I barely slept. I didn’t really think Rachel was going to kill me in my sleep, but the fact that I wasn’t worried bothered me. Was it because of how pretty she was? Was I letting her good looks affect my senses?

The door to my room remained closed after I’d said goodnight to her. I tried to pretend I didn’t know how gross the couch was as I lay there, but I was glad I was wearing pants and long sleeves and didn’t have to actually touch the fabric.

By six o’clock I couldn’t wait any longer. I got up. Normally I’d have gotten on my computer, but I didn’t have that. Nor had I remembered to charge my phone the night before.

Instead I went into the kitchen and started to make some eggs. I found some bread that wasn’t too far past expiration and set about making the best breakfast I could given the resources.

I’d just moved the scrambled eggs off the stove when I heard the door to my room squeak open.

“Good morning, Noah.”

Thankfully I wasn’t holding the pan when I turned around. Otherwise I would have for sure dropped it. Rachel was wearing one of my t-shirts. Nothing but one of my t-shirts. Well, maybe she had underwear on, but she sure didn’t have on any pants. As she was pretty tall for a girl, there was a whole lot of leg on display. “Morning.” Crap. I had to pull it together.

“I hope it’s okay I borrowed this.” She tugged on the bottom of the t-shirt.

“Of course. Not a problem at all.” I rubbed the back of my neck.

“Great. It’s very comfortable. Your bed was too.”

“Oh. Good. I wasn’t sure.” Either Rachel was incredibly naive, or she knew how to play guys. Didn’t she realize what she was doing to me?

“What’s that?” She pointed to the pan.

“Eggs. I made eggs and toast. Want some?”

“Oh. Food.” She peered into the pan. “That would be nice.”

I smiled and turned, hating my jeans for the hell they were putting me through. I served up the eggs on two plates and set them down on the tiny kitchen table. I followed that with the toast and a tub of butter with a knife.

She took a seat, sitting completely straight in the old wooden chair. She pushed herself in, all the while careful to keep her legs close together. I sat down next to her, my knee brushing against her in the process. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be.” She smiled.

I tried not to read into her words, but was that her way of saying she was into me or something? Not that it mattered. After breakfast she needed to get dressed, and I needed to figure out what to do.

We ate in silence until she’d completely polished off her plate. “That was wonderful.”

“Uh, thanks.” The eggs had been fine. Wonderful was probably stretching it, but maybe she was trying to be polite. “So, what do you want to do? I mean you’re still looking for your brother, right?”

“Will you help me?” Again she set those eyes on me. They were two shades of brown. Dark around the outside, lighter brown toward the center.

I shook myself. “Sure, if I can.”

“Thank you.” She set her fork down on her plate.

“Do you have anything else with you? Maybe you left it somewhere? Clothes? That sort of thing?” I still struggled to believe she’d come to New Orleans with only the clothes on her back and nothing else.

“No.” She looked down at her empty plate.

“And where are you from?” Maybe in the light of day it was okay to press for more answers.

“Far away.”

“Okay… lots of places are far away.” I didn’t want to snap at her, but I needed her to give me something.

“I promise you haven’t heard of it. But I have nothing with me. Where do you suggest I go to find clothing? From the few people I’ve seen, I can tell my outfit is different from what people typically wear here.”

“Different is cool and all, but you may get more attention than you want.” I hoped that was the right way to put it. “And where to get clothes usually depends on how much money you have.”

“I don’t really have any money per se. I could maybe get some.”

Oh boy. It was time to get some help. “I might have an idea. Could you give me a second?”

“Sure.” She nodded. “Absolutely.”

I picked up my phone and found my charger. I walked into my bedroom. The bed was perfectly made with the pillows all piled up. I called the only person who might be able to help me. That is if she wanted to.

“Hi. What do you need?” Angie, my sister, picked up the way she usually did. She had been happy enough when I’d followed her halfway across the country to New Orleans, but that didn’t mean we spent much time together. To be fair I only called her when I needed something. I needed to start remembering to check in for other reasons.

“Hey, sis. How are you?”

“Are you okay? You sound weird.” Annoyed sister switched to worried. She was generally one of the two when it came to me. “Are you sick or something?”

“No. But I have a bit of a situation.” I wasn’t exactly sure situation was the right word, but it was the only one that came to mind.

“Oh no. Please tell me you didn’t do something stupid.”

“I wouldn’t exactly call this stupid.” It was in some ways, but it went far beyond my stupidity.

“What is it!!” she screamed.

I pulled the phone away so she wouldn’t destroy my eardrums and closed the door a little so Rachel wouldn’t hear. I lowered my voice. “Last night this random girl showed up. Or followed me home. I don’t know.”

Angie sighed. “Oh no. Here we go.”

“What?”

“Really?” She clicked her tongue. “You expect me to believe a girl followed you home.”

“Just listen. Okay? Leave your judgment for afterward.”

“Fine.”

I could pretty much picture Angie’s eye roll. “She showed up dressed all weird.”

“All weird?”

“Let me finish.” It was my turn to get annoyed. “And she said she used to live here. I let her come in.”

“Why?”

