Sorry about the corny title.
Character Names (please read before reading): This is about the main characters and the dog. I looked up their names, so as far as I can tell the following are the right default names: Male from Friends of Mineral Town: Jack (or Pete, but I'm using Jack in this. Hope that's ok.) Female from FoMT: Claire. Male from A Wonderful Life: Tony. Female from AWL: Pony. Female from Magical Melody: Tina. Male from MM: Tito (I thought he and Jack were the same person originally, but apparently not.) And finally, the dog: Koro.
One more note: I know Kurt and Joe are siblings, but I'm not sure who's older. I've looked it up, and different sites have given me different answers. One site even said Kurt was the oldest on his profile, and Joe was the oldest on his. In the end, I found more said Joe was the oldest, so I'm going with that.
I think that's it... Please enjoy!
Claire woke up to dog slobber.
It wasn't a very nice way to wake up. Still, she didn't begrudge her new, energetic puppy; simply picked him up and placed him on the covers next to her.
Then Claire remembered: it was her first day of school.
Claire knew the first day of school was always a big deal. Well, maybe not that big a deal. But still, more important than other days of the year. Either way, it was important for her, because this was her first day at an entirely new school.
Over the summer, Claire's parents had decided to move from the city to a smaller town. They were still close though, around a three hour drive, so Claire could still visit her friends if she wanted. She couldn't see that happening much. Her family only had one car and she wasn't old enough for her license yet. Not that her father would even let her go to driving school...
Claire's train of thought was broken by a yelp... coming from her.
"Ack! Get off!" Claire quickly pushed herself into a sitting position, toppling the puppy that had been sitting on her bladder. The puppy righted itself and stared at Claire with large, questioning eyes.
"It's alright." Claire grumbled, scratching the puppy behind the ear to assure him she wasn't mad. Once he was back to his animated self, she leaned back and ran a hand through her hair, "Shit, now I need to pee."
"Better hurry up then."
Claire jumped at the voice. Glancing over, she found her window open and her cousin, Jack, resting his arms on the ledge and smirking.
"Just go to the bathroom first." he added.
Claire glared at him and kicked off her blankets, "I wish my bedroom was on the second floor."
"Better wish for a second floor first." Jack advised, ducking back with a grin as Claire hurtled her pillow at the window. It hit the glass over Jack's head and slid to the floor.
Claire crossed her room and snatched up the pillow, "I was sure I locked my window last night."
Over the summer, Claire had quickly adjusted to her cousin's window entering habits, since they were now neighbours. Claire's parents had actually started considering moving because the house next door to Jack's was for sale. The cousins mothers were sisters, and very close sisters at that, so, unfortunately for Claire, a house going on sale was enough to decide her mom.
She wasn't that upset over the move though. It was something new. Something interesting.
Someone coming in through her window was new, but interesting? No. Claire just thought it was weird. And noisy. And unwanted.
"You did." Jack replied to her earlier musings, looking smug, "I have a key."
Claire made a face at him, but didn't ask how he got it. Probably for emergencies. Claire knew her mom had several keys to Jack's house, she just didn't see the point in taking one. She certainly wasn't going to start climbing through windows.
Besides, Jack's room was a state. She had no idea what she might release into the world if she tried to get in.
Scowling at her cousin now, Claire slammed her window down before Jack could back up, catching and squishing his fingers. She heard a muffled shout of surprise and watched her cousin's face go red, from both pain and anger.
"A key's not much good without hands, is it?" Claire asked with a smirk. While Jack yelled muted curses at her, she turned around and picked up her ogling puppy.
"Come on, Koro." she said, poking the tip of his little black nose, "Let's get some breakfast. We don't want to be late for school!"
...
Kurt woke up to music.
It took him awhile to fully gain consciousness, but when he did he recognized the music to be three things: faint, pop and coming from above him.
A floor above him.
Kurt sighed and pushed himself out of bed. He'd always been a light sleeper, there was no helping that, but why was it he was the only one Gwen's alarm ever woke up? Including Gwen herself?
Thinking that maybe- for once- he was wrong, Kurt paused and listened. Nothing. Just the music... no, not even the music. The hosts were talking now. They sounded, to Kurt, even louder than the song had been. He could almost make out their words.
How could Gwen sleep through that? The noise was in the room with her.
Kurt gave up on trying to comprehend Gwen's sleeping abilities and crossed the room to his brother's bed.
"Joe." Kurt said, shaking his brother's shoulder, "Joe. Get up. We're going to be late."
"Mn..." Joe mumbled, flipping onto his back, "That was a big one... I'll get it next time..."
