this is a long one, ladies and gents. rated T for significant swearing, inclusion of strippers and alcohol. yeah... it's really straying far from the game now... oh well... enjoy!
Three weeks later, the Mineral Town youth had happily settled into the rhythm of summer. The sun burned hot and the grapes grew full and wrinkled and the crops, bright and thirsty. Sam was overworked, watering Morgan Radcliff's garden three times a day, but it was worth it to see Alex as she came and went and sat with him, talking about stupid things, or philosophy. In the town center, Jesse and Francesca Alabaster made painted their father's new business in bright colors while their father and stepmother made ice cream in the freezer. Day after day, they eased into the easy rhythm, growing accustomed to the warm island sun on their skin.
Jason was outside the inn one midday, chopping wood for the inn's new roof. He raised the axe above his head and brought it down, time after time, splitting the wood into thick chunks. People passed to and fro, girls casting him sultry looks and others simply greeting him. He stopped suddenly and wiped the sweat from his brow.
"Hey." He said, hearing Rowan's voice coming down the road.
"Hey man." He said, acknowledging his best friend's presence and propping the axe against the inn wall and leaning against it.
"What you up to?" Rowan asked, standing next to the pile of wood. He looked like it's just come from the market store, his hands full of plastic bags.
"Chopping." Jason said. "On errands?" He asked.
"Yeah." Rowan laughed. "Hey listen, what are you doing Friday night?" he asked.
"The same thing I do every Friday. Work, go to the arcade with you, come home, get a beer…"
"Yeah, I thought that." Rowan smiled, raising an eyebrow. "So how about we switch things up a little?"
"Meaning?" Jason asked.
"Dude, did you seriously forget?" Rowan asked, making a face. Jason's face went blank.
"About what?" he asked.
"It's my birthday Friday." His best friend said.
"Right," Jason smiled, standing up, looking a bit embarrassed. "I didn't forget, I swear. I just… got busy."
"NYU shit?" Rowan asked, "Yeah, I know what that's like. The Cholera book's such a chick thing. Aja wants to read it more than I do."
"What?" Jason asked, confused. Rowan held his gaze for a moment or two. "You're kidding." Jason stated, a grin spreading over his face. Rowan shook his head.
"No man. Sent my letter in this morning." He smiled. Jason laughed.
"Serious?" Rowan nodded.
"Yep." He said. "You're not getting rid of me so soon. We're going to NYU together, dude." Jason shook his head in disbelief.
"Well," he said. "Thanks for telling me."
"Yeah, I know." Rowan laughed. "Listen, I better go. But Friday night, eight, meet at the dock. Bring Dix or someone. We need more people."
"Right, looking forward to it." Jason nodded, he picked up the axe again and Rowan walked backwards down the road. "See you then." Rowan nodded, turned, and disappeared. A smile graced Jason's lips. He lifted the axe and split the latest stump in two immediately. Things looked up suddenly now. He was going to college with his best friend. He was doing something Friday night. Things were perfect. Well, almost perfect.
"I don't know." Aja said, rifling through Kayli's closet again, a general habit of hers. She was dressed in only her bra and a short jean skirt. From the stereo, the sounds of Rolling Stones came through the speakers. Kayli sat on the bed, pencil tapping her pencil against the open pages of her notebook. She stopped and chewed the end.
"You don't know what?" she asked.
"Which shirt to wear." Aja said, pulling out two and holding them up to her. One was a silk purple tank top, decorated with black flowers. The other was a red off the shoulder corset-style shirt. Kayli pointed her pencil at the other one.
"That one." She said. "Definitely." Aja smiled and shimmied into it. Kayli stood up and put her notebook on a shelf with all her others from over the years. She wore a shore black halter dress with high strappy heels.
"So who's coming to this thing?" she asked, looking in the mirror and finding a small bottle of lip-gloss in her drawer. Aja adjusted her shirt.
"I dunno, he's your brother." She sighed, dusting her face with her fingers. "Jason, I guess. Probably that new guy, and Iza."
"Jason's coming?" Kayli asked, trying her best not to look worried.