“Why what?” I peeked out of the room to make sure Rachel wasn’t standing right outside or anything.

“Why’d you let her come in? That’s why you needed to tell me what she was wearing? Sexy stuff? Did she convince you she was really into you, and then you slept with her and she is now demanding payment?”

“What?” I coughed. “No. Rachel is not a prostitute.”

“Rachel, huh? The girl has a name.”

“Of course she has a name. And for the record, I didn’t sleep with her. I didn’t touch her. She slept in my room, and I slept on the couch.”

“So what’s the problem exactly?” Angie’s voice was far more relaxed.

“She’s looking for her brother. She has nothing with her. No money or extra clothes or anything. She’s actually just walking around in one of my t-shirts.”

“Please tell me Dale isn’t there.”

“Not yet, but he’s going to be back soon. Shit, I have to make her get changed, but I doubt the other outfit is going to help much.”

“The weird one?”

“Skin tight black bodysuit.” I didn’t even want to let my mind go to how hot she’d looked.

“Like leather? Like she’s into fetish stuff?”

“No. Like, I don’t know. I’ve never really seen this material. It kind of reminded me of something I saw at comic-con.”

“Comic-con? Oh yeah? You found a sci-fi nerd like you? What’s the problem?”

“The problem is she seems confused, she has no money, and she has nowhere to go.”

“Is she foreign?”

“I don’t know. She struggled to remember the word bathroom yesterday, but she doesn’t have an accent or anything.” I looked out again. Rachel was still in the kitchen. “Angie. Please. I need your help.”

“What help exactly?”

“Get over here and bring some extra clothes.”

“How do you know my stuff will fit her?”

“She’s a giant like you.” And I didn’t mean that in a bad way. There was nothing wrong with a tall girl.

“I am only 5’9. That does not make me a giant.”

“I’m joking.” Once again my joke had fallen flat. Maybe I needed to retire them.

“Fine. But you owe me.”

“I don’t care. I’ll pay you. I swear. I just need your help.”

“Ok. I’ll be there in a few.” She hung up.

I hated having to go to my sister for help, but I was in over my head.

“Hello, hello.” Dale’s voice rang from the kitchen.

Shit. I bolted from my room in time to find Dale still holding a duffel bag and gawking at Rachel. “Looks like someone had fun while I was gone.”

I tried to give Dale some sort of look, but he only winked at me. I went with another avenue. “Hey, Rachel. Why don’t you wait in my room?”

She looked between us, confused.

“Rachel, huh? Hi, Rachel. I’m Dale.” He held out a hand.

She glanced at me before accepting his outstretched hand. “Hi. Nice to meet you.”

“Really, you should wait in my room.”

“Why? You afraid she might like me?” Dale still held onto her hand.

“Fine. Whatever. Dale, why don’t you come talk to me in my room? It’s important.”

“I’m perfectly fine out here.” He grinned at her.

“Now.” I gritted my teeth.

“Okay. Okay.” He dropped her hand, finally seeming to get the hint or at least get that I was going to lose it if he didn’t listen. He stared after her for a moment before he followed me down the hall to my room.

I closed my door most of the way.

Dale dropped his bag. “That wasn’t cool, man. Way to scare a girl off.”

“You don’t know what’s going on.” And I wished I didn’t have to tell him. But as she was in the house we shared, I owed him an explanation.

“What’s going on is that you have a hot girl wearing your t-shirt in our kitchen. I think I can figure it out.” He grinned.

“No. It’s not what you think.”

“Oh yeah? She just swung by for breakfast?” He wove his finger in the air.

“No. She stayed in my room last night.”

“See. There we go. Some honesty.” He put his hands on my shoulders. “She’s hot, man. There is nothing to be ashamed of. Why are you being so shady?”

“Because I didn’t sleep with her, ok? Do you really think I’d be hiding that from you? Be serious for a minute.”

His expression turned serious. “Then what’s going on? Why is she wearing your t-shirt in our kitchen?”

“She showed up here last night. What was I supposed to do? Kick her out?”

“No.” He shook his head. “No way. I’d have done the same thing.”

“Especially if you saw what she was wearing.”

“Hot?” His eyes widened.

“Tight black bodysuit that looked more at place on Star Trek than in New Orleans.”

He grinned. “Okay. Wait. She’s hot and a nerd? So if you didn’t sleep with her…”

“Get a grip. Angie is on the way here to help.”

“To help?” He wrinkled his nose. “Why would we need help?”

“Because she may have... I don’t know how to explain this. She won’t tell me where she’s from, and she’s asking for help finding her brother. I have no clue who her brother is, and from the way she’s talking she doesn’t even really either.”

“Wait. She’s got a screw loose?”

“No.” Those were the exact words I was going to use, but hearing them from Dale made me really glad I hadn’t uttered them. “She’s confused.”

“Come on. She can’t be that bad. We just had a conversation.”

“That lasted two minutes, and I’m sure she didn’t actually tell you anything about herself.”

“Because you pulled me away.” He pushed open the door. “Don’t worry. I have this.”

Rachel was in the same spot where we left her. “Noah, would you like me to leave?” Her puppy eyes were on full display.

