truth was he wished he could collect a few notches, his life might have been easier.
"Okay, okay, it's my shot. I'll take truth again," Nora said, looking thoughtful as she bent over the table and lined up the three ball for a long angle shot that proved to be doomed to failure.
"I don't know what to ask," Robbie admitted.
"Oh come on, no holds barred... this is your chance, Rob. Anything you want to know... anything at all, I'll answer honestly. I promise."
"Well, this probably ain't what you expect," he warned her, smiling weakly, "but do you know how terrible I felt about what happened the last time we talked?"
He was right, she was not expecting it. She stared at him, extra moisture gathering in her eyes for a moment. She nodded and sniffed before speaking. "Yeah, yeah I think I do know. I didn't, really, until now. But you shouldn't feel all bad... I overreacted. I was a dumb kid that didn't know how to appreciate what you were trying to do for me. I'm sorry too, Rob... sorry I hit you, sorry I yelled at you... sorry I hurt you."
Robbie could not help it, he walked around the table and grabbed his sister, pulling her into a hug that she returned. Tears fell from both their eyes and the embrace lasted a very long time. Finally they parted, both sniffing a little and smiling embarrassed smiles at the other.
"It's your shot, truth or dare?" Nora asked.
Robbie laughed. "What, there's more to ask?" he said.
She nodded, grinning. "Yeah, lots more."
"Alright then, truth."
Robbie's luck with the three ball was no better than Nora's, but he was at least able to knock it into position for her to have an easy shot on the next round. As penance for his missed shot she struck a thoughtful pose before asking her question.
"So how many notches do you have on your belt?"
Rob's eyes widened again in shock. "That's none of your business!"
She grinned. "Maybe, but I'm making it my business. I asked a question, you have to answer it."
Robbie nearly asked her what the consequences would be for refusing to answer. Doing so would make the game meaningless though, so he felt honor bound to adhere to it. "Fine... none."
"None? You mean, you're still a virgin?"
Robbie nodded, color flooding his cheeks at the admission.
"That's unbelievable! You're a star football player, you're gorgeous to look at, you're cool as hell -- when you're not giving me grief. And you're still a virgin. Wow."
Robbie shrugged, ready to move on. "Take your shot, truth or dare?"
She grinned at him and said, "truth."
With a prolonged slowness, she sighted in the long but simple shot. The trick was in getting her five foot six inch frame bent across the table to drive the ball. Robbie glanced at how her sweatpants were clinging to her legs and ass as she stretched, then looked away, embarrassed again at his unhealthy interest. He did note that she was probably wearing another one of her skimpy panties, since he saw no panty lines.
She shot the ball and cursed as it hit the three ball at an angle, sending it bouncing back and forth between the two edges of the corner and making the next attempt at it impossible.
Grinning victoriously, Robbie realized he once again did not know what to ask. Seeing his hesitation, Nora spoke up to remind him, "anything at all, Rob. Extra points for being inappropriate."
He could see that she was enjoying herself. She knew, from his admission if nothing else, that using that word to him would push his buttons. He nodded slowly, deciding that if she was going to push him, he would push back.
"What about you, how many notches in your belt?" He asked, trying to leer at her but feeling all confused inside at the same time. In fact, he was not sure he was ready to hear her answer.
"None," she admitted, though she did not look nearly as embarrassed by it as he was.
"No way," he countered. He believed her, of course. In fact, he could not tell her how happy he was to hear it. Happy for her, of course. But still, it was surprising.
"You're gorgeous... you can't tell me guys aren't tripping over themselves trying to get you in bed," he pushed.
"They are," she said, smiling mischievously. "But they don't get me. It's stupid and I know it, but I'm saving myself for someone special. I've fooled around... but well, I've never had a dick in my pussy."
Robbie stared at her in open mouthed shock. He had heard her swear plenty of times -- usually at him. But such candor about sex and her body... he realized it turned him on.
As for her waiting, well, Robbie knew and agreed with her, yet he could not help but feel the same way. "I know what you mean. It's not like trying to make the first time magical and perfect, really, it's just not wanting to get trapped with somebody that's going to screw you over the wrong way."
She nodded. "Exactly! You do understand... that's so cool."
Robbie nodded, then dropped the three ball in the corner pocket.
"Hey! You didn't say if you wanted truth or dare!" She accused him.
"Oh come on, it was right there, no way to miss it!" He said defensively.
"What if you'd have dropped the cue ball in to?" She asked.
Robbie clamped his mouth shut. She had a point. He shrugged and grinned. "Truth," he said, then looked for the four ball.
It was nearby, but the angle he would have to hit it at did not seem promising. He had made harder shots though. Another drink from his beer and he let the ball fly, hitting it perfectly and sinking it, and then sinking the cue ball in the side pocket of the table that it deflected into.
"Shit," he muttered.
Nora giggled and pulled the balls out of the pocket and set them back on the table, then she turned and tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"I had a crush on you as a kid. You were my big brother; strong and perfect. I loved you more than I should have, I think," she began.
"What the fuck are you talking about?" Robbie asked, suddenly concerned. "You're supposed to be asking me a question."
