"Damn, what's with you girls and airport bathrooms?" Ben asked, bouncing Patti on his hip while the baby watched the streams of people around them. "The plane pro'ly already landed." he chided, looking at his wrist watch for emphasis.
"Well we had to pee." Carmen said haughtily, ruffling his hair as everyone enjoyed doing.
"Quit that." Ben requested, though he knew they wouldn't.
"You know, three months of hearing your lip is three months too many." Jeanine informed him. "You're in a girl's world now Bucko."
"That's why I thank God that the guys are back." Ben muttered, still being the designated holder of Patti while the girls walked ahead, talking animatedly between themselves.
The terminal wasn't far from the bathrooms, and they soon arrived, breaking away from the throng of people to invade the small, empty space. Ben set Patti down and let her roam free in the deserted sitting area. He plopped down in one of the plastic orange chairs, sitting back and closing his eyes. Timber sat down next to him, stretching out her long legs that were clad in navy blue sailor pants. She wore grey flip-flops on her feet and flapped them repeatedly against the floor as she fiddled with a brown stuffed bear in her lap.
Bob tugged his best friend's arm as she headed for the door.
"Hey Kiddo." he began, his hands behind his back to show he concealed something.
Timber whirled around in the doorway of his bedroom, still panting from the physical fight they had just engaged in. She immediately became suspicious. "What do you have there?" she asked, trying to look around him.
"Well," he started, oddly serious. "You're my best buddy, the only one I can trust. Do I say that too much? If I do, lemme know."
"No, it's fine." she smirked.
"Well, okay. But let me know if I say it too much." he added. "Well I'm going to be busy in Hawaii, recording an album and all this shit, so I kinda wanted you to watch after someone." from behind his back, he produced a stuffed bear.
Timber giggled, taking the bear from him and hugging it. "You have a stuffed animal?" she asked, never having had knowledge of this comfort object before. A shrill laughter that was more teasing than anything else came from her mouth as she inspected the loved animal.
"Yeah." Bob replied, blushing a bit.
"It's so cute!!!" she giggled, patting the little bears head. There was a red bow around it's neck.
"He." Bob corrected.
Timber looked up at her friend and grinned. "Sorry." she smirked. "What's his name?" she asked.
Bob gave her a matter of fact look. "His name's Bear... duh."
Timber smiled wryly at him. "Sorry again. I just keep messin' up today."
"Yeah, really." he teased. "Anyhow, well, Bear gets kinda lonely when I'm busy all day and well... he really doesn't like to be around Scott because Scott's mean to him and Scott abuses Bear... sometimes sexually... so I thought, if it's not too much trouble, that maybe you could make sure Bear is safe and happy while I'm gone."
Timber smiled at him. "Of course." she replied. "We wouldn't want Bear to be alone with Scott... I mean, the boy needs to learn what unwanted touching is. Damn."
"Exactly." Bob agreed. "Bear just needs a few things and he should be all set." Bob said.
"A few things?" Timber asked, watching her friend go to his closet.
"Yeah." Bob said, his voice muffled from inside. "Like his toothbrush, extra underwear, clothes, pajamas, his bed, his aerobics center, his convertible with the attachable top, his---"
"Bob, what the fuck? Barbie, I can understand all the extras. But a bear?" she asked.
Bob peeked out at her. "I'm just messin with ya. But take good care of him. And he gets lonely so make sure you give him a pillow at night. Bears need love too."
Timber chuckled, shaking her head and tucking Bear under her arm. "Sure Bob."
Looking into the Bear's beady eyes, she laughed, remembering the exchange.
Angela and Jeanine sat a little ways away, Angela with her knees tucked under her chin. She was wearing her favorite fitted jeans and a white tank top. Jeanine had her legs crossed and was in equally as tight jeans but with large holes in the knees, and a pink sleeveless turtleneck. Her hair was longer by then, hanging past her shoulders, but twisted up into a ponytail at the moment. She and Angela were chatting lightly, while Kelly and Carmen played with Patty on the floor.
Kelly had changed dramatically since the last time she had been in an airport. Her golden tresses were hacked in layers to her chin and her methods of dress were more normal. She had changed a lot, but this time, it was a pleasant change. Though she had different ideas of how her lifestyle should be this time around, her goal still remained the same: Clint. She wanted him. She would die to have him. She was going to get him this time.
