serpensortia_dm@hotmail.com — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 23:31:29 GMT

"You're not wearing that are you?"

"Yeah, you look like a wanker."

Wes rolled his eyes to the ceiling before turning around to face his two sisters who were standing at his open door with identical devilish grins. "First of all," he began, holding up an index finger and pointing it at Tilo. "Lalita's the fashion expert so you and your opinion can kindly sod off. Second," -- he turned to Lalita, his eyes widening -- "what's wrong with this?!"

"What's not wrong with it?" she said matter-of-factly, stepping into the room and looking at the sweater in distaste. "That sweater is from, like, two seasons ago."

"It's a bloody black sweater! How can you tell what season it's from?!" Wes demanded.

"Oh, Akash," Lalita said, shaking her head pityingly. She reached a hand out to tug at the fabric.

"Well, whatever," Wes said, slapping her hand away defensively. "Tallie won't care."

"What time's she getting here?" Tilo asked innocently, still standing at the door.

"Don't you worry about it," Wes said threateningly. "You made quite enough of an impression on her the last two times she's seen you, you've done enough."

Lalita grinned. "Trying to impress her, are you?" she asked, and gave him a once over. "That sweater won't do the trick, I can tell you right now."

Wes groaned and pulled the sweater off, tossing it onto his bed and gesturing towards his closet. "Fine, go, pick something."

Her eyes lighting up, Lalita immediately stepped towards the closet, picking through the shirts and sweaters. Though Wes didn't have much to choose from, he was sure Lalita would be able to pick a coordinated outfit that the occasion really didn't call for. He'd made plans for Tallie to come visit him over the holidays, and if it were up to him, he'd have loved for it to be a low-key event that a simple black sweater would be perfectly suited for. Though his parents were -- thankfully -- under the impression that Tallie was only a friend, once his sisters heard she was coming, they predictably started to make an ordeal out of it; Tilo teased him more than usual and Lalita fretted over his hair and clothes. The only reason Sonali wasn't lecturing him on how to treat a lady was because she was settling into her new home with her husband. Wes wished Nandini were around to tell his sisters to take a bloody sedative but she was even more popular than Wes and was usually out with a friend or five.

Wes sat down on the corner of his bed, watching Lalita deliberate between shirts and Tilo entered the room to sit next to him. "Don't know why you're looking so glum," Tilo said, nodding her head towards Lalita. "Lala's just trying to make you look like less of an arse. It's no easy feat, you know."

"Get out."

"Hey, respect your elders!"

"What! You don't deserve --"

"I'm your older sister, you should think of me as sacred."

"Yeah, well, Indian people believe cows are sacred, too -- I suppose I can see where you're coming from n--"

"Ugh, shut up, you two!" Lalita snapped, turning and glaring at them. "This bloody takes concentration, yeah?"

"Sorry," Wes and Tilo both mumbled. As soon as Lalita turned around, Tilo shoved Wes's arm and quickly leaned away when he tried to shove her back, and they silently squabbled as Lalita sorted through Wes' clothes. Wes hoped Tallie would arrive soon, as he was not sure how much more of this he could handle.

wessidestory