Stressful Showdown, Catty Chat

Fred walked back into his room to find a seething Harvey sitting at the desk chair. Ignoring his childhood friend, Fred went about placing his toiletry bag and dirty clothes away. It was while he searched through the dresser drawer for a shirt to wear that Harvey finally spoke.

"How long do you plan on ignoring me?"

"Until you drop that 'Dad look' from your face."

"That's what you get acting like a little kid who hopes nobody notices that giant stain on the floor," Harvey stated before raising his voice. "What the fuck were you thinking?"

"About what?"

"Don't get smart with me, Fred! You're not a kid playing pranks anymore. The way you've treated Skye this week might be the lowest thing I've ever seen you do. And I've seen a lot of shit from you over the years."

"I could say the same about you, you know."

"Don't throw this back at me. I've never lied about my dead wife."

"I didn't lie. I just failed to mention some details," Fred said, shrugging.

"That's bullshit, and you know it!" Harvey slammed his fist down onto his thigh. "I have a girl upstairs in tears because you tried to get cute rather than deal with reality. Cassandra's dead and it's time to deal with it.

"I know she's dead! You think I don't deal with it every single fucking day!"

"No, you don't. You bury the pain away in a bottle and young women." Harvey leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. "Fred, you flinch every time you hear Cassie's name. You can't go through life avoiding her name and what she meant to you."

"You try having the woman you love ripped away from you. Then we'll see how you act. Oh, wait, we've already seen a lesser version of it," Fred barked out a laugh. "You break Beverly's heart and can't stand to hear the sound of her name, but my wife is killed by fucking ice, and I'm supposed to act all happy."

"If Cassandra had died a year ago, then this would be acceptable. Maybe even five years ago, but it's been ten years. It's not healthy at this point. You have to move on."

"Move on? She wasn't some pet, who I replace with a new one!"

"That's not what I meant," Harvey sighed. "No one is suggesting you replace Cassie. We all just want you to try and find some happiness. Do you think she would want you acting like this?"

"Don't you dare presume to know what she wanted!" Fred shouted.

"No, I won't. I wasn't close enough to her to know. But I bet her best friends would know," Harvey said, pulling out his phone. "Should we call Tinsley right now and ask what she thinks? Or better yet, how about we go upstairs and ask Bridget? Hell, I bet even Kimberly would agree with me. Did you know that's she's been the one there for Skye since that poor girl found out last night? Yeah, I'm shocked too. Although I suspect her rare moment of compassion stems more out of loyalty to her friend than to a woman she just met, but at least she's trying."

"You have a strange way of thinking."

"No, all those friends of Cassandra know she would want you to meet someone nice that makes you happy. Maybe you never noticed, but they've driven away many of the floozies you've picked up over the years. Sure, protecting Finn was the most significant factor, but they were also trying to help you."

"Finn didn't need protecting, and I certainly don't," Fred said with an angry huff.

"No, Finn didn't need any protection. He got that from Rachel and Clive." Rubbing his forehead, Harvey admitted his own fault. "Maybe I gave you the benefit of the doubt for too long. I hoped my prankster friend would return once he was over his initial grieving. Or maybe I was too wrapped up in my failing marriage and family turmoil. But I at least should have realized you weren't doing well when you dumped Finn off on Rachel and Clive."

"I didn't dump him off on them. He likes being over there with people his own age instead of his grandparents. You know how it was for me with my dad old enough to be my grandfather," Fred recalled. "Besides, I travel for my job, so it worked out best."

"Best for you, maybe. Don't you think your son wanted you around?" Harvey remarked with a shake of the head. "He lost his mother, and then his father practically disappears. And don't use travel as an excuse. I travel extensively but make sure to be there for Whitney."

"Oh, yes, you're father of the year," Fred snorted. "At least I don't regal my kid with stories about all of the women I've slept with. Harv, don't ever try and tell me how to raise my son."

"Fine, I won't. But I will tell you it's time to get your shit together," Harvey said, standing up. "You need to talk to someone. No more burying your grief inside."