"Well, yeah. He's your brother's best friend. I doubt the fact your parents hate him is going to stop the two of them taking over together tonight." She shrugged.
"I think Ro invited Sam and Alex too." Kayli said. She recapped the gloss and pressed her lips together. "Do I look skanky?" she asked, looking at herself in the full-length mirror.
"Skanky looks good on your." Aja said. She shook her hair and grabbed her coat. "Shall we go?" she asked.
"Yeah, sure." Kayli said, grabbing her own pea coat.
"Are we supposed to be walking our fine asses down to the beach alone?" Aja asked, putting the finishing touches to her makeup. Kayli stood up straight and looked at her best friend in the mirror.
"I hooked up with Jason." She said, quickly, clipping silver hoops through her ears. Aja stopped.
"What!" she demanded, whirling around to face Kayli. "When?"
"Um, after the Festival." Kayli mumbled quietly. She finished clipping in her earrings and dropped her hands to her sides.
"Wait," Aja started, grabbing Kayli by the shoulder, "Is this like, hooking up, making out, or hooking up, something else?" she asked. Kayli rolled her eyes.
"Just kissing." She said.
"Wait, why? What happened?" Aja kept on. Kayli sighed.
"I don't know." She said. "He followed me home and told me he like, still loved me and wanted me again before he left. And then we were like making out on the balcony."
"And why didn't you tell me about this before?" Aja snapped.
"I dunno." Kayli shrugged, looking Aja in the eye. "It was all about you and Ro. It just wasn't time."
"What, so are you guys like a thing now?" Aja asked, raising an eyebrow. Kayli shook her head.
"I dunno." She said. "I'm really confused. After we were at the beach, we got really mad at each other. I haven't spoken to him since. I don't really know what I want to happen." She raised her shoulders and then dropped them.
"Wait, what happened at the beach?" Aja asked. Kayli bit her lip. "You didn't. Kayli!" Aja's eyes widened. "You little slut!" she laughed.
"Hey!" Kayli grinned, slapping Aja's arm. "I didn't do anything, it was all him!"
"Ooh, Jason, taking control." Aja teased. Kayli threw her a look.
"Don't tell anyone okay?" she asked. "It's not going anywhere, anyway." She shook off the idea.
"Alright." Aja smiled. "You know you're the 'other woman' now. He and Dixie are still, technically, a thing." Kayli made a face.
"Don't remind me." She sighed. "Okay, let's go." She said, going out the door. Aja laughed and followed.
A few moments later, they stood at the pier, hands in pockets, large coats covering their outfits.
"When's it going to be here exactly?" Iza asked, holding Peter's hand and looking about. The eight of them were waiting at the edge of the shipping dock on the otherside of the beach. Besides Kayli and Aja, both Alex and Sam, Iza, Peter, Jesse and Dixie were there. Rowan and Jason were nowhere to be seen.
"When are they going to be here? Some excuse for a boyfriend." Aja quipped. No sooner had she said that but a ferry horn rang out across the sea. The boat was almost here. From the corner of beach, Rowan and Jason had appeared, dressed in tuxedos and top hats, running over the sand towards them.
"Where were the two of you!" Dixie demanded, laughing at their getup and taking Jason's arm.
"Getting ready." Rowan grinned, putting his Aviators on and waving at the boat.
"Not that I mind the formal wear," Pete began, "But I feel a little dull now." Jason grinned.
"It was my idea." He said. "It's not like we're gonna get to wear these again anytime soon." He was referring to the suits, both of theirs from their Festival uniforms.
"And the hats?" Alex asked, "Where'd those come from?"
"Eh." Said Rowan as the boat stopped and the men pulled out the ropes. "They were knocking around."
As soon as the ramp had been lowered, they ran up onto the boat and out onto the stern. The ferry came once a month, perhaps more if you could order it to be so. Kayli grinned, taking a seat on the deck. She silently thanked her parents for paying for their night out. Dixie was wearing Jason's top hat now, smiling out into the distance.
"So what are we doing, exactly?" she asked. The boat chugged back into action and began to move.
"Whatever we want!" Rowan yelled out to sea, obviously excited. Jason cleared his throat.
