I Wouldn't Change a Thing

“Brooke! What did you do with my gray tank top?” I yelled into the bathroom that adjoined the small bedroom we were sharing for the summer.

“Check the hamper. I think I wore it the other day,” she called back distractedly. She was getting all dolled up to walk around the streets of downtown Baltimore, as had become her custom over the three nights we had been at Nan’s.

I ruffled through the hamper to find the wrinkled top, tossing it back in place. “Ugh,” I sighed before rummaging through my half unpacked bags for another shirt to wear. I ended up pulling out an old random tee of my dad’s that I had snuck into my luggage and then a pair of cut off denim shorts.

My nights had been spent relatively the same as if I were back home; I sat out on Nan’s balcony that overlooked a park and read, a lot. While Brooke was out on the town, I, like always, was at home leading my not so exciting life.

“Hey, how do I look?” Brooke questioned as she joined me on the balcony dressed in a pair of ripped jeans and a dark camisole. As she bent down to sit in the chair next to mine, I could see her thong peek out of her low-rises.

“Like always. You look good,” I commented my little sister. “Who’re you tryin’ to impress?”

“No one,” she said automatically, a slight blush coming to her cheeks.

“Uh, huh. Right. Spill.”

“Well, I’m hoping to run into that boy. You know, the one that picked us up from the airport.”

“Who? Dumb, or dumber?”

“Molly,” she sighed.

“Okay, fine. Which one?”

“The younger one. He’s so cute. Seriously, Moll, he’s gorgeous. I love his eyes,” she trailed off dreamily.

“I swear you fall fast and hard. You only met him once, and now you’re practically in love with him? What am I going to do with you?” I questioned. She just shrugged and I continued. “Where are you going tonight, anywhere special?” I asked.

“Thanks. I don’t know. I saw a few clubs that I could probably get into; so maybe there. What about you? Just gonna be lame and stick your nose in a book? Why don’t you come with?”

“Uh, no thanks. I’m good right here.” I pointed at the chair beneath me.

“Have fun with that. You’ll cover for me, right?” she asked, knowing the answer.

“Of course.” How could I say no to my baby sister?



“Molly? Can you come pick me up?” Brooke whined into the phone. It was three a.m. when my cell phone woke me from the chair I had apparently fallen asleep on out on the balcony, my book in my lap.

“Where are you?” I questioned, slowly waking up.

“I don’t really know. Some house? A party. I can’t find my way back to Nan’s,” she answered. I could tell she had been drinking. If not completely drunk, she was pretty darn close.

“Okay, well, I can’t come pick you up if I don’t know where you are.”

“Hold on.” I could hear shuffling and thumping—probably from the bass of the music playing in the background—and then my sister’s voice as she talked to someone. “Hey, can you give my sister directions. I’m new in town, so I don’t really know how I got here.”

A male voice laughed and I could hear a faint ‘sure’ before Brooke handed him the phone. “Hey, I’m Jeff. Apparently you need directions,” he asked.

“Uh, yeah, Jeff. I need to come get my sister. Where is this party?”

“2130 Holland Drive. It’s a big blue house on the corner of Holland and Grant. You can’t miss it. Just look for a bunch of cars lining the street and drunk kids wandering around.”

“Can you find it?” Brooke asked as came back on the line.

“I’ll try. Be good.” I pressed end on my cell before shoving it in my back pocket. I snuck quietly down the two flights of stairs and picked Nan’s keys up from the hook by the door. As gingerly as I could, I opened the door before slipping out and closing it, crossing my fingers the whole time, hoping the slight squeak wouldn’t wake Nan or Gramps.

I pulled the ancient car out of the driveway before turning on the headlights and driving towards Grant St, which I knew was just off of Thames. I followed Grant as it led me away from downtown and into the residential part of town. The large blue house was easy to find just as Jeff had said. It was a good five miles from Nan’s, Brooke definitely wouldn’t have found her way home by herself.

I pulled over across the street in the only available spot I could find and pulled out my cell. I speed dialed Brooke and waited as it rang four times before her voice picked up, “Hey, you’ve reached Brooke Walker. I don’t feel like talking to you, so just hang up and try again later. Or, if you think you’re important enough, leave a message. Maybe I’ll call you back, but probably not.”

I sighed, used to hearing her conceded voice mail message. “Brookey, it’s me. I’m here, where the Hell are you?” I said after the beep before shoving my phone back in my pocket. I got out of Nan’s Lincoln, slamming the door. I started towards the house with tons of people and obnoxious music. This better be easy, Brooke. I swear to God.