Chapter One
“Goddamn, Kenny, you’re really going to make a porno?” Danny asked excitedly. “Can I be in it?”
“Hell no!” He grimaced as he struggled to unfold the six-foot-tall set of white panels. “Why would I want to see that little thing?”
“Ask your mom if it’s little,” Danny laughed.
“Funny. Now how about you get over here and help me unfold these things instead of acting like an asshole?”
“Jeez, lighten up will you?” Danny grabbed the back panel and pulled it out while Kenny held the other. “Going to be getting laid on camera, and you’re all serious.”
“First of all, it’s not porn, it’s an erotic photoshoot.” He pulled his end around the foot of his bed which they’d moved to the middle of his bedroom. “Bend your end around the foot of the bed.”
“What’s the difference?” Danny did as he asked, then flipped the metal brackets on the back, locking them into place. “You’re going to have an escort over here to strip and get all sexy for you. Not telling me you’re not going to fuck her.”
Kenny stepped over to the other side of the bed where his Nikon was set up on a tripod.
“She’s not an escort, she’s model,” he insisted.
“Can I see a picture of her?”
“Yeah, why not?” He tried to sound casual but couldn’t pull his phone out of his pocket fast enough.
He pulled up her page on the RI Models website and handed the phone to Danny.
“Jenna Styles?” he laughed. “Sounds like a pornstar to me.” He shook his head. “Goddamn, look at her!”
Kenny smiled as he watched Danny scroll through dozen photos that he’d pretty much memorized at this point. Jenna, a tall busty blue eyed blonde, was absolute perfection, and it showed in her photos which ranged from an elegant evening gown, to a naughty schoolgirl outfit and lingerie.
“Available for erotic shoots.” Danny read part of her description. “I am as playful as I am professional and will pose semi-nude. For an additional fee I am willing to engage in photos portraying simulated sex. I am not an escort or sex worker, so please be professional and a gentleman. Modeling is a career, and to many, art. It’s not pornography.”
“Bro, you’re really paying this girl $250 and you’re not getting laid?”
“I told you, it’s for class. I’m not looking to hook up.”
“You’re going to want to after you spend an hour taking pictures of that fine piece of ass.” He handed his phone back to him. “Seriously, I bet she puts out, that last line is to stay out of trouble with the cops.”
“If I wanted a hooker I could have gotten one, but this isn’t for fun, Danny, it’s a third of my grade. I need a woman who knows how to pose and love the camera.”
“Screw the camera, I’d pay her to love something else.”
“Because you’re still fourteen up here.” He tapped his head, then pointed between his legs, “And down there.”
“Don’t act like you’re not going to get all horned out taking those pictures.”
“I didn’t say that,” he laughed. “But this isn’t about sex, just sexy pictures.”
“That’s a lot of money though. You could find someone cheaper. What about a girl at school, there any girls in your class?”
“Hey, want to come over my house and let me take pictures of you in lingerie, maybe topless so I can show them to my photography teacher and the class? Yeah, that will work.”
He walked over to the tripod that held his Nikon, and stepping behind it, peered through the lens, and adjusted it so the entire bed was visible for when needed a wide angle shot.
“But like I said, I need someone who knows how to pose and smile and act natural. Plus, this is her job so she’s fine with it being shared for my project. Its advertising for her.”
“Then why are you paying so much?”
“Trust me, that price is a deal for what she’s going to do, she’s giving me a break because I mentioned RISD and her brother went there three years ago. She’s even going to post some of the pictures on her profile and credit me. Other models who are looking at her page might hire me to shoot them.”
“That would be hot! Taking pics of sexy girls and getting paid!” Danny whistled. “I need to get a camera.”
“Only if you can take pictures one handed, perv boy,” Kenny joked.
“Where’d you get that kind of money anyway?”
“My parents gave me the hundred dollar fee to rent a studio for an hour, but seeing they’re away for a friend’s wedding, I’m doing it here so I kept that and the rest I’ve been saving the last couple of months.”
“What about your sister? I know she’s a little spacey, but she’s okay with you bringing some girl up here to strip and roll around on your bed?”
“Josie’s working tomorrow. I did tell her I’m having someone over to take pics, she doesn’t care.”
“Probably too stoned to care,” Danny pointed out. “Girl’s a damn pothead.”
“She doesn’t smoke that much,” Kenny defended his younger sister. “She’s just kind of out there in general. She’s got that whole flower child thing going.”
