A Different Kind Of Morning (TF)

Brian's eyes opened as he heard the sharp sound of the bedroom door closing. The blonde let out a long yawn, rubbing his eyes while he sat up, "Julie, that..." The blonde teenager's eyes dropped in disappointment, "You?" He softly finished. Looking across the room at the bed the brunette was using from the previous night; he found it emptied. The bed was stripped, the used sheets half hanging from the laundry basket, the top dresser drawer remained open, recently emptied, and there wasn't even a hair left of the Clark girl. "Goddamnit, this is going to be a world of hell, isn't it?" Brian groaned as he threw his legs over the side of the bed and got up.

Brian wasted no time in headed right out into the hallway; he looked down the hall but quickly looked the other way as he heard a steady, sharp knock on a door. "Mindy! Kennedy! Wake up! It's time for us to get going; come on! I'm waking up Kenny and Claire now!" Juliet called into the girl's bedroom; Brian lightly shook his head and headed over.

As the brunette turned, she jumped as she suddenly found Brian in front of her, but the shock only last for a moment and was swiftly replaced with a scowl, "Juliet, it's not even nine yet. Going somewhere already?"

"Yeah," Juliet directly replied, holding no ounce of grace in her bluntness, "I'm up, I have to drive Claire and Kennedy back home, so I'm getting them up too. I want to get down off this mountain and get back to my house before noon,"

"You do realize we were all at a party last night, right? Like, I even have a slight headache; the rest of the group here? They drank more than you and me combined. I think the last thing they want is a wake-up call," Brian calmly pointed out,

Juliet crossed her arms, "I don't care about anyone else leaving; they can stay up here as long as they please. Hell, this is your place; after all, have them stay another night, the whole week; I could give less than a single fuck. But me? I'm out of here. I can't stand to be in this place for another second," Juliet roughly spat, then pushed forward, shoving her way past Brian,

Brian let out a slightly annoyed sigh, "Is this about the sex?" Juliet froze in her tracks, her entire body locking up, "Because I told you I didn't want to do it if you were going to react this way. Hell, I tried to stop it a few times, and you kept pushing!"

"No," Juliet spun around, her eyes flared, "No, no, no. No." She curtly denied with a wag of her finger, "You and I didn't have sex. I'm not the kind of girl who would have sex with you,"

Brian leaned his shoulder against the wall and tucked his hands into his pockets, "Oh, we didn't have sex?"

"Nope. We never did have sex. We would never have sex. And we definitely never will have sex, Brian. Got it?"

"Really?" Brian feigned an utterly perturbed expression, "That's so funny because what I remember from last night, you and I were in the rec room, and you had me --"

"Nupupup!" Juliet loudly babbled out, cutting the blonde off, "No." She firmly restated, the word clearly a warning more than anything, "Whatever you think you remember happening didn't happen, hear me? I don't give a fuck what you might have assumed happened last night, but it certainly was not you and me hooking up!"

Brian sighed, looking genuinely let down by the response, "Are you really going to be so immature about this? Can't we talk it over, at least? It doesn't have to be such a big thing. People go at it all the time. It doesn't have to mean anything, Julie,"

Brian's attempt at absolving the brunette of any guilt or responsibility only seemed to provide the opposite effect, "Excuse me? Do you fucking think that's the kind of girl I am?" She hissed back, "It was a moment of fucking weakness. It was the drinks in my system, and the fucking -- I don't know! But I'm not some fucking slut, Brian!"

Brian immediately stood back up fully, giving his hands a wave of denial, "I'm not saying you are!" He let out a short, confused laugh, "All I am saying, Juliet is that we did something, and ignoring is only going to make shit way more awkward between us. So let's talk about it and put it in its place. I enjoyed it. I'll be the first to admit that, and you --"

"Ugh!" Juliet was instantly repulsed, "You fucking pig!"

