Emma and Rex

Watching her apply lipstick shouldn't be this interesting but he was really, really bored. Rex stood in the doorway of Emma's room and had plans on bothering her as usual. "Objectifying yourself much Emma?" He asked, a sarcastic smile firmly in place.

"I have a date," She replied, glancing down at a small mirror in her hand and sounding way too preoccupied for his liking.

"Really?" He injected a note of skepticism into his voice as he strolled toward her.

"Don't sound so surprised Rex."

Shrugging he said, "It's just that you hadn't mentioned you were seeing anyone, especially to Mom or Dad."

Leaning against the edge of her desk, he watched her retract the lipstick and stick the cap back on. When he'd decided to come by to bug her, he'd expected to find her nose deep in schoolwork or reading a book, not doing something girly like putting on makeup.

"Do I tell you everything about my personal life?" She sharply asked.

"Actually yeah, usually you do. You trust me more than our parents; you said so yourself."

"Then I must have forgotten to mention it. It's a first date," When she reached for her bag, Rex snatched the tube of lipstick off the desk.

"That's all you go on, first dates," He stated as she frowned. "Do you ever go on second dates?"

"Occasionally yes, now give it back," Emma demanded, swatting his arm. "You are so annoying. You're sixteen-years-old so act like it for once!"

Satisfied now that he had her full attention, he ignored her and turned over the lipstick. "Ooooh, Scarlet Temptation." He snickered and glanced at his sister. "Who comes up with these names?"

"I'm going to be late," She shoved back her chair and stood, grabbing for the lipstick. He danced away from her, holding the treasure over his head. Her shorter stature made it impossible for her to reach. "Could you please stop being childish and give it back?"

He grinned. "Nope! Not until you tell me about the tool of the day."

"What?"

He rolled his eyes, "Who's this guy you're going out with tonight?"

"That's none of your business," She shot back, frowning.

He raised his eyebrows. "Since when?" If it had to do with his sister, it was his business. Simple as that. The sky was blue, the grass was green, and Emma was his business; whether she liked it or not.

"Well it's not as if you tell me about all the girls you date," She made another grab for the lipstick but he palmed it with his other hand and held it behind his back.

"I only dated two girls so far. You had I don't even know how many different guys. Besides it's different," He said with a shrug.

"Oh?" She raised an eyebrow. "How so?"

"For starters, my track record's better than yours. None of the girls I've dated are idiotic jocks, delinquents right out of juvie, or-"

"I'm going to ignore those comments," She said, giving him her snootiest look. "But only because I don't have time to engage in a debate with you right now. I hear about it enough from Mom and Dad."

"Oh so now you don't have time for your brother?" He asked, annoyed by her changing priorities. "You even blow our parents off nowadays."

"Did you need something?" She asked, raising her hands in a questioning gesture. "From where I'm standing, it appears that you're only here to irritate me."

Moving more quickly than he thought she could given that she was wearing heeled shoes, Emma lunged, catching his hand and tried to pry his fingers open. Rex stepped back, pulling her with him. She collided with his chest and he grinned.

Her emerald eyes narrowed as she growled in frustration. "Give it back Rex!"

"No!" Laughing, he yanked his hand free and shoved the lipstick in his right pocket.

Arching an eyebrow, she smirked at him. "You think I wouldn't put my hand in your pocket?"

She'd do it. He didn't doubt that for a second. "I don't know. Would you?" He countered.

With her eyes locked on his, Emma reached toward him. He captured her wrist before she got too close. "Trust me sis," She yanked her wrist free as he handed her the lipstick tube. "You don't need lipstick or any kind of makeup. After all, you got your looks from Mom."