date etiquette

I put myself away and backed out of the door into the hall. I can't believe it, first I wake up spooning a guy now I made out with one all night. I just wanted this day to be over. I heard the sound of someone's beer being returned rather violently down the hall and went to investigate hoping, well I don't know what, maybe to see someone having a worse night than me. "Jerry?"

Jerry looked to me with a sickly confused smile of someone who was not done throwing up. Kyle busied himself rubbing Jerry's back. How did he know Jerry? I wanted to ask but I felt like I already knew. "He had a bit too much."

I remembered last new years when dad let him have one glass of scotch and he ended up dancing in the living room until he puked on the curtains."He doesn't drink." I sat next to Jerry on the floor taking in for the first time what Jerry was wearing. He had on a white skirt and a matching top and one heel when he looked up at me he had on ruined makeup. What was with this town? "Jerry?" He groaned his head in the bowl, "What are you doing here?"

He waved at Kyle who still rubbed Jerry's back silently. "Claire said they were having a girls night out."

"Girls night out?" Was Claire behind this?

"It's a thing some boys here do."

"Do you realize that's like the definition of irony right?"

"I think you mean oxymoronical." Kyle smiled clearly joking to ease the situation. Honestly, I was grateful for it. Jerry pulled himself out of the bowl and threw himself in my lap.

"How come you're in here?"

"Same reason you are I guess." Kyle soaked a rag in the sink and rung it out before handing it to me so I could wipe his face clean.

Freddy stuck his head in smiling drunkenly, "Is he okay?"

"How do you know he wasn't?"

They looked at me strangely but I couldn't help being protective of Jerry, especially in his condition. "It's obvious." Freddy gestured to Jerry in my lap, "What's with you?"

"He's my brother."

They both looked surprised, "They are shooketh darling!" Jerry giggled then groaned, what did any of that mean?

"I should probably go."

"Why?" I was in no mood to hide my obvious accusatory tone.

"Hey, I didn't bring him!" Freddy shouted back defensively backing away into our room. If Jerry wasn't clinging desperately to me I would have chased after him for answers. As it turns out I didn't need to move to get answers.

"I brought him." Kyle sat back on the side of the tub.

"Why?"

"He was my date last night."

"Why?" I was stunned Jerry was dating Kyle? It was better than my original fear that they were double-teaming him in one of the rooms.

"What do you mean why? He's very cute."

"He's my brother!"

"I swear I didn't know." I tried to stand and...I don't know kick his ass? Jerry groaned and clung tighter to me keeping me down. For a scrawny kid, he was determined. I wanted to do something. I should do something right? "We can talk later."

"You're damn right we will," I mumbled so's not to wake Jerry. Awhile after Kyle left I picked Jerry up slowly and carried him to the living room since mine was now fully used up. I saw Claire curled up on the couch watching tv as I slowly sat down with a sleeping Jerry.

"Is he okay?"

"He just doesn't drink." We sat silently while Al Bundy insulted fat women on tv. "I always liked this show," I said awkwardly.

"Yeah, it's funny."

"Hm! I don't feel good!" Jerry sat up bracing himself on the edge of the couch with a groan.

"You think you're gonna be sick again?" Jerry stared off at nothing. "I'll get you a bucket." I quickly hopped into the kitchen grabbing a bucket under the sink. "Here, hold this." I handed Jerry the bucket and raced back into the kitchen. "If you're gonna drink you gotta be smart about it," I called from the fridge before returning with a sprite and a pack of crackers. "Here. Eat. Drink."

"Hnno."

"Trust me." I sat next to him opening the crackers and forcing him to take one which he slowly ate. "I've been there, you're gonna be fine."

"Never again." Claire and I traded a look and laughed that everyone who drinks shares when someone says they'll never drink again.

"Welcome to the wonderful world of drinking." Claire pushed Jerry's hair out of his face. We traded another look, much different from before.

"I wa-Sorry. You go." We both said at the same time and laughed.

I motioned for him to go, "I wanted to say I'm sorry. I really thought you knew."

"I'm sorry I freaked out."

"I thought you were really sweet until then."

"I thought you were...I mean you still...That is to say-"

"He thinks you're cute!" Jerry yelled so loud I'm sure the whole cabin heard his drunken exclamation.

"Jerry you little-...Hey!" The little snot passed out sitting up! Clair pulled Jerry into his lap with a warm smile. "He does this all the time!"

"You still think I'm cute?" Claire smiled while he stroked Jerry's hair.

"I did. I mean yeah. You still are. It's just I never...with a guy." For several minutes we watched more of Al Bundy's antics in silence until Clair spoke up.

"If...If we started over and were completely honest would you want to?"

"How?"

He straightened up and offered his hand to me, "Hi, I'm Claire. I'm a guy and I'm a friend of your brother's."

I chuckled and took his hand, "I'm Brian, I must say you're very pretty and I'm sorry you have to put up with him."

"Thank you, and I manage."

"Claire, is that short for something?"

He thought for a moment, "Since you're so cute I'll tell you. It's Clarence but if you call me that I'll break your driving finger."

"My driving finger?"

"You know the one."

"Ouch. Well, I like Claire."

"I like Brian."

Jerry snored loudly, "Well, this was fun but I think it's time we put him down."

"To bed?"

Claire pushed Jerry off of his lap and I gently held Jerry up so he could slip out, "Sure let's go with that." He straightened his skirt and left the room while I tried to make Jerry comfortable. "You're such a pain in my ass." I sighed and sat the bucket on the floor where he could easily find it just in case, "But I love you anyway."

Claire came back with a blanket and draped it over him. "I only could find one other blanket."

I sighed, "You take it."

"No, You'll freeze."

"I'll be fine. I'll just..." I sat in the recliner beside the couch, "...you take it."

"You sure?"

"Pfft, please. I'm fine." I was already regretting not grabbing my pants before I bolted from my now occupied room. And I definitely wasn't going back to Freddy.

"Okay." He sat in the recliner opposite mine and pulled the blanket on top of him. "Good night."

"Sweet dreams." I tried to sound fine as I leaned back in the chair. The temperature in the room quickly dropped even with the tv on putting out what little heat it could. I shivered silently in my seat thinking back to my first jump in the pool. This place had some unbelievable temperature changes. If I survive the night I'll ask Michelle what's up with that. I suddenly felt the blanket draped over me. "What? I said-"

"Shh, there's chivalry and then there's being stupid, besides," Claire slipped under the blanket with me in the cramped chair, "I thought we agreed I'd just sleep on top of you anyway." Claire nuzzled in close to me, his immaculate face inches from my face. I could still remember how his kiss tasted like cherry topped with a taste of apple.

I kissed him once more softly, "Good night." I tried not to think what any of it meant.

He smiled warmly, "Sweet dreams." As far as ways to fall asleep I've had worse.