"What, I'm a pig because I enjoyed it?" Brian indignantly retorted. His eyes suddenly widened, and he looked around before stepping a bit closer, "Wait...are you really concerned about...you know, that I finished inside you?" Juliet's eyes widened as far as they could, "Because I thought you were on the pill, that's the only reason why I did what you said. You know that if anything were to happen, I'd totally be there for whatever route you wanted to take. I would walk off and leave you holding the bag. So if that's the real concern here, we can --"

SMACK

Brian whirled back as a stinging red hand mark formed on his cheek, "You will never. Ever. Mention that again for as long as we both fucking live! I don't want you to talk to me about it. I don't want you to look at me. I don't want you to fucking speak to me at all!" Juliet stepped forward with each word until her finger was jutted right in Brian's face, "I don't give a single fuck about how good it felt. I don't care if you suddenly have some fucking feelings for me. I want nothing to do with the fucking jackass known as Brian White. You're not charming your way into my life like you do with everyone else! That's it! Now go the fuck away!" Brian's lips tightened, and Juliet blinked a few times as she suddenly saw a flash of real hurt wash over him.

The blonde easily raised his hands, "Okay...I'm sorry, Juliet," He softly replied; Brian then stepped around the brunette and headed back into the bedroom without a look back. Juliet uncomfortably readjusted as she watched him leave, anxiously wringing and tightening the hand she used to smack him earlier, doing her best to rub away the lingering tingle. With a sharp exhale through her nose, she headed to Kenny's door and gave it a quick, firm knock, now ready to leave more than ever.

Kenny stirred from the knock at his door, "Kenny, Claire, wake up! I'm getting ready to leave now, so meet me downstairs once you're packed so we can get going," Juliet called through the closed door, the tone of her voice making her sound like she might as well have been a million miles away. Kenny let out a soft groan and sat up on his elbows, half expecting Juliet to let herself in, but after a moment, he could hear his cousin merely making her way down the steps to the first floor. On any other day, he might have been a little concerned, Juliet definitely didn't sound like her normal self, but as Kenny looked down and found Claire still curled up on his chest, fast asleep, he couldn't have been happier she had walked away.

Kenny smiled and hesitantly lifted a hand; he began to bring it towards Claire's face, pausing halfway through until he mustered the courage to complete the action of carefully brushing the loose golden bangs from her face. At once, the girl let out a small murmuring hum and opened her eyes. Kenny tensed as her brown eyes took a moment to adjust to the light; he was praying that the magic from last night hadn't worn off. Then to his utter relief, he saw Claire let out a full, if not still tired, smile, "Hey...morning, smart guy,"

"Morning," Kenny nervously laughed back; his heart was already thumping hard as he tried to think of what he should do or say in this situation, "U-Uh...um...J-Julie," He finally said, giving his throat a quick, clear, calming his nerves, "Julie was just at the door, she said she was getting ready to leave so I guess that means you and Kennedy should probably get ready, right?"

"Uuuuugh, already?" Claire pouted, immediately pushing herself right into Kenny's body, snuggling in, "But I'm so comfy, and you're waaaaarm. It's like freezing in here,"

"Well, we are on a mountain," Kenny lightly joked as he tried not to look like an utter buffoon as he was overjoyed by Claire's actions, "And that means...once you're down at the bottom, you'll feel a lot warmer,"

"That's not nearly as fun as how we kept warm last night," Claire teased.

Kenny felt a swelling sense of pride, "Last night was pretty --" He let out another nervous chuckle, "It was pretty fucking amazing, Claire. I seriously can't believe it even happened,"

"Well, you better get to believing, buster!" Claire sat up with a plucky little laugh. She rolled out of bed and immediately shiver, "Brr! Okay, yep, I want to get off this mountain where it's warm, sunny, and nice," She scampered to her bag, yanked out her change of clothes, and disappeared back into the bathroom.

In the meantime, Kenny followed her lead, getting his own change of clothes and tossing them on. As he stuffed his dirty ones back into his backpack, he heard another knock at the door, or rather, a loud bang. By the time he could even look over his shoulder, the bedroom door came flying open, and Kennedy let herself in. The pair's eyes met, and despite having just gotten so used to the sweetness of her twin sister, Kenny was thrown for a loop as he felt Kennedy's cold gaze, "Ugh, where is my sister, Clark?"

