Gravity

Early Friday morning, the Quartermaine's middle child, Jason Quartermaine, stirs from his deep slumber to the sound of hustling and bustling occurring just past his bedroom door, causing a deep sigh to escape his lips as he pushes himself into a sitting position. Dropping his head into his hands to stop himself from releasing a string of curse words, the realization that the family's latest charity event is taking place in the estate hits him, prompting a muffled groan to escape his throat. He has never cursed a three-day weekend so much in his life before. Having a Friday off should be a good thing, dammit.

"Rise and shine, Grumpuss," his older brother, Alan James Quartermaine, more fondly referred to as AJ, practically shouts as he bursts into the room. Almost perfectly timed, AJ steps to the side just as Jason snatches his alarm off the side table and throws it at his head, narrowly missing a trip to the hospital. "Someone's particularly crabby today."

"Get. Out."

"As much as I love giving you what you want," AJ says as he dips down to grab the clock from the floor, placing it on the dresser by the door. "The family's on a time crunch and you know how Cook feels about making separate meals."

"AJ, I swear..." Jason started to say before he spotted the youngest of them, Emily Quartermaine, hesitantly peeking her head around the door jamb. "Good morning, Emily."

"Good morning," she says with a soft smile before stepping into the doorway once AJ steps to the side. "I just wanted to see if you wanted to go to breakfast together."

"Great minds think alike," AJ chimes in with a smirk as he leans against the wall, knowing that she is one of only two people who can get the both of them to do just about anything without argument.

"Sure," Jason voices, doing his best to keep his tone gentle as he rises to his feet, gesturing for her to walk out of the room first, stopping AJ from walking out to say, "Pull that shit again..."

Leaving the sentence open for interpretation, Jason softens his features before meeting up with Emily at the top of the stairs to walk with her to the dining room for breakfast, not at all surprised to find that the rest of the family have already taken their seats. Stopping at the head of the table to greet their grandmother, Jason pulls out Emily's seat for her before taking his seat between her and their grandmother, Lila Quartermaine.

With the three of them seated and the table set, the family says grace before digging in, plans for the day being shared as they all make their plates. It wasn't until their grandmother instructed the teenagers to vacate the estate for the day until it was time to get ready for the event that Jason's ears perked up and his eyes instinctively turned to her in confusion. She doesn't elaborate further, simply granting him a soft smile before continuing with her directives.

"Huh?" Jason voices when Emily tugs on his arm, leaning in when she leans over to whisper in his ear.

"Grandmother felt it was inhumane to force us to help with the event after getting the day off from school," Emily explains quickly. "She set up the cabin by the lake for us to hang out while they set things up."

"Just the family?"

"I think so," Emily replies. "Not sure though. I mean, it's grandmother, after all."

"Right," Jason shakes his head before straightening. "Thanks."

Smiling at him happily, feeling accomplished with providing him with information he lacked, Emily turned back to her breakfast, more than eager to make her way to the cabin. Once Lila was finished with the directives, the family splintered off into their own conversations as they enjoyed breakfast as a family. Jason remains silent as he always has. Listening to the various conversations around him always seems to put his mind at ease.

Meanwhile, upstairs, the family housekeeper, Alice Gunderson, makes her way into Jason's room to clean up, having saved his room for last. Spotting the broken clock on the dresser, she shakes her head, a slight smile touching her lips as she drops it into the waste bin. Going into her cart, she pulls out a new clock, setting it up by his bed before continuing on to clean the rest of the room. Between Jason and Edward, it always helps to keep a backstock of clocks in her cleaning cart.

"Oh, that kid," Alice mutters to herself when she goes to clean his mirror and finds a little envelope taped to it with her name on it. "What have you gotten up your sleeve this time?"

Setting the spray bottle and rag down, she pulls the envelope off the mirror, shaking her head in disbelief as she wrestles the contents out of the fold. The moment her eyes landed on tickets to the opera, Alice clutched the tickets before quickly glancing around, regardless of knowing that there was no one around.

Though you wouldn't know it by looking at her, the opera is one of her guilty pleasures and it astonishes her that Jason has a way of knowing things you'd never think he'd know. Quickly putting the tickets back into the envelope, she shoves the envelope into her pocket before getting back to work. Leave it to that kid to leave her speechless as always.

"Are you seriously not going to join the rest of us at the cabin?" AJ nags on as they make their way upstairs after breakfast. "Come on, you can't be that much of a drag today."