Timber began to fiddle with her tetris game on her cell phone, not even noticing the airplane that was taxiing into the terminal...
* * *
Clint swatted Bob's arm, awakening his twin. "Get up Duke, the plane landed." he said, shaking Bob again when he received no response.
His second resort was plucking the headset out of his brother's ears and speaking directly into them. After a rather loud wake up call, Bob jumped, his eyes opening slowly. The slightly younger triplet struggled in his seat to sit up straight.
"What the---" he rubbed at his dark brown eyes, glancing at Clint.
"We landed. We're home." Clint smiled brightly, patting his twin on the shoulder. "Party tonight."
"Did someone say party?" Scott asked, leaning over from where he had been sleeping on Clint's other side.
Clint chuckled. "We're home." he announced, giggling with excitement.
"Ahhh, home sweep home." Dave grinned, dog-earing the page in his novel and turning towards the window.
The boys were sitting in the center block of seats in the plane while Frank and Sheila were across the isle to the left. The two parental figures were already beginning to pack their things together in their carry-ons.
"I hope the crew is here." Dave said, still leaning forward to see out the window, which Frank's head was currently blocking.
"Yeah. First order of business is to kiss Angela." Scott grinned, starightening his 'Hard Rock' tee-shirt. "Three months of beating off just doesn't compare."
"Ugh... Scott..." Bob muttered. "No one wants to know that."
"My first order of business is to take a much needed piss." Dave smirked.
"My first order of business is to push Timber up against the nearest wall and totally fuck her brains out." Clint smirked.
Scott chuckled. "You're so freaky man."
"I'm just kidding." Clint chuckled. "Sort of..."
"Whoa wait... you like Timber?" Bob asked.
The other three boys gave Bob a long stare.
"Where the hell have you been man?" Scott demanded.
"Dude, yeah. That's old news. Real old news." Dave stated matter-of-factly.
"When did you start liking Timber?" Bob asked, ignoring them.
Clint blushed and shrugged. "I thought you knew."
"Is this a new development?" Bob asked, seeming to find the situation humorous.
"No, not really." Clint responded, suddenly shy to talk about it. "I'm surprised you didn't know. I've liked her for like... ever."
Bob gazed at his twin for a moment before sitting back. "Oh." was all he said.
There was an announcement over the loudspeaker and everyone started packing up their things and getting out of their seats. The four boys in the middle row followed, flooding into the aisle after their parents. The plane was half empty, making the exit ceremony go by fast. All six of the family members individually thanked the flight attendants standing by the exit of the plane and started up the large terminal to the airport.
Scott tore his sunglasses from his eyes as he entered the harsh light of the bright airport. It was afternoon already, the sun was blaring down with a mild heat. He spotted her right away, automatically comparing her actual image to the image in his memory. Her skin had darkened during her spring break visit to her home country. Her curls were slightly longer, bobbing just on her shoulders. Other than that, she was just as he had left her, beautiful as ever. He grinned. She didn't even notice him.
"Scotty! Scotty! Scotty!" Patti exclaimed, running away from Kelly and directly to him. "Scotty!" she cried out.
Scott dropped his backpack and stooped down to scoop the little girl up into his arms. "Ahhh, there you are Cutie." he smiled, looking deeply at the child.
Patti kissed him directly on the mouth as she had always done, patting his cheeks with both hands and giggling shrilly. "Scotty! I miss you."
He chuckled, kissing her cheek. "I brought you something." he said. "Something from Hawaii. Do you know where Hawaii is?" he asked.
"No." she replied truthfully but excitedly, looking down to where his hand dug in his pocket.
Scott produced a floral lei draping it over her head. "For you." he smiled.
"T'ank you." Patti giggled, touching the soft flowers. "Pretty." she giggled again, still excited. She gave him another kiss. "Big kiss!" she giggled.
Scott ruffled her head of unruly curls, laughing. "You are too cute."