“Yeah, too bad she dresses like a hippie, bet she’d be really cute if she tried.”
“Bet she cares you think what she looks like,” He rolled his eyes. “What is it with you and my sister? She’s two years younger than you, and…” he stared at him pointedly. “She’s my little sister.”
“Little sis is 18, bro,” Danny grinned seeing he’d gotten under his skin yet again on the subject. “She’s a woman now.”
“Then maybe when you become a man that will matter,” Kenny quipped. “Besides, I don’t think my sister has any interest in seeing anyone. She dumped Jim a few months ago and as far as I know hasn’t met anyone else.”
“Think she’s into girls? A lot of those free love types go both ways.”
“Thanks for helping me get these things in the house and set them up.” Kenny ignored that last remark and indicated the panels which he’d found for $100 on Craig’s list two days ago, a deal, but his bank account was close to zero after he took out the money to give to Jenna tomorrow.
“Wonder what she has going on under those weird dresses and baggy ass clothes she wears.” He gestured to Kenny. “You live with her; you must have seen her in shorts or a shirt that fits. She have an actual body, or she really skinny or something?”
“Knock it off,” he knew Danny was teasing, but he was on edge about tomorrow. The shoot would be a big part of this semester’s grade, and he was taking a risk going with an erotic theme, but he wanted to do something bold and different.
“Just kidding around, man, ease up.” Danny told him.
“No, you’re always saying things like that, and you try to talk to her whenever you see her here and she told me you stop by Subway when she’s working.”
“Maybe I just like to ask if she still has the five dollar footlongs.” He laughed. “Remember that commercial?” he stopped l when he saw him scowl.
“Okay, sorry,” he shrugged. “I know she’s your sister, and she’s kind of in her own little world, but there’s something about her. Maybe I’m a sucker for hippie tomboys.”
“You’re digging a deeper hole.”
“Only under your skin,” Danny smirked. “I just like to bust your chops, man. Besides, she’s so into that sixties shit I bet she doesn’t even shave her pits,” he scrunched his face up. “Or shower. Her hairs always kind of a mess so maybe…”
“Bye, Dan, thanks again.”
“No problem, that’s what friends are for.” Danny waved his hand. “Back to this photo thing. I still don’t think you’re being honest. You must be getting something out of this other than a grade.”
“Maybe,” he admitted. “I’ll tell you if you promise to lay off the sister cracks.”
“Promise, no more wondering if your sister has a body or if she’s a stick figure.”
“I plan on being in a few of the pics myself.”
“You?”
“I told you this is an erotic theme. I’m going to get some shots of her posing with me,” he winked. “Topless hopefully.”
“I knew it! That’s more like it, Mister this is professional.”
“In fact,” he figured he’d really get him going. “I was thinking of a couple of her between my legs, maybe with her tongue out. She said she’ll do simulated sex.”
“That’s the only kind you have anyway, so you should be fine.” Danny clapped his hands at his own burn.
“Rather have it with myself than the skanks you date,” Kenny retorted. “I figure I’ll have a little fun while staying in line with what I asked for.” He lifted his arms and did a quick flex. “I think I can pull it off.”
“Yeah, you’re a real stud. Thought you wanted a pro, why not hire a guy to pose with her?”
“Because I can’t afford it and this way I can get a cheap little thrill I guess. Besides, I take so many pictures of people, I wonder sometimes how I’d be on the other end of the lens.”
“Lame as you are no matter where you are.”
Kenny’s reply was cut off by a soft knock on his bedroom door.
“Hey, Kenny,” Josie called out. “Can I come in?”
“Sure can!” Danny replied with a smirk in his direction.
Josie entered the room, and as always looked as she’d just fallen out of bed. Her long, dark, naturally curly hair was loosely piled on top of her head, held there by several small purple clips. Long strands of it hung in her face and on either side of it, partially obscuring her wide brown eyes.
Josie wore no make-up, and proving Danny’s point her mode of dress couldn’t be more unflattering. The yellow flower printed blouse was loose enough to fit another person in there with her, and the wide voluminous sleeves were too long, covering her hands and leaving only her fingers visible.
The slacks were just as bad, bright orange bell bottoms so shapeless people simply had to assume she had legs in there somewhere. The cuffs flowed out over her feet leaving them invisible until she walked over to him.