It took Kurt a minute to realize his brother was dreaming about fishing again. Shaking his head to himself, Kurt left his sleeping brother and went to get changed. When Joe was in the middle of a fishing dream, it was nearly impossible to pull him out of it.
Kurt didn't understand why Joe liked fishing so much. Or, rather, why he was training to become a carpenter if he liked fishing so much. Couldn't he just become a fisherman?
"Don't be ridiculous." Joe had said to him the one time Kurt had asked, "Fishing is my hobby. It's what I do to relax. I couldn't relax if it was my job."
Kurt hadn't really understood, but Joe was content enough with his answer and had proceeded to invite his brother out fishing. Again. Kurt had refused. Again. Instead, he'd spent the day working on some extra projects, cutting lumber for Woody, and being teased by Gwen for being a workaholic.
Again.
Kurt and Joe were apprenticed to Woody, Gwen's grandfather. Though the brothers were only sixteen and seventeen (too young to officially be apprenticed), Woody was good friends with their parents, and had arranged for the boys to stay with him to do their training, seeing as Kurt and Joe's parents lived farther away. They'd been living with Gwen and Woody for two years now, and so far everything was going smoothly.
At least that's what everyone except Kurt seemed to think.
Sure, he was comfortable at Woody's- as comfortable as he was anywhere. He and Joe had visited there often as children, so he was used to the environment. He also loved learning from Woody, so there really wasn't a problem, was there?
Or, at least, there shouldn't have been.
Kurt pulled his shirt over his head and slipped on his tie, then went over and gave his brother another shake.
"Got it!" Joe exclaimed, shooting up in bed. Blinking groggily, Joe opened his eyes to his very unamused younger brother, who he'd caught by the hair and the cheek.
Kurt just glared and pushed his brother's hands away as he straightened up.
"Oh." was all Joe said for a moment, staring dazedly at his empty hands, "I thought you were... sorry."
Kurt grunted, having no mood to converse with the brother that had just mistaken him for a fish. Again. Without a word he simply left the room. Joe wouldn't be going back to sleep now, and he still had to wake up Gwen.
Leaving their room, Kurt started upstairs.
The first floor was dedicated to Woody's work; the actual workroom, storage, and the brothers bedroom. Upstairs was were everything else was, including Gwen's room.
Arriving at the door, Kurt paused a moment. The hosts sounded even louder now. They still hadn't shut up. Running a hand through his hair, Kurt knocked.
And waited.
A few minutes later and Kurt was grinding his teeth in annoyance. Why did he always have to wake her up? Why couldn't Joe do it?
But Kurt knew why. He got Joe up before Gwen, but his brother still managed to take longer to get ready. He needed all the time he could get.
And so waking up Gwen...
Kurt opened the door. Like always, it was unlocked. Gwen was sprawled out on her bed, covers tangled around her. She was wearing her usual summer pajamas- a large, long t-shirt.
Not quite long enough, Kurt thought.
Especially when it rode up during the night.
At least she had enough sense to keep her underwear on. But that thought didn't comfort Kurt very much.
Flushing, and trying not to look at her, Kurt made his way through the room over to her bed stand. Picking up the clock, he fiddled nervously with it a minute before finding the off button. He'd had to do this every school day for the past two years, and he was still anxious.
The radio clicked off and silence filled the room. But not for long.
"I was listening to that." Gwen muttered into her pillow.
Kurt ignored her and turned to the window, yanking back the curtains. Sunlight spilled into the room.
"Don't..." Gwen groaned, rolling onto her back and laying a hand over her eyes, "It's too hot."
Kurt glanced at Gwen and quickly away, thankful that she couldn't see him blushing. He quickly made for the door.
"Wait..." Gwen called out, "Can you open the window?"
Kurt sighed and started back into the room. Gwen really could get ready quickly, it was just getting her out of bed that was the hard part.
Undoing the latch, Kurt pushed the window up and stepped back.
"Is it open?" Gwen yawned.
"Yeah."
"It doesn't feel like it's open." she added, to which Kurt made no response. There was no wind chill. At all.
"What time is it?" Gwen asked a beat later.
Kurt had no idea. He walked over to check her clock.
"It has the wrong time." Gwen added, moments after he'd reached her bedside table. Glancing over, Kurt was surprised to find Gwen on her side and looking at him.
But that was only for a second. Her attention refocused on the clock, "It's twenty minutes fast." she said, turning the device towards her. She peered at it a moment, then pushed it away and lay back, moaning, "It's too early!"
Kurt twisted his arm bands and waited.
"Fine." Gwen muttered a minute later, then sending Kurt a small grin, "Will you help me up?"
Kurt offered her his hands, hoping his palms weren't sweaty. Hoping that she wouldn't notice if they were.