"Shut up," she snapped. "I'm not done yet! I wanted to say that so you knew what I was talking about."
"Anyhow, I wondered if maybe you felt the same way, and maybe that was why you were such a dick to me. Like maybe you were jealous I might meet somebody else... did you ever feel that way, maybe even a little?"
Robbie felt the floor slip out from under him. Only his hands on the table and the nerveless stumps he stood upon kept him from crashing into the floor. "Um, I... That was..." He stammered stupidly for a moment before finding a way to put his thoughts together.
"I guess I don't know. I mean, I never really thought about it like that. It bothered me when you went out with those losers. But you're my sister, it's not like I ever thought about you like that."
She nodded. "Thanks Rob... for the honesty."
He nodded back, glad to have answered correctly. He realized that he was being honest too. He wanted to say more though, wanted to admit more. "I'm kind of surprised I didn't, I guess. I mean, you're beautiful. I know a couple of my friends talked about fantasizing about you back in the day. They got beat up for it too. I don't know why I never did, probably just because you're my baby sis."
"What about now?" She asked, her voice quieter as though this time she was the one that was afraid to hear his answer.
"Now what?" He asked, not entirely sure what she meant.
"You're not that dumb, even for a boy!" She said, teasing him.
Robbie blushed and admitted, "Okay, well, I dunno. You put the idea in my head so who knows... maybe I will."
"I could leave you another pair of my panties to find," she said teasingly.
Rob's eyes widened. "You did that on purpose?"
She grinned. "Yeah, I hoped you might see 'em. They were gone in the morning, or didn't you check back."
He shook his head. "Wow... no, I never thought to check back. I... wow."
She grinned and shrugged. "Robbie, I've missed you so much, I had to do whatever I could to get you back in my life. I was willing to do anything!"
"There you go with that 'anything' thing again," he said, chuckling.
"I mean it... I'd have done anything. Just like I'll answer anything you ask if I fail my next shot," she paused and then looked at him, a question on her mind. She smiled and turned back to the table instead; she was saving it for her next truth question for him.
Predictably, her next shot missed in spite of how she was able to pick almost half the table to place the cue ball. She turned to Robbie and smiled, leaning against the pool table and resting her hands on her pool stick, which bisected her body and ran to the floor between her spread legs.
"Anything," she reminded him, a definite twinkle in her smile.
Robbie stared at her, feeling a little dizzy. He took another drink and shrugged. "I can't think of anything... I'm just so happy to be talking to you again."
She pouted. "Aw come on, Rob... would you prefer a dare?"
Robbie blushed. She laughed at how she had made him uncomfortable. "Okay, maybe next time... so just ask me a question."
"Like what?" He asked, glad she dropped the 'dare' option.
"I don't know... what do guys want to know about girls? Do I spit or swallow? Do I like anal sex? Do I... no, you already know I'm a virgin. Come on, pretend I'm not your sister for once. Pretend I'm just another girl. Treat me that way, please Robbie?"
The room spun around him at her words and he found himself focusing on her last request and trying to block the first part of her response from his mind. She had said she was a virgin, but she specifically said she had never had a dick in her pussy. Did that mean... He shook his head, muttering, "wow," a few times before he finally looked at her.
"Why do you want me to treat you like 'just another girl' and not as my sister?" He asked her, not realizing he had found a question after all.
"Because I want to feel special, Robbie," she said without missing a beat. "Not special like you've already got me on a pedestal because I'm your sis, but special because you see somebody special in front of you. Somebody you want to get to know better. Somebody you want to spend time with. That's why."
Robbie stared at her, seeing her in a new light as he came to understand what she was talking about. She was right; he did put her on a pedestal. He expected certain things from her and took for granted the things that made her who she was.
"You're right, Nora," he said. She smiled at him and he found himself returning her smile.
"I guess I never really thought about it... about you. I mean I really compare all the girls I meet to you without really noticing that I do it. Or noticing you. You're smart, you're funny, you're beautiful... Sure, I'm biased 'cause you are my baby sis, but other chicks still don't measure up. I blame it on good breeding," he finished with a grin.
Nora laughed at his joke and blushed at his praise. "Thanks Robbie, I knew there was a good guy under that stupid jock body."
Robbie tried to scowl at her but he ended up just laughing instead. "Truth or dare, jock?" She asked.
Robbie glanced at the table. The shot at the four ball was impossible. It was behind the eight from his angle, and the six was also in the way of the side hole closest to it. "Truth," he said, then added, "and I'm fucked."
Nora raised her eyebrows but kept her retort behind closed lips. She watched as he tried to find an angle to bounce the cue ball into the four and finally took the shot. Miraculously, he hit it; unfortunately, it ended up going nowhere for him.
"Are you going to masturbate later?" Nora asked him, making him spray his drink of beer out his mouth and nose.
After several moments of laughter and trying to regain his composure she tapped her foot and said, "Well, are you?"
"Nora... you're-"
"-just another girl, not your sister," she finished for him, interrupting him.
Robbie sighed. "Geeze, okay, yeah, I prolly will. Perv."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone