Charm and Venting

While Gavin and Heather stayed behind at the entrance Victoria pulled Kurt down the nearby mountain base trail. After what happened with Brandon she wanted as much distance as she could get. Though they didn't get very far before Kurt spoke up, "So, you feel like sharing your thought process on what just happened back there?"

Victoria began to slow down and brought a hand up rubbing her brow thoughtfully, "What, um, what do you mean?" The blonde girl replied, feigning confusion,

"Well, after spending most of yesterday with you I figured you were the cute, quiet type," Kurt smiled back causing Victoria to feel a small burning in her cheeks almost immediately, "But not it looks like I was wrong, you're fierce,"

Victoria let out a breathy laugh, "No, you were right the first time, I'm not like that. Ever actually, that was...it was a rare case," She easily denied, unable to look up at the smiling man ahead of her,

"Don't be modest, you stood up for your friend from her asshole of an ex, that took serious courage!" Kurt proudly exclaimed,

"I don't know if I'd go that far," Victoria murmured back, now looking up at Kurt with a warm smile, "All I know is my best friend broke up with Brandon for a reason, and he has no right to judge her or pretend he has some kind of...ownership,"

"Couldn't agree more," Kurt nodded before letting out a slow pleased exhale, "You, Ms.Walker, may be the most intoxicating women I have ever had the pleasure to meet,"

Victoria took a small step back as her face began to burn red, "You're sweet, Kurt but I --"

"Easy, no need to get all flustered, just offering the truth," Kurt calmly told the girl who oddly did feel relief, she half expected the teen to try and kiss her even,

"I'm sorry, Kurt, I'm not great with this stuff," Victoria lowly sighed, "You're...attractive, but I don't just jump into things. I've only ever dated one other guy in my life and that --"

"I'm holding no expectations," Kurt smoothly interrupted, "Just being able to spend some time in your presence, that's more than enough for me,"

Victoria blinked a few times and then reached up tucking her hair behind her ear, "You really aren't anything like I expected, Kurt,"

"I will take that as a compliment," Kurt chuckled back, "Shall we?" Victoria let out a quick nod and began to walk the trail with Kurt, shoulder to shoulder all the while Kurt kept a grin on his face.

In the meantime, Chloe and Brandon made their way up the mountain side, climbing up some higher cliff edges, making their way towards the top in silence. While Chloe didn't feel any fear from Brandon she was grateful for the silence, instead of the anger fueled jock from earlier. It wasnt until a few hours in, as they were reaching the peak of the mountain, that Brandon spoke up.

"How's it feel to be best friends with a snake," Brandon grunted as he pulled himself up over a stone ledge,

"Excuse me?" Chloe asked, glancing back towards him, her eyebrow raised,

"I mean it, how is everyone just fucking fine with Bishop stealing my girlfriend? Does no one but me see how much of a piece of shit he's being? That he'd stoop so fucking low as to --" Brandon began to rant,

"First off, watch your fucking tone when you're talking about my friend," Chloe sharply interrupted, "Secondly, Zack didn't "Steal" Ashley from you, he didn't do anything. Whatever happened betweem you and Ashley was just that and Zack is only offering support. And thirdly, Brandon, as much as it might suck to hear, it's Ashley's choice on who she wants to spend time with or be with, not yours. If you were still dating things would be very different but now, she is no different than me or Victoria,"

"What, so it's just happenstance that Ashley leaves me and Zack suddenly sweeps her off her feet?" Brandon retorted,

"Yeah, it is, and as Zack's best friend I am allowed to speak with authority on it because I know he had no visions on Ashley before this week when she chose him," Chloe immediately shot back, "Have you really stopped to think that just maybe you should be looking at yourself instead of Zack and Ashley?"

Brandon opened his mouth to respond but he hesitated, "It...it was an accident, a complete utter accident, and I was drunk when it happened," Brandon lowly explained,

Chloe let out a slow exhale and shook her head, "I'm sorry Brandon, really, but it happened still. Accident or not, you can't expect or **** Ashley to forgive you, it just doesn't work that way,"

Brandon hung his head in shame, "Sorry...for, you know," The jock sincerely apologized after a moment. Chloe nodded back, not fully able to honestly accept it. After a few moments the pair heard a distant rumble, "Sounds like a storm," Brandon noted,

"Yeah, big one, over there and coming our way," Chloe agreed pointing out towards the distant skyline where a swelling of black clouds formed, "We better head back, Im sure the others will be back by then too," Brandon silently agreed and the pair turned back, climbing their way back down.