"Like a therapist?" Fred asked with a laugh. "The great Harvey Diamond, the man that hates to tell others his inner thoughts, wants me to see a shrink? Oh, this is fucking classic."

"You do that, or I drop the nuclear option on you," Harvey said quietly but with a warning in his words.

"And what's that option? Get my sister to yell at me?"

"No, I call your mother."

"Y-you wouldn't!" Fred gasped in horror.

"Yes, I would. Someone needs to give you a good kick in the ass. I'll even have her flown up here from that retirement home in Florida if I have to."

"You know her doctors say she shouldn't fly."

"Then I'll have her driven up here, Fred. I don't care how but I will use her for the last resort if you don't clean up your act," Harvey warned, walking closer to his friend. "Although I might need to kick your ass first."

Fred let out a snort. "When have you ever been able to kick my ass."

"You're a gaunt, shell of the man that I once knew. So, yeah, I bet I could take you."

As Fred prepared a snappy comeback, Harvey unleashed a low punch right into his friend's gut. Doubling over in sudden pain, Fred gasped for air before crumpling onto the bed.

"That's for telling Skye to get a new sugar daddy," Harvey informed his friend. Then, leaning over, he gave his friend another warning. "I want my old friend back, Freddie. It's time to bring him back. If you act up again, I won't call your mother yet; I'll call Larry to come down early. Maybe he can talk some sense into you, and I don't care what Kimberly thinks of him showing up."

"Y-you hit me," Fred said in shock.

"I did, and I wish I didn't need to," Harvey stated, walked over to the door. "We're leaving for the pond in an hour or so. The pitchforks and torches might be out for you upstairs by now, so I suggest you wait until we leave to have your breakfast. Oh, and Skye is staying for as long as she wants. So you better be civil to her."

Closing the door behind him, Harvey stood in the hall, flexing his sore hand from the punch. He also waited a moment to calm down, wiping a stray tear from his eye. I'm sorry, buddy. I know you've had a rough go, but this is what's best for you. I owe it to Finn and Cassie to finally do what's right.

Regaining control of his composure, Harvey walked down the hall to the rec room. There he found Sean doing his own double-check of the area near the fryer. The teenager had the look of guilt one has when they were listening to something they shouldn't be.

"Sean, everything go okay with the driver?"

"Oh! Yeah, here," Sean said, reaching around to grab some bills from the counter. "I made sure to give the guy a nice tip, as you said."

Harvey pocketed the change. "Thanks again, Sean. I'm sorry that your trip to the cabin hasn't been all that great so far. How are the bruises doing today?"

"They're not too--how did you know?" Sean questioned once he realized Harvey wasn't talking about the bruise on his forehead.

"Seemed pretty obvious to me at least," the older man said with a shrug. "If you think of something fun you would like to do while here, just let me know. You've been a big help so far and deserve a thanks."

"That's okay, Mr. Diamond. I'm just happy to help," Sean responded. "Uh, how are you?" The teen asked, not wanting to be obvious, but his eyes flicked to the guest room as he spoke.

"Could be better, to be honest. I just hope you never have to deal with a circumstance like this when you get to be my age. It looks like you did a good job cleaning up already."

"Oh, thanks. I just wanted to make sure that it's alright. I kinda cut it short when I heard all the excitement when Skye tried to leave," Sean admitted.

"Well, if that was your rush job, it was certainly better than Whitney's usual cleaning. I can finish off any spots you missed."

"No, I'm good. And you probably need to get back to making breakfast," Sean noted.

"Ah, that I do. Don't take much longer. We all need to get ready to leave soon," Harvey reminded him as he moved to the stars.

As Sean finished, he gathered the cleaning materials and turned around only to jump slightly. He never heard another person silently creep up on him.

"Hello, Sean. Aren't you a helpful young man," Kimberly remarked. The older woman proceeded to walk behind the bar, stopping a few feet away from him, and placed her toiletry bag on the counter. Turning so that her back was to the bar, she leaned her upper body against it, stretching her legs out in front of her. The position pushed out her medium-sized breasts, still clad covered only by the lingerie under her semi-open robe, while effectively trapping Sean. "Do you like helping take care of people's needs?"