"Sorry ladies, but we may have to leave you somewhere for an hour or two eventually." Aja stepped up defensively.
"Why?" she asked pointedly.
"Well," Jason grinned. "I promised my boy here that I'd buy him his first lap dance when he turned nineteen." Aja scowled. "I can't break a promise, Aj." Jason shrugged, boyishly.
"Fine." Aja said, turning to Rowan. "Just come back." She warned shaking her finger.
"Like I'd leave you." Rowan laughed, grabbing her and kissing her neck until she screamed and ran across the deck to get away from him. Kayli laughed from where she sat. Jesse came and sat next to her.
"So this is Mineral Town social life?" he asked.
"This is it." She smiled, crossing her legs under her coat. She realized no one had seen her dress yet. She glanced at Jason, who was talking to Pete, and smiled smugly.
"So, we're the singles, I guess." Jesse put forth.
"Yep." Kayli said. "Why, do you have an idea?" she teased. Jesse grinned.
"Just save me a dance." He said, "Promise?" Kayli extended a little finger.
"Promise." Jesse looked at her, confused. "Please tell me you're one of those boys who can pinky-swear…" Kayli laughed.
"I'll sacrifice my masculinity for you." Jesse laughed, tying pinkies with her and getting up. "Come on." He said. "Come see the view." Kayli smiled and got to her feet.
"If you say so."
An hour later they debarked the boat and promised to meet up again at midnight. Disappearing into the darkening night, they had no clue where they were going, and ducked into the first restaurant they saw.
"So, what are we going to do?" Alex asked, as they ordered a pair of large fries to chew while they considered their options.
"I've no fucking clue." Aja shrugged.
"I'm pretty sure there's a club up on the avenue." Kayli said, not really knowing what she was talking about. "Next to the theater Mom and Dad took as to once, remember?" she asked Rowan, poking him in the arm.
"Oh yeah." Rowan said, nodded, remembering. "I guess it's worth a shot." He shrugged and chewed on a few more fries.
"Is that alright with you lot?" Kayli asked. The others nodded. Jesse looked somewhat uncomfortable. Next to him, Dixie said, half on Jason's, who looked tired, lap. Kayli looked at him and bit her lip, wondering if he was okay.
In time they got up and wandered down the streets, only half knowing where they were going. After talking Alex and Kayli into asking for directions, they found a neon-illuminated street corner with a line of people outside, laughing and talking.
"I guess that's it." Jesse said.
"Seems to be." Sam agreed. They got in line and stood, hugging their coats around them.
"What if it's over-21?" Sam asked suddenly. The others gave him a look that construed it would be no problem. Alex smiled and linked her arms with his.
"What are you so worried about?" she asked.
"Nothing." Sam said in defense. "I've just not really done this before." Alex looked at him and then laughed.
"Relax." She grinned. "It's going to be fun."
"When are you girls going to take those coats off, anyway?" Rowan asked, adjusting his top hat.
"It's cold!" Aja pouted. "Why, are you going to access my fashion choice now?" she asked.
"I wouldn't put it past him," Jason teased. He was holding Dixie's hand. She too was enveloped in a white jacket. A pair of skinny, skinny jeans stuck out from beneath her.
When they got to the end of the line, the bouncer asked them how old they were.
"Nineteen, mister." Rowan responded, taking his top hat off in mocking respect. The bouncer instantly didn't like him.
"What about your little girlfriends?" he asked.
"We're nineteen too." Aja said.
"Yup. Perfectly legal." Dixie cooed, fluttering her eyelashes. The bouncer looked her up and down. He sighed and gestured towards the door.
Dixie grinned happily and pulled Jason forward into the pulsing doorway, followed by everyone else.
"See that," she said. "I'm hot enough to get us into a club." She swooned to him.
"He was going to let us in." Jason said. Dixie let go of his hand.
"You're so negative." She said shrilly.
"With good reason." Jason snapped. Dixie frowned.
"Come on, let's go!" Peter and Iza said from behind them, pushing them further into the club to the coat check.
Aja pulled off her jacket and passed it to the check clerk who gave her a number, revealing her skirt and corset shirt.