Gwen's hands were smaller than his, but not by a large scale, but they felt more... delicate. That made them seem smaller. Why, he wondered, was it like that? He used his hands in his work though- more than anything. They were worn and callused and hers were clean and soft.
Kurt- fully and uncomfortably aware of the fact he was blushing again- pulled Gwen to her feet and dropped her hands the moment she was balanced. She didn't seem to notice his hurry.
"Oh!" Gwen said, glancing down at herself. She quickly tugged her T-shirt to her knees, or as close as it would get, and turned to regard her bed. Completely and utterly unfazed.
Kurt couldn't believe her. Did she ever get embarrassed? Or was it that he and Joe had been there so long that she just didn't care? Or even worse, did she think of them as-
Kurt's train of thought broke off when he realized Gwen was talking to him.
"I said," Gwen repeated, with a grin, "I have to get changed."
This time, Kurt was sure Gwen had to notice his blush, but she'd probably just assume it was out of courtesy.
Kurt didn't say anything, just turned and fled from the room as fast as he could without running. Though he knew Gwen would close the door, he didn't stop walking until even that was out of sight.
...
Dia held a paperback delicately between her fingers. She scowled at the pages, her frown only deepening as she flipped them.
"Who," Dia finally observed, "Wears a shirt to bed? How improper- not to mention inappropriate."
"Pardon, Miss Dia?"
Gina, Dia's companion and maid, poked her head out of the kitchen to see what had met her mistress's disapproval this time. She spotted Dia perched on a sete in the middle of the living room, moodily scanning a book.
"Gina." Dia said cooly, raising both her head and the novel as she regarded her maid, "What sort of frivolous nonsense have you been reading?"
Gina, recognizing her current book, flushed and hurried across the room. By the time she reached her mistress, she was back to reading.
"Honestly..." Dia was muttering under her breath, "A t-shirt?" Dia paused a moment, then widened her eyes at the words she was reading, "Never mind. I see your protagonist has decided to degrade herself even further."
"Miss Dia," Gina begged, "Please give me back my book!"
Dia lifted a single, disapproving eyebrow at her maid before shutting the novel and tossing it on the cushions beside her. Gina quickly recovered it and stuffed the paperback into her apron, blushing furiously.
"I..." Gina began nervously, "I don't usually read that sort of thing. It's just..."
"It's fine, Gina." Dia said, waving a hand dismissively, "It really wasn't any of my business in the first place."
Gina twisted her hands in front of her, staring at the floor, "It's not that I'm trying to keep things from you..."
"Honestly." Dia rolled her eyes, "Gina, I don't concern myself over the literature you choice to read. Now let's please drop the conversation. Isn't it about time for you to change into your uniform?"
Gina blinked in surprise, "I almost forgot!"
Dia just sighed.
"But Miss Dia," Gina said hesitantly, "Aren't you going to get changed as well?"
Dia gave her maid a scornful look, "Of course not. The first day of school is far too much senseless bother for me to concern myself with."
Gina opened her mouth but promptly closed it. Dia was proud, and this was her way of letting Gina know she wasn't up to going out today.
Dia was an ill girl. Doctor Hardy came in to check on her at least once a week, and her parents often found other doctors to look at her, see if something could be done. Dia was often put on different medication, but nothing seemed to help. She was still too weak most days to leave the house.
That's why her parents had hired Gina, and Gina's grandmother Martha, to stay at the house. It was as much to keep Dia company as it was to keep an eye on her. Dia wasn't a very social girl, and her illness didn't help this in the least. Gina was, in a sense, her only friend.
At least Dia was comfortable, Gina thought. Or as comfortable as she could be. Her parents were rich and catered to their daughter's every need.
"Gina." Dia said.
At her name, Gina broke from her reverie and pushed her glasses up on her nose, "Right! I'll go get changed now, Miss Dia! Is there anything you'd like me to do for you today?"
Dia wasn't looking at Gina anymore. She wasn't really looking at anything. Gina couldn't help wondering what was going through her mistress's mind. After all these years with Dia she still had no idea.
"My schedule." Dia said after a moment, in a sigh of a voice, like the whole situation bored her, "I'd like you to get it for me."
"Alright!" Gina said, untying her apron as she headed for the stairs, "I'll see you this afternoon, Miss Dia!"
Dia didn't say anything, just sat there, still staring into the distance.
...
"Where's Jack?"
Tony glanced over his shoulder at the small brunette walking behind him, "He's your brother. Shouldn't you know?"
Tina pouted at her cousin, "He was gone when I woke up."
"I guess our little Tina's gonna have to start getting up sooner." Pony chided, grinning at the girl as she reached back to ruffle her hair. Tina pursed her lips at her other cousin and tried to push her hand away.