She wore yellow flipflops with a purple butterfly mounted to the strap between her toes. In keeping with her absence of make-up, her fingers and toes weren’t painted, although her nails did have some length, but she kept them plain.
Kenny gave her credit. Most girls would be embarrassed to be seen in public without their hair and face done and dressed decent. But not his little sister. Josie gave zero fucks about what people thought about her.
He wondered if it even occurred to her what people said or how they looked at her. Danny wasn’t wrong when he’d described her as spacy. Josie seemed oblivious to everything around her, and she spoke slowly. Her voice had a smoky quality to it which could be described as sexy, but she always sounded distant, as if she weren’t really interested in the conversation.
Josie did smoke more than her share of weed, but her personality in general was as Danny had said kind of spacey. At this point Kenny was convinced his parents knew she smoked, but seeing she never did it, or kept it, in the house they let it slide.
Well, she didn’t do it in the house when their parents were home, he’d smelled it in the hall at seven this morning when he was heading to the bathroom. Then again, according to his folks Josie was a lot like mom when she was younger, and a self-proclaimed “Love child”. So maybe that’s why they didn’t care about her mode of dress or coming home smelling like pot.
Josie was also a straight A student, had held her part time job at Subway for two years and paid for her own insurance. In that sense she was a bit of a paradox, the look and mellow disposition of a burn out, but more responsible than a lot of kids her age.
His sister also possessed a sweet disposition and the one feature she couldn’t hide or diminish was a huge and genuine smile that always touched her eyes and tended to make people around her smile with her.
Josie would help anyone who needed it, including Kenny whenever he needed a favor of any kind including borrowing money in between his pay checks from Walgreens because unlike him, she knew how to save money.
His sister was ‘good people’ as his dad would put it, and it was why he’d always taken exception to anyone who mocked her throwback look or made fun of her as being ‘special’ because of her slow way of speaking and tendency to zone out.
“Hey, Josie,” Danny greeted her. “I bet you’re hot under all those clothes.”
Kenny wanted to smack him but settled for shooting him a look.
“No, the fabric’s thin, I made this outfit myself.”
“It shows.”
“Danny was just leaving.” Kenny informed him.
“How you doing with the design thing?” Danny kept talking. “Sell anything?”
“I sell some of my bead jewelry, but none of my dresses yet, but it’s okay, I do it for fun more than money.”
“You should make things most girls would wear. You know, short dresses, things that show they have a body?”
“There’s a ton of that out there. My stuff is for women who don’t care about anything but what they like.”
“Hey, its rude not to share you know.” Danny put his hand out.
“Share what?” Josie asked, her eyes growing wider, causing Kenny to notice they were red.
“What you’ve been smoking to sound stoned out of your mind.” Danny snapped his fingers. “Oh, wait, you always sound like that don’t you?”
“Bye Danny.” Kenny shoved him in the back.
“I guess,” Josie didn’t seem offended. “Kenny, can you help me for a few minutes”
“Maybe I can help?” Danny offered with a grin.
“Kenny said you were leaving.”
“He is.” Kenny leaned close and whispered. “Get out of here before I smack you for being a dick to my sister.”
“Hey, yeah, have to run.” Danny nodded. “Good luck tomorrow, bro. Make sure you get your money’s worth.”
He walked past Josie and paused to sniff loudly. “Damn, girl, I could get a contact just standing next to you.”
He waved at Kenny over his shoulder and left the room, seeing himself out as he had been since they’d first become friends in middle school.
“What are you getting your money’s worth from?” Josie asked. “What are these partitions for around your bed?”
“I told you I have my shoot tomorrow. Doing it here to save money on the studio.”
“Thought mom and dad gave you money for that.”
“Yeah, they did, but I spent it on these and paying for the model.”
“Oh,” Josie looked at his bed. “You’re paying a girl to take pictures on your bed?”
“Its kind of a racy shoot.” Kenny said evasively.
“Mom and dad don’t know you’re doing it here, do they?”
“No. You’re not going to tell are you?”
“Tell them what?”
“That’s my cool little sis!” Kenny put his hand on her shoulder.
“No, seriously, tell them what?” She cocked her head and looked up at him from under her unkempt hair.
“Wow, how much did you smoke?”
Josie giggled. “I’m kidding, I’m not that bad.”
“Okay, sometimes its hard to tell.” He hesitated. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.” Josie walked over to his camera and peered through the lens.