"AJ!" Emily gasps, slapping his arm. "If Jason doesn't want to go to the cabin, you shouldn't try to force him into it."

"And that's why you're my favorite," Jason comments as he pushes open the door to his room, his gaze drifting to the end of the hall, a slight smile touching his lips when he spots Alice with a pep in her step, confirming that she got his gift. Shaking his head, he walks into his room, satisfied that she clearly enjoyed it.

"You say that now but you don't even know the roster," AJ throws back, not at all phased by Jason's lack of interest, listing out those who have agreed to show up despite Jason not even acknowledging his continued speech, "Almost everyone we know is going to show up. There's the family, of course, but there's also Robin and her cousins, Lucky and his Cassadine brother, the Webber sisters..."

"..." Jason tunes into that, his eyebrow rising slightly at the mention of the Webbers before he schools his features. "Would you just get out?"

"Okay, fine, none of that peak your interest," AJ accepts before letting out a sigh. "What about Carly and Sam, huh? They have to make showing up interesting for you, right?"

"AJ, look, I want Jason to show up as much as you do, but do you honestly think listing people will change his mind?" Emily comments as she's looking through Jason's guidebook collection. "They all show up to our events all the time."

"You want me to come, huh?" Jason voices, saddling up beside her before taking his favorite book out of her hands to place it back on the shelf.

"Of course I do," Emily throws back. "But I'm not going to pull an AJ and try to bribe you into it if you obviously don't want to come."

"Hey!" AJ blurts out, feigning offense when she looks at him pointedly after using his name as a verb. "All I'm trying to do is help the anti-social out of his cacoon."

"He's not anti-social just because he doesn't go to every single event," Emily throws back. "Not to mention, just because you don't like his friends, doesn't mean they don't exist. He's not anti-social, he's simply selectively social. There's a difference."

"You've been hanging around Skye again, I see."

"You mean our sister?" Emily throws back. "And yes, I have."

"You want me there, I'm there," Jason says, pulling her attention back to him, knowing this was a conversation bound to go on for a lot longer than he'd like, especially in his room. "Contingent on you getting him out of my room."

"Done," Emily says before he can change his mind. "Let's go, AJ."

"Hey, I wasn't done..." AJ struggles to get out as Emily surprisingly spins him around to push him out of the room.

"You are now," Emily says simply, continuing to push him out of the room. "Anything you have to say can be said at the cabin."

"When did you get so strong?" AJ comments as Jason shuts the door behind them.

"Call it puberty," Emily says, bringing them to a stop outside of AJ's room. "Fashionably late is only tolerable at an event that's not ours. I suggest you get ready if you want to be there before people start showing up."

With him planted outside his room, she quickly rushes off to her room, not waiting for a response. If she's to be on time, like she instructed him to do, she needs to start getting ready posthaste. It was one thing when she thought that her best friend was going to be there but to find out his brother was also coming, well, that's another story entirely. Her usual get-up just wasn't going to cut it this time.

Before too long, the siblings meet up at the front of the estate before the guys climb into separate ATVs, Emily climbing into Jason's, and taking off to the lake cabin. Much like they expected, the place is already set up for them, more than enough to get them through the day. Once they have the ATVs parked and their outfits straightened out, it doesn't take long for the people to start rolling in.

"Jason!" Carly Spencer's voice rises above the rest as she pushes past people to make her way to him. "Way to send out a last-minute invite. I almost couldn't make it."

"You're here, aren't you?" Jason counters simply.

"Well, yeah, obviously I'm not going to miss something you're hosting," Carly scoffs at the idea. "Still, some notice would have been nice."

"Give the guy some credit," Samantha McCall, preferably called Sam, chimes in with something of a smirk smile on her face. "I'm sure if he knew beforehand he would have told you sooner. Right, Jason?"

"No promise," Jason says simply, his attention pulled to the driveway as another car pulls up. "I'll...uh, check you guys later."

"The secondhand embarrassment is real with you guys," Lucas Lorenzo Spencer, Lucky, chimes in as he grabs a drink from the cooler. "If it's not clear, you're both barking up the wrong tree."

"Would you shut up?" Sam throws back. "You have no idea what or who Jason is or isn't interested in."

"Even a blind man can see you land in the isn't category but what do I know?" Lucky counters with a shrug.

"Would you tell your cousin to get lost?" Sam snaps before turning her back on Lucky. "He's so infuriating."

"Save your breath," Lucky laughs before turning away from them. "I was just trying to save you the embarrassment but, please, do continue. It's prime entertainment for everyone else, at the very least."