"Wow." She heard Rowan say from behind her.
"Right, so losing the coat was a plus." She grinned, turning to him.
"Well, yeah." Rowan said. "That and I didn't know my little sister owned any clothing that short." In front of them, Kayli was giving in her jacket, wearing her little black dress, stopping at the upper thigh. Aja grinned.
"I know." She said to him, "Full of surprises isn't she?" She took his hand. "Okay, birthday boy. Let's go dance."
Half an hour later, Kayli sat at a table, looking after her friends' drinks and hats as they danced. She sipped her margarita and drummed her fingers on the table. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see a man with long brown hair checking her out. She shot him a look and shook her head so that he skulked off. Eventually someone came over and sat next to her. It was Alex.
"Hey." She smiled. "Why are you dancing?" Kayli looked over at her.
"I just don't really want to." She shrugged. "I'm good with my margarita here." She drank a little more, than downed it and blinked the strength away. Alex laughed.
"So you're just going to sit here and drink the night away?" she asked, sweeping her luxiorious hair of her eyes.
"Yeah." Kayli grinned. She turned towards a waiter. "One more drink please!" she shouted. The waiter rolled his eyes.
"What kind?" he asked. Kayli opened her mouth to say, but Alex interrupted her.
"Two saké bombs, please." She said. The waiter nodded and left. Kayli looked at Alex.
"What was that?" she asked.
"After we do these, I'm making you dance." She said. "Now come on, why don't you really want to go out there?" Kayli thought about answering. Her tongue felt heavy.
"I just don't have anyone to dance with." She admitted, ashamed. Alex laughed.
"Please, like I do." She said, looking at Kayli. "Sam and I are just fun." She said. "We can find you an über hot dance partner without even trying." She teased. The waiter returned with their shot glasses. Kayli looked at hers guiltily. She looked out at the dance floor, trying to spot her other friends within the crowd.
"Ready?" Alex asked.
"Yep." She said, picking up the shot glass. Alex counted to three and they downed them. "I'm gonna be fucked by the end of tonight." Kayli laughed, choking down the strong flavor. "Take me away." She said, offering a hand to Alex. The red head grabbed it and pulled her into the crowd.
A few more saké bombs for Kayli later and the group thought it was best to leave. Jason pointed out that he and Rowan still had business to attend to and it was getting near to midnight. Collecting their things, they went into the street and bid adieu to the loud noises of the club.
"I'm so tired now!" Iza grinned, dancing in the street.
"Me too!" Kayli grinned, spinning in circles and being pulled back by Jason as a car almost ran her over. She laughed.
"No, what you are is a little too hammered, Kays." Aja said from their side.
"I'm not. Really, really, really." Kayli said. "Really. Blame Alex."
"I didn't do anything." Alex stammered, then laughed.
"I don't trust either of you as far as I can throw you." Jason sighed, letting Kayli go. She pouted and stuck her tongue out at him.
"Are you guys really going to do this?" Iza asked, clinging to Peter with protective integrity.
"Fuck yeah." Rowan said, a little to loudly. Aja exhaled angrily, so he kissed her to make up for it.
"Ew." Kayli said. "I do not want to see that." She said, taking refuge beside Jesse, who was talking to Dixie about Italy.
"I know." Dixie was saying. "I was there for a modeling thing. It didn't last long, I was far too interested in seeing the sights than I was for posing in front of cameras."
"You were a model?" Jesse laughed in disbelief. "I might have to kidnap her from you, Jason." He said.
"Be my guest." Jason said, washing his hands of them.
"Oooh." Alex commented. Sam threw her a look to tell her to stop.
"Oh fuck off Jason." Dixie spat.
"Finally, retaliation!" Rowan chimed in. Jason rolled his eyes.
"Why don't we just drop the girls off at the pier and go do this. We'll be back soon." He said to his best friend.
"Yeah, right." Dixie said, walking up to him. "Always wanting to ditch me like usual. Why do I even put up with you?"
"Well, you don't have to anymore, Dix." Jason said, a little angrily. "You seem pretty content with Jesse-boy over there, anyway." Dixie fumed.
