Title: A Series Of Observations
Author: furygrrl
Archive: Just ask first
Rating: T - rated for language and hints of sexuality
Disclaimer: Not mine
Chapter Three: Irritation and Expectation
The autumn breeze, pleasantly tainted with the faintest hint of wood smoke, blew cool and clean through the stand of cedars that clustered close to the lake's shoreline, drawing a hushed rustle from the dry boughs that spread skyward.
Jean inhaled deeply, closing her eyes to the bright sunshine that was nearly blinding in its intensity, and stretched her arms out to either side of her body, glad to finally be out of Duncan's cramped car. She turned back to glance at the small blue Porsche that her boyfriend had insisted on driving, and watched as he unloaded packages that had been crammed in wherever there had been room.
"Need any help?" she asked the tall blond absently before going back to studying her new surroundings.
"Nah, I think I've got it," Duncan replied, his voice muffled as he tried to speak around the groceries and overnight bags he'd piled high in his arms.
Jean nodded more to herself than to him, too intent on taking in the scene before her to give him her full attention.
Standing on a jagged outcropping of rock that loomed above the lake's surface, Jean was able to look out over the blue-black water without anything obstructing her view. She could see the small swells that the wind had whipped up further out in the bay, their foamy white tips rolling over one another as the waves raced towards the shore, only to disappear once they attained the shallows.
In the distance, giant rocks, carved from glaciers that had moved through the area hundreds of thousands of years ago, loomed up from the lake's depths to form oddly shaped islands dotted with stunted trees and bits of brush. The sunlight, dazzling to Jean's eyes, added to the picturesque setting as it poured over the water, covering the reflective surface until it seemed as if someone had cast handfuls of brilliantly sparkling diamonds haphazardly into the waves. The shimmering lights danced as they made their way to shore, transfixing her as they undulated with the tide's rocking movements.
She felt as if she could stand rooted to the spot for the next several hours, just soaking in the peaceful atmosphere, but the pair of well-muscled arms that snaked around her waist without warning shook her back to reality.
"Great view, huh?" Duncan murmured against her temple as he pressed his face into her hair.
"Yeah," Jean replied quietly, tamping down the sudden feelings of irritation that stirred at finding her meditative state invaded.
Continuing to stare out over the water as Duncan pulled her more securely into his embrace, the redhead realized with a growing sense of unease that the irritability directed at her jock boyfriend had increased of late. She sighed silently, knowing that such feelings were due to their failing relationship – a realization she had been trying to downplay since it had surfaced several weeks prior.
Oh sure, she'd given some serious thought to breaking up with Duncan, even going so far as to script the entire scenario in her mind, but for some reason, she just couldn't bring herself to give the boy his walking papers. Doing so would mean that her life would change – a disconcerting notion no matter how small those changes would prove. She'd worked hard to shape her life into something resembling normalcy, and having Duncan by her side, strange though it might seem, was a big part of that.
On another front, it would also mean that she'd finally have to accept that she'd been totally wrong about him, that her judgement of his character had totally missed the mark – a bitter pill to swallow, especially since she had, at one time, believed herself to be falling in love with him.
"You ready to go inside yet? I still haven't given you the tour." Duncan broke into her thoughts again, his breath, peppermint-scented from gum he was chewing, puffing gently against her cheek as he spoke.
After a moment of consideration, Jean pushed her concerns to the back of her mind, preferring to ignore them for the time being and simply enjoy her weekend. She pulled away from Duncan so she could turn to face him. "Sure," she finally said with a smile, taking his hand and interlacing her fingers with his. "I still need to change, and I'm getting a little cold out here anyway."
Duncan grinned and drew her towards the sprawling structure that would soon be filled with countless students from Bayville High. "Cold, huh? I know plenty of ways to warm the both of us up, if you know what I mean," he said, leering at her suggestively.
Jean rolled her eyes and tugged her hand from his grip.
Maybe breaking up with him wouldn't be so difficult after all.
