Sean looked disgruntled for a moment and scooted over to make more room so that Olive wasn't
practically sitting on his lap. "All I know is I got high," said Sean, pulling at the collar of
his t-shirt. "'Cause I smell like weed."
"Sean, you always smell like weed," said Noah, rolling his eyes. 
Alex came thumping down the stair then, his clothing all wrinkled and sporting a wonderful case
of bedhead. With an exaggerated groan, he plopped down beside Erin on the couch. "I feel
terrible," he moaned, burring his head in a throw pillow.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Keith was at least a head taller and twenty-five pounds heavier than Alex, but it doesn't stop
him for cracking his knuckles and shooting him an expectant look, baiting Olive's ex to fight
him. Alex has been in plenty of fights before, done things and spent time in places that he
doesn't really like to talk about. And while he knows it's foolish to go picking
fights--especially over a pretty blonde that he hasn't even known for a day-- Alex couldn't
bring himself to care. If Keith wanted to start something, Alex was going to finish it.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sean grinned. "Sure," he said, and flipped out his phone to dial Ann's number. She picked up on
the second ring, and Sean told her that they were going to be picking her up for a party--
didn't ask if she wanted to go, just told her she was going. The volume was so high on his
phone that Noah could hear her laugh. 
Noah grabbed his hoodie off the back of the couch, put it on, and zipped it up half way. Alex
stuffed his feet into his sneakers, not bothering to untie them, and then put his hands in his
jean pockets and waited to leave.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Lorna is Alex's ex-girlfriend," Ann chimed in, matter of fact, with a slight grimace. "She
wants him back."  Lorna and Alex had dated for most of high school, only to attend the same
college. Three months prior to the Munich trip, they'd had a terrible break up; complete with
the screaming, throwing, hitting, and just about every curse word in the book. No matter how
hard Alex tried, Lorna couldn't seem to get it through her thick skull that they were over. 
"Hey, Ann?" said Alex, resisting the urge to glare at her. He had hoped that Olive wouldn't
have to meet his crazy ex. 
Ann raised her eyebrows. "Hmm?" 
"Yeah, there's paint on your face," Alex said. "Oh, and shut up." 

Noah nodded and took the cup from Erin's hand. 
"I'm glad I met you, too," he said, and then took a generous drink from her cup, smiling.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alex let out a breath he didn't know that he was holding and turned in Olive's arm to latch
onto her hips. "Sounds good to me," he said. 

Noah felt his face heat up. Either from being in Erin's lap, or from the alcohol he'd downed to
quickly, he didn't know. Nevertheless, he raised took the cup from Erin and took another
drink.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't little orphan Annie," came a voice from behind Ann and Sean as
they stood at the sink of the Feathersby's extensive kitchen. Ann stiffened, and Sean froze,
the wet napkin dripping on the carpet as he stopped halfway to Ann's face. 
"I've told you a billion times, Lorna," said Ann after a tense beat. "I'm not an orphan."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Noah followed Erin as she tossed her head back. Using his superior height as an advantage, he
slipped even closer until they were nose to nose, and leaned into lock her lips in his, nearly
knocking her cup over in the process.

Alex gave Olive a wary glance as she picked up her fourth drink, debating whether or not to try
and cut her off. Olive was a violent drunk-- he doubted this night would end too well if she
got really smashed.

Spinning around, Ann came shoulder-to-face with Alex's ex-girlfriend. Lorna smiled unpleasantly
up at her, her lips twisted up in what resembled a sneer rather than a smirk. "I'd say it was
lovely to see you, Lorna," said Ann. "But I'd be lying."
"Likewise," replied Lorna coolly. She looked over Ann's shoulder at Sean. "Still dating little
Annie? Tsk, tsk. You could do so much better. Too bad Alex can't. Where is he, by the way?"

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Hmm?" Noah turned from where he had his face buried in Erin's hair to look in the direction of
her attention. His eyes widened when they landed on Lorna. "Oh, sh-- that's Lorna Dane," he
said, pulling back a bit so he could see Olive, Alex half-behind her smaller frame. "She's
Alex's ex." He could already tell that whatever was going on right now probably wouldn't end
well. Lorna never could take no for an answer.

Lorna's smile only seemed to widen to the point where it looked like her face would crack. She
tried not to seem affected by Olive, but Alex knew better. Lorna  always had been transparent.
Her eyes flickered from Olive to him and back again for a moment. "I'd like to talk to Alex,"
she drawled coolly, raising her chin ever so slightly. "If you don't mind." 

Ann and Sean caught up to Lorna then, pushing through the exact same disgruntled couple.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Noah slipped into the driver's seat and stuck the key in the ignition, and the engine  vibrated
on. Alex helped Olive into the backseat beside Erin and slid in next to her. Ann took the
passenger seat and a dazed, glassy eyed Sean laid down in the middle, hands clasped together,
and blinking at the ceiling. Slowly, Noah pulled away from the curb and started down the
street.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alex nodded and wordlessly scooped Olive's prone form up into his arms and headed up the stairs
toward her room, the stairs creaking under his weight. 
Sean slipped his arms around Ann's waist, muttering something in her ear that made her face
turn red as she slapped at his shoulder with a mutter about him being high. 
Noah took a glance at the clock on the wall. It was well past midnight already, he noted,
whilst stifling a yawn of his own. He reached over and tugged gently on the end of Erin's
ponytail.