"Holy shit." he muttered, blinking a few times to clear his glassy vision.

He sat up slowly, trying to avoid head-rush, but did not. "Ugh." was all he said, squeezing his eyes shut and trying to bear the painful throbbing in his skull.

Opening his eyes, he came to the realization that he was in a bathtub of all places. He pulled himself up to his feet, clinging to the tiled wall for support. His legs were even sore. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to remember what had gone on. Bits and pieces swam back into his memory... unfortunately.

"Damnit." he said softly, leaning his head against the cold tiles for a moment.

Finally, mustering up the strength to move again, he made his way out of the tub and to the sink, running the faucet. He scooped water up into his hands and slurped it up, swishing it in his mouth before spitting it back out. It came out a murky yellow, evidence of his own vomit.

Scott opened one of the side cabinets, not having to search in order to find the mouthwash; it was right to the front on the cabinet. He unscrewed the cap promptly and poured some in his mouth, swishing it around a few times and spitting. He repeated this process a bit more before daring to look into the mirror. He instantly came to the conclusion that he looked like shit.

His hair was matted and disgusting, his eyes bloodshot and red with large dark bags underneath. He looked pale and lifeless.

"Gross." he muttered to himself, splashing his face with water from the still-running faucet. Looking back into the mirror, he realized he had thrown-up in his hair.

Shower time. He thought to himself, shutting off the sink and turning his attention back to the tub. He turned the shower on and stripped down while it warmed up; which was not an easy job due to his aching joints. He felt as if he had rigor-mortis though he was alive.

Stepping under the hot spray was the best feeling he could imagine at that moment. He felt like hell. Note to self, never drink again. He thought with a slightly comic grin, but knew that vow would only last until the next party.

Closing his eyes against the stream of water, he saw her face. Then he began to remember the rest of what had happened the previous night...

* * *

The toaster sprung up four Pop Tarts.

"Breakfast anyone?" Timber said cheerily, taking them out and putting them on a plate, then loading for more in their places.

"Ugh... morning people." Bob whined, laying his head on the table. "I feel like dead in life and I never even drank. But you should have a killer hang-over by now." he informed her.

"I was tipsy, not drunk, Bucko, and I don't get hangovers." she replied, getting a jug of grape-juice out of the refrigerator.

"She's never been drunk enough to get a hangover." Jeanine clarified, wandering into the kitchen where Bob, Kelly, Dave, and Clint were seated around the table, while Timber bustled back and forth between the stove, refrigerator, cabinets, and pantry, getting Pop Tarts for everyone. She was the only one fully awake.

"Morning!" Tim exclaimed, too hyper for her own good.

"Die bitch die!" Kelly moaned.

Timber smiled affectionately at her friend as she set a plate full of pop-tarts on the table. She went back to the counter and hopped up, taking a seat on top and sipping grape juice.

Dave poured himself a glass of grape juice and helped himself to a pop-tart. "Thanks Tim." he said nicely.

Jeanine sat down next to him. "Where are the Advils Timber?" she asked, holding her head in pain.

Timber leaned over and grabbed the half-full bottle that was randomly sitting on the counter. She tossed it to her friend.

"Thanks." Jeanine said, popping open the bottle and helping herself to three.

"Aren't you only supposed to take two?" Kelly asked, looking up.

"Well I have a BIG headache." Jen replied.

"Where's Scott?" Dave asked.

"Is he still passed out in the tub?" Kelly asked, directing her question to Clint.

Clint shrugged.

"Passed out? What?" Timber asked.

"He had a little too much to drink last night." Bob replied, taking a pop-tart.

"Typical Scott." Dave said, though hearing this information for the first time, not seeming surprised.

"Where is she?" Scott asked frantically, storming into the kitchen.

All eyes shot up to look at him. He was dressed in the same clothes he had worn the night before, but his hair was still dripping wet, creating dark spots on his shoulders. A somber mood was set over the group.

"Where's who?" Clint asked softly.

"Angela!" Scott shouted. "Where is she?"

"She left last night." Bob replied, looking down at his pop-tart.

