morning after awkwardness

I woke up the next morning still spooning Claire. "Morning." He whispered. I could hear the insensitive clanging of plates in the kitchen.

"Morning." I whispered back, "Why are we whispering?"

"Hangover." He explained softly. "How'd you sleep?"

I was about to say something when Joey shouted from the kitchen, "Hey lovebirds, wake up. We gotta clear out by noon."

"Fine." I groaned and sat up bouncing Claire on top of me. We stared at each other awkwardly. "Sorry."

"I'm not." He smiled as he stood and wrapped the blanket around him. As he walked away he woke up Jerry.

"Where are we?" Jerry groaned as he followed Claire to the bathroom. Twenty minutes later they returned washed up and still wearing their club outfits....did they shower together? Jerry sat across from me with his head in his hands. "I wish I were dead." He groaned.

"Here." I pushed a plate of greasy bacon to him. "It'll make you feel better."

"Will it kill me?"

"No."

"Can't catch a break." He groaned and bit his bacon. We ate silently except for the clanging of forks on plates and crunches of bacon. I had many questions but I could see he was in no condition to answer them. Every few moments I would look at Claire nursing his hangover with a hair of the dog we had left over. Even without make-up he was still cute and feminine.

I packed up my overnight bag and we loaded up in the truck, Kyle offered to drive Jerry home but I told him that was a no go. Even though we had more people now with the other guys picked up at the club we had plenty of room with the guys split up into Kyle's car and Joey's truck. Jerry and I sat in the bed of Joey's truck bed. Joey had installed a couple of bucket seats in the back years ago so it wasn't a terrible ride back even though the wind was pretty chilly. "What are you doing here?"

"Going home."

"Smart ass. Seriously Jerry."

"I didn't know Kyle was there last night until Claire brought him up to me."

"And why was that?" I already knew the answer even without his lousy poker face.

Jerry stiffened and gathered up his courage, "We went out yesterday...err, Friday. What day is it?"

"Sunday."

Jerry sat quietly, I wanted to ask him more but he always was a sensitive kid even though he tried to act like he was a hard ass. "Do you hate me now?"

"Why would I?"

"You sound mad."

"I'm just worried about you. What happened last night? Did he...did you two..."

"What? No. We went out once, I'm not a slut." He looked at the clubbing clothes he still wore then at me. "Well, I'm not." He sat quietly for a moment before looking to the front, "Are you and Claire dating?"

"What? No!"

"Why not?"

"What do you mean why not? He's a guy!"

"So? He's cute. You obviously like him."

"I'm not gay."

"You made out with him all night."

"How do you know about that?"

"He told me, duh."

"I thought he was a girl."

"Sure, that's why you were making eyes at him over breakfast." Shit, he saw me.

"I can't..."

"You think too much." He was right, I think too much, though I'd never tell him that. We sat silently as we dropped off Joey's hookup last night, Frankie. "Bye Frankie!" Jerry hung over the side of the truck sticking his butt in my face as he did.

"Bye cutie!" Frankie hugged Jerry, "I'll see you at school." Frankie let go of Jerry and stepped to Joey who had stepped out of the truck. "And you, I hope I'll see you again too."

"I would love that my dear." Frankie giggled when Joey kissed his hand sweetly. Who knew the guy had it in him? Frankie walked slowly into his house stealing glances at Joey. Once he was inside we finally drove off again.

"Hey, you're wearing white."

"Sherlock you are truly astounding."

"So was Frankie."

"Yeah."

"And Claire."

"Yeah, we kind of went with a theme." Jerry cleared his throat.

"A theme?"

"Like...virginal cause Kyle-"

"I thought you said you didn't-"

"No! Kyle was my first ever date."

"Oh...you need to be careful."

"I know all about condoms thank you."

"No...look I'll be real with you, my first girlfriend I thought I was so in love. I was sure she was perfect for me."

"Danielle?"

"Yeah."

"She treated you like crap!"

"That's what I mean. I was in love and I ignored the red flags. You know what mom always says, red flags just look like flags when you wear rose-colored glasses."

"What red flags does Kyle have?" his voice was so small and distant.

"You honestly probably know him better than I do at this point, just be careful okay?" Jerry threw his arms around me, "What are you doing?!"

"Hugging my brother idiot," he shouted into my chest.

"C-come on let me go!" I tried to reach or his hands to pry him off of me but couldn't reach, "You know I don't like hugs!" I tried pushing him off but he held on, "Get-"

He suddenly let go and I realized we had stopped again, "You're turn." I wasn't about to hug him back! Strangely he climbed out of the truck bed and dropped next to Claire waiting with a smile. Somehow, despite the bumps and potholes, he had applied his makeup in a toned down version of last night but still just as immaculate.

"Oh...I had fun. Thanks." Claire's smile stayed but his eyes no longer smiled at me. It was one of those smiles when you don't want someone to see you cry. Jerry glared at me from Behind Claire and angrily motioned for me to get out of the truck.

"Oh okay." Claire turned back and slowly shuffled up to his large house. I couldn't get out of the truck. I looked at Joey who's muffled curses at me I couldn't hear but I still understood. If I got out of the truck then it meant something I didn't want it to mean. I just can't.

Joey knocked on the back window and opened it, "He forgot this." Damn it.

I took the little heart shaped...I guess was a purse and vaulted over the side of the truck and ran up to Claire who was stopped at his door. "Wait!" I shouted as I bounded up to him. "You forgot this."

"Oh...thank you." He still didn't look up to me, "Is that all?"

"I..." I felt a tightness in my chest like a snake had wrapped itself around me. "Well, about last night...Jerry, what are you doing?" Jerry was smiling up at me smugly waiting for confirmation of what he thought he knew.

"My clothes are here."

"Then go get them," I growled through gritted teeth.

"Oh...sure." Jerry ran inside, I was amazed he could run so well on heels. How long had he been wearing them?

"So, anyway...I enjoyed last night."

"Okay." Clearly, it wasn't enough because he still sounded hurt.

"I wonder...maybe if, you know."

"No," He finally looked up at me square in my eyes. "I don't."

"Like I said last night I'm new in town and I thought maybe you could show me around?"

"Show you around?" His smile told me he was not going to make this easy for me.

"Like if I wanted to take someone on a date, where would I go? I suppose burgerpalooza is out?"

"It depends on the person. Some 'one' might like there but if it was me I would say les amoureux is the best. If you were going for a romantic evening that is."

"That is. I mean would you like to go with me?"

"When?"

"Friday."

Jerry came back out huffing and puffing. Obviously, he rushed to change to spy on us, "I'll check my schedule and call you." Claire stepped inside his house.

"You don't have my number."

"Yes, I do." He smiled victoriously, "Jerry gave it to me."

"Of course he did."