“Of course not. Why would you say that?”

“You got really stressed when Dale showed up. Is my presence the issue?”

“I’m not stressed.” I rubbed the back of my neck.

“Yes, you are.” She smiled in a playful way. “I can tell.”

“Okay. Maybe a little. But that doesn’t mean I want you to leave.”

“I heard you need a little bit of help locating someone.” Dale leaned on the counter. “I’m pretty good at that stuff.”

“Noah has already agreed to help.” She looked at me. “Right?”

She wanted to work with me instead of Dale. I tried not to be happy about that. But I was. “Of course. I’m always happy to help.”

“But it never hurts to have more help.” Dale straightened. “We’ll figure it out sooner.”

“As long as Noah stays.” There was something vulnerable about the way she said it. If I wasn’t protective of her already, I would have been then.

Dale winked. “Yeah. I’m sure you want Noah to stay.”

I shot him a look to kill.

“Where do we begin searching for someone?” Rachel crossed her legs at her ankles.

“Oh. We…” Where did you start looking for someone? It wasn’t like this was something I had any experience with.

I heard the sound of someone on the steps. Before I could reach the door it burst open, and Angie walked in.

“Knock much?” Dale ribbed.

She glared at him. “Shut up—” the words died in her throat as she noticed Rachel. “Uh, hi.”

I’d never seen Angie that flustered. Maybe she’d thought I was messing with her. “Rachel, this is my sister, Angie.”

“Hi.” Rachel held out her hand. “Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you too.” Angie accepted her hand. “I brought you some extra clothes.” She held out a plastic shopping bag full of clothes.

“Oh.” Rachel looked down at her borrowed shirt. “Right. To help me blend in with the local way of dress.”

“Yeah… Noah never told me. Where are you from?” Angie asked in an off-handed way.

“You wouldn’t have heard of it.” Rachel accepted the bag.

“Try me.” Angie smiled. She had this way of being pushy without really coming off as pushy.

“Well, I was born here. But I haven’t lived here in a long time.”

Okay. That was a start. So far Angie seemed to know what she was doing.

“And you moved?” Angie pressed. “When you were younger?”

“Something like that.”

“You must have moved pretty far if the dress is so different…” Angie wasn’t one for subtleness.

“Yes... far.” Rachel glanced at me. I got the feeling she was looking to me for help.

“Is there a reason you don’t want to tell us?” Angie kept her voice even and low. “Or maybe you don’t want to tell them?” Angie nodded toward Dale and me. “If you want to talk to me alone that’s fine too.”

Rachel shook her head. “I want Noah here.”

Yet again her words made me happy, even though they probably shouldn’t. I told myself it was because I liked being helpful, but it was more than that. Not that I was ready to accept that yet. “I’m here.”

“Ok. How about we set the where you’re from part aside and focus on your brother. Isn’t that who you’re looking for?” Angie placed her bag down on the counter and walked around to the kitchen table.

“Yes. Benjamin.” Rachel pivoted.

“Okay. Why do you think he’s here?” Angie took a seat at the table.

“This was the last place I saw him.”

“New Orleans?” Angie pulled out the chair next to her and gestured for Rachel to join her.

Rachel took the seat. “Yes, but specifically this house. Well, outside, but at this house.”

“You’ve been in this house before?” Dale interrupted.

“I lived in this house before I…before I left New Orleans.”

“Oh. And when was that?” Angie asked casually.

“When I was a child.”

“Okay. And why did you leave without your brother?” Dale jumped in again.

Rachel paled.

Great. Dale had struck again.

I’d planned to largely let Angie handle this conversation, but I had to smooth over Dale’s words. They sounded like an accusation of wrongdoing. Without any evidence to support my point of view, I still didn’t think she could have intentionally done anything wrong. “What he meant was why haven’t you seen him in so long?”

“I was so young and confused.” Rachel folded her hands on the table in front of her.

Angie gave me a look. “Noah, can we talk for a sec?”

“Wait. You’re leaving?” Rachel’s eyes were wide.

“Just for a second. And Dale will be here.” Angie smiled in a way I assumed was supposed to be reassuring.

Dale grinned. There was no way that was reassuring.

“It will only be a minute.” I didn’t particularly want to leave her with Dale, but I figured there was a reason Angie was pulling me to the side.

I followed Angie into my room. I was having a lot of conversations in my room today.

Angie closed the door. “Okay. There’s been some sort of trauma here.”

“You’re a history student not a psychologist.” I leaned back against my desk.

“I know… but I’m also a woman. I can tell these sorts of things.”

“What are you suggesting?” My stomach turned at the thought of anyone hurting Rachel.

“We need to make her feel safe enough to confide in us so we can get her help.”

“Help? To find this brother?” I really hoped the brother actually existed. He seemed to be the only thing she really knew or cared about.

“Get real, Noah. Her brother? Who she hasn’t seen since she was a little girl? You really think he’s here? For all we know he’s made up.”

Just as when Dale used the screw loose comment, hearing my thoughts come from someone else’s mouth made them seem vile. “He’s real.” And no matter what else happened, I knew I had to help Rachel find him.