“Do you really not know when Danny or other people are making fun of you, or you just ignore them?”
“I know, I don’t care.” Josie turned to face him. “They make them look bad, not me, is how I see it.”
“Never thought of it like that. But I’m sorry Danny was a jerk just now.”
“You don’t have to be,” she smiled. “You always stick up for me, don’t you?”
“I try.”
“Its nice, but you don’t have to. People like that don’t matter. People like us do.”
“Like us?” Kenny raised his eyebrows
“People who care about each other and help each other matter. Mean selfish people don’t.”
“Got it, you should look into writing fortune cookies or inspirational slogans.” He laughed. “You said you needed help?”
“I made some new bracelets last night. Can you take pictures and send them to me so I can add them to my Etsy store?”
“Of course,” he plucked the Nikon from the tripod. “I’ll do it right now.”
She gave him one of her huge smiles. “You’re an awesome big brother.”
“Thanks, you’re an okay sister so it works out.”
“I’m only okay?”
“Yeah, I mean, you are my little sister, I have to kind of pretend you’re a pain in the ass.”
“Too bad I’m just okay,” Josie sighed. “Seeing mom and dad are gone for the weekend I bought a bag and was going to share. But being as I’m only o…”
“Okay?” Kenny put his arm around her shoulders. “Did I say that? I meant to say best sister ever!”
“Then I guess I can share, but only because you take the best pictures.”
“A picture is only as good as its subject, sis.” He told her as they left his room and he followed her down the hall to hers.
“Never thought of it like that,” she replied as she drifted slowly in front him, as always moving as if she were in another world.
“Its true, pretty things make pretty pictures.”
And tomorrow he should be taking some damn pretty pictures.
.
Chapter 2
Kenny stood in front of the bathroom mirror. He wasn’t busting Danny’s balls; he did plan on being in a few of the shots. It would add a lot of heat if he got pics of Jenna up against him or maybe straddling him on his bed.
For that position he’d get a pic from the side with the Nikon on the tripod, but also use his second camera, the Cannon Rebel his parents had bought him for his birthday, for a POV angle. He was hoping for a couple of sexy shots of her leaning over him with her tongue out either just over his stomach, or even better, his crotch.
That was if he could get himself to ask for what he wanted. Now that he was only hours away from the shoot, he was getting nervous. Jenna was a pro who had a few magazine credits and a swimsuit catalog on her resume and was accustomed to working with people who knew what they were doing.
Except for taking pictures at local sporting events, Kenny’s only experience with people were just shots of family, friends, and kids at school. He had no real idea how to direct a model, let alone for an adult themed shoot.
Maybe he was no better than Danny and had been thinking with the wrong head when he came up with the idea of an erotic project. Could he ask Jenna to take her top off? If he could manage that would he be able to ask her to get into some intimate poses with him? In addition to wondering if he could ask for what he needed, he worried about how he’d look to her.
Jenna could easily think he was just an immature kid looking for a cheap thrill if he wanted anything beyond just shots of her by herself. Inserting himself into the shoot now seemed unprofessional and pervy.
But he couldn’t afford a male model, and its not like he knew anyone. He took a deep breath telling himself one thing at a time. His hope was that once he started he would quickly get over seeing a hot scantily clad woman on his bed and turn into a professional photographer who wouldn’t act like a flustered boy when presented with a sexy subject.
“Better get a grip hotshot,” he mumbled to his reflection. “She’s going to be here at noon.”
He titled his chin and moved his head side to side, making sure he didn’t miss a spot shaving. Kenny considered himself a decent looking guy. Unlike Josie who took after their mother with her dark curly hair and big doe eyes, Kenny had his father’s looks.
Deep blue eyes and short blonde hair he used some gel in to give it a tousled look, coupled with high cheekbones and a strong jaw, gave him what he felt was a ruggedly handsome look. He’d made the mistake of saying that to his mother who insisted he was more pretty than rugged.
But he had generally done okay with girls so whatever way best described him didn’t matter much. Kenny’s last girlfriend Laurie had decided some jerk off on URI’s football team was a better option and dumped him three months ago.
Since then he’d been busy with work, school, and trying to get gigs, both paying and nonpaying, to work on his photography, and hadn’t had anytime to date. That wasn’t going to help him when Jenna showed up and started stripping down.