He looked up and into the warmest gaze he had ever looked at. Angela smiled at him, biting the corner of her lip. He grinned back, wanting to kiss her, but hesitating when he saw a small group of girls near them, giggling and pointing in his direction. Scanning the area for a moment, he realized he was trapped so he did the next best thing and hugged her, breathing in the scent of her hair all over again and remembering the 'Angela smell' that he adored so much. He also succeeded in smashing Patti between their bodies. She cried out in annoyance, shoving her sister away. Angela chuckled, not able to keep her eyes out of Scott's, until they roamed up to his hair.
He had shredded his choppy layers for a shorter, reddish shag of some sort, equipped with side burns and a little goatee.
"You hate the hair, don't you?" he asked, his first words to her in person.
"No, I love it." she smirked.
"Oh my God Scott Moffatt! Can we have an autograph?!?!" one of the girls that had been in the group nearby asked, looking as if she might faint at any moment.
Scott chuckled. "Sure." he replied, giving Angela a look that told her that there would definitely be some good activity later.
Dave walked out of the terminal shortly after Scott, after he and the triplets had struggled with the jammed zipper of his shoulder bag in the terminal. His friends had already seen Scott and Jeanine was waiting for him in particular as he stepped out of the terminal. She threw her arms around his shoulders, nearly knocking him over.
"Hey Davey!!!" she squealed, shimmying slightly.
"Hey Jen!" Dave laughed, hugging her back and lifting her up.
Jeanine pulled back and looked directly at him. "You look good." she informed him, hugging him again and kissing his cheek.
"So do you." he replied truthfully.
"Come on hon, say hi to everyone." she urged, dragging him by the hand.
Clint stepped out into the light with a mission. His eyes searched for her, thinking he'd know her if he saw her anywhere. By then there was quite a collection of people in the terminal waiting for the next flight or meeting those who had just gotten off the last one. As the mass of people parted, he spotted her, standing up and stretching from where she had been sitting in one of those rank plastic chairs. She raised her long arms high above her head, making her look more willowy than she actually was. Her tiny tank rode up, showing off her adorable navel and a hint of her underwear from her sailor pants. She dropped her arms and smiled, seeing her friends. Clint licked his lips, thinking of how delicious she looked. Her tank was tight and thin. She wore a white bra underneath to keep others from seeing directly through it. Her pants hung low on her hips and bagged out from her waist, scrunching over her flip flops. She wasn't carrying a purse as she usually did; she only had her cell phone tucked in the waist of her pants, and a stuffed bear under her arm. He grinned again thinking of rushing up to her and---
"Clint!" Kelly cried, swinging her arms around him.
Clint's dark eyes widened in shock, but he recovered quickly and hugged her back. "Hey Kels!"
"How are you?" Kelly asked, not backing off of him right away.
"I'm great." Clint replied. "I got some sun, didn't get burned, and I'm home with you guys. I'm great. How are things with you?"
She finally pulled back and looked up at him from her short frame.
"Love the hair." he added, touching it lightly.
"Love the facial hair." Kelly grinned, referring to the goatee he had sprouted on his chin.
Clint blushed, grinning. "Thanks."
"I saw it on the Juno's and I was like: 'Oh my God! Clint got a goatee!'" she explained.
Clint smiled, noticing she hadn't answered his question. "So how is everything going?" he asked.
Kelly paused for a moment. "You want the truth?" she asked carefully.
Clint grinned. "Of course I want the truth!"
"Well..." she began. "I've been dealing with stuff. My parents had me seeing someone, a psychologist to be frank, every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday from four to five thirty. Now I see her every Saturday from three to five. It really helps. It really, honestly does." she nodded, refreshed as her hazel eyes connected with his concerned ones again.
Clint reached out and hugged his friend again. "I'm so glad." he said into her hair. "You look good." he said.
His eyes opened and he spotted Timber and Bob a little ways away. Her arms were all the way around his neck and he had lifted her up off the ground, swinging her around and laughing despite all of the people around. Clint felt a slight sinking feeling in his stomach.
"You guys ready to go?" Frank asked, now the official holder of Patti once more.
She seemed genuinely happy to see him, touching his cheeks as she always did.