"Can you believe him?" Sam groans before turning to Carly. "How could he possibly know that Jason isn't the least bit interested?"

"Ignore him," Carly says simply. "But, just so it's been said, you know he's going to choose me, right?"

"Seriously?" Sam looks at her exasperated. "Are we really going to have this fight again?"

"Guess not," Carly chuckles. "Grab us some drinks, will ya?"

"Yeah, yeah," Sam rolls her eyes. "Coming right up."

As the music picks up and the party starts to find its rhythm, Jason makes his way to the car that just pulled up, not at all having expected them to make their way to the cabin. Seeing as he had only just found out about the pre-event, he didn't bother sending out an invite because he knew their schedules were a lot worse than his. The fact that they still found their way there has him more curious than usual.

"Well look at the big, bad Quartermaine stepping out to greet us," Johnny O'Brien, one of his two best friends, comments when he gets to their car. "You good? I'm sure it was a far drop off your throne to get here."

"Took the elevator," Jason throws back simply. "Wasn't that bad, honestly."

"Surprised to see us," Francis Corelli, the other part of the best friend duo, guesses to sway the topic away from their usual banter, knowing it's bound to take a while. "I can see the gears turning from here."

"I assumed the hound dog sniffed it out," Jason counters with a smirk.

"With your body odor, you wouldn't be wrong," Johnny throws back with ease. "Doubt there's anyone that can't smell you from the other side of town."

"You sure that's not just your upper lip you're smelling?" Jason counters with a raised eyebrow before turning to Francis. "Someone from the family reach out?"

"Ha, good one," Francis throws back before the three of them join in on the laugh at the idea that someone from the family reached out to either of them. "Nah, hell hasn't frozen over just yet."

"Then who?" Jason questions, unsure of how they knew to be there.

"Our usual source," Johnny says simply, gesturing with a nod to a small group that has congregated at the edge of the party. "Ran into her on the way to the diner."

Almost like it was instinctual, the youngest Webber girl, Elizabeth, lifts her head as if sensing someone was looking at her before her gaze finds the guys looking her way. A soft smile touching her lips, she lifts her hand in a slight wave to the guys before easily returning her attention to the conversation at hand in her group.

"Don't stare too hard," Johnny nudges Jason, pulling his attention off of her and back to them. "We all know you're not anywhere near that level."

"Shut up," Jason counters before taking in a short breath to catch himself. "Jet skis?"

"I'm game," Francis agrees, falling into step with them as they head to the dock where they keep the jet skis, stopping Johnny for a moment as Jason takes off into the lake. "Too far, kid."

"I was only..."

"Too far," Francis states firmly. "Don't do it again."

"Fine," Johnny accepts, strapping the life vest on, letting out an exasperated sigh when Francis looks at him pointedly. "I won't do it again."

"See to it," Francis replies before starting up his jet ski and taking off.

Glancing back over his shoulder at Elizabeth he lets out a sigh, accepting he took it a step too far, before shaking his head and taking off into the lake after them. Johnny stands on a different stance when it comes to the young Webber girl, having built a friendship through humor, wanting to ensure that she's never hurt by the people that she accepts in her life. Call it defensive or what have you but sometimes he just can't help it. Still, Francis is right and he doesn't have to drive the stake in any deeper than it already is where Jason's concerned.

"Is there a hotter trio in this town?" Brenda Barrett comments as her eyes find the guys taking off around the lake on jet skis. "They seriously challenge my monogamy daily."

"I mean, I guess," Robin Scorpio shrugs. "I might be the exception because I just don't see any of them in that light."

"Well that's because you're in a committed relationship with your own hottie," Brenda throws back with a roll of her eyes. "Help me out here, Liz, I mean, you see it, don't you?"

"Actually..." Elizabeth scrunches her face in subtle defiance.

"You can't be serious?!" Brenda looks at her in disbelief. "I mean, I get Robin being all lovey-dovey with her man, but you're as single as I am. How do you not see the hot trio for what they are?"

"Well, two-thirds of that are like my big brothers," Elizabeth points out. "And Jason's...well, he's Jason. I don't know any other way to explain that."

"Ugh, honestly, fine, fine," Brenda throws her hands up. "Don't know why I'm trying to get you guys to see them the way I do. At least this way there's no competition."

"Not with us anyway," Robin laughs. "Doesn't mean you don't have competition in general."

Names didn't even need to be dropped, at this point, there's truly no secret just who in this town shares the same taste in men that Brenda has. From the mean girl duo, Carly and Sam, to the golden child of the Webber family, there's no shortage of competition where that trio is concerned.