It would be a true sign of being an amateur, and a kid, if he ended up hard, but he couldn’t see how he wouldn’t. He consoled himself by thinking if he were noticeably aroused in any of the pictures it would add authenticity.
Kenny wasn’t sure how undressed he’d get. He figured shirtless in the pair of black shorts he’d tossed on out of the shower would work. He didn’t play any sports but hit the gym three times a week and his arms and chest were well defined and his stomach hard and flat.
He didn’t think it was cocky to feel he wouldn’t embarrass himself physically in the pictures. It was his maturity and ability to not seem like a nervous young boy that had him worried. But as the expression went you didn’t know until you tried
Kenny donned the black t-shirt he’d brought in with him and headed back to his room. He heard music playing softly as he passed Josie’s room. His nostrils flared at the pungent scent of pot. Damn, she did smoke a lot.
Her Saturday shift was eleven to six, so she’d be gone an hour before Jenna got here. He entered his room and after spraying some Wings cologne on, he set up the three tall standing lights that would be focused on the bed.
He’d just gotten the last one in position when his cell rang at his hip. He grabbed it, answering without looking.
“Yeah, hello?”
“Is this Kenny?” a woman’s voice.
“Yes! Jenna?”
“I tried to call you a half hour ago, but you didn’t answer.”
“Sorry, was in the shower. We still on for noon?”
“Um, that’s the thing.”
“Thing?” His stomach tightened. “What do you mean thing? What kind of thing?”
“The kind of thing that has me at the hospital.”
“Hospital,” he repeated numbly.
“I went for a run this morning, and my ankle turned. It’s not broken, but it’s a bad sprain.”
“You’re cancelling.” He closed his eyes. How could this be happening?
“Can’t do a shoot on one leg, plus I fell and have a big scrape on my forehead. Kind of a mess right now. I’m really sorry to do this with short notice.”
“Yeah, what am I going to do now?” he was talking more to himself than her. “Wait, do you know any other models? Maybe you could call them?”
“Not really, not that could do anything on short notice. Maybe you could go to the site?”
“I’ll try, guess it’s the only thing I can do.”
“I am sorry, I know you said this was for school, and I could have really used the money. Maybe you can tell your teacher what happened? Get an extension? I’m sure I’ll be okay by next weekend.”
“It’s due Monday and I don’t know,” he rubbed at his eyes with his free hand. “Hope you feel better.”
He ended the call without waiting her to reply. What the fuck was he going to do? He could e-mail Mr. Bradley and tell him the truth, but then he’d hear how he had three weeks to do this and why did he wait until the Saturday before to work on it?
Kenny had needed the time to find the right model and come up with the money, but Bradley was a notorious hard ass that several other students at RISD had warned him about. He wasn’t going to cut him any slack.
“Fuck!” he swore aloud.
He looked over at his laptop where it sat open on his desk. He doubted any models would see his request right away on a Saturday, and who knew if any would bite? Most of them only took professional gigs, Jenna had been willing to work with him because of where he’d gone to school and to help give him a start.
His eyes narrowed at Danny’s insistence he was going to get laid. There were escort services. For the $250 he was offering Jenna he was sure he could get someone for an hour, maybe more seeing he wasn’t look for sex. It would be easy money for them. It wasn’t like he was looking for sex, it would be easy money.
If they were escorts they’d have to be attractive. But he doubted they would be willing to have their face on camera, let alone know it was going to be shown to others. Plus, as he’d told Danny, just because someone was hot didn’t mean they could model.
Kenny looked at his phone; 9:30. He could do later than noon, his parents weren’t coming home until tomorrow afternoon, but it would have to be today. It would take him hours to choose which pictures he wanted, then edit them, print than, and lay them out in order which is what he’d planned to do tomorrow.
He had to figure something out today or he was…
“Fucked!” He yelled, tossing his phone onto the bed so he wouldn’t smash it. “Fuck, fuck, fuck!”
“Hey, you okay in there?” Josie yelled from the hallway.
“Fine!” he snapped. “Just fucking peachy!”
He heard the door open behind him.
“What’s the matter?”
“What’s the matter is the girl for the shoot just called and cancelled.” He turned to see Josie had come into the room. “I’m fucked.”
“Hold on,” she put her hand up. “I’m sure you have time to find someone else.”
“It’s due Monday,” Kenny groused.
“Wow, why did you wait until the last minute?”
“Because I’m a fucking idiot, that’s why!” he shouted. “That a good enough reason?”