"Damnit." Scott said flatly, taking a seat at the table and putting his head in his arms.

Jeanine slid the Advil bottle to him. "Want some?" she asked gently.

Scott looked up. "Thanks." he said, popping it open and shaking four into his hand.

Bob poured his oldest brother some juice and handed him the glass.

"Thanks." Scott said again, accepting it and downing the pills. His head went back to it's new home in his arms, hiding his face from everyone. He had blown it. He let fear take him over and he blew it with her. He finally had the audacity to admit that he liked her, he cared about her greatly, but it was too late.

"Scott?" Timber said softly, walking over and laying a hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay?"

"I like her. I like her a lot." he said, his voice muffled by his bare arms. "But I blew it." he added in defeat.

"No Scott." Timber said firmly. "You didn't blow it."

He raised his head up. "Where is she now?" he asked, to no one in particular.

Dave looked at his hands, suddenly at loss for an appetite. Now Scott would get his wish. Now Angela was truly out of the picture for him.

"At home probably." Jeanine said. "Do you want her address?"

"Yeah, where does she live?" he asked, hope seeping back into him.

"A block down and two streets over." Timber said, excited to be helping two lovers in need. She grabbed a pen off one of the side counters and jotted Angela's address down on Scott's hand.

"Thank you so much." Scott said, hugging her. He got up and left the table. "I'll see you guys later."

"You're going to her now?" Bob asked.

"Not right now, it's only nine in the morning." he said, forgetting about his hangover.

"I only got five hours of sleep." Jeanine moaned.

"We should be going anyway, Dad'll be shittin' kittens in a few seconds." Dave said, getting up and putting his cup in the sink, attempting to wash it.

"You can just leave it Dave, I'm going to run the dishwasher in a few." Timber assured him.

"Okay."

The other Moffatt boys got up from the table and put their cups in the sink.

"I gotta go now too." Jeanine said. "I promised my mom I'd be home early."

"Me too. I have to stay with Warner today." Kelly said, getting up.

"Well, I'll see you guys later." Timber said. "I would walk you home, but I'm all rank from last night. I'm going to go jump in the shower."

"Call me later." Bob said as he followed his brothers out the door.

"Thanks for breakfast." Dave added.

Timber laughed. "Bye guys." she said, shutting the front door behind them. Once again, her house was empty.

Kelly and Jeanine started in the direction of their houses which were on the same block while the Moffatt boys started their short trek across the street. Clint ran up to Kelly.

"I'll call you later Kelly, maybe we can go out." he said, glancing at Jeanine.

"Okay Clint." Kelly said, beaming.

"Well... I'll see you..." he said, turning and hurrying to catch up with his brothers.

"What was that all about?" Jeanine grinned as she and Kelly began walking again.

"He asked me out last night." Kelly replied, trying to seem nonchalant.

"I told you!" Jen exclaimed. "I told you he liked your stupid ass, but you didn't listen to the voice of obviousness.

"You're right, but it's not like I doubted you." Kelly defended.

"Awwww... our little Kelly is growing up." Jeanine teased. "What will uncle Matt have to say about this? His little girl, dating a rock star? I think your daddy's going to have to frown upon this one babe."

"Shut up Jeanie!" Kelly giggled girlishly. "When, if, things get serious, I'll take him to meet daddy. I'm sure daddy won't have a problem with it anyway, Clint's a good guy."

"Yeah... whatever." Jeanine said passively.

* * *

"... and what you did was irresponsible, inexcusable, and unacceptable." Frank continued.

His four sons sat on the couch in the living room with their heads bowed, listening to their father rattle off reasons why they were to be grounded.

"I mean, should I start enforcing curfews on you boys?" he asked, but none of them dared answer. It was an obvious trick question. "What do you have to say for yourselves?" Frank asked. "I could hear that party loud and clear all night long and I was considering calling the police! Were there no phones where you guys were? Would it have hurt to at least call?"

Bob felt like murdering Scott. Had it not been for him, they could have gone home.

"I can't even stand to look at the four of you, you've upset me so much. Just go to your rooms and stay there until further notice." their father concluded, turning his back on them.