Lance shot another glance at the crudely drawn map that sat on the passenger seat beside him, looking for the name of the road that would take him the rest of the way to Duncan's summer home.
"High Point...High Point..." he muttered to himself, turning his sights back to the dirt lane his vehicle was currently speeding down.
Trees lined both sides of the road like impenetrable walls, blocking out what was left of the setting sun's rays and bathing the route in murky shadows. Dust billowed up on either side of the jeep thanks to a relatively dry month, adding to the lack of visibility and Lance's fear that he'd miss – or already had missed – the turnoff. After a few more minutes of driving, though, a weathered signpost materialized, its flaking black paint announcing that High Point was the next exit, though still a few miles away.
Lance let out a relieved breath and reached over to turn up the stereo's volume, able to once again enjoy the mixed tape Kitty had made for him when they were dating, now that he knew he wasn't lost. As his fingers unconsciously tapped along with one of the many Linkin Park songs she'd included, his brain started to sort through all of the carefully detailed plans he'd come up with to win Kitty away from her circus-freak boyfriend.
Each one had been created to fit any number of situations he might find himself in – from simply telling the perky brunette how he felt about her should he be given the opportunity, to spiriting her away from the party by force if it came down to that. And of course, each imaginary scenario ended just as Lance expected that evening to - with Kitty leaping into his arms after realizing how insane she'd been to dump him in the first place.
Turning onto the much-anticipated High Point Road, Lance could feel his excitement building.
Fortunately, it hadn't been at all difficult to snag an invite to what had already been dubbed 'the social event of the season' by the entire school. He had been prepared to simply crash the party like he was usually wont to do, but Duncan and his jock buddies, in their zeal to attract the largest crowd possible, had generously opened up the guest list, passing out hand-drawn maps to anyone and everyone.
When Lance had approached Duncan in the hall the other day for a copy of the directions, he went with reservations, expecting the jock to laugh in his face and tell him to piss off in spite of the general invite. Surprisingly, though, the football player had only hesitated for the space of a heartbeat before handing him a map.
"It's BYOB, Alvers," the blond had said with a slight frown. "The same goes for your...friends if you bring 'em."
Lance had uttered something unintelligible in response and turned to leave, folding the precious piece of paper in half before stowing it away in his vest pocket, only to have Duncan grab his arm in an iron grip, effectively halting him.
"And don't plan on starting any bullshit up there, either – or you'll be sorry," Duncan had warned in a low voice, releasing Lance only when the other had nodded in unspoken agreement.
Lance shook his head in remembrance, still amused by the jock's obvious concern that the members of the Brotherhood would somehow do something to upset his little gathering.
"No worries, Matthews. The only person that needs to watch his back tonight is that loser, Kurt Wagner," he muttered to himself, wondering if his eyes were playing tricks on him, or if he was actually seeing the twinkle of lights in the distance.
Sure enough, the clean lines of a building suddenly materialized through the thinning trees, surrounded by what looked like a parking lot to Lance's widening eyes.
Holy shit... he thought as he turned off the stereo, slowing his breakneck speed to a crawl.
By the looks of it, hundreds of people had already arrived. Some could be seen through the multitude of windows the chalet-style lake house possessed, while others lounged on the spacious veranda or on the hoods of parked cars, covering every available space like a horde of invading locusts.
Lance hurriedly found a spot for his jeep and pulled in, aware that more cars were approaching from further down the road. He turned off the engine and exited the vehicle, pausing only to stretch limbs that had begun to stiffen after such a long drive, and run his fingers through his wind-tousled hair. He checked his reflection in the side mirror, and, satisfied with what he saw, began to make his way towards the house.
As he wove his way through the groups of teens that littered the path to the house, pounding music and laughing voices began to drown out the few crickets that had survived the end of summer, an uncharacteristic swell of nervousness fluttering low in his body the closer he got.
Attaining the front door, he grimly eyed the throng of students that hid his objective and dove into its midst without further ado.
Ready or not, Kitty-Kat, here I come...