"I don't know about the two of you but I'm ready to go swimming," Brenda says as she takes off her robe. "No sense in being by the water and not taking advantage of it."

"Only if you promise to help me with my hair later," Elizabeth replies simply. "Lord knows that I won't get it dry in time on my own."

"Done deal," Brenda assures. "Between the three of us, you'll be just fine, right, Robin?"

"Yeah, for sure," Robin shakes her head. "I packed my new blow dryer in my overnight bag just in case."

"True girl scout here, ladies," Brenda smirks. "Come on, time to swim."

Setting their cover-ups to the side, the three of them head out into the water, deciding to make the most of the opportunity and good weather. Much like how Brenda had her eyes on the guys as they made their way out onto the lake, the three of them gained an audience as they made their way out into the lake.

While Brenda looked on with desire, their audience looked on in disgust, the three of them somehow having gained the reputation of being the it girls of the town. The anger brewing on the shore wasn't helped any by the guys driving their jet skis near the girls and coming to a stop.

"Three of you, three of us, some would call it fate," Johnny says with a slight smirk.

"What the bonehead means to ask is if you guys would like a ride around the lake," Francis chimes in with a shake of his head. "We know you guys don't like to drive the jet skis, but we can take you around if you want."

"You don't have to ask me twice," Brenda says before holding out her hand to Francis. "I'm always down for a good ride."

"Liz?" Johnny holds his hand out to her. "What do ya say?"

"Only if Robin agrees," Elizabeth counters. "Otherwise, I'm good."

"Sure," Robin says with a shrug before swimming over to Jason's jet ski and holding her hand out to him. "But not for too long, we still have to head back to Brenda's place to get ready for tonight."

"You heard the girl," Johnny says before holding his hand out to Elizabeth again. "Let's ride."

Shaking her head, Elizabeth takes hold of Johnny's hand, allowing him to pull her up onto the jet ski behind him. Once the three girls are settled onto the jet skis behind them, life vests strapped on, the guys take off into the lake once more. For an impromptu day at the lake, they had to admit it was turning out to be worth the trip, knowing it would get them through having to attend yet another charity event. At least this is the last one for the season and they won't have to attend another one until summer.

"Are you guys coming tonight?" Robin asks Francis and Johnny, the three girls more than aware that the natural disasters were starting to make their way over to the guys. "It's bound to be more fun with you guys there."

"We're considering it," Francis admits. "Could be nice to switch up our day-to-day with a Quartermaine event."

"Heavy on considering," Johnny chimes in. "No promises."

"Fudge brownies," Elizabeth counters with a knowing smirk. "Made two trays of it just for tonight. Probably the best batch I've made so far."

"Did I say considering?" Johnny chuckles. "I meant, totally there, RSVP'd and everything."

"Mhm," Elizabeth says with a shake of her head before taking the girls' hands and turning away. "See you guys tonight."

"You really are so easy, you know that?" Francis comments as the girls walk off to gather their things and head out to get ready. "That girl could probably get you to commit murder with the promise of brownies."

"I mean, I'd probably do it without the incentive but the brownies wouldn't hurt," Johnny says honestly. "It's Liz, if she wanted someone dead, pretty sure they deserve it."

"Anyway..." Francis says in an attempt to change the subject. "Since big mouth set it in stone, we need to head out and handle some stuff to free up the night. You gonna be good?"

"Yeah," Jason assures. "Just gonna kill time on the jet ski."

"Cool, we'll see you tonight then," Francis says before nudging Johnny. "Let's get to it."

Quickly making their way back to their car before the other girls could reach them, Johnny and Francis take off while Jason gets back on the jet ski, acting like he didn't hear them calling out to him as he takes off back onto the lake. Normally, he wouldn't dodge them but he could see Carly gearing up for an argument and he just didn't have the mental space to deal with that presently. He's finally in a good mood where the event is concerned and he wants to keep that mood for as long as possible. Spending the rest of the day on the water, he meets up with his sister to head back up to the house once the time comes to get ready, finding himself actually looking forward to the event now that his friends have gotten themselves obligated to show. This is bound to be an interesting night, to say the least.

A/N: Hey, hi, hello! Thanks for reading this far. Let me know what you thought of this chapter and if you'd like to see more of it. I consider the first chapters as a way to test the waters. If you're not too into it, let me know and I can either axe it for a different storyline or adjust it. Either way, I look forward to hearing what you think.