Clint, Dave, Scott, and Bob got up from the couch and scurried up the stairs to their bedrooms. Time alone that afternoon would only be spent catching up on lost sleep... or so they thought.

* * *

A few hours later, Scott was seated on his bed, eyeing the address scrawled on his hand. He had to see her, to talk to her. He had to get his point across somehow. He had never meant to hurt her. He would never do that. All he wanted was to take her in his arms and never let go of her. He had to talk to her... but his dad had him under house arrest.

"Dave's room." Scott said aloud, jumping up to his feet.

He crept to his door and peeked out into the hall, thankful to find it empty. His parents room was right across, but he didn't think his father was in there. He tiptoed to the room that was just before the steps and knocked quietly.

"Come in!" he heard, muffled from inside.

Scott opened the door and slipped in, shutting it firmly behind him. Dave looked surprised to see him from where he was sitting on his bed reading a Steven King novel.

"Hey Dave." Scott whispered, sitting down next to him. "I have to talk to you."

"About what?" Dave asked, shutting his book and setting it on his night stand. He knew very well what his brother had to talk to him about.

"I have to see her." Scott said. "I have to tell her I'm sorry. I have to be with her."

"Well if that's how you feel..." Dave trailed off, trying to seem uninterested.

"You don't understand Dave." Scott said, laying back on his brothers bed as if he was in a shrink's office. "At first I didn't want to admit that I liked her." he started, speaking to the ceiling. "Then I was finally able to say that I like her."

"So what's the problem?" Dave asked, impatiently.

"I'm falling in love with her." Scott blurted out.

Dave looked up at his brother in surprised, and jealousy washed over him. "Things'll work out for you." he said softly, upset because he knew they would.

Scott looked down at him. "You think they will?" he asked.

Dave nodded, focusing on the blue blanket that covered his bed.

"How do you know?" Scott pressed.

"God Scott! You don't even know her!" he shouted. "You've known her for all of what? A day? And you say you're falling in love with her? That's bull shit. She's probably like all the others! Hump and dump, then move on!"

Scott was surprised by his brother's outburst. He propped himself up on his elbows. He would normally ask Dave what was up his ass, but this time he had something else he needed to say. "It's not like that Dave." he uttered softly. "At first I thought it was, I thought I was just really strongly attracted to her. Then I got to know her, and she's everything I need. I mean, I can see us together, for a long time." he continued, laying back down and looking up at the ceiling.

Dave got up off the bed, not able to stand being near his brother for another second. "So what do you want me to say Scott?" he demanded quietly as he gazed out his window.

Scott got up from the bed and went to the window. "I'm going to go see her." he said, a mischievous grin forming on his lips.

"Yeah, then a pig'll go flying across my room and into my closet." Dave said sarcastically. "You're grounded Scott."

"What?" Scott asked, not paying attention.

"Did I stutter?" Dave demanded, becoming more annoyed by the passing second. "I said you're grounded! Or did you forget?"

Scott looked over at him. "That's where you come in." he said with a grin.

* * *

Clint stared up at his ceiling as he had been for about an hour and a half... maybe two... he hadn't been paying attention. He really liked Kelly. Maybe it could become more than like, maybe he would end up marrying her... Naw. He couldn't think that far ahead. He was only fifteen, he still had a good ten years, give or take, before he'd have to worry about marriage.

What was it he liked about her? She was a great person through-and-through... very sweet. She was the type he could bring home to meet Sheila and his Dad. She was so much his type that it scared him. He really wanted to go out with her that night, but he didn't know if he would be grounded by then or not. He hoped he wouldn't be.

If he took her out, where would they go? To the movies? Yeah, the movies is a good place to start. Dinner and a movie? A movie then ice cream? Or maybe a mov---

"Clint!" Dave exclaimed, bursting into his bedroom.

Clint looked up, startled. "What is it?" he asked, annoyed at the intrusion on his private thoughts.

"Scott... he left! He went to go see Angela!" Dave rattled off.

"What?" Clint asked, confused. "What about being grounded?"

"He went out my bedroom window, down in the tree! He's gone! He went to see Angela!"

