The Other Six

Anna watched from a distance as Nicole tugged Kenny along, bringing him down a tree-covered trail occasionally marked with red posts. She opened her mouth to call out to them but paused, holding back at the last second. The idea of Nicole getting some peace of mind for the day with Kenny, far away from any drama Devin would without a doubt cause her, kept Anna back. She desperately wanted her best friend to be happy, Nicole deserved it more than anyone she knew. So Anna let the pair go with a small smile, doing her best to ignore the nagging question in her head. Was Nicole only using Kenny to feel better?

Anna was gratefully pulled away from that question as Brian called out, "Anna, hang on, don't run off yet!" Turning back the blonde didn't even dare to suppress a smile. After months of knowing Brian, as well as his reputation, Anna couldn't have been more pleasantly surprised by his actions on the trip thus far. The expectation of the former player living up to the expectation to dive right into her pants was already squashed and now...now she was seriously considering what to do with the information of his minor crush on her. It was always in the back of her mind at school all the way through senior year, but she never felt like she would end up in a situation to deal with it. Her issues with her break up with Eric aside, Brian's never-ending turnover with girls in the past, and his otherwise clear interest in Juliet always made her feel like it was a non-issue in the end. But now it was center front, and for some reason she couldn't explain, she was enjoying being the center of his eye.

Silently Anna returned to the group that had gathered at the trail starts, though Devin was the first to immediately point out the lack of two in their group, "Wait, hang on a minute, where the hell are Kenny and Nicole? They lag behind?" The teen asked with a glance over his shoulder,

"Actually, the opposite, they are already on a trail," Anna replied in a tone a bit colder than usual as she talked to the older teen. Anna hadn't expected it herself, but since that little fight with Nicole yesterday, a fire lit in her stomach. No matter what she thought, Nicole Moore was her best friend, and if Devin broke her heart? Well, there wasn't any reason to mince words and play the always-sweet girl, it was time to be a real friend.

"What? What do you mean, we just got here," Devin frowned with a toss of his hands, "They already took off, where'd they go?"

Before anyone could say another word Anna suddenly felt another burst of anger in her chest, "I hardly think that's any of your business anymore, Devin. You don't own her, she can go anywhere she likes without telling you," Anna shot back with a narrowed brow, and for that moment, everyone's eyes were on the normally meek girl.

"Excuse me?" Devin icily replied with a tilt of his head, now glaring solely at the blonde girl,

Anna didn't back down, instead, she stood all the taller, "When you break someone's trust, and they leave you, you don't get to know what they are doing anymore, Devin," Anna sarcastically retorted, "That's why it's called, separation,"

"You don't know what the fuck you're talking about!" Devin exclaimed, jutting a finger out towards the girl only for Brian to suddenly step forward, standing directly between the two, Anna now tucked behind his back,

"Step back, check yourself, and don't you ever talk to her that way. Hear me?" Brian said in an eerily calm tone, his blue eyes sharp, as if he were waiting for Devin to make a move.

"Easy guys, let's just all take a breath here. Things are tense, but no one needs to do anything rash," Juliet peacefully interjected with a few steps toward the duo, "Honestly, maybe splitting up today could do us all some good. We should take a little while to chill out, hmm?"

"Yeah, come on, listen to Julie," Mindy agreed with a quick nod, "Anna, you and Brian can go to the mines by Winterhollow, and I'll take Devin down the trail through the woods," The Asian girl offered while moving to Devin and planting her hand gently on her shoulder, "That work? Just until everyone gets their heads clear?"

The teenager glanced down at the shorter girl, his body remained tense and the normally laid-back rockstar returned his eyes to Brian, "Fine by me," Devin muttered, but it was clear, he was more than willing to take things to the next step if Brian tried it.

Yet, Brian let himself relax, not moving away from his protective stance in front of Anna, he gave Julie and Mindy an easy nod, "I'm all good with that," Brian nodded, giving a glance back to Anna, "That work for you, Anna?"

"That sounds like an excellent idea, I was already thinking of that, and I'd love your company," Anna agreed while reaching out and taking Brian by the hand, gently pulling him away from the group,

"God get me the fuck away from these people," Devin scoffed as he too turned and stormed down the trail entrance into the woods, "You coming?" He asked with a sharp exhale towards Mindy, clearly expecting to be left alone by the girl,

"Yeah, right behind you, let's go," Mindy nodded without much concern or reaction to the older teen,

"Mindy...you sure?" Avery finally spoke up in a near whisper as his friend stepped past him,

"He needs someone to give him a reality check, I got this," Mindy reassured him before continuing on her way, catching up with Devin before disappearing into the cover of snowy spruce trees,

"Well, what the actual fuck, huh?" Juliet finally asked as she watched Anna and Brian shrinking into the distance as they made their way up an incline around the left side of Kaster Mountain, "I know two trails I'm not interested in going on now,"

"I know what you mean," Avery murmured back with a shake of his head, "I can't believe that shit almost broke down into a fight. Brian and Devin were like...playing chicken on who was going to say the last thing to break that thin line of peace. I mean Christ..." Avery sighed before glancing back to the woods, "I hope Mindy will be okay with Devin,"

"Devin's heartbroken, not a monster, Avery. She'll be fine," Juliet reminded the teen with a comforting squeeze on his shoulder, "Besides, in a fight, I'd take Mindy over Devin any day, she's got a fire in her. Come on, you should know, I've heard the shit talk she gives you and Kenny while playing!" She added on with a quick laugh,

Avery broke from his reserved nature and briefly let out a breathy laugh of his own, joining Juliet, "Yeah, you're right," He agreed while turning and looking at his friend's cousin, "So, the question still remains though, what trail are we going on? Unless you'd prefer we go back to the lodge? Or like...I could go if you want."

"Oh shut up," The denial was a touch more abrupt than Avery expected, "I'm not getting involved in the two trails of whiners, I'd prefer a fun day, and you're going to help me with that day or I'm going to scream" Juliet jokingly replied, "And knowing my cousin, he wouldn't have wanted to climb the peak, so that means he's on the fire tower trail...and I really don't want to walk in on him and Nicole in the -- Let's not even think about it."

Avery raised a brow, "You think? I'd be --"

"Not thinking about it, Avery!"

"Right, sorry, uh, so you're saying that the only option left is the peak climb, huh?"

Juliet shrugged and smirked, "Unless you don't think you can handle it, in that case, we slink back to the lodge,"

"I mean, I think I can handle it, plus...it'd be kinda cool to see the peak. I never saw the Simon Kaster plaque in person." He glanced up to the very tip of the mountain, "That'd be sweet."

"See? It'll be worth whatever it takes!" He grabbed Avery's arm and gave him a small tug, forcing him to start walking with her, "Besides, here's another plus. I'll be so far ahead of you, you get the benefit of being able to check out my ass, West, lucky you." Juliet boldly flirted, but her blue eyes twinkled with intrigue at Avery's response,

"You might be mistaking me with Brian or something, come on, Julie." He simply chuckled back, taking it all in utterly good faith and fun.

"Nope...definitely not confusing you two...at all," Juliet returned with a half smile as she turned forward, "You might not actually look at all..." She couldn't help but think with some very real, and genuine disappointment.