"You're such scum, Jason." She said. Alex cooed again, chanting,
"Fight, fight!" Dixie glared at her. They'd come to the pier.
"I'm not going to put up with you anymore." She said to Jason.
"You put up with me?" Jason cried. "Well, that's cool with me Dixie. I really couldn't give more of a damn. Now you lot stay here. We'll be back soon." He said, pointing to a bench by the pier and glaring at the girls.
"Way to be an ass, Jason." Aja said bitterly. He didn't respond. Aja gave Rowan a look. "Don't get too excited. I know this is some sort of 'rite of passage' with you lot." She shook her head. Rowan grinned.
"My girlfriend's so cool. I love you." He kissed her and followed Jason, Jesse and Peter off down the street.
"Are you going?" Alex asked Sam.
"Should I?" he asked. She grinned and pushed him off in the same direction.
"Have fun." She said. As the guys disappeared down the street, Dixie sat down on the bench in a huff.
"I have the worst luck with guys." She said, near tears. "He's such an asshole!" Alex sat next to her.
"It's okay." She said. "He's leaving soon."
"It's all your fucking fault, anyway, Kayli." Dixie cried suddenly, glaring at Kayli who was standing by.
"What?" Kayli asked.
"You guys were doing something behind my back. You show up in your skanky little dress and pretend you're all innocent." Dixie was actually crying now.
"Skanky looks good on me!" Kayli responded, stupidly. Dixie sobbed.
"You're such a bitch." Aja rolled her eyes.
"I can't really deal with this." She sighed. "Weeping floozies plus my boyfriend getting a lap dance is not really my idea of a great night." She folded her arms. Kayli looked from the weeping duo on the bench to her two friends beside her.
"Let's go then." She said. "I know the one their heading to, it's the only one Jason really talks about." The others looked at her in disbelief.
"Okay." Aja grinned.
"I'll stay." Iza said. "Naked women aren't really my thing. Besides, I think I'll try and patch things up here while you two run for cover." She sat down on the bench and put an arm around Dixie.
"Let's go." Aja said, and taking Kayli's hand the two skipped off down the street.
"So." Kayli began, as they paid their entry. "Have you even been to a strip club before?" she asked. The ticket clerk looked them up and down. "I'm a lesbian." Kayli snapped at him as she an Aja walked to the door.
"Can't say I have." Aja sighed. "This is a new thing for me too." Behind them a short line of discreetly dressed businessmen were entering. "Let's go before anyone asks if we're part of the act."
And so they went in. The speakers were blasting The Scorpions from the ceiling and curvaceous women were stalking the catwalks.
"So, here's how the other half lives." Kayli observed, keeping close to Aja. Her best friend bit her lip.
"I'd rather be here than with Dixie-oh-woe-is-me." She said. "Let's find them." Holding hands they scouted the chairs and seats of the bar, looking for the youngest group of guys in the place. They found them sitting on a couch, trying to put enough money together to buy Rowan's present.
"So." Aja said. "You came well prepared, I see." The five guys looked up, almost horrified at the sight of them.
"Why are you two here?" Peter asked quickly.
"We were bored." Kayli said, twisting her hair around a finger.
"We want lap dances too." Aja added, pouting prettily. In his chair, Rowan turned around, looking at her seriously.
"Wait, really?" He asked. "Cause if you really want one, I'll buy you one. Like, I'll sell the farm. I'm serious. Really?" Aja laughed and took a seat on the armrest.
"No." she said, blunt. Rowan cursed silently. Kayli wandered around the back of the couch and looked up at Jason, who was standing, searching his pockets for cash.
"Was this your idea?" he asked, looking at her. Kayli lent over the sofa and picked up his beer. Holding his gaze, she took a drink. Jason couldn't help but admire her in her dress. He swallowed his temptation.
"I'm going to the bar." She said to him, turning and walking away. Jason watched her go, wondering if it was Aja's joke, the atmosphere, or her sultry gaze that was amping him up. He found the twenty in his pocket and handed it to Rowan.