* * *
Mr. and Mrs. Moffatt had arranged for a shuttle to take them back to the house and they met with it outside baggage claim. It, once again, took two shuttles to cart their now multiplied luggage. Frank rode in the first shuttle, and Sheila in the second. Ben had borrowed his father's jet black Lexus, and Angela had driven her aunt's shiny new evergreen colored Taurus. She had received a new, blood red Chrystler Sebring convertible at the end of the year for good grades, but her aunt had used it that evening.
The reunited assembly of friends all but exploded into the parking garage, Bob and Timber were as hyper as anything, holding hands and twirling in circles every time they got far ahead of the others. Bob eventually put his best friend on his back and rode her around, leaning far over and spinning her on his back so she screamed. Her voice echoed in the cement structure.
Scott and Angela were now free to show any signs of affection they wished and they were doing just that, kissing every chance they got and not caring who witnessed it. Jeanine and Dave skipped on, hand in hand, chatting about his trip. Ben regaled Clint on the parties that had taken place while he was gone.
"Okay, half come with me!" Ben announced as they reached Angela's car. "I'm parked in butt-fucking Egypt so..."
"I'll go with Angie." Jeanine said.
"I'll go too. There's no way these shoes are walking anymore." Kelly declared, pointing to the wedge espadrilles on her feet.
"I'll come with you guys too." Dave smiled.
Angela tossed Jeanine the keys and opened the back seat where she all but dragged Scott inside. Kelly snatched up Patti's hand and led her to the front seat. "I call shotgun!" she grinned, climbing in the passengers seat while Dave muttered a few choice words under his breath and got in back with his eldest brother and the girl he had been in love with since the summer before. The two were making out pretty heavily and Dave could already tell it was going to be a long drive home.
"Good luck Dave!" Carmen called out as she hearded with the others towards the second level of the parking structure.
"See you guys at the Moffatts!" Jeanine called through the open window, turning on the engine and backing gracefully out of the space.
"We'll race ya!" Kelly giggled from the passenger's seat with Patti on her lap.
"We'll kick your asses!" Ben called. "Come on guys." he said to his fleet. "Let's go."
Bob and Timber were already way ahead, still giggling uncontrollably as Timber somehow ended up on the floor. She had grown out her hair and wore it down, the shaggy layers slightly wavy as she didn't have a chance to blow-dry that morning. Her tresses were in shambles, hanging just past her shoulders. Bob shagged her mane with his hand, holding her down on the disgusting ground and laughing insanely, plopping on his butt himself. She kicked him with her free foot, but he was quick to grab her flip flop off her foot and stumble to his feet, taking off with it.
"HEY!!!!" Timber exclaimed. "Get back here with that!"
She leapt to her feet and attempted to hop after him, succeeding poorly. Bob stood a few feet before her, waving her shoe teasingly and giggling when she attempted to hop to him, but couldn't.
"Quit messin' around you two." Ben ordered, digging for his keys. "Let's go!"
Bob grinned, not paying attention to him. "Hey Tim, if you can come get your shoe from me, you can have it." he taunted.
Timber took her best friend's stuffed bear from a passing Carmen. "Hey Bob! How would you like to never see your bear again!"
"BEAR!!!!" Bob whined. "Gimme!"
"Nope! No shoe, no bear."
Bob looked at the shoe for a moment and realized it wasn't worth it. "Here!" he said, tossing it to her. "Now please, don't hurt the bear!"
Timber smiled deviously, dropping her shoe and slipping it on. She was about to throw Bob the bear when she called out: "Hey Clint! Keep away from Bob!"
Clint turned his head, just in time to see the bear sailing at him. He snatched it out of the air and smiled as Bob charged for him. The bear sailed back to Timber smoothly. After a few oscillations of Bear, Bob finally charged Timber and picked her up over his shoulder, tactfully hurling her at his twin. Timber exclaimed as she was thrown at him, struggling to keep her balance. Clint threw the bear to Bob and grabbed her before she hit the ground.
"I gotcha." he smiled.
Bob watched the two for a moment, tucking his bear into his backpack. "Okay, okay. That's enough Clint." he smirked, taking Timber's arm and leading her towards Ben's car.
"Pile in y'all." Ben said, hopping in the driver's seat.
Bob and Timber naturally climbed into the back seat, Clint rushing to get in the back on Timber's other side. Carmen was left no choice but to get in the front with Ben. The sleek luxury car took off in the direction of the exit. Moment's later, it was sailing along on the open road.