“You don’t have to get mad at me.” Josie said softly. “It’s not my fault.”
“You’re right,” he rubbed his temples with his fingers. “I’m sorry, it’s just that this is a big part of my grade.”
“You might be able to find someone by tomorrow, no?”
“I need time to get it ready. I should have done it sooner, but I had to get the money for her, the lights, I bought the white screens, plus the only day this week she was around was today. I didn’t think I needed a backup plan.
“Just tell your teacher, they might give you a few days.”
“He’s a royal pain in the ass. He lives to flunk people from what I hear.” He sat on the edge of the bed. “And he told me there was no way a guy my age could pull off an erotic shoot, so he’s looking for me to screw up. I ask for time he’ll think I just got cold feet.”
“That sucks.” Josie shuffled over and sat next to him. “But you have all day, I’m sure you can find another girl. You’re paying right?”
“Yeah, but I need someone who has experience, and is willing to do this kind of shoot.”
“Plenty of models online,” Josie told him. “Want me to help you look? We’ll split the sites and I can tell you if I see anyone that could work.”
“You have to go to work.”
“I have some time, and if I need to, I’ll call Lynn. She’s always looking for extra hours, she’ll take my shift.”
‘You don’t have to blow off work for me, sis.”
“Hey, this is important to you, and I want to help.”
“You’re awesome, Josie, but don’t worry about it.”
“I worry about you. This class is important, and you said it’ll hurt your grade. Let me help.”
“I don’t know. I looked for a while before I found Jenna, and now we’re talking same day notice.”
“Most people will drop what they’re doing to make some money.”
“They have to drop more than what they’re doing.”
“Huh?” Josie blinked. “What do you mean?”
“I need a model whose okay with some racy pics.”
“Like lingerie?”
“Yeah, but then…topless.” He averted his eyes. “This is awkward.”
“You’re taking dirty pictures?”
“It’s art, the female body is beautiful.”
“More beautiful in Victoria secret and with their boobs out though, right?”
“It’s erotic, and erotic can be art too.”
“Porn hub isn’t art.” Josie grinned.
“First, why are you on Pornhub, second…why are you on Pornhub?”
“I’m 18, and I was never on there before I turned 18, nope,”
“Great.”
“Hey. I know you see me as little sis, but I am a woman.”
“You’re 18, you’re still a girl.”
“But at 20 you think you’re a man?” she scoffed.
“Josie, I don’t want to get into this. But no, it’s not like Pornhub. I’m not having sex with her, it’s just sexy poses and maybe some suggestive shots.”
“Suggesting what?”
“Sex, okay? You know like something softcore. Positions, but you know, clothes on.”
“You said topless, and who are they being suggestive with? You have a guy coming too?”
“No, and just let it go.”
“Oh my god!” she clapped her hands. “You’re going to pose with her? That’s funny!”
“Why is it funny?”
“Okay, maybe not funny, more like creepy. Paying a girl to get on your bed with you and like what? Dry hump your leg?”
“Hey, watch your mouth!” Kenny scowled at her.
“I said hump, not fuck, and for the last time I am an adult.”
“Fine, you’re all growed up now.” He rolled his eyes. “My problem is a lot of models won’t do that kind of work unless it’s through a legit agency or studio.”
“Money is money.”
“Think about it, how do they know I’m not a psycho and it’s a set up?”
“How did you set it up with the girl you had?”
“I gave her my name and address a week ago, she had time to ride by or look me up, and I told her where I went to school and the name of my teacher if she wanted to see if it was a real project. No time for that now.”
“I’ll stay here so they’re not alone with you,” she suggested.
“Hey, my little sister is here to protect you. Course she might be a killer too.”
“No need to be a jerk.”
“Aside from that they don’t want their face just anywhere and they have legal recourse with an agency or business. I could be doing this just for cheap thrills and to plaster all over the net. Jenna was willing to cut me a break because her older brother took a few of the classes I am. She knows this is an assignment and it’s hard for a kid like me to land real talent.”
“Then you just have to find someone like her. Let’s start looking.”
“Know what, sis? I appreciate it, but I’m going to call it a loss. I’m not finding anyone on this short notice, not that’s willing to do what I ask out of my damn house.”
“What about someone you know? There’s a lot of cute girls where you go to school and I bet they could use some extra money.”