"You decide what to do." He said, stiff. "I'm going to get a drink." Without another word he strode off. He found Kayli with a drink in hand, attracting the attention of many surrounding men.
"What are you up to?" he asked, standing behind her chair. Kayli looked back at him.
"Nothing." She said clumsily. "I'm fine." Jason took the glass away from her.
"Hey!" she snapped, glaring at him.
"You're not fine." Jason said. He put the glass on the counter and she took it back.
"You've been drinking too. You don't have to use… big words with me." Kayli said. She finished her drink and stood up in front of him, looking up with doleful blue eyes.
"Kayli," He started.
"Yeah?" she asked lowly, playing with his tie, drawing herself closer to him. Jason shut his eyes, feeling her body against his.
"I think you've had too much to drink." He said.
Kayli narrowed her eyes angrily.
"Of course." She said, "That's got to be your excuse." She strode past him briskly. Jason followed, knowing she was only going to get more pissed off at him.
"Kayli, hold on." He said, keeping on her toes and catching her by the arm, pulling her back.
"I thought was how you liked girls, anyway." She spat, sourly. "Hammered and easy." She paled suddenly and her shoulders slumped. Her eyelashes fluttered.
"What?" Jason asked, trying to mask how much the previous comment had wounded him.
"My head…" Kayli said, closing her eyes and touching her temple. "I think I'm gonna throw up." She groaned. She lost her balance and stumbled backwards.
"Okay," Jason said, seriously. "Hold on one second." He hurried back to the sofa where Rowan and Aja seemed to be bickering in front of a tired looking stripped, edging towards the money in Rowan's hand.
"I think we better go." Jason announced. "Kayli's wasted." The others jumped up from the table and rushed towards the door. Rowan caught his sister by the elbow.
"Kays?" he asked. "You alright?" Kayli looked at him.
"N-" she began, before she collapsed. Rowan caught her, thankfully.
"Okay." He said. "Probably our queue to leave." He said, picking Kayli up and heading for the door. Aja and the guys followed.
"What happened?" Aja asked of Jason, pointedly.
"Nothing." Jason started. "Why, you think I slipped her a roofie or something?" Aja raised an eyebrow.
"Never mind." She said.
They arrived at the pier, just as the boat docked. Rowan sat Kayli on a seat and tried to get her to sit up straight.
"Kays, can you hear me?" he asked, shaking her shoulders. Kayli wrinkled her nose and made a noise. Then she opened her eyes.
"What?" she groaned. "Wha happen'd?"
"Kays, can you hear me?" her brother repeated.
"Yeah." Kayli sniffed. "Yeah." She repeated. Rowan sighed, gratefully. He looked up at Jason and Aja, who were standing by.
"Okay." He said.
"I'll look after her," Jason said, "It's your birthday." Rowan considered objecting, his eyes searching Kayli's face.
"Okay." He said again. "Thanks, man." He got up, leaving Jason to keep Kayli awake. Aja took his hand.
"She'll be fine." She assured him as they walked out onto the dock.
"Yeah." Rowan said, blowing air through his lips. "I just freaked out, is all."
"Well." Aja said on a brighter note. "I'm glad you didn't get a lap dance." She said. "What's the point of buying one, when I can just give you one." She grinned. Rowan stopped, they were at the edge of the deck.
"Haha, very funny." He said. Aja smiled.
"Happy birthday." She smiled, putting her arms around his neck. She took the top hat off his head and replaced it on her own. Rowan grinned and kissed her on the lips.
"Okay, when you two are done making out, can you tell me what's going on in there?" came Dixie's voice from nearby. Aja and Rowan broke apart and looked at her.
"Kayli's a bit drunk." Aja said, putting her hands in her back pockets.
"Figured." Dixie said, a little meanly. "Is Jason in there with her?" she asked.
"Yeah." Rowan said.
"Typical." Dixie said again, passing judgment another time. Rowan opened his mouth to defend both of his friends, but shut it, thinking the night was too dramatic anyway. Dixie got the message still and walked off, finding Jesse to talk to again.
"Great birthday, anyway." Rowan shrugged.
"What if I told you a way it would get better?" Aja said, with a smile.