"He's going to get busted." Clint said flatly, stopping to snicker.

"He went to see her!" Dave complained for the third time.

"What's all the screaming about?" Bob asked, walking in and sitting next to Clint on the bed. He lay his head down on his brother's stomach.

"Scott snuck out to go to Angela!" Dave screamed, pacing back and forth in front on the bed.

Bob picked up a magazine from Clint's night table and lay back down on his identical brother's stomach, flipping it open. "Big deal. Scott always does shit like that. He's always playing Mr. Big and Bad, then he gets our asses in trouble..."

"He went to see Angela!" Dave cried.

This time his triplet brothers looked up at him. A smile eased it's way onto Clint's face.

"You like her." Clint stated.

"You looooooove her." Bob teased.

"Shut up." Dave said in a weakly.

"Oh my God Dave!" Bob cried, sitting up and looking at his brother intently. Clint did the same. "You really do like her!"

"Yeah, I do." Dave admitted sadly. He sat down on the bed between his two brothers. "I really, really do." he continued. "But Scott likes her too. He claims he's falling in love with her."

"So?" Clint asked, not understanding what paralleled the two situations.

"You know Scott. He'll get her. He always gets the girl no matter who it is. And she likes him too. I have no hope." Dave said sadly, resting his head in his hands.

"Buck up Davey. You're a good guy. Girls always like you." Bob said supportively.

"Yeah but they can't resist Scott."

Bob and Clint looked at each other, not knowing what to say to counter-act their brother's statement.

"Thanks for the support guys." Dave said after a moment of silence.

"Well at least you'll have the benefit of Scott getting his butt kicked by Dad when he find out that he left.” Bob put in.

Dave looked up at the both of them, then laughed.

* * *

It was a warm day so far, though it was only a little past one o'clock. The humidity wasn't bad at all though, and the breeze was refreshing. Scott glanced down at his hand before looking up at the house that he stood in front of.

The house was white brick with four pillars in the front. It was a pretty classic looking house, shutters around the windows and all. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly before starting up the front walk. He promptly wrung the doorbell when he got on the porch, not wanting to waste any time.

The tiny pitter-patter of feet could be heard to the door and the curtains of one of the windows beside the front door parted, two big brown eyes looking up at him. A smile crept onto the lips of the little girl in the doorway showing tiny little teeth. Scott couldn't help but smile back at her, she was by far the most adorable child he had seen in his life. Maybe that was partly because she looked just like Angela.

The door opened and there stood an older woman who had to be in her very late teens or early twenties. She had long brown hair that was tied back in a ponytail and similar brown eyes. She was slightly tall, a bit taller than Angela, and thin.

"Hello." she greeted him, also having a thick Spanish accent.

"Hi." Scott said.

The little girl from the window ran past the woman and up to Scott, hugging his leg. She short curly hair just like Angela. She was a much younger version of Angela actually.

"Is Angela in?" Scott asked, crouching down and smiling at the little girl.

"You're here to see Angela?" the woman asked. "I'm her aunt Maria." she said, extending her hand.

"Scott Moffatt." Scott said, shaking it. "And who is this?" he asked sweetly, referring to the little girl who was now looking up at him adoringly.

"This is Patti, my other niece; Angela’s sister." Maria replied, looking him over. "But Angela isn't in right now. She left early this morning at around eight or so and hasn't been back since." she said.

Scott's heart sank. "Oh." he said.

"Do you want me to tell her you stopped by? I can have her call you later?" Maria continued, picking Patti up in her arms.

Scott pondered her question blankly while studying the little girl who had to be at most two years old.

"Umm... okay." he said.

"Does she have your number?" Maria asked, noticing how he was suddenly distracted.

"Better yet," Scott said, not hearing her last question. "Could you not tell her that I came by? It's not that important." he added, as to not seem suspicious.

"Ummm, alright." Maria said slowly, obviously confused. "Are you sure?" she asked.

"Positive." Scott replied, already halfway down the porch steps. "Thanks."

"Alright, no problem." Maria said, leery of him already. She went into the house and closed the door behind her, heading straight up the steps.