* * *
Shuttle A
Frank watched out the window at the passing scenery, smiling at the familiarity as the shuttle headed for the freeway. The luggage in the back shifted about slightly, but the driver didn't pay any attention, keeping his deep brown eyes on the road. He was a big man with curly brown hair tucked non-too-neatly under a dark brown baret. He wore dark shades from the sun and was nearly exploding from his white and black uniform. The only sound the man made was to cough a hearty, rustling cough from deep inside him. Frank shifted his attention back to the window, feeling the air that was spilling through it and hitting his tanned face. Then he saw it, up ahead. Traffic.
* * *
Shuttle B
Sheiala also saw the traffic as she rode in the passenger's seat of the second shuttle. Her driver had been more loquacious, asking her about where she had gone, what they had done there, how long they had stayed... she knew it was going to be a long trip, but didn't quite mind. She was ready to return to her home and visit with neighborhood friends. But as the shuttle came to a complete stop on the down ramp, another car blocking it's passage back up to the main road, she suddenly felt that a long wait in the hot sun wouldn't be exactly the high point of her trip.
* * *
The Taurus
Jeanine sat forward in her seat, peering out at the road with her golden eyes. Her foot was pushing the pedal nearly all the way to the floorboard, causing the car to move rather quickly, screeching to a halt with the stop lights. Beside her, Kelly was singing songs to Patti, both of them clapping their hands and Patti giggling happily at her entertainment. In the back seat, Dave looked to be dying, wedged between Scott and the left door and continuously being jostled. Scott and Angela had been making out for the entire ride and it was getting a little too physical for the confined space of a car.
"Watch out Jeanine! Look!" Kelly exclaimed, pointing to the ramp that was clogged with cars.
"Shit." Jeanine snapped. "Traffic." She jerked the wheel recklessly, nearly causing the car behind her to hit them.
"What the hell?" Dave asked, looking up.
"Traffic. We're taking the main road." Jeanine replied, speeding up again and heading down the main and nearly empty road. "It takes a bit longer, but hey, it's better than taking forever in traffic." she grinned, flicking on the radio.
* * *
The Lexus
"Where're we going Ben?" Carmen asked. "This isn't the way to home from the airport. You have to hop on highway two. That's the other way."
"We're not taking the scenic route." Ben informed her, speeding as always. "Do you know how much traffic is on the scenic route at this time? We're taking another way."
"What way?" Carmen questioned skeptically.
"A back way." Ben smirked.
"ROAD TRIP!!!" Bob, Timber, and Clint exclaimed in unison.
"Eeeeeyes." Timber smirked, leaning back and propping her leg up on Bob's.
"Eeeeyes is right." Ben grinned, slipping on his sunglasses and flicking on the radio.
Looking out a dirty old window... Outside the cars in the city go rushing by.
Carmen leaned over and turned it up to an obscene level, rolling down the windows from the panel between her and Ben's seats.
I sit here alone and I wonder why...
As the guitar picked up in the song, Timber, Bob, and Clint started a series of headbangs, singing along with the lyrics. Carmen and Ben soon joined in, Ben raising the music up even louder so the people in the streets could hear it nice and clear.
Friday night when everyone's movin', I can feel the heat but it's shootin' heading down... I search for the beat in this dirty town...
The next step was to open the sky light and allow the wind to rush down into the vehicle.
Down town the young ones are going... Down town the young ones are growing...
"We're the kids in America!" the five teens sang at the top of their lungs doing mad head bangs as the vehicle hit the open road of some random street Ben had driven onto; part of his master plan. "We're the kids in America! Everybody live for the music-go-round!"
Bright lights the music gets faster... Look boy don't check on your watch, not another glance...I'm not leaving now honey not a chance...
Bob leaned forward in his seat. "Let's see how fast this puppy can go Ben!" he urged wildly.
"Not a chance! This is my Dad's brand new Lexus. It gets scratched, I get scratched." Ben declined, shaking his head furiously.
Hot-shot, give me no problems... Much later baby you'll be sayin' nevermind...You know life is cruel, life is never kind...