“Hey, come to my house and get naked while I take pictures? I’d get hosed with pepper spray or someone’s boyfriend would show up to beat my ass.”
He put his elbows on his knees, his chin in his hands.
“I’m just flat out screwed here.”
“I hate to see you so bummed out.” Josie put her arm around him. “Don’t like seeing you quit either.”
“It’s my own fault for waiting and for coming up with this idea in the first place.”
“But your grade!”
“It’s okay, sis. Nothing I can do but show up empty handed and with an excuse.”
“Don’t give up yet,” she squeezed his shoulder. “Let’s keep thinking.”
“I admire the effort, but nothing you can do. Me either at this point.”
“Wait a minute,” Josie slid her arm from around his shoulders and turned on the bed to face him. “What about me?”
“What about you?”
“I could do it!” She exclaimed excitedly. “I can pose for the pictures.”
“Um, hard no, sis.”
“Why not?”
“Because, well,” he paused as he stared at her.
Dressed in Spongebob pajama pants and an old grey Patriots hoodie with the hood pulled up over her head, her hair sticking out around her face, was a typical Josie look, and nothing remotely resembling what he needed.
“Well, what?”
“You’re not exactly qualified.”
“Hey, what’s that supposed to mean?” Josie demanded indignantly. “You saying I’m ugly?”
“Not at all, but you’re not a model.”
“I can be pretty if I want to be.”
“Sis, you’re adorable, but I need hot, and,” he raised his finger to cut her off. “Let’s remember one important detail. You’re my damn sister.”
“But I’m a girl.”
“Josie, were you listening to what I was saying? I need a woman in revealing lingerie who is going to get her sexy on for the camera.”
“I could be sexy.”
“I don’t want to see you be sexy. Plus, I wanted some topless shots.”
“You wanted them; you don’t need them. Just take some pictures of me posing on the bed, and that’s it.”
“Not what I wanted.”
“But better than nothing.”
“You’re my kid sister, I don’t want to see you like that. Besides, you think you could do that in front of me?”
“I know I’ll do anything to help you, and that’s what I’ll be thinking, I’m just helping you.”
“I love you, sis.” He kissed her forehead. “An A for effort, but you aren’t modeling for me.”
“Because I’m your sister or because you don’t think I’m hot enough?”
“Mostly the former, but no offense, Josie, you’re the girl next door, not the smoking hot look I need.”
“You don’t know that. You only see me like this.”
“You only dress like that. Going to tell me you have silky sexy things in your closet you wear when no one’s home?”
“I have a couple fun things from when I was dating Jimmy.”
“Oh, ugh.” Kenny slapped his forehead.
“I have had sex you know,” she puffed herself up. “Not just with Jimmy either, and know what?”
“They needed a GPS to find you under there?”
“No, jerk, they were pretty happy with what I have to offer.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Really happy. Like couldn’t get enough happy”
“Stop!” Kenny groaned. “Please stop. I’m sorry I made that crack, but come on, Josie, this is crazy.”
“Wanting to help you is crazy? After all you help me with?”
“Wanting to help is great, I love you for it. But you prancing around in something slinky is not anything I need to see.”
“But if its art, and something you want to do for a living, you should learn to be professional and focus on me as a model, not your sister.”
“Hmm,” he pursed his lips in thought. “Decent point there. I was worried I’d be ogling Jenna so much I wouldn’t be able to concentrate. Wouldn’t have that problem with you,” he sighed. “With you it would be the opposite, I’d be forcing myself to look.”
“Thanks,” she grunted. “But it’s mostly about a grade.”
“And that!” He snapped his fingers. “You know my teacher has to see the pics and he may show a few to the class.”
“So? None of them have met me right?”
“No, I don’t hang around with any of the kids in that class.”
“And you get the pictures back after he grades you, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Then no big deal,” she told him. “If I don’t care, you shouldn’t.” she giggled. “Trust me, no one would recognize me like that. I bet you wouldn’t know me if I got all girlie for you.”
“I’ll take your word for it,” he sighed. “You better get going or you’ll be late for work.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Take all this stuff down, move my bed back to the corner, then lay here and sulk I guess.”
“Kenny, listen to me. You have two choices. You can be a quitter, get a shitty grade then explain to mom and dad why you got that grade, the one they gave you some money to help out with.
“Crap I didn’t think of that.”