Angela was caught off-guard when her aunt came storming into her bedroom.

"So that's Scott?" Maria asked, sitting down on her niece's bed. She lived with the Tendero's and attended the medical school at the local college. She was Mrs. Tendero's sister and watched Patti when her sister and brother-in-law weren't home. She and Angela were like sisters.

Angela nodded silently.

"He doesn't seem as vicious as you made him out to be."

"He's not." Angela said shortly.

"Well it's a good thing Jeanine called and told you he was stopping by or else you would be in a pretty awkward situation right now." Maria continued while Patti played with her hair.

"Yeah." Angela said softly, looking down at her hands.

"You should go to his house and talk to him." he aunt said. "He seems really sad." she said.

"Scotty." Patti said out of nowhere.

Angela looked up at her younger sister who stood on her bed. Maybe she should go talk to Scott.

"No." she said stubbornly. "He made it pretty clear that he didn't want to have anything to do with me."

"But that was when he was drunk... was it not?" Maria pointed out.

"True." Angela said, sighing.

"If you really like him then go talk to him. Make things right. I talked to the guy for two minutes and he seemed to like you a lot."

Angela made her decision. She hopped up off her bed and went to her closet to slip on her sandals. "You're right." she said, looking up at them.

* * *

"Okay, I'll ask you three one more time, and I better get an answer this time. Where is Scott." Frank asked for the fourth time.

Sibling loyalty had prevented the triplets from saying anything. They had been sitting in silence for the past ten minutes.

"I'd better get a reply, or you three are grounded until your thirty."

"Up my butt." Bob said promptly, for the sake of saying something. He instantly regretted it.

"Pardon me?" Frank asked, shocked by his third born's reply.

"Nothing sir." Bob said.

"Where's Scott?" Frank asked again.

"We don't know dad!" Clint exclaimed, going crazy. "We don't always know where Scott is."

"You guys are free to go." Frank said, knowing he wouldn't get anymore information out of him.

"To our rooms?" Dave asked cautiously.

"You're off punishment." Frank replied.

"Yes!" Clint exclaimed, running into the kitchen to call Kelly.

Bob sighed contently and went to the first place he thought of: Timber's house. He had to get out of his own house and she always had something interesting to do.

Dave headed for the basement to fool around on his keyboard for a while.

Frank looked out the window. When Scott got there, he would be ready for him.

* * *

Scott walked in defeat back towards his house. He didn't want to have to wait until later to talk to Angela, he wanted to talk to her now. He had to apologize, he had to say something. His head started to throb. He had almost forgotten about his hangover, but now that the Advil was wearing off, he was sure that he would be reminded of just how much he had drank the night before.

He barely noticed when someone fell into step beside him. "Hi." she said, her accent making her words sound like music.

He stopped walking and turned to look at her in surprise. "Angela..." he murmured, hoping he wasn't just seeing things. he had so carefully planned what he was going to say, but now he seemed to have forgotten everything. He was at a loss for words. "I thought you were out." he said, maintaining his composure.

"I thought you were with the blonde girl." she said back to him.

"Naw... of course not." he said, smiling at her. He was flirting.

"Well then." she said. "Where do we go from here?" she asked.

Scott grinned, thinking of all the perverted possibilities he could use to reply.

"Scott..." she said in a warning tone as if she could read his thoughts.

"What?" he asked innocently.

"I know what you were thinking." she told him with a smile.

"I threw up on her." he said. "I was so drunk, I threw up all over her dress."

"I hope it was machine washable." was Angela's only reply.

"I don't care." he said. "Because all I could think about was you." he added, smoothly, yet truthfully.

Angela looked down at the cement of the sidewalk. She finally looked back up at him, his eyes studying her intently. A meek smile crept onto her lips.

"I think about you a lot." Scott admitted, speaking before his mind could have any say in what he said. "Ever since I met you, there was something about you."

"You met me yesterday." she quietly pointed out.

"Yeah, I know." he said. "That's why it's so weird."

"Weird?" she asked. "I don't understand."

