First line meme: Big Wolf on Campus
Merton, and Lori/Becky for carolinecrane
He'd known this day would come. After all, Becky had the Dingle looks and charm, and it was only a matter of time before boys started noticing that Merton’s sister was beautiful. Becky might not have wanted him there, but it was a big brother’s job to look out for his sister. So Merton had waited, and planned, and he was ready to defend his sister’s heart and honour from any and all comers.
He just hadn’t expected that she needed saving from *Lori.* Merton would, and had, trusted Lori with his life, but trusting her with Becky was an entirely different manner. It wasn’t fair to Lori--it wasn’t who Lori *was*--but all Merton could remember in those first few hours was Lori, breaking Merton’s heart, breaking Tommy’s heart. And now she was looking at *Becky,* so much want in her eyes that only Tommy’s hand on his arm kept Merton from yelping, and leaping to his feet to throw his coat around Becky’s shoulders protectively. He wanted to drag her back to her room, and lock her there until Becky stopped looking *back* at Lori, and Lori realized what a phenomenally bad idea this was.
It took him a while to see other things, too: that there was tenderness in Lori’s expression when she was near Becky; that Becky grew calmer and kinder around Lori; how their hands would brush frequently, and they would smile shyly every time. Maybe Lori and Becky weren’t a bad idea--maybe they even needed each other, but Merton was still a big brother, and he had been planning for this moment for years.
Months after he’d first realized why Lori was dropping in at the Lair so often, Merton mustered all his old outraged brotherly affection and marched over to Lori. Ignoring Becky’s horrified squeal (“Freaker, you *dork!*”), Merton said: “if you hurt my sister, you will face my swift and horrible vengeance.”
Lori blinked, and laughed. She threw her arms around Merton in a quick, fierce hug. “I love her, too,” she whispered.
He'd known this day would come. After all, Becky had the Dingle looks and charm, and it was only a matter of time before boys started noticing that Merton’s sister was beautiful. Becky might not have wanted him there, but it was a big brother’s job to look out for his sister. So Merton had waited, and planned, and he was ready to defend his sister’s heart and honour from any and all comers.
He just hadn’t expected that she needed saving from *Lori.* Merton would, and had, trusted Lori with his life, but trusting her with Becky was an entirely different manner. It wasn’t fair to Lori--it wasn’t who Lori *was*--but all Merton could remember in those first few hours was Lori, breaking Merton’s heart, breaking Tommy’s heart. And now she was looking at *Becky,* so much want in her eyes that only Tommy’s hand on his arm kept Merton from yelping, and leaping to his feet to throw his coat around Becky’s shoulders protectively. He wanted to drag her back to her room, and lock her there until Becky stopped looking *back* at Lori, and Lori realized what a phenomenally bad idea this was.
It took him a while to see other things, too: that there was tenderness in Lori’s expression when she was near Becky; that Becky grew calmer and kinder around Lori; how their hands would brush frequently, and they would smile shyly every time. Maybe Lori and Becky weren’t a bad idea--maybe they even needed each other, but Merton was still a big brother, and he had been planning for this moment for years.
Months after he’d first realized why Lori was dropping in at the Lair so often, Merton mustered all his old outraged brotherly affection and marched over to Lori. Ignoring Becky’s horrified squeal (“Freaker, you *dork!*”), Merton said: “if you hurt my sister, you will face my swift and horrible vengeance.”
Lori blinked, and laughed. She threw her arms around Merton in a quick, fierce hug. “I love her, too,” she whispered.