"Morning again, Ms. Goose. Uh, are you waiting to take a shower? I think Mrs. Gettinger is probably almost done."

"Ms. Goose? Oh, my! I'm so sorry, Sean. Did you think I've forgotten about you?" Kimberly teasingly inquired, turning her to face him while her hand played with her robe, bringing his eyes to her bust. "You did, didn't you?"

"Forgotten about me?" Sean asked, hoping this wasn't the start of another teasing session by her.

"By having some fun with Jared," Kimberly added after noticing his mouth drop open in surprise. "Now, don't get jealous on me, Seanie. I might have sucked Jared dry the other night and fucked him last night, but you were still my first stud on this trip. And a girl never forgets her first."

Sean's plan to ignore the older blonde's teasing fell apart as she turned to face him with her body. Jared fucked her last night?

"You know you're still my main squeeze, right?" The platinum blonde accented the word 'squeeze' by cupping his cock at the same time. "Now that I know you are into MILFs, we're going to have such a delicious time."

"Wha--No!" Sean knocked her hand away from his dick. "I've had enough of your shit. You are to leave me alone, or else I'm telling people what you've been doing."

"Go ahead, boy," Kimberly replied, flashing a sinister smile. "Let's tell them everything, and I do mean everything. I bet your momma would love to hear all that her baby boy has been up to."

"You can't threaten me. Let me through." Sean tried to push his way past his mother's frenemy. She put up little physical resistance. Instead, she let her words act for her.

"It will surely be entertaining to see people's reactions when they hear about you and Gabriela."

Sean's feet grounded to a halt as his body froze in fear.

"You know, being preoccupied with my own boy toy, it took me a little while to piece everything together. Gabby and Jeff were pretty loud as they fucked the morning away, and when I saw your reaction to Jeff in the kitchen, all those little soundbites I heard fell into place."

"I don't know what you're talking about, Ms. Goose," Sean tried to bluff his way out of the predicament he found himself in.

"Really? Your freezing up proved my case," Kimberly pointed out, grabbing hold of his shoulder and spinning him around. "Jeff might have forgiven her, but what will their son think? He managed to cover his ears with his pillow to avoid hearing much but knows they were arguing. I bet your mommy will be very disappointed in both of you. And that girl you like? I'm sure she'll be rightly appalled."

"You...you can't be serious. You're really going to stoop to blackmailing me?" What girl? Does she know about Ramsey?

"Blackmail?! Who said anything about blackmail? Wow, your mind sure goes into the gutter fast," Kimberly said, smirking. "Think of this as a partnership, with your buy-in being my silence."

"Partnership? What the hell are you talking about?"

"You like to bang older women, preferably your mother's friends, and I like to fuck young hunks. Once I get my next taste of your tool, I'll help you get what you want next."

Sean stared at the woman in disbelief. That didn't please Kimberly, who expected some words back.

"Hmm, maybe you're not as bright as I thought. Oh, well, a nice cock is a nice cock. What you were supposed to say was: Ms. Goose, what is it that I want? And I would have said: The ginger with the big tits. The mother of the little redhead you like?" A little shiver ran up Kimberly's spine as she saw realization hit Sean. "Yep, I'll help you fuck the ever-loving shit out of Rachel by running interference with Clive."

"You can't be serious?" She thinks I like Lacey?

"Damn right, I am. And for every wish I grant, I expect payment in return. Think of me as a fairy godmother that loves a hard dick as a thank you." The blonde chuckled at her own joke, but Sean didn't join in.

"Wait, you want to help me sleep with other women, and all you want back in return is for me to screw you?"

"No, you will be my on-call cock. I guess that can't really start until you move up to Arbor Corners by me. Maybe you can take a summer class. And I expect you to bring over more young studs," Kimberly revealed. "For Rachel, your payment will be fucking me jointly with Jared. It's been a little while since I was double-teamed, and you two will be perfect."

