Holding On (Memories)

his meets hers. “Probably a tighter hole to score in than if I tried with you.”
    Lexy gasps. My eyes widen, and Jen's lips thin until they're almost non-existent. Anger shines in her eyes, and she marches up to him, the rolled up paint chart pointing at Bing's chest.
    “It probably is tighter,” she says in a low voice, jabbing him. “But that, Samuel, is probably because whatever you're trying to score with is so damn small not even a magnifying glass could make it visible.” She smirks triumphantly, raises her eyebrows, and turns around, stalking towards the paint aisle.
    “Damn.” I shake my head as I watch them go.
    “What?” Bing asks, his teeth grinding together in anger.
    “She's got you there, mate.”
    “For now,” he replies tightly, storming off after them.
    I chew the inside of my cheek, and let my lips move into a smug, knowing smile.
    Jen might be with my best friend of a lifetime, but some things can't be denied. Whatever is between Bing and Jen is one of those things, and one day it's gonna come to a head. I just hope Carl isn't caught in the middle of it.

    ~

ALEXIS

    I swing my legs from the kitchen counter, and watch Alec as he puts the paper to the wall. His back muscles flex clearly, since both him and Bing have long taken their tops off, and I'm mesmerised by the rippling muscle.
    “Lexy?” he says, amusement lacing his tone.
    “Hm?” I meet his eyes. He's smiling.
    “Can you get me a drink please, Princess? I'm working hard here, y'know.”
    Yes. Yes, you are working hard. Ahem.
    I slide off the counter and fill two glasses. I cross the room, and hand Alec and Bing one each.
    “I thought we were all doing some work here?” Bing grumbles.
    “I am working,” I say innocently. “I'm supervising.”
    “Supervising doesn't involve ogling your boyfriend.”
    “You're just jealous because there's no-one to ogle you, Samuel.” Jen smirks.
    My brother glances at her. “If you're my only option, I'd rather have no-one ogling me.”
    “Just as well I'm not likely to look at you like a piece of chocolate any time soon then, isn't it?”
    Bing grunts a reply and finishes the water, handing it back to me. “Thanks, sis.”
    “Welcome, bro.” I take Alec's glass and set them on the counter, turning to Jen. “Is your room done?”
    She nods excitedly. “Come see!”
    I follow her in and smile at the new room. It was the first room to be done, and it shows. The pink and chocolate brown floral wallpaper on one wall is set off by three bright pink walls, a large brown shaggy rug, and brown and pink bed covers.
    “Love it.” I grin. “And your easel is in the corner!”
    “Or course.” She touches the top of it. “I have to have an easel in my room. Early morning painting is the best.”
    “It still amazes me that someone as crazy as you does something as calm as painting.”
    “It's where I get my crazy from, Lexy. It’s stored up as I paint.” She grins, and winks.
    “You win,” I concede and make it back into the front room. The stripy wallpaper is finally up, and both boys are collapsed on the main sofa. Jen claps her hands.
    “Up! You have painting to do! I'm not paying you to sit on your arses.”
    “You're not paying us at all,” Bing replies dryly. “There's no pizza, no money, no beer. Nothing.”
    “I'd go and get some, but I don't have a car.”
    “And you can't drive.”
    Jen coughs. “I can drive, thank you very much.”
    “Driving people up the wall doesn't count, Jennifer.”
    “I passed my driving test first time, six months after my seventeenth birthday, Samuel.”
    Bing looks at Alec in disbelief. “Is that true?”
    Alec nods. “She passed before me. I just got a car first.”
    Jen smiles widely.
    “Fuck,” Bing curses. “Here.” He grabs his keys from his pocket, and chucks them at Jen. “Scratch my baby, and I'm gonna kick your ass. And for fuck sake, don't do anything that'll get you pulled over.”
    Jen dangles the keys from her finger. “I didn't know you had a car.”
    “Well, I do. No need to sound so surprised. Now, for that pizza?”
    I hold out a hand. “Now, for that money?”
    “What?” Alec looks between us then at Bing.

    “We're students.” I put a hand to my chest. “You can't possibly think we have money for pizza and beer.”
    Bing huffs and pulls out his wallet, shoving a twenty pound note in my direction. “I want the change.”
    I slip my feet into my boots, grab my cardigan, and open the door. Jen