Scott paused for a moment, then motioned for her to sit with him on the grass beside the road. She did as he wished.

"Well you see... I have a reputation." he said carefully.

"Of being, as they say, one who plays." she said, obviously not having quite understood what her friends had told her.

Scott grinned at her referral to a player. "Basically yes." he said. "And I guess, I've never really liked a girl enough to keep her around, you know what I mean? I go out with them because they're attractive, not because I like them personality wise." He suddenly began to wonder why he was confiding in her. He just felt comfortable talking to her.

Angela waited patiently for him to continue.

"... so the relationship was based on physicality... if you know what I mean." he didn't really want to elaborate on that. "But I've never really liked a girl in the way I like you." he turned red, suddenly feeling embarrassed for admitting his feelings for her. "I could never just sit and talk with a girl like I'm talking to you now. I just feel so at ease with you... and it scared me."

"But why did it scare you Scott?" she asked when he paused.

"Because." he replied. "I don't know." he said. "It's a new feeling."

"A good feeling or a bad feeling?" she asked.

"A good one... but it's new." he said. "I mean, I know what it's like to like a girl of course, but I don't know what it's like to like a girl this much." For the first time since the conversation started, he looked at her. Something had been lifted from his shoulders because this time when he looked at her, he didn't feel anxiety.

She was studying the blades of grass, pawing at them lightly with her hands. He felt it intriguing to watch someone when they didn't know he was looking at them. He hadn't been this close to her and able to study her face. He began to notice little things about her. He could read the tiny engraving on the side of her glasses that said they were Calvin Klien. He noticed the way her lips were slightly parted, and she had good posture. The big curls of her brown hair were tucked behind her ears. She wore tiny ruby studs in her ears with a silver setting. She looked so good in the color red...

He suddenly felt feelings that were overwhelming to him.

"... and that's why I wanted to ask you out." he said suddenly, but glad he had said it.

She looked up at him. "We are outside already." she told him, not showing any signs that she was joking.

He leaned in a kissed her gently on the lips, not being able to resist.

"Out as in, you being my girlfriend." he said when he pulled away.

She leaned in and kissed him back.

"Should I take that as a yes?" he asked when they parted.

"Mmmhmm." she said, pressing her lips to his again. She couldn't seem to get enough of his full, pouty lips against hers. They were soft and slightly wet, and she wanted to stay attached to him for as long as possible.

They parted again after their last peck. Scott kissed her again to make it their fourth. He looked into her eyes. She was amazing, and she was his.

She looked back into his blue eyes, a smile growing on her lips. Soon, that smile turned into a giggle, then a laugh. Scott started to laugh too.

"What's so funny?" he asked when they were finished.

"I don't know." she replied dimissively, getting to her feet. He followed suit.

"I should get going." she said, looking back into his baby-blues.

"I'll walk you?" he asked.

"Okay." she said.

Scott took her hands and intertwined his fingers with hers as they headed back towards her house.

* * *

Scott had walked Angela home, then they had kissed a few more times and exchanged phone numbers before she went inside. He was now floating on cloud nine as he entered his house.

"And where are you coming from young man?" Frank nearly demanded from where he had been waiting in the living room.

Scott smiled at his father. "Nowhere." he lied. He had completely forgotten about how he had been on punishment.

"Well I went up to your bedroom about an hour ago and you weren't there. It's funny how I don't ever remember telling you that you could get out of your room." he continued.

"I went to the bathroom." Scott lied. "But I didn't want to use a toilet this time so I decided to use the bushes outside." he added, finding it insanely funny that he was managing to get on his fathers nerves.

"You're grounded." Frank said, not even honoring his sons inane explanation with a comment. "Again." he added.

"Okay." Scott said, barely listening. He was studying the ceiling tiles and finding the beauty in them. Suddenly he was in a completely good mood.

Frank looked at his eldest son suspiciously. "Are you doing drugs?" he asked.

Scott turned his attention back to his father. "No, of course not Dad." he laughed.

"What happened to you while you were out?" his father continued, not used to his eldest son being so... giddy.