"I'm not used to waking up early." Tina grumbled, "I'll have to get back into the rhythm."
"No 'getting back into', I'm afraid." Pony said, slinging an arm over her younger cousin's shoulder, "Highschool's a whole new rhythm."
Tina sighed and tugged on one of her pigtails, "I'm nervous."
"We know." Tony muttered, rolling his eyes, "You've been complaining about it the entire summer."
"Be nice." Pony ordered, slugging her twin brother in the shoulder before turning back to Tina with a smile, "It'll be fine."
"And that's what you've been telling her the entire summer." Tony added under his breath, receiving another punch despite his stealth.
"You were nervous when you started to." Pony reminded him.
"Yeah." Tony said, "And it sucked. But the only thing that made me feel better was when it was over. Reassurance doesn't work."
"Pessimist." Pony growled.
"Were you nervous?" Tina asked her older female cousin.
Pony glanced down at the girl, and her shining, hopeful eyes. She scratched the back of her neck with a sheepish smile, "Um..."
"She wasn't." Tony said, hands stuffed deep in his pockets, "She was excited. Didn't shut up about it. Actually," Tony went on, stroking his chin thoughtfully, "She hasn't changed much since."
Pony bristled. About to punch her brother, she stopped when a voice behind her called out: "Wait up guys!"
The trio paused, though Pony had to grab her brother's shirt sleeve to keep him from walking on. A brunette boy who looked a lot like Jack, but shorter, was running towards them, already out of breath.
"Oh." Tony muttered, "I forgot he was with us."
Pony cuffed her brother upside the head and turned back to the boy, cupping her hands around her mouth to call, "Slow down, Tito! We'll wait!"
Soon, the four were reunited; Pony and Tony, the older twins going into their last level of highschool, and Tito and Tina, the younger twins entering highschool.
Tito and Tina were Jack's younger siblings, while the older twins were their cousins on Jack's mother's side. Pony and Tony's father was Jack's and Claire's mothers older brother.
And so the group of cousins were on their way to school, walking together as they usually did. This year, however, they were all heading for the same building.
"So," Pony said, when they were on their way again, "Where is Jack?"
"Walking to school with Claire." Tony replied.
"You said you didn't know where he was!" Tina whined.
Tony gave her a look over his shoulder, "No, I said you should know. I didn't say I didn't."
Tina glared at her older cousin while her brother adjusted his blue cap. Tony reached over and snatched it off his head.
"Hey!" Tito exclaimed.
"Can't wear hats." Tony said, holding it out of his shorter cousin's reach as they walked.
"Jack always wears his!" Tito complained.
"Another reason you shouldn't wear yours." Tony replied. He honestly didn't see why the brothers wore the same hat. Not to mention they were only one year apart, so they looked more like twins than either set of real twins.
"Pony..." Tito started, turning to his other cousin for support. Pony just shrugged and gave him an apologetic smile.
"Sorry, those are the rules. Technically."
"What do you mean 'technically'?" Tito complained.
"I can still keep my pigtails up, right?" Tina inquired.
Tony stopped- both putting Tito's hat in his book bag and walking- to turn and gawk at his younger, female cousin.
Tina quickly held up her hands, "I wasn't being serious!"
Tony eyed her skeptically a moment, then turned around and started walking again. Sometimes, when it came to his cousins, he just wasn't sure.
"What do you mean 'technically'?" Tito demanded again, refusing to budge until he was answered. No one else stopped. "Does that mean I can wear my hat?"
"This is why you fell behind last time." Tony called over his shoulder.
Tito perked up at the comment and ran to catch up with the others, hands clasped over his head in a feeble attempt to protect his hair from the world. Or at least that's how Tony interpreted the action.
...
Gina had left for school, and Dia was alone in the mansion.
Well, not quite alone. Martha was downstairs somewhere, probably napping.
This was why Dia tip-toed as she traversed the first floor. She didn't sneak- that was very un-lady like. But walk lightly and quietly? Yes, she did that.
Finally she reached Gina's room and slipped inside.
On the bed, Dia found her maid's discarded apron. Rummaging through it, she pulled out the book. Clutching it to her chest, Dia left the room.
It wasn't like she had anything else to do all day.
...
The first bell rang.
Jamie, hands stuffed deep in his pockets, considered the school building for a moment.
Was it worth it?
The second bell rang.
Nah.
Jamie turned around and walked away.
So that's the first chapter. If you guys like it, I'll continue. There'll be a lot more introductions to make, and more characters than the ones in this chapter will be followed, though Claire and her cousins (so many cousins, I know!) will have main roles and be in every chapter.
Thanks for reading!