"Oh come on Ben! Timber coaxed, leaning forward with Bob. "Open road! Let's put the petal to the metal!" she screamed.
Ben shook his head defiantly. "Absolutely not!"
Kind hearts don't make a new story... Kind hearts don't grab any glory...
"Come on Ben Jamin', let's ride the wind." Clint breathed close in Ben's ear, his hand on the driver's shoulder.
Ben swallowed thickly, pushing his foot down on the petal until it was against the floor-board.
We're the kids in America... We're the kids in America... Everybody live for the music go-round...
Clint continued to lean up with his chin right above Ben's left shoulder, watching the road rush at the windshield. Bob and Timber sat back screaming with excitement while Carmen clutched her seatbelt, laughing insanely. Ben gradually smiled feeling Clint right beside him...
Come closer, honey that's better... Got to get a brand new experience, Feeling right...Oh don't try to stop baby hold me tight....
Outside a new day is dawning. Outside Suburbia's sprawling everywhere...I don't want to go baby...
New York to East California...There's a new wave comin' I warn ya...
"We're the kids in America!" the five kids belted out, screaming with the intensity of the wind as the car began to spin out of control...
* * *
Shuttle A
Frank sighed heavily, leaning his head on his hand. They had been in traffic for nearly an hour and had only moved twice. The driver leaned out his window and yelled at a driver a few cars ahead in what sounded like another language. Frank redirected his eyes to out the window, beginning to aimlessly people watch as the engine hummed beneath his feet.
* * *
Shuttle B
Sheila leaned her head against the window, fast asleep.
* * *
The Taurus
"Jeanine, slow down!" Kelly chided. "We'll make it home in time, you're going twenty above speed limit."
"Well no one's here..." Jeanine reasoned, gradually easing off the pedal. "And I wanna get back. It takes ages to get home on the main road with all these damned stop lights."
"No reason to speed." Kelly said sensibly. Patti had fallen asleep and been passed back to Dave in the back seat.
"Yeah, no reason to speed Jeanine." Dave mocked, elbowing Scott in the ribs as his brother continued to grope his girlfriend. "Don't forget to come up for air Scott."
Scott held up his middle finger, not stopping what he was doing.
"This is BORING!" Dave shouted suddenly, awakening Patti.
The little girl sensed his frustration and giggled, finding it hilarious.
"We'll be back soon... I just have to find the freeway again. I think we're past the accident." Jeanine replied. "We should be home in no time..."
* * *
The Lexus
Ben turned off the ignition, his eyes wide. His breath came out in sputtering pants as he mechanically unsnapped his seat belt and opened the driver's side door. The others were silent, all wearing the same wide- eyed expression.
The car had spun out of control, spinning around three times before stopping in a backwards position on the road. Though, as Ben inspected it, nothing appeared to be damaged, the whole ordeal had shocked the others into silence.
Clint climbed out next. "Dude." he breathed, clutching his heart through his shirt. "That was... duuuuuude."
"Oh my God." Timber breathed, doing the sign of the holy trilogy before moving. "Oh my God."
"Oh my mother fucking God." Bob put in, climbing out and collapsing to the ground.
"I think I'm gonna be sick." Carmen informed them, heading for the side of the road and hunching over.
Ben suddenly sputtered a laugh. His laughter grew to guffawing, and soon he couldn't breathe. "Fuck! Holy Fucking... God! Holy shit cakes! We coulda been killed!"
"What?" Bob asked, stumbling to his feet.
"We coulda been killed!' Ben exclaimed, looking up from where he had been crouched over by the hood of the car.
Timber soon joined in the laughter, a pained look on her face that said: 'what the fuck is the matter with him I'll just laugh cause if he starts hurting people because I want to be on his good side.'
Clint chuckled shortly after, resting his hands forward on the hood. Pretty soon, the others were partaking in the laughter, hysterical at what had just happened.
"WE CHEATED DEATH!!!" Ben shouted, raising his hands and gaze heavenward. "We CHEATED DEATH!!!!"
"WE'RE THE KINDS OF THE WORLD!!!!" Timber put in, starting to run in circles. "WOOO WOOO!!!!!!"
After a few moments of more mad screaming and laughing from the five, Carmen looked up from where she was putting her head between her knees and spotted a pick-up truck heading for them.