Scott sighed, in too much of a good mood to be angry with his dad for asking all of the questions he was. "I'll explain it to you when you're older." he said lamely.

"So who's the girl?" Frank asked, automatically knowing what was going on.

"What girl?" Scott asked, playing dumb. "Dad, can I just go to my room now?" he asked.

"Have a seat son." Frank directed, pointing to the couch across from the recliner.

Scott sank into the couch lazily, wanting nothing more than to get out of there.

"Who is she?" Frank continued.

"Am I still on punishment?" Scott challenged.

"This is your punishment Scott, now spill it."

"Okay, so let me get this straight." Scott said, wanted to clear up all the details. "If I sit here and talk to you and tell you all you want to know... then I can go? I'm free?" he asked.

"I guess so." Frank said reluctantly. "But if you're not in this house by midnight, I won't be a very happy dad." he added; his way of saying that if Scott wasn't in the house by midnight, it wouldn't be pretty.

"Her name's Angela, she's one of Timber's friends, she from Spain, moved here a year ago, has an accent still, has a little sister, her dad works for some company, her aunt lives with her and goes to medical school, her mother's a nurse, and... that's about it." Scott rattled off, wanting this process to be over as soon as possible.

"Who's this Timber girl?" Frank asked, leaning back in the recliner and stroking his chin thoughtfully.

"She's the girl across the street." Scott replied, rolling his eyes. He wouldn't get out of this as easily as he thought.

"The one I met yesterday?" Frank asked.

"I guess so, I don't know."

"The one who had the party?"

"Yes Dad!" Scott exclaimed, now thoroughly annoyed.

"So you guys are, in a sense, going out?" Frank pressed on.

Scott grinned. "Yup." he replied, proudly. He was going to make this one last if it was the last thing he did.

"Is that where you went?" his father asked.

Scott nodded, shifting uncomfortably. His headache seemed to be magnifying itself as he paid more attention to it.

"When will I get to meet this girl?" Frank asked.

Scott shrugged. "I don't know Dad." he said through a sigh. "When things get serious, which should be soon, so..."

"When thing's get serious?" Frank asked. "As in sex?"

"God! No dad. Geez. I mean when we've been going out for a while." Scott said, irritated that his dad was asking such a personal question.

"Do you plan on having sex with this girl?" Frank asked.

Scott slammed his back against the back of the couch. He had no idea how to answer his father's question. He did want to have sex with her. He hadn't really given it much thought yet because they had just started going out less than an hour ago, and he was only focused on making it work. But he couldn't tell his dad that he was thinking about it because his dad probably would want to give him a whole sex talk, and Scott did not posses the patience for that. He was going to wait until Angela was ready, then they could talk about sex; after they had been going out for a long time. He could wait... he was positive he could. But what if she was waiting until marriage? Would he end up marrying her? When would that be? He didn't even know if he loved her yet, why was he thinking about marriage so soon? But when would she be ready to have sex? Like every other teenage boy, Scott thought about sex a lot and he intended to do a lot of it, but he hadn't gotten around to it. No matter how horny he was all the time, he was incredibly picky about who he lost his virginity to. He would loose it to Angela though. What if she wasn't a virgin though? She probably was. What if this relationship thing wasn't right for him?

Suddenly Scott felt smothered. He couldn't do this relationship thing. What if it didn't work out? He would just get hurt. He couldn't get hurt, never. He needed to get out of the house, the air was all being sucked out and he needed to get out as soon as possible.

"Scott?" Frank said slowly, noting that his son hadn't spoken in four minutes.

Scott snapped back to attention. "Wish I could stay and talk dad, but I have to go!" he exclaimed, jumping up off the couch and running up to his room.

Frank was about to object, but Scott was already gone.

* * *

Dave got up from his spot at the kitchen table. He had been listening to his brother's conversation with his father and he was not happy about it. Scott had gotten Angela, just as he thought. It was too late for him.

He mechanically made his way up to his bedroom and flopped down on his bed. He was in love with her. It was love at first sight. He had liked many girls before, but this was different. He was in love with Angela, and she was falling for his brother. Life was over as he knew it.

* * *

return***five