Chapter Five: Underage
Summary: A new bartender, fake ID, and two sixteen-year-old girls is a recipe for disaster.
Prompt: That's what little girls are made of...
X-X-X-X-X
"New bartender," Jake said by explanation.
"Tell him he's fired." Jason Morgan's blue eyes were hard as he took in the scene at the bar.
Two dark-haired girls propped against each other for support by the scarred countertop, giggling hysterically at nothing in particular. Jason knew neither would find things so amusing in the morning when they were laying offerings to the Porcelain God but, for now, breathing was comic relief.
"I only let them stay because you said it would be alright," Jake pointed out.
Jason pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. "I didn't say it was alright to let them drink. They're underage, Jake."
"I didn't give them alcohol," she shot back defensively. "I was in the back, doing the books. He said they had ID."
"Christ, Jake! Every teenager in this town has a fake ID! Doesn't he know who she is?" he asked incredulously.
Jake shrugged. He did now. "Like I said, he's new. You want five minutes in the back alley to introduce yourself?"
Blue eyes narrowed on his old friend, as he seriously considered her offer.
A crash followed by a raucous burst of laughter took the decision from his hands. Emily had toppled from her stool, dragging Elizabeth with her. The two laid tangled up with one another on the sticky kernel strewn floor and were laughing uncontrollably.
"Jesus," Jason muttered. He made his way over to his sister and her best friend, who also happened to be his partner's daughter.
The two were a volatile combination. Elizabeth was usually a good sport, by all reports, if a bit outspoken. But since becoming friends with his baby sister, she had no qualms about ditching her guards to wreak havoc with the youngest Quartermaine on the poor unsuspecting citizens of Port Chuck.
"Alright, Quartermaine," Jason said, kneeling beside his sister. "Wanna swap the floor for a mattress? I bet it'll be a lot more comfortable."
"Jason?" Emily slurred in question, as her brother gently helped her to sit up.
"Jason? Where?" Beside her, Elizabeth Corinthos perked up, her laughter stuttering to an abrupt halt. "Oh my God," she moaned pitifully, catching sight of the man in question, "my dad is gonna crucify me."
A helpless smile bloomed across his face for a millisecond before Jason remembered that he was a badass and was angry with the two girls for betraying his trust in them. "Yeah, he will, if tomorrow's hangover doesn't get you first." His voice was stern as he helped her to her feet, too.
"Hangover? What hangover? Are you implying that we're drunk? We weren't drinking," Emily cried indignantly.
Elizabeth dissolved into a fit of giggles.
"Right…." Jason trailed off.
"Honestly, Jase, how could you (hic) think that we would (hic) betray the faith you put in (hic) us to (hic) behave repon – response – responsibiliby if (hic) Jake let us stay?"
"Yeah, Jason," Elizabeth turned big blue eyes on her friend's brother, "how (hic) could you?"
Jake coughed to cover the laugh that threatened to spill over.
Jason's eyes narrowed further. "I don't know what came over me," he conceded in mock apology as he helped the two girls to the door.
Jake followed and handed him two handbags. "Put it on my tab," Jason said, not quite sure what to do with the feminine bags. Sparkles and canvas didn't really mesh well with battered leather jackets and motorcycle boots.
"I'll let it slide if you let my bartender live," she said, only half-joking with her request. You never could tell with Morgan.
"Okay, (hic) so maybe we were drinking a (hic) little," Emily admitted once they'd settled into the black SUV waiting for them outside.
Francis's amused brown eyes met Jason's in the rearview mirror. Did she realise she was drooling?
"Tell Juan he did a great job on the IDs," Elizabeth slurred, kicking off her wedge sandals and snuggling up to her friend.
Jason's jaw clenched. The greasy little weasel had just moved way up his shitlist.
"I'm not (hic) telling Juan a damn thing (hic)! Bastard!"
"Oh yeah, right, I forgot! Bastard!" she commiserated with her friend.
That he could agree with.
"So," Emily turned eagerly to her brother, "where're we going? Some place more fun? I really think Jake had a stick up her ass tonight. I'm up for (hic) more! We've got ID!" she announced gleefully.
"The only place you're going is Disco Springs," Jason replied exasperatedly, coining one of Carly's Podunk phrases for going to bed.
"Oooh," Emily drawled excitedly, "is that (hic) new? I've never (hic) heard of it before."
Jason heaved a long-suffering sigh. "I'm taking you home, to bed, Em, where you both should be," he said pointedly, ineffectively skewering Elizabeth with his blue-eyed gaze.
"Home?" she exclaimed in horror. "No!"
"Yes."
"No!"
"Yes."
"Jeez, bossy," Elizabeth said petulantly, her nose wrinkling delicately.
Jason looked over at her. "You have no idea."
Elizabeth's eyes widened imperceptibly at the husky quality of his voice and her gaze dropped to his lips for a heated second before quickly flicking back up to his eyes.
Sudden tension crackled between the two before an unladylike snore shattered the spell. Elizabeth giggled. Emily had fell asleep, head lolling against her friend's shoulder, with mouth wide open, which accounted for the sounds of a lumberjack at work.
Jason quickly looked away, inwardly cursing his reaction to the moment. She was sixteen! Drinking wasn't the only thing she was underage for.
The blessed quiet continued on the journey from the waterfront to the Quartermaine mansion. Jason looked out the window, not really seeing the nighttime scenery as they sped along the country road. As the quiet lengthened with the confines of the vehicle, Jason felt it safe to finally look at his two backseat companions, his volatile emotions in check once more, only to meet a pair of disconcertingly aware sapphire-blue eyes.
Elizabeth's smile was secretive and all too knowledgeable for comfort. She said softly so Francis wouldn't overhear, "You know, Morgan, one of these days, you're gonna love it when I get drunk."
Jason swallowed hard and looked away, willing the car to move faster.
He couldn't exactly make it known that that day had come and gone.
TBC…