"CAR!!!!" she cried out, running back for the Lexus.
"Everybody in!" Ben announced.
They were all back on the open road in no time.
* * *
"Home sweet home!" Dave announced, dropping his backpack and kissing the floor of the foyer.
"Sick Dave, don't do that." Scott warned, kicking him lightly.
Patti tottled up to Dave, pointed and laughed. "Davey you so silly!" she giggled, sitting down on his back.
"Where're Dad and Sheila?" Scott asked. "I thought they'd be here before us with all the stuff."
"Maybe they got caught up in all that traffic. I wonder what happened anyway." Jeanine reasoned, scooping little Patti up so Dave could get up himself.
"You guys hungry?" Kelly asked. "We should order a pizza."
"Let's wait until everyone gets here." Angela reasoned, clasping her hand in Scott's.
"What're we going to do?" Dave asked. "I'm bored already."
"Truth or Dare?" Scott asked with a comic grin.
"Oh please." Dave rolled his eyes.
The two brothers looked at each other. "I go first." they said at the same time.
* * *
Ben sped down the road at turbo speed, No Doubt blasting on the radio; Carmen and Clint's idea. The scenery around them looked non-familiar. Bob finally decided to question it.
"We're lost, aren't we." he said, playing with Timber's hair as she lay her head in his lap and appeared to be sleeping.
"We are not lost." Ben said firmly.
"Yeah we are." Clint asserted. "We're lost!"
"Here. Give me a map." Bob requested of his girlfriend. "Please." he added.
Carmen dug in the glove compartment for a moment before finding one. "Here." she said, handing it back to him.
"Here, take her." Bob said to Clint, sitting Timber upright then leaning her down on his twin.
Clint lay her head in his lap and took over the role of playing with her hair, grinning to himself as he did so. Bob opened the road map. "Okay. Where are we Ben?"
Ben didn't answer for a moment.
"Ben!!!!" Bob called.
"I don't know. But I know that we're NOT lost." he assured them.
"WE'RE LOST!!!" Bob announced.
"Hey! You shut up mister!" Ben said sternly. "Don't make me pull this car over!"
"Pull it over where? We're fucking lost!" Bob shot back. "All I have is a map." he whined.
"Well I've got a belt that can do some major ass whupping if you keep getting on my nerves. We are NOT lost. I know what I'm doing. We'll be home in a jiffy." Ben said to them all. "Now listen to music and shut the hell up." he ordered, turning up the volume.
* * *
"Okay Scott." Dave said sweetly. "Besides Angela, who do you think is the hottest out of the girls?"
"THAT'S NOT FAIR!!!" Scott exclaimed, his jaw dropping.
"No, I'd really like to know." Angela smirked.
"Yeah, me too." Dave grinned back.
Scott shook his head defiantly, bouncing Patti nervously on his lap until she irritably told him to stop. "I don't know. I never really thought about it." he lied.
"Yeah you have!" Angela said. She surprisingly seemed laid back about the whole ordeal.
"What about you Dave? Who do you have a crush on?" Scott asked with a conniving smile.
Dave turned beet red. "Let's watch a movie."
* * *
"We're lost!!!" Bob continued to chant. "We're lost."
"Bob..." Timber said pleasantly. "Kindly shut the fuck up before you end up in the trunk." she smiled, her head still on Clint's lap. He said she could stay there as long as she didn't bite him in the balls again.
Ben continued to drive, having been ignoring Bob for the past ten minutes. "You guys need to have faith." he announced, turning onto a cross street. He smiled brightly as the others' jaws dropped in surprise to see that they were on a street they all recognized. "I told you I'd get home in a jiff." he smirked, speeding up and beating a yellow light.
Mr. Steiner's Lexus was parked in the driveway of the Moffatt house in three minutes. Everyone piled out, the boys grabbing their backpacks from the trunk. Bob found his key in the bag and entered the house first.
"HELLOOOOOOOOO!?!?!?!" he called, dropping his bag on the foyer floor. "Anyone HOOOOOOME?"
"Nope! Go away!" Scott called from the kitchen.
Bob grinned, taking a moment to look around the house. They were back, little did they know what was ahead of them...
* * *