Feeling sick to his stomach at the plan she had for him, Sean began to shake his head. At first, it was a slight shake, but it grew stronger and more insistent. The older woman's face changed from delight to displeasure.

"Don't you dare even consider telling me no. It won't end well for you."

"You know what, Mrs. Luffltuz. I'll throw you a fuck. FUCK YOU!" Sean shouted in her face. He then abruptly turned and walked confidently away.

"You will do what I want, Sean; you will. That I promise," Kimberly hissed at the back of the teenager as he reached the stairs.

Simmering in rage, Kimberly worked to calm herself down. That little shit will be following my orders to the tee. It will be done by the new year. This, I swear! Her anger in check, she once again chuckled to herself as Sybil exited the bathroom. The two women shot dirty looks at each other before the brunette went down to her bedroom.

"Teenagers, so easy to manipulate. I can't wait to see the look on Bridget's face when she realizes that her son craves my pussy," the blonde said to herself as she gathered her items to go take a shower. Walking out from behind the bar, she stopped as she felt a presence at her side. Looking to the hallway to her right, Kimberly found herself staring at a face red with anger.

"Ah, the best friend," Kimberly noted out loud. "And what's the matter with you?"

"You. Will. Leave. Sean. Alone." JoJo ordered, gritting her teeth as the fury built up inside of her.

"I don't take orders from little--hey!" Kimberly shrieked as the little girl in front of her shoved her.

"If you threaten Sean one more time, you will regret it."

"Am I supposed to be scared of you?" the older woman asked, but lacking the snarky tone she usually used.

"Yes, you should," JoJo replied. Pointing down at her right foot, she explained why. "See this foot? On the soccer field, I kick ass with it all day, all night. If you piss me off, you're going to find it up your ass, first. Then it will be stomping a few more holes in you."

Blanching for a moment at the enraged teen's threat, Kimberly recalled her earlier observations about the young brunette, observations that went back years.

"What's the matter, little one? Do you want him all for yourself?" The mere notion that she wanted Sean caught JoJo off-guard. Kimberly saw it and pressed on further. "Did you finally give up on using those tits to get your best friend?"

"I-I nev--I don't like him like that!" JoJo stammered.

"Sure you don't," Kimberly winked at the off-balance teen. "You know I was once like you at your age. All shy and meek, worried about getting a boy to like me, but lacking the confidence. I definitely lacked those milk wagons." JoJo flinched at the laugh and the words that accompanied it. "Maybe in a different life if I had been--if I had made the mistake of having a daughter, then she would be like you. I'm happy I didn't. If I had a shrinking violet like you, I would just die from embarrassment."

As the words cut deep into JoJo, she looked down at the two mounds on her chest that caused her such discomfort. She tried to shake off the growing doubt inside of her, but Kimberly kept on attacking.

"I guess all isn't hopelessly lost with you. I learned to be tougher and watch out only for myself as life shit on any chance for the fairy tale life that we all want as little girls."

The bitterness and venom in the woman's voice scared JoJo and made her feel some sympathy for anyone that black-hearted. What happened to her to make her this much of a bitch?

"I'll offer you two choices. One: you stand aside, and I'll let you ride your best friend's long lance of a cock to orgasm after orgasm." Moving in closer, the platinum-haired shrew leaned in to whisper into JoJo's year. "Two: you get in my way, and I'll ruin you. Rumors will run rampant around Zurbrugg College about the whore-slut known as JoJo Gibble. You won't get one decent guy interested in you for all four years there. Choose wisely, my dear."

Struggling to hold back a flood of angry and despondent tears, JoJo didn't need to think about her reply. Raising her head, she looked the succubus dead in the eyes.

"Stay away from Sean. If not, I'll come for you."

Snapping her head back in laughter, Kimberly walked to the bathroom. Reaching the door, she threw a casual look over her shoulder.

"Best look into another school, Miss Gibble. With me there, you will find Arbor Corners to be your personal hell."