The teenager slightly cringed; there were only two people that regularly called him by his last name. The first was Nicole, who always said it in a warm, playful way that always gave him a little confidence boost. Kennedy was the second, and every time she did it, Kenny felt a tinge of resentment as he knew the cheerleader only did it out of spite. During freshman year, he learned that their names were far too similar in nature, so from then on, he lost the right to be called by anything else. However, despite Kennedy playing into her standard hostile behavior, Kenny found himself unfazed this morning. "Bathroom, changing," He simply replied with a smile,

Kennedy immediately scowled, looking utterly disgusted, "Why the fuck are you smiling?! Are you fucking perving on my sister while she changes?!" Kennedy loudly exclaimed, and Kenny's eyes widened,

"What?! N-No, that's not what --"

"Oh my god! Ew, Clark! You're such a fucking loser; you can't get a girl, so you creep on my twin?!" Kennedy all but gagged,

Kenny opened his mouth to refute Kennedy's claim again, but for once, he suddenly felt no need to argue. Kennedy always was out to piss people off and crush them under her heel, but for once, she didn't have any power. Kenny did a whole hell of a lot more with Claire than take a peek at her naked. "You know what? Whatever," Kenny calmly said, and at once, Kennedy's brow furrowed, "Even you and your shitty attitude can't ruin this morning. Later."

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" Kenny confidently strode out of the bedroom, "Hey, Clark! What the fuck does that mean?!" She furiously yelled at the teen.

Kenny ignored Kennedy, shutting the bedroom door behind him, leaving the two twins inside. He now had a sly victorious smile on his face, "Finally got the best of Kennedy? You're having a good morning," His ears perked to Mindy's voice as the tired-looking Asian girl stood leaning against the wall by her bedroom door,

"Having a pretty fucking great one, actually," Kenny chuckled back. He dropped his bag and walked over to Mindy, taking a position against the wall across from her, "Have to admit, I was surprised even to see Kennedy this morning. I was sure you would have killed her last night,"

"I considered it, but I wasn't sure how ride or die you really would be. I mean, do you pick becoming a detective or your best friend?" Mindy hummed back, teetering her hands up and down sarcastically,

"Oh, have a little faith, Mindy; I'd at least help you hide the **** weapon," Mindy let out a giggle,

"Please, give me a little credit. If I wanted to kill her, I'd drive an icicle through her cold, evil heart. Then I'd let it melt in the sink, no weapon to link me to," Mindy confidently retorted,

"You thought a lot about this, haven't you?" Kenny smirked,

Mindy tossed her eyes, "Only with Kennedy,"

Kenny gave an accepting nod, "Fair enough,"

"How come you're so happy?" Mindy asked with a raise of her brow, "And not just normal Kenny happy, but happy."

"I...had a good night," Kenny grinned,

Mindy's brow raised, "Good? Like a good night? Or a good night?" She leaned in ever so slightly,

"I'd prefer not to kiss and tell," Mindy's eyes widened, and her jaw dropped slightly in disbelief. He craned his head, motioning to the stairs, "Ready to go home?"

"Totally," Mindy accepted with a smile, "Because you are totally spilling what happened last night as soon as we're out of here,"

The two best friends picked their bags back up and headed on down to the first floor of the lodge. They passed by more than a few still passed out, snoring friends scattered throughout the first floor, and met up with Juliet at the front door, "Good, you're up; Claire and Kennedy coming?"

"Yeah, probably be right behind us," Kenny returned to his cousin, taking a moment to look her over, "Are you alright? You look like you're sulking,"

"I'm fine, just tried, and I want to leave," Juliet curtly replied, killing the conversation right then and there,

"Uh...alright," Kenny reluctantly accepted. He gave the back of his head a scratch, peering at Mindy before shrugging, "Guess we'll head down now and see you at home later?"

"Yeah, sounds good," Juliet agreed, stepping aside.

However, as Kenny went for the door with Mindy in tow, he heard the shrill shout of Claire's voice, "Kenny, wait! Don't go without me!" Kenny looked back, finding Claire rushing down the stairs with a more than confused Kennedy following,

"What?" Kenny immediately asked,

"Yeah, what do you mean without you?" Juliet added,

"Kenny's gonna drive Kenzie and me home!" Claire sweetly replied with a wide, ear-to-ear smile.

"I am?" Kenny replied with a tilt of his head.