“Or you can let me help you. I’m not a model, and maybe I’m not the sexiest girl around, but I’m willing to try and you have a chance of getting at least a C and that’s better than failing because you didn’t try.”
“True, but sis, it’s too damn weird.”
“How about this,” Josie wasn’t taking no for an answer. “We start, and if either of us feels uncomfortable or creeped out, we stop.”
“I don’t know.”
“Please let me help you? You’d do anything for me, I know you would.”
“Okay,” he caved. “But like you said, it’s too awkward, we stop.”
“Promise.”
“Alright well head to work. Jenna picked noon because she had something else scheduled later in the day. We can always do it later.”
“Nope, I’ll get Lisa to cover my shift. We’re going to do it early so you have a lot of time to put it together, and so you can’t back out on me.”
“Josie, are you sure about this?”
“I’m going to shower and run a couple errands. You be ready for one o’clock, okay mister photographer?” She gave him one of her big Josie smiles.
“Sure,” he forced himself to return the smile. “I can’t believe we’re going to do this.”
“You’re right,” her smile turned sly. “You’re not going to believe it.”
Chapter 3
Kenny rubbed at his eyes and forced himself to keep searching. He was now on craigslist looking under ‘gigs’ and had found quite a few local models looking for paid work. He clicked on the browser open to his G-Mail, but as had been the case the other two dozen times he’d looked in the last hour, no one was getting back to him.
The closest he’d gotten was the first CL ad he’d replied to where he’d-as he had with all of them- left his number. She texted him within five minutes which had gotten his hopes up. He said what he needed, and she responded with two pics of her in a black lingerie set.
She was damn hot and willing to do what he asked, but the deal fell through when she asked where his studio was, and he admitted it was his house. He knew that was going to be an issue and had checked with the building that rented studios by the hour and being Saturday, they were booked right up until closing.
Not that he could afford the hundred which would leave him with only $250 to offer a model. Most models were not going to do something risqué for a couple of hundred dollars for some no name kid who wanted them to come to his house. Kenny had himself to blame. He should have played it straight with the studio, and for that matter not gone with the theme he’d chosen.
Finding a girl to do some basic shots that he could take in the park, the beach, or anywhere in public would have been a lot easier and cheaper, but he’d wanted to punch out of his weight class and do something more difficult.
Josie’s offer was sweet and well intentioned, but ridiculous. Even if he could put aside her being his sister, the harsh truth was she simply didn’t have the look. Kenny tended to look at women, and even men at times, as a subject of a picture, paying more attention to their features than most people would.
Despite her efforts to be as plain as possible, Josie was a pretty girl. She still had the slightly round face of a girl who hadn’t quite matured yet, and without makeup looked younger than she was.
Her baby face accompanied by her big brown doe eyes that peered out under beautiful naturally long lashes did little to dispel that look of childlike innocence. Her big, borderline goofy, smile didn’t add any maturity to her either.
Josie’s lips were full, and by far the most adult feature on her face, one that he knew guys noticed because of ‘what they’d be good for’. But even those, in combination with the rest of her face, appeared more bratty than sensual.
She pouted for their father to get what she wanted, and Kenny was well aware a little girl pout could be seen as sexy, but in her case, with nothing else overtly sexual about her, it just came across as petulant.
As for her body, as her brother he’d never paid attention of given any thought to it. Even in the summer she wore loose t-shirts and her shorts tended to be loose fitting and down to her knees.
Josie hated the sun and never went to the beach and hadn’t gone swimming since they went to camp when they were kids. Kenny really had no idea what she was ‘hiding’ as Danny put it, under her clothes.
Her crack the guys she’d been with liked what they saw unnerved him more than made him wonder if she had enough to work with as far as what he needed. Kenny checked his e-mails again, then leaned back in his chair.
It was quarter past one. Josie was late, but he was fine with that, it had given him time to look up to the last minute. She’d be pissed if he found someone, but she’d get over it. She’d probably be pissed, or worse, hurt, when he’d have to tell her she wasn’t exactly qualified for the shoot.
No, he didn’t have to say anything like that. He’d take a few pictures, then tell her it was too messed up and he didn’t feel right. He had no doubt that would be true anyway. Kenny had only agreed to this because he could tell she wanted to help and wasn’t going to let it go.
He heard a car door outside his window and pushing his feet on the floor, rolled himself over to the window. Josie’s car, what else but a VW bug, was there, but she’d already headed into the house.
